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DevToolsDigest: Issue #286
This week's digest includes news and resources from RedMonk, Databricks, LangChain, and more.
Subscribe to the DevToolsDigest
Heavybit's DevToolsDigest is a weekly curated selection of the best resources, product updates, jobs, and discussions in the developer tools industry.
The Week in Developer Tools
In recent years the frontend has undergone a renaissance. Frontend developers are seeing new frameworks, services, and tools revolutionize both the ways they work, and the apps they build. Today, the proliferation of JS frameworks offers developers a veritable cornucopia of options, while a wave of managed services caters to their need for backend infrastructure.
With AI’s almost limitless applicability, where should an organization focus first? One of the most valuable commodities possessed by an enterprise — its data — and the positions most closely associated with maintaining, manipulating and consuming it. After all, today’s celebrated generative AI models produce results only as good as the huge quantities of data on which they are trained.
An open source project, Apache Arrow, has emerged as the de facto mechanism used by most of the industry for data interoperability. It’s shepherded by a company called Voltron Data in a now familiar open core approach where the core product is free and open source, subsidized by enterprise support and complementary products sales.
In January 2021, Databricks was essentially still a single product company, serving data engineering and data science teams. In the past three years, the company has innovated at a dizzying pace to become widely adopted as a single data platform for data warehousing, data science and data engineering, with unified data governance.
The "Coding on Copilot" whitepaper from GitClear sought to investigate the quality and maintainability of AI-assisted code compared to what would have been written by a human. In other words: "Is it more similar to the careful, refined contributions of a Senior Developer, or more akin to the disjointed work of a short-term contractor?"
Developer Venture News
LangChain, the startup facilitating the development of LLM apps with its open-source framework, announced it has raised $25 million in a series A round. The company also said it is launching LangSmith, its first paid LLMOps product for general availability.


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Ample Harvest Helps Gardeners Share Excess Produce with Neighbors in Need
Photo Credit: Megy Karydes
Many of us who garden are now in the thick of harvest season. Friends are complaining that while they love the fresh produce they are growing in the backyards and admit they wait all year to taste those delicious tomatoes and green beans, they are overwhelmed with the amount and hate to see it go to waste. According to AmpleHarvest.org, more than 40 million of us grow fruit, vegetables herbs and nuts in home gardens - often more than we can use, preserve or give to friends.
Yet, on the other side of the food spectrum, more than 50 million Americans live in food insecure homes (including a quarter of all children under the age of six).
Last year we profiled Todd Jones and his business Every Last Morsel which aims to connect those who grow food with their neighbors who want access to fresh produce. Another option is to donate your excess harvest to your local food pantry and AmpleHarvest.org can help.
The AmpleHarvest.org campaign is a national effort utilizing the Internet that enables 40+ million Americans who grow food in home gardens to easily donate their excess harvest to one of 6,383 registered local food pantries spread across all 50 states. How easy is it? As easy as going online, finding your local food pantry by entering your zip code. Within seconds another window will pop up with the locations of nearby food pantries complete with address, website and hours it accepts donations. If you have questions about what you can bring, a contact name, phone number and email for that pantry is listed for your convenience.
The goal of AmpleHarvest.org is to help eliminate hunger in America by connecting those who grow excess food with food pantries. So now we don’t have to feel guilty when we can’t eat anymore of our tomato stash. In fact, we can feel better knowing others in our community will be able to reap the benefits of eating healthy food and the fruits of our labor!

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Mobile phone credit instead of bread? For many Kenyans, a real dilemma
November 16, 2012 Editor 0
What would you give up to continue using your mobile phone? For most of the six billion mobile subscribers around the world, the sacrifice might be measured in terms of a marginal loss of privacy, or of time.
- Unleashing Ugandan farmers’ potential through mobile phones
- Agricultural Mobile Finance
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- Mobile phone access reaches three quarters of world population
- Medical kit from rich world ‘rarely works’ in poor settings
- Are Mobile Phones and mLearning Failing in Education?
Subscribe to our stories
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Minutes after we expressed our interest in the Daisy Lowe
photographs, Sets Ahoy replied with a price.
We've removed tens of thousands of pictures — within hours of the requests being ma... Read More
American comedian Louis CK is accepting bitcoin payments for audio recordings of his shows.
The five-time Emmy award winner, whose real name is Louis Székely, is accepting payments in the digital c... Read More
Yet another celebrity has entered the cryptocurrency promotion fray, with Academy Award winner Jamie Foxx promoting an upcoming initial coin offering (ICO).
In a post on Twitter, Foxx promoted the ... Read More
The U.S. state of New Jersey has issued a cease-and-desist order to an initial coin offering (ICO) endorsed by film actor Steven Seagal.
In an order entered on March 7, the New Jersey Bureau of Sec... Read More
Analysis: What 2019 Could Bring for Bitcoin
Trading in altcoins was a big part of what made Bitcoin price spike towards the end of 2017. A section of the crypto space argues that while altcoins helped Bitcoin’s market cap swell, they also bro
Bitcoin Cash Going Down as Stellar Warms up
Bitcoin Cash’s market cap has been cut in half since the Nov. 15 hardfork which birthed the Bitcoin ABC and Bitcoin SV chains. Now at a mere $3.5 bln and a unit price of ~$201 as at the time of writ
300k User Data from Chinese Auto Finance Platform Sold For One Bitcoin on Dark Web
It is revealed that 300,000 pieces of user data from a Chinese auto finance platform Jiurong were compromised and priced at one bitcoin on the dark web.
According to the leaked data posted, persona
Heyday of Bitcoin Mining Rigs Business at China’s Huaqiangbei is Over Amid Crypto Market Carnage
Bitcoin price slumped to a 13-month low of about $4,300 on Wednesday, making mining the world’s leading digital currency an unprofitable business. A lot of mall miners, mining rigs dealers and minin


