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A low-cost battery touted by
is disrupting the electric-vehicle business in China, grabbing nearly half of the market and spurring the rise of more affordable EVs.
The battery, known as lithium ferrophosphate, or LFP, has low risk of catching fire and costs less to make because it uses iron in place of scarce cobalt and nickel. But it generally offers fewer miles on a single charge and has a tendency to fizzle in cold weather, reasons why it isn’t widely used in the U.S. or Europe.
In China last year, makers of the iron batteries supplied 30.8 gigawatt-hours of energy capacity for vehicles including EVs and gas-electric hybrids, accounting for 47% of the market, according to the government-backed China Automotive Battery Research Institute. That percentage was up from a little more than a quarter the previous year and reflected the arrival of low-cost mass-market EVs using the batteries.
“China leads on the production scale, quality and cost of the current generation of LFP batteries,” said Chao-Yang Wang, a professor and battery expert at Pennsylvania State University.
Mr. Musk, the
chief, has noticed. Tesla uses LFP batteries in one version of its China-made Model 3 sedans but not in Model 3s made in the U.S. Mr. Musk tweeted in late February that he wanted to use cheaper materials in the cathode, the side of a battery that absorbs electrons when it is generating power.
“Nickel is our biggest concern for scaling lithium-ion cell production. That’s why we are shifting standard range cars to an iron cathode. Plenty of iron (and lithium)!” Mr. Musk wrote.
One of China’s biggest car hits recently is a diminutive model that uses LFP batteries to lower costs. The Hongguang Mini, made by a joint venture in China in which
General Motors Co.
owns a 44% stake, sells for as little as $4,300 for the base model. Its range is about 75 miles to 105 miles depending on the model. The car uses batteries from Chinese makers
, also known as CATL, and Gotion High-tech Co.
The Hongguang Mini sold nearly 57,000 units in the first two months of 2021, according to the China Passenger Car Association, about twice as many as Tesla’s Model 3 in China. Hongguang’s maker declined to comment but said last year on a social-media account that LFP batteries offered good value for money and enjoyed a longer life compared with lithium-ion batteries used in the West.
The traditional criticism of LFP batteries is that they pack less power than lithium-ion batteries that use cobalt and nickel. U.S. and European car makers, trying to overcome range anxiety among potential EV customers, have put priority on powerful batteries that can get more than 300 miles on a single charge—better than most LFP batteries.
Tesla said last year that it would look to use LFP batteries more as the technology advances to enable greater range.
said in March that it was focusing on LFP as a leading technology for entry-level vehicles. But outside of Tesla, U.S. makers generally haven’t embraced the technology, because they have already poured investment into other battery types and because of the limited range of LFP batteries.
Battery specialists say CATL and other Chinese battery makers such as
are trying to address the range problem in LFP batteries. BYD, which has investment from
says its “blade battery” has optimized the battery pack structure to increase energy density.
But performance in cold weather, an issue in general with EVs, can be a particular annoyance with LFP batteries, users say.
Peggy Weng, a 46-year-old Shanghai resident, bought a Tesla Model 3 with an LFP battery at the end of November but said she sold it in less than three months.
Trouble began during an early-January cold snap when temperatures fell to the low 20s Fahrenheit. Without a Tesla supercharger station at her apartment compound, Ms. Weng was using a home charger, and she said she was worried about running out of battery life while commuting and driving around the city for work. The car once stopped in the middle of the road for more than 10 minutes, she said.
“I feel insecure driving a car that performs like this,” Ms. Weng said.
Tesla didn’t respond to messages seeking comment.
Scientists in Japan and the U.S. have led the development of lithium battery technologies since the 1990s. When China sought to catch up in the 2000s, LFP was an easier option to meet safety standards because the batteries are less prone to catching fire, said Tokyo University professor Atsuo Yamada.
Before 2017, LFP was the mainstay battery for what was then a tiny EV market in China. It briefly lost market share, in part because a government-subsidy program favored longer-range vehicles, but made a comeback last year when the subsidies were pulled back and technology improved.
SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS
Would you buy an electric vehicle with a lithium ferrophosphate battery? Join the conversation below.
Mr. Yamada, who has been studying LFP batteries for more than 20 years, said he believed the technology was good enough to take a leading role in the EV market. He cited the low cost, rapid charging speed, long life and stable performance at high temperature.
He described the cold-weather issue as manageable, saying it could be fixed with a better temperature-control system.
Penn State’s Prof. Wang and colleagues published a paper in the journal Nature Energy in January demonstrating technology for self-warming LFP batteries that could charge adequately in all climates.
Chinese EV maker
whose investors include
and Sequoia Capital, has introduced LFP versions of its P7 sedan and G3 compact sport-utility vehicle. Xpeng keeps the price the same for the various battery types, but the LFP versions come with extra features such as a more advanced autonomous driving system.
As for Ms. Weng, she is a happy Xpeng EV owner—but with a regular lithium-ion battery. “I enjoy my new P7 so much better,” she said.
Write to Yang Jie at [email protected]
Copyright ©2020 Dow Jones & Company, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 87990cbe856818d5eddac44c7b1cdeb8


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GLENVIEW, Ill. (WLS) -- A fortune may slip away.
Time is running out for someone to claim a $1 million Powerball jackpot.
The winning ticket was sold on Jan. 13 at the Citgo Food Mart on Greenwood Road in Glenview.
The ticket expires in less than a month.
The Citgo has received its $10,000 bonus for selling the ticket.

domain: news


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21 Savage decided to bring some holiday joy to children in Atlanta, with Christmas just three days away.
Children at the Wade Walker Park Family YMCA wrote letters to Santa of their wishes. With the rappers contribution, non-profit was able to deliver goods to the foundation in Stone Mountain Georgia.
Presents included Christmas gifts for children as well as food for their families. There also was giveaway of “21 Savage X Black Santa” sweatshirts at site, he created with brand https://hiphopfreaks.com/prison-dating-app/.
21 savage is latest rapper to lead great example and make children at their communities happy during holydays, other rappers such as RoddyRicch, Gunna, 50 cent and others also gave back to underprivilrged kids.


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Advertising Week Europe - London 2014
Date posted: 21st Mar 2014
It (only) took 9 successful years of Advertising Week in New York City before the world’s premier annual gathering of marketing and communications leaders landed in London. Now in its 2nd year in Europe, Advertising Week promises another excellent roundup of events.
Matt Scheckner, chief executive officer of Stillwell Partners which produces Advertising Week globally, commented: “The UK has spoken with resounding clarity and Advertising Week Europe will most certainly be back in 2014 at BAFTA 195 Piccadilly. From our daytime thought leadership seminars to a series of evening special events including the International ANDY Awards and a sold out live stand up comedy night in the Princess Anne Theatre, BAFTA 195 is now firmly established as the hub of Advertising Week 2014.”
And with 2014 the year of both #web25 celebration and Facebook 10y anniversary, it comes as little surprise that the line-up includes events such as News Knight, with Sir Trevor McDonald OBE, FACEBOOK @ 10 staring its very own Director of Global Creative Solutions, Mark D’Arcy, or The Future of Marketing, with speakers like Gemma Greaves, Managing Director at The Marketing Society.
With mobile rapidly developing in one of the key, if not the main, platforms for information, #AWEurope also brings into attention a series of workshops focused on the impact of this strategic touchpoint for advertisers and marketers.
Talking of Advertising Week Europe Special Events, one standout is The Guardian Leadership Breakfast, which will focus on none other than Edward Snowden and his revelations, particularly on how the leaks have impacted the advertising industry and nowadays’society. For more info, check out http://advertisingweek.eu/ or browse through the official guide http://advertisingweek.eu/guide/ .


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Deposits put some teeth into recycling
Remember collecting bottles to return them for the deposit? If not, listen up.
Back in the day when softdrink bottling companies reused glass bottles over and over, kids used to make candy money by collecting the 2 or 3 cents grocery stores would pay on behalf of the bottlers.
That was back before soda began coming in aluminum cans or plastic bottles and America became a disposable society.
In recent years, some states have reimposed can and bottle deposits, with an eye toward recycling rather than re-use.
Now a couple of congressmen from the East Coast have introduced a bill to make bottle deposits mandatory nationwide.
Called the Bottle Recycling Climate Protection Act of 2009, it would add a 5-cent deposit to the price of each applicable container. If a store sold the same brand of beverage in the same kind and size of package, it would have to accept empty, unbroken returns and refund the deposit money.
Exempted would be states that already have deposit laws, or which already have a high recycling or reuse rate for beverage containers.
The last time Nebraska attempted to impose a deposit system on containers, retailers opposed the idea because of the cost and inconvenience.
But if we are really serious about recycling, making an impact on the wallet or purse is one sure way to do it.
Besides, giving kids a chance to earn a few bucks by recycling empty containers would be a good lesson in simple economics.
Grocers are also being affected by local drives to cut back on the numbers of those disposable plastic bags going into the landfills or blowing around the parking lots.
Washington D.C. is imposing a 5-cent tax on grocery bags -- paper or plastic -- and other communities are following suit, some by as much as 25 cents or more.
The idea is to encourage people to use those reusable cloth bags that are now hanging beside those plastic bags at the checkout counter.
Now comes word that those reusable cloth bags can harbor fungus and bacteria. In fact, two laboratories found that 64 percent of the bags had some type of bacteria, nearly one in three had elevated levels of bacterial contamination, and yeast and mold was found.
A closer look at some of the studies, however, found that they were commissioned by, you guessed it, the plastics industry.
But they do have a point. Any time you are carrying produce, meat poultry or fish, there are going to be microorganisms. So, since you aren't throwing them away, you should treat those reusable bags like you would a cutting board -- clean and sanitize it between uses.
The simplest way would be to throw it in the washing machine.
One has to wonder, however, what the environmental impact of laundering all those reusable bags will be.


