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PCGamer has whipped up an interesting feature to spotlight some of the oldest PC games still being maintained and updated today.
As you can imagine, the piece highlights more than a few blasts from the past, and includes a couple of familiar faces like Ultima Online, StarCraft, and NetHack.
Those included are mainly from the '80s and '90s, and budding historians will be thrilled to hear there's an interesting tale behind each and every one.
Take UnReal World, for instance. The roguelike RPG launched back in 1992, and asks players to survive in a procedurally generated world based on Finland in the late Iron Age.
The game was initially written in Turbo Pascal, but has since been rewritten in C, and after that made the switch from DOS to Windows. More recently, it shuffled on over to Steam, launching on the popular digital marketplace in 2016 at the ripe old age of 24.
Naturally, there are more historical tidbits where those came from, so be sure to check out the full article over on PCGamer.


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Meet the pocket rockets: they might not have the power of a hot hatch, but they that can still be just as much fun to drive. Dan Prosser charts how they have evolved.
MORE FROM THE CARGURUS BLOG
The Ferrari 348 made its debut at the 1989 Frankfurt Motor Show. Three decades on, it makes for an intriguing used buy, says Lewis Kingston.
Aston Martin is one of the world’s most exciting car manufacturers, and its latest Vantage sums up exactly why that is.
The new car market is hugely important to Britain’s economy. Here are the 10 best-selling models according to data from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders.
The current generation of Volkswagen Golf R is one of the finest hot hatches money can buy. And with used examples now available for half the original asking price, it’s never looked more tempting…
The terms ‘modern classics’ can be applied to an enormous selection of vehicles. Here are five favourites, with prices starting from £1,500.
The Lotus Evora GT410 Sport might look like it belongs on the circuit, but this mid-engined sports car feels anything but intimidating to drive.

domain: news


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Following what it called a Pilot test for selling ads on its own content sites, Microsoft will soon upgrade its adCenter offering to automatically offer access to its Content Ads Beta program.
As of August 29, Microsoft will offer all its adCenter search advertisers the ability to also place ads over its network of in-house sites, including MSN Tech & Gadgets, Money, Real Estate, and Windows Marketplace. Advertisers will be able to manage their campaign bidding and pricing for placement on content pages and have those ads ranked according to the same process used for their search campaigns, according to Natala Menezes, product manager, adCenter for Microsoft.
“They’ll have the opportunity [to] have ads shown on our ad network as well as on our search network,” she said.
Although Content Ads has already been through a Pilot phase with “many thousands” of participants, Microsoft is officially labeling the network offering a Beta test for the time being. The plan is to bring on more advertisers, additional Microsoft-owned Web sites and eventually partner sites like Digg and Facebook.
“Until we reach a capacity point where all our advertisers would get the most for their bids, we wanted to stay on Beta,” said Menezes.
All adCenter users will have their ads placed in the Content Ads Beta network by default unless they decide to opt out of placement. Menezes defended the decision to automatically ad the feature to adCenter accounts, saying it offered a time savings for advertisers.
Header bidding is a programmatic technique that allows publishers to offer their inventory through multiple ad exchanges before they serve up ads from their ad server.
YouTube is said to be preparing new non-video features that will allow content creators to interact with their viewers through photos, text posts, links and polls.
Few digital terms are as dirty as clickbait. It's the scourge of the web, and Facebook recently announced a News Feed update aimed at reducing the prevalence of clickbait headlines on its service.
The website of National Public Radio (NPR), npr.org, receives upwards of 30 million unique visitors each month, but as of next Tuesday, ... read more


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With less than three months left before the 2022 mid-term elections, it is officially silly season when it comes to interpreting economic reports. For many analysts it’s pretty much all politics all the time, with data seen through a political lens first, and with real unbiased economic analysis coming maybe second, if ever.
It started off with those saying we’re in a recession because, at least based on the most recent reports, real GDP declined in both of the first and second quarters of the year. Never mind that the unemployment rate has dropped 0.4 percentage points so far this year. Never mind that payrolls are up an average of 471,000 per month, while industrial production is up at a 5.2% annual rate over the first six months of the year. Never mind that “real” (inflation-adjusted) gross domestic income was up in the first quarter (we’re still waiting for Q2 data) and has just as good of a track record as real GDP.
Ultimately, those claiming a recession started already wanted to score political points against the President and no other reports besides GDP would stand between them and that goal. My view is that a recession is coming, that monetary policy will have to get unusually tight for the Federal Reserve to bring inflation back down to its 2.0% target. In turn, tighter money should induce a recession. But that takes time and the recession hasn’t started yet.
And now it’s the President and his side of the political aisle who are abusing economic reports for their own political ends. It is entirely true that the consumer price index was unchanged in July, the first month without an increase since May 2020. Fair enough. But to use that to suggest the inflation problem is going away is nonsense on stilts.
Energy prices surged 7.5% in June and then dropped 4.6% in July. That’s it. That’s really all you need to know about inflation in the past two months. As a result, overall consumer prices soared 1.3% in June and then were unchanged in July. But this doesn't make a new trend. Looking at June and July combined, consumer prices rose at an annualized 8.1% rate. That is no different than the 8.1% annualized increase in April and May, before the extra surge in energy prices in June then the drop in July.
If you look at the unchanged CPI in July and think the Federal Reserve is nearly done, you’re in for a big surprise. The Fed isn’t close to done. Yes, if you follow consumer prices on a year-ago comparison basis, the inflation rate likely peaked at 9.1% in June. But getting from 9.1% down to the 5 – 6% range by sometime next year is the relatively easy part. Getting from there back down near the Fed’s 2.0% target is the hard part. Rents have been increasing rapidly around the country and we don’t see that ending anytime soon, which will make it very tough for the Fed to reach its stated goal.
You’re also deluding yourself if you think the officially-called “Inflation Reduction Act” is actually going to reduce inflation. Inflation is a monetary phenomenon; the bill isn’t going to have any noticeable impact at all.
The bottom line is that, for now, the economy continues to grow and inflation remains a very serious problem. In the meantime, investors need to set aside their personal political preferences and follow economic reports as they are, not as they want them to be because of the political spin their side gets to put on them.
The stock market up turn is real and based on earnings. So when the earnings reports are complete, there will be nothing to stimulate prices until the third quarter earnings reports appear in October. As a result, volatility will return with the low point behind us. I will keep you abreast of any reports and if those reports stimulate any further inflation and whether to expect a reduction of earnings over the next three quarters.
"This material is provided for general information and is subject to change without notice. Every effort has been made to compile this material from reliable sources however no warranty can be made as to its accuracy or completeness. The information does not represent, warrant or imply that services, strategies or methods of analysis offered can or will predict future results, identify market tops or bottoms or insulate investors from losses. Past performance is not a guarantee of future results. Investors should always consult their financial advisor before acting on any information contained in this newsletter. The information provided is for illustrative purposes only. The opinions expressed are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of Geneos Wealth Management, Inc."


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Samsung recently announced that its Galaxy J3 and J7 will be available in select U.S. carrier and retail partners, beginning in early June and going through summer. The manufacturer’s J series phones offer numerous customer must-have features such as the low-light cameras, expandable storage memory, longer battery life and better movie and app displays.
Both phones are of high-quality that ensures users have everything they want and need.
Samsung Galaxy J3
This smartphone has a 5.0” HD display that’s ideal for watching TV and movies. It has a front 5MP camera with a rear 8MP back camera that takes crystal clear group and selfie pictures. It’s got a long-lasting battery, which means users don’t need to worry about finding an outlet or power pack to charge their phones.
Samsung Galaxy J7
Consumers who want more from their phone can get it with the J7 with a better camera, more display and a powerful battery. The smartphone has a 5.5”HD display that gives consumers a big screen experience. The front camera is 13MP with an F1.9 shutter speed while the rear camera is also 13MP with an F1.7 shutter speed – ideal for low-light environments where many people take pictures. With its huge battery, people can use their phones for longer periods of time without the worry of needing to charge it.
Justin Denison, Samsung Electronics America Senior Vice President of Mobile Products Strategy and Marketing, said, one size fits all does not work in the smartphone industry. He said the Galaxy line was developed to offers some flexibility consumers – to find a phone that fits their particular needs. He said the J3 offers amazing features at an affordable price; the J7 is more advanced for consumers who want more from their smartphone.
These phones are also great for the workplace with its Samsung Knox already installed on the phone. Samsung owners can use the company’s Customer Care service. Just a tap of the app, users get real-time customer support with its Live Voice chat, tips, etc.


