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Posts Tagged ‘grand motors’
Wong Yee Chiang the grand winner of the Kia Picanto 1.2L GT-Line with Haji Shaiful Rizal bin Pehin Dato Dr Haji Ahmad, Executive Director of Grand Motors Sdn Bhd during the lucky draw presentation at Kia Showroom last Friday.
It has been a busy period for Kia Brunei for the past few months. With their recent Hari Raya promotion and also their engaging World Cup promotion, Kia management has been very busy in creating entertainment for the public. Last Friday, a winner was feted with a grand prize of the latest Kia Picanto 1.2L GT-Line, a model that was launched back in May 2018. The winner was no other than Wong Yee Chiang who bought himself a Kia Sportage.
The second and third prize winners were Dahlia Calidro Fajardo and Aldrin bin Benging respectively as they won an Apple iPhone X 256GB and Apple iPhone 8 256GB. The other consolation winners were Pengiran Mahidi bin Pengiran Haji Mat Salleh (Samsung Galaxy S9) and Shahri Husain (Apple iPad Mini 128GB).
Kia Brunei managed to draw in almost 500 new Kia customers during Kia’s Hari Raya Deals promotion (1st May to 31s July 2018). Their promotion also included attractive package such as first three years of free insurance and road tax and on top of that, a free 50,000km service maintenance package.
Presenting the prize to Wong Yee Chiang was Haji Shaiful Rizal bin Pehin Dato Dr Haji Ahmad, Executive Director of Grand Motors Sdn Bhd.
The top 5 winners with the management of Grand Motors Sdn Bhd
Dahlia Calidro Fajardo was very excited even though she didn’t win a car because now her old iPhone has been upgraded to an iPhone X 256
Photos show Baiduri Finance Berhad’s Sales Officer Suwardi bin Haji Abdul Wahab, and BIBD At-Tamwil’s Manager for Offsite Sales Services Mohamad Asmall bin Razali drawing the names earlier this week to determine the top 20 finalists. Image courtesy of Bahyiah Bakir of Borneo Bulletin.
The shortlisted winners for the Kia’s Hari Raya Deals
The shortlisted winners for the Kia’s Hari Raya Deals
According to the marketing team of Grand Motors, Kia Rio was the biggest hit among the lot
Last May, as part of the Kia World Cup campaign, Mohd Azmi Firdaus won a trip to Russia 2018
Mohd Azmi Firdaus’ dream came true as he caught a World Cup match recently in Russia
@kiabrunei instagram gained popularity as they organised a “Guess the winning country” gimmick during the World Cup 2018
Earlier in July, Grand Motors unveiled their new Kia service centre at Lambak Kanan Industrial Area. The launch was witnessed by After Sales Manager of Kia Motors – Asia Regional Headquarters JY Lee and Sales Manager of Kia Motors Corporation – Asia Regional Headquarters Joseph Choi.
Group photo with the Kia management and representatives from Brunei Shell Marketing Company Sdn Bhd and LUB Enterprise
Customer loyalty is an important factor in building a brand. Kia understands the importance of customer’s needs and the value of creating good rapport with them. In order to show appreciation for Kia’s loyal customers, Grand Motors Sdn Bhd, the exclusive distributor of Kia vehicles in Brunei Darussalam launched the 2017 Kia Customer Loyalty Program last 19 June 2017.
BSB and KB customers who serviced their car at least 3 times from the authorised workshop and spent at least B$100 for service maintenance or repairs are entitled to participate in the draw. The promotion period was from 19 June to 25 July 2017. 20 out of the 300 customers were shortlisted last 26 July 2017 at the Kia Service Centre in Lambak Kanan. The names were drawn by Haji Zainie bin Suhaili, Commercial Executive of Brunei Shell Marketing Company Sdn Bhd and Mr. Hendry Ang, General Manager of LUB Enterprise. The shortlisted customers will be published in Thursday’s issue of Borneo Bulletin.
Grand draw will be on the 28th of July 2017, 10:00 AM at the Kia Service Centre in Lambak. Shortlisted customers will be informed through the contact numbers given. They must present their Brunei I/C on the day of the draw. Two lucky winners will stand a chance to win a 5-day tour in Korea which includes airfare, hotel accommodations and a cultural experience tour in the Korean Folk Village, Royal Palace & Insadong. Tour at the Hwaseong Plant and Hyundai Steel Plant are also arranged for them to get a complete feel and experience of Kia’s hospitality in its home country, Korea.
Mr. Hendry Ang, General Manager of LUB Enterprise drawing 10 names for the shortlisted customer
Around 300 customers entered the lucky draw competition
One of the authorized workshop for Kia at Lambak at Bandar
Grand Motors Sdn Bhd, the exclusive distributor of Kia vehicles in the country is inviting you to a world of dynamic driving and more through the 2017 Kia On Tour & Test Drive. The first leg of this year-long event will be from 10 – 14 May at The Mall, Gadong and the test drive event on 14 May at the SEAMEO-VOCTECH Regional Centre from 9:00AM – 3:00PM.
Kia On Tour & Test Drive is on its 4th year now of bringing Kia vehicles closer to its market. This nationwide tour will commence from May until October 2017. Kia will be visiting different districts in Brunei Darussalam – Brunei-Muara, Tutong and Kuala Belait. Customers will have the chance to explore Kia’s fun-to-drive vehicles and experience a dynamic driving adventure. Exclusive Kia Smartphone Speaker will be given to those who will test drive during the tour.
The 2017 Kia on Tour & Test Drive is part of the larger global roadshow project initiated by Kia Motors Corporation in Korea to enable the population in its network of dealers covering countries in the US, Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Asia and the Pacific to see, feel and experience Kia. It is part of Kia’s global commitment to surpass customer expectations through continuous automotive innovation.
Check out the Kia on Tour at the Mall from today till Sunday. Image courtesy of Mantuka.com
It’s open to public from 10am to 10pm at The Mall
Kia Smartphone Speaker (minus the phone hehe) will be given to those who will test drive during the tour
Frankie Ho, Managing Director of Grand Motors Sdn Bhd, Hj Shaiful Rizal bin Pehin Dato Dr Haji Ahmad, Executive Director of Grand Motors, Jacqueline Koh, Kia Sales Manager, Precious Casao, Marketing Manager of Grand Motors Sdn Bhd and Hj Shaiful Rizal bin Pehin Dato Dr Haji Ahmad, Executive Director of Grand Motors posing with the all-new Kia Rio
Grand Motors Sdn Bhd, the exclusive distributor of Kia vehicles in Brunei Darussalam reveals the all-new, 4th generation Kia Rio. It was first revealed in Paris at the 2016 Mondial de I’Automobile. Earlier this morning, the Kia Rio was launched at the showroom at Grand Motors.
So what’s new with the Kia Rio?
It has a new design of course, defined by straight lines and smooth surfacing, giving the car a distinctive, confident new look.
It has a progressive exterior design. At the front, the Rio wears the latest evolution of Kia’s tiger-nose grille, now thinner in height and wider across the front of the car. Integrated bi-function projection headlamps – again, thinner and more sculpted than those of is predecessor – project a new U-shaped LED light signature. Changes to the front of the car, including moving the fog lamps’ position outwards within the front bumper, are designed to add greater visual width for a more stable overall look. The new Rio grows by 5mm in width, further adding to this effect.
The rear section of the Rio is now more upright, with a near-vertical rear windscreen and a shorter overhang. It also features a new arrow-shaped LED light signature. Like the wider-looking “face” of the car, the rear design of the new Rio gives it a stronger overall appearance.
As for the cabin, it has been redefined, featuring sculptural forms and a more ergonomic layout than previous models.You will see the straight lines running the width of the dashboard characterize the shape of the interior, giving the cabin a wider appearance and increasing the sense of space for occupants. The dashboard is now angled towards the driver with a high resolution touchscreen to power the Rip’s audio and new connectivity systems.
The all-new Rio will offer buyers class-leading practicality and safety technology, the latest connectivity features and more assured and engaging ride and handling characteristics.
Did you know that the Kia Rio is Korean manufacturer’s global best-selling model with more than 473,000 sold around the world in 2015 alone? Awesome!!! Do check out the new Kia Rio at their showroom.
During the launch today, Grand Motors had some activities for the public such as hanna
There was also a pancake station
The crowd earlier this morning
Only for today that when you take a selfie and post on social media, you will get a portable speaker
Hj Mohammad @ Hj Ali Bin Hj Puting on behalf of his son receiving the mock key of the Kia Carnival earlier this morning
Kia marks its 20th anniversary in Brunei Darussalam through its promotion entitled “Kia’s 20th Anniversary”. 20 lucky customers out of almost 400 participants were shortlisted today, 9 January 2016 at their showroom in Beribi. These customers purchased Kia vehicles from 1 September to 31 December 2016. Each of them will bring home a prize on the grand draw slated in Friday, 13 January 2017 (today).
The prizes to be won are Apple products, Samsung gadgets, LG appliances, Harman/Kardon speakers, a trip for two to Seoul, South Korea and a brand new 8-seater KIA GRAND CARNIVAL 2.2L SX (A) CRDi.
Friday the 13th is a lucky day indeed for Md Rafiuddin Bin Hj Mohammad represented by his father Hj Mohammad @ Hj Ali Bin Hj Puting – he just won a brand new KIA GRAND CARNIVAL. Md Rafiuddin recently bought a Cerato last month at Kia Motors.
Present during the shortlisting were finance representatives –Hj Mohd Ali Hj Metussin, sales manager from Baiduri Finance Berhad and Asharul bin Norshahari Kamaluddin, assistant marketing and public relations manager from BIBD AT-Tamwil Berhad.
The top 20 winners for the Kia 20th Anniversary draw
He is one happy man and also for his son
2nd place winner who still won an awesome prize
The 20th consolation place. Samsung Galaxy Gear S2 watch by Tang Tong Kwong
Hj Abd Razak won an Apple Air Pad
Ainul Hafizah won BND 1,000 cash prize as a replacement for the discontinued Note 7
My former classmate Firdaus bin Pehin Dato Hj Abdullah won an Apple iPhone 6s Plus
Another iPhone winner
A winner for the Apple Macbook Pro 13”
All smiles from the grand winner
Group photo with IBTE and Kia management and the Kia Optima
Kia Motors Corporation through its distributor in Brunei Darussalam, Grand Motors Sdn Bhd handed over a brand new Kia Optima to IBTE School of Energy and Engineering Central Mechanical Campus last 28 September 2016. This brand new Kia Optima will serve as a training vehicle for the students of IBTE Pusat Latihan Mekanik so they will have a better understanding of the features and the technologies of the car. By providing this vehicle, the students will also be trained and prepared for actual work in the future.
“The Kia Optima represents Kia’s thrust towards groundbreaking design and technology. With its turnover to IBTE, we are hopeful that future generations of technicians will learn more about today’s technology and be able to apply this knowledge in the pursuit of their career paths” said Mr. Frankie Ho, Grand Motors’ Managing Director during the ceremony.
Present during the handing over ceremony were Dr. Sheikh Lukman Bin Sheikh Abdul Hamid, Principal of IBTE, Mr. Steve Lee, President of Kia Motors Corporation – Asia Regional Headquarters and the management of Grand Motors Sdn Bhd – Mr. Frankie Ho, Managing Director and Hj Shaiful Rizal Bin Pehin Dato Dr. Hj Ahmad, Executive.
Dr. Sheikh Lukman Bin Sheikh Abdul Hamid delivering his remarks
Mr. Steve Lee, President of Kia Motors Corporation – Asia Regional Headquarters, had a short remarks before the hand over
Mr. Steve Lee, President of Kia Motors Corporation – Asia Regional Headquarters (2nd from right) handing over the Kia Optima to Dr. Sheikh Lukman Bin Sheikh Abdul Hamid, Principal of IBTE (2nd from left) as Mr. Frankie Ho, Grand Motors’ Managing Director and Hj Shaiful Rizal Bin Pehin Dato Dr. Hj Ahmad, Executive looked on


