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Revolution Foods gobbles up $9 million S.F. schools food contract
The new year may bring a revolution in San Francisco public school lunches.
Oakland-based Revolution Foods Inc. was the low bidder for a contract to supply the San Francisco Unified School District's 114 schools with fresh, nutritious food. The $9 million contract cooks up to roughly 21,500 lunches, 5,500 breakfasts and 6,000 snacks per day.
The SFUSD board will vote on the contract Dec. 11. If approved, Revolution Foods would begin with the first school day in January.
"Serving fresh, healthy food every day that students will enjoy eating is a priority for us," SFUSD Superintendent Richard Carranza said in a press release.
Every lunch includes fresh fruits and vegetables, shunning juice because of its high sugar content.
Richmond last year was named one of the Bay Area's 40 Under 40 by the Business Times.
Revolution Foods has been working on its recipe of sustainable school lunches since its founding in 2006 by Richmond and University of California, Berkeley, Haas School of Business classmate Kirsten Tobey, but the SFUSD contract is a grande enchilada. Last year, according to SFUSD, 61 percent of children in the district qualified for free or reduced-price lunch.
The 27th-fastest-growing company in the Bay Area, according to the San Francisco Business Times' Fast 100 list, Revolution Foods recorded 2011 revenue of $28.1 million and a three-year growth rate of 196 percent. The company is backed by DBL Investors, Oak Investment Partners, Catamount Ventures, New Schools Venture Fund, the Westly Group and Physic Ventures.
Ron Leuty covers biotech, higher education and China for the San Francisco Business Times.
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Risich, founder of Bolt On Technology, describes himself as a technologist and entrepreneur at heart.
Get to know Brian Boland, chief sales officer and partner at Garage Guard by Evarts Tremaine.
Huck is CEO of The Eastwood Company, which recently made its first acquisition under private equity ownership.
Emrich, an experienced CEO, recently joined Engine Ice to lead the company through a full rebrand and relaunch.
Learn something new about industry veteran Bill Long, president and CEO of the Motor & Equipment Manufacturers Association.
In this installment of “5 Minutes With,” we get to know Houman Akhavan, chief marketing officer at CarParts.com.
When she’s not optimizing production at Vintage Air, you can find Chisenhall-Harding cruising in her ’57 Chevy Corvette.
In this installment of “5 Minutes With,” we get to know Sebastian Zelger, CEO at LIQUI MOLY USA/Canada.
What one word would Harmening use to describe himself? How did he get started in the aftermarket? Read on to find out!
Lowry is director of Marketing for The Pronto Network.
Osmani, who started out as a technician, is currently GM of Hamaton North America.
This week, we get to know Daryl Torgerson, director of sales for BBB Industries.

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The WTTC has released a report on the challenges & opportunities of mobile payments.
The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) recently released a report on the challenges and opportunities of mobile payments for the travel and tourism sector.
The report also highlights China as a case study on mobile payments, a topic that is of particular interest to our industry, as China remains Destination Canada's third-largest tourist market and is also the focus of TIAC’s highly popular China Readiness Workshops, which have been successfully delivered to businesses across Canada.
From the WTTC report summary:
With 83% of passengers travelling with mobile devices, these have become an essential part of the travel journey today.
Mobile is well integrated into the modern Travel & Tourism experience: with travellers using apps to arrange a ride to the airport, getting an electronic boarding pass, accessing in-flight entertainment on a mobile device, unlocking their hotel room with a mobile key, looking for what to do and where to eat, and sharing their travel experience on social platforms. In effect, all these travel activities are supported by mobile devices such as a smartphone or tablet.
Mobile payment allows Travel & Tourism providers to remain in contact with travellers throughout their journey, thereby giving companies the opportunity to build customer engagement and ultimately drive higher levels of business growth.
Download the full report here.


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Darkeden Now on Steam
Softon Entertainment has announced that its MMORPG, Darkeden, launched on Steam.
Darkeden is a vampire-based horror MMORPG, launched originally in 2002 in Korea. With 2D graphics, the game is friendly toward low-spec systems and beginning MMO players.
Players can enjoy bonuses to leveling and experience until December 15 to celebrate the game’s relaunch.
We have released Steam service and events for Darkeden users whom has been loved our game for the past years, and hope this service and events could provide better convenience and joy for them.
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JPMorgan Chase & Co updates
Sign up to myFT Daily Digest to be the first to know about JPMorgan Chase & Co news.
JPMorgan Chase’s move into UK consumer banking goes against the grain. Big global banks such as Citigroup and HSBC are cutting back their international retail networks. But deep pockets and a digital-only strategy give the launch some chance of success.
It will not be easy. Big companies can struggle with innovation. JPMorgan’s first effort, a domestic brand called Finn, lasted only a year. In 2020, NatWest shut its new bank Bo after less than six months.
JPMorgan may be the biggest bank in the US but it is little known in the UK. Plus the UK is already a very well banked market. In addition to high street banks, Chase will compete against fintechs such as Revolut, Monzo and Starling. Those have typically been more successful at acquiring customers than monetising them. Revenue per user of the leading start-ups averaged £14 in 2019-20 compared with £370 for Lloyds’ retail segment, according to Citi.
Yet there are some advantages to being a late mover. The UK offers regulatory expertise and strong consumer awareness of digital banking.
JPMorgan is willing to be patient. That is important because breaking even could be a long haul. The new bank will start by offering current accounts. Rock bottom interest rates mean these are only attractive as a cheap and reliable source of funding. Chase plans to expand into areas including personal lending and investment, and eventually mortgages. The latter is a competitive market with returns on equity between 10 and 20 per cent, according to analysts at Goodbody.
A big tech budget will weigh in JPMorgan’s favour. Its $12bn-a-year spend is more than double that of the average large European bank. But its biggest advantage is being free of the burden of a branch network. Foreign expansion has been a disappointing story for global banks thanks to insufficient synergies or economies of scale. A digital-only strategy is a chance to rewrite that script.
Our popular newsletter for premium subscribers is published twice weekly. On Wednesday we analyse a hot topic from a world financial centre. On Friday we dissect the week’s big themes. Please sign up here.


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American electric automaker Tesla may enter the Indian market in 2021, its CEO Elon Musk indicated on Friday. Responding to a twitter post that asked if there was any progress with regards to the company’s plans to make a foray in India, Musk wrote, “Next year for sure.”
Tesla’s entry to the Indian market has been hinted at multiple times in the past. The only asian market where the company has presence presently is in China.
Musk has shown interest in bringing Tesla to the Indian market for a few years now. In 2015, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had paid a visit to the headquarters of tesla motors at Palo Alto, California.
Tesla was founded in 2003 by engineers Martin Eberhard and Marc Tarpenning, who wanted to prove that electric cars can be better than gasoline-powered cars. In the first half of 2020, Tesla accounted for 81 per cent of the battery electic vehicles sold in the United States.


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As the Japanese auto industry looks to increase production at North American factories, Toyota and Nissan have prepared for a major sales push, returning to major factory-to-dealer incentives. Cash, interest rate and lease incentives will apply to the majority of vehicles Toyota and Nissan sell in the U.S., reports Automotive News. The incentive plans have come on the tails of low sales numbers in early May, largely due to Japan’s 9.0 earthquake in March.
Supply chain back at full steam, cars must move
Both Toyota and Nissan expect to return to full production capacity in North America before May is over, which means there will be inventory to move. Incentive spending is the mechanism through which an overstock will theoretically be avoided. Nissan expects its Japanese factories to reach top production in June, which will only increase what the company believes is the need for heightened factory-to-dealer incentives.
Nissan Division Manager Al Castignetti is optimistic about the plan. By Memorial Day, he envisions tent sales on Altima and Maxima cars that will feature the best lease deals the automaker has offered.
The dog days of May
Compared with May sales in 2010, Toyota and Honda sales have fallen on hard times this May. Toyota sales have dropped by 56 percent (Lexus by 45 percent). Honda sales are down 41 percent overall, with the Acura division showing a 46 percent drop-off. Nissan and Infiniti are only down 12 percent. Hyundai is one of the few Asian automakers to up its May sales numbers, by 37 percent.
J.D. Power and Associates forecaster Jeff Schuster blames Japan’s May sales slumps on a combination of higher gas prices, lower rebates and shortages caused by the Japanese earthquake.
Incentives declined from February to March in 2011
According to Edmunds.com, the decline in dealer incentives has been occurring for a few months, even in the U.S. The average manufacturer incentive in the U.S. was $2,346 per new car sold in March 2011, which was down $220 (8.6 percent) from February 2011.
That drop in incentives was significant, noted Edmunds analyst Ivan Drury.
“These latest numbers show by far the biggest February-to-March incentives decline since Edmunds.com started tracking in 2002,” Drury said. “The decline is mostly likely a result of a 26 percent month-over-month sales jump in subcompact and compact cars which typically have a much lower level of incentives compared to large trucks and SUVs.”
Will increased incentives hurt automakers again?
In a report entitled “The Effect of Customer Rebates and Retailer Incentives on Manufacturer Profitability and Sales, ” a team of researchers presented a statistical analysis that suggested that fixed production and labor costs for Detroit’s Big Three (GM, Ford, Chrysler) are the same whether they produced as many cars as possible or stood idle part of the time. The Big Three ended up producing more than their market share justified, which created the overstock that led to mass incentives. These incentives pumped up sales, often at a loss.


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SAN FRANCISCO (CNN) – It’s hailed as the Super Bowl of online shopping.
Monday is Amazon Prime Day – and so is Tuesday!
The 5th annual Amazon Prime Day will run a full two days this year.
Amazon says it will launch new deals as frequently as every 5 minutes.
The company’s global sales for the 48-hour Prime Day are estimated to hit $5.8 billion.
Amazon is facing increased competition.
Rival retailers including Walmart, Best Buy, Target, and E-Bay have had years of practice perfecting their Prime Day strategies and they’re rolling out discounts of their own.
More than 250 retailers are planning deals aiming to benefit from a halo effect of Prime Day.


