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Supermarket giant Asda is trialling its first loyalty scheme in 16 stores.
The chain said that the scheme is still in the test phase of its new loyalty initiative, with no rollouts to further stores announced yet.
The pilot - at first just available to Asda staff - is now available to shoppers in 16 stores across the West Midlands and West Yorkshire.
To recieve the perks, shoppers must first sign download and sign up to the new Asda Rewards app.
Once registered, there are two ways to build cash rewards - either by buying a Star Product or completing personalised in-app shopping missions.
The shopping missions are based around certain groups of products, for example, Asda said shoppers can buy five fruit and veg items to be rewarded £1 into their cashpot.
Another reward could see customers spend £15 on pet products to get £3 back.
Asda says there will be hundreds of Star Products that can be purchased to build up money on the app and they'll be labelled as such in stores. The app will also tell you which qualifying products you need to buy.
Asda is one of the few major grocers that doesn't offer an all year round food-based loyalty scheme for its shoppers, although it does have a scheme called George Rewards, which gives points for spending on homeware and clothing, as well as a Christmas savings card.
Tesco launched its Clubcard in 1995, while Sainsbury’s customers can collect points using Nectar.
Matt Mclellan, vice president customer proposition and planning, said: “We know our customers want the best possible value when shopping with us, especially as household budgets become stretched.
“Our Asda Rewards trial rewards our loyal customers with pounds not points for buying the products they love.
“We hope that our customers will enjoy building up their cash pot during the trial and spending it on whatever they like in store – or saving it for the all-important Christmas shop.”


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All articles by BRAIN Staff
INDIAN TRAIL, N.C. (BRAIN) — London-based performance apparel brand Le Col has established a U.S. subsidiary and is selling its high-end men's and women's clothing online as well as through select retailers.
ASHEVILLE, N.C. (BRAIN) – The final Profitability Project meeting facilitated by the Mann Group took place last week in Calgary. The National Bicycle Dealers Association will take over the administration of its retail program going forward.
SALT LAKE CITY (BRAIN) — Scott Sports will offer five 27.5-plus mountain bikes in the U.S. this year, adopting a 30mm wide rim and 2.8-inch wide tires to create what the company says is the best compromise between fat-tire handling, weight and rolling resistance.
VANCOUVER, British Columbia (BRAIN) — Recon Instruments has added support for ANT+ wireless power meters to its Recon Jet smart sunglasses.
BOSTON (BRAIN) — Vittoria has announced a new Shop-Team program that offers sponsorship to local teams throughout the U.S. The program will allow local teams and clubs to make reduced-price group orders for Vittoria, 3T and Selle Italia products through their local retailer.
OVERLAND PARK, Kan. (BRAIN) — Northwave worked with eVent to use a new stretchable membrane fabric, called Dvstretch.
Northwave is using the new fabric in the 2015 Northwave Arctic Jacket. The new Arctic Jacket will be on the market in October, just in time for the cold and windy weather.
ST. CHARLES, Ill. (BRAIN) — Longtime retailer Sammy Radi, who owns Sammy's Bikes in St. Charles, Ill., has opened Giant Fox Valley, a store dedicated solely to the Giant and Liv brands. The 2,400 square-foot shop is located across the street from Sammy's Bikes.
DETROIT (BRAIN) — The watch, leather goods and bicycle company, Shinola, has teamed up with musician and Detroit native, Jack White, to purchase the building that currently houses its flagship retail store in Motor City's Cass Corridor.
CHICAGO (BRAIN) — After 14 years on Chicago's Kingsbury Street, SRAM LLC has moved its global headquarters to the revitalized West Loop neighborhood. The company moved into its new facility at 1000 West Fulton Market Street on June 1.
SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO, Calif. (BRAIN) — Interbike has announce the first round of categories and nominees for the second annual Interbike Awards (IB Awards), including product, retailer and supplier designations.

domain: news


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Financial services institutions are known to shy away from social media due to strict industry regulations. But a growing number of consumer-facing banks, insurance companies and personal finance apps are looking to create promotional content with individuals with large followings on social media, in order to add personality to their brands and cater to the 18- to 34-year-old cohort, according to agency executives.
“Financial services is a tough category, but one I think would be of interest to millennials and women,” said Holly Pavlika, svp of marketing and content for influencer agency Collective Bias, which is pitching several banks. “Education is a huge need in the category around investing and getting a mortgage, et cetera, and having real people tell real stories helps make the category less intimidating.”
Kerry Perse, director of social media for agency OMD, said that when her team ran its first influencer campaign in the financial services vertical around two years ago, the client needed to be educated on what influencer marketing was and convinced that the content would be compliant with the Federal Trade Commission and Financial Industry Regulatory Authority regulations. Now, companies in financial services have a much better understanding of influencer marketing and feel more comfortable with this marketing approach, she said.
“We’ve already done influencer marketing for a couple of financial clients this year, and we are also planning for next year,” said Perse.
Meanwhile, Kamiu Lee, vp of strategy and business development for influencer platform Bloglovin’, has seen a growing interest from financial clients in working with influencers since last year, especially later in 2017, as those companies want to humanize the brand and reach young people, she said. “This is also because as influencer marketing matures, industries outside food, fashion and beauty are also catching up,” said Lee. “Marketers now understand what influencer marketing means — it’s not just about product placement.”
Rob Gregory, president of influencer agency Whosay, also said there’s a growing demand for influencer marketing from clients like Bank of America, Cigna and Principal Financial.
But it’s not easy to run influencer marketing in financial services because of FTC and FINRA regulations. In some cases, financial products may require more disclosures than what the FTC requires. For instance, influencers may need to include a line like “past performance doesn’t guarantee future performance” in their financial product endorsements, in addition to the #ad hashtag, according Pavlika. Meanwhile, individuals are not allowed to endorse a specific stock or investment idea under FINRA, so influencers can’t post or share that type of messaging, said Lee.
“All the legal [regulations] have the potential to take away from authenticity and interrupt the influencer’s ability to tell a story in a human way,” said Pavlika.
Given the strict industry regulations, Perse and Lee both think a good way for financial companies to approach influencer marketing is developing content that relates to an individual’s personal experience, especially life milestones like buying a house or starting a business, where the influencer promotes a financial product in general terms. For instance, a financial-planning app can work with a recently engaged influencer who may talk about how the app helps her save money while planning her wedding, according to Lee.
Another example: If a campaign is about an individual retirement account rollover, the brand can use lifestyle social influencers to talk about how they used one to easily consolidate their multiple retirement accounts from previous employers, said Perse. “They talk about specific products in the context of life stage or a current challenge,” she added.
Lee believes that since financial companies typically have ongoing philanthropic initiatives, they can also work with influencers on that front. “Influencers can help humanize the story instead of just saying bank XYZ donates this much money,” she said.
While financial institutions could benefit from influencer marketing, the decision to work with social stars comes down to the product. For instance, investment products are not a right fit for influencer marketing, while digital wallet products, apps and functional bank offerings are ideal, said Pavlika.
The post Financial institutions have a growing interest in influencer marketing appeared first on Digiday.


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Vodafone is planning changes to its mobile data pricing that it says will mean there will be no barriers to experiencing the mobile internet.
However, Vodafone's general manager of products and services, Kursten Shalfoon, was not prepared to expand on the plans apart from saying they would not be "free".
He would not say whether they would be flat rate plans or tied to advertising, but did say they'd coincide with a mobile internet launch.
Under current data plans, one analysts has warned, users of the iPhone and other internet devices on mobile networks could face nasty "bill shock" when their monthly invoices arrive.
Last week it was announced New Zealand and nine other countries would receive the iPhone through Vodafone. It is widely rumoured and expected that the deal is not exclusive to Vodafone and that other providers could soon announce similar arrangements.
On Friday, Vodafone New Zealand was not prepared to add anything to a brief statement on the deal released to the UK stock exchange.
Stuff blogger and Computerworld writer Juha Saarinen recently highlighted the differences between vodafone's UK and New Zealand plans:
"Over here, you’re looking at between $30 and $70 for up to 3GB of data on two-year contracts, or $40 to $80 if you don’t want to lock yourself in. Another $10 a month buys you “insurance” if you overshoot the monthly allowance: the tenner gives you double the existing data volume, so in theory, you can chew through 6GB for $80 or $90 a month, with 50¢/MB if you go over that. "Vodafone UK, on the other hand, charges £5 for “unlimited” data usage through increased phone plan pricing. It seems the actual cap is 500MB a month but that’s not enforced. I’m not sure that you can call the offer free as such, since you’re paying more than before, and with a 500MB cap it’s hardly unlimited either."
In other news, Vodafone New Zealand has launched a Navman-like service called Compass on the Blackberry using technology from Australian mobile developer Yapp Mobile. Computerworld signalled the deal in October last year.
Compass downloads maps in real-time so they are always up to date. Shalfoon says additional services on the system could include information about the whereabouts of petrol stations and their prices. Information on parking buildings could also be included among other applications.
The service is free until October and then will be charged at $10 a month or $2.50 for one day's casual use.


