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Port of Oakland: Tariffs the big ‘if’ in cargo outlook
Volume up but trade war squeezes shippers
Oakland, Calif. – June 7, 2019: Cargo volume is up again at the Port of Oakland in 2019, but for how long? That’s the question Maritime Director John Driscoll posed this week to 50 trade executives assembled here.
Mr. Driscoll warned the Port’s Efficiency Task Force that tariffs are squeezing customers who ship through his port. Fallout from an ongoing U.S.-China trade war could include reductions in containerized cargo volume, he indicated.
“Our customers are impacted by tariffs,” Mr. Driscoll told leaders from shipping, trucking, retailing and labor who convene quarterly to advise the Port on operational policy. “We’re hoping we can get through this period because we believe the future can be bright.”
Mr. Driscoll said 2019 Oakland cargo volume is up 4.6 percent from record volume in 2018. He pointed out, however, that China accounts for roughly 38 percent of Oakland’s business. The inference: tariff increases on U.S.-China trade could stymie further growth.
The Port handled the equivalent of 2.37 million 20-foot cargo containers in 2016, Mr. Driscoll said. The number edged up to 2.42 million containers in 2017 and 2.55 million last year. The Maritime Director characterized the increases as steady, manageable growth. The increase in volume this year is a pleasant surprise, he admitted.
“We thought our numbers would go down because of the trade war,” Mr. Driscoll explained. “It could still happen, but it hasn’t so far.”
The Port executive said that threatened Trump Administration tariffs against Mexico would have negligible impact in Oakland. The Port does little business there, he explained.
The Port of Oakland is expected to release its cargo volume statistics next week for the month of May.
About the Port of Oakland
The Port of Oakland oversees the Oakland Seaport, Oakland International Airport, and nearly 20 miles of waterfront including Jack London Square. The Port's 5-year strategic plan - Growth with Care - pairs business expansion with community benefits, envisioning more jobs and economic stimulus as the Port grows. Together with its business partners, the Port supports more than 84,000 jobs in Northern California. Connect with the Port of Oakland and Oakland International Airport through Facebook, or with the Port on Twitter, YouTube, and at www.portofoakland.com.
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“New technology makes field measurements easier for closet designers” AUSTIN, Texas – As just about anyone who runs a closet design company will tell you, one of the biggest time
“Take your tape measure to the cloud with this new smartphone service” One big (but really important) time drain for a solar installer involves taking the measurements necessary to create
Austin, Texas – March 4, 2016 – HOLT® CAT, the authorized Caterpillar® heavy equipment and engine dealer for 118 counties in Texas, is now using the Smart Picture Measurement Cloud
Austin, TX – 10/19/15 – Smart Picture Technologies, Inc., announced today software industry veteran Andy Greff has accepted the position of CEO. Greff was most recently the president and founder of SouthQuad
Austin, TX – 9/10/15 – Smart Picture Technologies, Inc., announced today that it has named Doug Worple as chairman of its board of directors. Worple has served on the Smart Picture board
We are proud to be one of a small group of pioneers in computer vision and robotics to team up with Google’s Project Tango.
Smart Picture Technologies was selected as a finalist for Red Herring’s Top 100 North America award, a prestigious list of honorees representing the year’s most promising private technology companies in the United Stated and Canada.
Smart Picture Tecnhnologies is hoping to utilize Google’s new Project Tango device to help speed up the process of getting home repair and remodeling quotes from tradesmen.

domain: news


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One of Japan's most respected news sites claims Nintendo delayed the launch of its next console to ensure there's enough stock to meet demand.
This, it hopes, will beat the scalpers when the Nintendo Switch 2 is finally made available.
Hopes for a holiday season successor to the Nintendo Switch were dashed recently, as industry sources revealed that it will be released early next year instead. Now, it seems, we know why.
It is claimed that Nintendo decided to delay the launch of the Nintendo Switch 2 (as it is being called for now) because it wanted to avoid stock shortages.
The Japanese gaming giant has previously vowed to "beat the scalpers" when its next-gen machine becomes available, and that is reportedly the reason it has switched the release date to March 2025.
According to Japanese news site Nikkei, Nintendo wants to ensure there are plenty of "Switch 2" consoles on shelves, along with a healthy range of launch games: "Priority was given to ensure the initial inventory of the successor console and a lineup of software titles at the time of its launch," it wrote (via VGC).
The site also corroborates some of the console details that have leaked over the last few months, including the fact that it will once again be a hybrid machine that can double for handheld and home play, and that it will have a larger display (thought to be 8-inches).
Sadly for those who have shifted their calendar entries from late summer 2024 to March 2025, Nikkei also points out that the release date could slip again depending on manufacturing and supply.
As we've said before, the delay might come as a disappointment to many, but if you are in the market for an existing Nintendo Switch or Nintendo Switch OLED Model, you might find some amazing bargains coming up.
It's still an amazing games console, even seven years in and the sheer volume of titles still being released makes it one of our favourite handhelds of all time. Plus, considering its replacement is expected to be backward compatible, you can always upgrade sometime in the future and still play your favourite games. You can't go far wrong.


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SAMSUNG IS 'OPTIMISING' the Snapdragon 820 chip in preparation for the upcoming Galaxy S7 smartphone, rumours have claimed.
We assume this means that the firm is testing and improving the chip in case it has the same overheating problems as its troublesome sibling, the Snapdragon 810.
This is according to a report by Business Korea, which said that Samsung is making every effort to ensure that there are no problems with the Snapdragon 820 chipset, a processor about which Samsung is clearly concerned.
Citing sources familiar with the matter, the report said that Samsung will release a version of the Galaxy S7 with the optimised 820 chip alongside its own next-generation Exynos 8890 AP using the firm's first custom core, codenamed M1, which will be produced in the Giheung plant from December and released in the first quarter next year.
It could be that Samsung will offer these processor variations for the S7 smartphone depending on the target market.
The Snapdragon 820 hasn't been officially unveiled yet, but Qualcomm has revealed several details about the processor. It will include Kryo, the company's first custom-designed 64-bit quad-core CPU, an Adreno 530 GPU and a Hexagon 680 DSP.
The chip will work on the principle of heterogeneous computing, which allows the CPU, GPU and DSP to share cores. This means that when streaming a film, for example, which involves rendering and very little else, all the runtime can go towards the quality of the picture. This is controlled by Symphony, the chip's new management tool that controls the prioritisation and configuration of the various elements of the CPU.
The Snapdragon 820 promises twice the power efficiency and performance of the 810, despite running at 'only' 2.2GHz - not a huge leap over its predecessor's 1.8GHz.
The Galaxy S7 is likely to appear at next year's Mobile World Congress towards the end of February, although some rumours claim it will be unveiled in January. A report said that Samsung will follow in the footsteps of Apple and release the Galaxy S7 in two sizes - 5.2in and 5.8in - but it's unclear whether these screens will offer the same QHD resolution as the Galaxy S6, or whether the firm will follow the Xperia Z5 and kit out the handsets with 4K displays.
These screens will reportedly come with technology similar to the 3D Touch seen on the iPhone 6S and 6S Plus. µ
It's an onomatopoeic week for Google
Hope that free lunch was delicious
It's like Bixby being terrible never happened
Notch to be outdone


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It’s been an extremely long time since Intellivision has been in the news, but Tommy Tallarico is looking to change that. The veteran video game music composer and television personality surprised fans of classic gaming with the news that he's intending to release a revived version of the classic console, which was a competitor to Atari back in the 80s. Considering that Atari recently made known its plans to move forward with their own classic console re-release, similarly modeled to Nintendo’s massive success with the concept, a new Intellivision product seems like a strong option for retro gaming fans.
The Intellivision was originally produced and manufactured by Mattel Electronics, a company most well-known for He-Man and Barbie at the time, with a wide release in 1980. At the time of development, its main competitor was Atari, whose cartridge-based Atari 2600 was a huge hit, and the follow-up to their ubiquitous Pong console.
Still, the system was much more than an up-and-coming competitor, and Tallarico chose to purchase a stake in Intellivision, whose former owner and founder Keith Robinson passed away last year. With a launch schedule brewing, including upcoming details to be revealed on October 1, Tallarico is prepping a strong push designed to serve both retro gaming connoisseurs and family-oriented gamers, targeting an interesting niche of the gaming market that avoids direct competition with Sony, Microsoft, or Nintendo.
Intellivision was the first legitimate 16-bit game console (technically, it utilized a 16-bit microprocessor CPU), well in advance of other systems which would release in later generations. Novel input concepts provided historic hardware, like a D-Pad with sixteen directions, and it even pioneered professional sports licensing for games featuring baseball, football, and hockey. For cross-platform owners, the console even marketed a device which allowed Atari 2600 games to be played on the system.
Tallarico’s upcoming revamp of the console is further empowered by modern conveniences gamers have come to expect, with Wi-Fi capability and SD memory card storage options, but it’s the pick-up-and-play potential that seems most relevant to this new product. Referring to the complexities inherent in modern gaming, Tallarico remarks on the ease of sitting with the Intellivision on its first release, and the fact that, when playing with his family, he “didn’t have to read a manual or play 50 hours to finish a game.”
Luckily, he’s not undertaking this venture alone, with Intellivision veterans joining in the launch to lead product development and licensing responsibilities. In a surprising but welcome appreciation of classic gaming history, Tallarico wants to combine the new lifestyles and expectations of modern gamers with the appreciated treasures available in a formative part of gaming’s history. Save a spot in your entertainment center for a new piece of hardware: Intellivision is coming back in style.