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Santa Claus was a special guest as an eco-friendly activist group continued their effort to rid Suffolk of litter with a festive clean up of their town.
November 29, 2019
Visitors and shoppers can enjoy a day of festive fun and entertainment as Felixstowe lights up its town centre with the magic of Christmas.
November 27, 2019
A police officer turned wedding celebrant has been chosen to help shine a spotlight on Small Business Saturday day this year.
November 23, 2019
Confidential documents prepared for planners reveal that proposals to transform Felixstowe’s empty M&S store will cost around £5.5million – and only yield around £3.5m.
November 22, 2019
Cuppa is hoping to reach out and spread some festive cheer to anyone who might be on their own this Christmas
October 26, 2019
If you’re looking for somewhere spooky to head to for Halloween, Landguard Fort in Felixstowe may well be the perfect destination: a ghostly horse and carriage, a spectral sailor, the spirit of a heartbroken bride, the haunting screams of a plague victim locked in a room to die and the mysterious bathroom phantom.
October 11, 2019
Rose Cottage, in East Lane, Bawdsey is a unique property which has panoramic sea views.
October 4, 2019
A popular mud obstacle run in aid of the East Anglian Air Ambulance returns next year and tickets to take part are already on sale.
September 5, 2019
Fancy an early hours trip to the Viewpoint? There’s a chance to see the world’s biggest container ship arrive.
September 1, 2019
Art on the Prom returned to Felixstowe this weekend with thousands of people descending on the seafront.

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Travelport has signed a new long-term airline IT services agreement with German airline TUIfly. The e-Ticketing technology is utilised by TUIfly Vermarktungs GmbH (TUIfly.com), the flight travel portal of TUI Deutschland.
TUIfly.com has implemented Travelport E-Ticket Technologies in combination with their reservation system, New Skies, offered by Navitaire LLC, enabling the airline to fully leverage the benefits of outbound interline e-ticketing.
The new agreement is part of TUIfly.com initiative to broaden the worldwide flight offer for customers and combinability of different airlines through new airline partnerships. With this technology TUIfly.com is furthermore able to distribute, process and fulfill flights of traditional network carriers using e-tickets not only on the B2C website TUIfly.com but in non-IATA touristic distribution channels as well.
As airlines become more reliant on partnerships and the ability to react in real time to passenger needs, while also lowering costs, TUIfly.com – which has been ticketless so far itself and with all partner airlines - has chosen to join the Travelport E-Ticket Interchange™, the industry leading global e-ticketing solutions for the exchange of interline e-ticket messages between airlines, ground handlers and travel industry partners. TUIfly’s first interline partner is Lufthansa, which allows TUIfly.com to book customers on Lufthansa flights and issue own e-Tickets.
“Through this technology, TUIfly.com is delivering greater depth of choice and the ease of worry-free travel for our passengers on partner flights,” said Jörg Ahrens, Head of IT, TUIfly Vermarktungs GmbH. We are pleased to take this step with Travelport and look forward to the evolution with additional airlines.”
“Travelport E-Ticketing Technologies allow TUIfly to rapidly implement interline agreements with partner airlines, and therefore to expand the route network offered to customers, bookability and compete with the same advanced technologies used by traditional network airlines,” said Kurt Ekert, chief commercial officer, Travelport.
The Travelport Interchange Suite™ helps airlines worldwide expand partnerships, connectivity and sales with industry-leading technology, by eliminating an airline’s need to build and maintain its own interline connections to airlines, passenger service systems and travel industry partners. The portfolio is fully compliant with industry standards, and existing links are already established with virtually every airline, passenger service system, GDS and many ground handlers and rail companies in the world.


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The Kardashian sisters are pretty intent on cornering the women's market.
Kim, Khloe, and Kourtney are counting on consumers wanting to emulate their cosmetic looks now that their Khroma Beauty line is set to launch in early November, according to their Facebook page.
The line will sell all the tricks on getting signature Kardashian looks: long eyelashes, dewy skin and glossy lips.
Expect Kardazzle Compacts with mascaras and lashes and other assorted kits in time for the holidays.
The brand will attempt to "resonate strongly with multi-ethnic women of all ages who aspire to the Kardashian style of beauty," according to a press release for the cosmetics line.
The three sisters had a hand in everything from the design to the forumas, according a statement from Boldface, its Santa Monica-based licensing company.
"Makeup plays such a huge role in all of our lives, whether we're on camera, at a shoot glammed up or just keeping it natural day to day and it's a dream come true to be able to create our own line of products to share with you guys. We can't wait!" Kim Kardashian wrote on her blog in June.
The Kardashians already have a line of nail polishes with OPI -- each lacquer color is named for a member of the reality TV family.


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Client Liaison Are Hosting A Live Stream This Weekend With KFC And ReachOut
Indie-pop duo Client Liason have teamed up with fast-food chain KFC and mental health organisation ReachOut to bring fans a special live stream event this Friday night (15 May).
The dynamic duo will perform songs from the comfort of their own living room, live-streamed via the KFC Facebook page.
"We'll be using our situation to take a new approach on our songs as well as preview what's next to come." Client Liaison's Monte Morgan and Harvey Miller said in a press statement.
Catch Client Liaison's Couch Party live stream from 6 pm this Friday 15 May via KFC's Facebook page.


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This year, Beweko has been exhibiting for the 4th time at the Automechanika Dubai.
The fair is the main exhibition for the automotive aftermarket in the Middle East.
The fair was bigger and more international than ever. With 24.000 visitors, the exhibition received 16% more visitors than last year. These visitors came from more than 130 countries.
Also our stand was much bigger than last three years, reflecting the growing importance of the Middle East and North African market for Beweko.
We would like to warmly thank all our customers and friends from the Middle East, North Africa and the rest of the world for visiting the Dutch Clutch specialist and making the exhibition a great success again.
Also we would like to express our appreciation to the new contacts who were so kind to visit us, and show an interest in distributing our products in their markets.
Finallly, we welcome our friends from Senhadja company as our new exclusive Beweko distributor for Algeria!
Look forward to see you all again in Dubai next year!
Or later this year at Equip Auto Paris (16-20 October) and Agritechnika Hannover (12-16 November),


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THE future of organic farming in Wales is “hanging in the balance” because of inadequate agri-environment payments, the Soil Association has claimed.
It said organic farmers in England will get more than double the maintenance payments of their Welsh counterparts when the new Glastir land management scheme starts next January.
Producers will collect £60/ha under England’s Organic Entry Level Scheme but just £28/ha under Glastir in Wales.
The organic lobby wants improvements when the Glastir review group reports in early March.
It is concerned the organic case is being sidelined and the association has written to its Welsh members urging them to apply pressure via the farming unions.
“There are organic producers in the review group but discussions to date suggest their position is not being supported,” said the association.
Phil Stocker, the association’s director of farmer and grower relations, added: “Unless something changes, there may be no agri- environment benefit in being an organic farmer in Wales – which risks many dropping out altogether.”
If this happens, public money spent on promoting organic systems will be lost, he said.


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Arrests made in construction-supply theft ring
Three people were accused of stealing roofing shingles from job sites throughout Jefferson Parish and returning them to Home Depot and Lowes stores for refunds, police said.
Chelsea Autin, Ronnie Deville,, and Dylan Guidry were arrested after admitting to the thefts when questioned by investigators, according to the Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office.
Deville was charged with two counts of misdemeanor theft and an attachment. Autin was charged with misdemeanor theft and an attachment. Guidry, a Gretna resident, was charged with two counts of theft.
Investigators were told that Nicholas Champagne, Destinee Grabert and Gary Matherne were co-conspirators in the case, police said.
No further arrests have been made.
Anyone with information on the case may call 364-5300 or CrimeStoppers.