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10 Things to Know About Dubai’s Digital Economy Ambitions
Though much of the groundwork is still being laid-out in terms of what is to be done in the coming 10 years for Dubai to become the global digital economy hub; there are some elements, targets and strategic priorities that Dubai has made very clear.
Here are ten interesting things to know about Dubai’s digital economy ambitions:
1. The United Arab Emirates intends to double its digital economy contribution to the national GDP from 9.7% (2022) to over 20% by 2031.
There exists both a Federal-level and a Dubai Emirate-level Digital Economy Strategy, and oversight committees at both levels as well. The strategy clearly indicates the country’s ambitions for Dubai to become the leading Digital Economy hub in the world. Dubai’s ambitions include attracti


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A Fortnite-themed talk show is coming to Twitch
Science-and entertainment-focused publisher Inverse is the latest to jump on Twitch, the live streaming service owned by Amazon. But while a few other publishers including The Washington Post, Cheddar and BuzzFeed are trying to appeal to the news-curious on Twitch, Inverse is sticking to what Twitch is best known for: gaming.
The publisher is launching a new talk show that drafts off the popularity of cultural sensation Fortnite, which has some 125 million players and generated $315 million in revenue in June. Fortnite’s crossover appeal is huge; Twitch broke a record for most-viewed stream by a single player when pro-gamer Ninja was joined by Drake and played while discussing pizza and the game itself. Inverse’s show “SquadUp!” won’t be about pro-gamers but the hosts, Inverse’s video and audio head Weston Green and video producer Justin Dodd, will play with audience members. It’s going for the appeal of the popular podcast “Beautiful/Anonymous,” where host Chris Gethard spends every episode talking to a stranger.
“It’s really fun watching those gamers, but it’s a half percent of people,” Green said. “It’s fun when you’re squadding up — playing with people around the world. We thought, ‘How do we turn this into a show?’”
“SquadUp!” will live-stream twice a week for two hours each. Like other publishers that grapple with the costs of making making video, Inverse is looking for ways to repurpose video that it makes for a given channel, so each episode of “SquadUp!” will be edited down into a 15-minute clip that will then be posted on Inverse’s site and on YouTube.
Live gaming dominates the activity on Twitch; the top streams often are people with big followings playing games like Fortnite. Outside of gaming, there’s been an increase in professionally produced content from news publishers and categories like IRL (In Real Life) and non-game marathons are generating big audiences, according to Twitch.
With its core gaming focus and live commenting, Twitch isn’t a natural place for every publisher to seek out an audience. For Inverse, it made sense because it reaches a young people that are into science and entertainment but aren’t heavy Facebook users.
“It doesn’t have the natural discoverability of YouTube or the social graph of Facebook, so it’s a little harder to invest in,” said David Spiegel, chief revenue officer of Inverse. “Live streaming and games is an area few have permission to be part of. Facebook, the younger audience is not on it as they used to be.”
Other advantages are that making the show for Twitch didn’t take any additional resources other than existing people’s time, and there’s a chance to make money. Inverse is talking to gaming platforms, hardware makers and food and drink advertisers to be potential sponsors; in the meantime, Inverse is participating in Twitch’s revenue model where Twitch sells the ads and shares it with the publisher.
Member ExclusiveHow the future of TV and streaming has been reshaped so far by 2020
The first half of 2020 saw streaming viewership surge, the remaking of TV's upfront market, production shut down and Quibi's debut.
Showing them the money: Instagram’s IGTV is becoming YouTube stars’ alternative platform of choice
Creators are using IGTV as a sandbox to produce videos that wouldn’t suit their YouTube channels.
Member ExclusiveAs coronavirus restrictions lift, show makers prepare a gradual return to production
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Twitch moves deeper into TV-like programming (with interactivity)
Twitch has co-produced two series that enable viewers to participate in the shows and has talked with producers about adding more original programming.
TV ad dollars expected to drop in 2020, while streaming’s share set to rise
TV networks will need to count on streaming to help buoy their advertising businesses this year.


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Head honcho at Valve, Gabe Newell, has told how PC gaming hasn’t noticeably been affected by the often quoted mamrket statistics illustrating the decline of PCs. While he observes PC makers struggling, and anticipates more such companies going to the wall, game sales via Steam are up by an impressive 76 per cent year-on-year. Newell also took time at the ongoing LinuxCon convention in the US to drop hints that the Steam Box would be revealed “next week”.
PC gaming is immune from wider market decline
Talking about the state of the PC market Valve’s Gabe Newell told Linuxcon attendees in New Orleans about the woe of the PC industry, experiencing steady declines year over year. “I think we'll see significant restructurings, or market exits, by top-five companies in the PC space. It's looking pretty grim,” he said to the crowds.
Contrasting the Valve business experience Newell showed some statistics which suggest that the PC gaming market not only seems “immune” to that PC system market downturn but is growing. “Steam is going up 76 per cent year-on-year while PCs are going through double-digit declines,” Newell informed us.
The Valve CEO also said that the future of PCs as a gaming platform is secure, mainly because of its openness encouraging innovation. “PC gaming is where innovation is occurring. It's not on the consoles, it's not on the closed systems, it's happening to the extent to which a games platform is open.” He concluded that “most interesting topics are really coming out of the PC.”
Full Steam Box ahead
It seems like an age since we last heard anything about the upcoming Steam Box, following the unveiling of the Piston at the CES in January. A few weeks after that event we learnt that the $1000 Xi3 Piston wasn’t THE official Steam Box but a Steam Box compatible machine. It was too expensive anyway.
So, are we about to now catch a glimpse at or see more details of the official Valve Piston? It seems so as Gabe Newell told LinuxCon attendees “Next week we're going to be rolling out more information about how we get there and what are the hardware opportunities we see for bringing Linux into the living room.” Who knows, it might also be released in time for Xmas. We hope to find out next week.


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Meet these well-travelled cats
Published on Jun 1, 2014 11:00 AM
Cats are notoriously fickle and hard to please, but they're also known to be street-smart, and in these unique cases, remarkable travelers.
1. Singa, the sea-faring feline
Who said cats hated water? One was discovered in a shipping container at the port of Schiedam, Netherlands, in February this year, hungry and worn after making a lengthy journey across the seas from Singapore.
After being picked up by the SPCA, he was featured in its magazine, Dier, and became a hit on social media when the Cat Welfare Society posted his plight on its Facebook page,
2. Emily, the tabby cat
Having wandered from her Appleton, Wisconsin home in September 2004 to a nearby paper company's distribution centre, Emily did what cats do best - curl up into a container of paper bales and go to sleep.
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One of the most important, yet least visible, changes a new consumer financial protection bureau director could make is to reform the internal.
Regulators, including the Federal Trade Commission and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, share oversight of such.
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is a federal agency that protects consumers’ finances. It regulates credit, debit, and prepaid cards. It’s also the government’s watchdog on payday and consumer loans. The CFPB oversees credit reporting, debt collection and financial advisory services.
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) is committed to addressing consumer financial challenges affecting servicemembers, veterans, and their families. We do that through financial education, monitoring of complaints submitted by consumers to the CFPB, and coordinating with other Federal and state agencies on military consumer protection measures.
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) was created to help give consumers the information they need to better understand the terms of their.
4. Denied? Seek help elsewhere If your dispute is denied, but you still feel your case has merit, Stephens recommends submitting a complaint to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. If you do,
Is No Money Down The Only Benefit To VA Loans VA home loans are one of the best benefits. down payment of $3,912 ($500,000 – $484,350). New VA Home Loan Limits Coming Jan. 1, 2020 Starting Jan. 1, 2020, when the new law takes effect, the VA.
The latest Tweets from consumerfinance.gov (@CFPB). The Consumer Financial protection bureau. making markets for consumer financial products and services work for Americans. Washington, DC
Submit a complaint. We’ve handled over 1 million complaints, helping consumers connect with financial companies to get direct responses about problems with mortgages, student loans, payday loans, debt collection, credit reports, and other financial products and services.
The Wall Street critic would go on to assess the federal bank bailout as chair of the Congressional Oversight Panel from 2008.
You can unsubscribe at any time. As vice president, Biden supported Obama’s decision to appoint Warren as a presidential aide.
He also successfully defended claims under the Constitution’s Emoluments Clauses and Trump’s decision to name then-White.
dilutes fibbing: towering exist David Maloney’s SavvyCard One more thing: the caption: "The Bank of China Tower (first building from the left) is located in the central business district on Hong Kong Island, next to the HSBC Building, cheung kong center and Jardine House." is misleading. The BOC tower is not next to the Jardine House.
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), Washington, DC. 85K likes. The CFPB works to make sure that consumers have the information they need to make.
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) is a central part of President Obama’s historic Wall Street reforms.Their job is to make markets for consumer financial products and services work for Americans – whether they are applying for a mortgage, choosing among credit cards, or using any number of other consumer financial products.
Washington (CNN) The federal financial watchdog Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is moving to roll back parts of a rule meant to protect.


text: The consumers have spoken – 6,428 to be precise. Fifteen-year-old Megan McDonald has been chosen as the new face of Cougar Boots. Just over a month ago the company set out in a branded truck, offering fans the opportunity to see the new Pillow Boot collection, try on the boots of their choice and be photographed in them. This photo then became their entry into the contest to become the brand’s new face. McDonald’s billboard ad will be displayed on the corner of King and Spadina Ave in Toronto from Feb. 11 to Mar. 10.


