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Amazon to Cut Product Offerings, Drop Layoff Clause
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On the heels of announcing significant layoffs, beleaguered Amazon is also trimming its product offerings.
In a companywide memo, the e-tailing giant stated that said it would focus on its core book business and discontinue sales of unprofitable items.
The goal is to improve supply-chain management, Ling Hong, Amazon.com spokersperson, told internetnews.com. "Our goal is to still be the destination point for online purchases of books, music and related products," she said. "However, we plan to do it smarter. Whether it is a packaged item in a bundle or working with manufacturers or selling those items through third parties, we aim to do it as efficiently and as intelligently as possible.
"If we lose money on any single item, it will be a conscious, deliberate item on our part," she added. "For instance, we had a promotional campaign on Harry Potter books that actually lost money, but the number of new customers we attracted made our investment well worth it."
In related news, Amazon.com has dropped the non-disclosure clause from its layoff package. The company had originally told its laid-off workers that they would each receive an extra six weeks' pay and $500 by inking an agreement that included a promise to not make disparaging remarks about their former employer.
"We listened to our employees," said Bill Curry, Amazon.com spokesman. "They're going through a difficult time right now and we decided that, if it was causing that much additional pain for them, the better thing to do is get rid of it."
The idea that hourly employees sign a nondisclosure agreement drew ire from employees, as well as labor groups. "Workers should be allowed to receive a full severance package without conditions of signing away their rights," Gretchen Wilson, an organizer with the Washington Alliance of Technology Workers, told the New York Times.
Amazon.com is still asking employees to sign the agreement, but said that the nondisclosure clause could be deleted. Employees who do not sign the agreement will receive only the standard two-weeks severance pay.
The layoffs and product trimming is part of the etailer's strategy to turn a profit by the fourth quarter of this year.
At press time, the company's stock
was trading at $15.31, down by 0.94.


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Credit: Courtesy The Modist
The rise of 'modest' fashion
Modest dressing is a global cultural movement on the rise. A search of the word modest on Instagram opens a treasure trove of evidence. Sensitive layering, long silhouettes, raised necklines -- so far, over half a million people have hashtagged the term modest fashion below their photos, and multiple spin-offs (modest dressing, modesty movement, modest style) are widely in use.
At a glance, modest dressing appears to refer to a trend seen predominantly among young Muslims, though on closer inspection the movement includes women of many different faiths, and sometimes has nothing to do with religion at all.
Trend analysts have dubbed what they interpret as a new wave of feminism the "pluri-empowerment" factor, says Iza Dezon, a trend forecaster at Peclers Paris.
"An empowered woman is no longer subject to a specific definition, nor must she live by a specific set of values," she explains. "We're seeing the opening up of what empowerment means, allowing women to create their own definitions."
The modest movement has been gaining steam for a few years now and the hijab has become a recognized symbol. In 2014 DKNY launched a bespoke modest fashion collection. In 2016, Dolce & Gabbana released a line of luxury hijabs and abayas.
In the same year, H&M featured a Muslim model wearing a hijab in a video to promote their sustainable fashion line. Last November, Halima Aden was the first beauty pageant contestant in history to wear a hijab at the Miss Minnesota USA competition.
Last month, Aden was invited to Milan to walk the Max Mara and Alberta Feretti catwalk in her hijab, having also been cast by Kanye West for his Yeezy show in New York a few weeks earlier. This week, Nike announced the launch of their first "pro hijab."
From the styling of Emma Watson in a recent Vanity Fair issue to reports that President Donald Trump might have suggested that "women should dress like women," female sartorial choices continue to ignite debate, and calls for the freedom to wear whatever a woman wants without judgment are becoming louder. The fashion industry is attuning to this.
"Many brands showed collections this season that were clearly designed with a degree of inclusivity in mind," says Elizabeth Paton, European style correspondent for The New York Times. "Balmain, for example, known for its barely-there creations, with a huge following in the Middle East, this season had lots of high necks and low hemlines."
This comes as no surprise to Paton. "All luxury brands are being forced to think more strategically about how to appeal to observant women, with numerous religious backgrounds. They can't ignore the growing chorus of voices globally demanding more choice."
This month, supermodel Gigi Hadid features on the cover of the newly launched Vogue Arabia in a diamond encrusted hijab. Hadid posted the cover image on her Instagram, with a caption praising the magazine.
"Being half-Palestinian, it means the world to me to be on the first ever cover(s) of @voguearabia," wrote Hadid. " I hope that this magazine will show another layer of the fashion industry's desire to continue to accept, celebrate and incorporate all people & customs and make everyone feel like they have fashion moments they can relate to... and learn and grow in doing so."
The current climate couldn't be better for Ghizlan Guenez's new venture. Launching today, on international women's day, The Modist models itself on the slogan "luxury modest style for extraordinary women."
Guenez wants to fill what she sees as a hole in the luxury market. The Modist site will gear itself towards an international, cross-cultural, group of women of all ages, who want to express themselves through fashion while leaving something to the imagination.
Guenez, who spent 14 years working in private equity before changing tack was inspired to address the needs of the women she saw around her. "Our woman might be a banker who wants a power suit or the piece that will take her from morning to evening, that's elegant and not too exposing.
"She might also be a mother attending her daughter's wedding, or a university student in Dubai who's trendy, but dressed modestly for cultural reasons."
It was after witnessing the frustration of women around her first hand that Guenez first conceived The Modist.
"The women I grew up with are modern and fashionable, but happen to dress this way. My mother, my cousins... they'd have to go from one store to another looking for pieces that could work for them. I realised there had to be a solution."
Like most fashion e-commerce sites today the business has an editorial component -- The Mod.
"On the editorial side, we will create fashion that not only inspires, but also empowers our woman," says creative director and former Harper's Bazaar Arabia Fashion Director Sally Matthews, "providing an intimate glimpse into the lives, wardrobes and worlds of other women who are making a difference across the globe."
The Modist launches with 75 contemporary luxury ready-to-wear and accessories designers including Peter Pilotto, Marni, and Phillip Lim.
"There are so many brands I have enjoyed re-interpreting" says Sasha Sarokin, former buying manager at Net-a-Porter who will head up the buying department. "Take Marni for example. They're so good at shape and proportion, and playing out print and color. I wear Marni, so does my mother, so it was a natural aha! moment, and they totally got it."
London print expert Mary Katrantzou's collection will be available on The Modist too. "My collections have never been about being physically revealing, but rather, revealing the aesthetic and personality of our women," reflects Katrantzou.
"I want every woman to feel confident and uplifted in my clothes." She is looking forward to further engaging with her already strong international client base.
"Women from key markets such as the Middle East are attracted to our use of bold color, embellishment and standout evening-wear pieces... I always look for imagery that can transcend boundaries for women, regardless of geographic location."
The market potential within the modest fashion sector is vast, and projected to reach a value of $484 billion by 2019, according to The Modist's own research.
Chief operating officer Lisa Bridgett was immediately drawn to being part of what she calls a "global sisterhood," of strong, experienced, intelligent women from diverse backgrounds working in London and Dubai working on The Modist. "It was the most easily explicable concept, and it resonated almost instantaneously with me."
Guenez has seized the moment with her message of inclusiveness. "At a moment when much is being made of our differences, it's an amazing moment to launch. Talking about how much we all have in common as women is our raison d'être."
Guenez was particularly inspired by the diverse participation in January's Women's Marches worldwide. "We've seen a lot of good come out of social media recently. If it hadn't been for social media, how would we have been called to action? How would we have known to go to the Women's March at all?"
Social media will be a priority for Guenez who sees Instagram and Facebook's democratized international dialogue as the foundations of the modest dressing movement.
"The girl in Jakarta is connecting with the girl in New York every day, as part of a bubbling global fashion dialogue," says Guenez.
"A big percentage of the women we'll be speaking to are in Asia and the Middle East, where they're involved in what we call 'social media on steroids' -- everything happens there. We want to participate in this dialogue, and we want to further it."

domain: news


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According to a poll of 1000 people, 35% of respondents said Elon Musk influences their decision-making. 34% cited Reddit as a source for their cryptocurrency information.
There was some disparity between the age groups, GamblersPick also found. Those belonging to Gen Z had a higher tendency to use Reddit (47%) and Twitter (32%) than other ages.
The Power of Social Media
Elon Musk’s impact on cryptocurrency is well-documented, with the self-described Dogefather frequently taking to Twitter to give his thoughts on the latest cryptocurrency developments.
Reddit’s influence on the financial industry was similarly realised in early-2021 with the GameStop short squeeze. r/CryptoCurrency and r/Bitcoin are the 106th and 107th most subscribed subreddits on the site. They have 3.36m and 3.29m members, respectively.
Aside from these sources, respondents noted the impact of online forums (27%), Twitter (26%), financial news (26%), and YouTube (23%) on their cryptocurrency decisions.
After Musk, Warren Buffet (9%) and Snoop Dogg (7%) made up the top three celebrities influencing respondents.
Social media companies have warmed to cryptocurrency in recent years. Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey remains an avid promoter of bitcoin through both Twitter and his other company Square. Facebook may soon launch its own digital currency.
However, there are some who warn against the dangers of social media’s influence on cryptocurrency decisions – particularly when it comes to scams and fake accounts.
Early bitcoin investor and co-founder of Gemini Cameron Winklevoss previously tweeted about the number of giveaway scams attempting to fool followers through replying to his tweets.
Several UK cyber-crime units and banks have also emphasised the importance of researching cryptocurrency investments. Taking to Twitter, many told individuals to “Stop and Challenge investment deals – especially on social media.”