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As food uncertainly lingers on the horizon thanks to US sanctions and government decimation of the economy during the past two years, there is another factor contributing to the problem. Since the beginning of the year, there have been several very large food processing facilities that have exploded or burned to the ground across the U.S.
This week, a vegetable and nut processing facility in Dufur, Oregon became engulfed in flames for unknown reasons.
“Lights flickered; They heard a pop and went up there to check it out and there was a fire,” according to a report made to Wasco County 911 records listed in the Wasco County Sheriff’s log.
The independent distributor of natural, organic and non-GMO foods which employees around 150 people burned to the ground.
One week before that fire in Oregon, a massive fire brought down a meat processing plant in Conway, New Hampshire. After burning for 16 hours, multiple fire crews finally put out the fire at East Conway Beef and Pork but the facility is completely destroyed.
That same week, in Salinas, California, a massive fire at the Taylor Farms Processing Facility led to the evacuation of residents as it burned for over 17 hours. Taylor Farms is a major agriculture company that processes and delivers many of the salad kits seen in grocery stores. The cause of this fire is currently under investigation.
— KION News 5 46 (@KION546) April 14, 2022


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Gregg Bleier of Hamlin works on a turkey in his shop, American Wildlife Taxidermy.
Being a taxidermist is not a common career title, but Gregg Bleier, owner of American Wildlife Taxidermy in Hamlin, said after spending his life in the trade, it's the only thing he wanted to be.
"It started as a hobby when I was a teenager. I would always hunt and fish, and then I opened up shop here and it's been about 37 years now," Bleier said. "I've been doing it my whole life and really enjoy what I do."
With only a handful of taxidermy businesses in Monroe County, Bleier said his one-man shop serves anyone who hunts legally and wants their trophy stuffed. ...


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topped the analysts' view of 69 ¢ per share. Its stock rocketed 12.19% to $533.40 in pre-market trade. Shares of SanDisk dived 7.28% to $65.94 ahead of the opening bell, after the maker of flash memory solutions posted a sharp fall in
* Shares fall as much as 6 pct in extended trading (Adds forecast, analyst comments, estimates, updates shares)
SanDisk reported first-quarter revenue of $1 ..... respectively, quarter-over-quarter. SanDisk cited softer than expected pricing conditions ..... trend to reverse until later this year when SanDisk is projected to offer SSDs with two terabytes
April 15 (Reuters) - Memory chipmaker SanDisk Corp reported a fall in quarterly revenue, its first in two years, hurt by lower pricing, lean inventory and weaker-than-expected sales of storage products used in data centers.
overweight' from 'neutral' amid enhanced focus of the brand to ''casualization'' of its fashion. Netflix and SanDisk are due to report their results after the closing bell.
SanDisk lowered its guidance for first-quarter ..... leader in the NAND flash memory market, SanDisk ’s performance sheds light on the other ..... fair value estimate of $53 per share. SanDisk cited lower-than-expected sales and
Fourth-quarter revenue for SanDisk , at $1.7 billion, was consistent ..... memory market is highly cyclical and SanDisk has been executing at a high level ..... assume that the current scenario SanDisk is facing turns out to be simply
Jan 12 (Reuters) - SanDisk Corp said it expects fourth-quarter revenue to be lower than its forecast, citing weaker-than-expected sales of retail products and flash memory storage chips.
SanDisk issued a short press release before the ..... derived $53 per share fair value estimate. SanDisk has been executing at a high level for several ..... trading on Jan. 12, we still view shares of SanDisk as fundamentally overvalued and would seek
SanDisk reported third-quarter results that showed ..... 63 billion in the year-ago quarter. SanDisk continued to benefit from solid demand for ..... flash memory market, which has allowed SanDisk and its peers to generate solid profitability


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Business Insider reports that Amazon is building a new warehouse specifically for dangerous items. The new 500,000 square foot warehouse will be based in Mississippi and will be specially designed to store and fulfill orders of dangerous items like bleach cleaner, nail polish, and bear spray. Carletta Ooton, the vice president of health, safety, sustainability, security, and compliance at Amazon, told reporters; “We recognized there was a need for specially engineered buildings to help safely store some types of products”. The building will feature upgraded sprinkler systems and separate dangerous items, like flammable substances and aerosols. The staff will be given special training, and the items will be shipped via ground transportation only.
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Showing the highest recycling rate of any beverage container, aluminum can Recycling hit 54.2% in 2008, according to the The Aluminum Association, Can Manufacturers Institute (CMI) and the Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries.
"The aluminum can is a sustainable beverage package," said Kevin Anton, Chairman of The Aluminum Association and President, Alcoa Materials Management. "A can that is recycled can be back on the store shelf in as little as 60 days. Recycling conserves energy, saves resources and minimizes consumer and production waste. We model the benefits of recycling and will continue to promote these benefits."
Cans are infinitely recyclable. A recycled can requires 95% less energy, generates 95% less emissions and creates 97% less water pollution than generating new metal. Therefore, purchasing beverages in aluminum cans, then recycling is a simple way to reduce one's carbon footprint. Higher recycling rates ensure a steady supply of high value recycled aluminum delivering incredible value and benefits for all stakeholders.
The aluminum beverage can is 100% recyclable into new beverage cans indefinitely -- a demonstration of recycling at its finest. The aluminum can is the only packaging material that more than covers the cost of collection and re-processing for itself. It also helps subsidize the collection of other recyclable materials.


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Ablrate and Blockchain… what we have learned 15/03/2018
I wrote an article for the P2PFinance news that discussed blockchain solutions and how online lending could benefit. Since then there have been a number of companies that have sprung up in the online lending space, mostly lending money against cryptocurrencies.
Technically that is not a big deal, even with the volatility of crypto it would run on a simple margin call system and it may be something we look at in the future.
However, we are always interested in updating the technology on our platform for the benefit of our community. We are interested in the international solution to our business and we are in the process of scoping out how that would work utilizing blockchain technology and cryptocurrencies.
I wrote in the article about how Ablrate was looking to embrace blockchain and how all of the industry should as it is the future. My views on that have not changed, in fact over several conferences and numerous discussions in the last few months my views have hardened, blockchain will change the world as we know it.
I did say that I was ‘suspicious’ of cryptocurrencies and that view has been modified. I am now highly suspicious of a number of businesses behind spurious ideas that are not really applying the tech but finding a way to raise money from the unsuspecting.
The good news, however, is that regulation is coming, in fact it’s here. In a recent trip to a conference in Gibraltar I was highly impressed with the Gibraltar regulator and their approach to regulating the sector. They have brought in rules and procedures that any self-respecting legitimate business would be happy to comply with.
What my knowledge quest in the space has taught me is that the underlying blockchain technology and an idea cannot be un-invented. Whatever you think of crypto and blockchain, it is here to stay.
There are an almost endless amount of use sets of this technology to make existing systems more efficient (the land registry for example – a fast updating incorruptible smart ledger will be on its way), but what interests me is things that could not be done before will be able to be done.
This will be driven by cost reductions and efficiencies brought in by this new tech. For example, sending £1000 from my bank to an Aussie business would cost me about 0.5% – 1% in exchange rate fees and £20 – £30 in fees. That would be the same if it was £100.
Businesses such as Transferwise have made this cheaper, but still prohibitively expensive in low amounts with high volume. Blockchain tech is being used to make such transfers and movements very, very cheap. That will open up new businesses and new ways of doing things that will decimate ‘old’ style companies.
Sending cash by Western Union? It used to be at least £20 for whatever you sent, now its £2.90 (according to their website and plus the currency spread), soon (if not already in some parts) it will be a fraction of that because blockchain will make it so.
Identity management will change. Imagine not having to send passport copies and utility bills for opening accounts or for financial transactions. For those who choose to do so (or are required to do so) will be able to send money with their identity embedded in it, so whoever receives that money will know that the person who sent it is legitimate and they will be able to prove that to the regulators.
It is a tremendously exciting time. I am old enough to have sat in meetings when the dot com boom was happening and there were some CRAZY ideas then:
- Boo.com went through $195 million of VC money in 18 months and went bankrupt a year later.
- TheGlobe.com went public on Nov. 13, 1998, and posted the largest first-day gain of any IPO in history, a 606% increase in price. Its market cap was $840 million. The stock collapsed next year
- Pets.com… nuff said
BUT.. we got Google, eBay and Amazon, companies who I love. The Internet has since spawned others we could not do without and new technologies we cannot imagine living without.
My view is that we are on the cusp of something very similar. It is no overstatement to say that blockchain technology is about to change the world. Whether we notice it as something different like we did with the Internet, or whether we just see it as natural progress and don’t worry too much about the underlying tech, mark my words BIG change is coming and there are thousands of businesses working on this change.
Ablrate is working on a number of projects that will enhance usage for lenders and will bring new and exciting functionality to help you with your lending.
All I can say is ‘watch this space’.


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In a move that will hopefully alleviate some stress for U.S. consumers a report from the Associated Press says federal regulators earlier this week adopted sweeping new rules for the credit card industry that will shield consumers from increases in interest rates on existing account balances among other changes.
The rules, which take effect in July 2010, will allow credit card companies to raise interest rates only on new credit cards and future purchases or advances, rather than on current balances. Amid the economic crisis and rising job losses, consumers – even those with strong credit records – have been defaulting at high levels on their credit cards. Banks already battered by the mortgage and credit crises have been bleeding tens of billions in red ink from the losses. The rules were approved by the Federal Reserve, the Treasury Department’s Office of Thrift and the National Credit Union Administration.
Some of the rules adopted yesterday include: Restrict such lender practices as allocating all payments to balances with lower interest rates when a borrower has balances with different rates; Allow credit card companies to raise interest rates only on new credit cards and future purchases or advances, rather than on current balances; Prohibit placing unfair time constraints on payments. A payment could not be deemed late unless the borrower is given a reasonable period of time, such as 21 days, to pay; Prohibit placing too-high fees for exceeding the credit limit solely because of a hold placed on the account; Prohibit unfairly computing balances in a computing tactic known as double-cycle billing; Prohibit unfairly adding security deposits and fees for issuing credit or making it available.