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Home Tags Advertising and Marketing
Tag: Advertising and Marketing
The City of Portland to bring additional cellular coverage to their citizens – RFP awarded to XG Communities
PORTLAND, Ore., April 2, 2018 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) -- XG Communities, a premier provider of wireless marketing plans and engineering services for cities and municipalities across the United States, has been awarded an exclusive wireless marketing agreement with the City of Portland.
Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore D.O.C.G. Announces New US Campaign with Charles Communications
SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., March 28, 2018 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) -- The Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore D.O.C.G. announces that Charles Communications Associates (CCA) is now their agency of record for the United States. The Consortium is a private body created to represent vine-growers, winemaking companies and bottlers from Conegliano Valdobbiadene and to safeguard the standards of the D.O.C.G. criteria in crafting wines of the highest quality and distinct provenance.
HONG KONG, March 27, 2018 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) -- Online logo maker, DesignEvo, which helps anyone to customize a compelling, unique logo in minutes, brings out its iPhone version, DesignEvo 1.0, that allows users to create a custom logo design on their iOS device, PearlMountain announced today. With its launch, users can quickly select the preferred design from 3500+ templates and then customize it into professional logo designs with powerful editing tools and various art resources.
PLEASANTVILLE, N.Y., March 23, 2018 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) -- RingBoost(TM), the nation's leading provider of vanity toll-free and local phone numbers, has announced the availability of special vanity phone numbers for marijuana businesses. The recent legalization of marijuana around the country has led to steep competition in this booming industry. Vanity phone numbers provide instant credibility and brand recognition in a way no other market tool can.
ATHENS, Ga., March 15, 2018 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) -- For the second year, automated verification provider FormFree(R) will sponsor Ellie Mae's (NYSE: ELLI) annual user conference. Ellie Mae Experience 2018 takes place March 19-21 at the Wynn hotel in Las Vegas.
Senior Public Affairs and Communications Advisors Provide South Carolina Start-Ups with Local Knowledge, Government and Media Contacts
MOUNT PLEASANT, S.C., March 12, 2018 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) -- Will Haynie, Crawford Moore and Steve Weintz jointly announced they have launched a strategic communications, public affairs, public relations and crisis management firm based in Mount Pleasant: HarborPR.
RALEIGH, N.C. and DALLAS, Texas, March 9, 2018 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) -- Sokal Media Group has opened yet another new pristine office in Dallas, Texas. Hired as the new VP of Operations, John McKay will step in to his new role as the agency continues to expand. Accumulating years of experience, Mr. McKay previously worked as the General Manager of Spectrum cable (formerly Time-Warner cable) in Raleigh, and most recently in Dallas.
Andrea Racanelli of EPIC to Present on Marketing in the Transportation Industry at International LCT Show
LAS VEGAS, Nev., March 8, 2018 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) -- EPIC Insurance Brokers and Consultants, a retail property, casualty insurance brokerage and employee benefits consultant, announced today that Marketing Communications Manager Andrea Racanelli of The Capacity Group - an EPIC Company will present at the International Luxury Coach and Transportation (LCT) Show on Tues., March 13 at 9 a.m. at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, Nev.
NAPLES, Fla., March 8, 2018 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) -- Third Eye Management and Associates, Inc. is pleased to announce that Loren Weisman has joined the Third Eye Team. A branding strategist and keynote speaker, Weisman brings a wealth of information regarding brand development, brand strategy, brand evaluation and brand activation.
SAN DIEGO, Calif., March 6, 2018 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) -- Bank of Southern California, N.A. ( OTC Pink: BCAL / OTCMKTS:BCAL ), a community business bank headquartered in San Diego, Calif., has named Amanda Conover as Vice President, Director of Marketing. She will be responsible for developing and executing a strategic marketing plan that strengthens brand awareness and drives growth, further supporting the Bank's efforts to increase its presence as it continues its expansion in the Southern California region.
RALEIGH, N.C., Feb. 6, 2018 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) -- Sokal Media Group is pleased to announce that they are the agency of record for the Maguire Family of Dealerships. Maguire is driven by values such as loyalty, trust, commitment, security, and support for their customer base. The Maguire Family of Dealerships guarantees you will leave their showroom as a satisfied customer.
Foodservice Profitability in 2017, Optimism in 2018: Over 880 Independent Restaurant Owners Voice Their Thoughts on 2018
PHOENIX, Ariz., Jan. 31, 2018 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) -- RestaurantOwner.com has released the report of their 2018 Independent Restaurant Outlook Survey. The report summarizes input gathered from over 880 independent restaurant owners and operators regarding their 2017 financial performance as well as their 2018 expectations.
MIAMI, Fla., Jan. 25, 2018 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) -- Music Expo, the conference to inspire music makers, announced today its second Miami edition to be held March 24, 2018 at SAE Institute. Hosted in association with Sound On Sound Magazine, the all-day conference will feature production and mixing workshops, music business panels, product demos as well as a beat battle.
Maschmedt & Associates and MAG Instrument collaborate on marketing of MAGLITE products in Western US
ONTARIO, Calif., Jan. 16, 2018 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) -- MAG Instrument Inc. has inked a manufacturer's representative agreement with Maschmedt Group, a full service sales and marketing firm, to greatly increase its reach in the critical retail sectors of sporting goods and hardware. The deal is expected to boost sales of MAGLITE(R) products in these sectors especially in the Western United States where Maschmedt & Associates concentrates its efforts.
NEW DELHI, India, Jan. 11, 2018 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) -- One of India's most promising outsource call centers, Call2Customers (C2C), launches new website to expand its customer base and engagement. 'Changes are the law of nature and results in improvement and betterment of any entity. So we are happy to welcome you to the new look of the website showing Call2Customers' prospective and perspective to work as a call center partner with global companies,' says Raj Kanojia of C2C.
SAN DIEGO, Calif., Jan. 10, 2018 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) -- Mortgage Capital Trading, Inc. (MCT), a leading mortgage hedge advisory and secondary marketing software firm, announced that Ian Miller has joined the company as Chief Marketing Officer (CMO). In this newly created position, he is responsible for ensuring that MCT's marketing strategy effectively supports the company's business plan and helps drive growth.
VERO BEACH, Fla., Jan. 9, 2018 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) -- Branding Strategist and Keynote Speaker Loren Weisman announces that he will be appearing in early 2018 on The Roberts and Lowe CEO Entrepreneur Cruise, Bob Harrison's Hawaii Increase Event, Natasha Senkovich's Intuition to Raise your income Global Summit and The Business Excellence Summit hosted by Kay Sanders. Weisman will also be appearing at a series of private engagements ranging from Atlanta to Miami in the first quarter of 2018.
MSU Texas Marketing Students collect OVER 800 Bikes 4 Kids, raise over $40K for Operation Santa Claus
WICHITA FALLS, Texas, Dec. 19, 2017 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) -- 24 Midwestern State University Marketing Students challenged themselves to collect OVER 800 Bikes and raised over $40,000 for the annual Operation Santa Claus to bring money and bikes to Houston Area effected by recent hurricanes, but also for the local Wichita Falls Community.
BOULDER, Colo., Dec. 19, 2017 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) -- TeamSnap, the household name in integrated sports management, announced today that Sarah Berg has been appointed the company's new Director of Marketing Communications. Berg brings to TeamSnap a wealth of digital and technology marketing experience.
VERO BEACH BUSINESS: Conducting Business at a Pub, the Sean Ryan Pub Business Speaker Series Launches Dec. 12
VERO BEACH, Fla., Dec. 1, 2017 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) -- Conducting Business at a Pub, the Sean Ryan Pub Business Speaker Series presents: "Vetting the marketing fools and advertising scams for your business" talk with Business Branding Strategist Loren Weisman on Tuesday, December 12, 2017 from 7:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at The Sean Ryan Pub in Vero Beach, Florida.
AUSTIN, Texas, Nov. 30, 2017 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) -- EPIC Insurance Brokers and Consultants, the retail property and casualty insurance brokerage and employee benefits consulting subsidiary of EPIC Holdings, announced today that insurance brokerage industry veteran Sam Elliott has joined the firm to lead EPIC's new business development efforts nationally.
RALEIGH, N.C., Nov. 30, 2017 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) -- Sokal Media Group is proud to announce that they are the agency of record for Faith's Ford. Located in Brattleboro, Vermont, Faith's Ford stocks an outstanding inventory of new and pre-owned vehicles.
PLEASANTVILLE, N.Y., Nov. 9, 2017 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) -- RingBoost, a premier provider of toll free and local vanity and custom phone numbers, today announced that it had significantly expanded its premium telecom offerings. Custom phone numbers are recognized increasingly as a key marketing tool for business, and the expanded features will help business owners to use their numbers even more effectively.
RALEIGH, N.C., Nov. 6, 2017 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) -- Sokal Media Group announced that they are now the agency of record for Vehicles Direct in North Charleston. Starting in November, 2017, Sokal Media Group will launch a new website for the dealership, create new advertising campaigns, and assist in many other areas of dealership business.
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla., Nov. 3, 2017 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) -- Click n' Close(TM), a division of Mid America Mortgage, Inc., has entered into official partnership agreements with the sanctioning body, NASCAR, and one of the most iconic race teams in the sport, Richard Petty Motorsports. The collaborations designate Click n' Close as the "Official Mortgage Provider of NASCAR(R)" in addition to becoming a partner of Richard Petty Motorsports.
WESTLAKE VILLAGE, Calif., Oct. 17, 2017 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) -- Acclaimed marketing consultant and innovator Tony Shap today announced a new initiative designed to help women achieve their goals in the fast-paced marketing industry. The program from Tony Shap Consulting is the first ever of its kind to focus on women specifically and will allow female entrepreneurs to play to their strengths and achieve greater success.
POMPANO BEACH, Fla., Oct. 13, 2017 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) -- Redevelopment Management Associates, based in Pompano Beach, will be sending several team members to speak at the Florida Redevelopment Association (FRA) Annual Conference, which will take place in Daytona Beach from October 18-20, 2017. This prestigious gathering of the top redevelopment experts in the state features a series of informative seminars.
SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., Oct. 5, 2017 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) -- Geek Club Books, Inc., an autism nonprofit, today launched #Activate4Autism movement, a public awareness campaign as a part of National Bullying Prevention Month. The autistic are often misunderstood, marginalized, undervalued and 3 times more likely to be victims of bullying. The campaign brings together voice, stage and film actors, children's authors, comic artists and autistic advocates who activate their voices for autism, speaking out for acceptance and inclusion.
Association of Mortgage Professionals NAMB Rebrands to Better Reflect Professional Diversity of Its Member Base
WASHINGTON, D.C., Oct. 2, 2017 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) -- NAMB, an association that represents the interests of individual mortgage loan originators and small to mid-size mortgage businesses, today announced a rebranding that includes a new logo and marketing campaign. NAMB's new brand identity emphasizes the diversity of its member base, which includes individual loan originators and small and midsize mortgage origination businesses of all kinds-brokers, bankers and correspondent lenders.
Now Hiring: More Than 400 Independent Restaurant Owners Share What They do to Recruit Best Employees
PHOENIX, Ariz., Sept. 27, 2017 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) -- RestaurantOwner today released the results of their 2017 Independent Restaurant Recruiting Survey. The report summarizes input gathered from over 400 independent restaurant owners and operators regarding their proven recruiting practices.
RALEIGH, N.C. and NEW YORK, N.Y., Sept. 27, 2017 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) -- Sokal Media Group is proud to be the new agency of record for Koeppel Auto Group, of the NYC Metro area. Koeppel includes Ford, Mazda, Nissan, and Subaru dealerships and have been serving Manhattan, Queens, Brooklyn, the Bronx, and the Greater New York area since 1937.
MOORESVILLE, N.C., Sept. 25, 2017 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) -- Sokal Media Group is the new advertising agency of record for Victory Chevrolet, a family owned Chevrolet dealership with new and used inventory. With a convenient location in Charlotte, N.C., this dealership desires to exceed customer expectations and deliver the best service possible, along with making the car shopping experience fun again.
The Event Planner Expo in NYC Hosted by EMRG Media Offers Exceptional Speaker Lineup, Celebrates its Fifth Year
NEW YORK, N.Y., Sept. 19, 2017 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) -- It's setting up to be their best event yet. The Event Planner Expo, hosted by EMRG Media, has already developed a reputation for being a premier events and hospitality tradeshow, but this year, they're taking it to another level. On October 4, 2017, keynote speaker, Martha Stewart, will talk about her road to success. The Expo is scheduled to take place at the Metropolitan Pavilion, 125 West 18th Street from 2 to 8 p.m.
