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Record Orders For Mollart Engineering’s Deep Hole Drilling Machines
Order intake at Mollart Engineering had a good finish to December 2021 and we are pleased to say the demand for our drilling machines has continued into January 2022. An impressive £5 million pounds worth of orders has been received in the last 6 weeks of trading. 2022–23 will be a year to remember, with £7.5 million pounds of machine tool business secured so far, and a pipeline that could deliver a record year for Mollart Engineering!
Continued Drilling Machine Development
Ian Petitt (MD) says:-
“This is a major milestone in the history of Mollart Engineering. We have never seen this level of business activity over such a short period. In the 25 years I have been involved with the business this is a first. The machines we have designed and manufactured over this time continue to compete on the world stage.
In order to produce such outstanding products, we strive to constantly evolve and update our product range and all machines have the latest industry standards built into them. Industry 4.0 is being adopted in many sectors and Mollart Engineering is delivering, from full manufacturing cells for the deep hole drilling of automotive hydraulic transmission parts, 8 spindle pellet die drilling machines used in the Biomass industry, special 2 spindle machine for the production of coolant holes in tooling for the metal cutting industry and machines for the plastic mould injection business and more.
Covid-19 has hit many businesses hard and we are pleased to say we have managed to weather the storm. We’ve made sure we’ve been available to work with our customers and to secure the delivery of their orders. It wasn’t easy due to the problems the pandemic posed, not just for us, but for all manufacturing, however we worked hard to keep production going with as little disruption as possible.
We have an extremely loyal customer base and pride ourselves on providing the service and care that results in repeat orders and brand loyalty. Our customers are attracted to the quality and long term performance of our machines, together with the ability to ensure we provide the correct drilling solutions that are matched to their individual requirements. It’s these qualities that win orders and make us a world-leading deep hole drilling machine and tooling manufacturer..
I would like to firstly thank our customers who put their trust in us to deliver the best machines on the market and secondly, I would like to thank the entire Mollart Engineering team of people who keep us ahead of the competition and manufacture the equipment to the highest standards.”


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In the US, Pear Bureau Northwest (PBNW) has revealed that it will celebrate World Pear Day for the fourth year in a row, this year taking place on 8 December.
The event marks the start of National Pear Month, proclaimed as December each year by US Department of Agriculture (USDA).
World Pear Day will celebrate peak pear season with events around the world where consumers will get to enjoy fresh pear samples from the US Northwest at a variety of venues.
Beginning in New Zealand and moving west across the globe, consumers will be able to taste a variety of USA Pears via pop-up sampling events in more than 24 countries including Taiwan, India, UAE and Mexico for 24 hours of continuous sampling and promotion.
There are nearly 1,000 in-store sampling events scheduled in the US and Canada, according to PBNW. The day will conclude in Leavenworth, Washington at the annual Tree Lighting Festival, where visitors will get to meet pear growers firsthand and celebrate the season.
Kevin Moffitt, president and CEO of PBNW, sees the pear festivities as an effective way to connect directly with consumers.
'World Pear Day is a great way to draw awareness to northwest pears during peak season,' he explained. 'It is fantastic to see its popularity growing each year with more interaction with retailers and consumers around the world raising pear enthusiasm and purchases at the pinnacle of the pear season.'

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During the first six months of 2010, a total of Dh1.1 billion — through 835,000 transactions — was collected through ePay on behalf of all the participating Dubai government departments. During the corresponding period last year, the collection was Dh700 million — through 712,000 transactions. The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) and Dubai Customs were the top three departments respectively in terms of the number of transactions achieved.
Ahmed bin Humaidan, Director General of Dubai eGovernment said: “These results clearly indicate the favourable pace of eTransformation in Dubai and also reflect both the increasing adoption of ePay as a preferred mode of payment to complete government transactions and the trust shown by customers with regard to the efficiency and safety of ePay, despite the ramifications of the global financial crisis.
“This service allows both corporate and individual customers to complete ePayment for government services in three ways — credit cards, e-dirham and direct debit from the customer’s account in participating banks. It is worth noting that the use of the direct debit option grew from 13,000 transactions in the first half of 2009 to 23,000 transactions in the same period this year,” he added.
Events to be staged at the DWTC, comprising diverse sectors including construction, energy, technology, beauty, food, healthcare, environment and automotive, will mark the emirate’s post-pandemic economic recovery
Local business2 months ago