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PCMag looks at the Treo 600
PCMagazine has posted a preliminary review of a preproduction Handspring Treo 600. PCMag says the Treo 600 improves on the original in almost every way.
The Treo 600 features a smaller, more phone-like design with a full QWERTY keyboard and digital camera. The Treo 600 combines a (GSM/GRPS or CDMA 1xRTT) cell phone, and Palm OS 5-based organizer with messaging, email, and web browsing features. It is expected to become available this fall worldwide.
Reviewer, Jim Louderbac, praises the model for it's ease of use and one handed operation. "after about a day of using the device for Web browsing, e-mailing, making phone calls, and taking pictures, we came away impressed. Handspring seems poised to reset the standard for integrated data/voice devices yet again."
The full review can be found here.
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A decade after the financial crisis, U.S. stock indexes are routinely rising to new records -- and now, another corner of the market is set to reach a milestone. It just needs a few more blank checks.
Initial offerings by special-purpose acquisition companies, or SPACs, are poised for their biggest year ever, with Bloomberg News reporting late Monday that former executives of Jarden Corp. are seeking to raise between $750 million and $1.25 billion by selling shares to the public. The IPO is poised to surpass that of another SPAC, Social Capital Hedosophia Holdings Corp., which raised $600 million earlier this month, and could even best the biggest blank-check offering of the year to date, Silver Run Acquisition Corp. II, which raised $1.035 billion in March.
SPACs -- also known as "blank-check" IPOs -- are entities that are formed with the purpose of striking a deal within a certain time frame using the funds raised in their offering. This new entity, called J2, marks a second-coming of sorts of its predecessor Jarden, which bought up a stable of consumer brands that it later sold for a handsome profit to rival Newell Brands Inc. J2's target also will likely be a consumer-products company, according to the Bloomberg News report.
The popularity of such companies has grown because public investors have been increasingly willing to bet on proven management teams pursuing new acquisitions. This one is no different.
J2 is the brainchild of Martin Franklin and other former Jarden executives who built up that consumer-products company with more than 20 acquisitions -- from Yankee Candle through to the United States Playing Card Co. -- before selling to Newell. The Jarden deal handed shareholders who invested during the executives' tenure a return of more than 50 times their initial investment. For that reason, investors will likely be ready to roll the dice once again -- that and Franklin's long and strong track record in dealmaking.
Not all of Franklin's ventures have been home runs. He is chairman of another blank-check company, Platform Specialty Products Corp., which admittedly, isn't in the consumer sector where J2 will likely be hunting. The $3.2 billion SPAC has posted total returns of just 10.3 percent since its debut in 2013, an underwhelming showing when compared to the S&P 500 Index's gains of 54 percent over the same period.
But Franklin has had success elsewhere. He is co-chairman of Nomad Foods Ltd., a U.K.-based acquisition vehicle, which has delivered 45.7 percent in total returns since listing on the New York Stock Exchange compared to the benchmark S&P 500's 34 percent. Nomad has made two acquisitions, both in the frozen-food arena, and Franklin had earlier indicated he wanted the company to expand into compelling retail brands.
With J2 raising money now and likely seeking out at least one consumer brand of its own, there's a risk that Nomad gets left out in the cold. At the least, there's a potential conflict of interest about how its co-chairman directs any deals that he's able to source. But this wrinkle is less of a worry for J2's potential investors.
A slight concern about J2, though, is that Franklin and his comrades are pivoting to the public markets after first seeking private capital for their new venture.
J2's inability to raise enough funding entirely from private sources may raise some eyebrows, especially these days when sophisticated investors like pension funds and family offices are writing checks to private equity funds at a frenetic pace. The difference here is that those investors' faith in private equity firms is generally a result of stronger track records as well as the appeal of diversity, rather than just one make-or-break deal.
And it won't be as easy for these former Jarden executives to deliver killer returns. Valuations have climbed higher yet and competition from buyout funds and strategics has intensified since they last went on a buying spree.
One positive? From the time of J2's IPO, executives have two years to strike a deal. The world may be a very different place by then.
This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of Bloomberg LP and its owners.
For background, it includes the merger of one of his SPACs, Justice Holdings Ltd., with Burger King Worldwide Holdings years before the company merged with Tim Hortons Inc. to form Restaurant Brands International Inc.
Notably, the company is aware of this underperformance and is planning to split off its agriculture arm in an IPO next year in a move designed to enhance shareholder value
Still, the change in tack opens J2 up to collect cash from hedge funds such as Bill Ackman's Pershing Square Capital Management LP, which has backed Franklin's past endeavors.
To contact the editor responsible for this story:
Beth Williams at email@example.com


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Bitrefill Adds Steam Vouchers, Craigslist Supports BitcoinDate Written: December 11 2017 Written By: George Miller
In what can be considered as a serious blow to online gamers who use the most popular cryptocurrency, Bitcoin, Steam has announced that this currency would no longer be accepted as a means of payment. The relationship was doomed mainly by high transaction fees and price volatility. In other economies that are freer, such opportunities are considered as one of the ways of gaining market share by offering customers a lifeline to some of the coveted services.
Craigslist, which is an online classified marketplace, has now given its users the ability to specify that they accept cryptocurrencies as modes of payment. Craigslist decided to take this path after having sensed a sort of advantage in the offing. It added a new option for those who are making a for-sale post, titled ‘cryptocurrency ok’.
Craigslist accepting Bitcoin is definitely one of the best mainstream cases of the ultimate utility of Bitcoin. It can help in situations where cash might fail. Bitcoin also allows peer-to-peer confidence and so it can work in situations where large transactions are needed.
Steam Without Bitcoin? Bitrefill Wants to Help
Steam cannot be wholly blamed for that move that they decide to take. Apart from the rising price, Bitcoin is on fire, and most of its problems have continued to scale. Users who try to access exchanges have reported cases of long delays, particularly during prime runs.
Some time ago, Valve, which is its parent firm aired its complaint on the online platforms and tried to explain its loss-loss frustration with the friction-Bitcoin. Users of these two giants in the world of cryptocurrency also took to social media to air their viewers, with some even predicting that Bitcoin wouldn’t be around for long. However, a bunch of other users decided to tackle the matter from a philosophical point of view.
When Bitcoin’s trading fees are cut into Valve’s profit and other related transactions, it comes to around $5. So from that analysis, Valve seems to be making a point. Whereas its control over its area of specialization is very strong, they appear to be doing away with a once loved method of payment.
To balance the fees for the transaction, the best thing Valve should do is to re-enable Bitcoin with a specific minimum. But even better, the company could also use Bitcoin Cash, which is not only the original Bitcoin but also quite cheap and fast.
From the look of things, Bitcoin Core might not be around in the next one or two years, and Bitcoin Cash will then have more command. It will definitely take all the use-cases that are currently enjoyed by Bitcoin Core – the services, the value, the merchants, the miners and the traditional ecosystem built around Bitcoin. Unless the complicated adjustment logarithm of Bitcoin Core is hard forked, then this service might freeze very fast, but of course after a huge price drop. Miners haven’t had the best place to escape to during the past price drops; Bitcoin Cash could be just the one.
But while all these were taking place, one company saw an opening and decided to chip in. The company is Bitrefill, which is mostly recognized as a mogul in the market for mobile phone apps. Through a statement that was released by the company, they decided to give a new hope to thousands of gamers who had been denied an opportunity to use Bitcoin for paying Steam gaming. They have created a platform where gamers can easily purchase Steam vouchers from Bitrefill.
A Case of One Door Shuts, Many Open
Paying Steam vouchers with Bitrefill is not as complicated as some might think, it can be easily done through normal Bitrefill transactions. But besides that, they can also be paid through off-chain payments with LocalBitcoins accounts, Xapo Accounts, as well as the Coinbase Accounts.
Litecoin support, which is an experimental native from Valve, can also help in this regard. Bitrefill seems to be more committed to ensuring that Bitcoin is used as a currency by people all over the world. Bitcoin is one of the most promising global forces, and it can stay in that position for some time.
There are a number of additional payment services that have opted to experiment with Bitcoin. One of the largest payment processing companies; Square, is one of the most recent to jump on board. Bitcoin seems to be riding on the back of the various cryptocurrency platforms that have surged all over the world.


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There may not be many hotly anticipated games for the summer, but perhaps that drought will allow titles like Kane & Lynch 2: Dog Days to shine.
Today, IO Interactive and Square-Enix Europe have confirmed that this gritty sequel has officially gone gold and now has a finalized release date. The good news is that it'll launch on August 17 in North America and August 20 in Europe and PAL territories, which is one week earlier than originally scheduled. The game certainly looks like a definite upgrade over the first title, and the dark, violent, in-your-face atmosphere and environment should definitely turn some heads. Said Niels Jorgensen, general manager of IO Interactive:
"The team has worked hard to deliver a game that’s different from the current trend of third-person shooters and we’re so pleased to be able to share it with the world ahead of schedule. With development now complete, why keep people waiting any longer? We want to let gamers experience the game we’ve created and get them online betraying their friends in Fragile Alliance, so we have decided to bring the release date forward by one week."
The game spans 48 hours of hell with two of the most notorious criminals around; a simple job goes terribly wrong in Shanghai and it's all downhill from there. Featuring "groundbreaking art direction, relentless action gameplay and innovative multiplayer," IO seeks to deliver an entertaining and perhaps even unforgettable experience. Kane & Lynch 2: Dog Days is coming for the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and PC.
Related Game(s): Kane & Lynch 2: Dog Days


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Corp. is building identity systems of the future for real time action enabling computing solutions to be embedded in the real world and bring real presence into virtual spaces, said Satya Nadella
, chairman and CEO, MIcrosoft speaking at the Future Ready event today.
He stressed on how businesses are reimagining hybrid work creating with the new identity management solutions that are helping businesses collaborate better.
“We are building the metaverse
in transects the metaverse platform for you to build upon. In a sense, the metaverse enables us to embed computing into the real world and to embed the real world into computing, bringing real presence to any digital space. For years we've talked about creating this digital representation of the world. But now we actually have the opportunity to go into that world and participate in it,” said Nadella.
The metaverse refers to a collection of shared online worlds in which physical, augmented, and virtual reality converge. People can hang out with friends, work, visit places, buy goods and services, and attend events. While many virtual worlds exist online, users currently can’t move between them while retaining their identities and assets. Companies like Microsoft and Mark Zuckerberg
’s Meta (formerly Facebook) are already betting big on building solutions for this space.
“We're building the identity system of the future, a connective network that enables people, organisations, apps, and even smart things to make real time access decisions,” he added.
Nadella added that companies collaborate digitally within organisations as well as with customers, partners, suppliers. These require a hybrid and hyperconnected business, multi cloud, multi edge computing, or zero trust security workspaces within the digital ecosystem. It also requires trust between different parties to be established in real time.
“What's most important is that we are able to bring our humanity with us and choose how we want to experience this world and who we want to interact with. It's no longer just looking at a camera view of a factory floor. You can be on the floor. It's no longer just video conferencing with colleagues. That's the next big breakthrough and we are approaching this thoughtfully because we have learned from similar transitions in the past,” he said.
He added that as companies across the globe move from mobile and cloud computing to ubiquitous computing solutions, organisations will experience more digitisation in the next ten years than they have in the past 40 years. The shift towards such a digital way of working will involve more hybrid workspaces as well as talent to drive innovation for such ecosystems.
“ We need that next level of real time hyperconnectivity between businesses and between consumers and businesses where data and intelligence flow freely to tackle the challenges of supply and demand. In fact by 2025, it's projected that sales and marketing processes will involve more proactive engagement than reactive once all the way from customer marketing to supply chain. Going forward. Every business process will be collaborative, powered by data and AI and will bridge the digital and physical worlds,” said Nadella.