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Remember the Kotobukiya Rockman model kit we've been reporting on all this year? Well, it appears that a release date may have finally been set for the item, which is sure to have a lot of Rockman collectors scrambling. Amazon Japan, who has a small gallery of images of the kit and its accessories, has posted a shipping date of September 25th for the kit. And while Capcom has yet to make an official announcement, RollChan confirmed via Protodude that she received the same date in a pre-order confirmation yesterday.
Depending on where you go to purchase the figure, it can run you as little as $23.58 USD, or as much as $38.00. You can find a list of online retailers who will be carrying it here, though it appears that some of the prices have increased slightly since it was posted.
Source: Protodude's Rockman Corner


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The Toyota RAV4 Key will get put to the gas-mileage exam with its cost manner. Ford ups its financial investment in electrical and electrified models—including for Lincoln. And we take a glance at the formal and unofficial EV advertisements of the Tremendous Bowl. This and extra, right here at Green Automobile Reviews.
Ford Thursday announced that it is nearly doubled its expense in electrified motor vehicles, to $22 billion via 2025—with an emphasis on “breaking constraints, raising battery potential, increasing expenditures and obtaining a lot more electrical automobiles into our product cycle plan.” Ford CEO Jim Farley also said that EVs will be “fundamental to the Lincoln brand name.
The 2021 Toyota RAV4 Key is distinctive amongst plug-in hybrids in that it has a prolonged 42-mile electric plug-in array. But, as many other PHEVs, it also has a cost mode—with extremely little advice furnished by Toyota on what to do with it. About a pair of long street visits, we choose a glimpse at how selectively charging up and making use of bursts of all-electrical could possibly raise mpg.
Although the GM advert that includes Will Ferrell, Norway, and the Cadillac Lyriq and GMC Hummer EV seems to be the only electrical automobile ad to air through the Tremendous Bowl this year, one significantly noteworthy unofficial ad featuring the Porsche Taycan was released into the managing. Does it get some people today considering about electric in a new way?
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On Oct. 6th, the US Postal Service sent a new rate change proposal to the Postal Regulatory Commission. If the Commission approves the proposal, which based on recent history typically amounts to a rubber stamp, new rates will be implemented after the stroke of midnight on Sunday, January 21st.
The rate changes impact all postal categories and products. Overall rates will increase by about 2%; however, core catalog products, such as Marketing Mail flats and Carrier Route flats, will be subject to an extra 2% surcharge. (The ACMA has formerly requested a waiver of this surcharge for Carrier Route as it is expected to be compensatory once the costs are known in March.) The First Class stamp would rise from 66 to 68 cents.
Click here for a chart documenting all the rate changes. The ACMA will be reviewing the proposed increases and provide further guidance to members in the coming weeks.


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If Coinstar Inc. has its way, the front of your supermarket will be home to a few more brightly colored kiosks.
One takes your unwanted gift cards and turns them into cash. Another dispenses freshly brewed coffee — fresh as in it doesn’t grind the beans until the customer makes a selection.
Both were on display this week in Dallas at the Food Marketing Institute’s biennial convention.
The Bellevue, Wash.-based company behind Coinstar coins-to-cash machines and Redbox movie rental kiosks, is testing a handful of ideas that originate both from its own staff and from entrepreneurs that it’s funding.
The company is looking for the third leg of its stool in the growing kiosk business, said a spokeswoman Marci Maule. “We’ve been looking for ideas to incubate internally and other businesses that we can invest in that solve a consumer problem.”
The gift card kiosk is bright yellow and called “alula,” named for the thumb portion of a bird’s wing. Maule explained, “We help gift cards fly home to a store, the same way a wing let’s a bird take flight.” To protect against fraud, a valid credit card has to be inserted for identification purposes to complete the transaction.
Alula’s cash payment is 60 to 80 percent of the face value. It makes its money when it resells the cards to consumers through an online partner.
Gizmo, an automated kiosk that sells a selection of about 40 refurbished small electronics from iPods to laptops that cost from $20 to $400, is being tested at H-E-B stores in San Antonia and Safeway stores in Los Angeles. Best Buy and Apple already do this, but Gizmo’s hook is the refurbished product offered at a 20 percent to 50 percent off new product.
Also in Texas, Alberstons is piloting a new feature on the Coinstar machine in Dallas and Kroger in Houston, that gives shoppers the full value of their coins if they take a store gift card. The fee is usually 9.8 percent of the coins counted.
Grocers are new to the no-fee offer. About 30 stores and restaurants participate including online giant Amazon.com, Toys R Us, Dallas-based Chili’s, all the Gap brands and Plano-based J.C. Penney.
Alula is in test in Chicago. The coffee machine operates in Seattle, San Francisco and Washington D.C. under the Seattle’s Best brand.
The grocery retail show ends today (Thursday). It wasn’t open to the public but attracted about 14,000 people to the Dallas Convention Center.


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New standard champions fishmongering, set to bridge consumer knowledge gaps
A new, first-of-its-kind accreditation for highly-skilled fishmongers in the United Kingdom will encourage a greater level of expertise within the trade and inspire increased consumer confidence in seafood consumption, according to Princess Anne, the princess of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
Developed by the ancient guild of the Worshipful Company of Fishmongers in partnership with the National Federation of Fishmongers, Seafish, and Seafood School at Billingsgate, the Master Fishmonger Standard (MFS) recognizes achievement for fishmongers at three levels of progression – Recognised, Advanced, and Master. In addition, those who have given a lifetime of contribution to the art of fishmongering may be bestowed as Companion Fishmongers.
Over time, it is anticipated that the standard will be perceived as the top accolade to attain within the sector and that certified fishmongers would be able to use it to showcase their craftsmanship and commitment to social and environmental responsibility.
Speaking at the launch of the standard and the presentation of the inaugural Master Fishmonger awards at London’s Fishmongers’ Hall, Princess Anne, who is also prime warden of The Fishmongers' Company, encouraged all fishmongers to be the guardians of excellence, not just with the preparation and selling of fish, but also as champions for healthy eating. She further highlighted that fish is a valuable commodit,y but that consumption must not exceed the sustainability of stocks, and suggested that one of the best ways to recognize this challenge would be for fishmongers to tell the story to customers over the counter.
With the way that people buy fish changing dramatically over the course of recent decades and contributing to a rising lack of knowledge among consumers about the products that they are buying, fishmongers have almost had to reinvent themselves with regards to what they now buy and do, said The Princess Royal.
That has been an important part of the theory behind this scheme. At the same time, it is aimed at maintaining the link between fishmongers and The Fishmongers' Company, she said.
“I hope that the birth of this Master Fishmonger Standard is a good way of doing that for everybody," she said. “Fishmongers face customers who I hope increasingly value that personal relationship and the ability to discover a great deal more about what they are buying – what has been caught, where it has been caught, how it should be cooked. I hope that they are also beginning to expect and indeed would like to know that their fish and shellfish come from traceable, well managed and sustainable fisheries."
Being able to understand and sell their product has always been part of fishmongers' job description, but the new award recognizes those who have a deep knowledge and skillset in the trade.
“Telling the story becomes an integral part of [fishmongers’] daily patter. I suspect that has always been true to some extent, but now it is recognized at the more advanced levels through the MFS award," said The Princess Royal. “This cooperation is a joint enterprise. I hope the initiative will make a lasting contribution to this – the founding trade of fishmongers – but also that the relationship is maintained between The Fishmongers’ Company and those at the sharp end, selling fish to customers. It is your business but it is also your understanding and your commitment to the trade which makes a real difference to those who come to you.”
Alison Freeman, program manager for fish trade and communities at The Fishmongers' Company, explained that the MFS Master Fishmonger accolade is reserved for those with at least 10 years’ experience as a fishmonger with practical skills that “know no boundaries.” They should have their own business or work in senior management and be an advocate for the industry.
“From sea to plate, Master Fishmongers should have dedication to their work within the seafood industry,” Freeman said.
Meanwhile, the MFS Recognised Fishmonger accolade is reserved for skilled and driven individuals with at least two years’ experience as a fishmonger.
The MFS Advanced Fishmonger award is reserved for managerial types with at least five years’ experience as a fishmonger. They should understand seafood supply chains, quality assessment, food safety and HACCP, handling and processing, as well as business and finance. Advanced fishmongers should also inspire the fishmongers of tomorrow with their leadership, said Freeman.
With the aim is to make the MFS as accessible as possible, The Fishmongers’ Company will ensure training, support and assessments will be conducted through approved regional delivery centers and assessors. Free, downloadable training resources are also available on the MFS website.
Lord Phillimore, fish and fisheries committee chairman at The Fishmongers’ Company, said that he hoped the standard would become a key component of the seafood industry.
Andrew Kenny, president of the National Federation of Fishmongers, said he believes the MFS is “the most exciting thing to have happened to the retail seafood sector in a long time,” as it promotes higher levels of knowledge, craft skills and sets a standard to be aspired too.
“For many years, fish markets and fishmongers may have been the last port of call for employment. That is not the case today,” he said. “Seafood is a highly valued protein which needs skilled handling and knowledge to match. The different tiers of the Master Fishmonger Standard recognize the journey of the modern fishmonger, regardless of whether the person comes from an independent fishmonger, supermarket or foodservice – the standard is the same for all.”
Kenny observed the first MFS course, which was held at Billingsgate Fish Market in May.
“Despite coming from different parts of the retail seafood sector, they all shared the same passion – to be a fishmonger," he said. "It is vital that the industry grasps and nurtures this passion. After all, fishmongers are the drivers of seafood sales. If we can educate consumers and provide consistent quality seafood then we can help create a healthier, prosperous and sustainable fishing industry for the future.”