RALEIGH, N.C., Sept. 18, 2017 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) -- Sokal Media Group has signed as agency for record for Toyota of Dartmouth. Toyota of Dartmouth is a full-service automobile dealership that boasts of 25+ years of excellent service and sales. Located in North Dartmouth, Mass., they offer buying and leasing options, all available through their online inventory or browsing through their pristine showroom.
Paula Dezzutti of Local Choice Spirits, Nominated Business of the Year; 2017 RICE Awards, and The LEGACY Award
ATLANTA, Ga., Sept. 14, 2017 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) -- Paula Dezzutti will be attending the RICE Awards in Atlanta Georgia on September 23, 2017 at City Hall in Atlanta Georgia. Dezzutti has been nominated Business of the year. The business men and woman that have been nominated by the people, are a remarkable slate of nominees that are exemplary in their continued dedication and commitment not only for innovative and successful businesses but recognized locally for the good they do in the community.
SAN DIEGO, Calif., Sept. 12, 2017 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) -- The following ReverseVision experts, whose expertise on the Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (HECM) ranges from HUD guideline interpretation to market analysis to education, are available for interviews regarding HUD's planned changes to the HECM program.
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah, Sept. 7, 2017 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) -- TRK Connection, a leading provider of mortgage quality control and origination management solutions, announced it has promoted Colton Hansen to vice president of business development. In this new role, Hansen will be responsible for leading and executing company objectives for sales and marketing campaigns, implementing new technologies, and analyzing new opportunities.
CHENGDU, China, Sept. 5, 2017 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) -- PearlMountain is proud to announce the new release of DesignEvo, a free online logo maker that helps users make unique and professional logos. The logo is the most essential part of making any brand recognizable. Hiring a professional designer to create a custom logo can definitely be expensive, especially for most small business owners and individuals who don't have the budget.
Mia A. Irizarry Launches TrendCulprit’s ‘Music as a Business Telesummit’ Featuring Renowned Industry Specialists
LOS ANGELES, Calif., Sept. 5, 2017 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) -- Mia A. Irizarry, a successful music entrepreneur and the CEO of TrendCulprit, an online music business and support portal for independent artists, has gathered some of the industry's most brilliant minds to discuss their views, techniques and secrets to the business. Their insightful presentations will be revealed September 5 through September 25 as TrendCulprit hosts the innovative "Music as a Business Telesummit."
Helya Glen, Kasey Brown, and Amanda Ruller – Prestigious Fitness Professionals Join the MostFit Team
LOS ANGELES, Calif., Aug. 29, 2017 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) -- MostFit is excited and proud to announce the onboarding of three new Brand Ambassadors who have aligned with the brand and products to enhance the MostFit team. MostFit LLC provides unique, effective and efficient products to the fitness community to make optimum performance more accessible.
ASBURY PARK, N.J., Aug. 22, 2017 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) -- Move For Hunger, a 501(c)(3) that mobilizes the relocation industry to reduce food waste and fight hunger, today announced that it has again been selected to receive the J.L. Simmons Non-Profit PR Grant for 2017/18. The Grant, launched in 2000 by Neotrope helps worthy causes raise visibility to media and public for the charity's good works.
SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., Aug. 18, 2017 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) -- Geek Club Books, a 501(c)(3) focused on autism education and empowerment, today announced that it has been selected to receive the J.L. Simmons Non-Profit PR Grant for 2017/18. The Grants, launched in 2000 by Neotrope helps worthy causes raise visibility to media and public for the charity's good works.
ATHENS, Ga., Aug. 10, 2017 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) -- FormFree has hired brand strategist and marketing expert Patricia "Patty" Ramirez Pinckney as senior director of marketing. In this role, Pinckney will drive planning and implementation of FormFree's marketing campaigns, govern its strategic positioning within the mortgage industry and manage the firm's brand.
ReverseVision VP of Sales and Marketing Wendy Peel Selected to HousingWire 2017 ‘Women of Influence’ List
SAN DIEGO, Calif., Aug. 1, 2017 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) -- ReverseVision, the leading provider of software and technology for the reverse mortgage industry, today announced that Wendy Peel, its vice president of sales and marketing, has been named to HousingWire's 2017 "Women of Influence" list.
5 Bars Communities to Develop WiFi Marketing Plan, Accelerate Small Cell Deployment for the City of Irvine CA
IRVINE, Calif., July 26, 2017 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) -- 5 Bars Communities, a dba of XG Communities LLC, a premier provider of wireless master plans, asset marketing and engineering services for cities and municipalities across the United States, announced today an agreement to develop a Wireless Marketing Plan for the City of Irvine. Irvine is known as the premier master planned city in America, with award winning schools and a "safe city" designation.
Supreme Lending Partners with Baseball Hall of Famer Ivan Rodriguez for American Century Championship Golf Tournament
DALLAS, Texas, July 13, 2017 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) -- Supreme Lending, a nationwide mortgage lender, has announced that it is partnering with baseball Hall of Famer, Major League Baseball All-Star and former Texas Ranger Ivan "Pudge" Rodriguez, who will serve as the company's ambassador during the American Century Championship Golf Tournament, July 11-16, 2017 at Edgewood Tahoe Golf Course in South Lake Tahoe, Nevada.
PORT SAINT LUCIE, Fla., July 6, 2017 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) -- Connecting Our Modern Community Speaker Series presents: "Increasing Your Business Connections and Conversions" with Bob Harrison, Dr. Gerard Khourie and Loren Weisman on Saturday, July 29, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Christ Family Church (Tradition Town Hall) at Tradition in Port St. Lucie, Florida.
Sokal Media Group Signs with Georgia Auto Group: Kia of LaGrange, Kia of Auburn, Parkway Mitsubishi, and Tallassee Automotive Group
RALEIGH, N.C., June 28, 2017 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) -- *CORRECTED* -- Sokal Media Group signs with Georgia Auto Group. One of the most well established automotive groups in the southeast, these four can confidently boast in offering the most extensive Kia selection in the area, offering new cars and premium pre-owned with lifetime warranties.
LEE'S SUMMIT, Mo., June 19, 2017 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) -- Pendo, a nationwide appraisal management company, announced that Alicia Branstetter, the company's vice president of marketing, has received the NAWRB (National Association of Women in Real Estate Businesses) Roaring Thirty Award.
HOUSTON, Texas, June 8, 2017 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) -- EPIC Insurance Brokers and Consultants, a retail property, casualty insurance brokerage and employee benefits consultant, announced today that the firm's Marketing, Communications and Creative Services Team has received one "Gold Award of Excellence" and eight "Silver Awards of Distinction" from the 23rd Annual Communicator Awards, the leading international awards program recognizing excellence and big ideas in marketing, communications and design.
RALEIGH, N.C., June 7, 2017 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) -- Sokal Media Group signs Honda Conyers. Honda Conyers is a new and used car dealership that extends special care to all its customers. Offering modest prices, easy financing, and special offers, their friendly sales team will make you feel at home. Located in Conyers, Ga., the store affords easy access from Covington and Monroe.
RALEIGH, N.C., June 1, 2017 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) -- Sokal Media Group announces signing of McKinney Dodge RAM Chrysler Jeep & McKinney Mazda. McKinney has been an enterprising automotive influence over the past 18 years, serving the South Carolina Upstate area. Over the years the group has grown to offer 6 major brands including Dodge, Ram, Chrysler, Jeep, and Mazda.
LOS ANGELES, Calif., May 9, 2017 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) -- Greenbar Distillery, one of California's original craft distilleries and home of the world's largest portfolio of handcrafted, organic spirits, today announced that it has unified its seven core spirits lines under a new heart brand that evokes the company's origins as a love story between the two founders, Litty Mathew and Melkon Khosrovian. In sharp contrast to how most distilleries design their packages to stand out within categories, such as vodka or whiskey, Greenbar Distillery's new look echoes the maker-focused branding of craft brewers.
RALEIGH, N.C., May 5, 2017 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) -- Sokal Media Group is proud to announce that they have been named a Preferred Digital Provider for Kia Motors America, headquartered in Irvine, Calif. Sokal Media Group appends this partnership to their ever-expanding list of professional collaborations including designation as a Premier Google Partner, Toyota Dealer Digital Solutions Provider, and a Bing Partner.
Digital Marketing Veterans Ken McDonald and Chris Newton Publish Book, ‘How to Acquire Your First Million Customers’
DENVER, Colo., April 11, 2017 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) -- Digital marketing veterans Ken McDonald and Chris Newton have written and published "How to Acquire Your First Million Customers," a book about growing online businesses through a variety of customer acquisition and online marketing techniques. The book is available this week as a free download on Amazon to celebrate the launch.
PLEASANTVILLE, N.Y., March 31, 2017 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) -- GracePointe Church of the Nazarene in central Florida received a unique offering this month, as the team at RingBoost agreed to donate a custom phone number to the Lake Mary-based organization. With its unforgettable new number hooked up in no time, GracePointe is all set to take the church's message to an increasingly large audience in the weeks and months to come.
PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla., March 21, 2017 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) -- Palm Beach Business Connection is hosting a free presentation and workshop from Loren Weisman on Thursday, April 13 at 10 a.m. at Spoto's Oyster Bar in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. This one hour talk is titled "Creating Content to Engage Your Three Audiences Simultaneously."
NEW YORK, N.Y., March 14, 2017 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) -- The Oracle Group International is thrilled to announce the publication of "MAKE YOUR MARK: Personal Branding Through 'On-Purpose' Living" (paperback; on sale March 14, 2017; $20; ISBN: 978-0692833919) by award-winning, brand strategist, entrepreneur and author Courtney R. Rhodes.
SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., March 2, 2017 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) -- EPIC Insurance Brokers and Consultants, a retail property, casualty insurance brokerage and employee benefits consultant, announced today that it will sponsor and exhibit at NCHRA's HR West 2017 Conference on March 6-8 at the Oakland Convention Center in Oakland, Calif. Please visit us at the EPIC Booth 13.
NORTH MIAMI BEACH, Fla., Feb. 28, 2017 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) -- Redevelopment Management Associates (RMA) announced that their award-winning redevelopment strategies for North Miami Beach have spurred land sales of over $200 million, with an estimated $500 million in new construction now underway or approved. The firm was hired to reinvent the city to compete with other thriving municipalities.
FAIRFIELD, Conn., Feb. 23, 2017 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) -- Philip C. Stevens has joined Optima Group, Inc. as Director, with responsibility for helping the firm's clients achieve their goals through the development of business and marketing strategies as well as the deployment of communications initiatives. A seasoned executive from the financial services and insurance industries, Philip was most recently with Pappas MacDonnell, Inc., where he worked with a variety of clients in banking, investment management, insurance and business services.
RALEIGH, N.C., Feb. 20, 2017 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) -- One of the Triangle's largest advertising agencies, Sokal Media Group, announced today that they will support Michael Waltrip in his final race, the Daytona 500, on February 26, 2017. In a partnership with BK Racing, the Sokal Media Group logo will be prominently placed on the B Pillar located over the left shoulder of driver Michael Waltrip.
SEATTLE, Wash., Feb. 9, 2017 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) -- IntellaSphere, Inc. announces the launch of its new IntellaHealth division. IntellaSphere, an integrated marketing system provider in Bellevue, Washington, recognizes that healthcare providers need to connect with their patients across a variety of online marketing channels and mechanisms.
EPIC Insurance Wins ‘Gold Award of Excellence’ and ‘Silver Award of Distinction’ from 2016 Communicator Awards
SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., May 9, 2016 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) -- EPIC Insurance Brokers and Consultants, a retail property, casualty insurance brokerage and employee benefits consultant, announced today that the firm's Marketing, Communications and Design Team has received the 'Gold Award of Excellence and the 'Silver Award of Distinction' from the 22nd Annual Communicator Awards, the leading international awards program honoring communication professionals for creative excellence.
RALEIGH, N.C., May 5, 2016 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) -- One of the largest automotive marketing agencies in the East is on the move again. Sokal Media Group has relocated its headquarters to 11550 Common Oaks Drive in Raleigh. The move consolidates more than 80 of their more than 100 employees in a newly designed, spacious, 20,000 square foot environment.