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(Pocket-lint) - Apple's next event will take place on 21 October, it's claimed.
Tech website Apple Insider has reported - citing a person familiar with the company's pre-launch logistics - major new Apple products are expected to debut during the second half of October. The Apple Watch was largely thought to unveil at an October event, though Apple obviously moved its unveil date ahead to September. Many reports have since said that an October event could still be in the works.
Apple once teased that its autumn product pipeline will be the best in 25 years, so the company could conceivably have enough new hardware to fill two events spaced just 5 weeks apart. The Daily Dot, another tech website, for instance, reported that Apple is planning to hold its next event on 21 October. Two new iPads and the release of OS X Yosemite is expected at that event, according to the site's unnamed sources.
More specifically, Apple could unveil the sixth-generation iPad and the third-edition iPad Mini. Rumoured new features for the iPads include a faster A8 processor, anti-reflective display, and a Touch ID fingerprint sensor. Apple might also release OS X Yosemite - the next version of the Mac operating system - immediately after the event, just like it did with OS X Mavericks at Apple's 22 October event last year.
Keep in mind there are several other Apple devices still due for annual upgrades, such as: the Mac Mini, MacBook Air, iMac, and the Apple TV.


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Activitybreaks.com, a Northern Ireland-based operator, has embarked on a pilot project to target consumers in Ireland with a partnership through Shannon Airport.
The deal sees Shannonairport.com take a feed of products featured on Activitybreaks.com, coinciding with a recent announcement by low cost carrier Ryanair to use the airport as its latest European major hub.
It is hoped that the project will encourage consumers to use the Shannonairport website as a one-stop shop for travel products.
Commercial director Katy Knox said: “We were finding that over the past 12 months we had an increasing number of customers who were flying from Shannon Airport.
“This partnership means that you can now use Shannonairport.com to find out what there is to do at all of the European and UK destinations with direct access from Shannon.”
Activitybreaks.com is currently in talks with a number of other UK and Ireland airports to launch similar partnerships.


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Apple Watch Series 3 offers a slew of new features such as in-watch data, a hidden antenna, an electronic SIM, a new dual core processor, and even more storage.
JK Rowling faces backlash over revealing Dumbledore and Grindelwald's relationship
Facial recognition coming to U.S. airports by 2021
'Captain Marvel' brings in $750 million globally
Bootleg Ariana Grande album spreads malware
Presidential candidate Beto O'Rourke’s teenage hacker life
HQ's Scott Rogowsky races master painter Bob Ross — The Bob Ross Challenge
'Surf Rock' creator Dick Dale dead at 81
Lupita Nyong'o went to some 'dark places' filming 'Us'
Two key executives quit Facebook
Apple just launched a new iPad Air and iPad mini
Elon Musk unveils Tesla's Model Y
Origami-inspired robot gripper


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Walmart has expanded its ban on accepting Visa credit cards at its Canadian outlets, following from an initial decision in July.
Earlier this year, Walmart said it would stop accepting Visa cards at three outlets in Ontario, citing a disagreement with Visa on an “acceptable fee”. It has now said this ban extends to all 16 of its outlets in Manitoba province, effective 24 October.
Explaining its decision, the retail giant noted: “Following an evaluation of credit card transaction fees in Canada and the rest of the world, we have concluded the fees applied to Visa credit card purchases remain unacceptably high. Walmart’s purpose is to save customers money so they can live better”.
In response, Visa termed the decision “disappointing”, adding: “Visa remains committed to actively working with Walmart so that Canadians can use their Visa cards wherever they wish to shop.”
Walmart operates 406 outlets in Canada currently.


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Infinity Ward has now revealed the official Call of Duty Modern Warfare II release date.
Call of Duty Modern Warfare II Release Date
The popular game studio that has developed several Call of Duty titles through the years has now revealed its newest game for the franchise. Just like the leaks, it has been confirmed that the next title will be Call of Duty Modern Warfare II. The number 2 will be written in Roman Numeral instead of a regular one.
According to the studio, CoD MWII will be launch on October 28, 2022. The release date was recently announced on the official Twitter account of Infinity Ward, which has been teasing the reveal for a while now. The new image that was attached together with the release date announced featured one of the popular characters in the Modern Warfare series: Simon “Ghost” Riley.
Task Force 141 Comes Back
Task Force 141 will be making a comeback as well. The whole team will be back with Captain John Price, Simon “Ghost” Riley, Sergeant John “Soap” MacTavish, Sergeant Kyle “Gaz” Garrick, and the new Mexican Special Forces Colonel Alejandro Vargas.
No official word yet on which platforms it will be available on, but most likely Call of Duty Modern Warfare II will be on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S. It will be released on October 28, 2022.


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VW Passat successor debuts next week, first details known
The legendary Passat will continue its career exclusively in the station wagon version, and the successor to the sedan should be an electric model announced by the ID concept. Aero. Volkswagen has now announced the premiere of this car for January 3 next year.
Over the past few years, the CES consumer electronics show in Las Vegas, held every January, has become a popular event for automakers to showcase new technology and even new models. One such is about to be unveiled by Volkswagen, which has announced that it will release information about the newest member of its electric family next week.
The key word is announcement, because there will be no serial version presented. According to the German manufacturer, a camouflaged variant of the new electric car will be unveiled, along with an official name. This means that the production version (with camouflage) of the ID.Aero concept presented at the end of June will most likely make its debut.
A prototype of the production version has already been spotted in traffic, quite camouflaged, so an official announcement along with the presentation of the production variant in a new camouflage, along with an official name, would be ideal for the CAS show in Las Vegas.
If it is really a serial version of the ID model. Aero, it probably won't be too different from the concept. A drag coefficient of only 0.23 Cd is expected, which will significantly contribute to the maximum range of 620 kilometers. Details regarding power and torque are still unknown, but it is believed that this model could be called the ID.7.
The CES fair in Las Vegas will be open to visitors from January 5 to 8, but Volkswagen will present its new model on January 3. The new vehicle, together with the ID.4 and ID.Buzz models, will be exhibited at the stand of the German manufacturer during the entire duration of this event.


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DUP MP Ian Paisley has urged the Government to ensure the European Union ‘get real’ and show respect for Northern Ireland business regarding the VAT margin scheme. The North Antrim MP made the call after being contacted by several car dealerships in his constituency expressing concern at the impact of the scheme on the second-hand car industry.
Economy Minister Diane Dodds has also written to HMRC highlighting the issue.
Ian Paisley said: ”While we warned that the Protocol would leave businesses in Northern Ireland at a disadvantage, sadly the Government-backed by many local parties – chose to place us in this position. Day and daily we now see the potential consequences of the Protocol, whether it be in the aisles of local supermarkets or now, as has been highlighted, on forecourts of local car dealerships.
”It is simply unacceptable that the EU force this anti-competitive, anti-business, anti-consumer regime upon the people of Northern Ireland. In relation to the local car industry, so many dealers bring second-hand cars in from auctions or through dealer networks in mainland UK. If the EU insist on this VAT regime being applied, it would drive car prices up by 20 per cent and in all likelihood lead to a suppression of the industry here.
”I have raised this issue with the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, Rt Hon Michael Gove MP, who needs to take a firm line on this – a realistic line – to ensure this discriminatory regime is not imposed upon the local car industry and local motorists. The EU needs to get real about issues such as this, or the only things that can be concluded is that their intention is to destroy our economy, jobs and household incomes.”


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Have a good
weekend guys? GamesRadar sure did, as we got a bit of a tune-up this weekend
after our 24-hour marathon. After updates to much of the behind-the-scenes
stuff you need not worry about, GR is back online, so everything is different,
yet also the same. Exciting, huh?
Faced with the dilemma of having turned literally every story ever told by humans into at least three movies (all of them excellent, obviously, and most of them starring Sam Worthington), Hollywood executives have turned to the obvious next source of inspiration: things that aren't stories. In addition to the upcoming Battleship and Monopoly movies, Lorenzo di Bonaventura – producer of all three Transformers movies, as well as Doom and Constantine – has just acquired the rights to Space Invaders, with a view to making it into a blockbuster...
Warning: the following video contains scenes of violence against classic Nintendo technology for the sole purpose of creating wicked cool beats. It is not intended for squares, monocle wearing videogame collectors, or viewers who should really be doing something productive right now. It's also catchy as hell. So really, your call...
Super Mario Bros for the NES/Famicom turned 25 today, and that’s quite an anniversary for arguably the most well known game in the world. Though it wasn’t Mario’s first appearance – that was as Jumpman in Donkey Kong (1981) – SMB is still the biggest moment in the humble plumber’s life and a touchstone for an entire generation of players. And to celebrate this occasion, Nintendo has opened up a special site for Mario’s super quarter-centennial...
Youtube is a bottomless well of time wasting nonsense, isn’t it? And we’ve had some good times with the site, plus we’re suckers for anyone playing Mario music on anything, most recently in the form of an excellent beatbox version of the famous theme. So obviously, we had to share this with you the moment we found it...
Mark your calendars, because March 10, 2009 will go down in history as the day that the best issue of the Official Xbox Magazine hit newsstands. That’s right. Next to money, OXM’s April, 2009 issue will be the most valuable thing that’s been printed on paper. Ever.
Okay, so we’re exaggerating… a little. But that’s just because our friends at OXM have put together an exceptionally excellent issue.
The teasiest of teasing hints from Camelot Software Planning has raised hopes that the Golden Sun developer is planning a new game in the RPG series. "Honestly, just like your readers saying that they want to see a new Golden Sun, a new tennis game, a new Shining Force, well, everyone in Camelot feels the same way - we really want to get these games out for you guys," heads of the Japanese studio Hiroyuki and Shugo Takahashi said in an
Nov 12, 2007
The first official teaser trailer has appeared online for LEGO Batman.
The second LEGO tie-in from the studio (and with LEGO Indiana Jones on the way) carries the same old PR tag-line, with TT hoping to take both franchises "and make something unique."
Well Star Wars wasn't all that original, but it was certainly bloody good fun (and you can get the missus to play it as well).
So far we know pretty much bugger all about Batman, but we reckon it's safe to assume Robin, The Joker
Wednesday 4 July 2007
In a recent podcast the Creative Director of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Matt Birch, has revealed that creating Harrys famous school was a huge challenge for the development team. Also included in the six minute chat are comments from the cast talking about how impressed they were with the visuals of the game. And Matt is even kind enough to offer some helpful hints and tips for those of you who are having a little trouble finding your way around.
Ever since the release of 2001's groundbreaking Grand Theft Auto III, there've been seemingly hundreds of games that shamelessly rip off its free-roaming, carjacking open-world formula. But as hard as the pretenders try, there's still only one