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48% of Halloween Celebrators Are Planning Spooky Splurges, With Average Holiday Spending Expected to Reach $162
As Halloween approaches, it’s not just ghouls and ghosts sending shivers down your spine. In fact, 50% of Americans who plan to spend on Halloween say inflation will impact their related expenses. But it’s not just holding consumers back from buying: Around half (48%) of celebrators say they’ll make some Halloween splurges.
The latest LendingTree survey asks 2,000 U.S. consumers about their Halloween plans and purchases. Here’s what we found.
- Spooky season is approaching — but what’s scarier than inflation?! Most Americans (88%) plan to make Halloween-related purchases this year. Although 50% of this group says inflation will impact their spending, 48% of those planning Halloween purchases expect to make some spooky splurges that’ll haunt their wallets. The most common splurges are costumes (20%), themed activities (18%) and decorations (17%). Overall, those celebrating Halloween expect to spend an average of $162, with parents of young children planning to spend substantially more at $245, on average.
- Tricks, treats … and debt? Over a quarter (27%) of celebrators have taken on debt due to Halloween splurges in the past, with parents of children younger than 18 among the most guilty (40%). When asked why they overspent, more than half (51%) of these parents say they wanted to make their kids happy — but 48% regret sacrificing their finances for short-term Halloween thrills.
- Social media is to blame for some — but not all — Halloween spending. Almost a third (30%) of celebrators say they’re planning to purchase items specifically for social media posts. Unsurprisingly, younger generations lead here, with 41% of Gen Zers and 40% of millennials saying so.
- Safety concerns haunt some parents. Almost three-quarters (73%) of parents with young children say they’ll thoroughly check their kids’ candy after trick-or-treating, while 19% say they’ll at least glance at it. Among all Halloween celebrators, 59% will incorporate some safety precautions this year. Of this group, 23% will stay home this year and 20% will wear a mask or other personal protective equipment (PPE).
- Sweet treats and frightful flicks are in demand this Halloween. Among the 84% of Halloween celebrators who plan to pass out goodies to little ghosts and goblins this year, most will offer sugary confections — but trick-or-treaters may feel tricked by the 12% who plan to give out something other than candy. For 43% of Halloween celebrators, the spooky day will be celebrated in front of the TV. As further evidence that Americans enjoy a scary flick, almost a third (31%) of celebrators say they’ve subscribed to a new streaming service to enjoy Halloween-related movies and TV shows, while another 28% are considering doing so.
Americans are haunted by inflation as Halloween spending ramps up
The spooky season is approaching, and Americans are preparing for it. In fact, 88% of consumers plan to make Halloween-related purchases this year. By age group, millennials (ages 27 to 42) (94%) are the most likely to spend on Halloween, though Gen Zers (ages 18 to 26) (93%) aren’t far behind. Following that, 87% of Gen Zers (ages 43 to 58) and 76% of baby boomers (ages 59 to 77) plan to make spooky purchases this year.
Unsurprisingly, parents with children younger than 18 (96%) are much more likely to spend than those with no children (84%) and those with children older than 18 (82%). Meanwhile, six-figure earners are the most likely income group to shell out for Halloween, at 95%. On the other hand, those earning less than $35,000 a year (83%) are the least likely.
What, exactly, are consumers buying? Candy tops the expected Halloween purchases this year at 62%, with pumpkins and/or carving supplies (34%) as the next most popular purchase. Following that, Americans plan to buy:
- Outdoor decorations (31%)
- Indoor decorations (31%)
- Halloween-related food items (not including candy) (26%)
- Costumes for themselves (24%)
- Costumes for their kids (23%)
- Halloween-related accessories (not part of a costume) (21%)
- Arts and crafts (19%)
- Halloween-related beverages, including alcohol (19%)
- Halloween-related clothing (not part of a costume) (18%)
- Costumes for their pets (16%)
- Greeting cards (12%)
- Other (1%)
As Halloween spending ramps up, Americans won’t have to look for monsters under the bed — their wallets will be scary enough this year. Of those planning Halloween purchases, 50% say inflation will impact their spending. Still, that won’t stop the 48% of spenders planning to make spooky splurges.
When it comes to their splurges, freaky fits top the list — 20% plan to spend extensively on costumes. That’s followed by:
- Themed activities (18%)
- Decorations (17%)
- Full-sized candy to hand out (15%)
- Expenses for hosting a Halloween party (14%)
- Travel expenses to a Halloween-themed destination (10%)
- Something else (5%)
LendingTree chief credit analyst Matt Schulz believes there’s a good chance that those splurges may not be as big as they’ve been in the past.
“There’s a general sense of financial unease that a lot of people are feeling right now,” he says. “After a few years of holiday splurging to make up for the lost time of the pandemic years, people may play Halloween a little more cautiously when it comes to spending.”
Overall, Halloween spenders plan to shell out an average of $162 for the holiday. Six-figure earners and parents of young children plan to spend the most, at an average of $253 and $245, respectively. By age group, millennials ($220) plan to spend the most, while men ($188) plan to spend much more than women ($138).
While that’s a substantial amount, it’s slightly less than the $169 Americans planned to spend when we conducted this survey last year. (Note: We asked this question across all Americans last year, while this year focused solely on Halloween spenders.) By demographic last year, six-figure earners ($340) and parents with young children ($309) again planned to shell out the most — though they’ve dropped their spending significantly this year.
Parents are the most likely to take on Halloween debt
Debt is a frequent visitor on Halloween, and it haunts many a celebrator. In fact, 27% of them have taken on debt due to Halloween splurges in the past, with 17% of this group planning to do so this year. Among those who’ve taken on debt, parents of children younger than 18 are the most likely to have done so at 40%.
Six-figure earners (37%) also top the list here. By age group, millennials and Gen Zers are the most likely to spend more than they could afford on Halloween, at 37% for both. Also worth noting, men (33%) are significantly more likely to take on Halloween debt than women (21%).
Schulz says it’s understandably easy to get swept up in all the costumes, candies, decorations and fun, especially when you have kids.
When asked why they overspent, 37% said they wanted to make their kids happy — the most common response. Unsurprisingly, parents of children younger than 18 (51%) are the most likely to cite this reason. Following that, overspenders shelled out because:
- They didn’t intend to spend so much, but it all added up (33%)
- They wanted their decorations to look as good as their neighbors’ (31%)
- They were hosting a party and wanted to impress their guests (29%)
- They were influenced by social media or advertisements (29%)
- They wanted to look good on social media (27%)
- They didn’t want to miss out on what their friends/family were doing (24%)
- They felt pressured to spend money on so many different items (24%)
- They had to repair damages from a prank or out-of-control party (22%)
- Other reasons (5%)
Still, half (50%) of overspenders regret doing so. Parents with young children are slightly less likely to feel regret, at 48%. And perhaps because they have more wiggle room in their budgets, six-figure earners (42%) are also among the least likely to regret overspending. For comparison, 58% of those earning less than $35,000 share similar regrets.
TikTok or treat? 30% of celebrators are spending specifically for social media
Americans aren’t exactly creepin’ it real on their socials. Almost a third (30%) of celebrators say they’re planning to purchase items specifically for social media posts, while just over a quarter (26%) say they’ve done so in the past. Parents with young children (45%) and six-figure earners (43%) are particularly likely to trade cash for likes this year.
Further, it may come as no surprise that Gen Zers (41%) are the most likely age group to spend for a social media post this year, though millennials (40%) aren’t far behind.
While most users are keen to show off their costumes on social media, it’s worth noting that many consumers plan to DIY their fits this year. In fact, 46% of those who plan to dress themselves, their child or their pet up for the holiday say they’ll make their costumes to save money.
Safety concerns plague some parents
While kids are almost certainly looking forward to trick-or-treating, parents understandably have some concerns about the candy. In fact, 73% of parents with young children plan to thoroughly check their kids’ candy and remove all items that are homemade, unwrapped or in packaging that’s discolored or torn — even if they otherwise appear fresh and/or edible. Meanwhile, 19% say they’ll at least glance at it to remove any obviously spoiled or inedible items.
That isn’t the only safety precaution consumers are taking. Among all Halloween celebrators, 59% will incorporate some safety precautions this year, with 23% planning to stay home and 20% planning to wear a mask or other personal protective equipment (PPE).
Of course, trick-or-treating wouldn’t be possible without consumers offering candy — whether it’s checked by parents or not. And this year, 84% of Halloween celebrators plan to pass out some goodies. Among the top candy choices, 62% will offer chocolate bars, 42% will provide gummies or chewy candy and 36% each will go with hard candy and lollipops. Still, trick-or-treaters may be surprised by the 12% who plan to give out something other than candy. (While some kids may feel jaded, those with allergies or who otherwise would be unable to have candy may be grateful for the inclusion.)
Netflix and chills, Hulu-ween and Amazon Scream: Streaming services are in demand this spooky season
Whether they’re offering candy to kids or not, buying Halloween treats (52%) is the most common way consumers plan to celebrate the holiday. That’s followed by decorating (45%) and watching a scary movie (43%).
While Hollywood has a long lineup of new Halloween releases this year, Americans also plan to cozy up to a scary movie at home — and they’re willing to pay a little extra to make that happen. In fact, 31% of celebrators say they’ve subscribed to a new streaming service to enjoy Halloween-related movies and TV shows, with parents of young children (47%), six-figure earners (43%) and Gen Zers (43%) the most likely to do so. Meanwhile, another 28% of celebrators are considering subscribing for some scary flicks.
While Schulz is surprised so many have (or might) subscribed to a streaming service for Halloween, he believes the ease of adding and canceling a subscription may play a role.
Beyond treats, decorations and movies, Americans plan to celebrate by doing the following:
- Going to a Halloween-related activity (33%)
- Dressing up in a costume (28%)
- Going trick-or-treating (25%)
- Going to a Halloween party (25%)
- Dressing up their kids in a costume (24%)
- Making Halloween crafts (23%)
- Dressing up their pets in a costume (18%)
- Hosting a Halloween party (14%)
- Sending a greeting card (11%)
Spooktacular savings: Expert trips to curb overspending this Halloween
While Halloween is all about the treats, you don’t want to find any tricks in your bank statement come Nov. 1. To help reduce costs while celebrating the spooky holiday, Schulz recommends the following:
- Shop around. “Even around Halloween, taking the time to shop around and compare prices can make a big difference,” Schulz says. “And don’t be afraid to look in the bargain bin and the clearance section.” You should also utilize a rewards credit card to get back money on your shopping.
- Get creative. “Some of the best costumes and decorations each Halloween are the ones that come from people’s creative minds rather than from the Halloween store,” Schulz says. “Use stuff that you already have around the house. Make it a family project. Have some fun with it.”
- Reuse last year’s supplies. “Having Little Sister wear Big Sister’s old costume can save you some money,” he says. “Reusing last year’s decorations rather than getting all new stuff can, too. Making Halloween a group celebration can also help, especially if you turn it into a potluck and have people bring food and drinks and pitch in in other ways.”
LendingTree commissioned QuestionPro to conduct an online survey of 2,000 U.S. consumers ages 18 to 77 from Sept. 5-11, 2023. The survey was administered using a nonprobability-based sample, and quotas were used to ensure the sample base represented the overall population. Researchers reviewed all responses for quality control.
We defined generations as the following ages in 2023:
- Generation Z: 18 to 26
- Millennial: 27 to 42
- Generation X: 43 to 58
- Baby boomer: 59 to 77


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MP backs more tax relief for small firms
EAST Devon s MP has backed the streamlining of a Government tax-relief scheme to help the district s thousands of struggling firms - by slashing red tape.
EAST Devon's MP has backed the streamlining of a Government tax-relief scheme to help the district's thousands of struggling firms - by slashing red tape.
This week the Conservative shadow-cabinet said they would cut taxes and paperwork for the Small Business Rate Relief - if they won the next election.
Small Business Rate Relief was introduced in 2005, allowing small firms to claim up to 50 per cent off their business rate bills.
In East Devon last year 1,997 firms clawed back �1,171,863, up from �1,113,331 in 2007 and �1,000,996 the in 2006.
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But the Conservatives want to give tax relief automatically to all firms - they complain that currently firms have to fill out paperwork to claim even though tax inspectors already know which firms are eligible.
Mr Swire was speaking following a Parliamentary debate - the Tories are trying to push through a private members bill, a proposal for new legislation by a single MP, to overhaul the scheme.
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He said: "Small shops and businesses across Devon are facing tough times in Labour's recession. These firms, from our corner shops to local pubs, are the lifeblood of our local community. A responsible government would do more to help them.
"Yet Gordon Brown is making it difficult for small firms to claim the tax relief to which they are entitled. He is adding to their misery by finding new ways to drive up business rates by stealth.
"Conservatives would ensure that small firms automatically receive rate relief, cutting their paperwork and tax bills, giving many of them a fighting chance to stay afloat."
The Local Government Association estimates 870,000 firms are eligible for the rebate but less than half have claimed - a take-up rate in the region of just 48 per cent.
After rent and staff, business rates are the next biggest cost and Mr Swire says that research shows 32,300 businesses in the UK will fail in 2009.


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YP To Spinoff Print Yellow Pages Business, Stay Focused On Digital
Though dividing into two companies, both will share a common sales force. YP-branded local yellow pages will continue to be distributed.
YP, which provides both local business listings online and in print, is spinning off its print business into a new company called “Print Media LLC.” YP will remain focused on digital.
The new Print Media company will continue to distribute 90 million YP-branded yellow pages in the United States. YP will continue to sell online business listings and online marketing services. In addition, the two companies will continue to work closely together and share a YP-led sales team, which will sell for the print business.
From today’s press release announcing the move:
We believe that the separation of the print directory business from YP will drive benefits for our consumers who rely on the print directory to connect with local businesses, and for YP’s customers that advertise across multiple platforms to grow their businesses.
With distinct leadership, Print Media will be best positioned to focus on ‘best in class’ print advertising solutions through dynamic enhancements in our print directory product, unique investments in related print medium and a more focused strategy,” said new Print Media CEO Jack Freker.
YP has been busy over the past few months building up its digital offerings, continuing moves made last year to better compete with Google and Yelp in the local space. Some related stories on our Search Engine Land sister site cover this:
- YP Introduces Cross-Device Retargeting With Local Search Query Data
- Local Search Provider YP Offers All-Inclusive PPC Search Product For SMBs
- YP Launches New Local Search Marketplace For National Advertisers
The conscious uncoupling of the two companies is planned to be legal by June 30 of this month.
Opinions expressed in this article are those of the guest author and not necessarily MarTech. Staff authors are listed here.