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Microsoft and on-demand transportation and mobile payments company Grab have formed a strategic partnership to transform the delivery of digital services and mobility in Southeast Asia.
The venture plans to leverage Microsoft’s machine learning and artificial intelligence capabilities and Grab will adopt Microsoft Azure as its preferred cloud platform, according to the announcement by Microsoft.
“Our partnership with Grab opens up new opportunities to innovate in both a rapidly evolving industry and growth region,” stated Peggy Johnson, executive vice president at Microsoft. “We’re excited to team up to transform the customer experience as well as enhance the delivery of digital services for the millions of users who rely on Grab for safe and affordable transport, food and package delivery, mobile payments, and financial services.”
Microsoft also will make a strategic investment in Grab, which operates in 235 cities, with Grab’s digital wallet GrabPay leading in the market.
To help improve passenger and driver safety, Grab plans to work with Microsoft on new authentication mechanisms, such as mobile facial recognition with built-in AI for drivers and customers as replacement for checking IDs.


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Brands seek recognition at home, abroad
The home appliance industry experienced pressure from a variety of factors, including slower economic growth, the end of government subsidies, and the rapid rise of e-commerce.
E-commerce price transparency pressured brands to differentiate with technological excellence and innovation. E-commerce also opened space for challenger brands. Leading home appliance makers sought to innovate with more energy efficient and “smart” products, such as air conditioners that can be operated remotely over the Internet.
Gree, Haier, Hisense and Midea, among the most globally recognized Chinese brands, continued to invest overseas. Hisense, a leader the flatscreen TVs, gained almost one-third of its revenue from international sales. Overseas consumer acceptance of Chinese-made home appliances is high compared with other product categories, according to the 2013 Millward Brown Going Global Study. The brand value of the home appliance category increased 36 percent.


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- Mason Graphite (LLG) will purchase assets related to graphene processing technology from Thomas Swan & Co. for C$5.2 million
- Thomas Swan’s technology allows for the production of large volumes of high-performance graphene at low cost
- Mason made the purchase through Black Swan Graphene, a new joint venture between the companies which will go public in the coming months
- The transaction is expected to take place on or around August 19, 2021
- Mason Graphite is a Canadian corporation dedicated to the production and transformation of natural graphite
- Mason Graphite (LLG) is up by 11.11 per cent and is currently trading at $0.60 per share
Mason Graphite (LLG) will purchase assets related to graphene processing technology from Thomas Swan & Co.
Mason made the purchase through Black Swan Graphene, a new joint venture, of which Mason and Thomas Swan will own 66.67 per cent and 33.33 per cent, respectively.
Black Swan aims to establish a large-scale commercial production facility in Québec to leverage the province’s competitive hydroelectricity, as well as the proximity of Mason’s planned production sites.
The companies expect to take Black Swan public in the coming months.
Thomas Swan & Co.
Thomas Swan & Co. is a leading United Kingdom-based specialty chemical company founded in 1926 that exports to over 80 countries.
The company’s technology allows for the production of high-performance graphene at low cost, enabling commercial penetration in industrial applications requiring large volumes of graphene.
The companies expect Thomas Swan’s graphene to be widely used in off-the-shelf products in the near future.
Thomas Swan will receive approximately $5.2 million for its technology.
Mason will invest $2.5 million in Black Swan for working capital purposes.
The transaction is expected to take place on or around August 19, 2021.
On closing of the transaction, Black Swan will enter into a license agreement with Trinity College Dublin for the production of exfoliated, defect-free, non-oxidized 2-D materials in large quantities.
Black Swan will also license graphene processing technology to Thomas Swan for production of up to 1,000 tonnes per year.
Harry Swan, CEO and owner of Thomas Swan, commented,
“This partnership creates a more efficient supply chain, which will solidify and accelerate the deployment of our graphene processing technology within a burgeoning industry.”
Fahad Al-Tamimi, Chairman of Mason Graphite, added,
“Not only is this new venture expected to create meaningful graphite demand and is therefore a natural extension of the Lac Guéret graphite project, but it truly transforms the company’s potential as it elevates Mason to a preeminent position within the fastest-growing segment of the carbon industry.”
Mason Graphite is a Canadian corporation dedicated to the production and transformation of natural graphite.
Mason Graphite (LLG) is up by 11.11 per cent and is currently trading at $0.60 per share as of 10:16 am ET.


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Thiruvananthapuram, April 11, 2011
National jackfruit fete to unveil a veritable treat
At a time when much is being said about food security, a widely-available fruit that is nutritious and most parts of which can be put to good use in the kitchen, is being totally shunned by Keralites. And it is a tree which could be spotted in every backyard of our houses. It is a little difficult fruit to handle it alright, but the range of products that can be made out of the jackfruit is amazing.
“Countries like Vietnam, Thailand and Sri Lanka, where jackfruits are aplenty, have developed an entire range of value-added products, with excellent marketing facilities too. We should make at least an effort to understand the good uses of a wholesome fruit that we have grown to neglect totally,” says L. Pankajakshan, director of Shantigram, a non-governmental organisation (NGO), that is all set to organise a national jackfruit festival in the city by the end of May. […]
As a precursor to the event, Shantigram had organised a three-day local jackfruit festival at Chapath, Vizhinjam, where scores of women, men and Kudumbasree groups were given training in making value-added products out of jackfruit. The training programme was led by a team from ‘Uravu’, an NGO in Wayanad that has been instrumental in popularising indigenous technologies and crafts by working with local tribes and other marginalised sections of people.
It was the same team from ‘Uravu—led by C.D. Sunish, K.G. Balan and A.P. Anilkumar— that had recently help organise a jackfruit festival in one of the five-star hotels in Kochi. […] Keralites do not seem to think seriously about cultivating jackfruit, hence much of the seasonal fruit goes waste in the State.
But just across the border, at Panruti, in Cuddallore district in Tamil Nadu, large jackfruit orchards thrive under the loving care of farmers, who see the fruit earning them a steady income of Rs.60,000 per acre. The ‘Panruti’ jackfruit, some weighing over 60 to 70 kg each, is quite famous in the markets of Mumbai, where truckloads of the fruit arrive from Panruti. […] The crop proves to involve zero-labour cost, yet brings plentiful harvest, reports say.
Source: The Hindu : NATIONAL / KERALA : National jackfruit fete to unveil a veritable treat
Address : http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-kerala/article1686363.ece
Date Visited: Tue Sep 06 2011 10:22:09 GMT+0200 (CEST)
Dial the Jackfruit Van
Somewhere along the way jackfruit became unglamorous. […] The Jackfruit Fest to be held in Kozhikode later this month is meant to be the summer fruit’s redemption. The festival will promote the infinite goodness of jackfruit, especially as the fruit is free of pesticides. The event, jointly organised by environmental groups, the Wayanad-based Uravu, residents’ associations and others, aims to introduce buyers to the possibilities of jackfruit. […] And in case a householder has jackfruits but is clueless what to do with it, the fest organisers have a solution at hand.
A Jackfruit Van is set to travel to different pockets to teach residents a variety of jackfruit dishes which they can learn and display at the fest. The van will be equipped with cooking gas, stove, jackfruits, utensils and other essentials. “Trained people will be travelling in the van to teach the residents,” says Babu. The organisers expect the residents’ associations across the district to get in touch with them so that the Jackfruit Van can reach those areas. […]
Source: The Hindu : Life & Style / Metroplus : Dial the Jackfruit Van
Address : http://www.thehindu.com/life-and-style/metroplus/article3383974.ece
Date Visited: Sun Jun 24 2012 10:45:57 GMT+0200 (CEST)
[Bold typeface added above for emphasis]


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HZDG has been named agency of record for Maryland Marketing Partnership, an entity formed earlier this year in collaboration with the State of Maryland’s Department of Commerce and private sector partners representing business and industry.
HZDG won the business after a competitive review originally involving 27 firms. The Partnership, which issued the RFP in June 2016, is responsible for the development of a brand strategy for Maryland, including marketing the state’s assets and encouraging the expansion of new and existing business in the state.
“Maryland has a great story to tell, and for the first time we are bringing together the strength of the state with our private sector partners to champion the brand message,” said Mike Gill, Maryland Secretary of Commerce and chairman of the Partnership. “This emphasis on promoting Maryland as the ideal place to grow a business, raise a family and enjoy an excellent quality of life will boost our economic development efforts as we compete for new jobs and investment.”
HZDG will promote the state by creating a new, unified brand positioning for Maryland as a place to live, work and grow a business. The scope of work includes creation of a comprehensive business marketing strategy and integrated marketing campaign; as well as strategic planning, creative, media and digital services.
“The work with Maryland is the type of brand challenge we live for,” said Karen Zuckerman, founder and chief creative officer of Rockville, MD-headquartered HZDG. “We relish the chance to fuse our homegrown pride and the boundless creativity, resourcefulness, experience and curiosity that we bring to our client engagements.”