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Courts continue to see factory farm investigations as protected free speech.
Eco-conscious grocery stores like Whole Foods claim their meat is “humane.” The certification is supposed to signify that the animal was slaughtered humanely, but there’s no such thing as humane slaughter.
The bill, AB 44, would ban the sale of all fur goods across the state, carrying momentum from city-wide bans in California’s two largest metropolitan areas.
The movement away from real fur is gaining momentum. As consumers opt for animal-free alternatives, the fashion industry will be forced to respond. Gucci and Versace already took the first step.
By committing to go vegan, the company will remove 300 million eggs from its product line every year. And they’re not the only ones making the switch. One of the largest meat producers in the world is on board.
With the suffering of millions of animals at stake, New York City has the opportunity to send a strong message across the world by banning fur sales.
In this video of his first podcast episode, the popular animal rights activist Earthling Ed, known for his Socratic debating style, takes a detailed look at some recent media attention that his work and arguments of other animal rights activists have garnered
The benefits to the thousands of homeless pets who are dying for lack of a home each year cannot be overstated. Landlords can make a profitable, life-saving choice by permitting pets.
Animal Matters is a new video series featuring the Pulitzer winner Glenn Greenwald and Sentient Media’s Grant Lingel. The series will discuss all matters related to animals, animal rights, factory farming, and the political, moral, cultural, and economic considerations surrounding these matters.
In the same cages as the animals we farm, humans are forced to assume a much different perspective on factory farming. The film pushes humans to think about actually living in those conditions.
This year, deforestation in the Amazon reached a decade-long high, in large part because of an increased demand for soy to feed factory-farmed cattle. Rainforests in Brazil, Colombia, Peru, and Venezuela are suffering similar habitat destruction.
Matt Pritchard SWYD/YouTube The latest addition to the vegan main stage is BBC host, skateboarder,…
2019 is looking bright already. In every conscientious consumer out there, there is a willingness to make trade-offs–to take a stand–and for most people, that’s as easy as choosing not to eat meat. Many are already on their way.
Ready for a real adventure? Animal-cruelty fighting raccoon Persimmon takes us on a journey to…
We’re incredibly honored and excited to announce that Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist, vegan, and animal rights activist Glenn Greenwald will join Sentient Media’s very own Grant Lingel for a brand new video series about animal rights.
Animal advocates, time to celebrate. The passage of the 2018 Farm Bill signals the resilience of animal protection laws on a national level, something advocates have not seen the likes of on a farm bill since 2002 when Congress reassured the enforcement of the Humane Methods of Slaughter Act.
Protests erupted in Brazil after a dog was killed inside a Carrefour supermarket. A security guard savagely beat the animal to death.
The facts don’t lie: we’re using grain and other perfectly human-edible nutritious plants to bulk up animals for destruction instead of feeding people who can’t feed themselves.
According to the comprehensive, 52-source study published in Climate Policy, we have reached peak livestock. Politicians can recognize this by writing it into their climate mitigation plans for 2020.
Only then can we change human and animal lives for the better. The morality of our civilization depends on it.
Farmers joining hands with so-called animal rights extremists could signal a change to the direct action model, one that hopefully takes place without the law having to get involved. Let’s call it direct cooperation.
According to the PEW Research Center, half of Americans support genetically engineered animal testing, while…
Animal rights groups exist for one reason: Because animals need them. Animals can’t fight for…
Animal lives are at stake in the midterm elections. New legislation in California and Florida…
Anywhere between 37 and 120 billion fish are killed on commercial farms each year, with…
The story of “La·hwi·ne·ski: Career of an Eccentric Naturalist” from John Jeremiah Sullivan’s Pulphead: Essays…


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Maggi 2-minute noodles brand maggi has started “simply good” initiative, in line with nestlé’s global commitment which is firmly embedded in our purpose and values which is to enhance quality of life and contribute to a healthier future. Magginestle’s problem child problems of the “problem child” problems of the “problem child” “new. Nestle india ltd (nil) is the indian subsidiary of the global fmcg major, nestle sa maggi brand was introduced to the indian consumers by nil with the launch of maggi 2 minute noodles, an instant food product, in 1982 with the launch of maggi noodles, nil created an entirely new food category. Nestle is the world’s leading food company, with a 140-years history and functions in every country in the world nestle is a global organization of many cultural groups, religious working together in one single unifying corporate culture.
The company also decided to focus on promotions to increase the brand's awareness the focus on promotions turned out to be the single largest factor responsible for maggi's rapid acceptance before it could promote maggi as a brand the market for instant noodles began to grow. Nestlé sa: nestle sa, multinational manufacturer of food products headquartered in alimentana sa of kempttal, switzerland maggi was a major manufacturer of soup mixes and related foodstuffs the company’s current name was adopted in 1977 nestlé was also targeted by lawsuits from the international labor rights forum and anti-child. Child labor, unethical promotion, manipulating uneducated mothers, pollution, price fixing and mislabeling - those are not words you want to see associated with your company nestle is the world's. Sales of maggi in india represent roughly 0005 percent of nestle's global revenue of almost 92 billion swiss francs ($986 billion), but the brand damage could extend further, and bulcke acknowledged the company had fallen short.
Growth was steady— maggi noodles earned 2923% of nestle india’s total sales in 2014, more than double the revenue share in 2001 given the steady growth, the company even stopped looking at. The size of the problem is shocking: one billion people suffer from anaemia caused by iron deficiency, making it the world’s most common nutritional disorder it contributes to the deaths of 50,000 women in childbirth each year (pdf, 45kb). Nestlé’s development of the iron-fortified maggi bouillon is a continuation of its commitment to helping to reduce micronutrient deficiencies on a global scale worldwide, through micronutrient fortification of food products, nestlé provided 53 billion servings of iron, 102 billion servings of iodine, 35 billion servings of vitamin a and 14. First of all, lead would not be added into maggi on purpose it's poisonous and even nestle knows that the lead in maggi is due to contamination in the ingredients or the processing process, and negligence on the part of nestle for not noticing. Nestle 150 years, anniversary, timeline, henri nestle, history, condensed milk, switzerland to solve this problem, the company acquires processing facilities in the us and australia, and by the end of the war it has 40 factories in 1947, the company adds maggi soups and seasonings to its product range, and adopts the name nestlé.
The size of the problem is shocking: one billion people suffer from anaemia caused by iron deficiency, making it the world’s most common nutritional disorder it contributes to the deaths of 50,000 women in childbirth each year (pdf, 45 kb). While maggi accounts for close to 20 per cent of nestle india’s revenue, suresh narayanan, md, nestle india, said that the company is doing everything to get maggi back on the shelves “nestle india is making all efforts and will continue to engage with authorities to bring maggi noodles back on the shelves,” said narayanan. Nestle india ltd’s share fell by 91% on wednesday, after more states began to conduct tests on its instant noodles brand maggi for higher-than permitted levels of lead and for the presence of.
Ethical issues of nestlé introduction of nestlé nestlé is the world’s leading nutrition, health and wellness company their mission of ‘good food, good life’ is to provide consumers with the best tasting, most nutritious choices in a wide range of food and beverage categories and eating. The case examines the brand and line extension strategies adopted by fmcg major nestlé for its maggi brand in india it provides a detailed account of nestlé's promotion and advertising strategies for creating a noodles market from scratch the various products and variants launched under the umbrella brand maggi, and the rationale behind these launches (and their failure) is explored in detail. For nearly three decades, nestle's maggi noodles was the ultimate success story: an unlikely product embraced wholeheartedly by a difficult market over the last few weeks, it's become a case study of an entirely different sort — a textbook example of how not to handle a crisis. Nestle's problem child-maggi project report of maggi (1) sagar major line extension maggie consumer behaviour maggi magii himani project reportdocx 107494610 project report of maggi 1 employee engagement nestle assessment 1 written critique amb374 folk tale.
The indian government’s accusations that nestle’s popular maggi noodle brand contains dangerous levels of lead and msg have left the company reeling. We provide quick and nutritious breakfast options from your child's first cup of milo, or your choice of nestlé breakfast cereals to porridges sweetened and creamed with the unique taste of betty in the morning to drink nescafe throughout the day or having your daily bowl of maggi chicken noodle soup. Nestle said it would build upon its existing efforts to develop a more sustainable cocoa supply and work more closely with its suppliers to raise awareness of the child labour problem and train. India's food safety regulator on friday banned the sale and production of nestle's maggi instant noodles over a health scare after tests found they contained excessive lead levels.