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BXM Operations AG, a company founded by BitMEX CEO Alexander Höptner and CFO Stephan Lutz, has announced plans to purchase Bankhaus von der Heydt, a bank located in Munich, Germany, and also one of Germany’s oldest banks. Bankhaus von der Heydt has been in operation since 1754, indeed the company website is at 1754.eu.
The deal is subject to approval by the German financial services regulatory authority BaFin. Though BXM Operations AG is not the same company as BitMEX, it is closely related as it is founded by the CEO and CFO of BitMEX. Furthermore, according to the blog post announcing the deal, the purpose is clearly to establish “a one-stop-shop for regulated crypto products in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.”
Not the bank’s first crypto deal
According to the blog post announcement, this step was preceded by the launch of BitMEX Link in Europe, a brokerage service based in Switzerland that facilitates trading in digital assets. The acquisition of Bankhaus von der Heydt is now “the next step in the Group’s European expansion and product development.”
This is, however, not Bankhaus von der Heydt’s first encounter with crypto. In mid-October last year the bank announced a partnership with Coindex GmbH, a German platform that offers index-based investment and savings plans in crypto assets, to enable the bank to offer its customers cryptocurrency trading and custody services.
Also announced in October, Bankhaus von der Heydt went into partnership with digital asset custody provider Fireblocks to expand its offerings of digital asset banking, securitization and fund services, and in December 2020, Bankhaus von der Heydt partnered with Bitbond to issue the first euro stablecoin (EURB) on the Stellar network.
BXM Operations AG and Bankhaus von der Heydt’s current owner, Dietrich von Boetticher, have signed a purchase agreement, which will be completed only with BaFin’s regulatory approval. The transaction is expected to be complete in mid-2022.
BitMEX founders join the board
BXM Operations AG and Mr. von Boetticher have agreed not to disclose the purchase price or other financial details of the transaction. Once the purchase is finalized, the bank will continue to be operated as a standalone business unit, with Alexander Höptner and Stephan Lutz joining its supervisory board.
“Through combining the regulated digital assets expertise of Bankhaus von der Heydt with the crypto innovation and scale of BitMEX, I believe we can create a regulated crypto products powerhouse in the heart of Europe,” says Alexander Höptner in the blog post.


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Good morning. Can you believe it hasn’t even been a year since the infamous incident when a passenger was forcibly removed from his seat and dragged off a United flight? Now the airline, still trying to rebuild passenger confidence, is facing another public-relations disaster after a customer’s dog died in an overhead luggage bin. United, in a statement, said the incident never should have occurred, adding, “We assume full responsibility for this tragedy and express our deepest condolences to the family and are committed to supporting them.” Somewhat predictably, negative social media sentiment for the brand soared 140% on Tuesday, according to analytics firm Digimind.
No, Crypto Bro
The firm behind those ubiquitous James Altucher “Crypto-Genius” online ads might need to think about ripping up its media plan. As I reported alongside the WSJ’s Doug MacMillan, Google is following Facebook’s lead in banning ads for cryptocurrencies and other “speculative financial products” effective in June. Facebook, you may recall, announced its crypto ad ban in January. The rise in the popularity and price of bitcoin and other virtual currencies makes them a prime target for bad actors. Google’s director of sustainable ads, Scott Spencer, wouldn’t comment on how much potential revenue it’ll be turning away. The announcement came as Google released its annual update on its work to stamp out bad ads. The company said it took down more than 3.2 billion ads that violated its policies in 2017, up from the 1.7 billion bad ads it removed in 2016. Are scammers getting scammier, or is Google getting better at catching them? Probably a combination of both, not least as Google keeps adding new policies to keep up with the latest techniques.
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She is outstanding – not easy to be awarded Best Chef in America
USA. HUGE. FOOD NEWS. She is known to many as the face of Raleigh’s booming scene since opening Poole’s Diner in 2007. Now Ashley Christensen was awarded the title of Best Chef in America. The award is the highest individual honor for a chef, and Christensen is the only North Carolina chef to ever win the award. Christensen’s downtown Raleigh culinary empire now spans five eating and drinking establishment.
Fast facts about Chef Ashley
- Chef Ashley Christensen was named Best Chef in America by the James Beard Foundation
- The award is the highest individual honor for a chef at the “Oscars of the food world”
- Christensen opened the famed Poole’s Diner in 2007 and now has five eating and drinking spots in downtown Raleigh
- A sixth venture—a pizza place—is expected to open later in 2019
- Downtown Raleigh, the historic center of North Carolina’s capital city. Raleigh is known as the “City of Oaks” for its many oak trees.
- Established in 1990 and often referred to as the “Oscars of the food world,” the James Beard Awards honor culinary professionals who are “making America’s food culture more delicious, diverse and sustainable for everyone.”Christensen is no stranger to the biggest night in dining—in 2014, she took home the award for Best Chef: Southeast; in 2016, her wood-fired venture, Death & Taxes, was a final nominee for Best New Restaurant; and she’s been nominated a total of nine times across three categories.Click photos Best Chef in America
The award comes as a well-earned cap on more good news over the last few years. Upon the release of her first book in 2016, “Poole’s: Recipes and Stories From a Modern Diner,” The New York Times raved. And more recently, the trailblazing chef was named The News & Observer‘s Tar Heel of the Year for her role in “reinventing North Carolina’s food and dining culture and shining a national spotlight on the state”.
In her acceptance speech Christensen reminds her food cohorts, “don’t forget kindness,” a phrase that has adorned the windows of her downtown establishments for several years now.
Comfort food like fried chicken, macaroni and cheese
Poole’s Diner. Pool is modern diner with retro-chic charm that includes its signature double-horseshoe bar, will always be the original Christensen restaurant that breathed new life into downtown Raleigh. It’s likely her most personal offering, too.
The menu—scrawled across giant, mural-sized chalkboards on the restaurant walls—is filled with hearty, rich and unapologetic comfort food items like short rib pot pie and macaroni au gratin. The macaroni, one of a few items that never leaves the chalkboard, is made with three cheeses, topped with sea salt and finished with the broiler.
What’s next. Christensen, whose team in Raleigh has grown to more than 250 employees, isn’t done yet. She has plans to open a pizza place—Poole’side Pies—later in 2019 in the space directly next to Poole’s Diner.
The highly anticipated restaurant has been in the works for several years and is expected to be at least partially inspired by Neapolitan-style pies made of fresh mozzarella and San Marzano tomatoes, cooked in an extremely hot wood-fired oven.
In the meantime, the acclaimed chef has teamed up with locally-loved salad shop Happy + Hale to create the Poole’side Salad—arugula, shredded kale, charred squash, roasted tomatoes, smoked mozzarella, baked soppressata and more, tossed in a tomato and oregano vinaigrette.
Just a Hint: When in New York, try to visit Long Island – widely regarded as one of the best kept secrets
Learn more about Ashley’s eating and drinking establishments here.


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This year’s Arizona Auctions have wrapped, and the numbers are in: In 2020, the combined total in the desert was $249.5m.
Barrett-Jackson was again the highest seller in Arizona, this year amassing $137.3m from over 1,900 cars. That total includes $7.6m achieved for nine charity lots. The highest selling non-charity lot of the auction was a 2017 Ford GT, sold for $1,485,000, followed by another GT that made $1,182,000.
Gooding & Company’s Scottsdale auction totaled $36.1m, with 124 of 138 cars sold. Eight cars sold for over $1m each, including a 1995 Ferrari F50 that brought $3,222,500 — the highest sale of the week. Second place went to a 1932 Hispano-Suiza J12 at $2,425,000.
At the Arizona Biltmore, RM Sotheby’s auction sold $30.4m in cars over several nights. The top sale of the event went to a 2018 Pagani Huayra roadster, which sold for $2,370,000. Just behind it was a 1967 Ferrari 330 GTS that made $1,710,000.
Leake’s first Scottsdale auction, held at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick, totaled $18.4m over four days. The high sale of the event went to a 2012 Lexus LFA coupe that sold for $434,500, while a 1957 Chrysler 300C convertible set a new world record price at $357,500.
Russo and Steele‘s trademark auction-in-the-round style returned to its traditional location off the 101 loop in Scottsdale, with totals coming in at just over $10.7m. High sale was a 1957 Mercedes-Benz 300SL that sold for $1,045,000, followed by a 1971 Ferrari Daytona at $550,000.
Bonhams’ sale at Scottsdale’s Westin Kierland Resort totaled $8.4m, led by a 1951 Ferrari 212 Inter Cabriolet at $1,930,000. Another noteworthy sale: Lee Iacocca’s 1992 Dodge Viper RT/10, s/n 001, sold for $285,500.
Worldwide Auctioneers set up shop at Singh Meadows in Tempe, selling $5.4m in one night of sales. Among the high sales were a 1936 Auburn 852 SC boattail speedster sold at $880,000, the Chrysler Ghia Plainsman Concept car at $742,500, and a 1930 Duesenberg Model J Berline at $605,000.
MAG Auctions‘ event in Peoria took place Jan 10-12, bringing $2.6m. The high sale of the event was a 1968 Shelby GT500 KR that made $167,400.
Watch for the April issue of Sports Car Market for our complete coverage from Scottsdale 2020 — and for market analysis on how this year’s results compare to Scottsdale 2019, and what the results mean for the coming year.
Aren’t a subscriber? Now’s the time to change that.