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Woman charged after attempting to steal $7k ring
A St. Louis woman has been charged with second-degree theft after attempting to steal a $7,000 ring from a downtown Iowa City jewelry store.
According to Iowa City police, Taneesha Mone Wise, 23, was at M.C. Ginsberg Objects of Art at 10:24 a.m. Tuesday when she asked to see pairs of earrings, and then several rings. When the clerk showed Wise a large ring valued at $7,000, Wise grabbed the ring and ran for the door, according to the criminal complaint.
Wise attempted to get out the door but was apprehended by store employees, according to the complaint.
After police arrived and advised Wise of her rights, Wise admitted that she went to the store with the intent of stealing "a whole tray of earrings, but chickened out and only tried to steal the ring," according to the complaint.
Wise had a large stack of $1 bills, with $100 bills at both ends to flash to employees, intended to indicate she was able to purchase more expensive items, according to the complaint.
Wise remains in the Johnson County Jail.


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|Polk County Enterprise - Local News
Copyright 2014 - Polk County Publishing Company
Divas, diamonds come together April 11
LIVINGSTON – A night and day of pampering, shopping and information will be presented during the annual Divas and Diamonds Event hosted by the Livingston- Polk County Chamber of Commerce. The event kicks off on Friday, April 11, with a VIP night from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. and continues on Saturday, April 12, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Polk County Commerce Center off the U.S. Highway 59 Bypass in Livingston. Tickets for the VIP night are $35 per person and will be sold in advance only. Those attending will be treated to food, a beverage, unlimited shopping, a style show and entertainment. The VIP ticket also covers admission on Saturday. Those without VIP tickets will pay $15 per person at the door for admission on Saturday. Special guests on both Friday evening and Saturday will be the "Texas Fire" Firefighters, will be on hand for pictures and a raffle for a dinner with six women at the firehouse. Proceeds from the event will benefit Polk County organizations that assist women and children in crisis, including Childrenz Haven, CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) and the SAAFE House of Polk County. Vendors and "pamperers" interested in obtaining booth space for the event should visit the chamber's website polkchamber.com or Facebook page. For more information contact the chamber by phone at 936- 327-4929. Vendor space and VIP tickets are limited.


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Diners with a craving for a legendary Lucky Dog will no longer have to visit the French Quarter to get their fix.
Beginning next Friday, August 8, Lucky Dogs will be available in all Rouses across the city, marking the first time the hot dogs have been sold as a retail product.
The Lucky Dogs will come in a five-pack, and be the same version served from the iconic, hot dog-shaped cart.
"We are very excited about the launch of Lucky Dogs into Rouses Supermarkets," said Lucky Dog co-owner Mark Talbot in a statement. "Rouses has been very helpful in this endeavor, one local family business helping another local family business. When my brother and I approached our dad about going retail with Lucky Dogs, we all agreed that Rouses was where we wanted to be. They are local, like us. Now you don't have to go to the Quarter to enjoy Lucky Dogs."
While we anxiously wait for Lucky Dogs to hit grocery store shelves, share with us your favorite memory of eating a Lucky Dog in the comments below.


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Wrap up the week by taking a look back at some of the news and articles featured on DVC Fan and around the Disney Vacation Club community!
DVC Members are invited to set sail to the Western Caribbean on the Disney Fantasy for the 2021 Disney Vacation Club Member Cruise!
This 75pt. Grand Floridian resale contract at $197 per point comes loaded with 150 points available on 4/1/20, just in time for your spring or summer vacation. If you would like further information, email to firstname.lastname@example.org!
Here are some articles featured this week on DVC Fan:
- Best and Worst: DVC Resort Holiday Decorations
- Getting Married at Your DVC Home Resort
- DVC Show: 2020 Holiday Availability at Walt Disney World
- Grand Floridian Magic Kingdom Walking Path Now Open
- Modified Park Hopping Returns to Disney World in January
This week over on the DVC Fan Facebook Group, we’re discussing our excitement for the upcoming Epcot Flower and Garden Festival!
“Believe it or not, its already been a year since I joined the Disney Vacation Club. It frightens me how quickly a year seems to go by these days…” – Pete Werner
Walt Disney World has officially introduced its brand new Disney Dining Plan Plus giving guests the flexibility of using their dining entitlements exclusively on Table-Service experiences or adding in some Quick-Service meals.


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Mega prize was awarded at City Centre Deira on July 28
Majid Al Futtaim—the leading shopping mall, communities, retail and leisure pioneer across the Middle East, Africa and Asia, created great moments for lucky shoppers during Dubai Summer Surprises this year by awarding AED 557,500 worth of prizes in its exclusive ‘Spin the Wheel’ opportunity at Mall of the Emirates, City Centre Mirdif and City Centre Deira.
The malls exclusively collaborated with the Dubai Festivals and Retail Establishment to give shoppers a chance to win instantly this DSS.
More than 100 visitors at the malls won prizes over three weeks by spinning the specially designed raffle wheel. One lucky UAE resident walked away with a whopping AED 100,000 prize by spinning the wheel on July 28, the final day of the campaign.
Five shoppers were selected daily for a chance to spin the wheel during this period. The first set of shoppers had their opportunity at Mall of the Emirates from July 9 to 15, followed by City Centre Mirdif from July 16 to 21 and then at City Centre Deira for the final week and finale on July 28.


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December 3, 2013
The holiday shopping season is only beginning, but there's a new trend this year that many are hoping becomes a new tradition.
The thought behind Giving Tuesday is shifting consumers' focus from getting caught up in holiday shopping to donating time or resources to local nonprofits in need.
"It's to officially kick off the giving season just in the same way Black Friday kicks off the shopping season," said Jackie Bright, executive director of Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Central Blue Ridge.
Big Brothers Big Sisters is just one organization taking part.
"You don't have to be a super hero to be super for these kids," Bright said.
The group has 150 kids on the waiting list for an adult mentor, and now is the time of year that could have the most impact.
"We're trying really hard to get those children matched with a mentor before the holiday season because what a great present we could give them and say, 'Hey, this holiday, you have a big brother or big sister,'" Bright said.
Computers 4 Kids is another local organization taking part in the new trend.
"Just put it on people's radar what's going on and that there's the opportunity to support and make a difference by making a donation," said Michaela Muttom, the grants and communications manager for Computers 4 Kids. "One of the benefits of a day like Giving tuesday is if a lot of people give, even if it's a little, it will make a difference."
And it's not always about money. The organizations are also searching for volunteers.
"There's a real impact on the quality of life of our students, and many of the students stay in the community, so there's an impact on the community," Muttom said.
Both Big Brothers Big Sisters and Comptuers 4 Kids are in the middle of holiday campaigns to reach certain goals before the end of the year, and they say now is the time they could use a good boost.


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“Described below, you sell products that are intended to mitigate, prevent, treat, diagnose, or cure COVID-19 in people,” the letter said. “We request that you take immediate action to cease the sale of such unapproved and unauthorized products for the mitigation, prevention, treatment, diagnosis, or cure of COVID-19.”
The FDA cited several examples of Jones’ bogus claims from February and March.
“Regardless of how deadly this virus is … if it kills you, it’s bad news,” Jones said on a March 20 broadcast. “So, I would advise listeners, just for your everyday life anyway, to boost your immune system.”
“We have the products that are documented on record to be good for your body,” he continued, before hawking several wares that supposedly contain silver like a toothpaste and a wound treatment gel.
There is currently no cure for COVID-19. That didn’t stop Jones from sticking to his lies, telling HuffPost in a statement last month that Infowars stands by the bogus products. New York Attorney General Letitia James sent a cease-and-desist letter in March demanding Jones stop promoting his fake medicine.
The FDA said in its letter that Jones’ misrepresentation could carry financial penalties and risk product seizures by the government. That could spell more trouble for Jones, who has already lost nearly $150,000 in court costs related to his failed bids to shut down several current lawsuits against him by the parents of dead children who he falsely claimed were “crisis actors.”
Jones was given until Saturday to respond to the FDA’s letter expressing his compliance. Products including “SuperSilver” wound gel no longer appear on the Infowars store, though plenty of other bogus remedies continue to be featured.
A HuffPost Guide To Coronavirus
Calling all HuffPost superfans!
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Foodservice equipment parts distributor Parts Town has purchased US-based mobile inventory management platform 3Plenish for an undisclosed value.
3Plenish platform offer parts inventory management and replenishment services for trucks used by companies that focus on field service, and managing service technicians and parts stockrooms.
Parts Town information technology and e-commerce senior vice-president Mike O’Shea said: “We are very excited to own this unique technology and look forward to rebranding and building on the existing capabilities.
“Many of our partners continue to seek simple inventory management and replenishment solutions, and the 3Plenish technology is currently the best out there. We plan to take it to a whole new level.”
As well as this Parts Town continues to offer services that are currently available to customers until re-branding begins.
O’Shea added: “There are several successful implementations already that are adding value in the market, and a nice pipeline of opportunity.”
Revolution at Parts Town vice-president Emanuela Delgado said: “3Plenish fits neatly into our overall technology roadmap for 2019 and beyond. We have been setting the stage for a set of breakthrough innovations that are currently in development and ownership of 3Plenish will help us to further expand our technology differentiation.”
Parts Town is an original equipment manufacturer (OEM) of foodservice equipment parts. It offers customised solutions to food equipment service companies, chain restaurants, institutions and independent restaurants.
Parts ID tools offered by the company include PartSPIN 3600 imaging technology, Serial Number Lookup, enhanced Smart Manuals, and its mobile app.
In May last year, the OEM manufacturer acquired the foodservice parts distribution and field service business assets of US-based 3Wire Foodservice for an undisclosed value.