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New York City is stepping up its enforcement of the illegal sale of Statue of Liberty boat tours a day after actor Alec Baldwin said he was duped into buying fake tickets for his family.
The crackdown will target sellers who illegally hawk tickets in lower Manhattan for boat tours that sail around Liberty Island but don’t stop there, according to Mayor Bill de Blasio’s office.
The city also sent cease-and-desist letters Tuesday to Freedom Cruises and Sphinx Transport, tour operators that, according to the mayor’s office, operate without proper bus-stop permits for the area outside Battery Park. They take passengers from lower Manhattan to New Jersey via bus to board boats that travel around Liberty Island, said a spokeswoman for the mayor’s office.
Representatives for Sphinx Transport and Freedom Cruises couldn’t be reached for comment. Tour company Statue Cruises is the only boat line allowed to ferry people to Liberty and Ellis islands. Its tickets are sold online or at the Battery.
But people working for other boat-tour companies also sell tickets near the Battery. Those ticket sellers can often give misleading pitches, omitting that they don’t stop at Liberty Island or telling customers that security lines at the island will take hours to get through, officials said.
“If they continue to ignore our enforcement efforts we will try and put them out of business,” Mr. Blasio said at a news conference Tuesday.
The city is planning to set up a new park kiosk to sell tickets and will maintain a heightened police presence, the mayor’s office said.
Mr. Baldwin, who lives in Manhattan, wrote on his Instagram account Monday that he was duped into buying tickets from an illegal seller, calling it a “scam.”
“We buy the tickets for the ‘boat tour’ of the Statue of Liberty,” he wrote. “We are escorted to a shuttle bus. To New Jersey!” He then told his followers to take the Staten Island Ferry, “the best ride in New York.” A spokeswoman for Mr. Baldwin declined to comment.
Other operators near Battery Park include Liberty Cruise, which sells tickets for boats that go around, but not to, Liberty Island. A spokesperson for the company said the renewed enforcement of rules is good for tourists and operators.
Laura Feyer, a spokeswoman for the mayor, said the city had been working on these changes for months but Mr. Baldwin’s experience highlighted the problem.
“Mr. Baldwin brought increased attention to the issue tourists and visitors face every day, and our agency partners are continuing to work together until this problem is a thing of the past,” Ms. Feyer said in a statement.
Write to Katie Honan at du lich phong nha


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Mahindra found evidence of the user having fitted aftermarket parts by tampering with the original wiring circuit of the vehicle.
Videos of a Mahindra XUV700 on fire had gone viral on social media recently. Mahindra took note of the incident and launched an investigation. The company’s findings have now been published in an official statement.
According to the owner of the vehicle, the XUV700 was purchased 6 months ago and was completely stock. However, Mahindra’s investigation found that the owner had fitted aftermarket illuminated scuff plates and ambient lighting. The additional wiring used for these parts is said to have caused a short circuit resulting in the fire.
Mahindra’s official statement regarding the matter:
Our investigation of the XUV700 thermal incident on the Jaipur National Highway concluded last evening.
Investigators have recorded evidence of the user having fitted after-market illuminated scuff plates and four ambient lighting modules by tampering with the original wiring circuit of the vehicle. The additional wiring connections which are not originally engineered have been connected to existing electrical points causing the thermal incident. The owner has been informed of our findings via email.
At Mahindra, we design and manufacture our products with the highest standards of safety. We urge users not modify the original wiring circuits of vehicles as it may compromise safety over a period. We would like to assure our customers that their safety remains our utmost priority.
Source: Read Full Article


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Read our latest Press Releases here!
Global digital assets trading platform, BiKi.com has announced the launch of its new product, Perpetual Contract, to meet the growing derivatives market demand. No strangers to volatility, cryptocurrency investors are turning to the derivatives market as spot trading… Read More »BiKi.com Launches BiKi Perpetual Contract, Enters Market as Strong Contender
BiKi will soon officially list Kava (KAVA). To celebrate the listing, BiKi and Kava will be launching several campaigns for new users and fervent supporters to win some KAVA. “We are excited to see BiKi… Read More »BiKi lists the world’s first cross-chain DeFi platform token Kava (KAVA)
Top 20 CoinMarketCap exchange BiKi.com is launching its premiere IEO. The exchange has officially announced a strategic investment in the XueBi trading platform and is launching a first ever IEO for its platform coin XB.… Read More »BiKi.com Launches Premiere IEO of XB Token
Global crypto exchange BiKi.com is proud to announce that Electroneum (ETN), one of the most innovative and trailblazing projects in the cryptocurrency space, will be listed on its platform. Speaking of the ETN listing on BiKi.com, Ethan Ng, CEO of BiKi… Read More »BiKi.com Announces Electroneum Listing with 6 Million ETN Giveaway


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Modu, also known as the phone with many coats, was officially named the lightest cell phone in the world, and this was proved by the Guinness World Records’ crew.
This is not really a surprise, as this device weighs 40.1 grams (1.41 oz) and has dimensions of 72.1×37.6×7.8 mm (2.8×1.4×0.3 inches).The Guinness World Record for the world’s lightest mobile phone has been awarded to modu for being a tiny and sophisticated mobile phone. It was awarded after careful considerations made by GWR judges.
Tiny and sleek, modu launched its innovative mobile phone at the Mobile World Congress event, held in Barcelona, in February 2008. Modu is the world’s first modular mobile phone, supported by a variety of ecosystem partners. When being created, an emphasize was put on creating a small, light and compact phone. The result is great: a miniature phone, nicely designed and offering functions and capabilities of a normal-sized handset.
Modu’s VP Marketing, Zack Weisfeld, said: “The Guinness World Record is a great achievement for a team that has worked tirelessly to take modu from the drawing board to producing full working devices in less than a year.”
Modu has already made a great impact since its launch, and mobile operators, consumer electronics manufacturers and other potential partners were all attracted by this minimalist mobile phone.
[tags]modu, cell phone, lightest, guinness, world record[/tags]


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UPDATE: Firestone & INDYCAR went back to the negotiation table and agreed on a new deal bringing the tire supplier back through 2013.
----------------------------------------------------------------------Firestone, the sole tire supplier for the IZOD IndyCar Series since 2000, will officially withdraw from both the IndyCar Series and Firestone Indy lights after the 2011 season.
"It's unfortunate to lose a great partner and ambassador for the sport like Firestone," said Randy Bernard, CEO, INDYCAR. "We are actively engaged in discussions with other tire manufacturers on opportunities to get involved in our sport as we prepare to debut our new car in 2012. As the fastest, most versatile racing series in the world, INDYCAR provides an ideal platform for companies looking to showcase both performance and brand on the track. In fact, Firestone credits its association with our sport in doubling the sales of its street tires in the U.S. during our first five years of partnership."
Although not confirmed, it can only be assumed that Firestone's INDYCAR sponsorship including that of the Firestone Indy Lights, Firestone Tire-ific Move of the Race, Most Popular Driver awards, and various race title sponsorships will end as well.
"During our long history in racing we have met or exceeded all of our motorsports goals," said Al Speyer, Executive Director, Firestone Racing. "So now it's time to set new goals - for ourselves and our brands. Companies that strive to achieve the highest levels of brand loyalty and recognition must continue to find ever more effective ways to communicate their brand messages. This is part of our process to ensure that we are doing the best we can to support and further strengthen our brands. The Firestone brand has been, is now and will be an extremely important part of our business. We're very excited about our future prospects to grow the Firestone brand."
The move to withdraw this late into the game leaves INDYCAR scrambling for the next generation car in 2012. With testing set to get underway in well under a year, the clock is ticking for a replacement. Possible suppliers could include Goodyear, Hoosier, or Pirelli.
"It has truly been a pleasure to have Firestone as a tire manufacturer since the inception of the IZOD IndyCar Series and we greatly appreciate what they have contributed over the last 15 years and more," said Brian Barnhart, president of competition and operations, INDYCAR. "Firestone has been a great partner and has brought incredible performance and reliability to our sport with their product and for that, we are very grateful. We look forward to a great season with them in 2011 and want to wish everyone associated with the Firestone brand all the best in the future."
Following the 2011 season, Firestone will have won 62 Indianapolis 500's, and 92% of all IZOD IndyCar Series events.
"Even though we've announced our decision to retire from INDYCAR competition, I want to assure our drivers, teams and fans that Firestone Racing is committed to maintaining the highest standards of performance and support through the 2011 season," Speyer said. "We are also developing plans to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Indianapolis 500, and are looking forward to celebrating our winning partnership and honoring our decades-long relationship as part of this milestone. Finally, I'd like to personally thank all of the hard-working individuals who have poured their hearts and souls into making Firestone Racing's endeavors such a successful and rewarding experience over the past 21 years."