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DELRAY BEACH, Fla., Oct. 11, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — PositiveID Corporation (“PositiveID or “Company”) (OTCQB:PSID), a life sciences company focused on detection and diagnostics, announced today that its E-N-G Mobile Systems, Inc. (“ENG”) subsidiary, a specialty vehicle manufacturer, is celebrating 40 years in business.
ENG got its start in 1977 as a provider of electronic news gathering vehicles in Oakland, California. Soon after its formation, ENG began selling vehicles throughout the country as it became known for building quality vehicles that allowed broadcasters to respond to the increasing need for mobile television news.
As business opportunities evolved, ENG broadened its product line to include vehicles for mobile laboratory, wireless/cellular infrastructure, communications, utilities, and other technical applications. ENG was the first vehicle manufacturer to install a gas chromatography mass spectrometry in a mobile laboratory, which design became the basis for its successful MobiLab™ line of mobile laboratories. ENG has delivered more than 400 MobiLab vehicles and more than 1,500 vehicles total to customers around the world.
“We are very proud of ENG’s 40 years in business, during which time the ENG team has worked to build a strong reputation for reliability, customer service and innovative design,” stated William J. Caragol, Chairman and CEO of PositiveID. “Through ENG’s decades-long track record of engineering and technical expertise it has become a leader in the diverse specialty vehicle industry.”
ENG, which has a video on its website showcasing its capabilities, designs and builds mobile laboratories, wireless support vehicles (cell-on-wheels and cell-on-light-trucks), radio frequency (“RF”) test platforms, custom vehicles for utility companies, broadcast news vehicles, and other technical vehicles. It also offers service and maintenance, including mobile support and repairs on-call or under service contracts to help minimize vehicle downtime.
ENG has delivered more than 1,500 specialty vehicles to customers around the globe, including more than 400 mobile laboratories, 600 broadcast news vehicles, and more than 400 vehicles for cellular, RF, infrared, utilities, and other applications. In June 2017, PositiveID sold a 49.8% equity interest in ENG for approximately $1.5 million to a strategic partner to help grow the worldwide lab business.
About PositiveID Corporation
PositiveID Corporation is a holding company focused on life sciences, diagnostics, mobile laboratories, and medical devices. PositiveID’s ExcitePCR subsidiary is developing the FireflyDX family of pathogen detection systems, portable devices offering rapid sample-to-result detection in less than 30 minutes using real-time polymerase chain reaction chemistry. PositiveID’s E-N-G Mobile Systems™ subsidiary is a leader in the mobile technology vehicle market, with a focus on the laboratory market and homeland security. PositiveID’s Thermomedics™ subsidiary markets the FDA-cleared Caregiver® non-contact thermometer for clinical use. For more information on PositiveID, please visit http://www.psidcorp.com, or connect with PositiveID on Twitter, Facebook or LinkedIn.
Statements about PositiveID’s future expectations, including the likelihood that PositiveID sold a 49.8% equity interest in ENG to a strategic partner to help grow the worldwide lab business; constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and as that term is defined in the Private Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties and are subject to change at any time, and PositiveID’s actual results could differ materially from expected results. These risks and uncertainties include, without limitation, PositiveID’s ability to raise capital; PositiveID’s ability to attract and retain customers; as well as other risks. Additional information about these and other factors that could affect PositiveID’s business is set forth in its various filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including those set forth in its 10-K filed on March 31, 2017, and 10-Qs filed on August 14, 2017, May 15, 2017, and November 18, 2016, under the caption “Risk Factors.” PositiveID undertakes no obligation to update or release any revisions to these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this statement or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events, except as required by law.
CONTACT: Contacts: PositiveID Corporation Allison Tomek (561) 805-8044 firstname.lastname@example.org


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Brits are known for having a great affection for their canine friends, and new data has revealed the top ten list of the most pampered breeds of pooches living in the lap of luxury in UK homes.
A survey carried out by online pet supplies retailer Yappy.com, has named Cavapoochons, Maltipoos and Chow Chows as the nations most spoiled dogs. The study included over 300 popular breeds and 450,000 pet owner profiles to conclude that these breeds are most likely to have owners who over-indulge their canine companions.
With more people working from home over the last year in lockdown, the nation saw a ‘puppy boom’ as 3.2 million families became dog owners – and we now know which pooch is the top dog in terms of treats and gifts:
The top ten most spoilt dog breeds are:
- Chow Chow
- Flat-Coated Retriever
- Shih Poo
- Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
- Hungarian Vizsla
The triple-crossbreed Cavapoochon (which is a cute mix of Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Bichon Frise and Poodle) topped the list, presumably because owners cannot resist their puppy-dog eyes and playful personality.
Following close behind is the Maltipoo, a breed with a non-shedding coat that makes them a popular pet with anyone with allergies. Celebrities also love this cuddly breed– TV presenter Laura Whitmore is the proud owner of a Maltipoo named Mick Jagger!
Respondents to the survey have admitted to spending hundreds of pounds on their pampered pats with gifts including a £300 custom-made beanbag, a massage bed, an indoor doghouse, a personalised suitcase, a Louis Vuitton collar, a Prada handbag, an orthopaedic bed, an iPad, a treadmill and an ultrasonic toothbrush.
Yappy.com’s founder John Smith said: “Dog lovers are increasingly spoiling their pets and treating their fur babies as human members of the family. This desire to give our dogs a life of luxury that they truly deserve and access to the best quality products and services possible is driving sales of indulgent products that enhance your pet’s life like never before.
“Our e-commerce business has seen huge demand for unique, personalised dog gifts throughout the past year as owners increasingly look to spoil their dogs in new ways and mark their pet’s birthday, gotcha day and even events such as Father’s Day with a tailored card and gift to their pawrent.”


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Apple Store workers in Towson, Maryland, voted last week to form a labor union. Some may presume the 2-to-1 vote in favor of unionizing marks the end of the workers’ battle to organize for better working conditions. In reality, their journey to unionization has only just begun.
The Apple Coalition of Organized Retail Employees, AppleCORE, Forms
As a result of the vote, Apple Store workers in Towson, Maryland have formed the first U.S. union of the Cupertino-based company’s retail employees. It’s named the Apple Coalition of Organized Retail Employees, or AppleCORE. The new union joins with other organizations of the International Association of Machinist and Aerospace Workers (IAM).
IAM represents more than 300,000 employees, and the store workers hope this will help them earn “an increase in workers’ compensation, stabilization of scheduling, and easier advancement of workers within the company.”
The next step after such a vote is for the company to decide whether to accept the vote and begin bargaining with the union. Apple did have the option, though, of challenging the vote. This was a solid concern, given Cupertino’s stance against unionization and actions that many considered to be union-busting tactics.
Apple Indicates It’s Ready to Bargain With Store Union
To Cupertino’s credit, it quickly accepted the outcome of the vote to unionize. On June 24, a person familiar with the matter told Reuters the tech giant had no plans to challenge the vote. According to that person, Cupertino plans on participating in the bargaining process “in good faith.”
While that sounds great, we can (and should) take those words with a grain of salt. Voting to form a union is only the first step; what comes next could be months, if not years, in the making. Now, AppleCORE and Cupertino need to come up with a labor contract that the corporation and the union members agree on.
This is often easier said than done. Labor unions don’t hold the power they once did, thanks to legislative changes and the willingness of corporations to draw the contract negotiation process out as long as possible.
Developing the First Apple Labor Contract in the U.S.
We don’t have to dig far back in the news to find examples of labor negotiations falling apart. Even now, in fact, more than 1,300 pilots for Southwest Airlines picketed at a Dallas airport June 21 as their contract renewal negotiations got bogged down.
Of course, Southwest Airlines isn’t alone in collective bargaining disagreements right now. Pilots for United Airlines came close to a strike until the company finally penned a renewal contract with its union that should prove acceptable. The vote on that contract will last until July 15 and marks the first renewal among airline pilots since the coronavirus pandemic put all of them on hold.
This is the sort of thing workers at the Apple Store in Towson, Maryland could have to look forward to. Yes, Cupertino says it will bargain “in good faith,” but corporations often claim to be doing that even as they refuse to make any concessions to their employees at all.
The process could be even more tenuous since this is the first contract for the workers, not a renewal.
Nuggets of Encouragement Amidst Apple’s Anti-Union Scare Tactics
That being said, there are some good signs to look at. Yes Cupertino tried to scare its workers away from unionizing. The company claimed the collective bargaining process could hurt employees’ chances at better pay, benefits and scheduling. Cupertino stated that any changes would have to go through the union, delaying or even preventing improvements.
However, Apple has also taken steps already to help appease workers’ complaints in its retail locations. Cupertino recently announced minimum pay increases for Apple Store workers, guaranteeing them a wage of at least $22 per hour. This marks an increase of 10% or even more in some markets.
At the same time, the company is working to speed up its annual performance-based pay increase for retail workers by three months. While Cupertino never explicitly stated this was a response to unionization efforts, it seems pretty obvious.
Apple Store workers in Georgia, Kentucky and New York are certainly watching this saga unfold with anxious minds. Three other Apple Store locations have been trying to unionize, so they’ll be eager to see how cooperative Cupertino is in agreeing on a contract.
The next likely store to hold a union vote may be the Atlanta retail location. It previously had a vote scheduled, but postponed it after multiple union-busting moves on Apple’s part.
We can but hope that Apple does, in fact, negotiate in good faith with its newly-founded union. There are plenty of eyes watching the proceedings.


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Subscribers who pay the $79 annual Amazon Prime subscription fee will get access to unlimited, commercial-free streaming at no additional costs, the Seattle-based retailer said in a press release. Amazon Prime already provides subscribers with free two-day shipping.
Amazon specifically mentioned some titles among the 5,000 available, including “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo” trilogy, “Amadeus,” “Syriana,” and “Chariots of Fire.”
An Amazon video streaming service that would compete with Netflix has been anticipated for sometime, but until today it wasn’t clear how the program would be implemented. So far, it sounds like a good deal for consumers. Netflix offers a streaming-only plan for $7.99 a month — or just under $96.00 a year. Amazon’s Prime $79 annual membership is cheaper, and also includes free two-day shipping for most of Amazon’s retail products.
As far as number of titles available, it looks like Netflix may have the upper-hand — but it’s not clear by exactly how much. Netflix doesn’t disclose just how many titles it has available for streaming, but at least one analyst cited in a report by MarketWatch estimates that the total is somewhere in the neighborhood of 20,000 — four times as many as Amazon is currently offering.
Apple, Hulu, Google are some of the companies competing for a share of the Netflix-dominated video streaming market. Last week, Redbox announced that it was looking for a partner to help deliver its own instant video streaming service. At the time, Amazon was rumored to be a likely candidate for a Redbox partnership.
- The best documentary films on Netflix (November 2018)
- What is Netflix Roulette, and how exactly does it work?
- Netflix paid $100M to keep ‘Friends,’ but viewers may pay the highest price
- 2019 Golden Globes provide plenty of surprises and a big night for Netflix
- Netflix vs. Hulu vs. Amazon Prime: Battle of the streaming giants


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The move, which comes in line with a decision issued by Finance Minister Mohamed Maait on Sunday, aims to boost shopping tourism in Egypt, and turn the country’s tourist resorts into global shopping centres.
The VAT will be refunded for purchases whose value exceeds EGP 1,500, according to the decree. The refund process will take place while tourists are departing from the Egyptian ports going back to their countries.
In Egypt, goods and commodities meant to be exported are tax-free.
Under the current system, Egypt’s ports have no offices for VAT refunds. Accordingly, the tourist submit a refund application to the Egyptian Tax Authority (ETA) attached with number of documents include the purchase bill, evidence of payment of tax, the tax identification number, the diplomatic identification number of the claimant.
The tourist should submit the application within two months after the purchasing date, and he is allowed to submit one refund application every month.
The system sends an automatic email to the applicant once his application is approved or rejected.
Processing the refund takes up to 45 days.
Generally, tourists do not apply for VAT refund while they leaving the country because of these complicated procedures that take long time.
Egypt adopts a project to modernise the taxation and customs systems with an objective of utilising artificial intelligence technology to manage the two systems, which will track all online transactions. The systems are set to be launched sometime in 2022.