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Dog and cat owners continue to seek high-quality spa products for their pets to create luxurious grooming experiences at home. Even pet specialty retailers that offer in-store grooming are finding that pet owners are investing in take-home grooming products.
Among the qualities that are important to pet owners when it comes to grooming products, natural is at the top of the list, said Kim McCohan, chief happiness officer for Bend Pet Express, which has two locations in Bend, Ore.
Dallas Van Kempen, president of EQyss Pet Products in Vista, Calif., said that interest is continuing to grow in ingredients and natural products. He noted that consumers are scrutinizing ingredients and using the internet to research them.
"Not only do people want products that are effective, they want them to be safe to use [and] have less environmental impact," Van Kempen said. "The ingredients in a grooming product can easily be researched on the internet to evaluate quality, efficacy and safety/environmental concerns."
Products that are made in the USA from USA-grown/manufactured ingredients are increasing in popularity, he added.
Pet owners also want something that smells good and is effective but won’t completely break the bank, McCohan said.
Another category trend is the growing consumer demand for formulas that are gentle and proven to be beneficial to a pet’s skin and coat.
"Pet parents are increasingly looking for products that not only make their pets look great, but are also good for them," said Doug Gleason, president of TrueBlue Pet Products in Los Angeles. "So, when it comes to giving a bath, they want a shampoo that makes their dog look and smell good, and won’t dry out their skin."
Many pet owners are looking for products that will solve specific problems—especially itching—said Laura Andrews, store manager at Pet Things, a Bentley’s Pet Stuff Co. in Douglasville, Ga.
"They want something that is high quality and spalike, but they often also want it to serve a function," Andrews said.
Molly Smith, owner of Republic of Paws in Denver and Colorado Springs, Colo., said that oftentimes conversations about using grooming products to solve a problem lead to education opportunities in her stores.
"We find that customers want to find spa products that will solve a problem, such as itching, but if there is an underlying cause, they’re not going to fix that," Smith said. "But it does open the door for an education opportunity, and we like to capitalize on those moments."
Grouping Grooming Products
When curating an optimum assortment of spa products, space is at a premium. But helping customers to find products they’re looking for—or that they might not realize exist—can be a great way to drive product sales.
Grouping products by brand rather than by category can help leverage customers’ existing brand loyalty, said Elyse Horvath, founder of Natural Paws in Scottsdale, Ariz.
"For example, if the customer is already a fan of Natural Paws’ paw care sprays, they might be more excited to learn about other products like the EARoma thEARapy sprayable ear wash, even if they didn’t go to the store specifically for ear wash that day," Horvath said.
Justin Pohl, vice president of Longview, Texas-based BioDerm Laboratories, maker of the Bio-Groom brand, agreed.
"I believe you have to have products beside each other that complement one another," he said. "If I am a consumer and I am going to purchase the Bio-Groom Natural Oatmeal Shampoo, it is highly likely I will purchase the Oatmeal Crème Rinse."
Yet Doug Gleason, president of TrueBlue Pet Products in Los Angeles, said that brand grouping for that "billboard effect" might work well for shampoos and conditioners, but he believes solution-based products are best organized by category.
"The most difficult question is whether to group by brand or type of product," he said. "When the pet parent is looking for a solution-oriented product, such as an ear-cleaning product, they really want to see all the different products together in one place so they can compare and make a choice."
And with so many products to choose from, retailers need to hone their grooming selections.
"Stores should carry three different ‘tiers’ of quality in a product assortment, no matter what the category," said Dallas Van Kempen, president of EQyss Pet Products in Vista, Calif. "We recommend ‘good, better, best’ as a philosophy to structure the store offerings."
Illustrate the Spa Experience
There are a lot of ways to get creative with your spa product displays. Jill Taft, founder of BarkLogic, a brand of New York-based Logic Products, said that with pet owners already humanizing their cats and dogs, retailers could have some fun with the concept.
"Displays that showcase pet humanization are fun and humorous and really drive the point home," she said. "Get a bathtub and put it on a table and create a very clean-looking spa setting around it. Get a lifelike-looking collection of stuffed dogs for your display—Melissa & Doug make some very lifelike dogs that we use for trade shows, and people always comment on how real they look."
Taft suggested putting a shower cap on one dog and a bathrobe on another, and then laying spa products throughout the display as though the dogs were enjoying a spa experience. You could even take it a step further and get a bubble machine to create bubbles and blow them in the air, Taft added.
"I love to see stores incorporate real-world objects into their retail setup—stores that add character and texture to their setup by using furniture, props, plants, or other decorations that go with the theme of the store or cater to the clientele," said Dallas Van Kempen, president of EQyss Pet Products in Vista, Calif.
The key, he said, is to know who your customer is and make them comfortable in your store, instead of "just being a place to buy stuff."
Elyse Horvath, founder of Natural Paws in Scottsdale, Ariz., suggested categorizing displays for an added effect.
"It could be as specific as ‘products with calming lavender’ or as broad as ‘products with relaxing aromatherapy blends,’" she said. "Place several products in that featured zone and people will want to find something in that category that speaks to their current needs. Are they looking for calming? Insect repellent? Mood enhancement? Give options in paw care, coat care, odor control and styling. The key is in having options."


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The year has barely started, and already the race for the top of the heap of global automakers is more exciting than it ever was. As predicted by yours truly yesterday, the French-Japanese Renault-Nissan Alliance came within spitting distance of General Motors, and nearly stole GM’s long-held third place. This year, the Alliance stands every chance to become #3, which, for the first time, would leave the podium in foreign hands. And guess who sold the most EVs last year? Hint: It wasn’t Tesla.
The Nissan-Renault Alliance Nearly Beat GM, But It Surely Beat Tesla
February 8, 2017 By


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Dubai: The Pointe on the Palm Jumeirah will join in this year’s festivities with a Diwali themed performance by the world’s largest dancing fountain, The Palm Fountain, and an amazing fireworks show on Friday, November 13.
Starting at 9pm, visitors to the family-friendly and retail destination can enjoy fireworks and a newly launched fountain show. The fountain on that day will showcase a choreographed dance to classic and contemporary Bollywood tunes and Hindi pop songs.
Diwali is the Indian festival of lights, which is celebrated during the Hindu Lunisolar month Kartika. Diwali symbolizes the "victory of light over darkness, good over evil, and knowledge over ignorance".
The fountain at the Pointe boasts two giant floating platforms covering 14,000 sq ft, water jets that shoot 105 metres into the air and 3,000 LED lights.
On that night a selection of restaurants at The Pointe will also offer 25 per cent off special Diwali menus.
Location: The Pointe Palm Jumeirah
When: Friday November 13 from 9pm onwards


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Marketing director Hal Diony has doubled the team in the last 12 months and completed the new database expansion.
Five years ago, CEO Asterir Osulivan moved from Hull's Old Town to the former publishing center of WORX newspaper and has since developed into a local business hub. Allenby affairs.
The campaign is set to run for more than two years. Delays caused by Vivid were used to set up a state-of-the-art 1,500m² office to support Diony's growing team.
The new home will accommodate a group of 15 people who grew up eight years ago, including Chief Marketing Officer Lisa Harvin, to continue to expand and find employment.
Diony doubles his winnings every year, more than the previous two on the high street.
"This move has given us more resources and will support our expansion plans this year," Osulivan said.
“We support big brands across the country, including vending machines across Europe, through our information-based services, improved online sales and an ever-expanding digital world.
"But even if we commit to Hull, we only want to see 30 percent of what we're doing here."
added Harvey. "We want to create something that our employees are proud of – flexible working, attractive benefits.
"Diony's healthy year-on-year growth supports our goals of providing exciting business development opportunities for our company."
Allenby received Commercial WORX from the Daily Mail and General Trust in 2016, and Halle Daily Mail still owns the building.
Other tenants include Promise Life Insurance, Planet Gym, Mad Volume Indoor Scooter, and Springboard Nursery. Dion's arrival takes place inside the building.
Allenby Business Development Manager Charlie Allanby says Alistair has come up with great innovations and is impressed with the overall quality of the build and renovation, as well as other companies we represent. modern variable.
“The standards have changed in the last two years. All we have to do is make the universe work for humans. It has never been more powerful than now.”