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China finds Covid-19 virus on Chilean seafood packaging
China halted imports from a Chilean seafood producer as a precautionary measure after detecting the Covid-19 virus on the supplier’s packaging.
A nucleic acid test on the packaging of a batch of frozen crab showed positive results, the General Administration of Customs said in a statement on its website on Saturday. Import applications from Pesquera Isla Del Rey SA will be suspended for one week, it said.
China has been vocal about finding traces of the SARS-CoV-2 pathogen on packaging and food, raising fears that imported items are linked to recent virus resurgences. Beijing has ordered a range of precautionary steps, creating disruptions with its trading partners.
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- Chinese authorities have said the draft decision before China's National People’s Congress would mean the largely pro-Beijing committee that elects Hong Kong’s leader would also choose a large part of the legislature to ensure that the city is run by “patriots.”
- The Southeast Asian nation of 96 million people has a goal to inoculate at least half of the population by the end of the year.
- The Southeast Asian country last month embarked on a nationwide vaccination programme, targeting to inoculate 80% of its 32 million people by February 2022.


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Artificial Intelligence is all set to take the fashion industry by storm.
The alliance between fashion and Artificial Intelligence is very well-known. Right from designing personal wardrobes, to dictating inventory for renowned retailers depending on the pricing algorithms and current fashion trends, AI has slowly but surely occupied the capricious world of fashion. Indian fashion has made its initial contact with AI- Falguni and Shane Peacock, the designer duo based in Mumbai came together with IBM and made apt use of data presented by Watson and came up with three AI-based designs that were showcased to a crowd that was quite fashion savvy.
Right from defining the color swatch to cranking out structured silhouettes, the ideas came from a cognitive device led to azure, teal, advanced silhouettes on the ramp. A popular magazine had a chat with the designer duo to get some insight about what were the factors leading to this alliance and how it will take the brand name forward.
The designer duo told that their recent collaboration with IBM was a perfect stage to exhibit the glimpses of eclecticism often associated with Falguni and Shane. They further added, “We opted to become a part of a revolutionary technology that has the potential to transform the very landscape of the fashion industry. We have a great team and regular inputs from Watson while crafting the whole collection made it quite an enriching experience for us.”
Has Watson proven its worth in fashion?
Image source: analyticsindiamag
Many people might be enthralled to know that the prowess of Watson has already been exprimented in cancer research. New York’s Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center has already been using Watson for quite some time now to improve cancer care and there was also a failed alliance with MD Anderson Centre based out of Texas, as it abandoned the entire project. ‘Watson for cancer’ has emerged to be quite a popular marketing punchline in the healthcare sphere for quite a long time now. However, many experts from industry are still skeptical and consider it as a tool that will mature with the passage of time.
Undoubtedly, Watson has managed to prove its worth in composing music, editing the trailer of a thriller film, running a reward program for Chevrolet, providing excellent customer service via a support bot at Macy’s and there are various Watson Ads enabling customers to communicate via voice and text.
However, the bigger question is that has Watson managed to prove its worth in the world of fashion? It looks like tech giant IBM is investing big on the AI-based fashion and is looking to make data fashionable. The very fact that IBM is investing truckloads of money makes it crystal clear that it is now being used by very huge fashion houses to leverage social data in order to communicate with customers, predict customer orders and increase sales with highly targeted campaigns of marketing.
Watson playing Hue’dunnit on Indian turf
Image source: analyticsindiamag
Falguni and Shane Peacock came up with a first by collaborating with Watson and mixing creations with cognition. In the words of Shane Peacock, “Fashion is generally considered to be a right-brain activity. So, it was quite fascinating to approach it from a left-brain perspective of data and logic. The data exhibited by IBM Watson enabled us have a closer look at the insights and take it as starting point for our thoughts and made us explore in newer directions. Hence, we had to dig deep, as it is indeed the future of fashion”
The collection, fittingly titled as Future of Bollywood Fashion came through after evaluating about 600,000 fashion runway images that were publicly available in the last decade and comprised of images from the Top Four fashion weeks across the globe. Staying close to the Bollywood theme, it also drew an analysis of cognitive tool even further. To understand the fashion trends in Bollywood, IBM Watson evaluated about 5000 images of Bollywood celebrities found on various social media channels, apart from 300 fashionable images including various Bollywood movie posters from the last 40 years. .
Future of AI in Indian fashion
This is only the first time where AI has been added to Indian fashion. The designer duo is quite optimistic and strongly believes that it has all the potential to be a game-changer, especially when it comes to envisaging silhouettes and prints. But, the question comes up if it will also be able to set the price lines for prêt-à-porter and haute couture lines. They said that they did not follow that approach, but it very well might. They required data to deliver the prints in line with the fashion trends and it gave them tremendous inputs for the same.
India indeed looks like quite a significant market for IBM Watson and is already being used in various hospitals in Manipal and helping the doctors to provide personalized cancer care for their patients. India has a booming startup ecosystem and also has the second-largest developer market. IBM India has joined hands with a number of early stage startups to make them grow and scale up their operations. Through Watson, IBM India is leaving no stone unturned to give a push to clients and making them get used the platform.


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Amazon to publish mystery books
- Greg Lamm
- Staff Writer
Amazon plans to release four books on the imprint this fall: “Resuscitation” by D.M. Annechino, “Stirred” by J.A. Konrath and Blake Crouch, “The Immortalists” by Kyle Mills and “Already Gone” by John Rector.
The books will be sold online and at national and independent book stores. They also will be available in Kindle, print and audio formats.
Thomas & Mercer becomes the fifth imprint from Amazon Publishing, as the Seattle ecommerce giant goes deeper into the publishing business. Thomas & Mercer are two streets in Seattle’s South Lake Union neighborhood that border Amazon’s new headquarters.
On May 4, Amazon rolled out Montlake Romance, a publishing venture that features romance novels, joining AmazonEncore, AmazonCrossing and Powered by Amazon.
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London Modest Fashion Week, which launches today, is the first event of its kind in Britain. It will see more than 40 brands from across the world come together to showcase their collections at the Saatchi Gallery.
The week aims to give a space to brands that cater for religious women, and has been set up by UK-based e-commerce modest fashion company Haute Elan.
Dina Tokio, a hijabi blogger with more than 1.1 million Instagram followers, has praised the concept.
“It’s so exciting, I feel like brands are coming on board with diversity now and I think that it’s down to social media and how much talent there is out there,” she told Blogosphere magazine.
“I want to show that you can coincide faith with fashion and that there are Muslim women who actually represent that.”
She began her fashion blogging so the world could see Muslim women looking “pretty cool while also practising their faith."
Yet with the recent rise in Islamaphobia, she said she now feels less confident wearing her traditional hijab in public.
“I am definitely more aware of the stares,” she said. "I never talk about politics, ever on my blog."
London Modest Fashion week is open to the public for a day of exclusive shopping, runway shows, photo-booth, talks and workshops, as well as to industry for networking and trade discussions.


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The top three finalists for the 2016 World Car of the Year awards have been announced.
Three vehicles have the chance to be named the overall 2016 World Car of the Year: the Audi A4, Mazda MX-5 Miata and Mercedes-Benz GLC. The winners will be announced at the 2016 New York Auto Show on March 24.
There are five different categories in which vehicles are competing for top honors, with this latest announcement whittling down all the categories to three top finalists.
Up for 2016 World Luxury Car of the Year are the Audi Q7, BMW 7 Series and Volvo XC90, while the 2016 Performance Car of the Year battle will be between the Audi R8, Honda Civic Type R and the Mercedes-AMG C63 Coupe.
Competing in the Green Car of the Year category are the Chevy Volt, Toyota Mirai and Toyota Prius, while the World Car Design of the Year will go to either the Jaguar XE, Mazda CX-3 or Mazda MX-5.
In 2015, the Mercedes-Benz C-Class walked away with the title of World Car of the Year, while the S-Class won the luxury category, the Mercedes-AMG GT took the performance award, the BMW i8 won for the green car award and the Citroen C4 Cactus won for design.
Automotive journalists from all over the world are part of the committee to vote on and choose the World Car of the Year.