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The evidence is building up more and more all the time: medical cannabis could serve as superior substitute for many other substances, including prescription drugs.
One 2015 cross-sectional study from Canada found that about 80.3% of 410 people substitute cannabis for one prescription drug. That includes drugs that could be harmful or addictive. That survey also found that people were substituting cannabis for recreational drugs. Fifty-two percent substituted cannabis for alcohol, and 33% substituted it with other illicit substances.
Those are serious health benefits, considering that marijuana is demonstrably less potentially harmful than most other illicit drugs and many pharmaceuticals. Perhaps most notable is the potential for cannabis to be a substitute for opiates, and therefore an important option for mitigation of the opiate addiction crises.
That evidence is seen in states in the US which have legalized medical marijuana. Researchers at RAND corporation conducted a working paper in 2015 found that, across 17 states that legalized medical marijuana, deaths due to opioid overdose dropped by 16-31%. Another study conducted in 2014 found that opioid-caused fatalities were 25% lower in states with medicinal cannabis.
Here are five potentially addictive pharmaceuticals that experts say, in some cases, can be replaced with marijuana:
This may be one of the clearest possible substitutions out there. Many people who suffer from chronic pain would rather use medicinal cannabis, and it can be a much healthier option.
For some people, a strain of sativa (stimulant) marijuana may be more effective than traditional stimulants like adder all.
This one may only work for some patients. Not everyone can have their anxiety treated with mariuana, but for some people a strain of indica may be helpful. Patients should be wary, however, that sativa strains may cause anxiety.
Ambien (sleep medication)
Cannabis may serve as a perfect sleep aid for some patients. Studies suggest it is a safer option than some prescriptions drugs like Ambien for insomnia sufferers.
Several studies have suggested that cannabis may be useful in treating depression. While it doesn’t work for everyone, cannabis can certainly be a safer option for those it does work for.


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Uber launches accessibility service
20 October 2015
Author: Daniel Puddicombe
Taxi alternative Uber has launched a service designed for those with access needs in London.
Known as UberAssist, the transport option is designed to provide additional assistance for disabled passengers.
Uber said all "partner-drivers" have completed a disability equality course, which was developed by transport charity Transport for All.
UberAssist vehicles will be able to accommodate "most folding wheelchairs", walkers and scooters, while the firm hopes to add fully wheelchair accessible vehicles to the platform by the start of next year.
To access the service, users will need to email email@example.com to receive a code in the app. Once the code has been entered on the promotions tab, the Assist slider will become available when requesting a vehicle.
Meanwhile, the High Court in London has ruled that the app does not break the law.
The High Court had been asked to decide whether the firm's smartphone-based app is considered as a meter, which is outlawed for private hire vehicles in the capital.
Mr Justice Ouseley declared that taximeters do not operate in the same way as the app as they do not depend on GPS signals to calculate fares.
"This was not a marginal call; it is quite emphatic. In fact, it is contemptuous of the case brought before it," an Uber spokesman told the BBC, while Transport for London said there had been "significant public interest in establishing legal certainty in the matter."
TfL is currently carrying out a consultation, which runs until 23 December, on how to regulate the industry.
Proposals include a five-minute wait between booking a taxi via an app and the pick-up, a ban on ride-sharing and a ban on apps showing which vehicles are immediately available.


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Feds investigate Bosch’s role in VW emissions cheats
US government officials are reportedly investigating Bosch’s role in Volkswagen’s emissions-cheating scandal.
The German supplier built numerous components for VW’s non-compliant diesel engines. Prosecutors are said to be interested in what role, if any, the company had in developing and implementing the ‘defeat’ system that allowed the vehicles to circumvent emissions regulations, according to a Reuters report.
Most of the offending VW- and Audi-badged vehicles are powered by a four-cylinder engine controlled by a Bosch-supplied electronic module. In a 2006 press release, the company boasted that its new EDC17 module “controls every parameter that is important for effective, low-emission combustion.”
“In addition to controlling the precise timing and quantity of injection, exhaust gas recirculation, and manifold pressure regulation, it also offers a large number of options such as the control of particulate filters or systems for reducing nitrogen oxides,” the announcement adds.
Real-world tests found that the VW engines emitted nitrogen oxides at levels up to 40 times higher than regulatory thresholds. To make the vehicles appear compliant, the control systems appear to have been programmed to detect predictable lab-test conditions and temporarily run with different settings.
Bosch’s EDC17 promotional materials describe the hardware as flexible to suit any vehicle segment or specific market requirements. Investigators will presumably focus on the company’s potential involvement in helping develop the specialized software required for the VW engines.
A previous report suggests Bosch may have supplied VW with the basic software used in the emissions-dodging vehicles. The company allegedly claimed to have warned VW as early as 2007 that the diesel-management configuration was for testing purposes only and would be illegal to implement in production cars.
The government probe into Bosch’s involvement is said to be in an early stage, and Reuters‘ sources claim investigators have not yet found evidence of wrongdoing.


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Intel rings 27 July for ‘Conroe’ chips
Intel is expected to launch its dual-core Core 2 Duo processors – aimed at desktop machines – on the 27th of this month. The new range of Pentium-replacements is slated to be unveiled at a company event.
Based on Intel’s Core Microarchitecture, the ‘Conroe’ chips are earmarked to replace the company’s existing Pentium D family and take on AMD’s Athlon 64 X2 chips in the affections of gamers and high-end PC users. Intel is confident that the faster and more power efficient range will be able to overtake AMD’s dual-core Athlons and win back market share. A notebook version of the chip, codenamed ‘Merom’, is expected later this year – possibly in August.
In preparation for the launch of the Core 2 Duo desktop processors Intel is said to be planning a price cut for its Pentium D series from 23 July ranging from $316 for the top of the line 960 down to $113 for the 820.
AMD looks to be taking the challenge of the Core 2 Duo seriously. The Athlon 64 X2 3600+ processor is now expected to appear in the third quarter of the current year and not the fourth quarter as originally planned. Presumably pricing will be set when AMD finds out what the Intel price points are.
The new Conroe chip, along with any response from AMD, will be the first shots in a new phase of the processor wars. Both companies will be fighting for market share as users get ready to upgrade their computers in preparation for the launch of the Vista operating system early next year.


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The diesel-powered BMW X5 xDrive35d performance crossover SUV has received a new engine upgrade package from the German tuner Hartge. With the pack installed, the vehicle’s 0-100km/h acceleration time is slashed by 0.9 seconds to 6.1 seconds.
The German first-tier tuner B&B has just unveiled its new comprehensive personalization program for the 2009 Audi S5 and A5 performance convertibles.
Possibly trying to impress prospective investors that may help the struggling company survive the ongoing economic turmoil, SsangYong plans to present a diesel-hybrid-powered version of its old Kyron mid-size SUV.
In a somewhat confusing move, German carmaker has revealed a fuel-efficient version of its highly successful Porsche Cayenne SUV powered by… a 3.0-liter diesel engine. OMG.
German super-tuner Hamann has just revealed its first comprehensive customization program for the still-fresh BMW X6 sports car, that, being a mix between s four-door coupe and an SUV, tries to seat its generous bum on two stools.


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Today’s ANZ-Roy Morgan Australian consumer confidence data revealed another strong lift in sentiment levels.
As a result, confidence, at least based off this measure, is now back above its long-run average.
While ANZ’s head of Australian economics David Plank put the increase down to an “ongoing improvement in labour market conditions”, perhaps there was another factor that helped to boost confidence levels.
The surge in the Australian dollar, seeing it rally to the highest level in over two years last week.
This chart from Commsec’s chief economist Craig James is an eye-opener, revealing that where the Aussie dollar tends to head, confidence levels tend to follow, at least in recent months.
As we said, eye opening.
Could it really be as simple as sentiment being determined by what’s happening with the Australian dollar?
James says that the Aussie is an important factor, noting that the recent relationship between the two has been “fairly precise”.
This, he says, hints that many Australians still associate a stronger currency to a stronger economy, even if that is far from the case.
“Confidence levels posted the second best rise in three months in line with the best weekly gain for the Aussie dollar in four months,” he said following the release of the latest weekly report.
“Aussie consumers certainly love a firmer dollar. For many it means cheaper overseas holidays, a return to buying overseas goods online and even lower petrol prices.”
While they’re all factors that help to boost sentiment levels in the short-term, the problem is that prolonged periods of currency strength can, if unjustified, slow economic activity and with it employment growth.
That’s why RBA deputy governor Guy Debelle acknowledged last week that the Aussie’s recent strength is complicating Australia’s economic transition at its current level.
Should the Aussie’s strength persist, it raises the risk that the encouraging signals being generated by the economy in recent months could reverse just as quick.
That in turn could hurt economic activity, and weaken labour market conditions.
It’s unlikely that cheap petrol, an overseas holiday or cheaper online shopping will seem anywhere near as appealing should wage growth remain weak, or if unemployment levels once again start to lift.


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Hello, Mumbai! Adjust lands in India
Aug 8, 2018
We’re very pleased to share that Adjust is opening its first office in India. Now based in Mumbai, our new location will help us expand our reach in the region and provide more localized services to our growing portfolio of India-based clients.
India was a no-brainer when it came to choosing our next location to launch: the country recently overtook the United States to become the world’s second-largest smartphone market after China, and mobile advertising spend in the country is set to hit $1.73bn by 2021. We’re looking forward to contributing to India’s vibrant ad tech scene at such an exciting time, as well as supporting our clients while they continue to scale.
Many of these clients are long-standing partners of ours - including the likes of Jabong and PlaySimple. A presence on the ground will help us give them more personalized support, while we can also welcome new customers into the fold.
The team in Mumbai will be headed up by Ashwiny Thapliyal (Sales Director - India), who brings with him over a decade of experience in the industry. The primary focus will be on e-commerce, gaming and travel, the country’s three biggest app verticals, before expanding to further areas.
The office will be our 6th in Asia. It follows the openings of our bases in Tokyo, Beijing, Shanghai, Singapore and Seoul.
If you’d like to learn more about our offering in India, get in touch with us here.