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China hit by ANOTHER toxic milk scandal as its largest dairy firm destroys batch with toxins that cause liver cancer
- Liver cancer-causing aflatoxin found in milk
- Firm blames mildewed cow feed
- Smaller dairy also investigated
China's dairy industry has been hit by yet another safety scare - as the country's biggest milk producer was forced to destroy a batch containing high levels of a cancer-causing toxin.
Mengniu Dairy Group (MDC) said it found milk containing high levels of aflatoxin - which can lead to liver cancer - before it had made its way to market and was sold to the public.
But China's food chain, and especially the diary industry, has come under increased scrutiny in recent years because of a series of safety problems.
Destruction: Workers at a Mengniu Dairy factor pictured squeezing tainted milk into a drainage ditch following a previous scare in 2008
In 2008, at least six babies died and 300,000 became sick after being feed milk powder tainted with melamine.
The industrial chemical is illegally added to dairy products to make them appear higher in protein.
A dairy farmer and a milk salesman were executed and 19 other people were jailed for their role in selling the tainted milk products.
Investigators looking into the latest scandal said mildewed feed given to cows caused the problem, which also hit the smaller Fujian Changfu Dairy Industry Group.
Blame: Mildewed cow feed was said to have caused the high levels of toxicity in the milk
It led to widespread criticism from bloggers. One user of Sina Weibo, the Chinese equivalent of Twitter, said: 'Businesses in China are destroyed by Chinese businessmen themselves.
'Don't ever blame us on buying foreign goods. If I have a baby one day, I will also buy safer milk powder produced overseas.'
Another added: 'Let us boycott Mengniu altogether, show the shameless businessmen our strength.'
MDC apologised in a statement and said: 'We would like to express our sincere apologies to consumers.
'We will draw a big lesson from this incident and will work harder to meet all national and corporate standards on quality in the future.'
WHAT IS AFLATOXIN?
Produced by a fungus that commonly grows in grain and legume crops such as peanuts, soybeans, corn and wheat.
It can be found in the milk of animals
that eat tainted crops.
High levels are toxic and carcinogenic, especially in the liver, but aflatoxin is not considered harmful at low levels.
Aflatoxin is produced by a fungus that commonly grows in grain and legume crops such as peanuts, soybeans, corn and wheat.
It can be found in the milk of animals that eat tainted crops. High levels are toxic and carcinogenic, especially in the liver, but aflatoxin is not considered harmful at low levels.
Mengniu's statement said the tainted milk was from one of its plants in Sichuan province in southwestern China.
It did not say how much milk was destroyed or how high the aflatoxin levels were. Fujian Changfu Dairy Industry Group has also apologised.
While once a rarity in the Chinese diet, dairy has become a staple as incomes have risen.
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Despite widespread concerns among government and privacy experts about the way mobile apps collect and manage users' information, 80 percent of respondents to a research study from mBlox said they would share location data to receive SMS or push notifications for discount coupons and relevant offers or to solve customer service issues. The company surveyed 1,500 consumers across eight countries for its report and found the following:
- 57 percent of global respondents prefer SMS and push campaigns over other forms of mobile marketing, including video advertising, banner or standard display ads and email.
- 47 percent said they would share location data in order to receive relevant offers or discount coupons, while 45 percent would do so in order to receive information they have requested and 36 percent would do so in order to help them solve customer service issues.
- 58 percent of global respondents said they would send a text message to a company to request more information, and 54 percent of global respondents said they would send a text message to a company to enter a competition.
The mBlox survey showed consumers prefer SMS/push notifications over other forms of advertising.
"While consumers indicated they are open to receiving mobile marketing messages, most prefer opportunities with known or favorite brands and want to ensure the message is valuable and relevant to them," the report says. "This highlights the need to utilize consumer preference, behavior and location data in the design of effective mobile strategies."
Although the research is clearly designed to counter the conventional wisdom that push notifications and SMS annoy and pester app users, the mBlox data comes back to an essential truth: If it's relevant and offers value, consumers will pay attention. It still doesn't mean developers should create apps that over-use such features, but as they make better use of analytics to segment and understand their audience, there may be more of a case for exploring how mobile messages might be part of an engagement and monetization strategy.
- to download the complete mBlox report, click here
The pros and cons of using SMS as a mobile app marketing tool
Analyst: SMS profits unsustainable as IP messaging gains ground


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Microsoft Purchase of LinkedIn Could Boost Its UC Saturation
For readers that frequent the pages of TMC, they probably know all about Microsoft’s decision to purchase LinkedIn for $26.2 billion. The story broke on Monday and has, in the span of three short days, become old hat. Ho hum; yet another purchase in the business world.
Or has it? This could be one of the biggest acquisitions in the world this year, and aside from it being just another transfer of ownership – something common in this reporting space and in business dealings overall – this transfer could offer something more.
The flip from LinkedIn ownership to the flag held by Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, tech news bastion Livemint speculates, could have its roots in the formation of Microsoft’s unified communications (UC). Sure, Nadella’s behemoth already has Skype for Business, which is one of major UC software-service packages pundits can discuss. That software alone has established itself in businesses’ meeting rooms in every corner Microsoft’s operating region (see: everywhere), and that brief analysis does not even include the action of Skype proper in the suite of Office 365 deployments in enterprise halls and individual workspaces.
The development of UC with regard to LinkedIn could be an altogether different animal because it does more than just release a new product to the masses. Instead, it offers a host of potential users that could make Skype for Business their home, not to mention jumping to OneNote for their collaborative projects and to Azure for their cloud computing.
Livemint rightly points out that LinkedIn has more than 400 million users under its wings. Those users are loyal to its social platform. Furthermore, many of those users own their own small and midsize businesses, so they have an interest in communications, collaboration, and cloud usage applications that work well.
Microsoft can use the LinkedIn news feed to capture the attention of those users and help bring them over to the side of reliability and usability – or so Microsoft will have to convince them. If it can pull off the task, Nadella’s behemoth-less-$26.2 billion could make its purchase worthwhile and convert a number of burgeoning businesses to its own style of operation. Not all of them will turn into the next Microsoft, but they could become ingrained in the fabric that the Nadella crew has built.
Edited by Maurice Nagle


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BURMA, Rangoon. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) is expanding activities and services in Burma with the opening of a new Office of Agricultural Affairs at the U.S. Embassy in Rangoon.
“The opening of the FAS office in Burma is a part of the U.S. commitment to strengthen the partnership between our two countries through increased trade and investment,” said FAS Administrator Phil Karsting. USDA supports inclusive economic growth that helps Burma further integrate into the global economy.
With a new presence in Rangoon, FAS now has a network of 94 offices at U.S. Embassies and diplomatic missions around the world, covering 171 countries. The FAS network helps build international markets and facilitate exports of U.S. food and agricultural products and FAS also leads USDA’s efforts to help developing countries strengthen their food and agricultural systems, establishing a foundation for future trading opportunities.
The past seven years have represented the strongest period in history for American agricultural exports, with international sales of U.S. farm and food products totaling $911.4 bn. between fiscal years 2009 and 2015.


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October 7, 2013
December 11, 2012
July 3, 2012
Are you still walking around with an old, grayscale Nintendo Game Boy just because you like to touch actual buttons while playing one of your favorite games? Well, there is no need for that any more. The iCade Mobile gaming system for iPhone is now available for purchase.
Its older and larger sibling, the iCade iPad enclosure, started as an April Fools joke in 2010 by resembling an old-school arcade cabinet. Manufacturer of consumer electronics ION teamed with Atari to actually create the product. Retro gamers could play classics like Asteroids on their iPads ever since, and it is now possible to do the same while waiting at the bus stop.
The iCade Mobile connects to the iPhone (3G and up) or iPod Touch (third-generation and fourth-generation) by Bluetooth, supports both landscape and portrait mode, runs on two AA batteries, and you can finally bash buttons again after the 11th game over in a row. The mobile gaming system currently works with over a hundred games, including Pac-Man and AirAttack, as well as other classics.
February 13, 2012
ThinkGeek gave us a glimpse at an upcoming iCADE controller mimicking the classic Nintendo controller layout and decorated with a retro 8-bit themed graphics. The “8-Bitty” is compatible with the iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch, connects over Bluetooth (two AAA batteries required), and is compatible with all iCADE supported games, including the Atari Classics collection. Unfortunately, you are going to have to wait until later this year when ThinkGeek starts selling them for $25. You can sign up now to be notified by email when it does become available.
You will also want to keep your eyes out for three new iCade models we recently told you about during CES 2012. One of which is the iCade Mobile ($79.99) that is iPhone and iPod touch compatible, and it allows you to dock your device for a PSP-like handheld experience. That model and updated iPad arcade cabinets are expected to launch in the coming months.
January 8, 2012
The iCade is an attachable accessory for the Apple iPad that functions as a portable arcade cabinet, but now the device’s manufacturer unveiled three new products under the popular line that toggle the iPhone and iPod Touch.
ION Audio showcased the products at the 2012 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. The manufacturer recreated the original arcade setup by ditching the cabinet exterior in favor of landscape support.
The first product is the iCade Mobile for iPhone 4/4S or iPod Touch. According to Engadget, it is a handheld with gaming buttons and a D-pad, which subsequently adds 1.5-inches onto each side of the iOS mobile device. The iCade Mobile also allows users to switch between portrait and landscape mode. ION said it expects about 100 games to be compatible with the product, and the retail price is currently set at $79.99 USD.
Pictures for each new iCade product are displayed after the break.
April 13, 2011
The April Fool’s Day joke turned real product by Ion is making its way through all of the electronic channels including this stop at the FCC. Interestingly, if you look at all the guts, it is little more than a Bluetooth adapter connected to that joystick above, with the 80’s retro arcade facade wrapped around it.
January 8, 2011
ION has partnered with Atari®, the first name in classic arcade games, to bring a huge suite of classic arcade titles including Asteroids® to market with iCade support built right in. Grab hold of iCADE’s full-sized joystick and smash the arcade buttons for commanding control of iPad’s on-screen action. This truly unique arcade cabinet and game-controller for iPad will provide hours of action and nostalgia for years to come. Enter the iCADE and go back to the future
Full Press Release below: expand full story
Apple’s first retail store in Singapore has been partially unveiled, providing the first official confirmation of the long-rumored Orchard Road location.
It was back in 2015 that Apple confirmed that it was opening a store on the island. At that point, the location wasn’t known, though there were strong signs pointing to the location on Orchard Road, the main upmarket retail area in the country …
December 4, 2016
September 24, 2016
Apple today officially opened its first retail store in Mexico. The store is located in Vía Santa Fe and marks the “first time customers in Mexico City can experience all of Apple’s products and services in one place.” Apple shared images from the grand opening experience this evening in a news release…
September 1, 2016
March 27, 2015
We reported last month that Apple was creating Apple Watch displays inside department stores in London and Paris, adding earlier this month that Tokyo was joining the party. All three stores-within-a-store are now official, with entries on Apple’s website. As we previously noted, the locations are Selfridges in London, Galeries Lafayette in Paris and Isetan Shinjuku in Tokyo.
All three are opening on April 10th, the same day Apple Watchs are available for preview and pre-orders in Apple’s own retail stores, and are being given a high-profile presence in each department store … expand full story
September 2, 2014
February 5, 2014
January 10, 2014
Apple has announced on its retail website that the forthcoming flagship Apple Store in Brisbane, Australia will have its grand opening on Friday, January 17th. The store will open at 10 AM on that date, with regular business hours beginning at 9 AM Monday through Saturday. The store will always open up at 10 AM on Sundays. The closing hours are shown in the image above from the store’s official website. Late last year, Apple teased the opening of this store with a Twitter hashtag and colorful barricades.
October 15, 2013
June 17, 2013
We already know that Apple has added support for game controllers in iOS7, but it appears that these plans are further along than first thought. According to Kotaku, the above image shows an early iOS gaming controller prototype made specifically for the iPhone 5 by gaming giant Logitech. While they weren’t forthcoming with details of where the device was seen or who showed it to them, Kotaku is standing firm that they believe this photo to be absolutely authentic. The decision to support integrated gaming accessories is in stark contrast to Steve Jobs’ stance that such products would ruin the “elegance” of Apple devices (even though he got his start at Atari).
A reader reached out with this image from one of Apple’s WWDC sessions, which appears to show the same Logitech controller.
Bluetooth gaming devices have existed for iOS devices for quite some time but most have had limited compatibility and fragmented compatibility. An integrated, Apple authorized (MFi) gaming controller is going to be a welcomed addition for the iOS gaming community.
3rd party gaming accessories like the iCade Mobile (Above) have existed for years
June 12, 2013
In what seems to be an announcement lost within the buzz of iOS 7 and OS X Mavericks (amongst other WWDC news), Apple will finally open up the iOS SDK to fully support hardware game controllers, enabling handheld-esque gaming experiences akin to the Nintendo 3DS and Playstation Vita on the iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch.
As with background apps downloads and new Directions APIs, Apple announced hardware controller support during Monday’s keynote address in one of those ‘things we added but didn’t have time to talk about’ slides (pictured above). The slide indicates that the iOS 7 SDK will support ‘MFi game controllers,’ which is a reference to Apple’s licensing program for third-party hardware accessories. Additionally, Touch Arcade points us to images from Apple’s iOS 7 Developer Guide showing a graphic of two controllers, strikingly similar to the Nintendo 3DS and Wii Classic Controller (from left to right), showing new methods of interacting with iOS via hardware buttons and joysticks. Moreover, we can’t help but notice that this announcement comes right off the heals of Tim Cook’s pledge at D11 to be ‘more open’ than before.
There are also a few other enhancements for gamers coming in iOS 7….Here’s how Apple explains the new Game Controller framework:
February 16, 2013
January 26, 2013