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Talks of Lonzo Ball being shipped to the New Orleans Pelicans before the trade deadline are not the only cause of concern for the Ball family at the moment. Big Baller Brand has notified customers that all pre-orders of Lonzo Ball's second signature sneaker, the Zo2.19, have been delayed.
An e-mail sent out to customers late last week by BBB customer service regarding the delay cited that it was to "improve the critical foam used in the midsole." It goes on to say that the change "will allow for a better performing shoe at a pro level, and will enable you to enjoy the quality and craftsmanship of the Zo2.19 for everyday fashion."
Zo's sophomore season signature sneaker was originally unveiled back in October 2018. Three pairs became available for pre-order on the Big Baller Brand web store on the same day. The Zo2.19 retailed for $200, a significant dip from its predecessor's $495 price tag, and was promised to ship out at the top of 2019. The production debacle has caused shipping to be pushed back to May 1 (hopefully).
For anyone who was graced by the disappointing e-mail in their inbox, Lavar and friends did offer a small consolation. Each customer was promised a complimentary hoodie or T-shirt in the size of their choosing. There's just one catch—the shirt will also not ship until May 1 along with the sneakers.
This is not the first time that Lavar Ball's independent venture has been in hot water. Back in January 2018, the brand was given an "F" rating by the Better Business Bureau. Later that year, Big Baller's Godfather was sued by Chino Hills company Closet Collection for allegedly not paying screen-printing fees. Hopefully the rollout of LiAngelo's signature sneaker, which is currently available for pre-order, runs a little smoother.
Read the full statement from Big Baller Brand about the Zo2.19's shipping delays below.
Dear BBB Family,


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They're quick to embrace new medical technology, but don't ask them to use a computer. CBSNews.com's Charles Cooper explores a generation gap.
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CNET's Shara Tibken gives us the inside scoop on what to expect from the new MacBook ahead of the October 27 event, and what Apple's quarterly earnings report may say about iPhone sales.
A new plan from Samsung attempts to retain customers. Meanwhile, a software update brings a much-touted feature to Apple's bigger phone.


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Tencent Acquires 1C Entertainment; Polish Group to Be Rebranded
Chinese tech giant Tencent today announced the acquisition of the majority stake of Polish game company 1C Entertainment. The financial terms of the deal (which was agreed upon in November 2021) were not disclosed at this time. The press release also reveals that the company will be rebranded (including a rename) within six months from now.
1C Entertainment management board member Tomasz Nieszporski stated:
We are truly excited by this deal. It is an amazing opportunity for 1C Entertainment to achieve our wildest dreams and aspirations in the video games business. Our vision and passion will be now backed by a leading global games company, and I am humbled by the unique chance of working together with Tencent and the other top creative minds that are part of its global ecosystem.
Tencent Games Global Chief Technology Officer Li Shen added:
We couldn’t be more pleased to work with the talented team at 1C Entertainment, supporting them as they embark on a new phase of growth.
1C Entertainment may not be one of the big household companies in the gaming industry, but it's old enough to have released several noteworthy franchises such as King's Bounty, Men of War, and IL-2 Sturmovik. 1C Entertainment also owns QLOC, a co-development, testing, and localization company known for its work on hits such as Devil May Cry, Dark Souls Remastered, Mortal Kombat, Cyberpunk 2077, and Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice.
For Tencent, 1C Entertainment is just the latest in an ever-growing list of investments. The Chinese giant, the world leader when it comes to revenue in the gaming industry, already owns Funcom, Leyou, Riot Games, Sharkmob, Sumo, Turtle Rock Studios, Wake Up Interactive, Inflexion Games, Grinding Gear Games, Fatshark, Klei Entertainment, 10 Chambers Collective, Stunlock Studios, and Yager Interactive. Tencent also has minority stakes and/or investments in Epic Games, Garena, Dontnod, Bloober, Marvelous, Netmarble, Kakao, Bluehole, Frontier, Kadokawa Corporation, Activision Blizzard, Ubisoft, Paradox Interactive, Remedy, Playtonic, and PlatinumGames.
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Yoon replaces 6 ministers ahead of his 3rd year, general election
North Korea threatens consequences after South Korea launches 1st spy satellite
[Hello Hangeul] Inside the Korean language classroom in Madrid
Festivals to illuminate Seoul’s winter nights
Province office raided in probe into wife of opposition leader
Yahoo Asia Big Idea Chair Awards Celebrating the Extraordinary WorkBy PRNEWSWIRE
Published : Feb. 27, 2023 - 20:11
Fintech company SoFi Hong Kong named Big Idea Chair Champion winner
Merit-winner Manulife Hong Kong crowned Best Programmatic Campaign
IKEA swept the event as king of Best Branded Content, Best Integrated Solution and more
The judging panel for Asia BIC Awards 2022 was composed of 26 members from key industry outlets.
For all high-resolution images, please download from the following link: http://bit.ly/3XxQiWx
HONG KONG, Feb. 27, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Yahoo held the Asia Big Idea Chair Awards 2022 (Asia BIC Awards 2022) earlier at the St. Regis Hotel, Hong Kong. As brands meander their way through the new normal, the awards are dedicated to the boundless creativity and out-of-the-box imagination in the digital media and advertising industry as brands not only survive, but thrive, throughout the tumultuous pandemic landscape.
As an acclaimed regional industry event for 14 consecutive years, the Yahoo Asia BIC Awards 2022 celebrates marketers and advertisers who have shown remarkable efforts in their campaigns.
The judging panel was composed of 26 members from key industry outlets include IAB Hong Kong, HK4As, The Hong Kong Advertisers Association, Hong Kong Association of Interactive Marketing (AIM), HKMA Digital Marketing Community, Taiwan Digital Media and Marketing Association, Taiwan Advertiser's Associations, as well as renowned industry practitioners from Taiwan and Singapore.
Matthew Chan, Head of Advertising Business, Yahoo Hong Kong & China, said, "As the world slowly returns to a pre-pandemic normal, brands are pulling all the tricks out of the bag to not only reignite purchasing intent, but also to ensure that their names remain top-of-mind after a three-year lockdown. In 2023, we will see brands operating with tighter budgets in an economically volatile landscape. They will have to unlock opportunities to accelerate business growth by thinking out of the box, in new directions, focusing on performance and RoI, while keeping the consumer front and center. In the upcoming year, we are expecting an uptick in emerging technologies such as the metaverse, artificial intelligence and cloud computing."
In addition to adtech trends, Matthew also highlighted how the ad industry is embarking on a sustainability journey. He added, "In the past year, Yahoo has honed in on sustainability to provide green media products to align with the brand's sustainability goals. We can now give brands around the world to shift their buying behaviour in favour of a more eco-friendly tomorrow."
The Yahoo Asia BIC Awards 2022 was prestigiously attended by 200 esteemed guests from marketing, advertising, media and more to celebrate their own and their peers' success in the past year.
Aside from being crowned Hong Kong's Big Idea Chair Champion Outstanding Award, fintech company SoFi Hong Kong's "SoFi x Yahoo Finance Youth Program — Hunger Investment Game" brought home Best Integrated Solution, as well as Merit awards in Best Acquisition Campaign, Best Partnership Strategy, and Best Innovative Experience (Asia). Niki Leung, Head of International Marketing from SoFi Hong Kong said, "To amplify product proposition and show off our easy and versatile trading app, SoFi Hong Kong collaborated with Yahoo Finance to debut a 3-month investment competition to engage with young investors. The U.S. stock-trading competition successfully recruited 286 teams of young investors, offering participants an opportunity to meet both online and in person to discuss investment strategies whilst experiencing SoFi's offerings as they access our trading platform. As a result, we saw a substantial increase in membership, along with increased mentions of SoFi on online forums popular amongst this demographic."
A Merit Winner of the Hong Kong BIC Champion 2022 was Manulife Hong Kong, whose "New Critical Illness Product Launch Campaign" was also crowned Best Programmatic Campaign for both Hong Kong and Asia region. HyounJoo Choe, Chief Customer Officer at Manulife Hong Kong and Macau, said: "As part of our campaign to promote the flexible benefits offered by our two recently launched critical illness plans, we created a series of entertaining cinematic videos featuring well-known Hong Kong actors, Gordon Lam and Louise Wong, as a couple of special agents showcasing the importance of easing medical burden and early protection. The campaign targeted the 25-54 age group with a range of videos and subsequent advertising coupled with call-to-action messages to reach a variety of consumers, including health-conscious youngsters or parents. By leveraging the Yahoo Next-Gen Audience, our campaign reached high-value audiences in a cookieless digital environment. As a result, our campaign KPI rose by 310% with CTR that are 400% higher than the Yahoo industry benchmark!"
Another notable Merit Winner of the Hong Kong BIC Champion 2022 Awards was IKEA, whose acclaimed "IKEA Empower Your Everyday" campaign won Outstanding awards in Best Branded Content Campaign and Best Partnership Strategy, and the Merit award for Best Integrated Solution. Nicole Hsu, External Communication Manager from IKEA Hong Kong said, "In reaction to the increasing number of people working from home or reluctant to leave the safety of their four walls due to the pandemic, IKEA sprinkled a number of enticing and relevant ads, long-form content, native ads alongside call-to-action in premium media buys. Messages were tailored to groups who are studying, working and have problems sleeping at home. The content commerce ecosystem we generated – alongside Yahoo's support – drove significant results to the campaign, namely -66% in CPA, and ROAs were 5x times better than all awareness placements."
Originating from Yahoo! Inc., the Asia Big Idea Chair Awards is a leading digital awards event which has travelled around the world, and was launched in Hong Kong in 2009. The Asia Big Idea Chair Awards celebrates all the remarkable advertising campaigns and ideas on Yahoo in Asia throughout the past year.
For the full winner list, please visit the official website:
Yahoo reaches nearly 900 million people around the world, bringing them closer to finance, sports, shopping, gaming and news—with the trusted products, content and tech that fuel their day. For partners, we provide a full-stack platform for businesses to amplify growth and drive more meaningful connections across advertising, search and media. To learn more, please visit yahooinc.com.
Appendix - Yahoo Asia Big Idea Chair Awards 2022
Hong Kong Award
Yoon replaces 6 ministers ahead of his 3rd year, general election
Why tighter US subsidy rules could boost Chinese firms
S. Korea successfully tests solid-fuel space rocket