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Consumer spending dropped by 1% in December 2018, with the high street taking a particuarly heavy blow in the run up to Christmas, new figures have shown.
The fall marks the strongest hit seen since April last year, having accelerated from a 0.7% decline in November 2018, according to Visa’s UK Consumer Spending Index.
The low expenditure was largely driven by a disappointing performance by the high street as in store sales fell 1.6% on an annual basis in December.
Online spend had edged up by 0.5% year on year.
Commenting on the figures, Adolfo Laurenti, European principal economist for Visa, said: “The further decline in UK consumer spending in December 2018 is a disappointment, but not a surprise. Notwithstanding a backdrop of low unemployment and rising wages, households remained very cautious at the end of the year - as they were for most of 2018.
“An acceleration in spending at hotels, restaurants and bars (+7.6% year-on-year) suggests that some categories of discretionary spending are holding up better than the market as a whole. And the modest pick-up in ecommerce point to the resilience of digital channels of distribution, a favorable long-term trend that recent woes have not derailed.”


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Mitsubishi PH announced that it will bring back the L300 nameplate but with a Euro IV engine.
Mitsubishi Motors Philippines Corporation will introduce a new L300 for 2019.
The brand providing the logistics industry with a wide range of eco-friendly products.
Do you want to be the first to know about the latest automotive deals? Just subscribe with your email address and we’ll send you alerts on the most incredible deals as they happen.


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Fourth day of CNG closure adds to the trouble
[I]* CNG association claims sale of gas to motorists halted for one more day on the request of SNGPL managing director
By Shabbir Sarwar[/I]
LAHORE: All CNG filling stations remained closed on Friday, the fourth consecutive day of closure, on the order of Sui Northern Gas Pipeline Ltd (SNGPL) managing director. On the other hand, the CNG consumers condemned the SNGPL and All Pakistan CNG Association for not opening supply on the fourth day.
The consumers claimed neither the government nor the CNG association were in favour of opening the sale of CNG to motorists because of their ongoing tussle with the Supreme Court of Pakistan. “Why did the CNG association extend gas closure for another day on the request of the SNGPL when the case was still in the Supreme Court?” a consumer, who requested his name not be mentioned, told Daily Times.
“The CNG association and owners of most of CNG filling stations were already doing a contempt of court by not resuming the sale of gas,” said a consumer of the Gulberg area, Muhammad Jamil. He owns a Suzuki Mehran. He said despite court orders the government was not taking action against the CNG stations that don’t sell gas.
When contacted, All Pakistan CNG Association’s Punjab Chairman Capt (r) Shuja Anwar said that basic schedule of CNG load shedding was the same (three days a week). “On Wednesday, SNGPL MD requested us to close gas supply for another day due to extreme cold weather conditions and increase in gas consumption in the domestic sector,” Anwar claimed. The supply and sale will be resumed at CNG stations on Friday (today), he added.
It is noteworthy that out of a total of 350 CNG stations in Lahore, around 160 supply gas to the motorists while the others are on a strike on the issue of price, even against the Supreme Court’s order. Around half of the CNG stations which open their sales after the weekly load shedding close down the sales every alternate hour due to electricity load shedding. So the consumers have to face problems as the filling stations don’t use their power generators. Capt Shuja says using generators during the electricity load shedding means expenditure of another Rs 5 per kilogramme of the gas. “This is absolutely unaffordable at the current price fixed by the SC,” he says.
The consumers said the executive has failed to get the SC order implemented. It is worthy to note here that the SC had also ordered the government to take “a strict action” against all those CNG stations where gas is not provided to the motorists after the end of the weekly load shedding. It was noted on Thursday that all state-run (Pakistan State Oil) gas filling stations were also closed.


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For the first time ever, we will be selling official F.A.T. T-shirts to celebrate our 16th anniversary. Proceeds from shirt sales will go towards supporting team registration fees for the 17th F.A.T. Chain Reaction as well as student participation in kinetic art and engineering programs at the MIT Museum.
Shirts are generously being donated by Ted Wilson of Boston Custom Tees.


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By Vicki Brown
HOS Boatworks (of DBA Cast and Blast Boats) will invest $250,000 in their operations, creating 15 new jobs over the next five years at their boat manufacturing facility in Walterboro.
“Walterboro is a great location for manufacturing our fiberglass HOS Boats, and we are pleased that we can grow our company and better serve our customer base here in Colleton County,” said Brooks Oswald, president of HOS Boatworks and Cast and Blast Boats. “We would like to thank the Colleton County team, SCA and the SC Department of Commerce for creating a business-friendly environment in which to grow our business.”
Colleton County Council Chairman Steve Murdaugh said he and council are “extremely excited” that HOS Boat Works is locating in the county, saying that businesses like this one show the county is ready and able to bring new jobs to the area.
“We look forward to working with management and we hope it will be a long relationship. This type of investment reaffirms that small business is truly the backbone to building a better economy,” he said. “We are proud to have this fine company expanding in our community, and we appreciate the jobs that they are creating right here in Walterboro,” said Murdaugh.
Located just off Mt. Carmel Road outside of Walterboro and along Interstate 95, HOS Boatworks has already begun production in Walterboro.
Colleton is a member of the regional development group, which focuses on expanding industry and work force development in several Lowcountry counties, including Colleton.
“SouthernCarolina Alliance welcomes HOS Boatworks’ investment in Colleton County,” said SouthernCarolina Alliance Chairman Marty Sauls. “Outdoorsmen are familiar with this stellar brand, and we are so pleased to have this company manufacturing and growing their operations in our region. What a great company and a great product!”
HOS Boats was founded by Brooks and Rosa Oswald. Brooks has more than 25 years of experience in the marine industry.
“We are excited to be opening and developing a new fiberglass boat manufacturer in Walterboro. HOS Boats, LLC will manufacture fiberglass boats with sales reaching customers in its targeted market,” he said. “Over the last 3 years we have invested and completed the first model, which is ready to be sold. This model is the 24’ fiberglass boat. There will be 2 more models to follow that are currently in the beginning phase of development and later 2 larger models. The models that are in the developmental phase now are 20’ and 33’ fiberglass boats.
“South Carolina is a large boating community with many boat manufacturers. Our boats appeal to inshore and offshore fishing along with being a family boat,” said Brooks Oswald.
HOS Boats mission is to develop, enhance, and promote fiberglass boats, models 24’ and to follow 20’ and 33’ models. HOS Boats will provide customers with an exceptionally built boat, where we have thought out every last detail and invested the time into producing a one-of-a-kind versatile boat with uncompromising service and support for our customers boating needs.
For more information, call the company office at: 843-795-0105.
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text: 17 September 2009 Patrick Swayze and other celebrity scams—be on guard online SCAMwatch is urging consumers to be on guard online, even when searching celebrity news items. The latest celebrity scam exploits the death of Patrick Swayze. 8 September 2009 Business opportunity scams SCAMwatch is warning consumers to be extremely cautious about getting involved in business opportunity schemes that promise a lot of income for little or no effort. 25 August 2009 UNICEF—fake job offer and investment grants scams SCAMwatch is warning consumers about fake job offers and investment grants sent by scammers in an attempt to steal personal information and money. 12 August 2009 Beat the recession chain letter scam SCAMwatch is warning Australians to be on the lookout for a new chain letter scam seeking to take advantage of the current economic climate. 1 May 2009 Credit card scam targeting small businesses SCAMwatch is warning small to medium businesses to be on the look out for unusual or complicated orders from overseas, particularly orders which are being paid for by credit card.


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TORONTO (BRAIN) — Cervélo has unveiled its S3 Disc, which the company says is stiffer and more aerodynamic than its rim-brake counterpart.
The S3 Disc’s 12-millimeter thru-axle technology boosts stiffness in both the back-end and in the fork, leading to better handling and an 8 percent increase in headtube stiffness, the company said. Bottom-bracket stiffness was boosted 9 percent to improve overall handling and power transfer.
The re-engineered leg airfoil of the S3 Disc fork, combined with an elevated fork crotch that reduces the low-pressure zone behind the crown, also makes the S3 Disc 19 grams faster than an S3, Cervélo said.
“The S3 Disc’s superior handling and control will give performance-seeking riders the confidence to pull away from the peloton or crush a Saturday morning group ride,” said Antoine Ballon, Cervélo’s global marketing manager. “We know the Cervélo community around the world will love our new disc platform as much as we do.”
The new S3 Disc is available Sept. 16. It comes in two builds in two colorways. Retail price is $4,500 for Ultegra 6800 and $7,400 for Ultegra Di2 6870.