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What is being characterized as the pulpería of the future will have a grand opening in San Pedro.
The Ecomercado is a block south of the main street in the center of town. The firm stresses environmentally beneficial products and accepts Internet ordering through its Web site for delivery in the area.
The operators are Carolina Coto Segnini, who said the store will attempt to deal in local products, and Isabel Moya Segnini, who has 10 years experience in international sustainable development, according to a release. A pulpería is a small neighborhood food market.
The grand opening event is Thursday evening.


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Coming to your showrooms soon….
Nissan Gets Testy with Drunk Drivers
A new concept car designed to keep drunk drivers off the road goes much further than a built-in breathalyzer test.
Reuters, Aug. 3 — Nissan is testing alcohol-detection sensors that check odor, sweat and driver awareness, issue a voice alert from the navigation system and lock up the ignition if necessary.
Odor sensors on the driver and passenger seats read alcohol levels, while a detector in the gear-shift knob measures the perspiration of the driver's palm when starting the car.
Other carmakers with detection systems include Sweden's Volvo, which has developed technology in which drivers blow into a measuring unit in the seat belt before an engine can start. But Nissan's car also includes a mounted camera that monitors alertness by eye scan, ringing bells and issuing a voice message that a driver should pull over and rest.
The car technology is still in development, but Nissan general manager Kazuhiro Doi said the combination of detection systems will ultimately keep an eye on who's behind the wheel. "We've placed odor detectors and a sweat sensor on the gear shift. But for example if the gear-shift sensor was bypassed by a passenger using it instead of the driver, the facial recognition system would be used," Doi said.
Also keeping a short leash on drivers, car seat belts tighten if drowsiness is detected, while an on-road monitor checks whether a car is staying properly inside its lane.
Imagine if even one of these gizmos malfunctions — at high speed. Note: none of these features measures actual intoxication, or even blood alcohol levels — they are are triggered by the mere presence of alcohol. Or maybe a droopy eyelid. So how long do you think before MADD starts pressuring the Feds and state legislatures to make sure this is your next car?
The post The Car in Your Future appeared first on Law Offices of Taylor and Taylor - DUI Central.


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Jetlag drink company goes into liquidation
The flight drink company 1Above, partly-owned by the high profile, venture capital fund Movac and businessman Gareth Morgan, is in liquidation owing almost $10 million.
1Above sold drinks and tablets to help people recover from jetlag and hangovers.
The company ceased trading last week and liquidators from McGrathNicoll were appointed to wind it up.
"Following an unsuccessful process by the company to sell its business, the liquidators were approached by the company's legal advisors," the liquidator's first report said.
The company accounts showed it owed $9.75m to creditors and employees, including Inland Revenue, Auckland International Airport, the Bank of New Zealand and supermarket company Foodstuffs.
It had just $1.73m of assets available to pay them back, resulting in an $8m deficit.
1Above's parent company was majority owned by director Toby King, while Movac had a 30 percent stake and Gareth Morgan owned a minor stake through his investment firm, according to the Companies Office records.
RNZ has contacted 1Above's directors, Toby King and Mark Vivian of Movac, for comment but they are yet to respond.
This article was originally published on RNZ and re-published with permission.
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DELI by Caliva is the second recreational cannabis storefront to open in Hanford. Image via Caliva Facebook page
Written by The Business Journal Staff
The Central Valley’s newest recreational cannabis dispensary is hosting a grand opening today in Hanford with an aesthetic that may make customers even hungrier than normal.
DELI by Caliva is the first retail entrance into the Hanford community by San Jose-based The Parent Company. Caliva previously began offering delivery services in the area in December 2020.
DELI by Caliva stores are modeled after old school delicatessens with ticketed numbers to a deli countertop and bar stools.
Caliva officials and Hanford leaders gathered for a grand opening today at 11 a.m. The day will also be filled with additional events and promotions, according to a news release. The store is located at 104 N. Douty St.
“Caliva is proud to be a part of the Central Valley community and is excited to be providing greater access to The Parent Company’s high quality, trusted cannabis products with the opening of this retail location,” shared Dennis O’Malley, COO of The Parent Company. “Just like delicatessens, DELI stores are named for representing trusted neighborhood staples and high quality, personalized customer service. With this latest foray into Hanford, we will continue to represent the standard for safe, reliable, high-quality cannabis products, as well as a helpful and educational resource for those just beginning or looking to start a new branch of their cannabis journey.”
It is the second recreational cannabis storefront to open in Hanford. Redwood City-based HerbNJoy opened about a block away at the end of January.
DELI by Caliva is open 9 a.m. – 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 9 a.m. – 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday.


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With investment pouring in and new services launching, here are the most important developments of the Indonesian startup ecosystem, this week.
New Zealand Based AdTech Startup Postr Secures Funding – Looks To Expand To Southeast Asia
As per the report, its existing investors including Gunung Sewu Group, K1W1, New Zealand Venture Investment Fund (NZVIF), undisclosed angel investors from Singapore and New Zealand, and senior officials from PayPal also took part in the round.
The funding will be used to facilitate Postr’s expansion in Australia and Southeast Asia, particularly Indonesia.
Launched in 2014, Postr is an adtech startup that builds white label apps, enabling its users to “hire” their lock screens for advertising in exchange of mobile data from major mobile networks. The startup has already launched Optus Xtra in collaboration with Australian major Optus and plans to launch similar apps in Southeast Asia as well.
HRtech Startup Ekrut Bags Seed Funding From East Ventures
Indonesia-based early-stage VC firm East Ventures has invested an undisclosed amount of money in human resource technology startup Ekrut in its Seed round of funding.
As per a report by Deal Street Asia, the funds will be used to accelerate the company’s growth.
Founded in 2016 by Steven Suliawan, the startup aids recruiters with their hiring process and speeds up the process of headhunting. As per the report, Ekrut has worked with more than 30 tech companies in Indonesia including Tokopedia, GoJek, and Orami.
Online Beauty Management Platform Sociolla Raises Series B From Istyle, Others
Ecommerce-based portal for makeup and beauty products, Sociolla has secured an undisclosed amount in its Series B round of funding from Japanese fashion company Istyle and VC firm East Ventures.
With this investment, Istyle plans to expand its portal in Indonesia, reported TechInAsia.
Launched in 2015 by John Rasjid, Christopher Madiam, and Chrisanti Indiana, the startup claims to offer around 140 local and foreign beauty brands on its platform.
It had earlier raised a Series A round of funding led by Venturra Capital. East Ventures and angel investor Steve Christian had also participated in that round.
Uber Launches Uber XL For People Travelling In Groups
Cab aggregator Uber launched its Uber XL service in Indonesia earlier this week. Under the Uber XL option, six riders (without extra baggage) can travel together in a single vehicle, Jakarta Globe reported.
According to an official statement by Uber, UberXL is a cost-effective alternative for people travelling in groups, because it allows them to complete their journey in one vehicle, instead of booking two UberX vehicles. The maximum number of passengers allowed to travel via an UberX is 4.


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Healthcare seems to be one of the fastest-growing digital out-of-home verticals, with new networks launching and existing networks expanding all the time. This week SoloHealth, which operates interactive screening kiosks in retail pharmacy locations, announced that it has received approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for its new SoloHealth Station, which provides advertising opportunities in addition to its consumer health functions.
Before granting the SoloHealth Station approval, in March of this year the FDA studied the potential applications for interactive kiosks, including education, self-diagnosis, dispensing drugs for certain chronic conditions, and recommending healthcare providers from local and national databases, all as part of a larger effort to improve access to pharmacy services and healthcare. In 2010 SoloHealth received a $1.2 million grant from the National Institute of Health (NIH), a division of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, to study these needs and develop the kiosk format.
SoloHealth projects that there will be thousands of SoloHealth Stations active in retail pharmacies by the end of the year, with key strategic alliances to be announced in the next several months. The company will eventually replace the existing SoloHealth network, composed of the company’s first-generation EyeSite Vision kiosks. The SoloHealth kiosks offer DOOH advertising opportunities in coordination with Internet, mobile and social media.
As noted, SoloHealth is just one player among many in the healthcare DOOH space. In March Aceso launched Hospital TV Network (HTV), which delivers content focused on healthy lifestyles, entertainment, and learning -- along with targeted advertising -- to hospital common and waiting areas. The Wellness Network operates The Patient Channel and The Newborn Channel, acquired from NBC in 2010, which reach 20 million patients and their caregivers and 3.1 million new moms per year, respectively, according to the company.
And in May of last year, AccentHealth unveiled nine new “condition-specific” networks that deliver digital video content to waiting rooms targeted according to the types of condition most commonly treated at each location, focused on diabetes health, heart health, men’s health, mental health, senior women’s health, rheumatology, allergies, asthma, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). These joined four original AccentHealth networks that target general practice, seniors, ob-gyn and pediatrics.