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You have heard it right! The rumor is true. Nokia’s first Android phones – Nokia 8 will be coming in to Singapore and you could get them through major electronics and Telco’s exclusive stores from 14 October onwards.
Ever since the announcement in Aug this year, the Nokia 8 has been receiving a lot of attentions from the market. Unlike other smartphone markers which try to differentiate themselves from others by putting a lot of proprietary bloat-wares in the Android OS, Nokia 8 will be powered by stock version Android OS. This means that Nokia 8 users will get updates soon after Google release it instead of waiting for the patching from the phone manufacturers.
If you are keen to know what other benefits of stock android, you may wish to read up more here
Nokia 8 will be available in three colours – Polished Blue, Tempered Blue and Steel in Singapore at a suggested retail price of SGD 769 from tomorrow through sole distributor A-Mobile at all M1 Shops, Courts, Harvey Norman, Challenger, Sprint Cass, Mustafa, Handphoneshop, 3Mobile and selected AMobile authorised retailers.
About HMD Global
Headquartered in Espoo, Finland, HMD Global Oy is the new home of Nokia phones and tablets. HMD designs and markets a range of smartphones and feature phones targeted at a range of consumers and price points. With a commitment to innovation and quality, HMD is the proud exclusive licensee of the Nokia brand for mobile phones and tablets. Nokia is a registered trademark of Nokia Corporation
Also published on Medium.


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Hotel Nest celebrated the launch of their new extension, The Greehouse Bar, on Wednesday 29 April. The lush, style laden Green House Bar was designed by Hecker, Phelan and Guthrie and the evening was celebrated with bubbles, cocktails and canapés.
The internet never sleeps! Here's the stuff you might have missed
University life is about so much more than attending classes. With such spaced out schedules, it’s no surprise so many students choose to spend their downtime on campus – studying, relaxing, socialising. These activities need dedicated spaces and dedicated furniture to encourage healthy student life.


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Burlington Coat Factory opens in two weeks
The Burlington Coat Factory at the Machesney Park Mall is set to open Sept. 25.
It’s the newest addition to the once-thriving shopping center that officials have targeted for redevelopment.
It joins Bergner’s and JC Penney Outlet to anchor the mall at 8750 N. Second St.
Officials envision that the mall could one day be the town’s main attraction with future development that could include everything from further retail to a grocery store, condominiums or an assisted-living center.
Burlington’s arrival “is going to be a great asset to the redevelopment plan for the overall mall property,” said Karen Lemmons, the village’s director of community development. “I think it will help bring in more shoppers and help attract more retailers, restaurants and others as we step toward our vision of the redevelopment of that property into a town-center concept.”
Owner Rubloff Development has invested in upgrading the site, which includes facade improvements and a repaved parking lot.
Rubloff was issued a building permit in December for the buildout with a projected $680,000 cost. Rubloff took another building permit for the mall that month with a projected $225,000 cost for interior demolition, replacement of walls and skylights, and adding a loading dock.
“We’re excited to be on the ground floor of the redevelopment of that area,” said Scott Janus, district manager for Burlington. “It makes us feel proud, from a community standpoint, that we’re one of the key anchors there as the redevelopment continues.”
The 65,000-square-foot store features a variety of clothing and coats with home decor and baby departments. It’s the company’s 19th location in Illinois, including its site at 6260 E. State St. in Rockford.
It will employ 110 people including sales and management positions. Janus said all positions have been filled for the opening date, but the company is still accepting applications to place on file.
Staff writer Kevin Haas can be reached at email@example.com or 815-987-1354.


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Hoteliers overcharging in name of service charge to face the music
Cracking the whip on errant hoteliers for overcharging in the name of service charge, the government has decided to issue an advisory to all state governments soon. The Ministry of Food and Consumer Affairs has sent a draft advisory to Prime Minister's Office (PMO) for the final approval.
"The ministry is hopeful of getting the PMO's approval on the advisory as it is in the interest of consumers. The restaurants or food outlets are charging for serving the food, which is against the provisions of consumer law. The service charge is a voluntary component and should not be imposed upon consumers," said Food and Consumer Affairs Minister Ram Vilas Paswan.
"The government will not bring any law to regulate it, but yes, there will be some advisories that the hotel industry would have to follow. It's a known practice that when a customer is treated well at any food outlet of the country, they voluntarily offer a tip to the waiter, but restaurants cannot make it mandatory that a certain percentage would have to be levied as service charge. It is a violation of consumer protection law," Paswan added.
Some hoteliers have approached the Supreme Court for relief in the matter after the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission's order came in the government's favour.
In another major development, Pepsi has decided to sell packaged mineral water Aquafina at the same maximum retail price (MRP) across the country, while Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has also ensured that bottled water would be sold at same MRP in all of its cricket stadiums. The decision in this regard has been taken after Paswan's push for the same MRP for packed food and beverage. The minister opined that after Pepsi's move, other may also follow suit in the larger interest of consumers.


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Ubisoft announced a new mobile game called Tom Clancy's Elite Squad at E3 2019, which will bring together characters from all Tom Clancy games.
Ubisoft boss Yves Guillemot states that fans of the Splinter Cell series will see their faith in Sam Fisher rewarded, just not anytime soon.
Jade Raymond confirms that she'd been working on a new Splinter Cell game to continue Ubisoft's stealth series for before she left the company.
Recent comments from Ubisoft confirm that an unannounced franchise title is releasing soon. Could it be the rumored Splinter Cell?
E3 2018 arrives early thanks to Walmart Canada who potentially leaked announcements for Just Cause 4, RAGE 2, Gears of War 5, Borderlands 3, and more!
How is it we've gotten Hitman and Tomb Raider reboots before Metal Gear Solid and Mass Effect? Why fast-track Rampage when they could have made Halo?
Ghost Recon: Wildland's Splinter Cell-themed mission has Michael Ironside's Sam Fisher pay his respects to Meta Gear Solid's Solid Snake.
Ubisoft reveals the official trailer, details, and release date for Ghost Recon: Wildland's Splinter Cell-themed Special Operations mission.
Michael Ironside is returning to voice Sam Fisher in an upcoming Splinter Cell-Ghost Recon Wildlands crossover even titled The Call.
Ubisoft is not letting the struggles of the Assassin's Creed movie get in the way of them making a Splinter Cell film, starring Tom Hardy.
A rumor suggests a new Splinter Cell game is in early development, with Michael Ironside returning as superspy Sam Fisher.
Catchplay's CEO has confirmed plans for an Assassin's Creed movie sequel, as well as a followup to the Tom Hardy-starring Splinter Cell.
Ubisoft Motion Pictures CEO Jean-Julien Baronnet compares the Assassin's Creed movie to Batman Begins and discusses the company's development strategy.
Ubisoft's 'Splinter Cell', which has Tom Hardy attached to star, is getting a fresh script draft from actor/writer Frank John Hughes.
'Edge of Tomorrow' director Doug Liman talks about his upcoming adaptation of the video game series 'Splinter Cell' starring Tom Hardy.


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Snam is Europe’s best company for digital corporate communication
Snam won the 20th edition of Webranking by Comprend Europe, proving to be the best company for digital corporate communication among the 500 largest European companies. Totaling a 93.6 score out of 100, Snam beated all previous records in the history of Webranking, as has been the case in the Italian edition of the survey, which saw Snam take the podium last November in Milan.
The survey evaluated the transparency and consistency of digital contents made available to users emphasizing the importance of a long-term strategy aimed at sharing information and a constant commitment to execution.
Snam’s digital communication, further improving its performance over last year, has been acknowledged for making information immediately available to various stakeholders and for the consistency of contents about the company’ s strategy, corporate identity and targets, as well as crucial topics such as governance, sustainability and the long-term perspective which characterizes its business.
The first place in Webranking Europe rewards Snam’s commitment to engaging with stakeholders in a transparent way, creating relevant and distinctive contents and making them accessible from any device through a dynamic and responsive web infrastructure, integrated with the main social network platforms.
30 January 2017 - 17:16 CET