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Bharti Airtel launched a 10 GB data offer at Rs 259 for consumers who buy any 4G smartphone, India’s top telco said in a statement said Wednesday. The current offering extends its existing offer in states such as Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat and Chhattisgarh.
The offer includes 1 GB of instant data credit to the customer’s account and the additional 9 GB data that can be claimed via MyAirtel app.
The move comes at a time when top incumbent telcos are striving to match or better Jio’s offers of data at Rs 50 a GB, with some plans offering it at as low as Rs 25 a GB.
Airtel’s arch rival and country’s second-largest telco Vodafone India also recently launched a pack offering 1GB of mobile data at Rs 55 for prepaid subscribers. Smaller competitors like Aircel and Tata Teleservices too have recently launched data bonanza of 1GB at Rs 24 and Rs 50 respectively.
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- Vertical farming leverages cutting-edge technology to grow food in a new and better way.
- One of its many benefits is that it can increase crop yield by 700 percent.
- Vertical farming can help relieve pressure on scarce resources and boost Earth's biodiversity.
One day soon, you could eat bananas grown in downtown Manhattan.
It’s a way of growing food that turns traditional agriculture on its head. With the required technologies now rapidly maturing, vertical farming is sprouting across the globe.
While there are still unresolved issues with this marriage of technology and agriculture, its promise may be irresistible. If it gets off the ground — literally — in a major way, it could solve the problem of feeding the Earth’s 7.9 billion people. And that’s just one of the benefits its proponents promise.Vertical farms could take over the world | Hard Reset by Freethinkwww.youtube.com
Agriculture through time
When humankind began planting crops for nutrition about 12,000 years ago, the nature of our hunter-gatherer species fundamentally shifted. For the first time, it’s believed, people began staying put.
With agriculture as their central mission, communities formed, with the now-familiar arrangement of residential areas surrounded by land dedicated to growing food. Even today, with modern transportation making the widespread consumption of non-local foods common, this land-allocation model largely survives: population centers surrounded by large areas for growing vegetables and fruit and raising livestock.
Challenges facing traditional agriculture
As our population has grown, traditional agriculture has begun facing some big challenges:
- Farmland takes up a lot of space and destroys biodiversity. Our World in Data reports that half of all habitable land is used for agriculture. As Nate Storey of Plenty, Inc., a vertical farming startup, puts it, “It is probably one of the most defining acts of humanity: We literally changed the ecosystem of the entire planet to meet our dietary needs.”
- The demand for farmland — both for produce and livestock — has led to a dangerous deforestation in several parts of the world. This also results in biodiversity loss and contributes to an increase in the greenhouse gases that drive climate change.
- Degradation of farmland, such as through soil erosion, poses a threat to agricultural productivity.
- Agriculture consumes copious amounts of water, which exacerbates water shortages. (Obviously, water shortages also reduce agricultural productivity.)
- Fertilizer run-off causes substantial environmental damage, such as algal blooms and fish kills.
- Pesticides can degrade the environment by affecting non-target organisms.
- Theeffects of climate change are already making agriculture more challenging due to significant shifts in weather, changes to growing seasons, and realignment of water supplies. Our climate is continuing to change in unexpected ways, and the only predictable aspect of what lies ahead is unpredictability.
Vertical farming proponents expect that a re-think of how we grow food can ultimately solve these problems.
What is vertical farming?
Vertical farming is a form of agriculture that grows plants indoors in floor-to-ceiling, tower-like walls of plant-holding cells. Instead of growing plants in horizontal fields on the ground, as in traditional farming, you can think of vertical farming’s “fields” as standing on edge and extending upward toward the ceiling. The plants need no soil or other aggregate medium in which to grow; their roots are typically held in a cell lining, often composed of coconut fiber.
Vertical flora is grown either aeroponically, in which water and nutrients are delivered to plants via misting, or hydroponically, in which plants are grown in nutrient-rich water. These are incredibly efficient systems, requiring 95% less irrigation than soil-grown plants. With vertical farming, Storey says that 99 percent of the moisture transpired by plants can be recaptured, condensed, and recirculated.
Plants, of course, also need light to grow, and vertical farms use increasingly efficient LED bulbs to keep plants thriving.
Vertical farms can increase crop yields by 700 percent
If vertical farming takes off the way its supporters believe it should and will, it may solve many of the aforementioned challenges facing agriculture.
Crop yields with vertical farming far exceed what’s possible with traditional agriculture. Plenty, Inc.’s Shireen Santosham notes that the highly controlled growing environment of vertical farming has allowed her company to reduce the growing time for some crops to as little as 10 days. Without needing to consider weather or even sunlight, combined with the ability to operate 365 days a year, their system increases the potential annual yield by about 700 percent.
The land requirement for vertical farming is a mere fraction of that for traditional agriculture. Santosham says it can be done in a building the size of a big-box retail store that can be built pretty much anywhere that has adequate utilities, including within major urban centers. The tightly controlled environment of a vertical farm should also eliminate the need for applied pesticides.
Yet another benefit of vertical farming is the return of land currently needed for food production back to the planet. This could help facilitate Earth’s recovery from deforestation and return much needed habitat to threatened or endangered species. Of course, if we ever colonize the moon or Mars, vertical farming will be the go-to option for feeding the colonists.
Several vertical farming company pioneers are already getting their high-quality crops into the hands, and mouths, of consumers. Plenty, Inc. has an eponymous line of greens, and Aerofarms has their FlavorSpectrum line. Both companies claim that their products are exceptionally tasty, a result of their carefully controlled growing environments in which computer-controlled lighting can be optimized to bring out the most desirable qualities of each crop.
The history of vertical farming
The idea of vertical farming isn’t new, and experts have been questioning its viability since the term was first coined in 1915 by Gilbert Ellis Bailey, who was obviously way ahead of the available technology at the time. The first attempt to grow produce in a constructed environment was a Danish farmhouse factory that was built to grow cress, a peppery green related to mustard, in the 1950s.
The modern concept of a vertical farm arose in the New York classroom of Columbia University’s Dickson Despommier in 1999. He presented the idea as a theoretical construct, a mental/mathematical exercise imagining how to farm in an environmentally sound manner. His class began with the notion of a rooftop garden before considering a “high-rise” version that might theoretically be able to grow enough rice to feed two percent of Manhattan’s population at the time. The eureka moment was a question Dispommier asked: “If it can’t be done using rooftops, why don’t we just grow the crops inside the buildings? We already know how to cultivate and water plants indoors.”
With the technological advances of the last few decades, vertical farming is now a reality. Our sister site, Freethink, recently paid Plenty, Inc. a visit. (See video above.)
Vertical farming today
Today, growers across the globe are developing vertical farms. While the U.S. has more vertical farms than any other country, the industry is blooming everywhere.
There are currently over 2,000 vertical farms in the U.S. While more than 60 percent of these are owned by small growers, there are a few heavyweights as well. In addition to Wyoming’s Plenty, Inc. and Newark’s Aerofarms, there’s also New York’s Bowery Farming. There are also companies such as edengreen, based in Texas, whose mission is to help new entrants construct and operate vertical farms.
Japan comes in second, with about 200 vertical farms currently in operation. The largest vertical farming company there is SPREAD. Across Asia, vertical farms are operating in China, South Korea, Singapore, Thailand, and Taiwan. In Europe, vertical growers are in Germany, France, Netherlands, and the U.K. Germany is also home to the Association for Vertical Farming, “the leading global, non-profit organization that enables international exchange and cooperation in order to accelerate the development of the indoor/vertical farming industry.”
In the Middle East, whose desert land and scarcity of water present a particularly challenging agricultural environment, vertical farming is taking root, so to speak. The United Arab Emirates’ Badia Farms is now producing more than 3,500 kilograms of high-quality produce each day and expects to increase that yield going forward. In Kuwait, NOX Management launched in the summer of 2020 with plans to produce 250 types of greens, with a daily output of 550 kg of salads, herbs, and cresses.
The economics of vertical farming
Building and operating a vertical farm is a costly endeavor, requiring a substantial initial investment in state-of-the-art technology, real estate, and construction. AgFunderNews (AFN) estimates that it can cost $15 million to construct a modern vertical farm. Fortunately, investors see the potential in vertical farming, and the industry has attracted more than $1 billion in investments since 2015. That includes $100 million for Aerofarms. Plenty, Inc raised $200 million in 2017 from a fund backed by such respected forward-thinkers as Jeff Bezos and Alphabet chairman Eric Schmidt.
AFN is particularly excited by the potential of what they call second-generation vertical farming technology. They cite advances in LED technology — expected to increase energy efficiency by 70 percent by 2030 — and increasingly sophisticated automation that can streamline the operation of vertical farms. AFN anticipates operating cost reduction of 12 percent due to improvements in lighting and another 20 percent from advances in automation.
BusinessWire says that the vertical farming produce market was valued at nearly $240 million in 2019, and they expect it to grow 20 percent annually to over $1 billion by 2027.
A welcome disruption
Veritical farming will be disruptive.
Vertical farming would eliminate the need for the arduous work of harvesting crops by hand from vast tracts of farmland. Current picking jobs, the company says, can be replaced by better-paying, full-time jobs available 365 days a year in better working conditions — and in the variety of geographic locations in which vertical farms can operate.
There are two caveats, however. First, the number of people needed to manage and harvest vertical farm crops will be far fewer than the many farmworkers required for less efficiently planted traditional fields. Second, with automation becoming ever-more capable — and perhaps a key to eventual profitability — one wonders just how many new jobs ultimately will be created.
But the societal benefits far outweigh any costs. As Plenty’s Storey muses, “Like most everything in the world, we can only save our species if it makes economic sense.” Thankfully, it does make economic sense.