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By Martin Blackwell
Small shopkeepers aren't the only ones concerned about Sainsbury's chief executive Justin King's contention that high streets are a "poor second" to out of town shopping centres.
Martin Blackwell, chief executive of the Association of Town Centre Management, noted that Mr King has claimed "many shoppers do not have the time to potter between the butcher, the baker and grocer" and that blame for the demise of the high street cannot be laid at the door of the supermarkets.
"In fact," said Blackwell, "it's somewhat disingenuous to simply focus on food. Sainsbury's is now the seventh largest clothing retailer by volume in the UK.
"But unlike some supermarkets, Sainbury's is also a strong supporter of town centre management, and helps drive up standards of partnership, as well as providing funding to local partnerships based on their own rigid assessment process. That is a very positive position to take and reflects their on-going investment in town centres."
The impact of their support and that of other contributors to town centre schemes can be seen by looking at the accomplishments of partnerships throughout the country.
"We have worked for over 20 years to improve the UK's town centres and high streets, and have helped score some significant victories, including the town centre first planning guidelines and the creation of Business Improvement Districts," he added.
"We have also worked with Mary Portas on her review of the high street and are now working to ensure that those who apply for part of the £1 million being made available for "Portas Pilots" really get the most out of the opportunity."
Join us on


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Tesla has stopped accepting bitcoin as a form of payment for fear that it will contribute to greater consumption of fossil fuels. The information was revealed by CEO Elon Musk in a tweet published on Wednesday (12).
The executive also said the automaker will no longer sell the $ 1.5 billion bitcoin stock it acquired earlier this year. The brand recently sold part of the cryptocurrency’s digital asset, which helped leverage quarterly earnings.
Tesla & Bitcoin pic.twitter.com/YSswJmVZhP
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) May 12, 2021
In the statement, Tesla reveals that it will again accept bitcoin when the cryptocurrency mining process uses energy sustainably. So it looks for other digital currencies that “use less than 1% of the energy / transaction”.
“Cryptocurrency is a good idea on many levels and we believe it has a promising future. However, it cannot have a great cost to the environment,” said Musk’s statement.
Bitcoin already consumes more energy than Argentina, a factor that intensifies carbon emissions. However, there is no simple solution because the blockchain on which the cryptocurrency is built is inefficient in terms of energy.
This runs counter to Tesla’s mission to “accelerate the world’s transition to sustainable energy”. Likewise, the automaker was criticized by experts and investors after the announcement of the acquisition of the digital currency.


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After finding out their building would be demolished for a new Locust Point development, HarborQue has spent the last few months looking to secure a new location. Their new home will be at the former spot of Kirby’s Szechuan at 1125 S. Charles St. They are currently renovating the space and will be moving to their new Federal Hill location in August or September. They will have a beer/wine license and will continue to be an order-at-the-counter restaurant.
Dirty Oars Tavern Opens
A sign on the side of nautical-themed Dirty Oars Tavern at 801 E. Fort Ave. reads, “Finally Open.” The building has sat vacant since Lime closed several years ago and Dirty Oars has been in the works for many months. From their Facebook Page:
Dirty Oars Tavern provides a friendly atmosphere with specialty drinks, deli style food, and a lot of personality from the crew.
Brightside Boutique To Open in Fells Point
Fells Point continues to grow as a shopping destination as Federal Hill boutiques Babe, Zelda Zen and Curiosity have recently relocated there. Now, Brightside Boutique at 1133 S. Charles St. is opening a second location across the pond. From their Facebook Page:
We are extremely excited to share that Brightside Boutique will be opening up a second location in Fells Point by the end of the summer! We will continue to bring exciting, unique & affordable brands to Baltimore! We love our customers & will push as hard as we can to make you guys happy! This is only the beginning!! Xoxo stay tuned!
Brightside also recently began online sales.
Best of luck with the new store!
Carousel Cleaners Opens in Pigtown
Carousel Cleaners of Towson has opened a second location on Pigtown Main Street at 788 Washington Blvd. at the former home of Gallery 788. From Pigtown Main Sreet’s Facebook Page:
Carousel Cleaners is NOW OPEN at 788 Washington Blvd! Celebrate their Grand Opening with $1 shirts – laundered and pressed and 30% off household items (comforters, bed spreads, draperies and more).
The Yard Reopens
The Yard has recently reopened at The Baltimore Marriott Inner Harbor at Camden Yards after four months of renovations. In a statement from The Yards:
Baltimore Marriott Inner Harbor at Camden Yards is pleased to announce the re-opening of The Yard. After four months of renovations, the restaurant and bar has transformed into what might be the most authentic Baltimore restaurant in town. From an entirely new menu inspired by the Bay to a beverage program touting beers from Maryland’s top breweries and décor showcasing the city’s most iconic landmarks, The Yard offers locals and visitors alike a genuine Baltimore experience only steps away from the Inner Harbor and Camden Yards.
The Yard is part of the True Blue program, offering dishes with real Maryland crabmeat like the Mini Crab Cakes with red pepper pesto. The kitchen also recycles the shells from menu items like the Chesapeake Oyster dish, charbroiled with crabmeat and Old Bay, to go back into the bay with the help of theOyster Recovery Partnership.
The Yard’s beverage program also deserves recognition, most notably the addition of a modern, self-service beer and wine wall and “Yard Card” program. The Wall, as it will be called, will feature rotating wine and beers, highlighting kegs from some of Baltimore’s top emerging craft breweries including Full Tilt, Pendulum, DuClaw and Heavy Seas.
New Bank of America ATM at Royal Farms
Sometimes it’s the little things that can make your life much easier. Though insignificant to anyone who doesn’t bank at Bank of America, the Royal Farms at 1440 Key Hwy. has installed a full-service Bank 0f America ATM machine in their parking lot. Now Bank of America customers have place to make deposits with free and ample parking in South Baltimore.


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With 1,500 active life sciences companies and a vibrant research
The global interest in drones is growing in exponential pace.
Why is cyber important? To understanding this, one must understand
Economy and Industry Ministry: Encouraging Results for Israeli Exports in
In November 2020 the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development,
Over 400 attendees including farmers and agricultural sector players thronged
The world is in severe water shortage due to the
On Thursday and Friday November 26TH & 27TH 2020, the
Israel is well known these days as the “Nation of
We all know what it likes to see a doctor.


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Last week Engadget reported that samsung is developing a new virtual reality headset, which will be similar to Oculus VR's headset - and will also sport an AMOLED display. Today Engadget reports that Samsung's headset is actually developed in collaboration with Oculus VR.
In this collaboration Oculus provides the software while Samsung provides the hardware. As part of the collaboration, Samsung gives Oculus early-access to its next-gen high-resolution (larger than Full-HD) OLED displays.
Samsung's upcoming headset will not have its own screen - rather you will have to plug-in your Samsung phone (current prototypes use a GS4, but the final product will require a GS5 or maybe even one of its successors).
In January Oculus VR unveiled their latest HMD prototype, which adopted a low-persistence OLED display. Oculus said that they chose the OLED because they really want a low persistence display. They say that "it’s incredible the difference low persistence makes... It’s mind-blowing". Back then we speculated that the OLED is made by SDC (there's no other choice, really) - but it was puzzling because Oculus said the display is faster than any OLED in the market. Now we understand this because Oculus is using a next-gen OLED not yet available in any commercial device.


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Apple has released iOS 8.1.1 into the hands of eager beta developers earlier this week, and so far, feedback has been positive. But will we see this update leave beta before the holiday season officially kicks in?
iOS 8.1.1 was released to fix several bugs that lingered after the messy launch of Apple's iOS 8 in September. The launched software contained so many bugs that Apple released a patch the following week that actually introduced even more problems. With reports coming in of broken Touch ID fingerprint sensors and cell connection issues, the tech giant decided to just pull that update and drop another fix the next day. That version, iOS 8.02, repaired the worst problems, but then introduced some bugs with Bluetooth.
On October 20, Apple rolled out iOS 8.1 which fixed the Bluetooth problem and a number of other glitches. This latest version, still in beta, aims to fix the Wi-Fi, Safari, and battery drain problems introduced with that patch. While some would say that this is typical for a new operating system's launch, others are calling it one of Apple's worst OS launches ever.
In addition to fine-tuning the new OS, 8.1.1 is also said to fix performance issues on older devices like the iPhone 4s and the iPad 2. The jailbreak community is also reporting that this patch kills the Pangu jailbreak as well.
The surprising thing about iOS 8.1.1 is the fact that it's a patch in beta. Betas are usually reserved for the larger releases, like iOS 7 and iOS 8, so we imagine Apple is taking its time with this one (now that the largest issues have been resolved) and wants to make sure this one is done right.
Despite this beta status, you probably shouldn't expect an announcement when 8.1.1 leaves the testing phase. The 20 MB patch is small and it should polish up iOS 8 enough to keep Apple fans happy.
But the real question on everyone's mind is regarding a release date. If you look back at recent beta-to-release transitions, they typically take around four to five months. Granted, that's for the larger updates, but the testing phase is still a process. Combine this with the fact that the holiday season is traditionally slower for production due to time off for those November/December vacations, and you're looking at an undesirable launch spot in those last two to three weeks of the year. But does this mean that Apple will rush this release out before that slow time to let its employees enjoy the holidays, or will be postponed until 2015 for basically the same reason? The patch's small size may mean the latter.
All in all, this small patch should finally top off the problems that arose with iOS 8, but we're not expecting much more than that. After the holidays, Apple will regroup and start working on more feature-rich content for the next big update.