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Hotels used to be a byword for innovation. Lifts, steam-generated electricity and air conditioning found their way to the UK via the Savoy. And who, as a child, wasn’t fascinated by the seemingly limitless ice machine? Hotels were the first in the neighbourhood to offer colour TV, and then cable TV and in room coffee makers to remain competitive.
Innovation has now left the sector in favour of maintaining the status quo. The wifi is better at home. The television is better at home. The in-room entertainment is far better at home, but it’s not just about the room.
The experience across the customer journey is being done better everywhere but in the hands of the hotel. The OTAs have mastered transactions with minimal clicks and are now trading on cancellations. Guests are turning to Uber Eats rather than have another tepid Club sandwich from room service. That in-room entertainment now comes from the guests’ iPads.
How did we get here? The sector has never been more professional. The profile of those putting their money into the industry shows pension funds, sovereign wealth funds, investors with serious responsibilities who are happy to place their faith in the market, bringing it into the mainstream.
The clue to the lack of innovation does, however, lie with these investors. The big global operators now have a number of paymasters: shareholders, hotel owners and, last of all, guests. The first party – the party which company dividends feed into – does not respond well to frightening things like change. It would like things to carry on much as they were, thank you very much. With a side of instantly-growing pipeline.
Does this explain the enthusiasm at hotel sector events around the world for data which shows that a return to 2019 is coming along very nicely? ‘When are things going to return to normal?’ is the most-asked question. The deals done since the pandemic began to illustrate that everyone is keen to ignore 2020 and act like it never happened. If only they could make it go away.
We believe in realism, but realism with optimism. For the sector to move forwards, it must innovate, as every other asset class has been forced to do. Its response to the OTAs was to look to direct bookings, a move which added another layer of cost onto franchisees. The response to Airbnb – which now has a higher market capitalisation than any other accommodation company – was to say it didn’t affect the hotel sector, the hotel sector only cared about business travel. Now business travel is harder to come by and Hilton’s response is to turn to dog owners as a possible customer segment and revenue stream at a chainwide $50 per stay.
The truth of the hotel sector is that, even before Airbnb, hotel guests had other options than hotel rooms. For many people, particularly those without meaty expense accounts – and even those with – when travelling to a new destination, friends and family are sought out first. There is no imperative to stay in a hotel.
For the hotel industry to again lead, it can no longer wish change would go away. If we can work as hard for our guests and employees as we do for our owners and ultimately shareholders, we can then move revenues forwards. Our industry needs to embrace the guest throughout the journey, making it easy and frictionless with technology and service that accountably takes ownership of the guest’s well-being. We want hotels to amaze and surprise again, to create those experiences which pull people back to hotels, not because they have to stay, but because they want to.
A new world of innovation for the hotel sector can make it a leader. Because if it stands still, it will get left behind by the next idea to target this $4.7* trillion sector.


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Revenues of parcel and mail carrier Business Post Group, which has an operation in Birmingham Heartlands, have increased by 16 per cent in the three months to June 30 and trading is in line with expectations.
The company said at its annual general meeting that parcel revenues had shown a satisfactory improvement compared to the same period last year, particularly in business-to-business parcels.
The mail business continued to achieve strong growth, driven by new business wins together with more mail volume from existing customers.
Chairman Peter Kane said that during the period April 1 to June 30, 2008 there had been good growth in the B2B parcels business which represented in excess of 80 per cent of parcels revenues.
Mr Kane said: “Revenues in Specialist Services for the period were up significantly on last year. In particular the Courier business has benefited from the contract with Orange which commenced in the period.
“We have made a good start to the financial year with continued revenue growth and with trading performance in line with management expectations,” he said.
Dennis Clark a non-executive director and senior independent director has retired from the board and Philip Stephens has taken over the role of senior independent director. The board is advanced in appointing a successor to Mr Clark as non-executive director.


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Fiesta Restaurant Group, Inc. ("Fiesta" or the "Company") /zigman2/quotes/204950173/composite FRGI -1.14% , parent company of the Pollo Tropical® and Taco Cabana® restaurant brands, today reported comparable restaurant sales for the 13-week second quarter 2020, which ended on June 28, 2020, and for the subsequent two-week period, which ended on July 12, 2020. The Company also provided a liquidity update and announced the completion of an amendment to its revolving credit facility.
Fiesta President and Chief Executive Officer Richard Stockinger said, “We are very encouraged by the significant sequential improvement in comparable restaurant sales at both brands in the second quarter, which has continued into the third quarter. These improving trends have come despite the fact that we are operating in two of the most challenged states in terms of COVID and economic conditions, Florida and Texas. Pollo Tropical comp sales acceleration was the most significant, improving from ‘49.2% in April to ‘12.2% in the first half of July. As we continue to prioritize the well-being of our team members and guests during this pandemic, we are also creating a better business model that is easier and safer for our consumers including expanded delivery options, new curbside and pick-up capabilities, and a much-enhanced online ordering experience.”
Mr. Stockinger continued, “We have been taking ongoing steps to ensure a safe operating environment throughout this crisis. Effective July 12, we made the decision to close all of our dining rooms until further notice to ensure team member and guest safety. We will continue to operate our restaurants for drive thru, delivery and pick up, and we are accelerating efforts to better enable our customers to enjoy our brands safely and conveniently across all channels - wherever and whenever they choose.”
Mr. Stockinger concluded, “We have also finalized an amendment to our credit agreement that includes adjustments to our covenants that are more reflective of current sales and profit trends. We believe the amendment allows us adequate covenant and liquidity cushion to comfortably operate the business in this challenging environment. For the remainder of 2020, the only applicable financial covenant that requires compliance will be a minimum liquidity target. As a result of our rising sales trends and improved cash flow management, our cash balance increased $26.5 million over the second quarter from $75.1 million as of April 3 to $101.6 million on June 28 [(1)] . Our outstanding revolver balance was $150.0 million and our net revolver debt at the end of Q2 was $48.4 million [(2)] . At current sales trends we believe we will continue to improve liquidity, despite the challenging environment.”
The Company executed an amendment to its credit agreement on July 10, 2020 as summarized in and included as an exhibit to the Company's Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission today. Pursuant to the amendment, the available borrowings under the revolving credit facility will be reduced from $150 million to $95 million in a phased reduction beginning with a $30 million permanent reduction at the closing of the amendment on July 10, 2020, a $15 million reduction in the fourth quarter of 2020 and a $10 million reduction in the first quarter of 2021. After giving effect to the Company's $30 million repayment of revolving credit borrowings in accordance with the amendment, the Company had a cash balance of $69.8 million [(3)] and net revolver debt of $50.2 million as of July 10, 2020 [(4)] . Please reference such Form 8-K filing for additional details regarding the amendment to the Company’s credit agreement.
Comparable Restaurant Sales Summary
|Second Quarter 2020||Fiscal April||Fiscal May||Fiscal June||Two Weeks Ended July 12|
Second Quarter 2020 Conference Call
Fiesta also announced that it will host a conference call to review second quarter 2020 results on Wednesday, August 5, 2020 at 4:30 P.M. ET. A press release containing second quarter 2020 results will be issued after market close that same day.
The conference call can be accessed live over the phone by dialing 631-891-4304. A replay will be available after the call until Wednesday, August 12, 2020 and can be accessed by dialing 412-317-6671. The passcode is 10010440. The conference call will also be webcast live and archived on the corporate website at www.frgi.com , under the “Investor Relations” section.
About Fiesta Restaurant Group, Inc.
Fiesta Restaurant Group, Inc., owns, operates and franchises the Pollo Tropical® and Taco Cabana® restaurant brands. The brands specialize in the operation of fast casual/quick service restaurants that offer distinct and unique flavors with broad appeal at a compelling value. The brands feature fresh-made cooking, drive-thru service and catering. For more information about Fiesta Restaurant Group, Inc., visit the corporate website at www.frgi.com .
|(1)||Cash balance defined as operating bank account balances. This amount does not include outstanding checks and other items that are not expected to be material and are included in our balance sheet cash balance.|
|(2)||Net revolver debt defined as revolving credit facility balance of $150.0 million (including letters of credit) less cash balance of $101.6 million.|
|(3)||Cash balance defined as operating bank account balances. This amount does not include outstanding checks and other items that are not expected to be material and are included in our balance sheet cash balance.|
|(4)||Net revolver debt defined as revolving credit facility balance of $120.0 million (including letters of credit) less cash balance of $69.8 million.|
Forward Looking Statements
Certain statements contained in this news release and in our public disclosures, whether written, oral or otherwise made, relating to future events or future performance, including any discussion, express or implied regarding the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and our initiatives on future sales, operating profit, cash liquidity and earnings contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These statements are often identified by the words "may," "might," "believes," "thinks," "anticipates," "plans," "positioned," "target," "continue," "expects," "look to," "intends" and other similar expressions, whether in the negative or the affirmative, that are not statements of historical fact. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve certain risks, uncertainties, and assumptions that are difficult to predict, and you should not place undue reliance on our forward-looking statements. Our actual results and timing of certain events could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of certain factors, including, but not limited to, those discussed from time to time in our reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 29, 2019 and our quarterly reports on Form 10-Q. All forward-looking statements and the internal projections and beliefs upon which we base our expectations included in this release are made only as of the date of this release and may change. While we may elect to update forward-looking statements at some point in the future, we expressly disclaim any obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200716006019/en/
SOURCE: Fiesta Restaurant Group, Inc.
Investor Relations Contact:
Is there a problem with this press release? Contact the source provider Comtex at email@example.com. You can also contact MarketWatch Customer Service via our Customer Center.
Copyright Business Wire 2020


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MG ZS (SUV)
MG is gradually re-establishing itself in the UK market. The brand, now owned by Chinese company SAIC, is on target to sell 4500 cars on these shores in 2017.
And with the launch of this new ZS compact SUV, MG expects that number to double year-on-year. The likes of Ford and...


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The fast-growing craft segment of the US spirits industry is set to vastly outperform the main market in coming years, according IWSR Drinks Market Analysis data.
In 2020, despite the effects of the pandemic, craft spirits in the US registered a volume gain of almost 8%, while non-craft spirits gained approximately 5% growth. The craft segment therefore achieved a 5% volume share of the total US spirits market, and a 7% value share.
The trend for premium, artisanal spirits is gaining significant traction across the US. IWSR analysts predict that the gap between craft and non-craft spirits will widen in coming years. US non-craft spirits is expected to register a +4% CAGR for 2020-2025, compared with a predicted growth of +21% CAGR in US craft spirits in the same period.
Covid-19 caused serious challenges to the craft spirit sector. Forced closures and lack of access to pubs and bars, key revenue drivers for smaller producers, put businesses under strain. But the impact on sales was less severe than expected.
Lockdown measures forced distillers to diversify sales channels and capitalise on at-home drinking.
“While there was a substantial deceleration in growth, craft producers and indeed the total US beverage alcohol market as a whole, performed better than projected last year due to consumption switching to the home-premise,” says IWSR analyst Ryan Lee.
There was a record 56 distillery closures in the US in 2020. But the craft segment saw the opening of 33 more distilleries than in 2019. The number of new craft distilleries is set to significantly ramp up in the next four years, with a predicted 265 set to open in 2025 alone.
All categories, even those seeing declines in the total market, are predicted to post growth in the years to 2025. A prime example, the total US rum category is expected to see a 2020-2025 CAGR volume decline of 1%, while craft rum is forecast to grow 12% in the five-year period.
Whiskey is the largest category in the US craft spirits market, making up more than a third (36%). Sub-categories such as Tennessee and blended whiskey are expected to hold the greatest volume growth potential within total US whiskey.
However, craft gin is forecasted to post the greatest growth in total spirits over the forecast period. In 2020, craft gin only possessed a 9% share of the total US craft spirits market, but the category is forecasted to register a CAGR of +23% from 2020 to 2025. This compares to a +2% CAGR for total gin in the US over the same period.
Craft gin benefits from a significant price premium: while the average retail price of a 750ml bottle of gin sold in the US last year was US$16.77, the average craft gin retails for more than US$30.
“Brands are also driving up their popularity with consumers by leveraging regional botanicals, aged expressions, flavours and other innovations,” says Lee.
“These findings suggest the US craft spirits segment has ample opportunities for evolution and growth, and continues to be an attractive investment proposition for brands,” says Lee.
The mezcal market is projected to reach US$ 1,136.55 million by 2027, according to data from a new report forecasting its rise. Read more here.