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SMALL businesses including market traders and charities which initially missed out on government funding to cover property costs are eligible for grants of up to £25,000 each.
The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy has added an extra £617m to funding already available to firms in England via the small business grants fund (SBGF) and the retail, hospitality and leisure grants fund (RHLGF), which are together worth £12.3bn.
⚠ Read our coronavirus live blog for the latest news & updates
The money is intended to cover the cost of running a property while a business is closed during the UK lockdown.
In total, the government said around one million businesses will benefit from some help from the three schemes.
As of this week, £9.1bn in grants has already been paid out to 742,000 business properties via the SBGF and RHLGF schemes, and the top-up fund.
But how do you get your hands on the money?
Am I eligible?
In order to qualify for the original schemes, businesses have to pay business rates on their properties and have a so-called ‘rateable value’ of less than £51,000.
The rateable value is an amount calculated by the government’s Valuation Office Agency which is linked to how much rent the property fetches.
But an extra £617m of top-up cash has been made available for businesses which fall outside of the original criteria.
This includes businesses in shared spaces, regular market traders, canal-based businesses and small charity properties, as well as bed and breakfasts that pay council tax and not business rates.
Because these businesses aren’t registered for business rates, they initially missed out on the funding.
But the new pot of money can be used for any “ongoing fixed property-related costs”, the government said.
In order to qualify, businesses must be small, employ less than 50 people, and must also be able to demonstrate that they have seen a significant drop of income due to coronavirus restriction measures.
CORONAVIRUS CRISIS – STAY IN THE KNOW
Don’t miss the latest news and figures – and essential advice for you and your family.
How much will I get?
In the original schemes, a payout of £10,000 is available to businesses operating out of premises that have a rateable value of up to £15,000.
Companies in the retail, leisure and hospitality sectors with a rateable value of between £15,000 and £51,000 can apply for a £25,000 grant.
Businesses who fall outside of the original criteria but qualify for the top-up pot can receive one of three amounts.
The maximum is £25,000, and there are also grants of £10,000.
Local authorities also have discretion to make payments of any amount under £10,000.
Businesses that must remain closed
WHILE the Government is encouraging some to return to work, it says the following businesses and venues are required by law to stay closed to the public:
- Restaurants and cafes, other than for takeaway
- Pubs, cinemas, theatres and nightclubs
- Clothing and electronics stores; hair, beauty and nail salons; and outdoor and indoor markets not selling food
- Libraries, community centres, and youth centres
- Indoor and outdoor leisure facilities such as bowling alleys, gyms, arcades and soft play facilities – although outdoor sports facilities, such as tennis and basketball courts, golf courses and bowling greens, will be allowed to reopen from May 13
- Some communal places within parks, such as playgrounds and outdoor gyms
- Places of worship (except for funerals)
- Hotels, hostels, bed and breakfasts, campsites, caravan parks, and boarding houses for commercial/leisure use, excluding use by those who live in them permanently, those who are unable to return home and critical workers where they need to for work
Food retailers, food markets, and hardware stores can remain open, while garden centres and certain other retailers can reopen from May 13.
How do I apply?
Small businesses must apply for the grants through their local authority, which is in charge of all the administration for business rates.
Firms can find which local authority to apply through here.
Each local authority has been given a particular amount of money from the top-up fund to spend on businesses in its area depending on its size and population.
It has to choose how that money is spent – and once it’s gone, it’s gone.
What if I’ve already applied for other help?
Because this money is specifically aimed at covering property costs, you might still qualify even if you have accessed other funding.
But your local authority will look into each case before making a final decision – and it’s up to them who gets the money.
That means they may choose to give it to someone who hasn’t managed to get any other financial support.
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Community businesses that have taken a hit can also now apply for grants of up to £25,000 from a new £12m pot of cash set up by a charitable trust.
Last month it was reported that just 2 per cent of small businesses had received coronavirus loans – and thousands risk going bust.
And one in three small businesses say they might never reopen after lockdown.
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How to get a grant worth up to £25,000 from the small business grant fund have 1185 words, post on www.thesun.co.uk at May 19, 2020. This is cached page on Talk Vietnam. If you want remove this page, please contact us.


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“No Man’s Sky” is exciting gamers around the globe.
The genre is still quite alive.
Nintendo will make smartphone games.
Many Model UN students aren’t aware of S. Korea’s awesomeness.
Three new toys have joined the hallowed hall.
Don’t get it twisted — the Avengers STATION is just for fun.
Pope Francis made his first visit to Korea last month.


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The Big Issue’s vendors buy the mag for $4.50 and sell it for $9 (they keep half), earning a little money and a lot of self-respect. But with less people carrying cash, sales had begun to suffer. That was, until now.
We partnered with Visa and Mastercard to create a visual shortcut to cashless payments.
By using language associated with businesses we educated Australian’s that vendors are too.
The campaign simplifies a potentially convoluted message to resonate with Aussies across all media.


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Mastercard’s Wirex partnership signals further mainstream adoption of crypto
In one of the latest and most noteworthy examples of this adoption, finance giant Mastercard has reached an agreement with London-based crypto firm Wirex that will allow the latter to issue Mastercard-backed payment cards directly to its customers.
Here is a look at the details of the deal, how it will work to benefit consumers, and what Mastercard’s further expansion into the crypto space could mean for the future of digital assets.
Who is Wirex?
Wirex is a digital payments firm headquartered in London and is also one of the few crypto-related businesses regulated by the U.K.’s Financial Conduct Authority. It is the first native crypto platform to be granted principal membership licensing by Mastercard, meaning it is also the first to be able to directly issue Mastercard-backed payment cards to its customers.
How will the cards work?
As a digital payments platform, Wirex currently lets users buy and sell different forms of crypto and fiat currency from wherever they are in the world. With the advent of the Mastercard agreement, cardholders will be able to instantly convert cryptocurrency into fiat currency and then spend it anywhere Mastercard is accepted around the world.
The deal also includes the world’s first crypto rewards program – known as Cryptoback – through which customers are automatically granted up to 1.5% back in bitcoin for every in-store purchase they make. The card also comes with no fees when used outside of the cardholder’s country.
This means if you are an American traveling abroad and you wish to use bitcoin to complete a transaction, using the card will convert it into the proper fiat currency and allow you to instantly carry out the purchase with no additional charge. In fact, you will actually make money back through the 1.5% Cryptoback rewards program.
Prior to crypto cards, the process of converting crypto into usable fiat currency required you to sell it on a crypto exchange, use a crypto ATM (which are limited in location and typically come with fees and withdrawal limits), complete a peer-to-peer transaction, or execute a bank transfer.
Other key benefits
In addition to zero fees and bitcoin rewards, the new card will simply make it easier for people to buy, hold, and exchange crypto into fiat money, instantly providing additional payment options wherever they are.
Wirex’s vision is stated as a world where all currencies – both fiat and crypto – are equal. By providing consumers with more convenience, reduced costs, and faster transactions, we are taking a step in that direction.
Continued crypto growth for Mastercard
The Wirex agreement is a significant expansion of Mastercard’s current crypto program – known as Mastercard Accelerate.
In the wake of the Wirex deal, Mastercard has simplified some of its other processes in order to help additional crypto companies become principal members and thus roll out their own payment cards, as well.
Mastercard has streamlined its approval process to allow for a reduced time to market for partner products, in addition to making it simpler and more efficient for partners to bring secure and compliant payment methods to fruition.
What this means for the future of crypto
This agreement represents a significant push from one of the world’s leading finance names toward the mainstream adoption of crypto – and we have already seen much of the same from some of its top competitors.
In fact, this is not even the first crypto card to come to market. Wirex came to a similar agreement with Visa last year, as did crypto giant Coinbase, both of which unveiled crypto cards for worldwide use.
Moves like this serve to lessen the barrier that exists between crypto and fiat spaces and highlight the increasing adoption of crypto in mainstream circles. The next step is continued blockchain innovation and investment that will allow these technologies to gain meaningful steam beyond a conceptual level.
Crypto as a vehicle for your family office
As digital currencies continue to transform the finance world, a growing number of family offices and UHNWIs are taking notice and staking claim to crypto as an advantageous alternative investment vehicle.
Those able to invest and remain in the market, diversify, and take advantage of crypto’s asymmetrical risk are not only seeing returns over time but are also helping fuel the development of blockchain for future applications. There has simply never been a better time to get involved and invest in the future of this cutting-edge technology.
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With years of mining colocation experience, we have best-in-class solutions designed to help you maximize business operations. Benefits of our services include:
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- Core infrastructure with power, space, ambient air cooling, internet access, physical racks, and security
- And more
Contact us to learn more.


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“Things have gone from bad to worse for the Pound. After being knocked by a poor construction PMI earlier in the day, sterling slumped to hit a new session low moments ago in reaction to a speech by Bank of England Governor Mark Carney,” says Fawad Razaqzada, a Market Analyst with Forex.com. “Carney said the BoE expects economic growth in the second half of the year to be considerably weaker and that it will re-assess Brexit and trade tension in August.”
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New Warzone Anti Cheat update
Developers Raven Software will unveil its plans to add a new Call of Duty Warzone Anti Cheat system to the popular Battle Royale game.
The reveal is happening today and could be one of the new elements that will help sustain its popularity.
While many gamers enjoy dropping into Verdansk and Rebirth Island, many others have quit out of frustration.
And this isn’t connected to weapon nerfs or map changes, but due to the issue of cheating within Warzone.
Affecting those in the top tier lobbies, cheating ruins a match that can take up to 40 minutes to complete.
So it’s no wonder that so many fans have left Verdansk behind due to the frustration of being bested hackers.
The good news is that a new Call of Duty Warzone Anti Cheat system is on the way and while it will take some convincing those who have already left to return, could be a bigger change than the arrival of the new map.
A new message released via the Call of Duty Twitter confirmed that an Anti Cheat system would be revealed today, telling fans:
“Cheating ruins the fun for everyone. No one likes a cheater. Our goal is to deliver a fun and fair gaming experience for our developers. For our fans. And most importantly… for Call of Duty players everywhere.
“Cheaters aren’t welcome. There’s no tolerance for cheaters, and soon you’ll know what we mean. See you tomorrow.”
Today’s reveal is expected to include the final release date of the new Anti Cheat system, and whatever new features are being planned to work with it in Call of Duty games.
This follows on from an earlier announcement from the company that confirmed its intentions to release a new Anti Cheat system later in 2021.
It reads: “Warzone is set to make Call of Duty history with a brand-new main map launching later this year! With development led by Raven Software, Warzone will also feature a new PC anti-cheat system across the entire experience when it launches with the new map.
“Call of Duty: Warzone will also continue to honour your past gameplay experiences as universal progression is set to continue. This means that players of Modern Warfare, Black Ops Cold War, and Vanguard can look forward to the following:
“All content earned via a Battle Pass or purchased via a Store Bundle will carry forward. You can play one (or all) of the four integrated Call of Duty games – Modern Warfare, Black Ops Cold War, Vanguard, and Warzone – and progress your Rank and Battle Pass. You can create Warzone weapon loadouts with content across Call of Duty titles.”
It’s unclear when the important news will be shared but the Anti Cheat system is expected to have been unveiled before 7pm BST.
Read More: Gaming News
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Sonic adds 2nd EchoPark store in Houston
In what the company’s chief executive called a “critical part” of a strategy to expand its standalone used-car store program, Sonic Automotive announced Tuesday that it has opened a second EchoPark Automotive store in Houston.
This is Sonic’s 11th EchoPark retail hub, its fifth in Texas and is part of the retailer’s plan to grow its used-car stores.
Starting in 2021, Sonic plans to add 25 EchoPark stores annually for the next five years.
“The opening of this new Houston location is a critical part of our overall EchoPark expansion strategy,” Sonic and EchoPark CEO David Smith said in a news release.
“This store will not only serve the local community, but it will also enhance our growing nationwide distribution network,” Smith said. “This store opening reflects EchoPark’s continued rapid growth and is another step toward achieving our goal of $14 billion in annual EchoPark revenues by 2025.”
Sonic’s existing EchoPark store in Houston is located at 8477 North Freeway. The second store is located at 10050 Southwest Freeway on the southwest side of the city.
Sonic and EchoPark president Jeff Dyke, who is from Houston, said in the release: “As we strategically expand our EchoPark footprint, opening a second location in my hometown of Houston is particularly exciting.
“By repurposing an existing Sonic facility, we already owned on Southwest Freeway and leveraging our existing EchoPark store in north Houston, we have quickly increased our Houston brand presence and market share with minimal capital expenditures,” Dyke said.
“Further, we are very proud to add 41 full-time positions with this expansion, bringing EchoPark’s total count in the city to over 120 jobs. We look forward to continuing to be a part of the Houston community as we grow the EchoPark brand presence,” he said.
Going forward, Sonic’s next steps in expanding EchoPark include plans for new locations in Nashville, Tenn.; Plano, Texas; Phoenix; Columbia, S.C.; and Austin, Texas.
“As customer demand continues to increase, each new market we enter will allow EchoPark to grow its overall market share by offering guests best-in-class price, quality, and convenience in their pre-owned vehicle purchase, which are the cornerstones of the EchoPark brand,” Smith said.