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American Express Results Q1 2019 – The Devil is in the Detail
Have Amex hidden huge legal charges and why?
Some really interesting developments have emerged about American Express Company according to its 8-k recently filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission in Washington.
Seven key facts about American Express in Q1 2019 according to its filing:
1. US$ hundreds of millions of Amex legal charges hidden in the figures
‘First-quarter earnings per share of $1.80 included an addition to legal reserves of $0.21 per share related to a merchant litigation that has now been resolved. Excluding that litigation-related charge, adjusted earnings per share for the quarter was $2.01.’
We look forward to getting some more explanation from Amex.
2. Amex spent almost one third of its net income, $494m, on professional services
Expenditure on professional services increased by 8% YOY. This in an extraordinary level of professional service expenditure and challenges the efficiency of how Amex runs its business.
It would be interesting to understand what portion of professional fees are legal fees relating to its inflated merchant ‘discount fees’ business.
3. Marketing and business development costs increased by 17% to $1.57bn
This is an interesting development considering that Amex’s net income fell by 5%. Amex is spending an awful lot of money keeping its existing customers and acquiring new ones. This raises questions about the sustainability of Amex’s lucrative business model.
4. Card member loans grew by $8.8bn a rate of 11% YOY
Lending is clearly an important growth area for Amex. Amex is clearly learning from Visa and Mastercard partners but actually charges more modest interest rates. Maybe the reason for this is to compensate for the high card fees and FX charges.
5. Interest earned on Amex cardholder loans grew by 17% to $2.7bn
Amex is clearly the increasing the interest rates it charges it’s cardholders. That’s 17% increase in loan interest versus growth in loans of only 11%. At what point will Amex customers become frustrated with increasing interest charges.
6. Card fees increased by 14% to $944m
Here is another line item which Amex is clearly focused on growing. One day more competitive Fintech’s will attack this market but for now Amex should make hay while the sun shines.
7. American Express deposit interest increased by 70%
Amex is enjoying the benefit of US interest rate rises and being looked after by the banks holding their cash.
However there are dark clouds on the horizon. Its merchant discount revenue is coming under attack. This huge chunk of its revenue was 61% of total revenue in 2018 (US$40,338bn) is at risk.
In Europe Amex is continuing to successfully dodge the regulators despite the ruling from the EU Court of Justice in 2018
“..there is uncertainty as to when or how interchange fee caps and other provisions of the EU payments legislation might apply when we work with cobrand partners and agents in the EU. In a ruling issued on February 7, 2018, the EU Court of Justice confirmed the validity of the application of the fee caps and other provisions in circumstances where three-party networks issue cards with a cobrand partner or through an agent, although the ruling provided only limited guidance as to when or how the provisions might apply in such circumstances.”
Merchants (Businesses that accept card payments) are saying that Amex are ignoring the caps that should have been in place since December 2015.
The EU Commission has taken a hard line with Visa and Mastercard, recently fining Mastercard for violation of merchants rights to settle cross border transactions and both have paid out large settlements to merchants for historical overcharging.
In January 2019, the European Commission fined Mastercard €570 million ($648 million) for now-defunct rules that prevented retailers from shopping around for cheaper fees from acquirers in other EU countries, and experts say it could add to the avalanche of private damages retailers are already seeking following previous Commission actions on card fees.
The EU Commission has long been interested in various aspects of so-called interchange fees, which are paid by merchants when credit and debit card transactions are made.
To address the Commission’s competition concerns, Mastercard and Visa have, each separately, decided to offer the following commitments that would reduce the inter-regional Merchant Interchange Fees by at least 40%.
This is all piling pressure on Amex particularly in Europe where repricing of Amex contracts and historical recovery claims are now inevitable.
For now, Amex is weathering the storm.


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Mobile and Web cloud testing and monitoring company Keynote has appointed Erik Prusch, president, CEO, and director of Clearwire to its board of directors.
Mr. Prusch has served as Clearwire’s CEO since August 2011, and has served as a director of Clearwire since February 2012. Prior to that, Mr. Prusch served as COO from March 2011 to August 2011 and CFO from August 2009 to March 2011.
Prior to Clearwire, Mr. Prusch served as president and CEO of Borland Software from December 2008 to July 2009. Mr. Prusch’s other roles include that of VP, Finance, in Intuit’s TurboTax division; CFO of Identix; and VP and CFO, Finance and Operations at Gateway Computers. Mr. Prusch began his career at Touche Ross and PepsiCo.
Mr. Prusch holds a Bachelor of Administration degree from Yale University and an M.B.A. from the Stern School of Business at New York University.


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Its president is setting out to fix the institution. He shouldn't be timid
In the face of a massive traditional and social media campaign, the appliance store shrugged
Before they can be sent home, they need to be housed, fed, and given court dates
Twitch also has technological chops that could appeal to Google
The boss of investment bank Bear Stearns until 1993, he was embittered about the firm's near collapse in 2008
An $895 plastic helmet stimulates hair growth
Because of global warming, Crystal Cruises will send passengers on what it bills as the first luxury ship to "traverse the Northwest Passage"
A host of research speaks to the business advantages of having a wider-than-average face—if you're a man
Profiled companies pay the recruiting service, but job-seekers don't
Photos provided by Miami University
Undergraduates at Farmer can participate in the Pacific Rim summer program, which affords opportunities to study in China, South Korea, and Japan. The students pictured above are studying Panasonic, one of the companies they visited overseas. As part of the program, students also visit such cultural landmarks as the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum and China's Great Wall.


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It wasn’t just the row house-sized store across from SugarHouse Casino that prompted a city councilman to introduce legislation specifically banning “cash for gold” stores from any spot where pawn shops are prohibited.
“This is apparently not just happening on Delaware Avenue,” said William Carter, Fifth District Councilman Darrell Clarke’s director of legislative affairs. “In talking to L&I, they have been popping up in various places.”
Carter said that cash-for-gold stores are a relatively recent phenomenon, spurred by the high price of gold and the economic downturn. While his boss, planners, and many residents who have complained consider a cash-for-gold store to be a type of pawn shop, the term cash-for-gold is not listed in the current zoning code. So business owners could open such stores even in places where pawn shops cannot, he said. It is a loophole, Carter said, that needed to be closed.
Clarke’s legislation, which was co-sponsored by First District Councilman Frank DiCicco and was introduced late last week, attempts to close the loop hole by making cash-for-gold stores a sub-category of pawn shops, Carter said.
The new zoning code, which is expected to go to city council for approval by the end of this year, also defines cash-for-gold stores as pawn shops. Carter said the issue couldn’t wait for approval of the new code.
L&I spokeswoman Maura Kennedy said it isn’t possible to give the a number of cash-for-gold stores in the city, because they seek permits identical to those held by typical jewelers – a jewelry store with a precious metal dealer license.
“There is no real easy way to parse out legitimate jewelers” from the kind of cash-for-gold places that raise neighborhood concerns, Kennedy said. The jewelers with precious metal licenses as a secondary use are required to keep the precious metal dealings to 25 percent of the businesses’ floor space.
L&I continues to work with Clarke’s office on the legislation he proposed, Kennedy said. But there is a need to proceed carefully so that jewelers are not hurt by any changes to the zoning code, she said.
“I’m not discounting the problems that perhaps a business billing themselves as cash-for-gold may cause in a neighborhood,” she said. “But we need to be careful so that we do not have the unintended consequence of impacting jewelry stores.”
The store across from SugarHouse has a permit to run a jewelry store with a precious metal dealer license. And the owner of the building has said his tenant would be operating a jewelry store. The store has a jewelry counter inside. It also has a large, safety-glass window with a circle for people to talk through and a pass-through slot.
Once a store with a jewelery permit and metals license is open, Kennedy said, “people can report what is happening” if they detect a problem.
The 25 percent alloted for precious metal dealing is measured in square footage, not receipts. So as long as 75 percent of the floor is dedicated to selling jewelry, it doesn’t matter where the bulk of the revenue comes from.
“That’s where our ability to enforce the code ends,” she said. “the way that the code is written and the enforcement mechanisms we have may not satisfy the communities’ underlying desires.”
L&I has ceased operations at some jewelers where the physical space for metal dealing exceeded the 25 percent limit, Kennedy said. She could not give PlanPhilly a number of such stores Monday night.
Clarke’s legislation will be assigned to a city council committee for a hearing, and then if the committee approves it, it will go to full council for a vote.
But should the bill pass council, it would have no impact on the store that brought the issue to Clarke’s attention.
That store, which fronts on Delaware Avenue but has a 112 E. Allen Street address, has not opened for business. The jewery store and precious metal permit and license it was awarded are compatible with the zoning of the parcel, and were granted over-the-counter.
What caught neighbors’ attention – and therefore the attention of Clarke and DiCicco – were the green neon signs in the windows. None of them advertised jewelry. “Cash for Gold,” they said. The store is in Clarke’s district, but it was DiCicco who authored the Central Delaware Zoning Overlay, which prohibits pawn shops in the area. The Commercial Entertainment District overlay that covers the SugarHouse property also prohibits pawn shops at the site because of its proximity to the casino.
When L&I posted a stop work order at the store recently, it was all about those signs, which have since been taken down.
“They either need to install signs in line with the zoning classification, or if they wish to go outside the guidelines, to seek a variance,” said Kennedy. As of Monday, the business had not filed an application.
“Once we see what the business is asking for, the signs they are requesting permits for, then we will make a ruling whether or not we will be issuing their permits over the counter,” she said.
Further south along the riverfront, in the Wawa strip mall at Tasker Street, there is an open check cashing store that is overtly prohibited by the Central Delaware Overlay and the Commercial Entertainment District that was put in place on the expectation that Foxwoods Casino would open at Delaware and Reed.
Over objections from the community and DiCicco, the business was given a variance by the zoning board of adjustment and has been open since winter.
In a brief interview last week, DiCicco said that in his opinion, the variance should not have been granted. “That’s why the CED was created,” he said. DiCicco said he was told about the approval right before council went on holiday break. He assumed the approval had just been given, and so thought he had plenty of time to appeal within the 30-day appeal window. But after returning from break, DiCicco learned the 30-day period had expired.
An appeal may be possible through the courts, he said. “But who has the money for that?”
Reach the reporter at firstname.lastname@example.org.