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The Victoria’s Secret Vogue Present is ready to movie subsequent Thursday and this week, the supermodels, who’ve been chosen to stroll in insanely standard present, have been seen heading to fittings for his or her runway seems to be.
On Oct. 30, Behati Prinsloo, who after a three-year hiatus will return to the Victoria’s Secret runway, posed for photographers in entrance of the lingerie model’s places of work in New York Metropolis, sporting a black Prada Gabardine down jacket paired with pink Balenciaga leggings and black Gianvito Rossi Craze stretch vinyl ankle booties. The 30-year-old mannequin, who shares two daughters with husband Adam Levine of Maroon 5, accessorized with a black Chanel bag and Alexander Wang Ceo sun shades.
In the meantime, South African-born Angel Candice Swanepoel confirmed off a silver Rta Emmet Ring sweater, black leather-based Maje shorts and black leather-based metallic toe-capped boots from Philosophy Di Lorenzo Serafini. She additionally carried a black satin blazer in her grip.
Yesterday, Taylor Hill, who’s slated to open the present this 12 months, was noticed toting a pair of white Victoria’s Secret Angel wings in an all-black look. The 22-year-old mannequin wore a plunging black prime tucked into dishevelled black leather-based pants with patent black ankle boots.
The 2018 Victoria’s Secret Vogue present will air on Sunday, Dec. 2 at 10 p.m. EST on ABC.
See what different supermodels wore to their 2018 Victoria’s Secret Vogue Present fittings this week.
First Have a look at 2018 Victoria’s Secret Vogue Present Sneakers by Brian Atwood


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One of the many benefits of legalizing the sale of marijuana for recreational use is all the new tax revenue that states are taking in. Oregon is now reaping the financial benefits of legalizing the sale of the marijuana. Reports show that just after one month, Oregon has taken in $3.48 million dollars in new tax revenue.
This is incredible news for the state of Oregon. The state initially expected to bring in a total of $2 million dollars of new tax revenue from marijuana sales – for the entire year. Not every county and city in Oregon has chosen to allow the sale of marijuana. That means 19 counties in Oregon will receive a share of the tax revenue.
Oregon Live reports on some of the details of the state’s marijuana tax policy:
“Oregon’s medical marijuana stores have been allowed to sell a limited amount of cannabis flowers, as well as starter marijuana plants and seeds, to anyone 21 and older since last October. The state’s temporary 25 percent tax didn’t kick in until Jan. 1.
That tax will eventually be replaced with one ranging from 17 percent to 20 percent once the Oregon Liquor Control Commission assumes control over recreational marijuana sales later this year. The Legislature set the base tax rate at 17 percent, but cities and counties may adopt ordinances that add up to 3 percent more.
Next year, the first full year of sales under the liquor commission, state economists expect recreational cannabis sales to generate $10.75 million in tax revenue after the state covers startup costs. That number is expected to climb to $62.42 million for the 2017-2019 biennium.”
Other states that have legalized recreational marijuana have received similar tax windfalls. Colorado, the first state in the U.S. to legalize marijuana, took in $135 million dollars in taxes and fees in 2015. Colorado is pumping most of their new tax dollars into schools and other education initiatives.
The state of Washington raised $67.5 million dollars in tax revenue from recreational marijuana in 2015. They are expected to raise more than $1 billion dollars over four years. This money goes into Washington’s general fund and to help fund health services.
Of course, marijuana is still illegal on the federal level. So far, the federal government has decided to respect state’s marijuana laws. The federal government’s attitude towards recreational marijuana can change, for better or worse, depending on the whim of the administration in charge.
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Sep. 21, 2012 (China Knowledge) - China Telecom Co Ltd<0728
>, the nation's largest fixed-line operator, added 2.63 million 3G users in August, less than a net addition of 2.85 million 3G users achieved in July, according to a statement.
The telecom operator added 2.51 million mobile subscribers last month, compared to a net addition of 2.73 million mobile subscribers in July.
At the end of August 2012, Hong Kong-listed
China Telecom had 149.42 million mobile subscribers, including 56.44 million 3G users.
The company added 0.9 million broadband users last month, compared with a net addition of 1.16 million in July, which brought the firm's total broadband user volume to 85.76 million at the end of August 2012.
Meanwhile, the volume of the firm's fixed-line users declined 550,000 to 166.47 million as of August 31, 2012.


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Bhargav Shah named senior VP, technology at Overstock.com
Staff Staff -- Furniture Today, January 2, 2013
SALT LAKE CITY — Overstock.com, an online retailer of home furnishings and other goods, has hired Bhargav Shah, a former KPMG technology consultant, as senior vice president of technology.
Shah replaces Sam Peterson, who will remain with the company for a transition period. Peterson is joining Open English, an online English language school.
Overstock.com Chairman and CEO Patrick Byrne said Shah will be responsible for providing vision and leadership for developing and implementing information technology initiatives, as well as influencing business strategy through innovative use of technology.
"Sam has been a tremendous talent since the company's beginnings, and I am saddened to see him leave. However, I'm pleased to welcome Bhargav to the Overstock.com team," said Byrne. "Given Bhargav's background and experience (which include providing consulting services to Overstock.com), I expect he will make an enormous contribution to our company."
Shah has worked for KPMG LLP since 2009 as a director in its IT advisory group. Previously, he had been with BearingPoint (formerly KPMG Consulting) for 10 years.
Salt Lake City-based Overstock.com's merchandise includes furniture, rugs, bedding, electronics, clothing, jewelry, travel, cars and insurance. It also operates Worldstock.com, a fair trade department selling artisan-crafted products from around the world, and Main Street Revolution, which supports U.S. small businesses by providing them a national customer base.
Furniture Today's Ray Allegrezza Speaks with Stephen Bogart about Fine Furniture's New Bogart Line


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EGYPT STATION OUT NOW
Egypt Station is Paul McCartney's new #1 album featuring singles 'I Don't Know', 'Come On To Me' and 'Fuh You'. It is available on CD, 2LP Vinyl, Digital and Streaming.
'Paul McCartney releases his bounciest, catchiest, most consistent collection since, well, Band On The Run.’
Rolling Stone ****
‘Macca keeps adding new gems to his songbook, with nothing to prove except he’s the only genius who can do this... (And, oh yeah — in his spare time, he happens to still be the greatest live performer on Earth.)’
Check Out the Merch Spring Sale!
To mark the beginning of spring (don't forget the clocks change in the UK this coming weekend!) the official Paul McCartney merchandise store is holding a sale with up to 40% off some items!
The store was launched last year and features exclusive clothing and lithographs.
Check out the sale by clicking HERE!