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Digiday+ Research: Nielsen gets boost in NewFronts, upfront cycle — but Comscore wins as measurement provider
Interested in sharing your perspectives on the media and marketing industries? Join the Digiday research panel.
NewFronts week is coming to a close. And while publishers’ optimism around NewFronts and the TV upfront cycle is somewhat lackluster this year, they still have to tell buyers exactly which measurement providers they’ll be accommodating.
So Digiday+ Research asked 63 publisher professionals about the measurement providers they’re focused on this year.
Digiday’s survey found that Comscore and Nielsen will be the dominant measurement providers during this year’s NewFronts and upfronts — no surprise there. More than half of publishers (54%) said they will accommodate Comscore this year, and nearly half (48%) said they will accommodate Nielsen.
Interestingly, though, those percentages are jumps from last year for both measurement providers. Forty-six percent of publisher pros told Digiday they would accommodate Comscore last year (compared with 54% this year). And only 29% of publishers said they would accommodate Nielsen last year (compared with the much larger 48% who said so this year).
Honorable mention here goes to Oracle Moat. Nearly a quarter of publisher pros (24%) told Digiday they would accommodate the measurement provider this year, up slightly from 19% last year. But Oracle Moat ranked fourth among measurement providers, according to Digiday’s survey.
Third place actually went to the “other” category, which is why we can’t move on without mentioning the percentage of publishers who fall into it. Twenty-seven percent of publisher pros said they will accommodate measurement providers outside of our list during NewFronts and upfronts this year, down slightly from the 30% who said so last year. Some of the other measurement providers publishers said they’ll be accommodating providers that include Google Analytics, Lasso, Experian, Double Verify and Piano.
Beyond just accommodating different measurement providers, Digiday’s survey found that Comscore and Nielsen also account for most publishers’ primary currency for this year’s NewFronts and upfronts cycle.
Thirty-two percent of publisher pros told Digiday that Comsore will be their primary currency during NewFronts and upfronts event this year, down slightly from 36% last year. Just as Nielsen saw a big jump in publishers who will accommodate the measurement provider this year, it also saw a big jump in publishers who will use it as their primary currency. A quarter of publisher pros (25%) said Nielsen will be their primary currency during this year’s NewFronts and upfronts cycle, up from 15% who said so last year.
Oracle Moat also came next behind Comscore and Nielsen in this category, albeit much further behind. Ten percent of publisher pros told Digiday Oracle Moat will be their primary currency during this year’s NewFronts and upfronts event — a negligible difference from the 9% who said so last year.
Again, the “other” category accounted for a significant percentage of publisher respondents to Digiday’s survey when it came to publishers’ primary NewFronts and upfront currency. Twenty-nine percent of publishers said their primary currency would be something other than what was on our list, down a bit from 35% last year.
The weight of the “other” category both here and above goes to show how much is still up in the air when it comes to TV ad measurement and where it will go from here. And one of the most notable responses in the “other” category was a publisher who said their primary currency during NewFronts and the upfronts cycle this year will be “whatever the buyer chooses.”
Want to discuss this with our editors and members? Join here, or log in here if you're already a member.
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Guatemala Challenges U.S. Trade Practices
GUATEMALA CITY – The Guatemalan government this week announced it will file a complaint against the United States before the World Trade Organization (WTO) for unfair trade practices, President Oscar Berger said.
According to Berger, the United States is “dumping” its dark-meat chicken on Guatemalan markets at prices lower than those established by the WTO, in an apparent effort to squeeze out the local chicken market.
The price of chicken breast in the United States is over $1 pound, but dark meat is being flicked off on Guatemalan markets for around $.50 per pound, according to the Agricultural Ministry.
Guatemalan chicken producers are urging the government to raise the import tax on chicken; but the government has not agreed to do so.
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The Legend of Zelda for the Wii U is one of those games that everyone wants to see, but it has been delayed. Even when the Wii U first came out, it was announced that a new Legend of Zelda game wouldn't be released until 2015, which didn't help sales. The Wii U has been given some good sales thanks to sales of classic Nintendo hits like Super Smash Brothers and Mario Kart, but the Legend of Zelda for the Wii U would really give Nintendo the sales that it had in the days of the original Wii. This is what is known on The Legend of Zelda Wii U Release Date and News.
According to Engadget, the producer of the upcoming Legend of Zelda game, Eiji Aonuma, made a video where he announced that "we are no longer making a 2015 release our number one priority". That means at least a delay until 2016, but Aonuma added: "Instead, our priority is to make it the most complete and ultimate Zelda game. I hope to use the added time to make The Legend of Zelda for Wii U into a game that will reward you for your patience, so thank you for your continued support."
It stands to reason that a 2016 delay could make a better game, but this is a disappointment to Nintendo fans who really wanted to see that new Zelda game this year. Hopefully, the 2016 delay will be used to its full advantage, meaning that the new Legend of Zelda game will be made available for the 2016 holiday season.
Wired reports that a lot of fans are worried about a recent earnings report of its first fiscal quarter, which includes a list of game titles that it plans to launch in the future. The Wii U version of The Legend of Zelda (which has no subtitle as yet) simply has a "TBD" for its release date. This doesn't necessarily mean another delay, but it does mean that the earnings report is talking about games that it has already announced. It should be noted that Nintendo hasn't made a full announcement yet.
Nintendo is passing up opportunities to make announcements on this game as nothing was mentioned of it at Electronic Entertainment Expo E3 2015 last June or at PAX Prime 2015, a recent video game convention held in Seattle last week.
For those that want some Legend of Zelda action could purchase Hyrule Warriors for the Wii U. This isn't really an adventure-style RPG like the series is known for, but it is a fighting game that brings back many characters established in the Zelda universe. It is also possible to purchase The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker, a refurbished game based on the GameCube classic. However, it is a real shame that Nintendo isn't going to make their deadline, and it could cause more fans to turn from the Wii U. Hopefully, the game really is worth the wait, as the shown-off gameplay looked good at the Video Game Awards that happened last December.


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China's pork prices surged in July on an annual and monthly basis due to tight supplies and a recovery in demand, the statistics bureau said.
Pork prices rose 20.2% year-on-year, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) said on Wednesday as it released inflation data, while on a monthly basis prices were up 25.6% from June.
The monthly gains in prices were attributed to production capacity cuts, farmers holding back pigs from the market and a recovery in consumer demand.
China's pig herd had been contracting in the past year as falling margins pushed some farmers to exit the market or reduce the number of their sows to curb heavy losses.
Last month, China's state planner urged top hog breeders to ensure steady supplies after prices surged.
Hog prices in China, the world's top pork consumer, have been rising since the start of the year, though have eased off peaks in July.
In Henan, China's top pig-producing province, hog prices rose as much as 48% this year to 24.50 yuan ($3.63) per kilogram in early July, their highest levels since April 2021, and were last at 20.80 yuan per kg on Tuesday.
Pork is the most widely eaten meat in China, and it is a key component in the country's consumer price index.
Broader consumer inflation picked up to 2.7% in July from a year earlier, the fastest pace since July 2020 but missing forecasts for a 2.9% gain.
Read More: China To Levy Higher Tariffs On Pork Imports In 2022
News by Reuters, edited by ESM. For more supply chain news, click here. Click subscribe to sign up to ESM: European Supermarket Magazine.


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'Bigg Boss 13' star and Kaanta Laga girl, Shefali Jariwala stunned on Day 2 of Bombay Times Fashion Week as she turned showstopper for INIFID VASHI presents IVANA.
INIFD Vashi was back at Bombay Times Fashion Week in the most spectacular way possible!
The talented students of the design school showcased a them based show, called IVANA based on PRET-A-MARBRE theme, which was full of details, patterns and dazzle! The show was stopped by Jariwala, who looked like a vision in white, in a beautiful white creation.
BTFW is proving to be one fashion extravaganza or sorts. From Sonakshi Sinha to Mrunal Thakur, day 1 at Bombay Times Fashion Week was a starry affair with a stellar lineup of designers including Gopi Vaid and Bhawna Goenka. Designer Anju Modi is going to do the Grand Finale show. Loved by many, for the past 32 years, she has been exceptionally delivering ensembles that are often described as timeless, handcrafted and classic.
With still a day left to witness the designs and glam, here's looking forward to the final day of the fashion spectacle.


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Visit Denver revealed the much anticipated list of Denver restaurants Wednesday Jan. 15, 2014 that will be participating in the 2014 two week culinary adventure known as "Denver Restaurant Week."
Each year the top and newest Denver restaurants compete with one another to create the best deal to attract the biggest crowd at their eatery during this foodie extravaganza. You will need to forget your diets for a week folks, skip those expensive Valentines Day dinners out and save yourself for the first Denver Restaurant Week scheduled for Feb. 22 through Feb. 28, 2014. There will be another week this year Aug. 23 through Aug. 29.
The price for this years restaurant adventure has gone up a tiny bit from $52.80 a couple to $60. We are sad to see that iconic Denver number go.
Scharf said the slight price increase was necessary to maintain quality of menu selections. “We’ve held the same price for nine years, and while it’s hard to lose the fun of the $52.80 price point, it was necessary for the restaurants. The new price will allow chefs to get creative again and offer dishes and portions that better represent their normal fare.”
Some restaurants procrastinate each year so if you don't see your favorite on the complete list below be sure to give them a call to see if you can persuade them to join in the fun.
Remember to tip generously during this special deal as the wait staff is working hard to give you an optimum experience at half price.
Denver Insider Tips:
- You can reserve at the restaurant directly or use OpenTable.com.
- If there are no openings at your chosen eatery keep checking back, people cancel and change their reservations.
- Make your reservations quickly as the top Denver restaurants fill up.
- Next year you can make your reservations as soon as the dates are revealed which is usually in November. Just go to OpenTable.com and chose those dates during 5280 Restaurant Week and mark it in the notes section.
- Some of the restaurants also serve the same menu for lunch, check with them when you call.
- Several restaurants offer the same special deal but don't want to pay to be on the DRW website. Have a favorite not on the list? Give them a call and find out if they are offering a special menu.
Follow the Deals Examiner at @JustAskChrissy on Twitter and subscribe above.