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Sony has announced a new "Ice Silver" Vita colour for Asian markets.
The new colour will come in a Wi-Fi trim only, and comes in an otherwise typical package containing a USB and power cable and the AR cards, confirmed Sony Computer Entertainment Hong Kong.
It'll be out there from March 6. There's no word on a release in other regions.
"Cosmic Red" and "Sapphire Blue" Vita models launched in Japan in November last year.
Sony looks set to unveil the PlayStation 4 at an event on February 20, when it says it'll allow gamers to "see the future".


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This summit held five branches: sensitive components and sensor technology, 3D technology and virtual reality, industrial sensors and applications, artificial intelligence and industrial big data, technological innovation and achievement transformation. Dr. Lu Yuan of Sellex Microsystems Technology (Beijing) Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of Neville Technology Holdings, attended the meeting and discussed and communicated with the delegates on the development of sensor industry at home and abroad, dual ecology of industrial development, and industrial cluster construction.
Sensor is the foundation and key technology of the new generation of information technology. It is the foundation and data source of sensing technologies such as the Internet of Things and big data. Its development and application are important to measure the degree of informatization of a country. Sign. The convening of this conference has further promoted the exchange and cooperation of international sensor technology and products, and promoted the development of my country's sensor basic industry and technological innovation.
With the broad market of automotive intelligence and the demand for upgrading the sensor industry, the sensor industry is in a golden period of rapid development, and the global sensor market is expected to reach the trillion yuan level by 2025. Since the wholly-owned acquisition of Silex in Sweden, the development of Neville's MEMS business has reached a new stage and has achieved rapid growth in recent years. Neville Technology is independently building an "8-inch MEMS International OEM Line" in China, which will prepare large-scale mass production capacity for the arrival of the era of sensors and the Internet of Things. After the completion and operation of the production line, the company's corporate layout with sensor technology as the core will be clearer, and the development goal of becoming a global sensor leader will be further realized.


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In this issue of Industry Insider, ZDNet's Dan Farber says the war of words between SAP and PeopleSoft may make interesting read but the real issue for enterprises is which vendor can provide the most reliable, cost-effective solutions.
"Henning Kagermann [SAP CEO] talking about flexibility and adaptability is like [former French prime minister] Francois Mitterand talking about having a deep affection for American tourists. It's not true. Just because they say it's true doesn't make it true."
That's what PeopleSoft CEO Craig Conway said during his keynote at his company's annual Executive Leadership Summit earlier this month. Conway also accused Kagermann of cribbing his speech at the SAP SAPPHIRE conference from a presentation he gave earlier this year.
The gloves are off as PeopleSoft has concluded its acquisition of J.D. Edwards, cementing its position as the clear #2 enterprise application provider behind SAP. Conway feels more confident that it can fend off Oracle's recently lowered hostile take over bid, and now has his sights set on an "assault on Mount SAP."
I asked Linda Lazor, vice president of global product marketing at PeopleSoft, to provide some specifics regarding Conway's remarks. She described SAP as lacking in total ownership experience (TOE), which she defined as cost benefits in terms of fewer IT staff required, speed of implementation, usability and ongoing operations and maintenance. For example, PeopleSoft claims that it has seen a 30 percent faster average time to complete over 140 key user tasks.
She also claimed that PeopleSoft has leapfrogged SAP with predictive analytics in PeopleSoft Enterprise CRM 8.9 and demand driven manufacturing, which allows companies to more accurately devise supply chain scenarios and to respond more quickly to changes in demand. She cited some independent studies and customer comments to support her arguments.
Page II: In this issue of Industry Insider, ZDNet's Dan Farber says the war of words between SAP and PeopleSoft may make interesting read but the real issue for enterprises is which vendor can provide the most reliable, cost-effective solutions.
SAP, Oracle, Siebel, Microsoft, IBM and others could come up with counter-claims, positive comments about themselves and disparaging remarks about PeopleSoft and each other. It's part of the smackdown American business culture. However, the bombast tends to make vendors' claims even more suspect than those made during civil discourse.
PeopleSoft crowed that it has reduced the number of steps to deploy application updates by 80 percent and disparaged SAP's track record in that area. SAP did recently introduce a change management toolset to reduce the complexity and employee hours required for new product installations and patching. It sounds like good competition yielding better products and services, as well as some mud slinging.
The rhetoric and mud slinging are a side show, however. The issue for enterprises is which vendors can provide the most reliable, cost-effective solutions that can scale with organisational growth. The proof is in the reference accounts and Peer Company reviews.
Post-bubble customers are not willing to spend without a high degree of certainty that a pre-defined ROI can be achieved in months and not decades. And, existing customers of PeopleSoft and others are demanding more accountability from the vendors in order to stay within the fold.
The big three enterprise business applications vendors-SAP, PeopleSoft and Oracle-are all "relatively" safe bets. They have track records, reference accounts, support infrastructures, billions in revenue and R&D and the motivation to invest in product development. They have some happy customers and some who are not pleased with what they bought.
They are account controllers, with the potential to lock-in customers, buttressed by the high cost of switching and high-touch handling when they are in a customer acquisition mode. They are consolidators, scooping up smaller companies to fill out their portfolios or for defensive purposes, and in some cases swallowing the big fish, as PeopleSoft did with J.D. Edwards and as Oracle wants to do with PeopleSoft.
They are leaders in their own ways, and come at the varied markets segments and industries with different strengths and weaknesses. They all are heading in the same direction, with comprehensive, highly integrated enterprise application platforms that include a suite of business applications, portals, application servers, integration middleware and master data management. Open standards, business process management, on-demand, and Web services and services-oriented architecture (SOA) are their common buzz words.
Page III: In this issue of Industry Insider, ZDNet's Dan Farber says the war of words between SAP and PeopleSoft may make interesting read but the real issue for enterprises is which vendor can provide the most reliable, cost-effective solutions.
With a service-orientation, enterprises can better leverage their IT investments and reduce the complexities of integrating multi-vendor applications. SAP's NetWeaver and PeopleSoft's AppConnect, for example, are service-oriented platforms for integrating applications and building solutions from discrete components spanning multiple vendors. Oracle's Customer Data Hub helps companies gather data from multiple sources centrally.
They are also aiming products at the mid-market (moving down market), preaching that less customisation is a good thing, and developing tighter technology-integration relationships with Microsoft. SAP and Microsoft are working on to connecting their respective Web services products, and Oracle recently said that it would make it easier to write Windows-based applications that access data stored in an Oracle database. Earlier this year, Sun and Microsoft put aside differences to make their products interoperate better.
While the vendors are preaching more openness and plug and play with Web services, the reality is that they want to sell end-to-end software stacks. A recent trend is prepackaged bundles of industry-specific applications, such as PeopleSoft's EnterpriseOne product family. SAP introduced "quick fix" packages of software and services that address integrating tasks such as e-mail applications or data-archiving tools with the company's ERP and CRM systems. As Oracle CEO Larry Ellison testified in the antitrust case involving his company's hostile bid for PeopleSoft, companies acquire integrated enterprise software suites from the big three vendors because devising business systems from multiple vendors is "staggeringly difficult."
Ellison's statement is self-serving, but it also reflects reality, even with the advent of Web services and SOA. Mixing and matching components, and vendors, is never going to be as easy and as cost effective as a more monolithic solution. For SAP's customers, for example, the NetWeaver platform is going to be more cost effective than deploying components from competing vendors, such as IBM.
Yet, customers don't want to be locked into a single vendor. With SOA and standards switching costs are going down, and it will allow different parts of an enterprise software infrastructure to be more easily swapped. Going forward, with just a few vendors dominating the market, customers will have to consider swapping to gain some leverage in negotiating terms and to ditch vendors that can't deliver.
We are moving from more of a build it yourself model to automated assembly of components and composite applications. It is a decade long trek that will have many challenges, just as moving to client/server did in a previous decade. The key for any enterprise in this evolving IT world is to have people who know the technology, understand business needs of the organisation, can build the IT requirements documents, vet the vendors and negotiate terms. If you don't have people who fit that description, your will be seriously handicapped versus those companies who have invested in hiring and keeping those kinds of rare individuals.
Dan Farber is editor-in-chief, ZDNet US.


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What do the brightest and loudest smartphones in the world have in common? They're both made by Nokia. And they both run Symbian. Say what?
The 701 has what Nokia claims is the brightest phone screen the world has ever seen (and a 1GHz processor and 8MP camera). The 600 is their loudest smartphone to date. And the tiny 700 Nokia claims is the smallest monoblock phone on the market. All exceptional in some way. All running Symbian.
Why? As dead as Symbian is in the US, people still care for and use it outside of the states. It's why thousands of workers walked out of their offices when Nokia took Microsoft's hand in BFF-dom. And this is the second Symbian update this year. But even Nokia CEO Stephen Elop says that it's "crufty."
But now there's this Symbian Belle release. And it seems they've gone ahead and tried to fix their past mistakes. All stuff that, if Nokia was going to do this sort of thing at all, it should have been two years ago. These phones put themselves in the same category as the recently released N9.