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The prices for LED light bulbs from Cree (Nasdaq: CREE) are going down as much as 23 percent. The Durham company also is rolling out an equivalent of a 100-watt standard bulb for under $20.
The news comes after Cree reaffirmed its commitment to a partnership with exclusive retail partner Home Depot.
Based on prices cited at a website promoting Cree bulbs at Home Depot, the price of a 60-watt equivalent bulb package was cut 21 percent to $62.82. The package includes six bulbs.
A package of six 40-watt equivalents was reduced 22 percent to $77.82.
The new 100-watt bulb retails for $19.97, which Cree says makes it the least expensive LED bulb available.
“This time last year, we reshaped a 100-year-old lighting industry with the introduction of the Cree LED Bulb. The success of this product has exceeded our expectations, but it is time to push LED lighting to the next level and give consumers even more reasons to switch to LED,” said Chuck Swoboda, Cree’s chairman and CEO, in announcing the new bulb. “Today we are also addressing the last major product gap for LED bulbs–the 100-watt replacement. Our industry leading innovation has delivered the first true 100-watt LED bulb with the look and performance of a traditional bulb, but at a fraction of the energy consumption.”
Cree says enough of its bulbs have been sold to save buyers more than $1 billion in lifetime energy savings.
After a Wall Street analyst reported that Home Depot was giving prime shelf space to a Cree rival (Phillips), a Cree executive told The Triangle Business Journal on Tuesday that the company would continue its “positive” relationship.
“Cree’s relationship with The Home Depot is very positive,” Mike Watson, vice president of product strategy, told The Business Journal. “In the past year, not only has the Cree LED Bulb become the top selling bulb at The Home Depot, it has become the best selling bulb in America. We’re excited by the continued growth in adoption and will continue to innovate and do what it takes to drive LED adoption further.”


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The cheque’s not even in the post
With £36bn in late payments owed, bigger firms are being told to cough up
Struggling: David Clee often has to wait four months to be paid (Paul Cooper)
David Clee struggles to remember the date of his last pay cheque. “It was several months ago,” the 39-year-old entrepreneur said.
A slump in sales at his software company might explain the lack of salary. Yet sales are fine. Getting paid is the problem.
Total Escrow Solutions, which he started four years ago, is commissioned regularly by central government to work with larger organisations such as Logica, the software giant, and Atos, the technology firm. Such contracts come at a price: Clee often waits four months to be paid for jobs worth about £10,000.
“For a small business it’s a big deal,” said Clee. “We either swallow those payment terms or we don’t get work. They know they can get away with it.”
Clee is not the only entrepreneur struggling to make ends meet while praying for an earlier payday. Small companies can wait for months to be reimbursed for


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LG Optimus 3D and HTC EVO 3D are the only Android powered 3D smartphones currently available on the earth. LG Optimus 3D is the first smartphone, featuring a glasses free touchscreen display and a dual rear camera for 3D video recording. This handset was announced and showcased at the CES 2011 in Las Vegas. The folks living in India has a reason to cheer, since the much-awaited 3D smartphone, the LG Optimus 3D is finally available for purchase in India.
LG Optimus 3D is the first 3D smartphone launched in India. It runs on the old Android 2.2 (Froyo) Operating System, but the manufacturer has already promised to roll out the Android 2.3 Gingerbread update, later this year. This handset is capable of recording 3D videos in HD (720p) and full HD (1080p) videos in 2D, thanks to the 5 megapixel dual-lens camera.
The LG Optimus 3D is super-smartphone which gives our consumer the pleasure of 3D without the special glasses. Its exceptional features combined with super computing capabilities will add a new dimension to the smartphone experience. The smart consumers will now have the power to create, view & share real-life 3D content and the power to explore the world of unlimited possibilities.
LG Optimus 3D comes with a 4.3 inch 3D WVGA display with 480 x 800 pixels resolution, 1 GHz Dual-Core and Dual-Channel TI OMAP4 processor, Android 2.2 OS (upgradeable to Android 2.3), Glasses-free 3D viewing, 5 megapixel dual-lens camera, 1080p video recording and playback in 2D, 720p video recording and playback in 3D, Wi-Fi, 3G Connectivity, HDMI 1.4, DLNA connectivity, 3.5mm headset jack, 4 GB LP DDR2, 8 GB memory, 32GB expandable memory and a 1500 mAh battery.
This handset comes with a price tag of Rs.37,000. Will you buy the LG Optimus 3D or you will go for the HTC Sensation or Samsung Galaxy S II, which is currently available for just Rs.30,000. Let us know your views in the comments below.


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Designer News is where the design community meets.
almost 7 years ago from Folake Knudsen, Designer
I recently wrote this post about product design portfolios and case studies: https://medium.com/perpetual-perfection/positioning-yourself-as-a-product-designer-f270dcd9a75b#.ci1xpgspl
Happy to answer more specific questions.
Where the design community meets.
Designer News is a large, global community of people working or interested in design and technology.
© 2023 Designer News Ltd.


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New Delhi, Dec 15: The Lok Sabha Friday passed the supplementary demands for grants by voice vote even as the BJP and the Trinamool Congress walked out in protest against the government's policies.
Finance Minister P. Chidambaram Friday hinted the government may announce some tough measures to put the economy back on the path of high growth while expressing hope that wholesale price index (WPI) may be showing a downward trend.
"Some bitter medicine has to be taken this year. It will restore the health of the economy and next year we can look forward to much higher growth," Chidambaram said while replying to the debate on the supplementary demands for grants for 2012-13 in the Lok Sabha.
"Inflation is a challenge. Inflation worries the government. While consumer price index inflation is sticky, good news is that WPI inflation seems to be trending downwards," he said.
On Thursday, BJP MP Ananth Kumar had criticised the government's economic policies while starting the debate.
"In the last quarter, the growth rate was 5.7 per cent. It has dipped to 5.2 per cent this quarter and it is going down further," he said. "You take any sector in the economy, the situation is same."
"What is the government's plan except announcing FDI? It has to really turn around the economy. I do not see any such effort in the proposal for the supplementary demands. I want to say that we want growth with social justice. We want protection of the poor people who are given subsidy. We do not want subsidies to be given to rich people," said Trinamool Congress' Saugata Roy Friday.
"The government has made people suffer from the unprecedented rise in prices of essential commodities including foodstuffs. Unemployment is left unchecked. There is massive deprivation of the vulnerable people of our society," said CPI-M member Ram Chandra Dome.


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All products and services featured are independently chosen by editors. However, Footwear News may receive a commission on orders placed through its retail links, and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes.
A new colorway of the Austin Reaves’ Rigorer AR1 sneaker will be released on Feb. 10 ahead of the Valentine’s Day celebration. The new style, which marks the sixth release from the Los Angeles Lakers guard’s signature shoe line, embraces the spirit of the romantic holiday with pink and white shades.
More from Footwear News
The Rigorer AR1 “Valentine’s Day” sneaker will come with white detailing throughout and includes two whimsical interchangeable patches. It features a woven cocoon-inspired upper that provides breathable comfort and lockdown support when making explosive moves. Meanwhile, Showtime Eva Foam midsole technology delivers a low-court feel with instant energy return.
Other technical shoe details include premium zone-patterned traction outsoles for superior on-court grip and an innovative lacing system that encases foam bubbles in the AR1’s tongue to prevent lace bite.
Additional elements within the design enhance both midfoot stability during lateral movements and forefoot lockdown to eliminate foot slippage. Heel TPU also increases heel stability when landing, which can help combat severe ankle injuries.
“As I start 2024, I’m looking forward to sharing all the new designs for my signature line with all my fans. This new colorway is more than just a normal Valentine’s release; it represents my passion, dedication, and shared love for the game,” said Reaves in a press release.
Reaves, 25, signed a seven-figure extension on his shoe deal with Chinese sporting goods brand Rigorer and won the NBA In-Season Tournament in 2023.
The Rigorer AR1 “Valentine’s Day” will drop on Feb. 10 at 11 a.m. ET and will retail at $100 exclusively on kickscrew.com and rigorer.com.
Best of Footwear News


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ChatGPT has sparked an artificial intelligence gold rush, with Microsoft, Google, and China’s Baidu collaborating to create chatbots that mimic human speech.
“It was working on a rival to ChatGPT, joining a flurry of global tech firms rushing to match the popular AI-powered chatbot,” said Alibaba. A company spokesperson told AFP that Alibaba is now working on its ChatGPT-style conversation bot that employees are testing. She would not say when the service would be available or whether it would be part of Taobao, China’s largest online shopping platform.
The announcement came just days after Chinese search giant Baidu announced that its AI chatbot would be completed in March.
Microsoft has announced a multimillion-dollar partnership with ChatGPT maker OpenAI, with plans to integrate language-based artificial intelligence’s powerful capabilities with its Bing search engine. On Wednesday, Google also announced a slew of AI-powered features.
With no barriers to creating AI-synthesised text, audio, and video, the possibility of identity theft, financial fraud, and tarnished reputations has sparked widespread concern.
Also Read | How Artificial Intelligence is upending businesses with Smart Assistants
Deepfakes, which use technology similar to chatbots to create terrifyingly accurate digital doppelgangers, have been labelled a “danger to national security and social stability” by Beijing.
The service, developed by the San Francisco-based company OpenAI, has sparked widespread concern about student cheating or professions becoming obsolete due to its ability to write essays, poems, and programming code on demand in seconds.


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This is some great news for fans of the growing number of Batman Classic TV Series Toys. Yvonne Craig, who famously portrayed Batgirl in the Batman Classic TV Series, has announced on the Official Yvonne Crag Website that she has signed a deal with Warner Bros. The new deal allows for her likeness to be used in toys and merchandise that portray Batgirl.
Hey Bat Fans!
To all of you who’ve been asking: I’m pleased to announce that I’ve just signed a licensing agreement with Warner Brothers. So expect to see Batgirl toys etc. on the market in the very near future. I look forward to seeing what they make.
Best Bat Wishes!
So what company gets the first crack at a Batgirl figure? Mattel, Hot Toys, DC Collectibles, NECA (18″ figures) or someone else?


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The price of the Nissan Magnite will eventually be disclosed later this month. Sources tell us that on November 26, 2020, the Magnite SUV is scheduled to be formally released on the Indian market. Although official pricing for the Magnite is yet to be revealed by Nissan India, a quick check with a few dealers shows that pricing for the upcoming compact SUV is most likely to be close to the one leaked last week and as we recently mentioned, SUV bookings are in full swing and deliveries are expected to begin sometime next month.
This suggests that for the XE and Rs 9.55 lakh for the top-spec XV Premium CVT model, the Magnite would see a starting price of Rs 5.50 lakh. Learn a complete break-up of Nissan Magnite pricing here. A few dealers have already reported that by early next week, Magnite test drive and show units would hit their outlets.
In the Indian market, Nissan will sell the Magnite with two engine options: a 72hp, 1.0-liter, naturally aspirated version coupled with a 5-speed manual, and a 1.0-liter, turbo-charged unit (HRA0) that is good for torque of 100hp and 160Nm. With either a 5-speed manual or a CVT automatic (with which torque decreases to 152Nm), the 1.0 turbo-petrol will come with the option of either. On the Magnite, there will be no diesel engine option.