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Amazon.com, Inc. (Nasdaq: AMZN) may be the gold standard for e-commerce investors, but it’s certainly not the only game in town. D.A. Davidson analyst Tom Forte has initiated coverage of eBay (EBAY) with a “buy” rating and says the online auction giant has plenty of growth levers to pull in coming years.
Wall Street is buzzing over the new series of Apple Inc. (Nasdaq: AAPL) products unveiled on Tuesday, but Apple won’t be the only big winner from the new family of iPhones. If the iPhone 8 and iPhone X models sell as well as most analysts are expecting, key iPhone suppliers could see meaningful revenue boosts as well.
With Nordstrom Inc. (ticker: JWN) stock now down more than 30 percent in the past three years, the Nordstrom family may be taking its ball and going home. On Tuesday, CNBC reported the Nordstrom family, which owns 31.2 percent of the company they founded, is on the brink of a deal with private equity firm Leonard Green &…
It’s been a tough year for the U.S. retail sector, and the athletic apparel business is no exception. According to Bernstein analyst Jamie Merriman, patient Nike Inc (NYSE: NKE) investors will eventually be rewarded for weathering the storm. Under Armour (UA, UAA) investors, on the other hand, may have even more pain ahead.
Hurricane Irma was by many measures one of the most devastating hurricanes to ever hit the state of Florida. However, trading action on Wall Street this week suggests insurance investors had feared Irma’s wrath would be a lot worse.
According to a new in-depth report from Bernstein, electric vehicle investors are positioned for some huge returns over the long term. Unfortunately, it may take up to 40 years for electric vehicles to gain 60 percent of the global auto market share.
After more than a six-month search, Teva Pharmaceutical Industries (NYSE: TEVA) has chosen former H. Lundbeck CEO and renowned turnaround specialist Kare Schultz as its new CEO. Investors seem happy with the prospect of Schultz at the helm, sending TEVA stock 17 percent higher Monday.
Cruise stock investors are monitoring Hurricane Irma and Hurricane Jose closely to determine just how much of an impact the two storms could have on revenues and profits. A handful of cruises have already been canceled during what is typically one of the busiest times of the year in the cruise industry.
It’s been less than a month since Amazon.com, Inc. (Nasdaq: AMZN) took control of Whole Foods Market, but Kroger Co (KR) already appears to be feeling the Amazon squeeze.
Streaming video content is a major growth opportunity for Facebook Inc (Nasdaq: FB) in the years ahead. However, gaining TV advertisers’ trust may be a more difficult task than it seems.


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Last year’s pandemic has caused severe and enduring disruptions in the production of microchips. This global shortage of microchips has caused a significant slowdown in the automotive industry, forcing automakers to delay or halt the production of many cars.
Purchasing a car can be a nerve-racking experience. If your budget is limited, or you want to avoid the rapid depreciation of a new vehicle, you might consider looking into used cars. One of the few potential downsides of purchasing a pre-owned vehicle is getting one that turns out to be unreliable and in need of expensive repairs – or a lemon.
Whether you’re running errands or commuting to work, you have probably noticed the increased presence of electric cars on the road. Despite the recent coronavirus pandemic, electric car sales have been on the rise. Just last year, global sales rose by 43%, which equates to more than three million electric cars sold in 2020.


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Many websites contain inaccurate and misleading information that could put visitors at risk, according to research published yesterday.
Consumers International, which is made up of over 250 consumer organisations from 115 countries including the UK's Consumers Association, conducted its survey across hundreds of websites to determine the credibility of online content.
But its findings were shocking. Nearly half (49 percent) of health and financial sites failed to give warnings about the appropriate use of their information and at least 50 percent failed to give details about the authority and credentials of the people behind the sites.
"The results of this research are particularly alarming when you consider that the majority of consumers using the web are relying on it for credible information they can trust," said Anna Fielder, director for Consumers International's Office for Developed and Transition Economies.
"Consumers are being put at risk by misleading, inaccurate and incomplete information," added Fielder.
The survey also revealed that only 41 percent of sites that recommended products actually gave sources for their prices and 30 percent gave no contact address or telephone number, something which can be extremely infuriating for consumers.
Consumers International warns consumers to check a site's background before making any decision based on its content. It also calls for businesses to work toward justifying consumer confidence by adopting better practices and providing clearer information.
Ultimately the group believes that the job of creating consumer confidence rests with the government, which must ensure that existing laws in the offline world are applied equally online.


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City leaders should start paying close attention to Tesla. The car manufacturer recently took on a valuation that made it worth more than 4X of Toyota and nearly 10X of Volkswagen. Yet, it makes roughly 1/10 the revenue of Volkswagen and produces 5M fewer cars. So why does this discrepancy exist? Because Tesla is seen as a model for the green future, and Volkswagen is seen as a legacy car company.
What would happen if New York decided overnight to become the greenest city in the world? It would fail miserably – the city, like Volkswagen, is simply too large to flip a switch like this. However, a smaller city like Indianapolis might be able to make this work. Indy could attract eco-friendly companies, focus on building bike paths and institute a Leed certification tax rebate. With a renewed focus on building the city of the future, Indianapolis could become the fastest growing city in the country — emulating Telsa’s success.
This would only help support a trend as employees, especially younger workers, value sustainability in their employers and communities. According to Deloitte’s global millennial survey, climate change and protecting the environment are millennials’ highest ranked personal priorities. A recent report from Unily showed that 65% of workers would prefer to work for a company with robust environmental policies.
The presence of green infrastructure also impacts individuals’ decisions on where they should live. Factors like bicycle paths, recreational greenspaces, electric transport options, and more are important to today’s workers.
Building a city to emulate Tesla’s success is a sure-fire way to help its growth. Read more in this edition of The Mid-Point.
Inside this issue
- Next-Generation Trends 2022: Cities and the Built Environment
- Want to attract new tech talent? Start thinking green.
- Greenest Cities in America
- New Critical City Infrastructure: A Tech Workforce
- Ongoing Remote Fintech Hiring Event!
By 2050, more than 70 per cent of the world’s population will live in cities. Worldwide, more than 55 per cent already do. And as the global community becomes increasingly urban, cities will need be designed with sustainability in mind. Why? While there’s an accelerated demand for affordable housing, well-connected transport systems, and other infrastructure, the built environment is currently responsible for a huge 39 per cent of all global carbon emission – far higher than any other individual sector. Finding a way to meet demand and avoid climate disaster is a priority. Read More
Employers hoping to keep up with demand by expanding their digital divisions in 2022 face a rocky road. Whether you call it the great resignation, the great negotiation or the great reshuffle, the underlying premise is the same: millions of workers are planning to quit their jobs this year, lured by better salaries and the promise of more flexible working. This threatens to scupper tech projects, widen organizational talent gaps, and make recruitment in the tech industry fiercer than ever. To bridge this gap, organizations need to start connecting with the younger workers they’re trying to attract. One way to do this is by thinking green. Read More
“Green” living means a choice to engage in cleaner, more sustainable habits in order to preserve the planet as much as possible. Nearly two-thirds of Americans say that protecting the environment for future generations is “very important,” and 56% believe that stricter environmental laws are worth the cost. To determine the cities promoting an environmentally friendly lifestyle, WalletHub compared the 100 largest cities across 28 key “green” indicators. Our data set ranges from greenhouse-gas emissions per capita to number of smart-energy policies and initiatives to green job opportunities. Read More
“Cities need to invest in housing and infrastructure,” said Patrick McKenna, executive chairman at Facet Wealth, and founder at One America Works, who participated in the session. “Cities become too expensive for missing middle and creatives, who are the people who make the city cool, but then they can no longer afford to live there. Demand comes in and pushes from the top down, squeezing out the people who make it interesting, diverse.” Read More
Ongoing Remote Fintech Hiring Event!
It’s not to late to join One America Works for our spring Fintech Remote Recruiting Event! We’ve assembled some of the best fintech companies to work for – all with amazing, fully remote roles. Once you fill out your application, all of these companies will have an opportunity to review your resume and set up 1-on-1 interviews.
The event is ongoing and running now through May 15, but don’t wait! Learn more and register here.


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ST. LOUIS — Hi-Pointe Drive-In announced Wednesday it will be opening a spinoff concept, "A Little Hi."
A Little Hi will be a mini version of the popular Hi-Pointe Drive-In, slimming down the size and menu.
“Since we opened our first location in 2017, we have pushed the limits of your typical burger joint from our chef-driven take on burgers to our outrageous specials,” says co-owner Ben Hillman. “We’re going back to the basics to focus on what we do best - quality burgers, shakes, and fries. Sometimes, the best things come in small packages.”
The concept will be highlighting the signature food from the Hi-Pointe menu, offering a micro-version at this location. It will exclusively serve Hi-Pointe's signature burgers, shakes, and fries.
The 2,000-square-foot space will have its interior mirror other Hi-Pointe locations with their bold colors, nostalgia and other decorative pieces.
“We hope to expand this spinoff concept into additional smaller spaces in the future so more of our fans can get a Little Hi. Guests can expect the same quality experience that they receive at any Hi-Pointe Drive-In location,” Hillman said in the press release. “No matter how small our new restaurants might be, we will always bring big energy and exceptional food. We are very excited to bring A Little Hi to our friends in Ballwin this fall.”
The restaurant will be opening up at 15069 Manchester Rd, Ballwin, MO, 63011 in Fall 2022. It will be open seven days a week, from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. each day.
Hi-Pointe will continue to have its Downtown St. Louis, Kirkwood and O'Fallon, Illinois, locations open.