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The History of Talcum Powder
Two different juries, over the past year, have awarded punitive as well as compensatory damages to plaintiffs who filed lawsuits against Johnson & Johnson related to talcum powder.
Against Johnson & Johnson, over 1,000 additional lawsuits have been filed making a claim that the conglomerate was aware of the association between the use of the product, and development of ovarian cancer, yet neglected to warn customers.
The history of talcum powder, and the use of cosmetics based in talcum with Baby Powder, began after the turn of the 20th century, when Johnson & Johnson initiated a marketing of the product to mothers and their children.
The manufacturer, from this point forward, developed the brand of Baby Powder by primarily appealing to women via advertisements in multimedia.
Presently, the reported average revenue of Johnson & Johnson derived from talcum powder products sale, which per year can easily exceed $300 million.Published Research of Hazards of Talcum Powder
Researchers, yet, indicated the risk of the use of talc particles around the genital area of females via a host of studies published around the 1970s, part of the history of talcum powder,
This research initially opined that particles of talc entered the reproductive system of a woman through the opening of the vagina, migrating into the uterus and the cervix, with movement to the ovaries through the fallopian tubes.
Scientists, while conducting the study, found particles of talc embedded in a vast number tested of ovarian tumors.
Daniel Cramer, a Harvard professor and physician at Brigham and Women’s hospital in Boston, published a study in 1982, which made claims that women who supposedly used talc around the genital area were reported three times potentially to develop ovarian cancer.
Since the publishing of this research, some additional studies have identified as well a vast increase in risk, approximately 33%, for the occurrence of ovarian cancer among frequent users of talcum powder.
Johnson and Johnson, despite the number of various studies which suggests the association, continues to dispute that the discoveries are based on reliable and consistent data; thus, has not included on any warning label the risk for products based in talc.
Against Johnson & Johnson, attorneys of the plaintiffs in recent lawsuits have cited a memo from the company internally, which dates back to the early 1990s, in an attempt to prove the company had knowledge of the likely risks posed to female consumers of talcum powder.
Although this memo depicts negative publicity from the medical community on the inhalation of talc, negative doctor. endorsement, cancer linkage, dust, et al., as a key obstacle for the company, it still strives to depict growth opportunities which exist within African-American and Hispanic communities.
With knowledge of the history of talcum powder, juries held liable the manufacturer for conspiracy, negligence, and failure to warn customers of risks involved.
Attorneys continue to review claims that Shower to Shower, Baby Powder, and other products of talcum powder contributes to ovarian cancer development.
You or a family member may have received a diagnosis of ovarian cancer, and used talcum powder previously on or close to the genital area.


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Sales of luxury cars in Australia reflected the toughening economic climate in 2018, ending the year down in line with sales in the broader automotive market.
New-car sales dropped 3 per cent across the board for the year compared to the all-time record notched up in 2017, according to figures released from motor industry statistical service VFACTS. A weaker housing market, tighter lending from a reforming financial sector and the ongoing drought in rural Australia have all played a part in the deceleration of sales.
“Aston Martin enjoyed a particularly strong run in December to achieve 20 per cent of market share among cars priced at $200,000 or more.”
Some high-end automotive marques defied the trend, however, with British sports car brand Aston Martin parking a 20 per cent lift in sales for the period. The result follows a strong run for the manufacturer of handmade cars in 2017 which drove record profits for the company globall
Aston Martin enjoyed a particularly strong run to the end of 2018 in Australia, achieving 20 per cent of market share in December among cars priced at $200,000 or more.
Porsche stayed among the front runners, with its popular 911 earning an 18.6 per cent increase in sales over the previous year.Ferrari will be pleased with its 15 per cent improvement in sales, too, though will be hoping to top that again this year after recently opening a new $10 million, state-of-the-art showroom on the Gold Coast. The Queensland hub has proven to be one of Ferrari’s strongest selling points, accounting for more Ferrari purchases per capita than any of the larger east-coast markets.
Brands hit hardest last year included Mercedes-Benz, whose SL- and S-classes saw sales decline by about 50 and 29 per cent respectively year on year. More broadly, Tasmania was alone in recording a positive result among Australian states and territories with its 3.3 per cent increase. NSW accounted for by far the largest volume reversal with a 6.6 per cent drop (down 26,306 cars).
SUV’s continued to rise in popularity across the country at the expense of passenger vehicles. The shift to their perceived offerings of greater comfort, flexibility and utility helped account for 43 per cent of all vehicles sales last year. Meanwhile, passenger-vehicle purchases fell to below a third of all vehicles sales for the first time.
Chief Executive of the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI) Tony Weber says 2018’s lower results reflected a challenging climate across the Australian economy, including a slowing housing market, tightening of money lending and the impacts of drought.
What these ongoing pressures will mean for 2019 remains to be seen.


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Outlets of Maui Introduces an Outdoor Market
Publish Date: October 27, 2016
Outlets of Maui recently put into place new market programming that includes a new Outlet Outdoor Market. In an effort to build additional traffic and provide visitors with a true, authentic Maui experience shoppers can enjoy both outlet shopping and a taste of local culture every Wednesday from 4-7:30 p.m. The new programming attracts visitors and area residents by celebrating rich Hawaiian heritage featuring local artisan crafts, live music, free hula shows, chef demonstrations and more.


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It’s a question that has dogged aquatic producers for decades.
The issue of which animals should be allowed to eat, when and how has been contentious for decades, with each side arguing over the level of toxins and harmful contaminants.
While the issue has not changed dramatically, there is now an increased focus on what is safe for the aquatic community.
Aquatic Products Australia (APA) is the largest fish-based water product supplier in Australia and sells fish extracts to almost 70% of the Australian market.
The company has recently announced that it will be ending the use of toxic glyphosate in all of its products, following a review into the use and impact of the herbicide on aquatic species.
APA’s CEO, Dr Scott Sillars, said that the decision was not based on toxicity and was a precautionary measure to ensure aquatic animals were not exposed to too much glyphosate.
“We’re taking the precautionary approach because of the high toxicity of glyphosate,” Dr Sillaries said.
“We’ve taken a number of different measures over the years to protect aquatic animals, from keeping fish populations under control to controlling the amount of algae and other organisms that are released into the water.”
APA is also ending its use of the chemical glyphosate in its marine products, which include aquaculture fertilisers, aquacultural oils and detergent.
However, the company is currently still using the chemical in fish feed.
“The decision was made based on the risk to aquatic animals of glyphosate, the toxicology of the chemicals, and the ability to provide for the continued safety of aquatic animals,” Dr Saillars said.
APAs CEO has also announced that he will be conducting a study into the safety of a number or the use or the exposure of some aquatic species, including sharks, dolphins and whales.
However he said that this study will be a “long-term project” and it is not expected to be complete before the end of the year.
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has been investigating the use in fish farming of the toxic chemical glyphosate, which is banned in Australia.
APSA’s new Aquatic Aquarium products, including the Aqua Aqua Aqua, Aqua Terra and Aqua Terra Aqua are products that will be phased out by the end and replaced with a new Aquatics Aquatic products line.
The Aquatics Aqua Aqua is available in four flavours: Aqua Aqua Pure, Aqua Aqua Pressed and Aqua Aqua Concentrate.
According to the EPA, the chemicals in the Aquatic Aqua products are more than 99.9 per cent biodegradable.
The EPA also noted that it is the EPA’s responsibility to assess and regulate aquatic products and the agency has not yet found any evidence that the Aquatics products are dangerous for humans.
“If the EPA found evidence of an adverse health effect on humans, it would be taken to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA),” Dr Sills said.
The Aqua Aqua Purifier, Aquatic Sea Cows’ Water, Aquatics Sea Cattle’s Water and Aquatic Pulses Water products will be withdrawn from the market and replaced by Aqua Aqua Water, which contains no glyphosate.
However, APA says that the use will not affect the supply of its Aquatic Cows, Sea Catties, Sea Pulsers and Aqua Aquatic Water products.
APA is still selling its Aqua Aqua Aquatics, Aqua Aquates, Aqua Plus and Aqua Plus Aqua water products, along with Aqua Aqua Extra water.
But the Aqua Aquate Aquatic Pure product, which was discontinued earlier this year, is being reintroduced.
APAS’ Aqua Aqua has already sold well over 400,000 Aquatic water products since the announcement.
“Our Aquatic brand is recognised across the world and Aquals aquatics are the only line that is marketed globally. “
The Aquatic line has been one of the most successful aquatic products lines to date and Aquatics aquatics have now become the industry standard for freshwater fish farming in Australia.”
The use of Aquals products is in line in APA Aquatics policy to maintain Aquatic status and protect aquatic wildlife and habitats.”APA will continue its research into the toxicological safety of Aquats Aquatics and to continue to ensure Aquatics is a sustainable aquatics product and that the health and welfare of Aquareas wildlife is protected.””
APA Aquatic is proud to be a part of Aquatics brand, and will continue to work to provide Aquatics customers with quality aquatics, in line with APA guidelines and standards.”
The use of Aquals products is in line in APA Aquatics policy to maintain Aquatic status and protect aquatic wildlife and habitats.”APA will continue its research into the toxicological safety of Aquats Aquatics and to continue to ensure Aquatics is a sustainable aquatics product and that the health and welfare of Aquareas wildlife is protected.”
In line with the guidelines,


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California State University, Monterey Bay (CSUMB) held a clothing drive for students on campus on Monday, Feb. 7.
Hosted by the CSUMB Alumni Association, clothes were donated from outside sources within the community to be quarantined and sorted through for safety and quality concerns before being offered to students.
Otter Outfitters is a program funded by the Women’s Leadership Council. Its goal is to provide professional clothing for students and alumni who may not have access to appropriate clothing for interviews, internships, senior capstones, career day events, or other professional projects.
“We have a warehouse full of clothes that’s been overstocked during quarantine,” noted Briana Garcia, the program lead of the event. “We have a lot to give out!”
The event was set up outside of the Otter Student Union with coat racks full of quality business clothes including blazers, tops, and pants. All articles of clothing were free to take.
“I’m applying for a lot of jobs right now, but I don’t really have the money to go out and shop for something nice,” said Ivan Martinez, a second year student at CSUMB. “It’ll be nice if I can find some slacks to wear to my interviews.”
Otter Outfitters accepts donations of clean, professional clothing from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. To learn more about Otter Outfitters or how to donate, check out https://csumb.edu/womensleadershipcouncil/otter-outfitters/