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Well, it looks like the rumors of the MX7 launching in October were not only wrong, but much farther from the truth than one would expect. Yang Zhe, Meizu’s Senior Vice President, has revealed that the company isn’t aiming to launch any new smartphone this year. The MX7 is mentioned by name in the post, and Zhe says “the flagship product will debut in the spring of 2018.” That means sometime in the first quarter of 2018, which is a few months away.
Pro 7 and 7 Plus reiterated as company’s latest flagships
It might actually be a sensible choice on Meizu’s part to delay the launch of the MX7, especially with the Pro 7 and Pro 7 Plus having launched with high-end specs just two months ago. Zhe’s post even includes an image of the Pro 7, which is no doubt to reiterate that it is the latest and greatest the company has to offer. Which is well and good, considering the Pro 7 and Pro 7 Plus have what it takes to keep sales going strong.


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GREEN BAY, WISCONSIN – Just in time for the holidays, Festival Foods and Hormel Foods will donate 2,760 hams this month to 15 Wisconsin food pantries in communities served by Festival Foods.
The partnership includes four communities that are new to Festival Foods in recent years Mauston, Portage, Baraboo and Tomah as well as various other Festival Foods locations throughout Wisconsin.
“We are honored to partner with Hormel Foods to help feed Wisconsin families this holiday season,” said Mark Skogen, Festival Foods president and CEO. “We thank Hormel and its partners for their generous donation.”
The makers of the Hormel Cure 81 brand created the Hormel Cure 81 Hams for Hunger program in 1989. To date, the partnership between Hormel Foods and grocery retailers totals more than $13 million in ham donations. This holiday season, more than 55,000 hams will be donated nationwide.
To learn more about Festival Foods and its commitment to community involvement, please visit www.festfoods.com.
ABOUT FESTIVAL FOODS
Founded in 1946 as Skogen’s IGA, Festival Foods is a Wisconsin family- and employee-owned grocer that is committed to giving back to the communities it serves and to providing guests with exceptional service and value. The company began operating as Festival Foods in 1990 and today employs more than 7,500 full- and part-time associates. Festival Foods currently operates 32 full-service supermarkets across the state of Wisconsin. For more information about Festival Foods, visit www.festfoods.com.


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Technology and knowledge are at their best when they bring people together. Online media outlet DailyCoin is proud to introduce its new CEO – Marius Pareščius. Pareščius is an entrepreneur, IT, and cyber security specialist.
Having been involved in blockchain and crypto projects for the past ten years, Pareščius actively mentors companies and startups. He has also participated in working groups with the European Parliament and the European Commission, and has acted as an advisor for the Lithuanian government.
Pareščius started along his path to the high-tech world back in 1985. In 1999 he co-founded one of the first Lithuanian startups – Draugas.lt. The platform was one of the first social networks to gather a vast online community across the Baltic states. Since then, he has managed dozens of IT, security, and internet projects, operating as CEO or advisor. The entrepreneur has closely and diligently worked with banks, software development companies, data centers, web hosting companies, the retail sector, and business associations across Europe, the Baltics, Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus.
In 2010, he founded Business Hive Vilnius (BHV), one of the oldest and most storied startup incubator and technology hubs in the Baltic region. With its primary focus being on hardware, security, blockchain, AI, and enterprise software startups, BHV offers its partners support and mentorship from industry experts, investor networks, facilities through which to prototype hardware, conferences, seminars, and networking activities.
His extensive experience in the fintech sector proved invaluable to his work as vice-president of PaySera, one of the most popular and sought-after European payment systems offering its services to more than 70 countries around the world.
Pareščius is intimately involved with the processes of high-tech and creative industries associations. He is the CEO of the Lithuanian Cluster Association, which represents Lithuanian clusters both nationally and worldwide. The cluster is aimed toward cross-sectorial innovation, building regional value chains, and helping to acquire valuable knowledge and access to new markets.
Pareščius is also president of the Lithuanian Startup Cluster, which aims to grow a thriving startup ecosystem, helping its members to innovate, learn, and attract funding. As an advisor on matters of IT security, Pareščius is the CEO and President of the International Security Cluster. Pareščius further bestows his considerable experience as a board member and former vice-president of the Lithuanian ICT Association Infobalt.
In recent years, Marius Pareščius has primarily focused his attention on the information and communications technology and startup business sectors, particularly specializing in blockchain technologies, fintech, and cyber security. At DailyCoin, Pareščius envisions brand growth as a form of online media, providing insider news about blockchain and the fintech industry.
“We are planning to expand our team with even more talented journalists and writers [in order] to provide fresh and analytical content. Our content will cover blockchain security questions, IT, and fintech fields, as well as continuing to focus on [the] leading NFT and metaverse projects,”
Pareščius reassures readers that DailyCoin will continue to provide high-quality, relevant content with the goal of educating people about the crypto world.


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Kolkata : With an eye to frame an organic farming policy, Bengal agriculture department, food processing industries, and horticulture department have started organic farming activities across the state.
The food processing industries and horticulture department has asked the rural agricultural farms to begin organic farming and assured them of technical assistance as well as help in promotion and marketing. The department will supply greenhouses and pack houses along with organic fertilizers. It will also provide cars to transport those farm products to the markets.
The department is also taking up organic farming at its own farms.


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A $30,000 grant award from the U.S. Bank Foundation is providing hope to five Missouri entrepreneurs.
Marcie Davis remembers when she moved to Springfield, Missouri, more than 20 years ago that there weren’t any small businesses that specialized in selling hair and skincare products for Black women.
“I would go to a few of the big box stores to try and find what I needed. There would be little to no choices to choose from,” she said. “I would have to drive to Kansas City, which is over a two hour drive one way, or drive to Saint Louis, which is a three hour drive, to get the products I needed.”
Davis began to envision owning a business that sold products she knew would be in high demand. But there were various delays with her getting the idea off the ground until her dream became a reality in March 2022 when she opened MD Hair Supplies and More.
With the many startup expenses and common challenges small businesses can face, a friend told Davis about a grant application for the ASCEND program (Advancing Springfield, Missouri’s Commitment to Entrepreneurship, Networking & Diversity). “I only had 24 hours to submit the application before the window closed,” recalled Davis.
Last week, the U.S. Bank Foundation awarded the Downtown Springfield Association a $30,000 grant for small business support of minority-owned businesses through the ASCEND program. The program is a collaboration with U.S. Bank, Downtown Springfield Association, the efactory at Missouri State University and the Multicultural Business Association. Dozens of applications were reviewed before U.S. Bank and collaborators conducted interviews.
“I never thought I would be named a grant recipient, but it just goes to show you that you never know until you try,” she added. “The $5,000 will help me establish a vendor relationship because many require a $3,000 order to get started. As a result, there will be more quality hair and skincare products available to my customers. Additional funds will be used for rent and to jumpstart other areas of my business.”
Debra Yeager, a U.S. Bank small business sales manager involved in the collaboration, said, “The ASCEND program has great synergy to support U.S. Bank Access Commitment, an initiative to help build wealth while redefining how we serve racially diverse communities. We had such an awesome response to the initial grant application process that we plan to award additional grants in the near future.”
Jonathan Bell, who started Bells Marketing Consultant in March 2020, just graduated from high school and was encouraged that his business, a digital marketing company, was selected in the first round of funding.
“They really believed in my vision to provide jobs locally for young people who are eager to get into the workforce. I’m beyond excited.”
The three other grant recipients are Eway Scooters, owned by Marquez Williams; Jamaican Patty, owned by Du’Sean Powell; and Mimi’s Soul Food, owned by Tonisha Manier.
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Fire truck smash police cars and BMW
MONTREAL — A fire truck turned an Old Montreal street into a smash-up derby zone Saturday, pushing cop cars out of the way and sideswiping a BMW to get to a raging roof fire
Several police cars were parked on the left side of the street and the unoccupied luxury car was on the right.
When the cars didn’t move quickly enough, the truck simply rear-ended the last cruiser in line, pushing the row of cars up the street.
The truck then backed up and bolted through the opening, crushing the side of the German luxury car and shearing off the front bumper.
But as for you, be strong and do not give up, for your work will be rewarded. – 2 Chronicles 15:7
#FordTrucks #DogeTrucks #RamTrucks #Trucks #GMC
Buy Trucks – 2015 GMC SIERRA 1500 CREW CAB SHORT BOX 4-WHEEL DRIVE SLT Z71 #DodgeTrucks #FordTrucks #GMCTrucks
http://www.hyattbuickgmcmyrtlebeach.com/ VIN 3GTU2VEC0FG217662 Engine 5.3L EcoTec3 V8 engine Transmission 6-speed automatic transmission Trim Cocoa/Dune, PerforatedRead More
2003 Dodge Ram Pickup 1500 SLT 4dr Quad Cab 4WD SB for sale
This 2003 Dodge Ram Pickup 1500 SLT 4dr Quad Cab 4WD SB is for saleRead More


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The central bank of Bahamas has been working on the digital version of its national currency Bahamian dollar. The pilot project will be launched in the Exuma district on 27th December. The project will be extended to Abaco in the first half of 2020.
Digital currency will make access to the financial system more efficient.
The regulators believe that the introduction of the Bahamian dollar will make access to the financial system more efficient and non-discriminatory. The central bank said that the “Sand Dollar” is not a cryptocurrency, stablecoin, or competitor to the Bahamian dollar. It is a digital fiat currency. But the bank plans to launch a fully-fledged central bank digital currency in the future.
Sand Dollar will help in tackling money laundering.
The officials of the central bank of Bahamas said that the digital version of the national currency would help in combating money laundering, terror financing, and other illegal activities. The announcement stated that the advantages of the digital currencies include a potential suppression of economic costs associated with cash usage and benefits the Government from improved expenditure and tax administration systems. Countries like China, Turkey, Russia and USA are also considering to launch a central bank-backed digital currency.