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TechWadi, a nonprofit dedicated to providing Middle Eastern entrepreneurs with all necessary help to succeed in the technology sector, has announced a new partnership with the African Technology Foundation (ATF).
Per this new agreement with the ATF, TechWadi will open up a new frontier to further expand its reach beyond the Middle East.The move comes as a blessing for the African tech entrepreneurs and startup community, which has undergone an encouraging growth trajectory over the past couple of years.
“This is a special partnership for us, especially as we seek to forge stronger relationships in the MENA region,” said Stephen Ozoigbo, CEO of the African Technology Foundation, about the new agreement with TechWadi. As part of the new partnership, TechWadi has also vowed to collaborate with the ATF for the smooth implementation of the forthcoming startup launchpad Demo Africa, scheduled to kick off in Morocco later this October.
During the event, TechWadi will focus on networking, and possibly collaborating with investors, strategic partners, corporate acquirers, and the international media to explore the hidden potential of the African tech startup ecosystem and bring them to the forefront. The African tech industry currently boasts 32 startups with a direct link to the Silicon Valley ecosystem. Overall, the continent has more than 200 quality tech startups that collectively raised more than $65 billion in investment and billing.
Both TechWadi and the ATF hopes to examine and learn from the ingenious and innovative ideas demonstrated at Demo Africa.


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Apple's share of smartphone markets across the globe were revealed in a new report from London-based research firm the Kantar Group, as detailed by Reuters. The study found that the iPhone has been gaining ground in Great Britain, the U.S. and Australia, though "this trend is far from universal."
Problems for Apple exist in Europe, where Google's Android platform has been making gains because of low-priced devices. In particular, Apple saw its smartphone share drop from 29 percent to 20 percent in France, where the report said there are "increasing signs of price sensitivity."
Similarly, Apple's smartphone share fell from 27 percent to 22 percent in Germany, while other iPhone drops were seen in Italy and Spain. The report noted that sales of "the expensive Apple model," the new iPhone 4S, were affected by weakening economies across Europe.
While Apple's smartphone share has apparently dropped across Europe, Google has maintained control. The study found that Android accounts for between 46 and 61 percent in all markets.
Business and consumer confidence in Europe are particularly low, as the continent is in the midst of a financial crisis stemming from government debt. The report noted Europeans are "keeping a lid on their expenses," which is likely to have affected iPhone sales outside of the U.K.
As for the U.S., the report largely aligns with a separate study conducted by the NPD Group, which revealed last week that Apple's iPhone and Google Android currently account for 82 percent of the smartphone market. Android-based smartphones had a 53 percent share by the end of October, while Apple's iPhone accounted for 29 percent.


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The Coronavirus pandemic has derailed the global economy and even after the initial shocks of the lockdown, the repercussions are going to be massive for everyone in the startup ecosystem. So, how is it going to affect your product and industry? Are you prepared?
The pre and post Covid-19 world are going to be two very different places. Founders and Product Leaders really need to start figuring out what lies ahead for them and begin preparing for it right now. Do you need to make short term or long term changes? Those who’re largely offline may have to move things online and vice versa.
Industries like travel and education might be changed forever. SaaS might receive the biggest boost over the next couple of years. Work from home becoming a widespread phenomena might affect a number of industries.
To talk about the big trends and the big picture, and to field questions from you on what you could do to transition safely in this time of crisis, on 24th April (Friday), we have our very own Ashish Sinha, Founder & CEO, NextBigWhat joining us for an AMA on The NextBigWhat Of Everything – What Lies Ahead For Founders & Product Leaders.
Ashish Sinha is the founder of NextBigWhat and an instructor at NextBigWhat Academy’s Product Management Course. He has held a number of product roles in his previous avatar with experience at companies like Yahoo and i2.
When: April 24th (Friday) | 5 PM IST
Ideal for: Founders, Product Leaders, Product Marketers
Recommended Read: The new decade


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New Delhi, Jan 14 (IBNS): Infosys, a leader in consulting, technology, outsourcing and next-generation services, on Wednesday announced the creation of a USD 250 million (INR 1,550 Crore) 'Innovate in India Fund' from its recently expanded Innovation Fund.
New Delhi, Jan 14 (IBNS): Starting 'National Road Safety Week 2015' on a positive note, Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India Pvt. Ltd. (HMSI) has kick-started its nation-wide road safety awareness initiatives to ride home the message of road safety to people across India.
Bangalore, Jan 14 (IBNS): UAE Exchange India, one of the leading players in financial services, on Wednesday launched six branches in Bangalore.
Mumbai, Jan 14 (IBNS): Telecom operator Idea Cellular recorded over 150 million subscribers on its pan-India network as on Dec 31, 2014.
Mumbai Jan 14 (IBNS): Private sector bank ICICI Bank has announced the launch of a completely online account opening facility, for NRIs (Non Resident Indian) residing in the US.
Mumbai/ Kolkata, Jan 14 (IBNS): Integrated power company Tata Power has been conferred with the Central Board of Irrigation and Power (CBIP) Award for its 'Outstanding Performance in the Power Sector'.
Mumbai, Jan 14 (IBNS) : Carmaker Volkswagen has announced the launch of the New Cross Polo 1.2 MPI.
New Delhi, Jan 14 (IBNS): Steel and power companyJindal Steel and Power Limited (JSPL) on Wednesday released the companyâ€™s first Business Sustainability Report for FY2013-14; showcasing Innovation as the corner stone of Sustainable Business.
New York, Jan 14 (IBNS) After an economically disappointing 2014, developing countries can expect an uptick in growth in the new year as soft oil prices, a stronger United States economy, and continued low global interest rates help fuel their recovery, according to a new flagship study issued by the World Bank Group.
New York, Jan 14 (IBNS)Developing countries in Asia and the Pacific are forecast to grow at an average of 5.8 per cent this year, up from 5.6 per cent in 2014, spurred by decreased inflation and a steep decline in oil prices, according to a new United Nations report that indicates that structural reforms and lower oil prices can boost grown for sustainable development.
Seoul, Jan 13 (IBNS): SsangYong Motor Company (SYMC), a part of the US $ 16.5 billion Mahindra Group, on Tuesday announced the launch of its eagerly awaited 'Tivoli' compact SUV model at Seoul in South Korea.
Gandhinagar, Jan 13 (IBNS): India's Leading stock Exchange National Stock Exchange of India Limited (NSE) and Education Department, Gujarat Government have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) at the ongoing Vibrant Gujarat Global Investors Summit for introduction of financial literacy course for students of schools and colleges.
Bangalore, Jan 13 (IBNS): Myra Vineyards, the award-winning Bangalore based company and one of the fastest growing wine brands in the country, recently announced the appointment of Tabish Zia as Head of Institutions Sales and Marketing for the Karnataka market.
New Delhi, Jan 13 (IBNS) Noted economist Arvind Panagariya was on Tuesday appointed the first Vice-Chairman of the newly-created National Institute for Transforming India (NITI) Aayog.
New Delhi, Jan 12 (IBNS): India's Index of industrial production (IIP) stood at at 169.8, in November 2014, which is 3.8% higher as compared to the level in the month of November 2013.


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TikTok’s new beauty filters are so wrong.
While some users are excited about the new ways they can enhance their appearance, others are concerned about the potential negative impact these filters could have on the self-esteem of young girls. The filters in question are designed to smooth out skin, slim down features, and even change the shape of a person’s face. While these changes may seem harmless at first glance, they can have a significant impact on how young girls view themselves and their bodies.
One could argue makeup did the same in the real world. But that trick’s been around since Nefertiti or at least Cleopatra. Neither had social media.


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Albuquerque family members-owned organization proceeds to be concentrate on of thief2 min read
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – An Albuquerque enterprise is fed-up right after staying the focus on of various burglaries and shoplifting in a issue of months. The hottest theft occurred on Sunday and it was all caught on digicam.
A standard Sunday afternoon turned into a aggravating one when the alarm went off at Michael Rowan’s family members-owned uniform and customized clothing shop, Rowan Attire. “Not all over again is the very first factor. We’re of system in a position to see the video clip remotely so we could see it was not a wrong alarm. We could see another person experienced been in the developing,” Michael Rowan, co-proprietor of Rowan Clothing, mentioned.
Surveillance video clip exhibits close to 2 p.m., a guy employed a massive rock to smash the doorway. He went into the retail outlet and walked out with arms whole of clothes, about $700 truly worth Rowan explained. This is the fourth time the retail store has been qualified because September 2020.
“It’s demotivating,” Rowan stated. “We function seriously hard to be an vital provider. We provide our to start with responders, we provide healthcare facility employees, utility perform, educational facilities, and anyone doing work from household. We’re continuously functioning to source and I have a family members business enterprise focused, it’s demoralizing.”
On September 20, 2020, a man broke in and stole about six things, according to the police report. Just four days afterwards, a person, who Rowan believes is the same person, broke in. That time, he stole about $2,000 worthy of of merchandise in accordance to the law enforcement report. On January 26, 2021, a different gentleman arrived in and shoplifted a coat. Rowan stated it was the exact suspect as the break-ins.
“It’s unfortunate, we form of leave and protected all the things but you never know what’s likely to take place,” Rowan explained. Albuquerque Police Department gave a suspect a felony summons for shoplifting but no arrest was created. Rowan hopes an arrest is created shortly.
“We just want it to end completely. we want to not just be viewing our phones all evening ready for the alarm,” he reported. In the hottest burglary from Sunday, Rowan mentioned fixing the damaged doorway will cost any where from $2,000 to $3,000.
APD claimed it is investigating the crack-ins and program to meet with the enterprise in the following pair of days. The office could not comment on if the suspect from the shoplifting incident is the exact as the individual as the crack-ins.