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Accessibility Rules of Dressing, Fitting or Locker Rooms
By Susan Lacke
Published November 20, 2020
One simple way clothing stores, mall outlets, gyms and fitness boutiques can build loyalty with the one in four American adults with a disability is to outfit the establishment with included accessible fitting rooms, dressing rooms, and locker rooms.
Despite this much-needed accommodation in businesses, many don’t comply. One 2017 study found that the majority of fitness facilities lacked accessible facilities for people with disabilities and complaints about ADA violations in dressing rooms at retail stores are one of the most common topics in ADA lawsuits, costing businesses thousands of dollars in legal fees and bad publicity. That’s unfortunate because accessibility is good business, and often not very difficult to achieve. The ADA Checklist for Accessible Design (PDF) offers plenty of guidance.
According to ADA guidelines, “Turning space shall not be required in a private dressing room entered through a curtained opening at least 32 inches wide if clear floor space complying with section 4.2 renders the [...]


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✉ The U.S. Postal Service is making significant changes to cut costs and improve efficiency, reducing air cargo shipments by 90% over two years and saving $1 billion in transportation costs.
✈ Shifting packages from air to ground transportation has allowed the Postal Service to streamline operations and ensure timely deliveries.
📦 Over 95% of first-class mail and packages now move through the more efficient ground transportation system.
💰 Despite facing unplanned costs, the Postal Service remains focused on managing expenses and increasing revenue from packages.
🏢 The opening of regional distribution centers and plans for renovations demonstrate the Postal Service's commitment to modernization and eliminating deferred maintenance.
#USPS #PostalService #CostCutting #Efficiency #Transportation #Delivery #Modernization


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India's software and service export industry is booming, according to data released Thursday by the National Association of Software and Services Companies.
Revenue from the export of software and from services sold to companies from outside India (what's known as offshore outsourcing, from the U.S. perspective), reached US$17.2 billion during fiscal 2004-2005, according to the group, which is also known as Nasscom. The jump represents growth of 34.5 percent over the previous year's revenue of US$12.8 billion.
Of the US$17.2 billion, US$5.2 billion was revenue from call centers and business process outsourcing services, it said. The remaining US$12 billion was generated by software and other services.
The trade organization attributed the growth to both high-margin segments of the market, as well as traditional service lines in the business process outsourcing sector. It said revenue from product development and R&D services was US$3 billion, up from US$2.3 billion the previous year.
While the United States and the United Kingdom remain dominant markets, Indian companies are making gains in newer geographies such as Germany, Japan and Singapore, Nasscom said.
"The Indian software and services industry has been able to maintain its growth momentum and consolidate its partnership with overseas customers, adding to their competitiveness," Nasscom Chairman S. Ramadorai said in a statement. "To sustain our competitive advantage, the industry must engage closely with academia to create the right talent pool, collaborate with the hardware industry in microelectronics and embedded software, maximize employment opportunities and elevate service excellence through R&D and quality-benchmarked delivery."
Ramadorai heads Tata Consultancy services which earned US$2 billion in software and service exports during the fiscal year that ended March 31.
Nasscom, which is based in New Delhi, projected growth of more than 30 percent in exports during fiscal 2005-2006.
The organization also said that the number of workers employed in the industry has exceeded 1 million.
Nasscom has projected a revenue target of US$50 billion by 2009.


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The Japan-only The Great Ace Attorney games will now be released worldwide for the first time in multiple platforms this July!
Catherine: Full Body will finally invade your dreams once again in Q3 2019. Be ready.
Explore the underwater world of ABZÛ, now available on Nintendo Switch.
Steampunk-inspired adventure game, Steamburg, embarks you on a journey as it is now available on Nintendo Switch!
Starbreeze Publishing has released Somnium Games’ latest puzzle platformer game, Inked, on Steam. Find what is store for you when you buy this visually-appealing game.
Mayday! Mayday! Subaeria’s release date has been moved, as it undergoes a more thorough polishing touch for its core gameplay.
So cute, yet so brutal. Check out this cartoonish killer puzzle game based on Friday the 13th.
A new indie game gets a visual overhaul, a new name, and a release date.
Q.U.B.E. 2, the sequel of the acclaimed FPS puzzle game, just came out for all major platforms!


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Kodak and Sony have entered into a broad cross license agreement and settled their ongoing patent litigations
Sony Corporation (“Sony”) today announced that Sony and Eastman Kodak Company (“Kodak”) have entered into a cross license agreement, under which Sony and Kodak will each have broad access to the other’s patent portfolio. Specific terms of the agreement were not disclosed.
Sony and Kodak have also entered into a settlement agreement resolving certain outstanding patent litigations.
This license and settlement will have no material impact on Sony’s consolidated earnings forecast announced on October 19, 2006.


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What's more interesting is that Jha also noted that Verizon will be advertising the new Droid devices heavily. That's good news, because I am sure I haven't seen a commercial for the Devour. Verizon has spent $100 million advertising the Droid and Droid Incredible, both its flagship Android smartphones. We have to assume that Verizon wouldn't be committing so much money to the new devices if they are stinkers.
One of them is potentially the Motorola Shadow, which was recently discovered in a Verizon corporate gym. The Shadow likely has 16GB of internal storage; a Snapdragon processor; an 8 megapixel camera; an HDMI out port; and a 4.1-inch screen. Based on these specs, it should be a decent device. We don't know anything about the second device.
It's worth pointing out that Verizon Wireless, not Motorola, is licensing the "Droid" brand from Lucasfilm. Therefore, it is up to Verizon to stick the Droid branding on the handsets its deems worthy of that moniker.
"Never from the beginning did we assume this would be a Motorola thing," said Lowell McAdam, CEO of Verizon Wireless. "If [customers] think Android, that's the generic. If they think Droid, that's going to be the latest and the greatest on our network."
"Latest" and "greatest" sounds good to me. Both Verizon and Motorola will need to put their best foot forward this summer, as the next-generation iPhone is widely expected to go on sale in June.
[Via Wall Street Journal]


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Maharashtra's Minister of Water Resources and Medical Education Girish Mahajan on Tuesday launched an awareness campaign against obesity in the state.
Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration has given a clean chit to the samples of Haldiram snacks after testing them for possible excess lead levels.
Going forward, Maharashtra and PepsiCo are looking to collaboratively build a "best in class" fruit processing industry in the state, the statement added.
Talk about snacks, and something crisp and appetising immediately comes to our mind. Maharashtrians love their food that is spicy and sweet in one bite.
Puri-basundi, the hearty combo dish from Maharashtra, is a stellar treat you should try soon. Recipe inside.
Remember the Beatles hit "strawberry fields forever"? Head for Maharashtra, where, after mangoes, grapes, oranges and chickoos, the western Indian state is now wooing tourists with another trademark fruit - luscious, juicy red and dark ...
Meat lovers in Mumbai will have to do without their favourite beef hamburgers and steaks as President Pranab Mukherjee has signed a bill that bans cow slaughter in Maharashtra with restrictions on sale and possession ...
The state government is scheduled to hold another round of meeting to finalise both the stock holding limit issue as well as purchase of imported tur dal from importers.
The Maharashtra state government has imposed a ban on the sale of 'High in Fat, Salt and Sugar' (HFSS) food at school canteens across the state.
Misal is feisty curry made with moth beans also known as missal. Made with a melange of hearty spices, onion, garlic, ginger and chillies.


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Global Brands Group and Katy Perry have joined forces to create a joint venture in a deal that expands on the team’s recent footwear partnership.
Global Brands Group and Katy Perry have entered an exclusive partnership to develop and launch an eponymous footwear collection for the popstar.
Niche licensing programs have the power to cultivate brands from the most innocuous of sources.
Pop star Katy Perry has released her fourth fragrance in partnership with Coty Perfumes–Killer Queen’s Royal Revolution
by Katy Perry.
As MAGIC, the fashion industry’s biggest trade event, heads into another season, License! Global takes a look at current trends in licensed apparel.
Claire's gave a sneak peak of jewelry and accessories from the initial Roar line from Katy Perry’s new Prism collection.
Claire's has announced plans for an assortment of jewelry and fashion accessories designed in collaboration with pop star Katy Perry.
©2017 UBM. All rights reserved. A UBM Company.


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Criminal barrister Mohsin Zaidi and biographer Diana Souhami been announced the winners of the 2021 Polari Prizes.
Today's Featured Deals In Case You Missed Yesterday's Most Popular Deals Previous Daily Deals Neverworld Wake by Marisha Pessl for $4.99 The Chestnut Man by Soren Sveistrup for $1.99 Mapping the Interior by Stephen Graham Jones for $2.99 Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark by Alvin Schwartz, Stephen Gammell for $1.99 The Ghost Bride by Yangsze Choo for $1.99 The Secret Place by Tana French for $1.99 Night Film by Marisha Pessl for $1.99 11/22/63 by Stephen King for $2.99 Jackaby by William Ritter for $1.99 The Ballad of Black Tom by Victor LaValle for $1.99 The Collected Novels...
The National Teen Book Club is aiming to reach 50,000 young people in 600 schools in a drive to raise literacy levels and encourage a love of reading.
Frankfurt 2021 will not go down as a vintage edition of the great trade show. But its comeback after last year’s curtailment marked a solid return.
The industry is facing an escalation in costs, as soaring energy prices and rising shipping fees add to the financial implications of distribution delays, with publishers, printers, analysts and retailers predicting pressure on profits and the likelihood of costs being passed on to consumers.
Despite having to adapt its plans to celebrate its half-century, art and craft specialist Search Press posted record results in the lockdowns, and is anticipating further growth once craft fairs and high streets gather momentum.