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Posted 6/11/2019 18:41 (#7553755 - in reply to #7553740) Subject: RE: the bull is here
If you want an idea of why the Chinese authorities are so desperate to talk the problem away, consider this statement from the Guardian article and likely similarities in China,
"The economic and social impact is likely to be huge for Vietnam. Pork accounts for 75% of all meat consumed in the country and it is an industry worth 94tn dong (£32m). Overall, the agriculture sector in Vietnam employs almost 50% of the workforce, with pork farming a significant part of that."


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PARIS — Who is the go-to person for an avid watch fan seeking to track down a rare addition to his or her collection, or possibly a uniquely customized timepiece?
One answer: Ennio Barozzi, watch fixer and detective.
From his home base in Brescia, in northern Italy, a watch store that has been in the family since 1959, Mr. Barozzi tracks down vintage watches and hard-to-find timepieces.
He does it with the nonchalance of someone who has spent his life honing the skill of finding the right watch for the specific style of each of his clients.
But there is steel beneath the charm. Like the classic private eyes of American fiction, he comes armed and knows how to shoot. The proof: “I used one of my Beretta guns,” he said in an e-mail, “to scare off the burglars” who tried to rob his store in 1999.Continue reading the main story
Boutique Barozzi carries nearly 30 top watch brands — an eclectic stock ranging from classics like A. Lange & Sohne and IWC, to cutting edge innovators like De Bethune and Greubel Forsey.
The son of a watch retailer, Mr. Barozzi said in an earlier interview that when he was a baby he played with watches. He loved every aspect of watches, he said, and had a special soft spot for movements that are “rich in complications.”
To track down the watches his clients are pursuing, Mr. Barozzi, whose first timepiece was an Ulysse Nardin, haunts the vintage auction sales in Geneva and London. He has sometimes spent years in pursuit of a particular timepiece and often renovates the pieces he buys on behalf of his clientele.
Dr. Franco Gussalli Beretta, managing director of the Italian gun maker, who has been a customer of Mr. Barozzi for more than 30 years, credits Mr. Barozzi’s long relationship with major watch manufacturers as one of the keys to his success.
“He can find for you almost any model,” Mr. Beretta said in a recent e-mail interview.
“In some cases he was also successful in finding some that did not exist, ” Mr. Beretta added: “In one case what I was asking did not exist, so he did it himself.”
“I was dreaming to have a Rolex Yacht Master, but not with just time and date and also not just a chrono,” he said. “I wanted a perpetual calendar and so he studies how to do it and after a few weeks he called me saying ‘I have something to show you.’ It was a Yacht Master with a special face and my initials instead of a watch manufacture brand.”
Mr. Barozzi is reluctant to offer would-be collectors a “must have” list of watches because, he says, “every collection is different.” Still, he recommends that, for a balanced collection, a connoisseur should have one piece from every brand. Also, “they have to have every particular type of complication, like power reserve, tourbillon, double tourbillon,” he added.
Before joining the family business Mr. Barozzi studied watchmaking and repair in Switzerland — a training that helped him to develop an eye for spotting talented watchmakers on the rise.
“He is not satisfied in just selling a premium brand watch,” said Mr. Beretta: “He loves to analyze the new products of some small, and in some cases young, watch artisan.”
It was Mr. Barozzi who persuaded Mr. Beretta to invest in the work of a young watchmaker he introduced simply as Franck: “After some years, Franck became known worldwide as Franck Muller,” Mr. Beretta said.
When not in hot pursuit of a rare timepiece, Mr. Barozzi can usually be found at his workbench in the store.
In fact, he has such a strong reputation for customizing watches that several brands, including Ulysse Nardin, Audemars Piguet, Cartier, and Lange & Sohne have teamed with him to create limited editions.
“I like to put inside the watch a little bit of personality,” Mr. Barozzi said: “I think it is great when a watch is personalized, you feel more comfortable with it.”
He has passed on his passion for watches to his sons Samuel and Manuel and his daughter Vea, who now work side by side with him. “It makes me happy to be able to work with my children,” he said. Every day, he said, he gets to see first hand “what they learned from me.”Continue reading the main story


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Giant Food's produce boxes feature fresh, seasonal produce from local farmers via Giant Delivers.
To help keep its customers stocked with healthy, locally sourced foods, Giant Food has launched Local Produce Boxes featuring in-season produce via Giant Delivers. Available throughout the summer without a subscription or commitment, the boxes retail for $20 and will contain six or more unique items from local farms in Maryland, Virginia and Delaware.
Items will vary weekly depending on farm harvests and what's in season. Customers can view local produce seasonality on a calendar featured on GiantFood.com. More than 20 farms are participating in the program, including Fifer Orchards and Vincent Farms, of Delaware; Miller Farms, Houser Produce Farm, Calloway Bros and Shlagel Farms, of Maryland; and Kirby Farms, of Virginia.
"At Giant, we know our customers appreciate fresh and seasonal produce when they are in-store or ordering online just as much as we do," said Gregg Dorazio, director of e-commerce at Giant Food. "We look forward to bringing these specially curated Local Produce Boxes featuring summer's tastiest produce to our customers."
The launch of the Local Produce Boxes is one way that Giant Food is furthering its commitment to increase food traceability and transparency. The boxes are also part of the grocer's 2021 goal to work with 20 new farms in Maryland and 70 new farms in Virginia.
According to the retailer’s "Better Neighbor Report," Giant Food partnered with 125-plus local vendors, including more than 50 local farmers, to offer 500-plus local products in 2020.
Based in Landover, Md., Giant Food operates 164 supermarkets in Virginia, Maryland, Delaware and the District of Columbia, with approximately 20,000 associates. Parent company Ahold Delhaize USA is No. 10 on The PG 100, Progressive Grocer’s 2021 list of the top food and consumables retailers in North America.


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Cava Mezze Grill Launches New Loyalty App
Cava Mezze Grill introduced a free smartphone loyalty app today that allows customers to earn rewards for visiting the Greek-inspired fast-food chainlet. Available for iPhone and Android, it offers diners the ability to enter their credit cards once and pay with their phones whenever they get to the register. (Sweetgreen launched a nearly identical app earlier this year.)
The app also gives hungry customers the ability to search for the nearest location of the local favorite, as well as a menu and a way to track purchases. Every $100 spent earns a free birthday meal (Columbia Heights, 202-695-8100; Bethesda, 301-656-1772; Tenleytown, 202-695-8115; Merrifield, 703-988-4313; Tysons Corner, 703-288-0005).