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For years now, the Dronecode team has regularly attended the Commercial UAV Expo in Las Vegas. We travel to the event annually to take advantage of the opportunity to meet the PX4 community in person and foster direct connections with members, maintainers, and other ecosystem players face-to-face.
We’ve partnered with Commercial UAV Expo once again this year to co-promote each other’s events, and we are looking forward to attending once again. If you want to meet us there this September 5-7 at Caesar’s Forum, you can use the code SAVE100 for $100 off a conference pass or a free exhibit hall pass!
At this year’s show, you’ll be able to see some great firms showing off amazing hardware built on top of open standards. Freefly Systems, Sony, Watts Innovation, and Wingtra all utilize PX4 or the Pixhawk standard and have booths at the show. You may even see the Dronecode Foundation’s General Manager, Ramón Roche, walking the floor and interviewing innovators from every corner of the industry.
Conferences provide an unrivaled opportunity to get face time with leaders in the space, whether it’s during the sessions or in the exhibit hall. Last year, Ramon interviewed Bobby Watts, CEO and Principal Engineer of Watts Innovation, while at the event, and Bobby was kind enough to share the entire origin story of the company and the reasons why they adopted PX4.
The commercial drone sector never stops evolving, and Commercial UAV Expo provides one of the best chances to see the next generation of UAS technology hitting the market. In total, it brings together 250+ vendors providing solutions for fields as diverse as agriculture, construction, surveying and mapping, infrastructure inspection, and public safety. If you’re an engineer or company looking to meet your end-user, this is the spot to do so.
It’s certainly going to be an exciting fall event-wise for drone developers. We hope to see you IRL at the Commercial UAV Expo this year or this October 21-22 in New Orleans at the PX4 Developer Summit.


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Supermarket Asda is selling an exclusive range of Cadbury white chocolate.
Including a big Cadbury Creamy White Chocolate bar for £2, or customers can pick it up in Asda's two for £3 offer which includes loads of other big bars of chocolate.
The Cadbury white chocolate range launched exclusively at Asda this year, and other products include the White Freddo Treasures and Cadbury White Buttons.
But it's the huge white chocolate block that's caught the attention of chocolate lovers.
Why? Because it apparently tastes just like the discontinued Dream bar.
Cadbury decided to stop manufacturing the iconic white chocolate Dream bar in the UK, much to the dismay of customers.
Cadbury is releasing tins of Creme Eggs and Mini Eggs for Easter
Asda is selling huge chocolate tins filled with Freddos for £4
And while it's not exactly Dream, many shoppers are comparing the Cadbury Creamy White Chocolate to the nostalgic bar that first launched in 2002.
In the review section on Asda's website, one customer wrote: "Words cannot describe how much I love this! Great taste just like the 'Dream Bar' just re-branded."
Another added: "White chocolate lovers dream! Tastes amazing, will be a regular in my basket!"
And while other reviewers were divided, pointing out it wasn't "creamy" enough to compete with Dream, Twitter users disagreed.
One wrote: "This new Cadbury White chocolate tastes exactly like what the Dream bars used to taste like."
A second posted: "The new Cadbury's white chocolate tastes the same as Dream used to and I'm happy."
And that's not the only product that has delighted Cadbury fans recently.
The confectionery company recently launched limited-edition Orange Twirls.
Cadbury's Chocolate Orange Twirl is officially available in UK supermarkets across the nation, and fans can't get enough.
The chocolate bar features the same crumbly flakes covered in milk chocolate.
Only this time there's a hint of orange added to the bar.
Rumours the Cadbury Orange Twirl was making its way to the UK started earlier this year.
At the time, Cadbury said: "We knew it would be difficult to keep the news of the limited edition Cadbury Twirl Orange under wraps as people would be as excited about the product as we are.
"We can’t share much more at the moment, but watch this space for more information as we get closer to the launch."
Looking for more chocolate news?
Morrisons has slashed the price of chocolate advent calendars by 50% to help people stock up for Christmas.
Currently, shoppers can get the Thorntons Santa Advent Calendar, Galaxy Advent Calendar and Maltesers Merryteaser Advent Calendar for half price.
Also included in the offer is the Cadbury’s Dairy Milk Chocolate Advent Calendar and Milkybar White Chocolate Advent Calendar.
Source: Read Full Article


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There will no longer be Disney movies streamed on Netflix by 2019. On Tuesday, Disney announced that it is ending its partnership with the entertainment company found in 1997.
Disney plans to create two streaming services. The first one will feature original movies and shows which will be available to the public in 2019, while the second one will focus on sports (ESPN) and is set to begin operation next year. Disney CEO Bob Iger stated that the launch of these platforms is a top priority for them.
To achieve this goal, Disney is spending $1.58 billion to get a 42 percent stake from the streaming company BAMTech. Before this, Disney already had a 33 percent stake after paying $1 billion in August of 2016.
Disney will soon own 75 percent of BAMTech, which previously belonged to MLB Advanced Media. Iger described the investment as a “big strategic shift.” He believes it is crucial to the company’s aim and it allows them to control their destiny.
For Creatv Media founder Peter Csathy, the impending split is a declaration of independence from Disney. He is convinced that Disney is capable of competing with Netflix.
“Netflix has a huge head start, but Disney thinks it can win. And Disney can feature the most valuable content library in the world,” Csathy added.
Some of the shows that can be expected from Disney’s future streaming platform are sequels to world-renowned animated films, “Frozen” and “Toy Story.” There is also an upcoming live-action adaptation of “The Lion King.”
Netflix Continues to Thrive
Even if Disney revealed its intention to be an independent streaming service provider, progress continues for Netflix. The company recently purchased Millarworld, which was founded by famous comic book writer Mark Millar.
The acquisition of Millarworld will soon lead to programming based on Millar’s creations. Millar is known for his time working under Marvel Comics. The 47-year-old is responsible for “Kickass” and “Wanted," hit comic book series which were made into movies.
There is other good news for Netflix aside from the addition of Millarworld. According to analyst Michael Olson, the company is projected to achieve significant success internationally. Olson predicted that the number of international subscribers could reach 100 million by 2020.
As of this moment, Netflix is closing in on having 104 million subscribers worldwide. In the second quarter of 2017, it listed 5.2 million new subscribers.
Subscribe to FSM News and fill yourself in on the freshest marketing news. We provide comprehensive and latest news and analysis regarding Forex, commodities, technology, financial, economy, and more.


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PLAINFIELD, Ind. — Mom deserves to be pampered this Mother’s Day (for those who need a reminder, hint, it’s May 8). Why not treat mom and also yourself to a day full of relaxation?
Pull My Hair, a new wax studio and spa located in Plainfield opening soon, is offering a mother/daughter facial package. The package includes two basic facials for $75, which means you save $25.
Pull My Hair prides itself in giving unique pampering experiences in a judgement-free environment. Owned by a mother-daughter duo Lisa Johnson and Lilian Miller, Pull My Hair couldn’t be the more perfect place to escape with the woman who you owe a lot to! “We have some amazing estheticians. Some here are dual-licensed and they just love the industry,” said Lisa. “They just want to make people feel pretty.”
Pull My Hair is hosting their grand opening Saturday May 14 from 1-4 p.m. and will be offering complimentary mini facials and massages! To learn more about their services you can visit their website.


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When Google decided to push forward into expanding its
advertising portfolio, it definitely wasn't just testing the waters. Today
reports surfaced around the Internet that Google is in talks with
long time online advertisement house DoubleClick. What makes the talks
between Google and DoubleClick more critical is that Google isn't just the only
one with its eyes on the advertising firm. According to several reports, AOL,
Microsoft and Yahoo are also in talks with DoubleClick's top management.DailyTech last reported that Google
announced its official push into video game advertising with the purchase
of Adscape. The company launched a campaign to start pushing its AdSense and
AdWords programs into video games.
With online games being released on consoles on an
increasing basis, this also would make it easier for Google to approach console
developers. Gamers have voiced their opinions about in-game advertising before
and indicated that they were displeased with the movement, saying it detracts
from the "reality" of the game.
Analysts are expecting the selling price for DoubleClick to reach as high as $2
billion USD with Google in the talks. Industry insiders indicated that Google
is still developing its own advertising services, but said that Google would
not stand to let Microsoft take over control of one of the oldest and widely
used advertising firms.
According to search engine expert John Battelle, Microsoft
is a big threat to Google's advertising space. "It's a major risk to
[Google's] business to force advertisers to change behavior -- it needs a
third-party ad serving solution."


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New Delhi: Gradeup One of the most trusted brands for competitive exam preparation has recently announced the release of its first brand campaign – ‘Sahi Prep Hai, Toh Life Set Hai’featuring youth icon Kartik Aaryan.
Conceptualized by Mirchi Brewery and directed by VibhuPuri, Gradeup plans to launch a series of five brand films across all digital platforms and social media channels. Three films are being launched now with this campaign, and the other two will be released in the coming months. The brand films focus on enabling opportunities for students preparing for various competitive exams and establish Gradeup as a preferred platform for exam preparation.
“As Indians, we understand that most of us need a good job or a degree to get settled in life. The campaign leverages this insight in a simple yet effective way fortifying the importance of the right preparation strategy with ‘Sahi Prep Hai, Toh Life Set Hai’. With this campaign we aim to make students more confident in their preparation journey with us.” said Ankit Gautam, AVP Marketing at Gradeup.