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Do you remember VHS cassettes? Yes, barely. How about the phonograph? Neither do we. Exactly. There comes a time when new technology becomes so accessible and easy to use that the alternatives that we were ones used to are no longer in need. So when will electric cars stop being a trend and rather become mainstream?
According to Bloomberg New Energy Finance (BNEF), it looks like the 2020s will herald the beginning of the era of the electric car.
Following the pattern of technologies from the past and how they have shaped the behavior of generations ahead, electric vehicles will, too, bring significant shifts in the world of the future.
To give you an example of the upcoming changes, think of the oil supply that will be no longer needed. Bloomberg calculated that electric vehicles could displace oil demand of 2 million barrels a day as early as 2023. The only question here is, will this indeed happen so soon?
Electric Cars Cheaper Than Conventional by 2022
Why not? It seems like electric car sales are increasing every year. In 2015, EV sales grew by 60 percent worldwide. And surprisingly, this is the same annual growth rate that let Ford’s Model T surpass the usage of the buggy and the horse in the early 20th century.
The first game changer, as it is often referred to, had a trajectory of development almost identical to the one of Tesla Motors today. Coincidence? We don’t think so.
Tesla Motors, as one of the few EV automakers today, announced that it is aiming to bring EVs to the mass market, and the company’s first official step towards this goal is the Model 3, which falls in the $30,000 price range. More than 350,000 people have preordered the model so far.
Similarly, Nissan and Chevrolet are following Tesla’s footsteps with their EVs, thus allowing for much wider spread of the EV as a type of vehicle. By 2040, electric vehicles will account for 35 percent of all new vehicles sold.
According to the BNEF report, new EV sales could be as high as 50% in 2040 if they become widespread in fleets and ride-sharing schemes, or as low as 25% if oil prices remain very low for many years. As Salim Morsy, senior analyst and author of the report, stated that “the central forecast is based on the crude oil price recovering to $50, and then trending back up to $70-a-barrel or higher by 2040.”
If the oil price were to fall to $20 per barrel and remained on that level, this would only delay mass adoption of EVs to the early 2030s.
Yes, ok, we all want to see our addiction to oil cured, and it even looks like we already have the technology we need to do so. But nevertheless, EVs today comprise only 1 percent of all sold cars in the world. Electric cars are still very rare in the developed countries, and most other nations can’t even afford them.
Skeptics would say that with these levels of distribution and infrastructure, there is no way EVs would rise to 35 percent of all car sales. There is a need for significant investment in bringing awareness and understanding of sustainable technology in most countries, along with developing and expanding the power stations across the globe. Even after all this is completed, the result will be that the plug-in cars would still cost a fortune. So is sustainable transport technically feasible in the near future at all?
Well, nobody thought DVDs were possible, but they replaced VHS in less than a decade. This time, however, the facts are speaking for themselves, and you must be blind not to see them.
One of the main reasons that would allow for the quick invasion of EVs in the mass market is the decrease in cost of battery production. Only in the past year, the price of batteries fell by 35 percent, and it is following the same path. In less than six years, analysts estimate, reduced battery price will make electric vehicles as affordable as their gasoline counterparts.
According to Colin McKerracher, lead analyst at BNEF, “lithium-ion battery costs have already dropped by 65% since 2010, reaching $350 per kWh in 2015. We expect EV battery costs to be well below $120 per kWh by 2030, and to fall further after that as new chemistries come in”. Moreover, this will bring EVs price down to less than $22,000 in today’s value according to the projections of Bloomberg finance analysts.
The infrastructure needed for the kickstart of EVs to the mass market might seem to be another obstacle on the way. However, several global studies have already shown in their forecasts that charging stations will not be a problem. On the contrary, the number of power stations will increase more than ten times by 2020. According to IHS Incs, the market for EV chargers will grow from more than 1 million units in 2014 to more than 12.7 million units in 2020.
Another reason for the quick development of the EV market that is no less important than the technicalities is the effect electric vehicles have on the environment. EVs are vital to cutting down carbon emissions and dealing with air pollution in cities. They can eliminate nitrogen oxides (NOx) and sulfur oxides (SOx), which are the cause of many premature deaths of plants, animals and people every year. According to a study, by 2050, the electric vehicles could help reduce annual greenhouse gas emissions by 1,030 million metric tons relative to 2015 levels, a 45% reduction.
As we can see, there is little left that can delay the introduction of EVs to the mass market. Even if conventional cars improve their efficiency by 3.5% a year, EVs will still come at a cheaper price by 2022, and that is including the original sale price plus running costs. EV sales will rise faster in countries that invest early in charging infrastructure or environmental policies.
We bet that if five years ago somebody told you that you would no longer need your car in a couple of years, you would have never believed them. But how about now? It might still be a little hard for the majority of you to accept the possibility of charging your car like you are charging you laptop. But hey, we should be open to what the future brings, right? And it seems like there is no escape from electric cars, so we’d better get used to the idea of plugging in our rides.


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BERLIN: It’s the gloopy chocolate and hazelnut spread that has become a worldwide food phenomenon, whether slathered on toast or eaten straight from the jar by the spoonful.
But aficionados of Nutella are up in arms after discovering that the recipe has been secretly changed, with more sugar and fat – but fewer hazelnuts.
Ferrero, Nutella’s Italian manufacturer, admitted it had carried out “fine-tuning” but insisted the nutritional value of the new version was similar to its predecessor.
The recipe tweaks had been spotted by the eagle-eyed German consumer group Hamburg Consumer Protection Centre and revealed on its Facebook page. It claimed the new recipe has increased the content of powdered skimmed milk from 7.5 per cent to 8.7 per cent, and sugar from 55.9 per cent to 56.3 per cent.
Furious Nutella fans took to Twitter to criticise the changes, using the hashtag #boycottNutella.
@AllesParr tweeted: Not a good idea to mess with #Nutella lovers!
Another wrote: “If the rumours of #Nutella changing their recipe are true, I am boycotting them.”
And another fan said Ferrero “should be reducing sugar content in this day and age”.
In a statement Ferrero confirmed the changes had been made but insisted that “the quality … and all other aspects of Nutella remain the same”.
The nutritional content of Nutella has not been without controversy. Earlier this year fans were shocked by a “deconstructed” photo of its raw ingredients – shown in layers of a jar – that revealed the high sugar content.
“We are shocked to see Nutella has ramped up the amount of sugar in its already sweet product,” said Kawther Hashem, nutritionist at Action on Sugar.


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Only two days left to vote in our Annual Awards, or as we call it, the Oscars of underwear! This is the 8th year and your vote is required! Check out all nominees and cast your vote here.
Check our the interview and feature of model Airon Mallars in HUF Magazine.
Our instaman award this week goes to our fan and customer Dario Garcia.
Model Alex Hansen photographed by Smltd for Gym Class B #7 in Yearbook Fanzine.
Check out the behind the scenes video from the shoot of the new collection called Super by teamm8.
New, see-through arrivals from Barcode Berlin!
Dozens of new styles by Andrew Christian now at Men and Underwear – The Shop.
Watch the video of the new collections just released by Marcuse on our YouTube Channel.
A brand new collection of briefs and thongs called Astra has just been released by Marcuse!
A new line of beautifully made, luxurious, stackable cockrings called M.U.S.E. has just been released by Esculpta.
New website and many new collections just launched at jockstraps.com
The French Bikinis by TOF Paris in four colours and five sizes have arrived!
Offer of the week at aussieBum the new Super Trooper briefs now at 50% off!
Check out the new Woody Sprint underwear just released by Supawear!
New swimwear called Night Bloom now available at 2EROS.


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Live Nation Entertainment, Inc. has released its Q2 2019 and H1 2019 financial results for the three and six months ended June 30, 2019 respectively.
The live entertainment giant’s revenue was up 10% YoY in Q2 2019 to $3.2 billion (interestingly, this is more than Universal Music Group’s global recorded music operation turned over in the first six months of this year).
Operating income at Live Nation in Q2 was up 27% to $172 million, with adjusted operating income (AOI) up 23% to $319m.
Live Nation says that global ticket revenue from its concerts is up 16% for the first half of 2019, while ticket revenue from concerts outside Live Nation’s Top 100 artists is up 32% for the first half of the year.
The company says that it has sold 73m concert tickets for its shows in the first half of 2019, up 6% or approximately 4.5m year-on-year.
In Q2, Live Nation reports that had 27m fans attend 10,000 shows, up 7% and 9%, respectively year-on-year, which the company says was “by far” its largest second quarter ever.
Operating income from the company’s sponsorship and advertising business grew by 14% year-on-year, with AOI up by 12% and revenue up by 8% for the quarter.
Live Nation’s ticketing division Ticketmaster saw fee-bearing gross transaction value (“GTV”) growth of 13% at constant currency in the quarter, making it the company’s highest second quarter GTV ever.
As a result, Ticketmaster’s operating income was up 31%, AOI was up 20% and revenue was up 6% for the quarter.
“We have created the most scalable and unparalleled business model in the industry, building a platform that brings over 570 million fans in 45 countries to live events each year.”
Michael Rapino, Live Nation
“We have created the most scalable and unparalleled business model in the industry, building a platform that brings over 570 million fans in 45 countries to live events each year,” said Live Nation President and Chief Executive Officer Michael Rapino.
“With our key metrics in concerts, sponsorship and ticketing all pacing well ahead of last year, we are confident that in 2019 the company will again deliver double-digit operating income and AOI growth.
“In summary, 2019 is on track for the company to deliver double-digit operating income and AOI growth along with strong gains in revenue.
“Each of our businesses is contributing to this success, starting with concerts as we put on more shows for more fans, then continuing to monetize fans at the concert, sell more tickets to events of all types, and further deliver value to our sponsors from our platform of nearly 100 million fans.”Music Business Worldwide