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World's Greatest Spokesperson in the World Evolves in New Nationwide Insurance Ads
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 22, 2010
Mike Switzer 614-249-4092
Columbus, OH - Starting in September, Nationwide Insurance will begin to unveil several new ads featuring the World’s Greatest Spokesperson in the World. Production is complete on a new group of insurance ads for the campaign, which was introduced earlier this year.
“The World’s Greatest Spokesperson in the World will continue to evolve as we learn what customers really like about the character and the messages he shares,” said Jennifer Hanley, senior vice president of marketing for Nationwide. “Through careful measurement, this campaign is helping us understand what customers really want from their insurance company and we are responding with new customer offerings that will be highlighted in the new ads.”
The first new ad, which begins airing today, will promote the Nationwide Family PlanSM, a product offering that extends auto insurance discounts to members of a customer’s household, including teen drivers. The ad demonstrates how customers could save up to 25 percent over competitors when adding a new driver to their policy through the Nationwide Family Plan. Customers can take advantage of Nationwide Family Plan discounts for their children and other qualifying household family members.
More new ads will be introduced in coming months.
Since the campaign was introduced in the spring, Nielsen data shows that it has outperformed competitors in markets where Nationwide focuses its media buy.
About Nationwide Insurance
Nationwide Insurance, based in Columbus, Ohio, is one of the largest and strongest diversified insurance and financial services organizations in the U.S. and is rated A+ by A.M. Best. The company provides a full range of personalized insurance and financial services, including auto insurance, motorcycle, boat, homeowners, life insurance, farm, commercial insurance, administrative services, annuities, mortgages, mutual funds, pensions, long-term savings plans and health and productivity services. Visit www.nationwide.com.
Nationwide, Nationwide,Nationwide Insurance, the Nationwide Framemark, On Your Side and The World’s Greatest Spokesperson in the World are service marks of Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company.


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We all know very well that Facebook in addition to a social network is also a well-oiled machine for advertising and revenue creation. Proof of this ability is now shown, with the arrival of its CEO at the top of the list of the richest men on the planet. Yes, according to the latest reports, the CEO of the social network giant Facebook, of course, Mark Zuckerberg is now the worlds third richest person.
Mark Zuckerberg Is Now World’s Third-Richest Person
The social network giant Facebook, in addition to a social network, is also a well-oiled machine for advertising and revenue creation. Proof of this ability is now shown, with the arrival of its CEO at the top of the list of the richest men on the planet.
Mark Zuckerberg, the co-founder of the social network giant Facebook, recently managed to reach third place on a restricted list featuring only the richest and most influential. This position was reached only with the appreciation of Facebook on the stock exchange.
The last few months have been tricky for the social network giant Facebook and its boss. The scandals followed and culminated in the discovery of data sharing by Cambridge Analytica, which caused the company to fall into a stock market and lose some of its dominant position.
But now, just eight months after this scandal, the social network giant Facebook has turned around again and has returned to reach a maximum stock market valuation. Last Friday its shares were worth $203.23.
This appreciation appears to be in favor of Mark Zuckerberg, who saw his personal fortunes rise again, now reaching $81.6 billion, and securing him the third position in the Bloomberg Billionaires Index.
Below Mark Zuckerberg is Warren Buffett, the man who has dominated this list and who has downed his fortune with several donations, notably for the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. The difference between Mark Zuckerberg and Warren Buffett is now 373 million.
At the top of this list are two of the most well-known technology business tycoons. Yes, I am talking about Jeff Bezos, with a fortune valued at 142 billion dollars, and Bill Gates, with a personal fortune of 94.2 billion dollars.
After several years dominated by Warren Buffett, who lost the top spot with his donations, it is now the turn of this list to be controlled by 3 tycoons of technology. Curiously, Mark Zuckerberg also promised to donate 99% of his Facebook shares, something that has not happened yet.
So, what do you think about this? Simply share all your views and thoughts in the comment section below.


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Images of the 2017 Volkswagen Amarok testing in Sweden have hit the Web overnight with rumours the six-year old VW ute will be out later this year.
Celebrating 40 years of the Volkswagen Golf GTI, VW Australia has announced it will release the limited-edition Volkswagen Golf GTI 40 in June.
The Volkswagen Beetle will be dropped from the German car maker’s Australian line-up later this year due to poor sales.
The Volkswagen Golf GTI TCR has been revealed 40 years after the Golf GTI was launched. Every 2016-spec Golf GTI TCR already has an owner and will eligible for 16 international races.
The Volkswagen Amarok is in the news for all the wrong reasons at the moment, but this MTM tuned VW Amarok DESERT should change that…
Volkswagen has announced it will recall 8694 Amaroks as part of the global dieselgate scandal. This follows the recall launched in Europe late last year.
Volkswagen has released the limited-edition (limited to 500 units) Amarok Atacama in Australia with prices starting from $53,990 (+ORC).
Volkswagen Amarok owners in Europe will be the first to have the engines in their vehicles ‘fixed’ after Germany’s Federal Transport Authority (KBA) approved recall plans this week.
Volkswagen’s proposed fix for vehicles with diesel engines containing ‘defeat device’ software has been rejected by the Air Resources Board in California.
The Volkswagen Tiguan GTE Active Concept hybrid has been revealed at the Detroit Motor Show, but the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV already exists…
US state attorneys have slammed Volkswagen for withholding documents relating the company’s use of illegal diesel emission-beating software.
The rumour mill is grinding away with the news that Volkswagen is preparing to drop its Das Auto slogan in the wake of its Dieselgate disaster…
VW chairman, Hans Dieter Poesch, has said that VW boffins installed illegal software on its EA189 diesel engines after it couldn’t meet US NOx emissions regulations legally.
VW has issued details of a fix for 1.6L and 2.0L diesel engines that contain so-called ‘defeat devices’ to the Federal Motor Transport Authority in Germany.
VW refuses compensation for European owners of ‘cheating’ diesels… likely to be the same in Australia
VW has announced it will not pay compensation to the owners of diesel cars carrying ‘cheat’ software, despite VW US offering a $1000 goodwill package.


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Demand for passenger cars in the EU rose 0.6 percent year-on-year in the first quarter of 2018, Turkey’s Automotive Distributers' Association (ODD) said on Wednesday.
The number of automobiles sold in the EU28 and European Free Trade Association (EFTA) countries reached 4.28 million between January and March 2018, up from 4.25 million in the same period last year, the ODD said in a statement, citing statistics of the European Automobile Manufacturers' Association (ACEA).
The biggest losses in sales were recorded in the U.K. (12.4 percent), Norway (11.6 percent) and Ireland (5.5 percent), it noted.
The association revealed that demand in passenger cars rose the most in Hungary (29.8 percent), Romania (28.6 percent) and Croatia (28.4 percent).
Turkey ranked ninth among European countries with sales of 122,310 passenger cars, up 5.47 percent annually.
In March, the EU automobile market narrowed by 5.2 percent year-on-year and totaled 1.8 million.


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Nintendo switched up the music that plays in its Wii U eShop to celebrate the gift-giving holidays.
Miiverse heads to 3DS in December, and Nintendo is changing how the network functions to better accommodate the influx of new community members.
Nintendo fans lined up on the same night when the Xbox One launched.
Nintendo has outdone itself with a 3D Mario that is brilliant both as a single-player experience and as a co-op multiplayer game.
If you follow VentureBeat but don’t regularly check our GamesBeat site, here’s a list of the best video game stories we ran over the last seven days that you may have missed.
Super Mario Galaxy 3 could find a home on the Wii U.
The 3DS is also getting Miiverse and YouTube.
Nintendo unleashed the HD-updated versions of Tennis and Bowling on the Wii U. It will follow up with the other sports in the coming months.
REDWOOD CITY, Calif. — Sony is excited about free-to-play on next-gen consoles. Kabam isn’t so sure.
GamesBeat recently asked readers what new gaming technologies excite them the most. Unsurprisingly, next-generation consoles and Apple devices were favorites.
Titan Books provided us with new artwork of the world of Assassin’s Creed IV.
The new bundle will debut Nov. 15 for $300.
Nintendo’s latest video demonstration of Super Mario 3D World shows off the platformer’s characters, powers, and items.
Nintendo is replacing the Nintendo Land bundle with a $300 Wii U package that includes New Super Mario Bros. U and New Super Luigi U.
After nearly seven years, Nintendo is putting an end to production of the original waggle system.
Even though Sonic Lost World features HD graphics and 3D gameplay, the title has a 16-bit soul.
GTA V’s big month was enough to offset stagnant hardware numbers. Total game-related sales were up 27 percent in September compared to 2012.
Ubisoft won’t bring the interesting Freedom Cry DLC to Nintendo’s home console.
We go hands-on with Nintendo’s latest Mario game for the Wii U.
During today’s Nintendo Direct stream, Nintendo president Satoru Iwata announced that Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze won’t make its original launch date.
Except to see Super Mario 3D World, A Link Between Worlds, and more on Tuesday morning (otherwise known as ”tomorrow”).
The cel-shaded character returns to the chaotic fighter series.
The HD remake is available now on the Wii U eShop.
Minigames like Tennis, Bowling, Golf, Baseball, and Boxing will hit the Wii U’s digital-distribution channel in the coming months.
Developer Platinum Games put together another brilliant fighting system for The Wonderful 101.
Nintendo releases a silent movie-style trailer for Wind Waker HD that recaps the adventure’s plot.
After dropping the price of the Wii U, Nintendo is positioning some of its bigger games for the holiday push.
Wii U deluxe price goes from $350 to $300, adds new Zelda software bundle.
We break down the major changes that the HD upgrade brings to the much-beloved Zelda game.
Nintendo’s frenetic fighting game gets another confirmed stage.
The $350 Deluxe Wii U outsold the $300 Basic Wii U. Nintendo president Satoru Iwata believes that means that consumers don’t have an issue with the high price.
Nintendo hopes to shut the site down before it can sell a device that enables piracy on the 3DS.
The most interesting news at today’s Nintendo Direct was … a Nintendo Direct.
During today’s Nintendo Direct broadcast, company president Satoru Iwata discussed a handful of previously announced Wii U and Nintendo 3DS games.
Supermarkets like Asda, the second-biggest chain in the U.K., reach a lot of people. This is what happens when it stops selling a console.
Artists on the Miiverse have created a selection of Pikmin 3 art. We’ve collected the best ones.
The company reports a profit mainly on the strength of 3DS software sales.
The conversation at E3 was dominated by Microsoft, even if it seemed like Sony won.
Nintendo should release more games, build third-party support, and fix the branding issue.
Miyamoto explains that Nintendo underestimated the difficulty of transitioning to HD development.