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An Aston Martin DB5 used in the filming of James Bond’s Goldfinger may have been found after it was believed to have been dumped into the ocean.
The DB5 in question, chassis number DP/216/1, was sold to a collector by the name of Richard Losee for $12,000. Not long after, Losee sold the DB5 to businessman and car collector Anthony Pugliese III for $250,000.
Under its new ownership, the car was stored at a hangar in Boca Raton Airport but in June 1997, it was stolen. Mystery surrounds the theft but investigators believe it was well planned as no alarms were set off and security guards were never alerted. What’s more, no evidence was found at the scene.
Urban legends claim that the DB5 was ultimately flown over the Florida keys and dumped in the ocean. However, new information suggests the car may have been relocated to the Middle East after the theft.
The mystery continues…
Speaking with Auto Classics, Art Recovery International chief executive Christopher A Marinello said his company had received a tip that the car may be resting in the Middle East.
“I have been given a specific tip, but we are working on it. We want to reach out to the collector car community and a vast array of mechanics to let them know we are very serious about recovering it.
“As there are many Aston Martins, it is very important that we get a shot of the chassis number, DP/216/1. This is what we are looking for, as it is very specific to the vehicle. It is quite possible the potential in the Middle East is a mere lookalike, which is why it is crucial we retain a close-up of the chassis number,” Marinello said.
Getting up close with the car could be a little more difficult than simply calling up the alleged owner and asking for a tour of the car. After all, it was stolen and if it does indeed still exist, may have been acquired using rather shady means.
Note: A different Aston Martin DB5 pictured


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New Waldorf Astoria To Transform Miami Skyline
Oct 03, 2018 October 03, 2018
The Magic City is about to get a luxurious skyline upgrade as new developments reach for the sky! The latest jewel on the crown of Miami’s tropical skyline is the magnificent new Waldorf Astoria, a mixed-use condo resort tower that will project 1,049 feet into the sky at 300 Biscayne Blvd. in downtown Miami. The project will transform Miami’s skyline by being the tallest tower in Florida, and in fact south of Manhattan.
Groundbreaking is planned for 2019 and developers include such visionaries as Property Markets Group, Greybrook Realty Partners, and S2 Development, who announced that the famed Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts, owned by Hilton Worldwide Holdings, Inc., would be a part of the mixed-use development in a tower designed by Sieger Suarez Architects. The design resembles nine glass cubes stacked precariously in the sky overlooking Biscayne Bay, in a stylistic diversion from the renowned art deco design of the famed Waldorf Astoria in New York.
Property Markets Group expects that total sales may top $1 billion as buyers are lured by brand recognition and luxury hotel amenities that offer resort-style living. Branded luxury resort residences have gained popularity in cities such as Miami, where developers have teamed with hotel brands like St. Regis and Ritz-Carlton to leverage brand recognition and use luxury amenities to add value and marketability to luxury condominium residency communities that don’t actually include hotel rooms but provide resort-style amenities.
The ultra-luxury tower at 300 Biscayne will house 400 residential units, 140 five-star hotel rooms, and a ground-floor atrium space housing restaurants and retailers, totalling about 800,000 square feet, according to the Greybrook Realty website.
Set in the heart of downtown Miami, conveniently close to Bayside Marketplace and the American Airlines Arena, the tower is also just minutes from the exciting new Miami World Center, as well as Museum Park, the Arsht Center, and Miami’s Art and Design Districts, with their chic restaurants, boutiques, designer outlets, street art, and cultural events. The Waldorf Astoria Tower will not only transform the city skyline, but it will mark the beginning of a new era in Miami, as the city continues its evolution into the “Manhattan of the South” distinguished by its forward-thinking 21st Century sensibility.
The tower will feature a Waldorf Astoria Hotel and branded residences, with all of the luxury amenities that Waldorf Astoria is known for, including a unique health and wellness spa that is only the second of its kind. The Waldorf Astoria in Miami promises five-star service and luxury amenities, in keeping with the international tradition of the Waldorf Astoria, whose 30 hotels worldwide are known as the epitome of elegance, luxury, and comfort.
For Waldorf Astoria, the project represents the brand’s expansion into the most desirable cities and destinations around the world. In recent years, Waldorf Astoria hotels have opened in vibrant international cities such as Amsterdam, Dubai, and Shanghai, and the company plans further expansion into upscale destinations in the U.S.


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A message appeared on the official Rockstar pages signed by Sam Houser, the head of the “rock stars”:
Thanks to the incredible support of our players worldwide, we have had the opportunity to create games we are truly passionate about — without you, none of this would be possible, and we are so grateful to all of you for sharing this journey with us.
In 1998, Rockstar Games was founded on the idea that video games could come to be as essential to culture as any other form of entertainment, and we hope that we have created games you love in our efforts to be part of that evolution.
We are very excited to let you know that in early December, we will release the first trailer for the next Grand Theft Auto.
We look forward to many more years of sharing these experiences with all of you.
Rockstar Games turns 25 next month.
Thanks to the incredible support of our players around the world, we have been able to create games that we ourselves are passionate about. Without you, none of this would have been possible, and we are grateful to everyone who shared this journey with us.
In 1998, Rockstar Games was founded on the idea that video games could be an essential form of entertainment, and we hope we’ve created the games you love as part of that evolution.
We’re very excited to announce that we’ll be releasing the first trailer for the next Grand Theft Auto in early December.
Finally, it can be noted that between the first trailer and the release GTA 5 Almost two years have passed. This means that we still need to be patient.


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According Openfolio, an application that allows you to monitor the effectvnost investment, nearly 70% of investors have lost money this year.
In the history of American markets, it was the worst year since the financial crisis. No wonder that to make money in 2015 was not easy.
People who earn money by doing one of two things that are forbidden to do investment advisers: they either hold a lot of cash, or a lot of risk.
Cash was one of the best investments this year. Despite the fact that the cash does not bring about any benefits while in a bank or money market fund, they still had an impact on US indices, commodities and even the majority of the bonds.
But to keep a lot of cash - not a very good way of earning money in the long run.
Year of Amazon and Netflix
Another winning strategy was to make big bets on individual stocks, especially technology stocks.
Of Amazon and Netflix crush the competition in 2015. Both companies added to their capital more than 120% per year, which means that the investment of $ 10 thousand for the period January 1, will cost about $ 22 thousand. These companies are chislo10 companies whose shares are traded most frequently.
Many retail investors also made cash contributions to Disney (DIS) and Facebook (FB, Tech30). Both companies have a monetary return, worthy of applause.
Owning individual stocks adds more risk to the portfolio. This is a bet on one company against investing in a mutual fund or ETF, which includes many companies.
The general rule is that investors need to do more research if they want to buy individual stocks instead of cash funds.
Another lesson from 2015: experienced investors fared much better than the newcomers.


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13 December, 2013 - 6:48 am
Internet copyright notice and take down procedure in Italy!
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16 July, 2013 - 8:37 am
Crowdfunding in Italy – ready to kick off!
What opportunities for start-up with crowdfunding? The regulatory framework necessary for the launch of first Italian crowdfunding…
26 August, 2010 - 1:29 pm
Send To A Friend – what data protection issues ?
Nowadays it is very common on most of the e-commerce and news websites to see an icon or a tool allowing users to forward the listing,…
27 March, 2011 - 5:57 pm
Italian Gaming Licenses: Final FAQs
After the final approval of the decree regulating the issue of new Italian gaming licenses and of the decree on casino and cash…


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Rhapsody made a surprise appearance at Facebook’s f8 conference today, at least in the form of its logo on a slide shown by Mark Zuckerberg as he introduced the social network’s new Facebook Music platform for listening to tunes with friends.
Here’s how Rhapsody is involved: The Seattle-based music service will be offering a free 30-day trial to Facebook users, without requiring them to enter credit card information or automatically converting them to paid subscribers once the free period is up. It will through the Facebook Connect login service.
Facebook users will be able to access the free Rhapsody trial when friends who are using Rhapsody share what they’re listening to via “scrobbled” links. The 30-day trial will also include the ability to use Rhapsody on mobile devices. The Rhapsody service normally starts at $10/month.
At the same time, the Facebook Music launch also highlights the newly competitive landscape for Rhapsody. Appearing on stage with Zuckerberg today was Spotify CEO Daniel Ek, whose service recently launched in the U.S. and offers a free version that has proven particularly popular in Europe.
Rhapsody, which was spun off from Seattle-based RealNetworks last year, launched a series of new social features last week on its website.


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🚘 Tesla has announced that it will accept bitcoins in the near future. In addition, the company has invested funds into cryptocurrency.
TESLA INC - BELIEVE OUR BITCOIN HOLDINGS ARE HIGHLY LIQUID
It turns out that I was right when I assumed that Elon Musk has investments in bitcoin.
Telegram - @wall_street_trader


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Despite subdued consumer demand in developed markets, Hansen Natural achieved a 23.9 per cent increase in net sales to $381.5m in the latest quarter and a 15.8 per cent improvement in operating profit.
In the US the company closed the market share gap with its main rival Red Bull and abroad it took on new markets, most notably Germany – the second largest energy drink market in Europe.
Moving forward, Hansen Natural is looking to further capitalise on the potential of international markets.
Rodney C. Sacks, chairman and chief executive officer, said: “We are in the process of launching the Monster Energy brand in Switzerland, Austria and Iceland and are planning to launch Monster Energy in Bulgaria before the end of the year.”
Meanwhile, makers of alcohol energy drinks in the US are facing up to a new ban in Michigan.
Caffeinated alcohol ban
After four students were hospitalised last month when they drank Four Loko, known as ‘blackout in a can’, The Michigan Liquor Control Commission decided to crack down on caffeinated alcohol.
It has banned Four Loko along with 54 other high caffeine alcoholic drinks, ordering the products off the shelves pending a Food and Drug Administration (FDA) investigation into the safety of alcohol energy drinks.
Reacting to the news, Phusion Projects said it would be considering legal options, adding that the Commission did not give enough advance warning or opportunity for beverage makers to respond.
International spirits maker Diageo has also given its reaction to the decision. In a statement the company said its Smirnoff Raw Tea should not have been on the list of banned drinks as it was taken off the shelf over a year ago.
In addition, the statement said: “Diageo never marketed Smirnoff Raw Tea as an energy drink and does not market any other brands that way or make claims on any products implying energizing, stimulating or invigorating properties.”