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Ralph Lauren, Others Sued Over Recharging Purse IP
Law360, New York (August 20, 2015, 3:59 PM EDT) -- Ralph Lauren Corp. and a crowdfunded handbag designer were hit with a lawsuit Wednesday in Texas federal court accusing them of ripping off a design for purses with lighted interiors that can also charge electrical devices.
In a complaint, Houston resident Jimmy Bryan said designers are using without his consent his two patents covering various types of rechargeable accessories that illuminate the interior of a container, such as a purse, backpack or luggage, and contain an outlet to charge electronic devices. Bryan also names crowdfunding giant Kickstarter in the suit, claiming it facilitated and benefited from designer Leoht Inc.'s alleged infringement....
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New Nokia Lumia 625 with Windows Phone 8 shows up in photos
Nokia is getting ready to unveil a new and quite large Windows Phone 8 device. It’s called Lumia 625 (we heard about it back in May).
It turns out that the Lumia 625 is indeed the bigger brother of the 3.8 inch Lumia 620 that was launched in January. It’s been certified by Chinese authorities just recently, and thankfully some photos of it have been made available.
The new Lumia sports a 4.7 inch display, the largest ever found on a Nokia WP8 device. For the record, the company’s current flagships – including the new Lumia 1020 – all have 4.5 inch displays.
However, the 625 is not a high-end smartphone. The screen resolution is WVGA, while other features include: dual-core 1GHz processor (of unknown provenience), LTE connectivity, 5MP rear camera with Flash, VGA front-facing camera, 512MB of RAM, and a 2,000 mAh battery.
The Lumia 625 could be released in China before the end of this month. It should cost 1,999 CNY there – meaning about $326, or €248.
LiveSide reports that the 625 – or a slightly different version of it – may have passed the FCC last month as the Nokia RM-941.
Nokia will probably announce the Lumia 625 in the near future. I’m guessing the handset won’t be launched only in China, but in many other markets around the world.


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KANALCOIN NEWS – United States multinational company Google, recently made a new policy. Now, the company allows cryptocurrencies to advertise within its services. However, there are some requirements posted. One of them is that all services and products must be certified by Google.
In this regard, Google has tightened its terms of service. It is designed to weed out irresponsible parties who want to cheat. In addition, advertisers must also meet certain requirements and must be certified by Google.
For ads to be certified by Google, advertisers need to be registered with the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) in order to become part of a central bank. Advertisers must also understand and comply with Google’s published advertising policies.
Google Now Allows Crypto Ad Service
Previously, Google banned cryptocurrency ads, but recently Google has published ads about policies on financial products and services. The company from the United States has updated the rules, so that anyone can market cryptocurrency services on its platform.
On August 3, 2021, advertisers offering crypto services are allowed to advertise their products and services. In fact, previously in 2018 the company had banned ads related to crypto currencies, or ads about crypto-related aggregators and affiliates.
However, last June a class action lawsuit filed against Google, Facebook and Twitter for banning crypto ads. The lawsuit was filed by Sydney-based law firm JPB Liberty. For this reason, Google also revised the rules regarding crypto advertising. The company has also targeted consumers from the United States to advertise crypto first.
For this reason, Google is now allowing crypto ads to appear on its pages. However, this is only permitted in certain countries such as the United States and Japan.
However, many suspect this policy will increase product sales for Google and Alphabet. However, the possibility of crypto advertising has little effect on the company’s estimated revenue of US $ 147 billion.
Although Google has given the green light to crypto advertising, the company still does not allow advertising for ICOs, DeFi trading, promotion of buying, selling or trading crypto. In fact, endorsements through artists and celebrities are strictly prohibited by Google.
The reason Google tightens the rules is because the company wants to minimize fraud through endorsements. Another recent policy is that Google also prohibits crypto ads that link to certain websites that host cryptocurrency trading signals, crypto investments or sites that contain reviews from brokers.
While new companies allow crypto advertising, Google prohibits crypto ads that aim to compare crypto companies or related products. The company also prohibits celebrities from participating in advertising cryptocurrency products.
The goal is to minimize fraud under the guise of gifts in the form of Bitcoin. The reason is, many people use Google and Youtube to lure people with bitcoin prizes.
This policy was taken because last July Google was sued by Apple founder Steve Wozniak. The lawsuit was filed because there were other parties who were promoting fake bitcoins on behalf of Google and Youtube.


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WICHITA — Hutchinson-based Lowen Corp., which has an IT division in Wichita, is acquiring Iowa-based Image Transform Ltd.
Lowen is a 62-year-old graphics and sign company. Image Transform is a 39-year-old digital graphics and dye sublimation fabric printing company.
"It's basically taking the best of both worlds and making both companies stronger," says spokeswoman Jordan Walker.
She says the acquisition "is coming at a really good time."
"We're currently expanding in a lot of different product lines.”
Image Transform can print on fabric, which is something Lowen used to have to use an overseas company to do.
"Currently we have to go through a third party for that," Walker says. "Now, those types of products are going to be made in the U.S."
Consequently, she says, turnaround times will shorten.
The biggest change at Image Transform will be the name, Walker says. It will be known as Lowen Visual Imaging. Walker says there won't be any layoffs with the acquisition.


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Cheaper data and affordable smartphones have got Indian netizens hooked on popular video sharing service YouTube. The growth, a top executive said, has been “phenomenal” with almost every active smartphone user accessing the service every day.
“We have seen over 100% growth year-on-year in terms of daily active users and I can say that YouTube has become a daily habit for consumers here. Everyone is watching content on YouTube every day and everywhere,” Satya Raghavan, director of content partnerships at YouTube India, told ET.
In 2014, only 16 Indian content creators on YouTube had more than a million subscribers. Last year, 145 channels reached that mark.
“Now we have more than 300 creators with one million subscribers. Two creators are crossing one-million milestone every week on an average and 2,500 creators are touching their first 1,000 subscribers milestone every day,” Raghavan said.
In fact, three Indian creators – Amit Bhadana, BB Ki Vines and Technical Guruji – have crossed the 10-million mark for the first time.
“Demand and supply are finding equilibrium on the platform. As the number of users is increasing, content creators are also interpreting these signals and are uploading content more frequently. Some of the tech creators are uploading one to two videos a day,” added Raghavan.
The growth in sheer volume has resulted in shooting up of advertising rates too. ET first reported that YouTube is doubling the ad rate of the fixed banner ad – from ₹70 lakh a day at present to ₹1.4 crore per day – starting January 1, next year.
While there are concerns on the price, India now has the second largest internet user base with 390 million active internet users. Every year, 40 million new consumers are coming online and the number is growing, which is making YouTube take bigger bets in India.
In order to help creators grow, Raghavan said, YouTube is focussed on building the best possible platform and conduct workshops.
“We have a strong platform and we are constantly working on strengthening it. Almost 50-70% viewership to creators’ channels come because our algorithms are making them discoverable. Plus, we are working with creators, conducting workshops to help them on content creation and monetisation,” he said.
- YouTube bans coronavirus vaccine misinformation
- An ad is trending on YouTube. So what?
- Where India's top YouTuber stands compared to rest of the world
- YouTube to launch short-video feature Shorts in India in a few days
- YouTube brings back 1080p streaming option in India
- Ripple sues YouTube over cryptocurrency scams


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ATLANTA—IHG’s strategic focus on driving net rooms growth is delivering strong results, according to its first quarter earnings results. The hotel company’s net system size up 5.4% year-over-year, 12,000 rooms opened—88 hotels, nearly one per day—bringing total system size to 843,000 rooms (5,656 hotels).
“Our strategic focus on driving industry leading net rooms growth is delivering strong results, with our net system size increasing 5.4% in the first quarter and our highest number of signings in 12 years,” said Keith Barr, CEO, InterContinental Hotels Group PLC. “Global RevPAR increased 0.3% against strong prior year results, with good growth in the US where we outperformed the industry segments where we compete, and continued market share gains in China.”
Among the highlights:
IHG also reached its highest number of signings in 12 years, with 24,000 rooms signed—173 hotels, nearly two per day—bringing total pipeline size to 279,000 rooms (1,916 hotels).
Global Q1 comparable RevPAR was up 0.3%, and Americas RevPAR up 0.8% with good growth in the U.S. (up 0.6%, outperforming the industry segments where the brand competes.
In addition, IHG continues to expand its brand portfolio into high-opportunity segments and markets. There were more than 180 Avid Hotels signed, including 12 hotels signed in Q1; there are nearly 50 Avid Hotels currently under construction or with planning approved. The company is also set launch its all-suites upper-midscale brand in the U.S. later this month.
“Our highest first quarter hotel openings in a decade included our 400th hotel in Greater China. More than 60% of openings globally were in the Holiday Inn Brand Family, driven by our focus on innovative design and service enhancements which is leading to improved guest satisfaction across our highly preferred portfolio of global brands,” said Barr. “We have continued to expand our brand portfolio into high-opportunity segments and markets. In mainstream, we now have over 180 Avid hotels signed and will launch our all-suites upper-midscale brand in the U.S. later this month. Our upscale conversion brand Voco, is seeing strong owner interest with five hotels now open and a further 12 signed since launch last year. Our recent acquisition of Six Senses rounds out our offer in the top tier of luxury.”
A Look at the Brands
Holiday Inn: Continued roll out of new “Open Lobby” public space in Europe with its 100th Holiday Inn Open Lobby hotel recently opened in Belfast.
Avid Hotels: More than 180 Avid hotels now signed, including 12 hotels signed in Q1 2019, one of which was in Germany. With 46 Avid Hotels currently under construction or with planning approved, it is expected the openings will gather momentum through the year.
New ‘all-suites’ upper-midscale brand: On track for launch later this month at the Americas owners conference.
Crowne Plaza: Strong momentum behind Plaza Workspaces with new modern design and dynamic meeting space launched in the company’s Atlanta flagship hotel.
Hotel Indigo: Signed eight hotels including four in the Americas, taking the total pipeline to 99 hotels.
Voco: Launched brand in June 2018, primarily for conversion opportunities. Five hotels now open including a flagship property in Dubai. A further 12 hotels have been signed to date.
Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants: Following the opening of the U.K. flagship, the Kimpton Fitzroy London, we expanded our presence across the U.K. with the opening of the company’s first Kimpton Hotel in Scotland. We also opened the first Kimpton Hotel in Asia-Pacific, the Kimpton Da An Hotel, Taipei.
Regent Hotels & Resorts: The company has seen strong owner interest, with signings in Chengdu and Bali during the quarter.
Six Senses Hotels Resorts Spas: Completed acquisition of 16 hotels and resorts, with 18 management contracts signed into its pipeline, and more than 50 further deals under discussion. Since acquisition, we have opened Six Senses Hotels in Bhutan and Cambodia.
“The investments we are making to enable this acceleration in growth are funded through our efficiency program, which is on track to deliver $125 million of annual savings by 2020,” said Barr. “While macro-economic and geopolitical uncertainties remain in some markets, the strong fundamentals of our business give us confidence for the balance of the year.”