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Chinese export container transport gains momentum in September
Chinese container transport for export purposes gained momentum in September, according to new data from the Shanghai Shipping Exchange.
The average China Export Containerized Freight Index stood at 853.97 points in September, up 2.9 percent from a month earlier, as the market was still in peak season, the exchange said in a statement.
Since the beginning of this year, the index has averaged 808.63, lower than last year's average of 820.47.
In September, the sub-indices of the United States, South Africa, the Republic of Korea, Southeast Asia and Japan all rose to different extents, the data showed.
The China Export Containerized Freight Index was first released by the Shanghai Shipping Exchange in April 1998 as a barometer of the export shipping market.
Chinese exports of goods rose 17 percent year on year in September, higher than August's increase of 7.3 percent. Total exports in the first nine months of this year rose 6.5 percent, customs data showed Friday.
There is no shortage of items of different types and sizes in any household. In order to organize these many items and ensuring a clutter-free lifestyle, you would require organizers and storage boxes. A storage box helps you to neatly keep your items in one place. These storage boxes come in different shapes, sizes, styles, and designs. Whether you want to store clothes, food, makeup, paints, office supplies, accessories, and more there are boxes for you.
As the developmnt of society,more and more people begin to use computer. In order to make people work easily and efficiently. No wire mouse begin to enter into people eyeside and lots of people use them too. Optical mouse is an advanced mouse designed by Microsoft.It USES NTELLIEYE technology. In the small hole at the bottom of the mouse, there is a small light-sensitive head.


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Wickes is hoping to almost double the size of its chain in a battle of the DIY giants. The group believes there is huge potential for expansion.
The DIY business, part of Focus Wickes, has 138 stores, but Wickes managing director Richard Bird said that the chain is planning to ramp up its expansion programme and have around 250 stores in the next few years.
Bird would not put an exact time frame on the growth, but said that he hopes to reach 200 in the next four or five years.
Focus Wickes is reviewing its entire property portfolio across both the Focus and the Wickes brands.
Bird said that at least five more Focus stores will be switched to the Wickes fascia following four conversions earlier this year, which generated good sales uplifts.
Bird said: 'Wickes stores work in densely-populated urban locations and are quite resilient against the competition, while Focus work as local market stores.'
Bird said the Focus Group is planning to roll out more of its dual-brand 9,290 sq m Focus Wickes Warehouse category-killing stores following a trial store at Glasgow in September last year.
Retail Knowledge Bank research director Robert Clark said: 'Wickes is a good business and in the past, B&Q have cast envious eyes at them because of how they command the heavy end. There's a lot of potential for Wickes and that sort of expansion would give them full reach (across the country).
'The group should concentrate more on the Focus fascia, which is in danger of getting squeezed in the middle ground between B&Q and Homebase.'


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Digital payments platform Wirex announced on Thursday it has teamed up with Zero Hash, a crypto trading infrastructure platform owned by Seed CX, to support its upcoming U.S. expansion. Wirex reported that through the collaboration it will launch its products across the U.S. in April 2021.
Wirex further explained that it serves nearly 3.5 million consumers across over 130 countries. It allows its users to buy, hold, exchange, and sell up to 20 different traditional and cryptocurrencies from its mobile app. Wirex recently claimed to be the only second crypto-enabled company to receive Visa principal membership, and have imminent plans to launch X-Tras, upgrading their rewards scheme, Cryptoback.
While speaking about the collaboration, Harold Montgomery, Managing Director of Wirex USA, stated:
“Wirex has already proven hugely popular in other countries across the globe, so it’s exciting that we have reached one of our last big milestones in the run up to our U.S. launch. It’s integral that we carefully select reliable and experienced partners such as Zero Hash for this to ensure that the Wirex product continues to give everyone cheap, seamless and safe access to crypto.”
Edward Woodford, CEO of Zero Hash, further commneted:
“We are pleased that Zero Hash is powering Wirex’s US crypto expansion. Zero Hash provides the infrastructure enabling Wirex to rapidly expand into the United States, introducing an exciting product that is loved by clients globally to market there. Through the partnership, Wirex enables clients to seamlessly purchase and sell crypto, allows peer-to-peer crypto transfers and crypto rewards.”
Wirex then added it is hoping to reach 10 million customers by the end of 2021.


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Black Cap Brewing Company in Red Lion to close in April, owner says
A Red Lion brewery will shutter its doors in April, according to the establishment’s owner.
Black Cap Brewing Company, located on West High Street in Red Lion, announced the closure with a post on Facebook that showed the final batch of General Gates Porter, its most popular beer.
“I feel bad that we’re doing this,” Black Cap owner Greg Bentley said. “We became a part of the community here and this has become a place for people to meet and hang out.”
Story continues below the Facebook post.
Bentley said the decision to close first came up a few months ago when the property, which he was leasing, went up for sale. Soon after, an opportunity to sell all the equipment and fixtures came from a man opening a brew pub in Virginia, and Bentley, the sole owner, decided it was time to close the bar.
“It’s a pretty big lift for someone like me to do (on my own),” Bentley said. “It’s just something we had to deal with.”
Bentley and then-partner Jim Waller opened the brewery on Dec. 4, 2014, in the former post office as a place that “we’d like to go as beer guys,” Waller told the Daily Record in 2015.
More local food news:
- One of the best bar menus in the nation is within driving distance of Central Pa.
- Six months after debut, Willy's Originals closes last shops in York, Chambersburg
- An iconic Route 30 restaurant in York County is closing indefinitely for renovations
Bentley said the business was “in decent shape,” but the potential of buying a commercial piece of real estate wasn’t something he was looking to take a risk on. That said, he was proud of the business that the brewery had done.
“We’ve met a bunch of terrific people and a lot of our customers are like family,” Bentley said. “Personally, I feel bad (about closing), but all of our customers seem to understand that I had to make the decision. We will miss everybody.”
Although Black Cap will close, Bentley isn’t against getting back into the business in the future.
“If the right opportunity came along to do this again,” he said, “I would definitely do it.”


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Patient status and changes to prescribing decisions have left Johnson & Johnson (J&J) with enough Doxil (doxorubicin HCl liposome injection) to supply patients on its waiting list. However, the longer-term vision is bleaker.
“We do not anticipate new supply from our third-party manufacturer until late 2012”, J&J said on its Doxil website. The news follows the decision by the CMO (contract manufacturing organisation) supplying Doxil, Ben Venue Laboratories, to extend the shutdown at its Ohio, US production plant.
After making the decision Ben Venue said some manufacturing could restart in the first quarter but products from the troubled North facility are unlikely to reach patients until the end of the year. J&J updated patients on the development and said it is working to find an alternative source.
“We continue to pursue a variety of options to bring a consistent supply of Doxil back to patients and physicians as quickly as possible”, J&J said. In December J&J said it hoped to have an update about its search for a new supplier by early this year.
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has warned healthcare professionals that shortages of injectable cancer drugs, such as Doxil, could prompt “unscrupulous individuals” to sell substandard products.
“FDA is aware of promotions and sales of unapproved injectable cancer medications direct-to clinics in the US, which most likely were administered to patients”, the Agency said. Failure to transport the injectables under appropriate conditions could have affected quality and threatened patients’ health.
To cut the risk of prescribing substandard cancer drugs the FDA says healthcare professionals should only use approved medications bought directly from the manufacturer or distributors licensed in the US.


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Skoda Kodiaq SUV could lead brand's charge into US market
Source : Skoda Kodiaq SUV could lead brand's charge into US market
CEO ambitions Bernhard Meyer of the United States looks to have gained traction after brands Skoda 5 names
Speaking to Autocar recently said the launch Kodiaq Meyer that will he believes the brand fresh style SUV be hit if sold within the United States, although he also pointed out that will the United States were not on the immediate radar Skoda.
“If we decided to compete in as well as said the United States, we will have one chance to make a Great first impression.” “We feel that will if we were there currently, as well as the automobile will be Kodiaq run home.”
Maier three fresh markets that will currently most of the attention Skoda is actually South Korea, Singapore as well as Iran nevertheless added: “America is actually that will we do not currently compete with the greatest potential.”
[19459004conducts] Skoda feasibility study to determine whether to enter the United States is actually likely to be meaningless. The company has also recently commercial brand names of many of the types with the patent as well as trademark office within the United States.
no timetable for Skoda’s decision on the United States, nevertheless each fresh style Kodiaq will go on sale in European markets at the beginning of 2017.
by by Autocar RSS


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The Microsoft E3 press conference is over, and things are looking great for the Xbox One going forward. One of the best but not surprising showings from this press conference, is Crackdown. This is one of the most requested video games from Xbox fans, and Phil Spencer has done a great job to bring it into the fray.
Crackdown is one of the best open-world video games ever created, and since the second one that was released for the Xbox 360, Microsoft has failed to return to this fairly great franchise. That's in the past, however, because, at the company's press conference, a new trailer was revealed, and we're safe to say that Xbox One fans are excited.
The game will follow the footsteps of the first two games where players can play through the whole campaign via co-op. With Crackdown 3, gamers will get the option to cause massive mayhem and destruction in Pacific City as they attempt to break up gangs, or just following through with the crazy storyline.
The new game appears to be set in the future, since the weaponry and technology doesn't look anything remotely from, what we've seen from the first two games.
Since Crackdown 3 is a Microsoft exclusive, we expect the game to take advantage of Xbox Live's Cloud Compute, which means most of the artificial intelligence will be powered by the cloud. It also means the game could require an always online connection to take full advantage of these features, but that's only wishful thinking for now since not every Xbox One gamer has access to reliable broadband service.
According to Microsoft, Dave Jones, who is the original creator of Crackdown, will be the man behind Crackdown 3. This is great since the second game was a bit of a letdown, so to have the original mind working on the third installment should bode well for the game.
When will Crackdown 3 be released?
We have no idea, but since Microsoft only showed a CGI trailer, we have a feeling this game is far from ready for primetime, and gamers should look forward to a 2016 release date.