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Swimwear brand jets into new store format
Local swimwear brand Jets is set to unveil a glamorous new store format across its David Jones concessions next year, in addition to the launch of standalone stores and a ramped up expansion into the US.
Inspired by a luxurious poolside cabana, the new stores will ‘transform’ the way in which women typically shop for swimwear, promises Danny Lattouf, head of Y&R Ideaworks, which collaborated with parent company Pas Group on the project.
“When shopping for women’s swimwear, it’s essentially the same retail experience all over the world. Product doesn’t quite display well on a hanger and with enough stock on display, even a $500 European designer swimsuit doesn’t look all that enticing,” Lattouf told IRW.
“Until the first [Jets] store launches, I can say that this transformation promises a simpler, seamless and highly curated experience – a high service and beautiful experience that the category and women deserve, and have waited too long for.”
In addition to being stocked across Australia, Jets is in US major department stores Bergdorf Goodman and Neiman Marcus and next year, Pas is planning to dramatically increase its expansion across the country, said Pas Group CEO Eric Morris. The brand is also stocked in Selfridges and Harvey Nichols in the UK and Brown Thomas in Ireland.
“For an Australian brand to succeed overseas, it has to be niche, because there’s a very competitive landscape around the world. And when you look at it, that’s why we think we’ve got an opportunity for Jets, because it’s got a niche, it’s positioned well in the marketplace and there’s a space for it. It’s not just generic swimwear,” Morris explained.
“The element that we focus on at Jets is really around fit, fabrication and how it makes a woman feel. That’s been the strength of the brand for many years…We see ourselves as artisans in terms of how we create the patterns and fit. Jets is not a copycat brand which is sent off to Asia to be manufactured – it’s really created here, then manufactured offshore.”
Jets is also planning to focus more on extending its resortwear and accessories collections to complement its existing swimwear range, which will be designed to take the customer from the beach to the bar and dinner. As Morris described, the idea is that the customer will be able to pack one Jets piece that will she can wear for multiple occasions.
“Australian swimwear is very well respected around the world, people love the fact that we have the beach and an outdoor lifestyle. Australian swimwear has a great cachet. One of the first things we did after buying the Jets brand two years ago was adding the word ‘Australia’ underneath it because we wanted it to be synonymous with Australia.”
Julie Mathers is urging retailers and suppliers to switch to more sustainable shipping materials to cut out plastic… https://t.co/TGshVMAEZI8 hours ago
Hugo Boss has launched an e-commerce site in Australia, and has big plans for the APAC region. We speak with local… https://t.co/Xs0mGye9mi11 hours ago


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It appears that VMware has been on quite the acquisition kick lately, first with the $1.3 billion acquisition of its Palo Alto neighbor Nicira in 2012, and now with its largest acquisition in company history: the $1.54 billion purchase of mobile management and security firm AirWatch. The AirWatch acquisition is aimed at tightening companies’ security and peace of mind, particularly with regard to the growing use of mobile devices for work, referred to as “bring your own device” (BYOD).
If Mobile Device Management (MDM) vendors needed any further notice this entire technology category is defunct, then VMware has kindly obliged, finally making good on its promise to offer a viable mobile virtualization platform with the announcement at VMworld 2012 of Horizon Mobile iOS. Continue reading VMworld 2012 – Horizon Mobile (Application Management)
Distributed desktop virtualization start up MokaFive has carved a niche for itself by simplifying the task of delivering enterprise IT managed Windows desktop environments to Apple Mac hardware without the additional cost and complexity of VDI environments. Continue reading MokaFive Goes Mobile – Extends MokaFive Suite to iPad
Thin client vendor Wyse Technology has bought Montréal’s Trellia Networks in a bid to strengthen its software portfolio and diversify into SaaS based mobile device management (MDM) in a deal that the company said will extend its vision of “MDM made easy.” Continue reading News: Wyse Buys Trellia and into Mobile Management


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Driving relevance means driving growth. Join global brands and industry thought leaders at Brandweek, Sept. 11–14 in Miami, for actionable takeaways to better your marketing. 50% off passes ends April 10.
When the Covid-19 pandemic hit the U.S., brands quickly stepped up to reassure frightened Americans that they were there for them. In countless campaigns, brands let the public know that they were helping by donating money, making masks and giving consumers grace periods on things like utility and mortgage payments.
But when black Americans are being killed—whether by police as in the case of Minnesota’s George Floyd, who was suffocated by a white police officer who pinned him down by kneeling on his neck on Monday, or in incidents like the killing of Ahmaud Arbery, who was chased and fatally shot by three white neighbors while out on a run in his Georgia neighborhood on Feb.


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AllThingsD reports that Google is working on bringing Ingress, a mobile-augmented reality game which was launched for Android devices back in April, to iPhone and iPad.
I must admit I had no idea that Google had launched an mobile game, but it looks like it is quite popular on the Play Store, and has been downloaded over one million times even though it is in closed-beta right now.
So what is Ingress?
The game pits players around the world against one another as two teams, The Enlightened and The Resistance; players uncover clues about some mysterious new technology (a live story with new clues from Google every week) and claim local landmarks in the real world for their chosen side. Ingress players score points for their teams by exploring meatspace and collaborating with total strangers, both online and off.
You can watch the trailer of the game below:
The story is set in real-time so new clues are released by Google every week. A new season of the Ingress story called 13Magnus with live-play events planned for 38 cities kicked off in San Jose and Los Angles over the weekend, and will conclude in San Francisco on December 14th.
If you don’t want to wait for the official launch then you can play the game on your jailbroken or non-jailbroken (if you’ve a developer account) iPhone by downloading the unofficial Ingress port for iOS from this link. However, the developers of the unofficial iOS port warn: “”Use at your own risk, a banning may result for using a 3rd party app.”
Here’s the video of the iOS port gameplay:
Let me know what you think in the comments.


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GameStop Exclusive IT (2017) Ultimate Pennywise
NECA has announced the release of the GameStop Exclusive IT (2017) Ultimate "I <3 Derry" Pennywise figure. Revealed during San Diego Comic Con 2018, the GameStop exclusive version of the IT (2017) Ultimate Pennywise action figure was initially scheduled for October, but will be releasing early. This figure has an exclusive bloody deco, a lenticular front panel, and comes with Georgie’s severed arm accessory. You can pick one up from GameStop for $34.99.


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Facebook has changed its story after at first attempting to make light of how it.
At the point when the administration seeks your information, tech organizations can’t generally let you.
Apple has affirmed its arrangements to close retail locations in the Eastern District of Texas.
Disney is in discourses to purchase AT&T’s 10 percent stake in Hulu, which it comes.
Apple at the beginning of today reported another organization intended to prepare more individuals to.
The sparkle on Apple is getting a little discoloured. Today, the SEC documented a suit.
Apple’s occasion today, where it reported its gushing plans and that’s only the tip of.
To finish off the present press occasion concentrated on Apple’s administrations business, the organization has.
Alongside the hotly anticipated presentation of Apple’s TV and motion picture spilling administration, the organization.


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Folks who like iPads but hate spending lots of money will be glad to learn that Apple has just announced a new 10.2-inch entry-level iPad.
It replaces the sixth-generation 9.7-inch model which the company released last spring. And let’s not forget that the basic design of the cheapest Apple tablet has remained largely unchanged since the iPad 2. So one might say it’s about time.
The new iPad packs a Retina display, a Smart Connector to connect Apple’s optional keyboard, and an 8MP camera. Powering the 10.2-inch device is the A10 Fusion chip, which Apple says is twice as fast as the “top-selling PC.”
The 10.20-inch iPad will cost you $329, or $299 for educational customers. It starts shipping at the end of September.
Additional reporting by Andrew Couts
read more at https://gizmodo.com by Adam Clark Estes


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Microsoft fixes 'Office for Mac 2011' licensing bug in updateMicrosoft on Monday issued an update to the company's latest Office for Mac suite of productivity software, fixing an issue caused by a recent bug fix released at the end of January.
The Microsoft Office for Mac 2011 update brings the software up to version 14.3.1, fixing a licensing problem that would display a warning to users without affecting the programs' operations.
Monday's bug fix repairs the issue first seen when Microsoft last updated Office for Mac less than two weeks ago. In that version, the company patched known problems and added compatibility with an online subscription service called Office 365.
From the release:
Stability is improved
This update fixes an issue that may cause Office 2011 applications to report a problem with Licensing even though the applications continue to run unaffected.
The Microsoft Office for Mac 2011 update requires Mac OS X v10.5.8 or later, while Office 365 needs OS X 10.6 or later to run.
On Topic: Mac OS X
- Apple adds TRIM support for aftermarket SSDs in OS X 10.10.4
- GarageBand 10.1 for Mac adds Force Touch, Apple Music Connect publishing [u]
- Apple releases OS X 10.10.4 with Mail, Photos improvements, 'discoveryd' fix
- New iOS 8.4 will enable Apple Music, Beats 1 on Tuesday; Sonos, Android support coming later this year
- Adobe addresses new 'actively exploited' critical vulnerability in Flash, users urged to update


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The Chicago Auto Show, ChicagoAutoShow.com, is in its 103 year. What began in 1901 is now the largest auto show in all of North America with nearly 1,000 vehicles- both domestic and imported- on display.
Wednesday was media preview day at the 2011 auto show. ABC7'S Roz Varon says there's plenty that's new, with a big push on fuel economy.
It's bold, bright and filled with pizzazz! With more than a hint of an industry rebound, manufacturers have plenty to show off at this year's Chicago Auto Show-- with a big emphasis on fuel efficiency.
"Higher fuel requirements are basically driving that more efficient car. Same's true with electric. The current administration has really latched on that electric is one of the best options," said Joe Wiesenfelder, Cars.com senior editor.
There are several options in electric vehicles, from the much talked about Chevy Volt, to the Ford Focus, which is expected to have an electric version by the end of the year, to the Nissan Leaf, which is 100 percent electric.
At Hyundai, the 2011 Elantra has a total redesign, is packed with standard features and claims 40 mpg highway in all versions.
Toyota is hoping the recent government report will help boost sales, along with a larger version of the Prius, with 60 percent more cargo room and 40 mpg combined.
At this year's auto show, they're ramping up the interactive features! There are more test tracks from more manufacturers than ever before!
"They're ride-along, you can't drive the cars, but it used to be Chrysler, Jeep had a huge section of the floor, now you can ride along in a Volt, a Ford Explorer, Toyota is doing it for the first time," said Wiesenfelder.
Speaking of the Ford Explorer, it's been redesigned with three rows of seats and improved highway mileage up to 25 mpg. And it calls Chicago home - the Explorer is built at the Ford plant at 130th and Torrence!
The Chicago Auto Show runs through February 20. Hours are 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on February 11-19 and 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on February 20. Tickets are: $11 for adults; $7 for seniors (62 and older); and $7 for children 7-12. Children fewer than 6 years old are free of admission with paid adults.