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Golf gear stolen from Drouin club
Golf gear and clothing were stolen during a burglary at the Drouin Golf Club last week.
The burglary occurred overnight on Tuesday night.
Offenders jemmied open a door to the clubrooms in McGlones Rd, Drouin to gain access to the golf retail shop.
Golf bags, clothing and sunglasses valued at $5000 were stolen.
In another incident on Wednesday night, police are investigating a burglary and theft at storage units in Roberts Crt, Drouin.
Offenders broke into a number of storage units after cutting padlocks.
Camping equipment, Hella driving lights and security cameras were stolen.


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Spiritleaf Vernon has been open for more than a year now, and it has become the go-to cannabis store for those who want to shop locally and legally.
Owner Sarah Ballantyne believes it is her company’s commitment to safety and education that draws customers to their location on 53rd Avenue.
“Our staff have done a good job of encouraging our customers to not necessarily price shop but to trust us and support our approach of customer service and education first,” Ballantyne says.
Spiritleaf, which leads the country with more than 60 locations, educates its staff on every facet of its product through an in-house training program. In fact, staff members just completed training on the last of the 2.0 items, like concentrates and beverages. Another key part of the staff’s education is how to use the product. Employees are taught about how to use each accessory that is required to consume whatever form of cannabis you prefer.
If you have a question, Ballantyne’s Spiritleaf Vernon employees will have the answer.
“Not everyone is familiar with how to use those accessories, so we do a deep dive on the products, and we are sourcing products that are mostly Canadian,” Ballantyne says. “That’s really important to us.”
The popularity of those 2.0 items is starting to build, although dried flower remains the store’s No. 1 seller. Spiritleaf Vernon has a dozen varieties of CBD and THC beverages, and more are arriving every week.
“Dried flower has been our number one seller since day one, but we are seeing a shift to those other categories,” she says. “They’re really picking up. They’re trying it on the side of their dried flower.”
Another reason why Ballantyne believes Spiritleaf is so popular is because customers know what they are getting is safe. That is the hallmark of all legal cannabis stores.
“It’s all about safety,” she says. “In the legal market, everything is done in Health Canada-approved facilities, nobody’s touching it, and there’s no cross-contamination with anything.”
Spiritleaf is ready for the holiday season as well. Canada Post allows for cannabis shipping across the country, so Spiritleaf will package it for you and all you have to do is take it to the post office and pay for postage.
And buying at Spiritleaf will help keep the money in Vernon, as the employees all live in the Okanagan and spend their money there, too.
“Supporting local contributes back to the community,” Ballantyne says. “I have 10 staff, and they have kids here. They have homes here.”
In addition to its store in Vernon, Spiritleaf has locations in Kelowna, West Kelowna and Penticton.
This article is written by or on behalf of the sponsoring client and does not necessarily reflect the views of Okanagan Edge.
All Think Local Stories


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Trinseo (NYSE: TSE), a global materials solutions provider and manufacturer of plastics, latex binders and synthetic rubber, will highlight its latest products and technologies from February 20 – 22, 2018 at the Tire Technology Expo 2018 in Hannover, Germany – Hall 20, Booth 2214.
At the exhibition, Trinseo will present innovative solution-styrene butadiene rubber (S-SBR) grades that address a diverse set of market needs, balancing energy efficiency with good processability. Attendees will also receive an update on other key elements of Trinseo’s strong customer focus – the new S-SBR pilot plant and the capacity expansion at the manufacturing plant in Schkopau, Germany.
“The strategic investments in our new S-SBR pilot plant and manufacturing plant ensures our customers’ competitiveness by accelerating the time to market for new performance tire innovations,” said Samer Al Jabi, Trinseo’s global business director, Synthetic Rubber. “The pilot plant will deliver sufficient quantities of diverse S-SBR formulations required for real-life tire testing, meeting our customers’ growing needs for reduced product validation time.”
During the Expo, Trinseo’s Dr. Sandra Hofmann, Technology and Innovation Director Synthetic Rubber, and Dr. Sven Thiele, Trinseo’s Research & Development Leader Process and Product Development Anionic, will present advanced S-SBR, butadiene rubbers (BR), and new functionalization technologies designed to achieve low rolling resistance, greater tire safety and enhanced processability.
On Tuesday, February 20 at 2:00 p.m. to 2:25 p.m., Dr. Thiele will provide insights into the latest product developments in “S-SBR for Energy-efficient and Safe Tires.” On Wednesday, February 21 at 9:50 a.m. to 10:15 a.m., Dr. Hofmann will present “Advanced S-SBR and BR: Addressing the Tire Industry Challenges.” This presentation will speak to how Trinseo’s innovative product portfolio helps customers stay on the forefront of future labeling requirements as well as CO2 reduction targets.
“Our advanced anionic polymerization technology allows for excellent control of key parameters for reducing rolling resistance. Today, Trinseo has taken functionalization technology to the next level by applying multi-functionalization techniques,” said Dr. Hofmann. “Our product portfolio includes a diverse set of functionalized and multi-functionalized S-SBR.”
Trinseo’s Chuck Fifelski Discusses EIFS & Stucco Applications in Walls & Ceilings Magazine
April 16, 2024
Trinseo Announces Release Date and Conference Call for its First Quarter 2024 Financial Results
April 11, 2024
Trinseo Introduces Groundbreaking Flame-retardant Plastic Grades Without Using PFAS Additives During Manufacturing Process
April 09, 2024


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NEW DELHI: Food regulator FSSAI on Saturday said it has launched a new online platform for granting licenses and registration to food business operators (FBOs) as well as regulatory compliances.
Since 2011, the FSSAI’s online licensing platform FLRS (Food Licensing and Registration System) has issued 70 lakh licenses/ registrations till date. Over 35 lakhs licensees/registrants are actively transacting on it.
“FSSAI is launching its cloud based, upgraded new food safety compliance online platform called Food Safety Compliance System (FoSCoS),” the regulator said in a statement.
The new URL foscos.Fssai.Gov.In will replace the existing foodlicensing.Fssai.Gov.In, it added. (AGENCIES)


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International Paper's Pursuit of Smurfit Kappa May Turn Hostile
(Bloomberg) -- International Paper Co. isn’t likely to back down in its play for Irish packaging manufacturer Smurfit Kappa Group Plc and could go hostile, according to two analysts tracking the industry.
Smurfit on Monday rejected International Paper’s revised, unsolicited cash-and-stock offer of 37.54 euros per share as inadequate. Memphis-based International Paper has clearly been looking at Smurfit for a while, and its timing may be right as rival WestRock Co. is tied up with its acquisition of KapStone Paper & Packaging Corp., according to Mark Wilde, an analyst with BMO Capital Markets Corp. in New York.
“It may be IP goes directly to Smurfit shareholders,” Wilde said by telephone. “I think at this point they don’t have a real obvious competitor for Smurfit.”
International Paper will probably first submit a formal bid to Smurfit and go straight to shareholders if the Irish company’s board doesn’t respond or seem willing to negotiate, said Chip Dillon, an analyst at Vertical Research Partners. The two companies will probably end up negotiating a deal, allowing Smurfit to extract more value for its investors, Dillon said.
“I think the odds of a walkaway are very slim,” Dillon said in a telephone interview. “They’re serious buyers, they’ve increased their offer and they’re not even bidding against anybody.”
Smurfit declined to comment on whether International Paper goes hostile. "We see compelling strategic and financial logic for a combination and view our latest proposal as attractive for both sets of shareholders,” International Paper spokesman Thomas Ryan said via text message in response to a request for comment.
©2018 Bloomberg L.P.


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It looks like the Highlander is in and the Prius is out - for now at least.
Trucks and sport utility vehicles will outsell cars for the first time since February, according to a December report by Edmunds.com, which tracks industry statistics.
"Despite all the public discussion of fuel efficiency, SUVs and trucks are the industry's biggest sellers right now as a remarkable number of buyers seem to be compelled by three factors: great deals, low gas prices and winter weather," said Michelle Krebs of AutoObserver.com, a division of Edmunds.com, in a prepared statement.
"It was this summer that customers were concerned about the gas mileage. It hasn't been a topic of conversation lately," said Dave Lawson, the general sales manager at Pomoco Chrysler Jeep Dodge in Newport News. The majority of Pomoco's inventory is SUVs, and its best-selling models are minivans.
Lawson said sales at the dealership are up, although they are still below last year's numbers. Low gas prices and increased consumer confidence are part of the reason, he said. But the real draw for customers is prices.
"I really think one of the biggest reasons the SUV sales are outpacing the car sales is because of the discounts," Lawson said. "The manufacturers have incentives like I've never seen before."
Lawson said discounts are biggest for 2008 models like the Dodge Ram 2500, which is currently marked down $12,000.
"This month has definitely been a little bit of a better month than most, and hopefully that will carry into the new year," Lawson said. "We're very positive down here."
The surge in SUV and truck sales suggests that the issue of fuel efficiency has faded in the minds of many consumers.
Toyota has already slowed production of the industry's flagship hybrid vehicle, the Prius, due to lack of interest and a growing inventory of the once best-selling model, Edmunds.com reported.
All this might mean a setback for fuel-efficient models that were heralded as a remedy for the country's addiction to oil.
In a November interview with "60 Minutes," President-elect Barack Obama described the pattern as "shock to trance." "You know, oil prices go up, gas prices at the pump go up, everybody goes into a flurry of activity," Obama said. "And then the prices go back down and suddenly we act like it's not important, and we start, you know, filling up our SUVs again."
Rick Gallaer, president of the Pomoco auto group, said the dealership just reflects customer demand.
"If the consumer wants SUVs, we're here to give it to them," he said. "If the consumer wants fuel efficient cars we will provide that."


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Webster Parish Tourism invites you to the Webster Parish Trade Days Holiday Extravaganza in Minden.
On Friday, December 4 through Sunday, December 6, Webster Parish welcomes you to join us for the largest holiday extravaganza ever. The Webster Parish Trade Days offers unique crafts, holiday gift specials, original art works, antiques, trinkets to treasures, food vendors, bake sales, and much more.
Don’t worry about the weather. The Webster Parish Trade Days Holiday Extravaganza offers inside shopping at the Woods Convention Center at 214 Miller Street in downtown Minden. Admission is $3.00 for the weekend and free on Friday.
The Webster Parish Trade Days will be held the first Saturday weekend of each month beginning in 2010.
For more information call 318.518.4176.