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According to the Singapore Ratings Board Mortal Kombat 1, the next big installment in the NetherRealm Studios series, will feature a new game mode that may have gone too far. One of the mini-games in the upcoming title will apparently be about destroying a decapitated head. This task will come with several new game modes and is why fans believe Singapore gave the game an M18 rating. While there are no further details on the mini-game mode at this time, it has sparked fan speculation as to what it means.
SEE: Mortal Kombat 1 Gets Confirmation For DLC Comic Characters Including Homelander, Omni-Man, And Peacemaker
In Mortal Kombat As of 2011, there was a mini-game called “Test your Strike” that featured reptiles destroying skulls. Some fans believe that the new game mode in Mortal Kombat 1 could actually be a throwback to the previous title. Although Reptile was not officially announced like several other fighters, there were hints that the character would be joining the roster. It’s very possible that Ed Boon, the game’s director, and his colleagues are surprisingly keeping some of this information secret for the next two months leading up to the game’s release.
Mortal Kombat 1 intended to be a full continuity reboot of the previous games. It will change some of the key bios known to fans to bring something fresh and new to the title. It wouldn’t be surprising if the game introduced some new game modes while bringing back some of the older ones to the franchise. NetherRealm Studios seems to be working hard to introduce hardcore Mortal Kombat Fans, but also players who may not have experienced the series before.
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Why this new Mortal Kombat 1 game mode is insignificant compared to previous franchise controversies
Mortal Kombat 1 certainly won’t be the first game in the series created by Ed Boon and John Tobias to see a controversial decision. The franchise has inspired a history of legislative opinions, game reviews, advertising, academic studies, court cases, and much more that have sprung up as a result Mortal Kombat. The last game developed by NetherRealm Studios, Mortal Kombat 11was banned in Indonesia, China, Japan and Ukraine. Germany also banned Mortal Kombat Games at launch, until recently.
SEE ALSO: Ed Boon Does What Ed Boon Does, Teasing Monumental Mortal Kombat 1 SDCC Panel With THREE Trailers
Mortal Kombat Titles have been criticized for their extreme violence and gory deaths. Some critics even blame the graphic content for inspiring real-life violence. While the new game mode hints at more violence to come, it’s a pretty typical move for the series. NetherRealm Studios likes to push the envelope and bring something more disgusting, gory and violent than the previous installment. It’s no surprise that shockingly violent characters like Homelander and Omni-Man have been added to the Kombat Pack 1 roster for this reason. The hyperviolence is a quality that fans have come to expect, and it’s likely not going anywhere anytime soon.
Moral fight 1 will be released on September 19, 2023 on Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 5 and Windows. Once it finally goes on sale, fans will have a chance to see what this new game mode is all about.
What do you think of the upcoming new game mode? Mortal Kombat 1 Is that supposed to cause a stir? Are you excited for the upcoming violent entry into the franchise, or has NetherRealm Studios gone too far? Leave a comment and let us know what you think about the game.
Source: Singapore Ratings Board
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TheTourAttraction.com aims to provide the latest global travel and free travel news, travel and visa policies, and flight information. We hope to provide insights into tourism market, technology and development trends with everyone by providing the latest relevant information. Despite the raging COVID-19 epidemic in 2020, we always firmly believe that mankind will overcome the disease and the tourism market will definitely recover. TheTourAttraction.com look forward to your attention and support, and witness the development of the global tourism industry with us. Looking forward to the information TheTourAttraction.com provide can help you. We will continue to follow up and obtain the latest data, and look forward to your attention and support.
The following is the [Travel News]: Disney posts 61% drop in theme park, experiences and products revenue from [NewYorkTimes] recommended by TheTourAttraction.com:
Operating income decreased 82% with steep losses at coronavirus-devastated theme park division.
Disney reported an 82% decline in quarterly operating income, the result of steep losses at its coronavirus-devastated theme park division and the postponement of major movie releases.
The theme park and consumer products division saw operating profit down by $2.5 billion, resulting in a loss of $1.1 billion. Walt Disney World in Florida reopened in July with limited capacity, but other major properties, including Disney Cruise Line, remain closed because of the coronavirus.
CEO Bob Chapek said that Disney World, which had reopened at 25 percent capacity, recently lifted restrictions to 35 percent “while still adhering to the guidelines that are stipulated by the C.D.C. for six-foot social distancing.” Reservations for Thanksgiving week are “almost at capacity,” Christine M. McCarthy, Disney’s chief financial officer, said on the conference call.
But Wall Street had already decided that Disney’s overall results for the quarter.
Investors are confident that Disney’s theme park empire will come roaring back when a vaccine is deployed — and all they really care about, at least for the moment, is streaming.


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Alibaba Shares Up 1.7% as Firm Mulls $29B Unit’s IPO in the US
Alibaba’s global e-commerce unit, one of six that the Chinese giant will be splitting into, is in talks with banks about a potential initial public offering (IPO) in the United States, Bloomberg reported on Thursday. The report sent Alibaba’s US-listed shares up 1.35% in the premarket.
More High-Profile Chinese Brands Seeking US Listings
Alibaba Group’s international online shopping business, International Digital Commerce Group (IDCG), is considering launching a US IPO, according to a Bloomberg report on Thursday, citing people with knowledge of the matter. The report said Alibaba’s talks with banks regarding a potential IPO are still in the early stages, adding the deal’s size is also yet to be determined. The e-commerce giant’s US-listed shares climbed 1.35% in premarket trading.
IDCG, which competes with other e-commerce bigwigs like Amazon, is one of the six business units Alibaba is dividing into as part of the company’s overhaul announced in March. The unit includes globally-known e-commerce brands, including AliExpress and Lazada.
If the unit moves forward with IPO plans, it will join numerous other prominent Chinese firms listed on US-based exchanges recently, despite the escalating tensions between the two global leaders. Earlier this year, reports revealed that the Chinese fashion retailer Shein was looking to raise $2 billion in funding ahead of its planned IPO later this year.
Alibaba recently reported stronger-than-expected financial results for the quarter ending Dec. 31 after receiving a significant boost from China’s decision to lift zero-Covid restrictions.
Join our Telegram group and never miss a breaking digital asset story.
How much is IDCG worth?
Reports about IDCG’s possible IPO come just several weeks after Alibaba announced the largest-ever business restructuring in the company’s history. The revamp is set to split Alibaba’s business into six units independently run by their respective CEOs and executive boards.
Valuations for IDCG currently vary significantly. In March, Wall Street banking giant Morgan Stanley valued the company’s “international retail” units, including Lazada and Trendyol, at about $29 billion. The same month, investment bank CICC published an analyst report valuing Alibaba’s international unit at roughly $39 billion.
In addition to its global shopping business, the remaining five units Alibaba is splitting into include cloud computing, logistics, e-commerce, media, entertainment, digital mapping, and food delivery. The overhaul was announced just a day after Alibaba founder Jack Ma was spotted in China for the first time after spending months outside his home country.
Ma disappeared from public view three years ago when he openly criticized China’s regulatory environment, slamming the country’s governance for having a “pawnshop mentality,” that negatively affects local entrepreneurs. China has recently eased its crackdown on tech firms, erasing billions of dollars of value from its most prominent brands.
Do you think other Alibaba units will also pursue IPO plans in the future? Let us know in the comments below.


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Gold has been offered at reductions in China, normally the world’s high bullion shopper, since February.
Reductions widened to between $75 and $100 an oz over the worldwide benchmark, up from final week’s $70-$60.
“Even with a worth dip, there’s hardly any shopper demand,” stated Peter Fung, head of dealing at Wing Fung Valuable Metals.
Benchmark costs are actually round $1,948 an oz, having retreated from the document excessive of $2,072.50 on Aug. 7.
Whereas jewelry fabricators did purchase extra forward of an Aug. 25 pageant, promoting was stronger, stated Samson Li, a Hong Kong-based analyst at Refinitiv GFMS.
Hong Kong sellers have been working between a reduction of $0.60 an oz as much as a premium of $1.50.
India’s gold futures eased to about 52,400 rupees per 10 grams on Friday, from a document 56,191 rupees final week.
“Jewelry demand was subdued for weeks. Now even funding demand has fallen as a consequence of worth volatility,” stated Ashok Jain, proprietor of Mumbai-based gold wholesaler Chenaji Narsinghji.
Premiums eased to about $2 an oz over official home costs, which contains import and gross sales levies, from $four final week.
“Patrons are extra cautious now and think about a attainable drop as effectively,” stated one Mumbai-based vendor with a bullion-importing personal financial institution.
Bangladesh lower home gold charges to 73,716 taka ($871.04) per Bhori (11.664 grams) from a document 77,215 taka ($912.38) final week amid weak demand.
In Singapore, nevertheless, shoppers used worth dips to purchase gold and silver.
“The run-up in costs for each metals has generated a lot curiosity with retail traders,” stated Vincent Tie, gross sales supervisor at vendor Silver Bullion.
Premiums of $1-$1.50 an oz have been charged in Singapore.


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Microsoft has released what it claims is an easy way to build mashups, web pages and apps using pre-built blocks. Popfly is a set of online tools that allows building and sharing mashups, web pages and applications. Another component of Popfly is Popfly Space, an online community of creators where you can host, share, rate, comment and even remix creations from other Popfly users.
Go check it out. The ducks are cute.
And by the way, Microsoft also said that it is buying online advertising firm aQuantive for about $6 billion in cash. It is so far the company’s largest acquisition in the company’s history but they justified the move saying that aQuantive is “”exactly the right company to buy.”