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Digital Cinema solutions provider Access Integrated Technologies has announced that film distributor Overture Films will provide all of their movies to digital cinema equipped theatres in AccessIT's Phase 1 digital cinema plan and will pay virtual print fees (VPFs) under a 10 year agreement similar to those signed by all the other major studios. This agreement expands upon the strong relationship the companies have built since Overture's inception last year as Overture is already a customer of both AccessIT's distribution software and satellite delivery services.
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India-based Adlabs Films part of Reliance ADA Group announced that it will premiere the 3D Hollywood movie Journey to the Center of the Earth in digital 3D for the first time at the Adlabs Cinema in Vashi in New Mumbai. In a press statement Patrick von Sychowski chief operating officer of Adlabs Digital Cinema says that the digital 3D technology was a new form of cinema entertainment where the audience can view the movie with enhanced clarity.
Internet-based distributor IndiePix announced its latest collection: a series of adaptations of famous plays and films with a Shakespearian theme. For the first time film lovers and educational bodies can access this new collection which includes such classics as Laurence Olivier's Shakespeare compilation including Henry V (1944) Hamlet (1948) and Richard III (1955). In addition many of the films provide a cultural twist to the story making it unique to the filmmaker's home country.
Vivitek Corporation formally announced its entry into the growing marketplace for high-quality signage visual display and professional presentation products. The company based in Southern California has already begun shipping its first line of DLP projectors and flat screen digital signage offerings. Vivitek has taken a unique industry position of offering only the best-of-breed technology in each category. Its projector line products are all equipped with Texas Instruments' exclusive DLP technology and its digital signage products will all display in LCD technology only.
The Visual Effects Society has named producers Kathleen Kennedy and Frank Marshall of The Kennedy/Marshall Company as the recipients of the VES Lifetime Achievement Award at the 7th Annual VES Awards which will be held at the Century Plaza Hotel in Beverly Hills California on February 21 2009. The VES Lifetime Achievement Award awarded by the VES board of directors recognizes outstanding contributions to the art and/or science of the visual effects industry.
Dolby announced today that it has reduced the price of its reusable 3D glasses. Starting today exhibitors can purchase new Dolby 3D glasses at a US list price of $27.50 reduced from $39. “The success of Dolby 3D around the world has enabled us to realize significant economies of scale. We are pleased to announce that our green reusable 3D glasses are now offered at a significantly reduced price ” says John Carey vice president of worldwide sales products and services Dolby Laboratories.
The Hollywood Post Alliance has announced that the dean of the University of Southern California School of Cinematic Arts Elizabeth M. Daley will receive the organization’s first Charles S. Swartz Award. The award will be bestowed during the HPA Awards gala on November 6th and honors a person group company or technology that has made a significant artistic technological business or educational impact on post-production. The mission of this award is to recognize broad and lasting contributions that have advanced and/or provided some unique purpose to the field of post-production.
Starting this month the Library of Congress will offer a picture-perfect dream for cinema buffs—classic movies shown three times a week in a new art deco theatre reminiscent of the movie palaces of the 1920s and 1930s. “Rarely today are so many classic American films shown in 35mm in a single location under such ideal new conditions ” says Mike Mashon head of the Moving Image section of the library’s Motion Picture Broadcasting and Recorded Sound division. The 200-seat theatre is located in the library’s state-of-the-art recently opened Packard Campus of the National Audio-Visual
Norwegian projector manufacturer projectiondesign previewed the first prototype of their cineo32 production specific projector to over 40 of London’s post-production and production community last month in Soho London. “In an effort to create a product that’s a perfect fit for the post-production environment we’ve worked very closely with the technical managers of leading post houses ” says Anders Løkke international marketing & communications manager at projectiondesign.
Litepanels has signed an agreement to be acquired by the Vitec Group supplier of products and services for the broadcast entertainment and photographic industries. Litepanels provides LED (light emitting diode) lighting systems for the television broadcast video and film industries. Its lighting products are a complementary addition to the Vitec Group Broadcast Systems Division which includes such brands as Sachtler Vinten Autoscript and Anton/Bauer.
The Film and Video Center of the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian requested that the award-winning The Sand Creek Massacre documentary film be entered in its 14th Native American Film + Video Festival to be held in New York City March 26 - 29 2009. The festival features films and video productions of all genres from North Central and South America and Hawaii.
Dolby provided technical services and digital cinema technology systems to the 2008 Toronto International Film Festival for the 15th year in a row. The 33rd TIFF was held September 4-13 at venues throughout Toronto. Digital technology is now prevalent throughout the entire ecosystem of moviemaking-from shooting and editing to postproduction making digital playback an ideal solution for festivals and theatres alike says Bill Allen senior director production services Dolby Laboratories.
IndiePix the Internet-based distributor of independent films has formed a partnership with American film distributor the Cinema Guild. The partnership enables The Cinema Guild to offer a number of its films through IndiePix’s patented Download-to-Own technology. This is the first time that The Cinema Guild has ever utilized the Internet as a model to electronically distribute its award-winning titles as part of a collection. The Cinema Guild has been distributing both documentary and fiction films for over 35 years – but never used the Internet as its distribution channel.
Bennett Fogel has joined National CineMedia as senior vice president of sales development and integrated marketing in New York. In his new position Fogel will be responsible for developing new business strategy and introducing new advertisers to the cinema medium.
Aardman Animations has taken delivery of its third Maximum Throughput Sledgehammer HD!O file server and real-time multi-format video device. XFTX a Maximum Throughput reseller based in London is providing sales and integration support for the project. Aardman Broadcast and Commercials a division of Aardman Animations will incorporate the new unit into its existing production workflow at its Gas Ferry Road facility where it will be exclusively used for the production of TV commercials.
Atlantik Film a Hamburg-based branch of CinePostproduction has migrated to a tapeless workflow. The core of the new tapeless workflow is a DVS-SAN for use as an online and near-line storage system complemented by a SpycerBox. Existing and new systems are integrated via switches and data connections. Atlantik Film's goal had been to increase the performance efficiency and throughput rate of its projects while simultaneously achieving a maximum level of data security.
Band Pro has announced a special Lease-to-Own program for select Sony equipment and Zeiss DigiPrime and DigiZoom lenses purchased from Band Pro. This flexible program offers customized financing choices on approved credit including zero down and zero interest for 12-months zero down and 2.88 percent for 24 months or zero down and five percent interest for 36 months.
Schneider Optics has introduced a full array of professional Century HD lens accessories to complement Sony's HVR-Z7U and HVR-S270OU camcorders. These 72mm lightweight optical attachments provide high resolution image clarity while enabling the camera to go wider reach further and move in closer than the lens alone will allow. New Century accessories for the HVR-Z7U include the .6X HD Wide Angle Adapter (HD-06WA-Z7U) Fisheye HD Adapter MKII (HD-FEAD-Z7U) .3X HD Ultra Fisheye Adapter (HD-FE3X-Z7U) and 1.6X HD Tele-Converter (HD-16TC-Z7U).
The decision by Warner Bros. not to release Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince this November but rather release it next July created something of a mini-storm in the mainstream consumer media. But does it mean anything significant to exhibitors? First a full disclosure: I am an avid Harry Potter fan and am personally upset that my Thanksgiving holiday will not include the latest movie installment. Truthfully though there will be football games and leftovers. I’ll survive.
Digital Domain says it will integrate the Tactic digital asset management system from Southpaw Technology into its digital production workflow. The company plans to use it on upcoming feature film commercial and game projects. “Tactic promises to provide us with a solid infrastructure for managing the complex flow of digital assets through our pipeline ” says Phil Peterson Digital Domain’s senior technology officer.