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Sam’s Choice and Great Value are among the Wal-Mart brands now available on Jet.com.
The apparel company uses videos and scanning to build sales and buzz.
Columbia Sportswear Co. began investing heavily in product innovation, web marketing and sales support to retailers three years ago. Now, 10 fashion seasons in, sales, traffic and conversions are up and moving higher, said Mick McCormick, Columbia’s executive vice president of global sales and marketing, today at the 2011 Shop.org Annual Summit in Boston.
Columbia is No. 314 in the Internet Retailer Top 500 Guide.
McCormick said the company’s four brands—Mountain Hard Wear, Sorel, Montrail and Columbia—were growing stale in 2008 and losing relevance with consumers. The typical Columbia-brand customer in particular was aging and the brand seemed less interesting for younger consumers. The company decided to invest in innovation and marketing to jump-start sales.
Mountain Hard Wear, which sells mountain climbing apparel and gear to climbing enthusiasts, for example, was selling the same product line year after year. With the investment, the company developed a line of climbing gear that reduced by more than half the weight of a typical gear set-up. The company then promoted its innovation through a series of web videos that featured a top mountain climber who demonstrated how quickly he could climb mountains with gear that weighed only 12 pounds as opposed to the previous 26 pounds.
“If you are going to be a world class brand, the No. 1 thing you need to be able to do is tell that story,” McCormick said. “Digital is critical for us.”
Columbia also overhauled the Sorel brand of footwear from a workwear line for men laboring in cold climates to a line of winter boots aimed at fashionable women; Columbia again used videos and online ads to introduce the line to consumers.
For the namesake Columbia brand, the company developed and patented product technologies that McCormick said set it apart from competitors. He says prior to the investment, for example, Columbia held only one product patent. It now has or has applied for 157 patents. To help explain the product improvements, starting this fall each Columbia Sportswear hang tag will feature a quick-response code that consumers inside stores scan with their smartphones to link to a 30-second video that humorously explains the product’s benefits.
“Video is a great way to tell a story that is so technical but is so fun,” he said, noting that Columbia’s resellers also can use the videos to help merchandise the products on their sites. McCormick says the conversion rate on Columbia.com increased 500% among consumers who watched the explanatory video compared with those who did not.
Columbia also dramatically shifted its marketing spending to the web. Before the innovation push, Columbia spent 87% of its marketing budget on traditional channels like print. Now it spends 74% of its budget on digital marketing, McCormick said.
The results, McCormick said, speak for themselves. In 2007, sales across all brands were $1.2 billion and decreasing. Columbia projects 2011 sales will reach $1.7 billion. The average age of a Columbia Sportswear buyer dropped 10% in the span of one year, which McCormick calls a spectacular change in such a short timespan. He said consumers’ perception of the Columbia as technologically advanced brand also increased by more than 50% in one year. Web traffic to Columbia.com increased 394%. Sales of Sorel-brand boots are up 710% since Columbia refashioned the line now to target women.
“Our consumers are inspired,” McCormick said. “You can see it in the metrics.”


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Supermodel Shanina Shaik has revealed that this year’s Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show is cancelled so the brand can work on an image overhaul.
Every winter, the likes of Kendall Jenner, Gigi and Bella Hadid don their angel wings and walk the runway to model Victoria’s Secret’s latest collection of lingerie.
But it seems the angels will be resting their wings this time round according to Shanina, who says Victoria’s Secret are working on revamping the show after 24 years on air.
In an interview with Australia’s Daily Telegraph, the Australian model reportedly said: ‘Unfortunately the Victoria’s Secret show won’t be happening this year.
‘It’s something I’m not used to because every year around this time I’m training like an angel.’
Shanina, 28, reassured fans that the show will return bigger and better in the future but only after rethinking their strategy regarding the fashion event.
‘But I’m sure in the future something will happen, which I’m pretty sure about,’ she added.
‘I’m sure they’re trying to work on branding and new ways to do the show because it’s the best show in the world.’
Shanina has walked in the fashion shows several times since 2011, becoming the sixth Australian to do so following the likes of Miranda Kerr and Jessica Hart.
Although, the latest news shouldn’t come as too much of a surprise.
In May, it was announced that the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show would no longer be televised making for the biggest change yet.
It came after the event suffered its lowest ratings in five years, with its 2018 show attracting just 3.3 million viewers when it aired on ABC in the US.
But perhaps the biggest blow was the controversy surrounding Victoria’s Secret vice president Ed Razek, who said he would not cast transgender models in the show.
In an interview with Vogue, the executive said: ‘It is the only one of its kind in the world, and any other fashion brand in the world would take it in a minute, including the competitors that are carping at us.’
Razek’s comments sparked outrage amongst the fashion community, with singer Halsey, who performed at the 2018 show, expressing her disappointment in an Instagram post.
The Without Me singer said: ‘I have adored the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show since I was young. Performing this year alongside other amazing artists and hardworking models/friends was supposed to be the best night of my year.
‘However, after I filmed the performance, some comments were made regarding the show that I simply cannot ignore.
‘As a member of the LGBTQ+ community, I have no tolerance for a lack of inclusivity. Especially not one motivated by stereotype.’
Metro.co.uk have contacted Victoria’s Secret for comment.
Got a showbiz story?


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Limited edition Sprinter to celebrate 20th anniversary
Mercedes-Benz has introduced a limited edition Sprinter to mark its 20th anniversary, celebrating the sale of more than 300,000 Sprinter vans in the UK since its launch in 1995.
From the day of its launch in April 1995 until the end of June 2015, a total of 327,201 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter vans have been sold in the UK, of which 69,457 were the genre-defining Sprinter 313 CDI MWB.
To commemorate the milestone, the Sprinter 20th anniversary edition van will get special 'Sprinter 20' badging on the front wing and be limited to a maximum of 1,200 vans.
More than 250,000 of the Sprinter models sold have been panel vans, with 71,769 chassis cab variants making up the numbers. While those might seem like large numbers, the Sprinter factory capacity in Dusseldorf is 745 units a day, equating to 214,560 unit per year.
Sprinter vans have established themselves as a favourite of home delivery firms, such as Ocado, Sainsbury's, Morrison's, DPD, Yodel, DHL and Parcelforce, as well as construction and plant companies, like HSS Hire and A-Plant. They also have a strong presence in utilities businesses, including Cappagh and EEG, 100% of ambulance trusts across the country and ice-cream vans.
Steve Bridge, managing director for Mercedes-Benz Vans, said: "From introducing ESP in 1995, offering the driver airbag as standard in 2000, launching Crosswind Assist in 2013, and most recently becoming the first manufacturer in the world to equip all new vans as standard with Rescue Assist QR code stickers, we have never sat still."
In the first month of sales (April 1995), there were 56 Sprinter models sold. The top sales month since has been September 2013, with 4,217 sold, although this record is expected to be broken in September 2015.


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Leaked presentation ‘confirms’ battery-electric Audi and Porsche SUVs for 2022 launch, alongside ID.Buzz van.
Details have emerged out of Europe of the Volkswagen Group’s planned electric vehicle (EV) onslaught over the next two years.
A screenshot of a leaked presentation shown during a Volkswagen Group investor meeting earlier this week – published online by Romanian publication Automarket – reveals the launch dates for a range of the Volkswagen Group’s upcoming all-electric models.
Headlining the information showcased in the slide is confirmation that in 2022 – alongside Porsche’s next-generation, zero-emissions Macan – Audi will launch the Q5 E-Tron, an electric mid-size SUV slotting just below the segment-straddling E-Tron (no badge) in its burgeoning EV range.
Above: The current, petrol-powered Macan, in GTS form. It will continue to be sold alongside its electric counterpart, following its 2022 launch.
While details on the Audi’s styling and powertrain are thin on the ground, should the relationship between the current, petrol-powered Audi Q5 and Porsche Macan twins hold true into their new generations, expect the electric SUV pair to share their rumoured PPE electric-only platform and array of high-performance powertrains.
A report from British publication Autocar earlier this year hinted at a range naming structure for the new Macan similar to that of Porsche’s first and only electric vehicle, the Taycan, with Turbo and Turbo S performance flagships, and a selection of less powerful, longer-range variants sitting underneath.
Above: Audi’s only electric SUV thus far, the E-Tron. Top of story: 2021 Audi Q5 Sportback, fuelled by petrol or diesel only.
According to Autocar, the flagship Macan Turbo S will feature two electric motors – one on each axle, creating all-wheel-drive – for combined outputs of 522kW of power and 1017Nm of torque, delivering an expected sub-three second 0-100km/h sprint time.
While yet to be officially confirmed, it’s likely the Macan EV’s Audi twin will offer an identical or similar range of powertrains.
The SUV twins are expected to differ more significantly in the styling department.
An image released earlier this month of an electric Macan clay model in Porsche’s design studio (above) reveals a Taycan-inspired aesthetic, with high-set headlights, sculpted lower body lines and trim, and a steeply-raked, coupe-like roofline.
It’s possible the Q5 E-Tron will adopt a more conventional SUV shape, with the potential for a ‘Sportback’ model to be offered down the track for buyers looking for a coupe-style shape.
The leaked presentation also confirms 2021 launch dates for a range of Volkswagen Group EVs, both revealed and yet-to-be-shown – namely the Cupra el-Born hot hatch, Skoda Enyaq iV, Audi Q4 E-Tron and the Volkswagen ID.5, the production version of the ID. Crozz concept – and a 2022 debut for the Kombi-inspired, Volkswagen ID.Buzz people mover.
Stay tuned to CarAdvice for more details as the 2022 launch dates for both the Audi Q5 E-Tron and Porsche Macan EV near.
MORE: Q5 news and reviews
MORE: Macan news and reviews
MORE: Everything Audi
MORE: Everything Porsche
Below: the electric Porsche Macan, as rendered by Russian website Kolesa.ru
Audi Q5 E-Tron, Porsche Macan EV arriving in 2022 – report


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Toyota unveiled the 2014 Toyota Highlander today at the New York Auto Show and we at Dick Dyer Toyota are excited about it! The new Highlander has been totally redesigned and even adds a new hybrid engine option. Plus, the exterior has been restyled, resulting in an appealing new look, indicative of a heartier, more powerful SUV.
The new Hybrid powertrain includes a 3.5-liter V6 Hybrid Synergy Drive Engine with an electric motor and an electronically controlled CVT transmission. Plus, the 2014 Highlander has optional Dynamic Torque Control All-Wheel Drive to provide an even more compelling driving experience.
Oh and let’s not forget that the Highlander can now seat up to eight passengers! You need more room – Toyota gives it to you! The list of standard features is excellent as well as the bells and whistles you can add on like rear cross traffic alert, rear entertainment system, and a heated steering wheel.
Watch this video to find out more about the all new 2014 Toyota Highlander and make sure to check back with Dick Dyer Toyota often to see when the 2014 Highlander arrives on the lot!