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SOCIAL, a Bengaluru-based collaborative workspace, opened a digital art gallery. Customers can view the artwork on digital screens and also purchase the ones they like.
SOCIAL launches India’s first exclusive physical NFT art gallery & cafe at New BEL Road
By Nidhi Bhardwaj: As per the recent news, SOCIAL, a collaborative workspace and hub for artists, innovators opened India’s first exclusive physical gallery for NFT art in New BEL Road, Bengaluru.
The latest information revealed that the works of Bengaluru-based NFT artists, namely Prasad Bhat, Dr. Wafu, AB Verse, and more have been on display since 23 January. Moreover, the inaugural display of digital artist Angad B Sodhiwas is titled, ‘Welcome to Web 3’. The first phase of their induction into Web3 space was launched on 14 January, said the cafe chain.
What do artists believe?
According to Angad, this is the true beginning for the NFT space in India. “While Web2 was the start of the creator economy, one major issue was that the creator did not own what they were…


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Gmail is getting a makeover
Your Gmail is getting a brand new look! The long-expected rollout of Google’s electronic mail service will provide a very new workspace expertise. Google confirmed in a weblog that ranging from January 27, the brand new Gmail consumer interface is rolling out for scheduled launch domains, with anticipated completion by February 3, 2023. The up to date new look of Gmail is not going to simply present electronic mail companies however will deliver video conferencing and chat choices, multi function place.
Gmail makeover will deliver a brand new sidebar on the left aspect of Gmail which can carry fast hyperlinks to talk, Spaces, Google Meet, and different electronic mail folders resembling labels. Apart from the built-in hyperlink, additionally, you will get a brand new shortcut to different Google companies resembling Calendar and Tasks with none have to open a brand new tab. Moreover, you will note all of your notifications in a single place.
How to get the brand new Gmail look
Don’t fear! You do not need to do something. The new Gmail look will probably be up to date by default by at present or within the upcoming days if you have not acquired it.
So, who all will get it? All the Google Workspace consumer accounts besides the Workspace Essentials clients will get the brand new Gmail look.
Moreover, Google has additionally confirmed that the brand new look will grow to be the usual expertise for Gmail customers with out offering any choice to revert to the unique UI. This Gmail makeover announcement first got here in February 2022 in an effort to make Google Workspace companies, for instance, Chat and Google Meet nearer to Gmail. Most of the customers had been ready to do this new look by November 2022. However, throughout that point, Google had supplied the choice to revert again to the unique look each time customers wished . Sadly, this is not going to be attainable anymore in the event you don’t love the brand new Gmail look. However, you may change the theme of Gmail, inbox kind, and different settings whereas visiting the fast settings menu.


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A new unofficial firmware update for the Sony PSP game device is claimed to offer ability to plays mp4-AVC videos at a resolution of 480x272p.
Since its first release, Sony's popular PSP portable game machine has been treated by enthusiasts as an experimantal device. The PSP cracking scene continues with pace, following the recent news that the PSP can now play any PS1 game using the official emulator recently released by Sony, using a conversion utility. The latest modified firmware offers the device the ability to playback mp4-AVC videos at 480x272.
Note that what is patched refers to mp4 avc. Standard mp4 cannot play at resolutions higher than the multiplication of 320x240.
More information can be found here


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Ad Age reports that after 17 years, Disney has cancelled Disney Adventures magazine, with the November issue the last one.
Disney Publishing attributed its decision to an effort to better focus resources and maximize long-term growth potential through new magazine and book initiatives.
The demise of Disney Adventures, which was introduced for tweens in 1990, closely follows the end of fellow child soldier Nick Jr., which MTV Networks closed with the April issue. It isn’t clear that there’s any particular exodus of children from magazines, but proliferating competition and rising costs are knocking out big magazines at a fairly regular clip these days; adults for their part have lost Premiere, Jane, Life and Child so far this year.
While DA still had a healthy circ of over 1 million, ad pages were down — a common complaint among magazines — and that sealed its fate.
DA was of course, The Beat‘s old stomping ground for many years, and this announcement fills us with a bittersweet feeling. With its vast circulation, and stand alone comics spin-offs, “Comic Zone” this was one of the lone lights for children’s comics during the darkest days of the comics industry, and over the years published such cartoonists as Jeff Smith, Evan Dorkin, Art Adams, Christine Norrie, Rick Geary and many others. Selling ads was always a challenge however, and the slowly eroding ad market for magazines couldn’t have helped.
But it was fun while it lasted, creating the comics adventures of TailSpin, Rescue Rangers, Toy Story, Timon & Pumbaa, Pirates of the Caribbean and many others. The “DA Kids” grew up to read and buy comics and helped show that comics weren’t just for grown ups after-all.


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Tablets are a thing. We know that.
Since Apple launched the iPad just a few years ago, and with Google and Microsoft selling their own tablets, it’s become obvious that the tablet stands to overtake the notebook and the desktop PC.
Witness the experts at events like the Emerging Display Technologies conference this year, where research was released that predicted that tablets will overtake notebooks by 2016. Microsoft is a little more aggressive, sayingtablets will beat out PCs next year. Guardian News & Media says it already sees times of the day when mobile visits are higher than desktops.
What about education? Will there be a time when a professor will look across the classroom and see the majority of students tapping along with touchscreen tablets instead of clicking around on notebooks? Will there be a time when the students using tablets on the subway aren’t cramming for the exam they’re heading to, but actually taking the exam right now?
Of course there will. It’s just a matter of time.
Is e-Learning Ready For Tablets?
e-Learning and training technologies vary widely. Some focus on presenting a recorded video of a lecture, which tablets can already handle readily. Others involve heavy use of virtual environments, chats, quizzes, and downloads, and are not easily presented on a tablet.
Many learning applications are unfortunately ill-suited for tablets, since they require specialized software or apps that are not treated equally across all mobile platforms. Some require a lot of memory to install a client and store data. This approach is straightforward when dealing with notebook PCs and campus-wide servers, but not easy to manage for tablets.
Schools, software providers and students are all going to have to reconfigure their behavior to accomodate the tablet, and clearly it will be students who are going to force the process forward. Tablets, after all, hold a ton of advantages over textbooks. K-12 educators are going to find this out, too.
In business, the IT department will be the ones to drive a focus on tablets, as they shift purchasing and maintenance activities to take advantage of new technology. HR and training departments will have to face their own hurdles as their companies make changes, and hopefully give some credence to their needs.
Clearing The Hurdles
Let’s look at some of the challenges for tablets in the classroom:
- Technology – Schools already vary widely in their ability to support tablets. Most offer wireless internet access, but it will be those schools that force users to download apps and log in to secure server environments that will have a tough time adapting. Those who are already shifted to the cloud will have a more seamless transition.
- Display – Some tablets don’t support certain display applications like Flash (I wonder which ones…), so learning applications that rely on Flash for display delivery will obviously have a tough time serving everyone. This will be a headache for IT departments as they decide whether to supply tablets to students, specify a certain device and application, or try to support a free-for-all.
- Expertise – Not all students are alike in their experience with mobile devices. It might seem like it should be rare to see someone totally stymied by a touchscreen tablet, but you’d be surprised. Someone used to a mouse-click AOL-type of experience on an older PC might need some re-education when dealing with the often-reduced feature set of a tablet app.
- Cost – Remember the quip in Men In Black – when Tommy Lee Jones’ character Agent K resignedly states that he’ll have to buy the Beatles’ White Album again? Every time a new technology takes over, everybody has to go out and re-buy technology. For millions of students, this means replacing their old notebook PCs so they can keep up with the students sitting next to them. For businesses, this means overhauling their infrastructure and realigning their security procedures yet again.
- Industry – The PC industry is ready for a revolution, but is the textbook industry really interested in being replaced yet? The smart publishers will start making everything they publish available in a secure cloud environment. The even smarter ones will build their own apps and learning platforms. Schools tend to prefer specialized technology that suits their needs rather than making do with mainstream cloud technology. Even so, Google is going heavily into this area with their Google Course Builder platform.
So what’s an educator to do? Obviously there will be some changes coming, and it’s a matter of evaluating the options and deploying them so that all students and employees can get the value of your materials no matter what they are using. The time is now.
Companies like KnowledgeVision are staying ahead of the curve by producing presentation technology that will work with all tablet platforms, including the iPad and iPhone. Trainers using KnowledgeVision for online presentations can publish lectures and learning materials without worrying whether users can see them.
You can also try KnowledgeVision free for 14 days.
Originally posted on The KnowledgeVision Fresh Ideas Blog.


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"CANDY CRUSH" content on TweakTown - Page 1
We found 6 items for the tag: CANDY CRUSH
King has made more money than Blizzard every year in the last 3 years
Candy Crush developer King has made more revenues than Blizzard for the past 3 years in a row even as MAUs fall over time.
Candy Crush series collectively made $1.5+ billion in 2018
When compiled together the Candy Crush series of apps has collectively generated over $1.5+ billion.
Candy Crush dev working on new mobile Call of Duty game
King is working on a new Call of Duty for mobile devices, will use their expertise from Candy Crush.
Activision Blizzard finalizes Candy Crush app game maker buyout
Activision Blizzard has acquired Candy Crush makers King - meaning they now have 500 million gamers under owned titles.
Activision Blizzard Completes King Acquisition Becomes the Largest Game Network in the World with over 500 Million Users
Activision buys Candy Crush devs for $5.9 billion
Activision has just acquired the freemium titans that created Candy Crush Saga.
The Mighty Gaming Movement: Part 4 - Mainstream Gamer
When will there be a time that everyone is essentially a 'gamer'? It's sooner than you think, according to our own Chris Smith.