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Retailers, consumers and prices
Check out the latest celebrity designed clothing line.
Spears, whom Forbes magazine once ranked the most powerful celebrity in the world and still ranks No. 6, has designed her first collection of clothing and accessories for Iconix Brand Group’s Candie’s brand, for which she has been the face the past three seasons.
The juniors’ collection, called “Britney for Candie’s,” will be sold exclusively in Kohl’s stores starting July 1 to kick off the back-to-school shopping season. (Pencils, check. Backpack, check. Britney-designed little black dress, must have!)
“Designing was a really fun, new way for me to express my creativity and I really wanted to create something by me for my fans,” Spears said, adding the collection was inspired by her favorite music and movies.
No one wants it broadcast to the world when one is submitting to the indignities of airport security screening.
But that’s just what happened to luxury designer Tory Burch awhile back, when a fan tweeted to thousands that Burch was barefoot at the airport. The upside, Burch said, was that the tweet and subsequent discussion gave her the idea to create a travel sock for women.
Companies that cater to consumers are always chasing after the latest consumer technology trend (anyone remember Second Life?), and this holiday season that means following them into the world of social media.
Companies ranging from Wal-Mart and Panda Express to J.C. Penney and Target are experimenting with Facebook, Twitter, YouTube or Flickr. Some are tweeting special coupons or limited-time deals, while others are doling out fashion advice or providing play-by-plays from product launch parties on Facebook. M.A.C. said it is using its Facebook page to feature artists, color collections, and what is happening backstage at fashion shows.
A new report by Inside Facebook discusses some best practices for retailers hoping to set up shop on the popular social networking site.
Some of the recommendations include letting users shop from within Facebook, including even the ability to share product information with friends. Another suggestion is to have contests, giveaways and sweepstakes.
Cola rivals Coke and Pepsi gave their long-standing feud a rest last week after a user-provoked experiment on Twitter prompted the two pop makers to trade friendly greetings on the popular social networking service.
Coca-Cola responded first to a clever user’s message suggesting that the two make nice on Twitter, offering “A gracious (yet competitive) hello” to Pepsi. In return, Pepsi extended a Twitter-style olive branch of sorts to its competitor: “Can rivals and tweeps coexist? We’re willing to find out. :)” Tweeps, for those unversed in the lingo, is a cutesy term for Twitter users.
Just when it seems like everyone is using Twitter, we learn that is not really the case.
A panel discussion on Thursday at the CIES World Food Business Summit in New York featured four prominent industry leaders: Sara Lee CEO Brenda Barnes, Cargill CEO Greg Page, Kraft CEO Irene Rosenfeld and Jeff Noddle, executive chairman of grocery chain Supervalu. The conversation turned to how the panelists’ companies would stay relevant with the next generation of consumers.
Check out hopeful signs that the recession may be abating.
U.S. retail sales rose in May and the number of workers who filed new applications for jobless benefits last week fell for the fourth straight week.
PepsiCo is offering about $6 billion to buy the shares it does not already own in its two largest bottlers, Pepsi Bottling Group and PepsiAmericas, to cut costs and secure control of its brands as growth switches to new noncarbonated drinks.
Pepsi‘s plan to consolidate its bottling business underlines an industry trend and would give it control of 80 percent of its North America beverage distribution volume.


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Walmart is facing backlash after releasing more than one Juneteenth-themed products, along with a red velvet and cheesecake flavored ice cream, sooner than the now federal holiday on June 19.
Rapidly after social media users bought wind of the tone-deaf-deemed products, the retailer was once accused of utilizing their Expansive Designate ice cream set aside as a technique to income off the holiday, which commemorates the pause of slavery.
One Twitter consumer made it known that a the same ice cream flavor by a Sunless-owned substitute already exists.
“Walmart literally saw a winning diminutive Sunless substitute and idea they would possibly per chance perchance procure away with stealing their flavor and re-branding it for Juneteenth,” they tweeted. “Anyways, Creamalicious is on hand at Target.”
Yet any other Tweeter responded to that post with, “Walmart would possibly per chance perchance additionally’ve supported Sunless owner producers and save them on their cupboards. As a replacement, they selected to Expansive Designate and trademark Sunless emancipation.”
Walmart issued an official commentary in response to the backlash with PEOPLE magazine: “Juneteenth holiday marks a commemoration and party of freedom and independence. However, we bought feedback that a few gadgets precipitated peril for a few of our clients and we sincerely issue regret. We are reviewing our assortment and would possibly per chance perchance additionally purchase gadgets as relevant.”
As if the ice cream wasn’t ample to commemorate Juneteenth, Walmart additionally equipped plastic dinnerware devices consisting of plates, cups, and napkins that learn, “It’s the freedom for me.”
The global retailer has since then pulled the pints and diversified gadgets off of retailer cupboards.


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LONDON, ENGLAND — A slight rebound has been forecast for world trade in wheat flour in the 2013-14 crop season by the International Grains Council (IGC).
The total of global flour exports in the current crop year was placed at 12,619,000 tonnes of wheat equivalent, compared with 12,480,000 tonnes in the prior season. At the same time, the current pace lagged well behind the record of 14,560,000 tonnes in 2011-12 and was slightly behind 12,630,000 in 2010-11.
The expected gain of 1% in world flour trade in the current season lagged the IGC forecast that global trade in wheat and flour will rise 4% to 146.5 million tonnes, a new record.
Primarily accounting for the recovery of flour export trade was a surge in shipments from Kazakhstan, to a total of 3 million tonnes, compared with 2,356,000 in 2012-13. That restored Kazakhstan to its leading position as a global flour exporter, even though its outgo in the current crop year fell behind the 3,652,000 tonnes it shipped in 2011-12. Improved availability of milling wheat was credited with spurring Kazakhstan’s flour exports in the present season, even though Indonesia, a major flour importer, continued its import tariff means to check takings.
Both Uzbekistan and Afghanistan increased flour imports in response to expanded offerings from Kazakhstan. Uzbekistan retained its role as the world’s largest flour importer, expected to take 1.4 million tonnes, compared with 1,363,000 in 2012-13 and 1,939,000 in 2011-12. Afghanistan’s flour imports were forecast to reach 1.3 million tonnes in wheat equivalent, compared with 1,169,000 in 2012-13.
Another ranking destination was Iraq, where imports were forecast at 1,250,000 tonnes, against 1,287,000 in 2012-13. Iraq’s imports largely originate in Turkey, the second-ranking global flour exporter, with shipments this year projected at 2.8 million tonnes, against 2,567,000 in the preceding crop year. Turkey’s pace benefited from improved demand from Syria and what the IGC said was “a healthy pace of purchasing from various Near East and sub-Saharan African countries.”
Syria’s import flour demand was described as strong at 300,000 tonnes, the IGC said, “given reduced domestic milling capacity, officially estimated to have fallen over 60% owing to difficulties with transport and energy-related challenges.”
The forecast for Indonesia’s flour imports in 2013-14 was 300,000 tonnes, against 352,000 in the previous crop year and 829,000 and 1,062,000 in two preceding seasons. That sharp drop stemmed from the imposition of a 20% tax on imports of wheat flour starting in December 2012 and set to remain in place “until further notice,” the Grains Council said.
In the quarterly update on flour trade, the IGC cut prospective Argentine exports of wheat flour in 2013-14 to 200,000 tonnes, compared with its previous forecast of 1 million. Argentine exported 890,000 tonnes of flour in 2012-13 and 1,239,000 in 2011-12. The drop in Argentine shipments stemmed from government export limits due to reluctant selling by farmers to millers. In line with this situation, Brazil’s likely flour imports fell to 300,000 tonnes, compared with 659,000 in 2012-13 and 903,000 in 2011-12. “Lower flour imports from Argentina are expected to be compensated by a larger and better quality local wheat crop and grain imports from other origins, such as the U.S.,” the IGC explained.
Other leading flour exporters in 2013-14 were the E.U., at 1.1 million tonnes of wheat equivalent, compared with 967,000 in the preceding crop year, and the United Arab Emirates, shipping 1 million tonnes in each of the past two seasons.
The U.S. was forecast to ship 400,000 tonnes in 2013-14, an outgo equaled by Russia and China.
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Weekly prize giveaways are at stake as part of Digicel’s Christmas promotion which was launched last week Friday at its Melville Street Store in St. George’s.
Marketing Manager Aaron La Grenade who launched the promotion revealed a variety of items that will be up for grabs throughout the Christmas Season for Digicel customers.
La Grenade announced that Digicel has partnered with Samsung which affords the opportunity for them to deliver fantastic offers and prizes.
He said each week there will be five winners including three grand prizewinners of $10,000.
The final grand draw takes place during the Xtreme Black concert at the Grenada National Stadium on December 23rd.
Weekly prizes to be available include items from Samsung, credit, cash, and a possible opportunity to get into the grand draw.
Customers also have the opportunity to get into the cash competition, or text to win cash.
“Talk about sharing the love and spreading it around… three people are going to get $10,000 cash,” he announced.
Some of the items that can be won on a weekly basis include headphones, handsets, and speakers with headsets.
La Grenade sees Christmas as the time which should bring the cheer to people rather than them having to experience “bad deals.”
“As we know Christmas is a happy time of the year, but sometimes we might get a bad deal… So Digicel is here to save the day so you don’t have to show that face to get yourself a fantastic gift for the
Christmas,” he said.
Persons can also qualify to win prizes by paying their bills in full and on time, having an active data plan, and by topping up $20.00 or more.
The company’s Retail and Distribution Supervisor, Zorina Andall gave details of additional items customers can win during the promotion.
Andall disclosed that having partnered with Samsung, Digicel is able to reduce the prices on some handsets. In addition to every handset purchased during the Christmas promotion, free data will be provided.
The Retail and Distribution Supervisor announced that any customer who purchases a Digicel SIM Card or receive a Digicel pre-paid SIM Card will get $10.00 free credit for the next five months after the purchase.
Digicel has also reached out to a charitable organisation on the island.
The telecommunication provider presented the Grenada Diabetes Association with the sum of $3,000 to assist with its work.
According to the Digicel Marketing Manager, the giving back not just to customers, but also to the community is part of the Digicel culture.
La Grenade said it is known that a lot of organisations are challenged in raising funds for their various causes.
He stated that this year the company received a sponsorship request coming from the Diabetes Association, and it was decided by the Digicel team that instead of just providing them with the sponsorship it was better to share the love for Christmas with them.
Vice-President of the Grenada Diabetes Association, Dr. Alistair Antoine who received the monetary contribution on behalf of the organisation was grateful for the support given by Digicel.
Dr. Antoine pointed out that while he regards the contribution as a pleasant surprise the money will be used to assist patients in purchasing the strips that are used to test the level of their diabetes.
The medical doctor announced that about ten percent of people in Grenada are living with diabetes.
La Grenade also made a plea to members of Digicel’s staff and customers to provide a present that can be used for the special needs children.
He said in all of the Digicel stores is a Christmas tree which is not just part of the decoration for the season, but to act as a reception point for the gifts.
The gifts collected would be distributed to the children during Digicel’s annual special needs party.