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The events that have unfolded in the DA have shown that Zille has more influence than Maimane. He serves at her pleasure, writes Ralph Mathekga.
Showers late. High level clouds. Mild.
In June, the Department of Employment and Labour spent R3.5m to send 35 delegates to accompany President Ramaphosa to a conference in Geneva, Switzerland. Now the DA wants to know what they achieved and how whatever lessons were learned will be implemented.
Guilt-free motoring for the environmentally-conscious, animal lover?
McLaren debuts the newest car of its Ultimate Series, the Senna GTR, at the Geneva motor show. Power is quoted at 606kW from a 4.0-litre, twin-turbocharged V8 and only 75 have been made.
From a tiny Alfa to a huge Aston Martin, we list the SUVs which wowed crowds at the Geneva auto show.
Ginetta aims to take the fight to supercar giants with its new Akula.
As a new core model, the CX-30 will be rolled out to global markets, with sales starting in Europe this coming northern winter.
A visual embodiment of Kia’s desire to move forward in the exciting world of electrification, 'Imagine by Kia' is the company’s first pure electric four-door passenger car.
For the first time ever, Rolls-Royce will debut its full current product portfolio on an international stage.
Toyota will present its new GR Supra GT4 Concept at the 2019 Geneva Motor Show.
Volkswagen will showcase a special edition Passat R-Line at the Geneva International Motor Show that will be limited to only 2000 units.
Please explain an all-expenses-paid jolly in Geneva for the centennial celebrations of the International Labour Organisation, says Terry Bell.
There are plenty of awesome electric cars that are set to be unleashed in the future. Check out some of the most hotly-anticipated EVs.
Traditionally one of the most popular events for luxury brands, the Geneva Motor Show is full of top-of-the-range offers ranging from the most 'bling-bling' car adaptations to hypercars and flying machines.
The most expensive new car ever sold is a one-off Bugatti luxury sports car that has gone for $18.9 million.
Audi is giving an advance look at its electric future at this year's Geneva Motor Show with the Q4 E-Tron concept SUV.
The world’s first guilt-free hypercar has been unveiled at the Geneva auto show. Pininfarina’s Battista is a 1398kW electric performance monster capable of 350km/h.
The French luxury brand is showing the hyper sports car "La Voiture Noire1" and the Chiron Sport "110 ans Bugatti" at the Geneva Motor Show.
The Geneva Motor Show plays host to key new models from the world's major manufacturers every year; here are the highlights from the show floor in 2019.
Ferrari has revealed the first official photographs of the F8 Tributo, the new mid-rear-engined sports car from the Italian automaker.
Honda’s new urban electric vehicle will debut at the 2019 Geneva International Motor Show in the form of the new 'e Prototype'.
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There are a variety of large-scale metal 3D printing systems to choose from nowadays, but one of the earlier companies to offer 3D printing on a massive scale was Additive Industries, which introduced its MetalFAB1 system in 2015. With a build envelope of 420 x 420 x 400 mm, the MetalFAB1 was one of the largest metal 3D printers available at the time. It also features multiple build chambers, offering a means for manufacturers to utilize 3D printing for industrial-scale production.
Additive Industries has become a valued partner in the automotive industry, working with Switzerland’s Sauber F1 team to produce components for its race cars. Now the company has announced a partnership with Volkswagen, which is no stranger to 3D printing itself.
“We see great potential for 3D metal printing of a broad range of car parts and tooling and have joined forces in Volkswagen internally to increase our facility seven fold to be prepared for the digital future,” said Klaus-Jürgen Herzberg, Betriebsrat.
Additive Industries will work with the Volkswagen Group to 3D print advanced tooling and spare parts.
“The investment in the most modern 3D printing equipment allows us to continue to be front-runners in toolmaking and give our craftsmen access to the latest technology,” said Oliver Pohl, Department Manager.
In September, Additive Industries installed its fully automated and integrated MetalFAB1 system in Wolfsburg, and the first 3D printed products have been produced after intense training for the Volkswagen team.
“For Additive Industries, the partnership with Volkswagen, the world’s largest car maker is a confirmation of our strategy to accelerate industrial additive manufacturing and focus on innovators in their markets,” said Daan Kersten, CEO of Additive Industries.
Additive Industries was established in 2012 in Eindhoven, the Netherlands. Founders Kersten and Jonas Wintermans built the company on the principles of “open innovation,” dedicating a team of professionals to accelerating the industrialization of additive manufacturing. The company has seen its technology successfully used in the aerospace, automotive, medical technology and high-tech equipment industries.
“We are proud to work closely with the Volkswagen team in Wolfsburg to execute on our roadmap for manufacturing excellence and expansion of the metal additive manufacturing footprint,” said Jan-Cees Santema, Sales Director Europe for Additive Industries.
With access to Additive Industries’ technology, Volkswagen will benefit from the ability to produce tooling and spare parts at rapid rates, accelerating its production and allowing it to make 3D printing a truly pivotal part of its manufacturing processes.
Additive Industries is currently attending formnext, which started today in Frankfurt, Germany and is running until November 16th. If you’re at the show, you can visit the company at booth E40 in Hall 3.0 to learn more about the MetalFAB1 system and its partnership with Volkswagen. 3DPrint.com is at the show as well.
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LAUNCESTON, Australia, April 2- Cotton and natural rubber appear to have little in common, other than being agricultural commodities, but both are currently hostage to developments in China.» Read More
LAUNCESTON, Australia, Jan 23- China's decision to end stockpiling of cotton may not be as bearish for prices of the fibre as the market fears. What happens to China's massive hoard of cotton will also be important, given the total stockpile is believed to be in excess of 10 million tonnes, or more than half the world's total.
*Weak rupee, good crop help spur exports to Bangladesh, Pakistan. MUMBAI, Jan 21- A spurt in demand from Bangladesh and Pakistan for Indian raw cotton will help New Delhi offset falling exports to its top client China, traders said.
Cotton Incorporated and Maker's Row, an online marketplace, have partnered to bring back more "Made in USA" goods.
*China to maintain stockpiling for rapeseed, corn, sugar. BEIJING, Jan 20- China, the world's top buyer of raw cotton and soy, will this year scrap its controversial scheme to stockpile the commodities and will trial direct subsidies for farmers instead, the government said in a policy document.
BEIJING, Jan 20- China, the world's top buyer of raw cotton and soy, will this year scrap its controversial scheme to stockpile the commodities and will trial direct subsidies for farmers instead, the government said in a policy document.
NEW YORK, Jan 16- U.S. commodity markets rose broadly on Thursday with cotton futures hitting five-month highs on strong export sales and raw sugar rebounding from a mid 2010 low on short-covering. The Thomson Reuters/ Core Commodity Index, a sector bellwether, rose 0.2 percent after gains in 13 of the 19 commodities it tracked.
*Around 15 firms have moved operations to Vietnam- trader. BEIJING/ SINGAPORE, Jan 15- Chinese yarn makers, crippled by artificially high prices for cotton at home, are shifting production overseas to secure cheaper raw materials, even going as far afield as the United States.
NEW YORK, Jan 7- U.S. cotton prices jumped their most in two weeks on Tuesday on news that top producer China could be paring plantings, and gasoline prices also rallied to lead gains in commodities. U.S. cotton's front-month contract, March, settled up 1.04 cents, or 1.2 percent at 84.67 cents after news of the China survey.
NEW YORK, Dec 20- Louis Dreyfus Commodities BV lost a bid on Friday to dismiss a lawsuit by traders accusing it of illegally manipulating the price of cotton futures in 2011.. District Judge Andrew Carter in Manhattan dismissed one claim in the proposed class action, but largely allowed the lawsuit to move forward.
NEW YORK, Dec 20- Louis Dreyfus Commodities BV lost a bid on Friday to dismiss a lawsuit by traders accusing it of illegally manipulating the price of cotton futures in 2011.. District Judge Andrew Carter in Manhattan dismissed one claim in the proposed class action but largely allowed the lawsuit to move forward.
*Beijing wants to stop companies mixing in imported fibre. BEIJING, Dec 10- Two more Chinese cotton processors have been barred from selling to the state stockpiler as Beijing intensifies a crackdown on firms suspected of mixing in imported fibre to profit from cheaper overseas supplies.
BEIJING/ NEW YORK, Nov 27- China, the world's top cotton consumer, will start sales from its huge reserves of fibre on Nov. 28, the China National Cotton Exchange said on Wednesday, but trade sources expect tough competition from cheap Indian imports. Spot prices fell to their lowest since January at just under 74 cents a pound last week from near 94 cents in August.
NEW YORK, Nov 22- The price of benchmark Brent crude oil rose for a second straight session on Friday on short-covering while U.S. soybeans surged on data showing bullish exports. Cotton sank 2 percent and touched a more than 10- month low, weighed by supply pressures, demand worries, and long liquidation.
Nov 21- Canadian clothing maker Gildan Activewear Inc forecast first-quarter profit below analysts' estimates, saying its cotton costs would remain high because it bought the raw material before prices declined. Cotton prices have fallen nearly 17 percent from a five-month peak of about 94 cents per pound in August.
Dennis Gartman of The Gartman Letter, discusses the "fiscal cliff" negotiations, investing in housing and banking, and how to play cotton, with the Fast Money traders.
Selling gold stocks for these alternate investments looks like a good idea, says Dennis Gartman, editor of The Gartman Letter.
Gap has an amazing turnaround story, explains Mad Money host Jim Cramer. Despite the stock falling from $35 at the end of November to $31, it's a great time to buy the stock.
Soft commodities such as soy and corn should be used by investors to protect against inflation in the same way as gold, according to the founding partner of GAIA Capital, John Coast Sullenger.
The general trend pressure for cotton prices is bearish and this suggests continued testing of support near 85 cents a pound.