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The latest development in the great iPhone 5 rumor rollercoaster of 2011? The end of it all is (maybe) just around the corner.
AllThingsD is reporting that Apple will finally, officially, take the wraps of its stratospherically anticipated new device on October 4, and that new CEO Tim Cook will be on stage doing the honors.
The event will be something of a coming out party for Cook, who will be presiding over the presentation of the device(s) in Apple's first press conference since the departure of Steve Jobs. Will he evoke the magical? The revolutionary? No doubt the pundits will be watching closely.
If past is prologue, Apple will confirm (or disprove) the announcement date in the near future with an official invite to the press.


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Businesses that bought software from Microsoft for their own data centers face restrictions and surcharges when moving to Microsoft’s top cloud competitors. A recent probe by Europe’s antitrust authority into Microsoft’s licensing agreements that discouraged viral cloud usage is one of the reasons they follow scrutiny worldwide. The reading speed of the HOF Extreme 50S family of solid state drives has been increased to 12.4 gigabytes per second. The start of the collaboration is not mentioned this week.
The company has experience, data, skills and proactive action to contend with challenges like legacy infrastructure, lack of readiness, and resistance to change. We don’t opt for off the shelf digital solutions; instead, we believe in co creating customised solutions with renowned technology giants. The formula of using technology to achieve business outcomes hinges a lot on in house capabilities and other synergies. The power of data and digital tools has led to a breakthrough in product quality for the rolled aluminium products used in the building and construction, packaging and automotive industries.
New 2d Mario, Super Mario Rpg Remake And The Return Of Detective Pikachu: Games Were Announced By Nintendo In June
The comments responded to a request from the US Agency for information on security issues and competition in the lucrative market for data storage and computing power in the so called cloud. In order to support local news publishers in India, the “Indian Languages Programme” was launched on Friday. This programme stands out as the most diverse technology programme for news publishers, with support for a total of nine languages. More green technologies, more renewable energy sources, and working towards net zero carbon operations are some of the ways in which Vedanta is looking to move forward. Additive manufacturing has the potential to change production processes.
The Way Of Advanced Technologies In Healthcare Has Been Paved By The Trials Of Medication Delivery Via Drones
The hackers have posted on a dark web leak site the BlackCat gang and have allegedly stolen 80 gigabytes of compressed data from Reddit in a data breach that happened in February. No user passwords, accounts, or credit card information were impacted by the fact that the production systems were not compromised. HR professionals are in high demand for their skills in handling terminated employees. According to a report by ZDNet, some conversations can be difficult, so the HR professionals are turning to artificial intelligence for help.
The latest software product is an assessment for use by parents, educators and health professionals to assess children for special education and mental health services. The company claims its process can ease the pressure on schools. A grant from the government backed agency for supporting innovative businesses has been given to a company that designs software for young people with special educational needs.
Last year the watchdog opened an investigation into whether restrictions on combining the platform with third party map services were hurting competition. NetChoice said that these practices include preventing customers from switch providers in search of lower costs, stronger service offerings and more innovative solutions for their businesses. According to a new report by Counterpoint Research, almost 50 per cent of the world’s smartphones sold in the first quarter of the year were made with anOLED screen. Counterpoint Research’s Global Handset Model Sales Tracker shows that the share of OLED display smartphones in global sales hit a record high of 49 per cent in the first quarter. The company has a skilled workforce and a robust infrastructure. There is a diverse talent pool comprising IT specialists, data analysts and technology experts.
The detection of Triangulation (TriangleDB) on Apple phones was announced three weeks ago. Dozens of phones belonging to laboratory workers and other people were at stake. 600 data and cyber security specialists are going to be hired by Lloyds Banking Group Tech News as part of its digital transformation, as it opens a tech centre in India.
They follow scrutiny worldwide, including a recent probe by Europe’s antitrust authority into Microsoft’s licensing agreements that allegedly discouraged rival cloud usage The March request from the U.S. agency for information on security issues and competition in the lucrative market for data storage and computing power in the so called cloud was responded to by the comments that were due Wednesday. Microsoft has updated some terms in response to the criticism and said that it is committed to a broader cloud community success. Fees to remove data from providers’ clouds have been criticized. NetChoice took aim at Microsoft and Oracle in an example of public comments on Tuesday.
Some third party developers are shutting down their apps in a protest against the changes to the application programming interface, according to a report by The Verge. The third party apps aren’t adding much value to the platform according to the CEO. “You can now automatically silence incoming calls from unknown contacts onWhatsApp for even more privacy and control,” he wrote. Union Minister for Commerce and Industry, Textiles and Consumer Affairs, Piyush Goyal said on Tuesday that the manufacturing of Apple iPhones in India is expected to increase to 25 per cent.
According to a report, Yaccarino told the company’s investors during a presentation about how they plan to revitalise the microblogging platform’s business, which will not only focus on digital advertising but will go beyond it. They are in contact with political and entertainment figures, payment services and media publishers for a potential partnership. Realme is facing a probe by the central government over the alleged collection of the private data of its users, including call logs, usage statistics, and the device’s location.
Apple promised developers a solid set of software tools to create the corresponding software when it introduced the Vision Pro mixed reality headset. The TriangleDB implant is downloaded to devices after attackers gain root access by exploiting a vulnerability in the OS. The user doesn’t have to interact with the message because the infection takes place automatically. On Wednesday, Apple released patches for several operating systems that fix a vulnerability that could allow a program to be installed without user intervention.


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Morgan Co. woman pays it forward to help homeless
It is the season to give and share with those who may not be as fortunate.
Global Super-Absorbent Polymers Industry
LONDON, Dec. 10, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- This report analyzes the worldwide markets for Super-Absorbent Polymers in Thousand Metric Tons by the following End-Use Segments: Disposable Diapers, Adult Incontinence ...
?Let's get involved in Ebola/cholera campaign?
Ghanaians have been urged to be actively involved in the Ebola and cholera sensitisation campaign to prevent the spread of those diseases in the country.
France fines 13 consumer goods firms ?951m for price-fixing
Unilever, Procter & Gamble and Gillette are among those facing penalties for colluding on price rises between 2003 and 2006 Some of the world?s biggest consumer products companies, including Unilever , Reckitt Benckiser , Procter & Gamble and Gillette , have been fined a combined ?951m (£748m) by the French competition watchdog for price fixing in supermarkets. The regulator said the 13 ...
High-tech toys attract adults as well as kids
With Christmas approaching, many children are filled with joyful expectations for this year?s presents
Report: 300,000 Die Worldwide in 2013 Childbirths
Almost 300,000 women, primarily in developing countries, died from complications related to pregnancy and childbirth in 2013 according to a new report that blames the deaths on a lack of safe water, sanitation and adequate hygiene. A paper published in the journal PLOS Medicine reports that some 38 percent of healthcare facilities in 54 developing countries continue to lack proper sanitation and ...
Why Biologists Need More Computer Power [Video]
Mathematical modeling isn't just for physicists any more. Using mathematical equations and computer programs to simulate reality is becoming vitally important to understanding biology as well -- Read more on ScientificAmerican.com
French agency fines 13 consumer-goods makers more than $1.2 billion for price collusion
PARIS - France's antitrust authority has slapped penalties totalling some 950 million euros ($1.2 billion) against 13 consumer-goods makers for illegally colluding on prices for hygiene and cleaning products ...
France fines 13 firms $1.2 bln for price-fixing
PARIS (AP) ? Penalizing a dirty business involving cleaning products, French regulators fined 13 consumer-products makers about 950 million euros ($1.2 billion) for price fixing on goods like shampoos, detergents and toothpaste. France's competition authority said Thursday that the companies sought to maintain "artificially high" prices in negotiations with supermarkets which filtered down to ...
Ingham Co. deputy crashes in chase; dies
Michigan State Police are asking for the public's help in finding the driver involved in the death of an Ingham County sheriff's deputy.