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Despite the easing of Coronavirus restrictions in recent months, around 1 in 5 consumers have been stopped from making cash payments, according to a Which? survey.
The consumer group conducted two separate surveys including over 3,000 participants, to assess their recent payment experiences. One was a phone survey, designed to include consumers who may be less digitally savvy and thus more reliant on cash. The second survey was conducted online.
The phone survey found that around a fifth of consumers were not allowed to make cash payments at least once between April and July of 2021, as coronavirus restrictions began to ease. This resulted in one in six consumers who weren’t allowed to use cash being unable to make their purchase.
The online survey found that consumers were most likely to be unable to pay with cash when buying groceries, which covered a third of such incidents, followed by smaller purchases or refreshments.
Whilst concerns regarding public health in the Coronavirus pandemic have caused many to opt to use card payments, the Bank of England found that risk from using cash was “no greater than touching any other common surface, such as handrails, doorknobs or credit cards.”
Also, despite some confusion regarding ‘legal tender’, retailers are not legally obliged to accept cash payments and such decisions are at the business’ direction, as long as they are not discriminating against the customer.
Which?’s money editor, Jenny Ross, said: “Cash is still a vital way to pay for millions of consumers, so it’s very concerning to see many people still reporting difficulties when trying to spend their notes and coins, even as the country moves out of lockdown restrictions.”
The survey found that 84% of participants felt that cash payments should still be accepted by shops and businesses.
Another Which? survey in November found that more than three quarters or people who weren’t able to pay in cash felt emotionally impacted, with feelings of frustration, anxiousness and embarrassment.
It also found that seven million people would struggle without cash use, with another two and a half million saying that they are dependent on cash and would not be able to be without it.
Despite cash payments halving between 2014 and 2019, bans on cash still risks excluding and negatively impacting society’s most vulnerable, such as the homeless and ill.
Which? is urging businesses to sign up for its cash friendly commitment to guarantee that people who regularly use or are reliant on cash are not excluded from the move towards digital payments.
Jonathan Jaffa is the owner of York Supplies in Birmingham, who have joined Which?’s cash-friendly pledge. He said: “the ones with no choice but to pay with cash feel we are supporting them as a part of the local community rather than dismissing them as an unimportant fringe of society.”
The government has stated that legislation would be enacted to safeguard the future of currency, and according to Which?, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) should be charged with measuring cash rejection levels as part of their ongoing measures.
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Square began in 2010 after the invention of a small credit card reader that plugged into iPhones. About 10 years later, the company has grown into a $26 billion fintech behemoth under Jack Dorsey’s leadership. Square profits off a lot more than card swipes at your favorite trendy coffee shop.
The company provides a wide range of software products for sellers that helps simplify everything from payroll to making appointments with customers. Square offers small business loans as well, often in sums smaller than traditional banks are willing to lend to neighborhood stores, restaurants and coffee shops.
On the consumer side, Square launched Cash App, originally called Square Cash, in 2013. Since then, the app has seen enormous growth, jumping from 7 million to 15 million users in 2018 alone.
Square credits its success to a mission of economic empowerment for everyone from a small business owner to a major retailer. But critics say the company may have lost focus, be overvalued, and struggle to sustain growth if the U.S. faces an economic downturn.
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Ubisoft’s announced the UK release date of Driver: San Francisco.
Ubisoft has announced Driver: San Francisco’s release date.
Ubisoft’s anticipated title Child Of Eden just got a new trailer and it’s looking awesome.
The Xbox 360 version of Ubisoft collaboration with Q Games, Child of Eden, is getting released on June 14th but according to reports the PS3 version is getting a different launch date.
Ubisoft has confirmed the new release date for Driver: San Francisco.


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A couple of twitter users went to social media to post screenshots of the Uber game that popped up on their phones as they were riding an Uber car.
As early as Feb. 27, Uber has been targeting specific passengers to play their game through their Uber app in the search for qualified software engineers to interview for their company. The game is called, 'Code on the Road,' which prompts users with a series of questions that determines if they're qualified for the position. If the user agrees to play the game, three coding questions, each with a time limit of 60 seconds, are given to passengers. If the user passes the test, they are queried about their interest in applying for the company. An email is sent to the Uber user if they agree.
— Kaitlyn Loh (@kaitlyn_loh) February 27, 2016
Uber is now offering coding questions to potential candidates while you're in an uber. How did they know I code? pic.twitter.com/W2zn8bmouy
— Joshua Debner (@jdebner) March 25, 2016
Most of the users who had a chance of playing 'Code on the Road' have programming backgrounds which raise questions regarding user privacy. According to a report from Business Insider, Uber denied that they had used any personal information from riders to find their target market. The company was relying more on what routes passengers were taking coupled with the vicinity of tech companies nearby. Places such as Seattle, Boston, Denver and Austin, Texas, and other areas with tech industries have been targeted. Such steps have proven to be effective as their target audience is being reached.
The report also indicated that Uber has always been "looking for new ways" to search for qualified and interested parties that could help their company solve "interesting problems." The game pops up whenever a rider is in an area where tech industry is centralized. The option to play the game gives users an alternative experience in applying for a career in software programming. One such example is Uber's upcoming hacker challenge. The company had earlier announced that they were looking for hackers to break into their system and successful hacks would be rewarded $10,000. This, in turn, helps their company fine tune weak spots in their system to avoid future glitches. The challenge starts this coming May 1.


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Harley-Davidson Livewire electric motorcycle to go into production
Green Car Reports
NOVEMBER 8, 2018
Back in 2014, Harley-Davidson made a lot of noise about its silent electric Livewire motorcycle concept. At the EICMA motorcycle show in Milan, Italy, on Wednesday, the company finally announced official plans to build the Livewire, after years of. Harley-Davidson electric motorcyclesBut the company's been mum ever since about whether it ever planned to build it—until now.


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NCT’s, WayV’s, and soon-to-be SuperM’s Lucas has been invited to attend the Spring/Summer 2020 Fashion Week. The event will be held in four fashion capitals of the world, starting with NYFW on September 4.
The invitation itself is already a great honor! Are you also hoping to see Lucas walk the runway in New York City?😍
Finally, let’s remind ourselves of model Huang Xuxi:


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SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2021 Issue
Welcome Circular; Goodbye Take, Make & Dispose
The drumbeat for greater industry alignments and stronger collaborative partnerships has grown louder and the engines of eco-innovation are making noise on many fronts within the industry. We’re seeing successes in cutting edge technology and integration of forward-thinking design principles.
Good & Clean
Sustainability has sparked a surge in responsible developments in functional fabrications in recent years, and continues to serve as a strong market driver. Yet despite recent advances in PFC-free and bio-based textile solutions, belief remains, that going “green” means giving up performance.
Passion for the Planet
We recently caught up with a couple of eco experts who are doing important work in developing new ways to improve textile recycling and the problem of waste along with identifying new material alternatives that are better for the environment.
Generating Green Advantages
Sustainability is nothing new at Milliken & Company. The business was green when green was just a color in the rainbow. Founded in 1865, the company had a recycling policy in place in the 1900s and has been reporting on water usage and waste for decades all the while advocating for worker safety.
New eVent BIO Technology Combines Sustainability and All-Weather Performance
With a 20-year history of keeping users dry and comfortable in the widest range of temperatures and conditions, eVent fabrics maintains some of the industry’s highest performance standards.Read More
Momentum to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and curb environmental impacts is gaining traction as shoe brands re-evaluate processes and materials. Carbon is a key talking point this season with carbon offsets, carbon neutrality and carbon negative labeling all coming into play...
Rising Up Post Pandemic
Serving in the past as an accelerant after the long European summer holidays, Munich Fabric Start has been a favorite of mine. The fair kickstarted the show season and got me in the mood for work, especially before the onslaught of the supersize shows later in the Fall season.
The U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol
Carolina Cotton Works Inc. - CCW Takes with Sustainable Actions for a Better Planet
The US cotton industry’s commitment to the environment has a strong regulatory framework: the U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol, a series of standards that farmers adhere to in the United States.
Sustainability = Usefulness
I once sold a tent to a middle-age woman. After careful consideration and obvious consternation, she arrived at an expensive and extremely well made choice. With the high-tech shelter rolled up snug in its stuff sack on the counter between us, she sighed and said something...
Can Cotton Close the Loop?
As environmental awareness grows in response to high-profile issues such as climate change and pollution, sustainability has become an increasingly important issue. Environmental sustainability means adopting practices that don’t deplete our natural resources or harm the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.
Extending Product Life
It is becoming increasingly clear how important changing consumer behavior is to achieve reductions in the environmental impact of textile and apparel products. Many brands are now turning to the Swedish firm Polygiene® for technologies that help provide a solution.


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LeBron James weighs in on controversial H&M 'coolest monkey' ad
CLEVELAND, OH (WOIO) - Add graphic designer to LeBron James' resume.
The Cavs star took a controversial H&M ad featuring a black child wearing a "coolest monkey in the jungle" hooded-sweatshirt, and redesigned him as a "Young King."
"I see a Young King. The ruler of the world, an untouchable force that can never be denied," James posted on Instagram.
The initial ad sparked backlash on social media.
In a statement released Tuesday morning, the clothing retailer said that the ad was pulled and the product will no longer be sold in stores or online.
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