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This week, President Obama will turn his focus from budget sequestration to immigration. A new Kauffman Foundation report released last week argues that making 75,000 Startup Visas available for current holders of H-1B and F-1 visas who start companies could create as much as 1.6 million U.S. jobs in the next 10 years. Will Washington act or, if they cannot agree, throw the baby out with the bath water?
I have long argued alongside smarter Americans than me that we need immigration policies to release pent-up entrepreneurial activity among foreign-born people in the United States, who have in the past accounted for a quarter of all successful high-tech startups in the country. More recently, in 2011, 24 of the top 50 venture-capital-backed companies in 2011 were founded or co-founded by immigrants, according to the National Foundation for American Policy. The pressure on policymakers has increased in this regard from many sectors because of the rapid pace of improvement in other nations’ startup ecosystems which lure startup entrepreneurs and their investors.
In an often cited Kauffman Foundation survey study, for example, more than half of Indian respondents who indicated that they would be likely to start a business in the next five years believed their best opportunities for entrepreneurship were in their home country. Those could be the future Desh Deshpandes (see his story in this sketchbook). Some nations have even taken active steps to import entrepreneurs. Take the example of hundreds of Americans and others applying to start a business in Chile through the country’s competitive Start-Up Chile program, or Canada’s announcement that it will launch its own Startup Visa on April 1, 2013, to recruit foreign startup talent. At the Global Entrepreneurship Congress later this month, more than 130 countries will be present to sell the world on their favorable climate for willing entrepreneurs.
The political sensitivities involved with comprehensive immigration reform have made progress in the U.S. slow for reacting to this reality in high-skilled immigration. And the measures so far have failed short. The EB-5 visa reserved for immigrants who launch businesses in the U.S. is not only limited in availability but also requires that they bring with them $1 million (or $500,000 if the business is started in a low-income area). Anyone who knows anything about startups knows that 80% of them start lean and few, if any, have $1 million in cash in the bank. We have had bouts of hope of more sensible measures through bills introduced in Congress over the past few years (e.g. Startup Act 2.0 and more recently, Startup Act 3.0), but none have passed despite efforts by initiatives from investors and even local entrepreneurs themselves. So what is the economic cost of this delay?
It is very high. A Kauffman Foundation report released last week argues that the visa proposed in the bipartisan Startup Act 3.0 (making 75,000 Startup Visas available for current holders of H-1B and F-1 visas who start companies) could create as much as 1.6 million U.S. jobs in the next 10 years. The report, “Give Me Your Entrepreneurs, Your Innovators: Estimating the Employment Impact of a Startup Visa,” shows three different scenarios, assuming that Startup Visas become available in 2014:
- If immigrant-founded startups hire the fewest people required by the Startup Act, and applying company and employment survival rates from Census data, four-year- old Startup Visa companies would create nearly 500,000 new jobs after ten years. This equates to 0.5 percent of GDP, as computed using a methodology employed by the White House’s Council of Economic Advisors.
- Using Census data on average employment per firm (i.e. if these companies resemble average U.S. businesses), the estimate is that four-year-old Startup Visa companies would create nearly 900,000 new jobs after ten years. These jobs equate to almost 1 percent of GDP (around $140 billion per year).
- If half of the Startup Visa companies are technology and engineering companies, given that these types of immigrant-founded startups employ an average of 21.37 people per firm, the Startup Visa companies would create, at minimum, 1.6 million jobs over 10 years, or 1.6 percent of GDP (a $224 billion annual boost).
All three are sensible, conservative estimates that reflect the incentives embedded in the bill, namely: in the first year of business, the beneficiary entrepreneurs would be required to employ at least two full-time, non-family workers and to invest or raise an investment of $100,000 or more. Only if these requirements were met, recipients would be granted a three-year visa extension. If, over that three-year period, the business owner has hired, on average, one additional employee each year, the visa holder may apply for permanent residency status.
Many opinion leaders have voiced that the boost could be far greater than the most optimistic numbers in Kauffman’s estimates. This is in part because the researchers only estimated the jobs created by immigrant entrepreneurs while they were on the Startup Visa. The other impact not measured in the above report is the fact that most successful entrepreneurs start more than one company, not to mention that they usually later become angel investors and mentors who will help the next wave of firm creation. These are some of the reasons why experts like Vivek Wadhwa question the 75,000 limit for Startup Visas in the bill.
Changing that limit will be difficult. The Startup Act 3.0 covers several policy areas intersecting with entrepreneurship, which makes its path through Congress even tougher. It includes provisions that are not related to importing entrepreneurs, such as a capital gains taxes five-year exemption for investments in startups, a limited R&D tax credit for young startups less than five years old and with less than $5 million in annual receipts, and requiring cost-benefit analyses on federal regulations that have an economic impact of $100 million or more. The other chance for entrepreneurs’ visas is in the much-expected comprehensive immigration reform that President Obama will focus on soon. That legislation is likely to be finally signed into law this year, according to experts like Dane Stangler, the Kauffman Foundation’s policy and research director. In either case, legislation would fall short if it fails to create a new visa for the thousands of potential foreign-born entrepreneurs who are already in the country.
Immigrant-founded companies have an extraordinary job creation impact in the United States and the benefits of a Start-up Visa are now even clearer. Let’s hope this new data analysis convinces Washington that it is time to start focusing on attracting the world’s top entrepreneurial talent.


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The stock exploded more than 13% after Facebook beat estimates on the top and bottom line, as well as on the company's solid user growth.
Here are the most important numbers:
- Revenue: $5.84 billion vs. analyst expectations of $5.37 billion — and up 52% year-over-year.
- Adjusted earnings per share (EPS): $0.79 vs. $0.68 expected.
- Monthly active users (MAUs): 1.59 billion, an increase of 21% year-over-year — vs. expectations of 1.58 billion.
- Daily active users (DAUs): 1.04 billion, an increase of 17% year-over-year — and in line with expectations.
Along with strong growth across the board on those key numbers, Facebook also proved that it continues to strengthen its mobile business, noting that that's where it reels in 80% of ad revenue.
That's up from 69% at this time last year — and from 78% last quarter. For even more perspective, that's up from 23% in 2012.
That's tied to the fact that more of Facebook's users are accessing the social network from their smartphones. Mobile MAUs in December hit 1.44 billion, up 21% year-over-year, and mobile DAUs hit 934 million — up 25% year-over-year.
Here's a look at how Facebook's userbase has grown, according to BI Intelligence:
On the earnings call, COO Sheryl Sandberg emphasized that Instagram's ads business has been growing nicely, although the company declined to break out any specific revenue numbers.
She also said that she was pleased with the growth of Facebook video as well as its video-ad product. Users are now watching more than 100 million hours of video on the site per day.
Here are the other important numbers (emphasis added):
- Costs and expenses of $3.21 billion, which is up 21% year-over-year, with R&D at $1.31 billion. But Facebook tightened its costs as a percentage of its revenue this quarter. The company's operating expenses were down sequentially and year-on-year in all categories.
- However, on the earnings call CFO Dave Wehner warned investors to expect significant spending in 2016. He forecast non-GAAP expenses increasing between 45 and 55%.
- As usual, most of Facebook's revenue came from advertising, but about 3.6%, or $204 million, came from payments and other fees. That's down from 21% in Q4 2014, which Facebook has attributed to a drop in revenue from gaming apps.
- Free cash flow was $2.14 billion in Q4.
- Most of Facebook's revenue comes from North America and Europe — Facebook is killing it in the US — with only about 25% ($1.4 billion) coming from Asia-Pacific and the rest of the world. But those areas account for 65% of its monthly active users. The average revenue per user in those regions is still tiny, compared to in the US — $1.59 and $1.22, respectively, vs. $13.54 and $4.50 in the US and Europe.
- Facebook recently made a big press push around its efforts in emerging markets and how it's optimizing its content and, importantly, its advertising to work well in areas of the world. But it seems that those efforts haven't shifted the average revenue-per-user numbers yet — although Facebook notes that currency headwinds also had an impact.
Here's a look at where Facebook's revenue comes from geographically:
And as you can see, Facebook still makes the most money per user on US members:
Here are some highlights from the earnings call:
Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg shared some other stats, like that people watched 100 million hours of video, more than 1 billion people used FB Groups in a single month, and 80 million people use Facebook Lite, the service optimized for lower-bandwidth.
He also said that WhatsApp has nearly 1 billion MAUs and that the company plans to roll out new ways to let businesses use it to communicate, like it has done with its other chat app, Messenger.
He ended his prewritten comments with a bit of sappiness, saying that since he had his daughter a few months ago, he spends more time reflecting on Facebook's legacy.
He said that thinking about how the company can "leave a better world for the next generation" is something that he thinks about "every day as we continue building Facebook."
Sandberg also said that Facebook is happy with the growth of Instagram's ad business, adding that 98% of top advertisers on Facebook also advertise on Instagram. Later in the call, she added that although some advertisers will likely choose to focus on one or the other, she expects that Facebook will also steal portions of their advertising budgets from other platforms.
"We really encourage people to measure their ROI and compare us to other platform," she said.
Facebook CFO Dave Wehner said that Facebook has increased its ad frequency this year, but that the average price per ad went up to (total impressions were up 29% and price per ad was up 21%). He also warned that 2016 would be another significant investment year, with non-GAAP expense guidance between 45% and 55%.
Following a question from investors, Zuckerberg also said that Facebook plans to keep experimenting with different ways to let businesses use Messenger. That's exciting for investors, who are clamoring for when Facebook will introduce a way to make money from the chat app.