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The Grand Cherokee L debuted less than a year ago, but Jeep isn’t going to let the model fade compared to its rivals. To this end, Jeep announced a series of improvements for the 2022 model year. Many of the changes take place inside the cockpit, with the biggest change being the introduction of a new 10.25-inch display for the front passenger.
The display, which is available on the Limited, Overland, and Summit trim levels, allows passengers sitting shotgun to view entertainment programs while also checking navigation information. The model can also be specified with a new rear seat entertainment system that has two 10.1-inch displays that come with Amazon Fire TV. Using the vehicle’s built-in Wi-Fi hotspot, passengers may stream videos, play games, and listen to music. The system also includes two Alexa-enabled voice remotes and the option to download movies before visiting places with patchy internet.
“The all-new Jeep Grand Cherokee L broke new boundaries and turned heads when it debuted, with its first-ever three rows of seating paired with legendary Jeep 4×4 capability, as well as for its stunning interior and next-generation technologies,” said Jim Morrison, Vice President and Head of Jeep brand – North America. “For the 2022 model year, the Grand Cherokee L gets content that we have already announced on the new Grand Cherokee, packing the 2022 model year with new premium features that take the first ever three-row Grand Cherokee to another level, including a class-leading digital screen space to keep the entire family safe and connected on all of their adventures.”
The rest of the model year improvements are focused on the outside, with a new paint palette that includes Ember, Hydro Blue, and Midnight Sky being introduced. Customers can now choose from two new packages as well: Limited Black and Summit High Altitude. A distinctive grille, gloss black exterior details, and 20- or 21-inch gloss black aluminum wheels are among the features included in these packages. The 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee L is now available for order, with a starting price of $38,890 plus a $1,795 destination fee. Engine options include a 3.6-liter V6 with 290 HP and a 5.7-liter V8 with 357 HP.


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Game developer Gust recently teased a new image on social media, which could potentially be a new game announcement.
The developer is best known for their popular and beautiful titles like Atelier series, but also developed Ar Tonelico and Blue Reflection, which are getting a new animation soon. This new post on his Japanese Twitter account may be teasing a new game announcement.
The Twitter post only contains an image of the blue sky with the phrase “Coming 7/6”. Whatever comes on July 6, 2021, will be something new for the game developer. Some have speculated that this could be the upcoming Atelier Ryza sequel, the series’ third title.
Expect a big game announcement from Gust on July 6, 2021.
Check all Gaming News here: Gaming Ideology


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Dr Seshu Bhagavathula is absorbed as the Chief Technology Officer (CTO) at Apollo Tyres Limited, who will take care of the global initiatives such as on tyre technology, research and new product development, for both passenger vehicle and commercial vehicle tyres.
Bhagavathula will be assisted by the research, technology and design teams across all geographies, according to a company statement.
Said Neeraj Kanwar, Vice Chairman & Managing Director, Apollo Tyres said: “As we focus on the two key pillars of Marketing and Technology for the next phase of our growth, Dr Seshu, with his vast experience, will bring in the much needed synergy across locations. He would also help us in providing intelligent automotive solutions to our customers. His appointment further strengthens Apollo’s Leadership Team and gives the company’s growth agenda an added impetus.” Hlast assignment was with Great Wall Motor Company in China, where he served as the Vice President, Research & Development. Prior to this, he had spent a significant part of his career with Daimler AG at multiple locations, where he was responsible for product development and integration of engineering processes. Having worked in the automotive industry, both in commercial and passenger vehicle segments, his core areas of professional expertise has been in research and development, innovation and strategic analysis. Dr Seshu will be based out of Apollo Tyre’s Global R&D Centre in Enschede, the Netherlands.
Reacting to the new role, Dr Bhagavathula said: “I am excited by this opportunity and impressed by the possibilities the future holds with Apollo Tyres. I am positive that we will be able to bring out competitive products to address the requirements of our global customers.” Furthermore, the company has also inducted Dr Seshu in its Management Board.


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VANCOUVER – Planet Textiles will team up with Textile Exchange in Vancouver next week to bring delegates a unique panel discussion on the science behind textile microfibre pollution, why it matters – and what the textile industry should be doing about it.
Featuring Dr Peter Ross from the Ocean Wise Plastics Lab in Canada, Jessica Sheil from outdoor brand Arc’teryx and Heidi Sanborn from the National Stewardship Action Council, the session will be moderated by John Mowbray the founder and editor of Ecotextile News.
In a first for a textile conference, delegates will hear about the potential biological impacts of textile microfibres on aquatic organisms, how they can enter the food chain and discuss what the impacts could be for eco-systems and human health?
While the discussion will cover biology, Dr Ross will also talk about the results of a brand-new study which shows that huge amounts of textile microfibres are finding their way into aquatic systems despite entering wastewater treatment facilities.
The session will also consider how outdoor brands such as Arc’teryx have reacted to this problem which has blind-sided the industry over the past five years. What sort of concerns are they hearing from consumers, if any? And does this mean they’ll need to rethink product design of some best-selling items?
Interestingly, Heidi Sanborn, the Executive Director of the California-based National Stewardship Action Council will take a look at how textile microfibres could become the subject of state or federal legislation in North America – especially in terms of extended producer responsibility (EPR).
Conversely, the World Health Organisation, recently put out a report that claimed microplastics such as textile microfibres in drinking water do not appear to pose a health risk at current levels. Can this be correct? Or is the industry sleepwalking towards a major health problem that was overlooked by governments, regulators and clinicians when asbestos fibres were first developed and then put to use on world markets?
The Planet Textiles session takes place on 16th October at the Textile Exchange event which is being held Vancouver Convention Center.
It’s also a prelude to another session the following day that’s being held by The Microfiber Consortium which looks at progress towards the development of an industry standard test method to determine the exact size of the problem our industry faces.
Come and join in the discussion! See more info on the event and how to register HERE.


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The pressures that sent consumer prices soaring at their fastest rate in 13 years could still prove to be troublesome for the economy and Americans’ wallets, according to the nation’s top economists.
The majority of experts (53 percent) polled for Bankrate’s Third-Quarter Economic Indicator survey say this year’s soaring inflation rates are going to evolve as expected this year. Experts all along had anticipated some level of higher inflation as the nation rebounds from the pandemic, though they believed those price gains would eventually level off.
Yet, 37 percent said inflation would be more significant than currently believed and just 11 percent mentioned price increases would be less of an issue than the nation currently expects.
“We already see some signs of ‘inflation deflation’ as prices eased on a month-over-month basis in August,” says Odeta Kushi, deputy chief economist at First American Financial Corp. “But supply chain disruptions remain, and the Fed’s September projections indicate that some officials think inflation risks are tilted to the upside.”
This article is the third in a four-part series analyzing findings from Bankrate’s Third-Quarter Economic Indicator poll. We asked experts where they see the job market, unemployment, the Federal Reserve, the 10-year Treasury yield and inflation heading over the next 12 months. We also polled experts on the balance of risks facing the U.S. economy and what’s currently keeping them up at night.
What to expect from inflation
Economists had long warned that Americans would have to prepare to pay more money for products coming out of the pandemic, with the lockdowns that swept the globe for much of 2020 disrupting international supply chains and leading to shortages.
Consumers who were eager to get out and travel again in 2021 also had to get comfortable with paying more for their airfares or hotel prices, while admission prices to concerts and sporting events also soared.
Economists and Federal Reserve officials, however, have preached that those giant moves in inflation would be temporary, as firms worked through those bottlenecks. Complementing that viewpoint, price gains for the past two months have slowed and the recent month-over-month increase in August softer than economists were expecting.
“Finally we got some encouraging news on the U.S. inflation front,” says Ryan Sweet, senior director at Moody’s Analytics. “The fading effect from the reopening of the economy coupled with the delta variant of COVID-19 weighed on a number of prices that had been behind a good chunk of past increases in the CPI [consumer price index]. The reopening of the economy is a one-time event, and that boosted a number of components of the CPI, including lodging away from home, vehicle rentals and airfares along with admissions to sporting and other events.”
Yet, with job openings at a record and employers voicing troubles of finding enough qualified workers to fill available positions, many firms, including McDonald’s and Chipotle, are already boosting wages in an attempt to lure more job seekers. Meanwhile, housing costs are soaring, reflecting surging home values and pricier rental prices.
All of that means no one can be sure when inflation will alleviate. Officials on the Federal Reserve see elevated inflation for at least three more years, with price pressures peaking at 4.2 percent in 2021 and then falling back down toward 2 percent from 2022 through 2024.
“Producer price increases from supply chain disruptions are taking longer to resolve than many had thought,” says Mike Fratantoni, chief economist at the Mortgage Bankers Association. “Wages are rising for many positions leading to another increment of higher costs. And it does seem that more businesses are successfully passing these higher prices on to consumers. Moreover, housing costs have also been increasing sharply, and these have not yet shown up in the PCE or CPI measures. Once in, they are likely to persist for some time leading to higher inflation than the Fed’s target well into next year.”
What the experts are saying
The Third-Quarter 2021 Bankrate Economic Indicator Survey of economists was conducted Sept. 20-28. Survey requests were emailed to economists nationwide, and responses were submitted voluntarily online. Responding were: Scott Anderson, executive vice president and chief economist, Bank of the West; Scott J. Brown, chief economist, Raymond James Financial; Ryan Sweet, director of real-time economics, Moody’s Analytics; Gregory Daco, chief U.S. economist, Oxford Economics; Mike Fratantoni, chief economist, Mortgage Bankers Association; Yelena Maleyev, associate economist, Grant Thornton LLP; Lynn Reaser, chief economist, Point Loma Nazarene University; Odeta Kushi, deputy chief economist, First American Financial Corp.; Robert Frick, corporate economist, Navy Federal Credit Union; Bill Dunkelberg, chief economist, National Federation of Independent Business; Mike Englund, chief economist, Action Economics; Gus Faucher, chief economist, PNC Financial Services Group; Bernard Markstein, president and chief economist of Markstein Advisors; Danielle Hale, chief economist, Realtor.com; Dan Manaenkov, head of national forecasting, University of Michigan; Lawrence Yun, chief economist, National Association of Realtors; Christopher Russo, postgraduate research fellow, Mercatus Center at George Mason University; and Tenpao Lee, professor emeritus, Niagara University.