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American Express Spending More to Attract Cardholders, CEO Saysby
AmEx working with `great sense of urgency,' Chenault says
Card issuer got vote of confidence from Buffett last weekend
American Express Co., the biggest U.S. credit-card issuer by purchases, is spending more money to attract cardholders and actively seeking retail partners as it works “with a great sense of urgency” to improve results, Chief Executive Officer Ken Chenault told shareholders.
AmEx has “ramped up spending on cardmember acquisition,” Chenault said at the company’s annual meeting in New York, while conceding that 2015 was a “disappointing” year for investors. He didn’t elaborate on the firm’s spending.
The lender has sought to reverse its worst stock slump since the recession after announcing last year it would end its U.S. partnership with Costco Wholesale Corp., a relationship that accounted for 20 percent of worldwide loans. As increased competition has pressured margins, Chenault, 64, has shuffled his management team and in March announced a renewed focus on lending to bolster profitability at the firm.
The credit-card issuer received a vote of confidence over the weekend from Warren Buffett, whose Berkshire Hathaway Inc. is AmEx’s largest shareholder.
“I personally feel OK about American Express, and I’m happy to own it,” Buffett said Saturday at Berkshire’s annual shareholders meeting in Omaha, Nebraska. AmEx’s position in the industry “has been under attack for decades -- more intensively lately -- and it will continue to be under attack. It’s too big a business, and too interesting a business.”
In an interview with CNBC on Monday, Buffett said he loves AmEx’s decision to repurchase stock and he agrees with the company’s decision to walk away from Costco. AmEx said last month that marketing and promotion expenses increased 19 percent in the first quarter from a year earlier.
AmEx’s relationship with Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Inc., with which it has a co-brand deal, remains “business as usual,” Chenault said Monday. The AmEx Starwood Preferred Guest card, which accounts for about 4 percent of the company’s loans and 2 percent of total spending, is at risk of extinction after Marriott International Inc. won a bidding war for Starwood, some analysts have said. Marriott has its own co-brand deal with JPMorgan Chase & Co., the largest U.S. credit-card lender, and Visa Inc., the world’s biggest payments network.
Starwood doesn’t represent “a major portion” of AmEx’s billings, Chenault said, while adding that the firm is “focused very hard on doing the best for Marriott, Starwood customers.”
American Express shares have slid 5.7 percent this year and 28 percent since Nov. 6, 2014, when Bloomberg News reported that Costco was considering replacing AmEx as its credit-card issuer in the U.S.


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The comments come as the Interactive Games and Entertainment Association (IGEA) recommended the tax offset to encourage productivity and help local producers secure a greater share of international contracts in its submission to the federal government’s inquiry into Australia’s creative and cultural industries.
Ms Carnell said Australia’s video game industry comprises many high-growth potential small businesses and start-ups, and that there is a strong economic argument as to why they should be supported.
“The video game production industry was worth about $250 billion globally in 2019, but the Australian sector earned a mere $114 million of that,” Ms Carnell said.
“Internationally, we are seeing video game production industries in countries that offer tax incentives such as Canada, the UK and New Zealand securing substantially larger slices of the pie.”
Ms Carnell pointed to Canada’s tax incentive as an example, saying it offers a digital media tax credit on labour and certain marketing expenditures.
She said the video game development industry in Canada employs more than 27,000 full-time workers and generates $3.8 billion in revenue.
By comparison, Ms Carnell said Australia compares poorly with fewer than 1,300 full-time workers in the video game production sector and earning less revenue than New Zealand.
“While the federal government invests $750 million annually in arts and culture, the video game sector continues to fall through the cracks,” she said.
“IGEA estimates Australia could create a $1 billion industry in game development, providing export revenue and employing an additional 10,000 full-time workers with the right support.
“A tax offset for game development, similar to the incentives given to the screen production industry, would be an excellent start.”


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Tired of German techno? Try some Swedish metal. That is the message of Volvo‘s new U.S. outdoor advertising campaign.
The campaign has attracted a great deal of attention via social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter, where one person called it “the best car ad in history.”
“We have noticed [all the attention the ad has attracted] even here in Sweden and it’s pretty funny, Volvo‘s press officer Bo Larsen told Dagens Media.
Sweden Rock Magazine, Scandinavia’s biggest hard rock magazine and Sweden’s top-selling music magazine, recently celebrated issue #100 by naming the 100 greatest Swedish bands of all time.
“Over the past couple of decades, it’s hard to think of another country with a population equivalent to that of New York that’s had such an impact on hard rock and metal as Sweden has,” said Sweden Rock Magazine editor-in-chief Martin Carlsson.
Volvo is a Swedish automobile manufacturer, owned by the Chinese Zhejiang Geely Holding Group. Volvo Car Corporation was founded in 1927, in Gothenburg, Sweden. Volvo was owned by AB Volvo until 1999, when it was acquired by the Ford Motor Company as part of its Premier Automotive Group. Geely Holding Group then acquired Volvo from Ford in 2010.


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Petco is rolling out a consumer awareness campaign with digital, newspaper insert, in-store and TV components. The effort is Draftfcb Orange County‘s first campaign as the pet supply retailer’s brand and product advertising AOR.
The multimillion-dollar initiative “is a way to get Petco customers to understand the different pillars of Petco nutrition, and is also an overall branding effort for the nutrition that’s found in their stores,” said Sean Hardwick, SVP and group management director at Draftfcb Orange County.
“TV will be the driver in terms of overall awareness,” he said. “Then we’ve extended the campaign in-store. You’ll see it beginning at the front of the store on stands, signs and brochures – and then you’ll see it digitally. It’ll be in their newspaper circulars, which are a big part of their marketing.”
Petco distributed a direct mail promotion in mid-February. The effort will also include promotional offers through digital, print and TV.
The company also launched an e-mail marketing component targeting members of its customer loyalty program, Petco Pals. The goal of the e-mail initiative, which encourages consumers to visit Petco stores, is to promote the company’s nutritional efforts, said Hardwick.
Elisabeth Charles, CMO of Petco, said the effort is the company’s first TV campaign since the 2007 holiday season, but added that the retailer is also spending more on digital than it did last year. She declined to provide specific details on the account size.
“Getting the message out on TV we felt was imperative to get the message out there quickly, and then use other touch points to further strengthen that,” she said. “Our spend on digital is actually significantly higher than what it was last year.”
Petco named Draftfcb Orange County its brand and product advertising AOR in January after a four-to-six-week RFP process. The agency will handle creative strategy and development of in-store, digital and design work for the retailer. There is no outgoing AOR, said Charles.
Three agencies participated in the RFP process and competed to handle an initial project on nutrition. Draftfcb Orange County won the project work, which Petco tested last November and is “now going to be taking that to the next level,” said Charles.
Petco contacted Draftfcb Orange County directly about the RFP process. “I had actually worked with Draft years ago when I was at Taco Bell, so I knew of them and their reputation as a company who works well with retailers and driving traffic as well as maintaining brand integrity,” said Charles.