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Utah fantasy theme park Evermore filed a lawsuit against singer-songwriter Taylor Swift on Tuesday, accusing her of trademark infringement. According to the complaint, the title of the popular musician’s 2020 album “evermore” conflicts with the theme park’s trademark rights and has resulted in “actual confusion” online.
Attorneys for Swift say the allegations of trademark infringement are “baseless” and that they refuse to comply with a cease and desist letter that Evermore Park sent to Swift on Dec. 18.
Evermore, a Pleasant Grove attraction where guests are “immersed in a fantasy European hamlet of imagination,” according to the park’s website, was created and founded by CEO Ken Bretschneider in 2018 and features costumed actors and performers.
Like many other entertainment-centric businesses, Evermore has struggled throughout the pandemic. Bretschneider tweeted on Jan. 17 that “Evermore is not out of businesses, but 2020 (Covid) made for a very hard year.”
For Swift, however, 2020 could be described as a momentous year. To the delight of her many fans, she released two surprise albums: Grammy-nominated “folklore” in July, along with its “sister album,” “evermore,” on Dec. 11.
The day after the release of “evermore” is when the confusion started for the theme park, says Andrea Measom, director of human resources for Evermore, in court documents. After the release of Swift’s album, “guests at Evermore Park asked me whether the Evermore album was the result of a collaboration between Evermore and Taylor Swift or some other type of relationship,” Measom said.
Tourism website Visit Utah tweeted about the Evermore name the day before the album’s release, saying, “The first is #evermore, the new Taylor Swift album. The second is @EvermorePark, the immersive storytelling theme park in Pleasant Grove, Utah. Know the difference.”
In court documents, Bretschneider says that after Dec. 11, 2020, search results for Evermore Park were pushed down on Google.com by content related to Swift’s new album. And he says Swift’s use of the “Evermore” title infringes on the park’s merchandise designs as well as album covers for its original soundtracks.
Swift’s attorneys disagree. In court documents, they say that “the Swift Parties have consistently stylized references to the new album in a way that is entirely distinct” from Evermore Park’s branding. They add that TaylorSwift.com “does not sell small dragon eggs, guild patches, or small dragon mounts, and nothing could be remotely characterized as such.”


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Changes to acrylamide regulations (European Commission Regulation 2017/2158) are expected to be introduced this year, with tougher directives on BMLs (benchmark levels) and new maximum levels. Here, we bring you the latest on what you can expect in 2023.
EU legislation on acrylamide is set to be renewed next year, meaning its crunch time for a number of manufacturers who are still producing biscuits and cookies with acrylamide levels above the 350 ppb benchmark level (BML).
Scientists from Rothamsted Research – the longest-running agricultural research institute in the world – have used genome editing to develop a type of wheat that is less likely to produce acrylamide when baked.
Acrylamide is a hot topic for food makers. It has been a year since the European Commission regulation obliging food business operators to apply acrylamide mitigation measures came into force. Kerry Group aims to help manufacturers step up to the mark...
While the introduction of the EU’s acrylamide regulation was a suitable first step, various regulatory bodies are calling for more to be done to make food safer. Man-Yee Chung, global business manager, Fine Baking & PreventASe, at DSM, ponders the...
It has been a year since the European Commission Regulation came into force on April 11 2018, obliging food business operators (FBOs) to apply acrylamide mitigation measures. Despite calls for the EU to take a tougher stance, manufacturers are stepping...
The major UK retail chain has told BakeryandSnacks it's blackened loaves are well within limit following criticizm by The Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (CIEH) for selling bread that could contain higher than recommended levels of acrylamide.
Ireland-based Kerry – one of the world’s largest taste and nutrition companies – hosted its second Bakery Innovation Seminar focused on the drivers of innovation in fine bakery goods, including cakes, cookies, crackers and muffins. BakeryandSnack’s Raising...
An EU vote backing the Commission's proposal to reduce acrylamide in food and drink could see mandatory mitigation action and benchmark levels in place by spring next year, with maximum levels to follow.
The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has published its final opinion on acrylamide in food, reconfirming previous evaluations that it increases the risk of developing cancer for consumers in all age groups.
Acrylamide is a recognised carcinogen that we’ve known is in our food at dangerous levels for a decade. Today, the food industry has tools to mitigate it, but uptake is slow.Industry, beware. This is how scandals are made.
To improve its user friendliness, trade body FoodDrinkEurope has restructured its ‘acrylamide toolbox’ around the three main ingredient types - potatoes, cereals and coffee - that are more commonly associated with the risk of higher formation of the chemical.
A European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) survey of acrylamide in food products indicates that voluntary efforts to reduce levels of the carcinogen are working but only in a limited number of food groups.
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is considering issuing guidelines on acrylamide content in food and has published a notice in the Federal Register seeking comments from industry on the issue.
There is a general trend towards lower levels acrylamide in food products over time, EFSA has observed – but the decrease is not consistent across food groups and for some levels have actually increased.


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PHOTO: Instagram/Dylan Wang
Is Chinese actor Dylan Wang from the 2018 "Meteor Garden" remake coming to Manila?
"Meteor Garden" fans speculated his possible visit to the country after a local clothing brand posted a teaser of their new campaign.
The video featured previous endorsers Jerry Yan and Lee Min-ho who played lead roles in the "Meteor Garden" Taiwanese and Korean versions, respectively.
Many guessed Wang might come to Manila just like the two "Meteor Garden" leads and endorsers who visited the country.
View this post on Instagram
It all started in 2003 when Jerry Yan of the Meteor Garden fame 🌟became a #GlobalBENCHsetter. Then, in 2013, Lee Min Ho from the hit Korean remake Boys over Flowers made our hearts swoon 💕. Fast forward ⏩ to 2018-who could this be?! 😉 Manila, ARE YOU READY??? #BENCHisF4EVER
A post shared by BENCH/ (@benchtm) on Nov 19, 2018 at 8:09am PST
A teaser of the new endorser was abruptly shown and fans guessed it to be Wang. However, the clothing brand has yet to confirm the identity of their new endorser.
Wang is an actor and model best known for his first lead role as Dao Ming Si in the 2018 "Meteor Garden" remake.


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Experts from National Asthma Council Australia warn of dangers of ‘Christmas tree syndrome’ | Review of northern beaches
Have you noticed that your asthma is getting worse this holiday season?
Your Christmas tree could be to blame.
Experts from the National Asthma Council Australia have warned that putting up your beloved Christmas tree could actually cause ‘Christmas tree syndrome’ – an allergic reaction that causes wheezing, sneezing, cough, sore eyes, and potentially serious asthma attacks.
But it’s not just real Christmas trees that could cause allergic reactions, experts say artificial trees have their own dangers.
Real Christmas trees like cypress and pine can collect large amounts of pollen from other plants before they are cut, which can trigger asthma and hay fever symptoms once you bring them home. House.
Artificial trees can also cause problems if they accumulate dust, mites, or even mold during storage.
National Asthma Council’s Sensitive Choice program director David Furniss said most people don’t know that real Christmas trees can harbor pollen and trigger symptoms of asthma and hay fever.
“Pollen can have a big impact and make your asthma symptoms worse,” Furniss said.
âArtificial trees can be a safe alternative but, if used year after year, they accumulate dust, mites and even mold during storage.
âEven the most exciting part of the Christmas tree tradition – decorating – can also put you at risk if the decorations in storage have become dusty.
The National Asthma Council Australia has given these tips to help you avoid wheezing and sneezing during the holiday season:
- Live Christmas Tree in Your Home – Water your living tree before bringing it into the house to help flush out allergens. If you notice an increase in asthma or allergy symptoms, move your tree outside.
- Artificial Christmas Tree in Your Home – Shake it well outside before putting it inside. Unwrap your tree and decorations outside and vacuum them as you take them out of the box. Wipe down your artificial tree, wreaths, and ornaments with a damp cloth to remove dust.
- When storing your tree and decorations, use airtight plastic bags and sealed boxes so that they collect less dust.
Mr Furniss said that if you have asthma it is important to be aware of your asthma triggers and manage them if possible.
âYou should also continue to follow the written asthma action plan that you developed with your doctor,â he said.
“Make sure you have your medications with you and take them according to your doctor’s advice, even if you’re partying over the holiday season or on vacation.”
The weather in La Nina this year is also causing problems for those with hay fever and asthma due to the association of high grass pollen counts and heavy rainfall.


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LINCOLN â€“ Gov. Lincoln Chafeeâ€™s budget proposal to lower the stateâ€™s corporate tax rate by a third â€“ from the current 9 percent to 6 percent â€“ if Congress allows states to start collecting sales tax on online purchases was enough to put a smile on the face of Northern Rhode Island Chamber of Commerce President John Gregory.
In fact, what Chafee proposes â€śis a little more aggressiveâ€ť than even the business communityâ€™s. â€śWe thought of reducing it from 9 (percent) to 7 (percent), he did 9 to 6.