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Ever since the devastating Paradise Camp Fire in 2018, the Butte County real estate market has seen some fluctuating statistics. Then add a pandemic and record setting low interest rates to the mix and well, the real estate market is finally starting to see some leveling out.
For November 2022, the total sales in Butte County was 162 which is down 25% from November 2021. Things were really moving last year! Although the number of homes sold was down, the averages sales price for a single family home in Butte County was $464,188 which is still up 0.5% compared to the previous year. It's not a huge spike in the average sales price which shows that the market is starting to level out. This is a good thing! Steady, healthy growth in the real estate market will get more buyers back in the game and hopefully we will see the number of homes sold rise again as well.
Going into the winter months we typically see a natural decline in the market in regard to homes sold because it is cold, folks are focused on the holidays, and let's face it, not a lot of people like to move in the rain. However, now is the time to start thinking about the upcoming year. Are you looking to buy or sell your home in 2023? If so, check out our next blog for some home buying and selling tips!


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(LED light stocks, Cree, Veeco story updated for latest Nasdaq short interest data)
NEW YORK (
) -- Stocks in the LED lighting sector showed signs of life on Tuesday, and it was a significant change for the sector, but it didn't last. Three prominent LED stocks --
-- outpaced the gains made the broader equity markets on Tuesday, but by Wednesday and thought of a sustained rally from the group was erased.
In the case of Cree, trading volume was high on Tuesday, but it was right back down at its average volume on a losing Wednesday. The lack of trading volume in Veeco and Aixtron shares trading has been below average, and the fact that investors are swooping in to buy up beaten down shares of the LED stocks suggests that any short-term change in fortunes of the LED companies is not a signal of long-term bullishness.
In fact, the latest short interest data from the Nasdaq details an increase in bearishness on the LED lighting stocks in recent weeks, with Cree bearishness being the most intensified. It's notable that for all three LED stocks, short interest is at its highest level in more than a year. The Nasdaq short interest data is two weeks trailing, so the short interest on Cree, Veeco and Aixtron released by the Nasdaq this week is as of Aug. 31.
Cree short interest jumped from 11.5 million shares to more than 15 million shares in the two weeks ended Aug. 31. The 11.5 million short positions on Cree two weeks ago was the previous high for the past one year period, and so, the four million additional shorts added in the most recent two week Nasdaq period is notable.
Veeco short interest increased by more than 2 million shares as of Aug. 31. The increase in short interest in Veeco shares has been steady, as had been the rise of the LED stocks until the recent crash. There was only short interest on 1.6 million Veeco shares in August 2009, and at the end of August 2010, short interest had climbed to just short of 13 million shares.
Both Cree and Veeco short interest has increased considerably, even as average daily trading volume was significantly lower in both LED stocks in the most recent two week period.
The same trend holds true for Germany's LED play Aixtron, which had half its average daily volume in the two-week period reported by Nasdaq ending Aug. 31, but saw short interest increase slightly to near 3.6 million shares -- the previous two-week period was already an annual high for short interest in Aixtron shares, and last August, there was only short interest of 715,000 shares.
Weakness in consumer spending has been one of the drags on these LED stocks, which tend to trade as a momentum stock basket. The LED stocks are viewed as being highly correlated with sales in the PC display and LCD TV market. With investor sentiment recently negative on spending, all it took was signs of life from the consumer to give these stocks a little bit of a push up. On Tuesday, there were several data points related to consumer spending that were not as bad as many investors had feared.
Retail sales data, in fact, pushed the broader equity markets higher on Tuesday. In particular,
put up better sales numbers than expected for August and surged ahead by more than 6%. While the LCD TV sales numbers from Best Buy weren't great, in the opinion of LED stock analyst Andy Abrams of Avian Securities, the numbers were less bad than the market expected.
lowered its volume guidance for the display market this week, but guided the Street lower to an extent that was not nearly as bad as the worst fears. Corning shares were also outpacing the market gains on Tuesday, even as the Street was lowering estimates, with Corning shares up close to 5%.
"Corning's numbers were not as bad as they could have been and the same was true of Best Buy. Investor sentiment overshoots, we had a little bit of an overreaction last week, and so the LED stocks are getting some opportunity back today," Avian Securities' Abrams said.
Abrams downgrade of Veeco and Aixtron to a hold last week was one of the negative news flashes that sunk these LED stocks, and that slump persisted for all of last week.
While the bleeding ended on Tuesday -- and even on Monday these LED stocks had stanched the bleeding, even if gains were minor -- many analysts that cover the LED stocks remain convinced that the stocks are still in a short-term negative window within a longer-term bull scenario. Just because retail sales were better in August than the worst case scenario doesn't mean that the market is overly confident about the upcoming holiday season. An investor could make the case, and the bet, that the holiday season will be better than the dire predictions and therefore, these beaten-down stocks present a quick profit opportunity.
However, the trading volume in Tuesday's rally didn't offer support for that argument. There may have been some short-covering on the better than expected retail sales news that was part of the Tuesday rally in LED stocks.
Analysts say that the high beta LED stock plays will continue to experience volatile trading with uncertainty about the holiday season lingering for months to come. Patrick Ho, an analyst at Stifel Nicolaus, expects a narrow trading range for stocks like Veeco in the short-term.
"Consumer sentiment changes all the time and on a dime. A week ago, everyone was convinced the holiday season would be bad, and now today the retail sales numbers are a lot better than expectations, but consumer spending is not a stable number," the Stifel analyst cautioned. The analyst noted that when you review the recent commentary from tech giants like
, it reveals that corporate spending has been firm, but the same can't be said for the consumer side of the spending equation.
Stifel Nicolaus went to a hold on Veeco nine months ago, and even after the recent selloff, the Stifel analyst says it's too soon to change from a hold on an LED stock play, arguing that any short-term upside is limited by the short term downside risk. The oversupply situation in the PC and flat panel market which is been a point of debate for some time hasn't gone away with the latest batch of retail numbers or Corning's display outlook. These supply/demand imbalances are not typically one quarter phenomenon, but a several quarter correction, in the opinion of the Stifel analyst. Ho said that the uncertainty has been concentrated in the PC and LCD TV space, but the question is not whether there is a fire, but how big the fire is going to be.
Avian Securities Abrams' says that even with the better-than-expected U.S. retail sales numbers, he argues that the U.S. consumer spending outlook hasn't changed -- and, in fact, it's been Chinese spending that has carried the weight recently as the U.S. and Europe slumped. In this case, China has always been the bigger concern and will continue to be.
"We've been negative on the panel space for a few months, and unless we see a high volume run through the holiday season, inventory will still be out there," the Avian analyst said, adding that the bigger question is how much discounting goes on in China and during the holiday season in the U.S. If there is enough discounting, while the TV brands don't make much money, it drives unit volumes up, and that could help the LED stocks sooner rather than later.
Veeco management was also out speaking at an industry conference on Tuesday, presenting a familiar positive argument for its LED business: the percent of LEDs used in flat panel TVs will continue to increase even if unit volumes on TVs are slower overall.
Yet Avian Securities' Abrams says such comments can drum up some interest from investors, or at least lead to a little short covering, but he isn't betting on any quick turnaround in consumer sales and the positive read-through for LED stocks. Like many analysts, he is a bull on the long-term story for LED players based on the migration within the general lighting market to LED lighting. However, the situation for the LED stocks will continue to be dim, regardless of a one-day rally the likes of which occurred on Tuesday.
--Written by Eric Rosenbaum in New York.
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Cleveland is in the national spotlight, and this time, it’s not because of a restaurant or the foreclosure crisis. CNN will be interviewing the staff of Tremont’s Visible Voice Books tomorrow afternoon and everyone’s invited. Be there from 2 to 4 p.m. to smile for the cameras, listen to some music, and support Cleveland.
Back in November, Visible Voice was ground zero for the start of the now national phenomenon of the Cash Mob movement. What’s a Cash Mob? You should know by now, but it’s an effort to revive shopping local by making it a fun night out. A general location and a specific time and date is spread via social media, everyone brings $20 to spend at a local shop, but the targeted store isn’t announced until participants are gathered, typically for adult beverages (which by the way, happen both before and after the shopping.)
The concept was thought up by Cleveland attorney Andrew Samtoy as sort of a positive reinvention of the negative connotation attached to some flash mobs.
The first Cash Mob happened at Visible Voice and since then, the impromptu shopping throngs have sprung up everywhere from Chagrin Falls to Long Island and Albuquerque to San Diego. Naturally, local businesses love the idea and naturally, so does the media.
If you can’t visit Visible Voice tomorrow afternoon for their CNN debut, you can catch Cleveland’s third Cash Mob tomorrow night at 6:30 p.m. in Coventry. Bring $20 to spend! You can find exact mob gathering info here.


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Two recently uncovered security problems that affect nearly every CPU on the planet have forced companies to issue fixes that could seriously impact performance. While Intel has taken the brunt of bad press, chips supplied by AMD, IBM, and ARM vendors are also affected.
Chris Downing, senior consultant at Red Oak Consulting, takes a look at what's ahead for high performance computing in the coming year. In particular, he focuses on what's in store for some of the major HPC suppliers – AMD, Nvidia, Intel, and niche hardware providers – as well as the prospects for cloud computing.
Ethernet remains the most popular interconnect on the TOP500 list, but InfiniBand still rules the roost when it comes to true supercomputing performance. We run the numbers and show how InfiniBand still dominates the top supercomputers in the world.
IBM today unveiled its first Power9-based server, the AC922, which the company is promoting as a platform for AI workload acceleration. The new dual-socket server was announced in conjunction with the official launch of the Power9 processor.