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Xerox revenue falls 9.6 percent; says to review operations
NEW YORK – Xerox Corp reported a 9.6 percent fall in quarterly revenue, hurt by lower printer sales and a strong dollar, and said it would review its operations.
The company reported net loss attributable to shareholders of $34 million, or 4 cents per share, in the third quarter ended Sept. 30, compared with a profit of $266 million, or 22 cents per share, a year earlier.
Revenue fell to $4.33 billion from $4.80 billion.
Xerox also said on Monday its board had authorized a review of its business portfolio and capital allocation options. -Reuters


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The wait's almost over, as the opening of New York City's famed Halal Guys' first Chicago location is near. Management is still keeping the official opening date under wraps until Wednesday as they rush to apply the finishing touches inside their Gold Coast space on Division near Clark. Regardless, everyone will get to try their shawarma soon.
A freight train carrying the restaurant's logo got caught up near the Canadian border. But fret not, everything else seems to be in place. While New York purists may claim that Chicago isn't getting the official Halal Guys cart experience, the gyros with white sauce will be a nice addition to the post-bar and weekday lunch crowds near Rush Street.
They've gutted the former Empire Chinese Restaurant, sprucing up the spot with photos of an employee wearing a Halal Guys hoodie in front of Chicago landmarks such as Wrigley Field, The Bean and the Art Institute. That's certainly one way to endear the Big Apple import to locals. There's limited seating inside (six tables) and a ledge near the window so Chicagoans can participate in a favorite New York activity—eating standing up.
Check out the photos above, and check out the restaurant's Facebook page for updates on the opening date.
The Halal Guys, 49 W. Division St., (312) 877-5575, hours not posted yet.


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CHARLESTON, WV – Today, Gov. Jim Justice congratulated Klöckner Pentaplast (kp) on a major expansion of its operations in West Virginia. The global manufacturer and supplier of sustainable packaging products announced today that it has selected its production facility in the Raleigh County community of Beaver for a multimillion-dollar production expansion.
The West Virginia facility – previously named as kp’s Plant of the Year for productivity out of more than 30 factories worldwide – has now been chosen to lead the way for the company’s addition of post-consumer recycled content (PCR) PET production in North America. The expansion will result in the addition of 15,000 metric tons of new rPET/PET capacity.
“With all that’s being accomplished at the Beaver facility, it makes all the sense in the world that this plant is the one that kp has chosen for this major expansion,” Gov. Justice said. “I’m also extremely proud that kp chose this same facility as their Plant of the Year for productivity last year. I say all the time, you’ll never find more dedicated, hardworking, and productive employees than those in West Virginia. This is just more proof that we’ve got the right people and the right business-friendly environment in West Virginia to help even the biggest companies excel and reach new heights.
“We’re talking about a major global company that is knocking it out of the park all over the place – but is especially thriving in West Virginia, maybe better than anywhere else in the entire world,” Gov. Justice continued. “I am absolutely thrilled that this company continues to succeed and grow in West Virginia. All of this is just more proof that the rocket ship ride that I promised is very real and it's happening right now.
“I thank kp for being an incredible community partner that has provided great jobs to countless West Virginians for more than two decades. I look forward to this company continuing to prosper in West Virginia for many, many years to come.”
In November 2020, Gov. Justice announced that kp had chosen its Beaver facility for another production expansion, adding thermoforming capabilities to further grow their sustainable food tray offer for the North America market.
“It’s always a great day when we get to expand on a project that will bring more jobs into our state,” West Virginia Department of Economic Development Secretary Mitch Carmichael added. “But it’s an even better day when the company is expanding operations to meet the demands of customers, helping to further our state economy. We look forward to supporting Klöckner Pentaplast for years to come and are very excited to share in this announcement.”


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Dick’s Sporting Goods will hold a three-day grand opening celebration this month for its new Boca Raton store in Mission Bay Plaza on State Road 7.
The celebration starts on Oct. 28 and runs through Oct. 30. The store at 20429 South State Road 7 will open at 8 a.m. on Oct. 28 and Oct. 29 and 9 a.m. on Oct. 30.
The first 100 people in line on Oct. 28 will receive a free Adidas Go-To Performance T-Shirt. Adults who are in line at 7:45 a.m. on Oct. 28 will get a chance to open the Dick’s Sporting Goods Gift Locker.
Giveaways on Oct. 29 and Oct. 30 include a free “Mystery Gift Card” for the first 100 adults in line. Adults who are in line at 7:45 a.m. on Oct. 29 and 8:45 a.m. on Oct. 30 will also get a chance to open the Dick’s Sporting Goods Gift Locker.
Former NFL defensive end and linebacker Jason Taylor will make an in-store appearance from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. on Oct. 30. Wristband are required for autographs. Wristbands will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis on the day of event only and quantities are limited, the chain said.
“We continue to strive to bring the highest quality products and services to the communities that we are part of,” said Lauren Hobart, Executive Vice President & Chief Marketing Officer, Dick’s Sporting Goods. “The opening of our newest Dick’s Sporting Goods in Boca Raton will enable us to serve athletes, sports fans and outdoor enthusiasts in the community at an even higher level.”
The Boca Raton store marks Dick’s 36th location in Florida. The sporting goods chain has more than 670 stores nationwide.


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Maggiano’s Little Italy restaurants nationwide are offering select menu items to benefit the Make-A-Wish FoundationÂ®, a non-profit organization that makes dreams come true for children with life-threatening medical conditions. Through May 28, Maggiano’s guests can support the efforts of the Make-A-Wish Foundation through the “Eat-A-Dish for Make-A-Wish” program. Diners can choose from items including:
- Shrimp Scampi – marinated shrimp sauteed with roasted garlic, tomatoes, with fresh basil tossed in a white wine lemon butter sauce, and served with warm garlic bread.
- Spinach Gnocchi with Herb Chicken – Italian spinach and potato dumplings sauteed with herb chicken, zucchini, squash, tomatoes, served in a light lemon basil cream sauce.
- Lemon Pepper Halibut – Fresh Halibut seared with lemon, pepper, and parsley, served with mashed potatoes, oven roasted garlic and broccoliniÂ®.
- Fresh Berry Tiramisu – Prepared with ladyfingers, mascarpone cheese, with fresh blueberries, blackberries and strawberries.
For each of these menu items ordered, Maggiano’s will donate $1 to the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Restaurant patrons may also contribute to the Make-A-Wish Foundation’s cause by purchasing Maggiano’s gift cards. For every $25 sold, Maggiano’s will contribute $1 to the Foundation. Additionally, guests may donate through the brand’s “Become a Star” program. Participating guests will have a star cut-out with their name displayed inside the restaurant during the four-week promotion.
“Thanks to the generosity of our guests and devoted teammates, last year we were able to donate more than $180,000 to our friends at the Make-A-Wish Foundation,” said Wyman Roberts, president of Maggiano’s Little Italy. “It is our hope that this year’s Eat-A-Dish for Make-A-Wish will reach even greater heights to provide to families in need.”
“The Eat-A-Dish for Make-A-Wish promotion has been such a great success since it started, “ said David Williams, Make-A-Wish Foundation of America president and chief executive officer. “It’s given Maggiano’s diners a convenient way to donate, and it’s helped each of them become more familiar with the incredible wishes we grant. I truly appreciate having a partner like Maggiano’s that does so much to help us accomplish our wish-granting mission.”
This marks the fifth year Maggiano’s has collaborated with the Make-A-Wish Foundation on these special promotion offerings.


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Leaders across the pub industry have warned the industry “could be lost within days” without “immediate and decisive” government action.
British Beer and Pub Association chief executive Emma McClarkin said, “The UK pub and brewing industry is tonight facing an existential crisis as a direct result of the guidance issued by the government today.
“Thousands of pubs and hundreds of thousands of jobs will be lost in the very short term unless a proactive package creating cash and liquidity is provided immediately to the industry.
“Forced pub closures without a meaningful support package will have a catastrophic financial and social impact.”
There have been calls for the cancellation of beer duty payment for the next six months, with the postponement of the planned national minimum and living wage increases due in April.
McClarkin added: “I cannot emphasise strongly enough how critical it is that action is taken now.
“Failure to do so will destroy the industry.”
Following Boris Johnson’s announcement to avoid bars and restaurants the hospitality sector will be hit hard which will be “catastrophic for businesses and jobs.”
UK Hospitality chief executive Kate Nicholls said the new advice left the industry in “limbo with no recourse to insurance.”
She added, “This is catastrophic for businesses and jobs.
“The government has effectively shut the hospitality industry without any support, and this announcement will lead to thousands of businesses closing their doors for good, and hundreds of thousands of job losses.”


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DANISH COMPANY Caravell (UK) has launched a refrigeration technology package aimed at UK caterers.
From its UK base in Buckingham, Caravell can provide, from stock, a selection of more than 30 different product lines. It was one of the first companies in the world to introduce a chest freezer with 100 per cent CFC-free foam. It is now offering 32 different sizes of coldroom, each of which can be assembled and operational in under two hours.
All Caravell's standard cabinets are made from superior 304 grade stainless steel, with rounded corners for easy cleaning and safety.
In addition, all Caravell equipment
is upright and operates at 43ºC. Caravell (UK) Ltd