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The store, located in the Virginia Square Shopping Center on the northeast corner of US 75 and West Virginia Parkway, will be the 36th opened in Texas by the tool and equipment supply brand. Minnesota-based Northern Tool and Equipment has over 130 stores across the U.S.
The store offers a variety of tools, parts and machinery, including both national brands and Northern Tool-manufactured items, according to its website.
Totaling about 40,000 square feet, the space was previously occupied by Super One Foods and Brookshire’s. The building was renovated to split the previous grocery store into two retail spaces as well as to raise the roof and renovate the exterior facade. The other half of the split space is expected to be occupied by Autozone.
Northern Tool and Equipment will host a grand opening event at the new location June 15, according to a representative of the store. Ed “Too Tall” Jones, former defensive end for the Dallas Cowboys, is expected to make an appearance at the event from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. to meet fans and sign autographs. www.northerntool.com


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Randy Wootton will speak about advertiser perceptions on April 14 at AdExchanger’s PROGRAMMATIC.IO conference in San Francisco.
The past couple of years have been a tumultuous adolescence for ad tech, and perhaps no single company embodies the growing pains as neatly as Rocket Fuel, with its near-solo public spotlight, its dispute over margin transparency and the rough transition to SaaS-based revenue models.
But being such a keen reflection of ad tech woes has partially obscured the company’s actual position, said CEO Randy Wootton.
“We’ve struggled since we acquired x+1 [in August 2014] to communicate to the market who we are and what our distinct value prop is,” he said.
Wootton spoke with AdExchanger about Rocket Fuel’s recent changes and why he thinks the couple is well set to emerge from “the coming shake-out in ad tech.”
AdExchanger: What’s at the heart of Rocket Fuel’s transition, and others in the industry as well, from a “network” to a “platform”?
RANDY WOOTTON: At its most basic, being a platform means you can have a set of customers interact with you in a self-service way. Everything is in the interface and you only need Rocket Fuel if something breaks or there are issues on the back end.
When you have managed service, and this was part of Rocket Fuel’s criticism early on regarding margins and being a “black box,” it was hard for people to understand the value we brought to the chain. It was almost heretical in the media world talking about our network as services. If you’re Google or Microsoft, you throw in campaign analytics and services as part of the CPM charge. In the classic software world, you buy the tech and then pay for the services: managed service, support, training, whatever the added service is.
So this whole idea of having services to be monetized is different. We started with 40 products – direct marketing, three flavors of PMP, video, CPA (cost per action) campaigns, cross-device, mobile, different DMP features sold as products, programmatic TV, etc. – we were trying to sell to everybody, instead approaching each company with a holistic solution.
Where is the company in terms of having that split between platform tech and managed service?
We talk about this in our earnings report, and currently it’s about 10% self-serve platform and 90% managed service. As we’ve also noted to investors, we’re in talks with holding companies to work on being platform partners, and have signed some significant customers who are using our platform as an integrated DMP/DSP. So expect that 90/10 split to change significantly over time.
When you look at the rise of trading desks, agencies of the future look more like marketing services firms. When you look at the moves being made by companies like Accenture, PwC (PricewaterhouseCoopers), IBM, Salesforce and Deloitte, [and] if you look at what someone like Merkle has done or acquisitions by Adobe or Oracle in the past few years, it’s clear there’s a huge opportunity to be the activation and optimization engine that extends those platforms.
You’re not the only player on the buy side looking to make that transition to the SaaS model, and most have seemingly failed in the attempt, so what does it mean to you seeing others struggle with the same change?
VCs are fickle lovers. Companies like Turn that have extended themselves without the cash reserves to make the transition, ended up cutting deals with holding companies that were so low they couldn’t maintain their cost structure and weren’t getting enough dollars from direct deals to make up for it, so they struggled. VC sources dry up or they aren’t patient when you have trends that take 10 years, and those that aren’t public will struggle to get money and have responsible cost structures in place.
Marketers have never bought technology this way, on this enterprise software model. Historically, when you look at who controls tech spending, it’s probably the CFO, CTO or CIO. Now it’s the CMO’s purview, but they’ve never done it before and it’s moving along the chain. That’s why I think you suddenly see companies moving in – Deloitte, Accenture, Salesforce, IBM – where you’re beyond the digital ecosystem and traditional CMO responsibilities, and now they have these back doors and relationships they can leverage across different business sectors. Those are the companies you want to power, not compete with.


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Regulation Framework in Place to Regulate Cell-Grown Meat
Two separate government agencies will come together to regulate the new market of lab-grown meat.
The Washington Examiner says the Food and Drug Administration and the USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service will share regulation of the products. Scientists will create products by multiplying animal cells to mimic traditional chicken, pork, beef, and fish. The products will have to be approved by both agencies before they’ll be allowed in stores.
Under the new regulatory agreement, the FDA oversees cell collection, cell banks, and cell growth. FSIS will step in after that to oversee food production and how it’s labeled. The Trump Administration had to hold several meetings to talk about how the emerging market and its products should be regulated. They don’t fit neatly under the jurisdiction of either agency.
In a statement from the FDA, the agency says, “Collaboration between the USDA and FDA will allow us to draw upon the unique expertise of each agency in addressing the many technical and regulatory considerations that arise with the development of animal-cell cultured food products for human consumption.”
The traditional meat industry was concerned about the impact the new products would have on their industry and lobbied the Trump Administration to have the cultured foods be regulated by both agencies.
Source; NAFB News


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Rumours suggest the company wants to take as many as 70 per cent of its biggest clients 'in-house' and dealers are waiting anxiously to hear the outcome of any decision.
One Avid reseller said: 'This is not good for us and it's not good for customers. We knew it was in the pipeline but we're waiting for the bomb to drop.'
Other dealers question Avid's ability to properly support customers. Another dealer told Broadcast: 'I don't believe Avid will be able to support so many customers spread throughout the UK - as the dealerships shrink some customers will fall through the cracks.'
Jon Harris of Root6 said: 'Avid wants to have contact with its big users but it can't offer the support - we have more than twice as many support staff on our own. The reality is that customers need resellers to integrate the products ' and Avid needs them too.'
An Avid spokesperson said that it is 'always the company's aim to meet all our customers' requirements'.


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LoL developers have swapped one of Garen’s old graphics.
League of Legends is a game that has been on the market since 2009. During this time more than 1,300 skins have been released and more than 160 different heroes have been created. No one is likely to be surprised by the fact that things released many years ago simply get old and require regular updates to keep up with new developments. This is also the case with skins that, years later, are no longer as fresh as those released in the last few months.
Some such skins get new effects or a completely new model on the occasion of ASU or VGU. Sometimes the model itself isn’t so bad yet, and it’s the splash art that most reveals the skin’s age.
In the past, Riot has replaced many old graphics. Sometimes with big announcements, and sometimes completely secretly. It turns out that one of Garen’s skins was quietly changed on PBE.
Rugged Garen’s new splash art
The Rugged Garen skin was released on August 15, 2011 and costs 750 RP. Its current splash art isn’t particularly ugly (and older LoL players know that some graphics could be truly nightmarish), though you can see from it that it hails from an earlier era, when the approach of graphic designers was quite different.
It turns out that Riot has rather unexpectedly changed the splash art for another one. The change is only visible on PBE, and for now it is impossible to preview the full graphic. It’s hard to say why exactly this skin was refreshed. As we know, both Garen and quite a few old characters each have several skins that need updating.
Some players are wondering if Riot plans to replace the graphics of other skins, or if the change was a one-off. Perhaps in time, LoL fans will notice more updates on PBE.


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According to the daily The Japan Times, a survey published on Monday found that one in four people will continue to wear face masks, despite the relaxation of Covid rules.
Even though, in a last-ditch effort by the government to normalize social and economic activities that have been subject to public health restrictions, the decision about mask-wearing is left to individuals, the survey indicates that a drastic change in habits not going to happen anytime soon.
Now, wearing a mask is not a legal requirement in Japan, but it has become common practice among locals.
More than 66% of those surveyed said they would decide to remove their mask depending on the situation, such as during meals or if there are other people nearby. Only 5.5% said they would not wear one, regardless of the social context in which they found themselves.
And on the tourism side?
Following the government’s new coronavirus guidelines, most retailers and restaurants will leave it to customers to decide whether or not to wear face masks in their stores. However, their employees will continue to wear them to provide comfort to visitors.
Managers of food chains like Seven-Eleven Japan, Lawson and FamilyMart, as well as supermarkets and department stores have said they will recommend staff wear masks, while no longer asking customers to do so. .
Rail company East Japan Railway said it will discontinue announcements on trains asking customers to use face masks, but station workers will continue to wear them. The Nihon Bus Association will take a similar approach.
The operator of the popular Universal Studios Japan theme park in Osaka had previously asked visitors to wear masks at all times except when they are at a sufficient physical distance outdoors or when taking photos, but it will no longer require customers to do so and instead extend the requirement only to employees.
Oriental Land, which operates Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea, said it would also relax its guidelines and no longer require visitors or its staff to wear face masks.


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The relationship between businesses and their employees is back in the news, with low-wage laborers recently protesting and striking for a higher minimum wage and independent contractors in the sharing economy suing for expanded rights. But for consumers, how important is it to know about working conditions at the businesses they frequent, and what impact does this knowledge have on their shopping decisions?
Around half of Americans say the question of working conditions is indeed important to them, though fewer are actually willing to pay more to support businesses that are seen as worker-friendly, according to a Pew Research Center survey conducted in late 2015.
A little more than half (53%) of U.S. adults say that when deciding whether to use a particular service or shop at a particular store, it’s important for them to know something about the pay and working conditions of those who work there. But only a slightly smaller share (46%) say that worker treatment is not important to their purchasing decisions.
Finding out how companies treat their workers can be difficult for many Americans. Only around a quarter (23%) say it is easy to get accurate information about employee pay and working conditions at the businesses they frequent. But even when they are able to identify businesses that provide good pay and working conditions, about two-thirds of U.S. adults (67%) say it is hard to justify the additional cost involved in supporting such companies. Only around one-quarter (28%) report that they often pay extra to support these types of businesses.
Even many Americans who say it’s important to know how workers are treated find it hard to justify the extra cost of supporting businesses that provide good pay and working conditions. Among those who say that worker pay and conditions are important to them, 41% say they regularly pay extra to support businesses that treat their employees well, but 56% indicate it is hard to justify the additional cost.
Questions about the minimum wage or employee benefits often break along political lines, and there are partisan differences on this issue as well. Democrats and independents who lean toward the Democratic Party are more likely than their Republican and Republican-leaning counterparts to say that worker pay and conditions are important to their purchasing decisions (62% vs. 42%). But even as they place greater importance on this issue, a minority of both Democrats (35%) and Republicans (22%) say they often pay extra to support businesses that provide good pay and working conditions to their employees.
See the topline results and methodology used for this post.