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Tomorrow (Friday) will be the last chance Fairfax County residents have to take advantage of Walgreens’ experiment with one-hour home deliveries.
At the beginning of June, the pharmacy company launched a pilot program exclusively in the D.C. region that guarantees deliveries to customers within an hour. They can get $10 towards the Walgreens rewards program to use in the future “if it’s even a minute late,” according to a press release.
Running from June 1-30, the pilot included 22 stores in Fairfax County and over 160 stores across Virginia.
“The stores in the northern Virginia/DC area, part of the broader Mid-Atlantic region, were chosen to test the 1-hour Delivery offering because the region contains a large number of storefronts, and serves a mix of population sizes (urban, suburban, rural), allowing us to test our delivery guarantee in a variety of environments,” a Walgreens representative said by email.
More than 27,000 items are eligible for the service, including over-the-counter medicines, but alcohol and prescription medicine deliveries are exempted.
As previously reported by FFXnow’s sister site, ARLnow, Walgreens does tack on a fee for deliveries that varies depending on the products in the order and the distance traveled.
Walgreens introduced same-day deliveries in December, a service that’s available 24 hours a day and includes prescription medications. It also offers 30-minute pickups for orders of $10 or more.
Like many other retailers, Walgreens has been building up its delivery services over the past few years, partnering with companies like Instacart, DoorDash and Postmates.
Nationwide, demand for contactless delivery and curbside pickup services surged early in the pandemic, providing a lifeline to restaurants and other businesses that had to close their doors. At the same time, the third-party apps that proliferated have faced scrutiny for their high commissions and labor practices, while service fees have increased — even for Amazon, which helped set expectations of free, fast shipping.
A full list of the Fairfax County stores participating in the Walgreens pilot is below:
- 7629 Richmond Hwy, Alexandria
- 6717 Richmond Hwy, Alexandria
- 1517 Mount Vernon Ave, Alexandria
- 4515 Duke Street, Alexandria
- 7100 Silver Lake Boulevard, Alexandria
- 6100 Rose Hill Drive, Alexandria
- 3614 King Street, Alexandria
- 7968 Fort Hunt Rd, Alexandria
- 4300 Backlick Rd, Annandale
- 13926 Lee Hwy, Centreville
- 25421 Eastern Marketplace Plz, Chantilly
- 10320 Main St, Fairfax
- 3050-A Nutley St, Fairfax
- 9579 Braddock Rd, Fairfax
- 6715a Arlington Blvd, Falls Church
- 603 Elden St, Herndon
- 9372 Richmond Highway, Lorton
- 1312 Chain Bridge Road, McLean
- 8414 Old Keene Mill Rd, Springfield
- 5230 Port Royal Road, Springfield
- 225 Maple Ave E, Vienna
The new second phase of development for Tysons Corner Center from across Route 123 (courtesy DLA Piper) Tysons Corner Center can move forward with new plans for its next phase…
Live Fairfax is a bi-weekly column exploring Fairfax County. This recurring column is sponsored and written by Sharmane Medaris of McEnearney Associates. Questions? Reach Sharmane at 813-504-4479. As your neighborhood expert in Fairfax…
After years of debating the issue of “panhandling” in board rooms, Fairfax County will now actually talk to the people asking for money, often from sidewalks and street medians. At…
A raccoon walking in grass (via Pete Nuij/Unsplash) A raccoon struck by two different vehicles on Route 29 last weekend has tested positive for rabies, Falls Church City says. The…


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Good news for wine lovers: red wine has yet another health benefit. Researchers found that a daily glass of red wine can reduce the risk of lung cancer by about 13 percent – at least in men. The magic ingredient seems to be the tannins, which have powerful antioxidant properties.
Take action: The finding doesn't mean that you should start guzzling more wine to protect your body from cancer. If you're a guy, two glasses of red wine per day, and one if you're a woman, are enough to reap the benefits. The best safeguard against lung cancer is still to snuff out those cigarettes for good.


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In The News
Open a Franchise
Groucho's In The News
The Columbia-based deli chain Groucho’s Deli is making its way to Greenwood, according to a post on the “Grouncho’s Deli (Greenwood, SC)” Facebook page.
Downtown sandwich shop Groucho's Deli celebrated 10 yrs of business Monday morning in Statesville. The store reopened Saturday after undergoing a remodel for 5 days.
Anderson's first Groucho's Deli will open its doors on Valentine's Day. Groucho's is a fast-casual restaurant that serves sandwiches and salads and is known for its dipping sauces.
A South Carolina-based deli chain with a devoted following of “dippers” is just a month away from opening in downtown Augusta.
Celebrating 75 Years
And therein lies the origin of one of Columbia’s oldest restaurants, Groucho’s Deli, which is celebrating its 75th anniversary this year.
“We’re here to take care of the great folks of Orangeburg,” he said. “We appreciate everything that our community’s done for us.”


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A new Starbucks drive-thru in Essex will be opening in "the near future" as pictures from the scene have shown the building is nearly complete. The US coffee chain unveiled earlier this year that a new venue would be opening near Braintree Village.
The drive-thru is a completely overhauled building from the previous venue to occupy the space in Galley's Corner on Millenium Way - Frankie and Benny's - which closed down in 2021 when the company shut 120 restaurants nationwide. Signs were previously put up in January advertising the Starbucks, along with promoting new jobs that were available.
Now, the building work for the drive-thru appears to be complete - the site and car park is still fenced off, but the signage and exterior building work has completed. Starbucks have not confirmed an exact opening date for the venue, but the chain said it is "looking forward" to bring it to Braintree.
Read more:The latest news from Braintree
A spokesman said: "We look forward to bringing the Starbucks Experience to customers in Braintree in the near future and will be in touch once we have more specific plans to share." Galley's Corner, around the corner from Braintree Villiage, is already home to McDonald's, KFC and Tim Hortons which opened there last year.
Braintree does already have a Starbucks inside Cineworld and there used to be a large cafe in Braintree Village that closed a few years ago. Howeer, the town has never had a drive-thru Starbucks. The chain had previously advertised that they were recruiting for the venue - however, no vacancies now appear on the company's website, indicating they may have been filled.
Essex teachers share how they're 'genuinely scared' for the future of children's education as hundreds strike in Chelmsford
Tesco Extra petrol station in Fullbridge, Maldon to be shut for 11 weeks after roof collapse
Essex leisure centres offer free showers to help residents with cost of living struggles
100 homes on Braintree farmland approved as inspector overturns refusal
Braintree Council announce exact dates when popular street market will return with handmade products


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Multiple approaches are being tested for the launch of the first central bank digital currency in China, said officials and experts, who expect more participation from private institutions in creating the government-backed currency.
The time is almost ripe for introducing the central bank digital currency (CBDC), based on ongoing trials in some areas. But Facebook's unveiling of its digital currency "Libra" may drive Chinese regulators to reconsider the possible model of CBDC, said experts close to the central bank on Monday.
The People's Bank of China, the central bank, is almost ready to launch its own digital currency after five years of research, Mu Changchun, deputy director of the central bank's payments department, said a week ago at a forum. He said the central bank started system development work in 2018.
Experts predicted that if things go well, the Chinese government-backed digital currency may come out earlier than the official launch of Libra.
The PBOC's original plan might have been influenced by Libra - the digital currency plan raised by the world's largest social network in June. It sparked discussions among Chinese financial regulators, driving the designer to rethink various models which can involve more non-governmental institutions in the CBDC development and issuance process, Yang Dong, director of the Research Center of Finance Technology and Cyber Security at Renmin University of China, told China Daily.
"Further testing is needed before officially launching the Chinese CBDC, gaining inspiration from the Libra," said Yang.
The next pilots should focus on the non-governmental and cross-border scenarios of using the CBDC. Multiple players, including private and State-owned companies, can join the process together with the central bank," added Yang, who refused to disclose the specific names of companies involved in the pilots.
Shao Fujun, chairman of China UnionPay and a former PBOC official, said that the potential forms and plans for the CBDC are varied, which are still under discussion. "It will have lots of positive impacts," he said, "including tracking the money flow in economic activities and supporting making monetary policy."
But it is also facing difficulties, such as international coordination in monetary and exchange rate policy, according to Shao.
"Where we are now is just like in a horserace, when several designated institutions are taking different technical routes for developing the digital currency and electronic payment. The winner will be the one who has the best approach, accepted by the public and the market. So that is a process of market competition," said Mu, who highlighted the digital asset must be put under central bank oversight.
Libra, as described by a Facebook white paper, will be "fully backed by a reserve of real assets". It also plans to have a global network, with 27 companies and entities as the founders, including the world's long-standing payment giants Visa and Mastercard. The network aims to ultimately include 100 members by the scheduled launch in 2020.
The Chinese CBDC will be controlled by the central bank, and residents will be able to exchange the digital currency in commercial institutions. The CBDC is also 100 percent backed by the reserves that commercial institutions pay to the central bank, according to the PBOC official.
To some extent, Libra's organizational structure is quite similar as the structure designed by the PBOC for its digital currency and electronic payment system, said Mu.
In a work plan for the second half of this year, the PBOC said it would expedite the research of China's legal digital tender and monitor the trends of virtual currency development both overseas and at home.