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The biggest worry of the year for book publishers has been answered, as Borders appears to have been granted another 12 months to sort itself. Leading shareholder and lender of last resort Pershing Square has extended their $42.5 million term loan to Borders until April 1, 2010. But Pershing has once again won big concessions […]
Archives for March 2009
Tor announced today that Brandon Sanderson’s much-anticipated completion of the late Robert Jordan’s unfinished final installment of the Wheel of Time series has expanded so much that it will be published in three (sizable) volumes. Having promised fans a book this year, the first part, comprising a manuscript of about 300,000 words, will be published […]
Overall results were down sharply for fiscal 2008 at Bloomsbury due to comparisons to the launch of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, with sales falling by more than a third to 99.95 million pounds, with pre-tax profits of 11.63 million pounds. But the company offers itself long and hearty congratulations as “it re-balances its […]
Todd McGarity has joined Hachette Book Group as vp, distribution sales & services, responsible for overseeing all relationships with existing distribution services clients. He will report to COO Ken Michaels. McGarity was most recently the director of client development at Random House. Alisha Sevigny has been promoted to associate agent at The Rights Factory.
Des Higgins, who has been head of Bonnier Publishing since 2005, will leave for “a fresh challenge.” Chief finance officer Richard Johnson will serve as interim CEO. He says, “Bonnier has been been on a considerable growth path in English speaking markets – the brief is just to continue with that growth strategy.”Bookseller
Deal Reports Just e-mail to deals@PublishersMarketplace if you aren’t using the online form linked below. Report a deal using the online form The Key As usual, the handy key to our Lunch deal categories. While all reports are always welcome, those that include a category will generally receive a higher listing when it comes time […]


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✅ Apex Is Rocking Their Earnings
Our first newsbite today covers some good news about Apex. Apex FinTech Solutions reported its earnings for the first quarter of 2021. The company witnessed massive client growth, to the tune of 85 percent. Putting its total users at 14.4 million. And its trade growth increased by 183 percent, bringing the total to $235.5 million. More impressively, Apex also reported a net revenue of $145.9 million and a net income growth of 414 percent. As CEO Bill Capuzzi explained, “The financial industry is in the early innings of a massive digital transformation and our record quarterly results demonstrate that Apex is at the center of this transformation.” This exceptional growth that Apex is experiencing is also paired with some additional news. The company has recently announced a highly anticipated merger with Northern Star Investment Corporation II. Together, they will be bringing Apex to the NYSE under the ticker symbol APX. As the company prepares its revenue reports, investors are readying themselves for the public offering.
✅ The Future Of Robo Advice
Our next article discusses the importance of AI-based robo investing within Asia’s wealth tech market. Major banks throughout the region are currently collaborating with digital wealth solution providers to create user-friendly, scalable products focused on wealth management. The $1.5 trillion dollars global robo-investing industry is expected to grow to $2.5 trillion by 2025. Currently, America holds $1 trillion of the wealth tech sector, with Asia holding $0.3 trillion as the second-largest consumer of digital robo-advising products. While robo-investing may only account for 1 percent of the market share in Asia today, companies are working to change that. This increase in innovation has led to success stories arising in the region. Top firms include StashAway, Syfe, and RoboWealth.
Surprisingly, many of these firms were able to make leeway into the industry through lower customer acquisition costs than what they would have had in the United States. While real estate still remains the most popular long-term investment (tool) in Asia, interest in investment in the wealth tech industry is on the rise. Several CEOs have credited their success to market segmentation as well as a deeper emphasis on research and development. Aqumon CEO Kelvin Lei noted that consumer apps are growing at a rate of 400 percent per year. The demand for app-based services led Lei to create a new AI-based advisor to his customer base. The goal for 2021 is to see the B2C-focused app receive over 500,000 downloads. We are excited to follow these companies and it’s clear the entire region will be undergoing major disruption thanks to the new tech.
✅ AI Assistants In The Wealth Market
Rounding out our trio of newsbites are some fascinating updates from CogniCor. CogniCor is one of the leading AI-based firms working to improve wealth management firm operations worldwide. As part of their goals, the venture capital-backed company recently unveiled three different AI-backed personal assistants. Though the assistants aren’t human, they are able to streamline many of the issues that firms face when it comes to customer service. Each of the assistants was created through the CIRA platform, which uses machine learning systems to better predict the needs of clients. The assistants include a navigation assistant, a smart call routing assistant, and a forms assistant. So far, the results from the tests are impressive.
CogniCor’s assistants yielded a 25 percent reduction in support calls, an 80 per cent first-call resolution rate, as well as reduced time spent on easily-automated issues. Does this mean that CogniCor will eliminate the need for live help? Not quite. The firm makes it very clear that their assistants are there to help with free time for more pressing matters in the office. Should the assistants become popular, it is very likely that we will see wealthy firms increase their profits significantly over the next year.


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W HEN Nancy Burns and her husband, Thomas, moved into a 1959 split-level house in Fairfax, Va., three years ago, they tore up the cheesy shag carpeting and renovated the dark-paneled rumpus room but spared the pink-tiled bathroom with a matching pink tub and toilet that their real estate agent had thought would be a deal-breaker.
“We had the opposite reaction,” said Ms. Burns, who is 37 and a computer technician. “When we saw the expanse of pink, we knew this house was it.”
Pink bathrooms were common in homes built in midcentury America. But by the 1970s they were considered as saccharine as a package of Sweet’N Low. The color scheme in bathrooms then shifted from carnation and Pepto-Bismol pink not to mention robin’s egg blue and avocado green, also midcentury favorites to more muted tones like almond and ecru until, more recently, plain old white predominated.
But within the last five years, pink has come back into vogue, with more people like Ms. Burns embracing their vintage pink bathrooms rather than taking a sledgehammer to them. Moreover, interior designers now advocate flattering rosy hues for new or renovated bathrooms. And manufacturers of bathroom tiles and fixtures have been introducing more pink options. Noticing the trend, the color authority Pantone this month decreed that hot pink will be the “it” color of 2011.
“Pink makes you happy,” said Ms. Burns, who plays up her pink bathroom with a pink-poodle shower curtain, ceramic pink poodle figurines, pink towels and even a vintage pink bathroom scale.
While pink bathrooms started appearing as early as the 1930s, many credit Mamie Eisenhower with popularizing them in the 1950s. She decorated the White House with so much pink when her husband took office in 1953 that the staff began referring to it as the “Pink Palace.”
Pastel pink or “Mamie pink” soon became the era’s iconic bathroom color. While it is difficult to find colorful plumbing fixtures today, back then manufacturers like American Standard, Crane and Kohler all carried pink toilets, tubs and sinks (albeit in slightly different hues).
“That color palette languished for years, and now I can’t keep pink toilets in stock,” said John Vienop, operations manager for DEA Bathroom Machineries, a seller of salvaged plumbing fixtures based in Murphys, Calif. “We’re shipping them all over the United States.”
It’s unclear what is driving the recent rethinking of pink, but one factor could be the high visibility of midcentury design due in part to the popularity of “Mad Men” (the Drapers’ downstairs powder room was pink) and Atomic Ranch, the retro architecture magazine.
And since pink bathrooms are associated with a time of prosperity, perhaps there is also an element of nostalgia for rosier times, said Pam Kueber, who started a blog, savethepinkbathrooms.com, in 2007. Of the more than 500 people who have left comments on her blog, many fondly remember a grandmother, great-grandmother or favorite aunt who had a pink bathroom.
“There’s a lot of sentiment tied up in pink bathrooms,” said Ms. Kueber, 51. She lives in a 1951 brick ranch-style house in Lenox, Mass., that would have a pink bathroom if only she had known where to get pink ceramic tiles when she renovated it in 2003. She went with the next closest color she could find pale peach. “One of the reasons I started the blog was to help people share information on sources” for pink tiles and fixtures, she said.
But some people with vintage pink bathrooms have left them intact, not so much because they are nostalgic or are in love with the color but because it is too costly to redo them. “For a long time, I hated it and planned to gut it, but I was limited by my frugality,” said Michael Heaton, 34, a stockbroker, referring to the pink-tiled bathroom in his 1964 brick ranch-style house in Norman, Okla. “There wasn’t a thing wrong with it except the color.” After painting the walls a darker pink and painting the cabinetry black, however, his opinion changed. “Now it’s the best room in the house,” he said.
Ceramic tile work done before the 1970s was usually of very high quality, according to architects and architectural historians. The tiles themselves were often more substantial and less prone to crack and the so-called mud job, or the way tiles are set in place, was more careful and adhesive.
“The tiles back then were laid in real mortar, which is why so many of the pink and other wild-colored bathrooms survived,” said Jane Powell, a restoration consultant in Oakland, Calif., and the author of “Bungalow Bathrooms” (2001). “It’s extremely labor intensive and expensive to get rid of them.”
That’s not stopping Janice Friedman, 53, a legal administrator who lives in a 1954 brick ranch-style house in Wichita, Kan., from removing the tiles mortared into one of her bathrooms so she can replace them with pink ones. The original tiles were light green, she said, but were painted “a hideous off-white” by a previous owner. Although it will be arduous to remove them, she is determined: “I’ve ordered the pink tiles and told my husband we’re tearing out the old tile as soon as the Christmas tree comes down.”
While Ms. Friedman is aiming for a classic midcentury American look, high-end European designers of bathroom fixtures and tile have recently begun offering arty lines that are predominantly pink. Examples include a hot pink and white bathroom by the Swiss company Laufen and a stunning contemporary bathroom, by the Italian manufacturer Bisazza, that is lined from floor to ceiling with pink glass mosaic tiles.
“Bath design has been trending toward pink over the past two or so years,” said Scott Cook, manager of the Bisazza showroom in SoHo. “It’s very warm and makes your coloring look better in the reflected glow.”
The interior designer Brooke Giannetti, 45, and her architect husband, Steve, also 45, achieved that warmth with nothing more than a coat of paint. They painted the bathroom of their shingled beach cottage in Santa Monica, Calif., seashell pink a few months ago; for years it had been a spa-like all white. “You don’t want to be assaulted by that kind of starkness first thing in the morning or right before bed, which is when you spend the most time in the bathroom,” Ms. Giannetti said. “We’ve found the pink to be much more soothing and enveloping.”
And pink is complimentary, too. Tamelyn Feinstein, a 50-year-old photographer, painted the bathroom in her Nashville condominium bubble-gum pink in 2001. She was so happy with how she looked in there that she used the bathroom as the backdrop for a series of 365 self-portraits that she shot daily a few years ago.
“It’s very flattering,” she said. “It’s hard to be sad in a pink bathroom.”
Similarly, Sarah McColl, 28, a freelance writer, painted the nondescript bathroom of her Brooklyn walk-up a vibrant pink last year; she remembered reading in Vogue when she was a teenager that the color made you look better. She also decorated it with pinup-girl posters from the 1940s and 1950s, along with old album covers that have some pink.
“I think the article in Vogue said something like, ‘If you paint your bathroom pink, you’ll never regret it,’ ” she said. “And it’s true.”