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BEFORE the Twin Towers claimed the pride of place in Kuala Lumpur, the modest structure of Wisma Central in Jalan Ampang was once “the” place to be.
Today, under the shadow of its big neighbours Suria KLCC and a soon-to-be completed Four Seasons Hotel in 2018, the almost 40-year-old building battles to remain relevant in the concrete jungle.
Seeing beyond its muted facade, Citylab Studio, a youthful architecture firm began to work closely with Wisma Central’s building management to resuscitate the building and return it to its former glory.
The young architects plan to reimagine the landmark into an artistic space.
Located close to the Royal Selangor Turf Club, the building has since the 1970s served as a centre for a diverse range of activities spanning from luxury car showrooms to burlesque dance performances featuring local icon, the late Rose Chan.
In the 1980s, a change took place as the era brought in popular nightclubs such as Traxx and Base within the building.
By the 1990s, the vintage charm of the complex made way for current trends, which led to its eventual fading appeal once priority was given to larger development projects around the area.
After setting up the office within Wisma Central in 2011, Citylab Studio director Ridzwa Fathan and his partner Kamal Alwi began discussions with the building’s management to repaint the exteriors and improve the lighting and security.
“I found this office space online when I was still staying in London,” said Ridzwa.
“I wanted to be located close to KLCC so that my team and I could walk, cycle or use public transport.
“This office space came with low rent.
“But when I saw the space around the office, my team and I wanted to improve it as well.
“Basically, we work with clients to reconceptualise existing spaces, by appropriating a design that enables more use,” he added.
Phase One of their rejuvenation efforts thus far included an elaborate mural of the second floor ceiling by Malaysian artists Noemy Zainal, Ajim Juxta, Sliz, Aleff Ahmad, Engku Iman and Satria Utama as well as an electronic directory board on the ground floor, to guide Wisma Central visitors.
The fourth floor table-tennis court is now converted into an exhibition space and we have also created walk-through art galleries by lighting up some of the walls to install canvas paintings.
“The rejuvenation efforts actually began on Aug 22, 2011.
“We have been moving slow and steady.
“In Phase Two, we will be looking at activating these spaces for people to use.
“We have sought approval from Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) to convert the taxi stand area in the front, into a public plaza for pop-up art markets to take place.
“We are seeking approval from DBKL to set up a zebra crossing from Avenue K to Wisma Central.
“This way, there will be an inflow of visitors to the complex, not just passers-by.
“A market with Malaysia goods and art products at affordable prices is what we need to give a complementing variety to the upmarket centre of KLCC next door.
Though talks are ongoing with DBKL for further progress, Citylab Studio’s efforts have already garnered the attention of local entrepreneurs to set up shop within the complex.
One of the improvements Citylab Studio has added to the building is its Digital Navigator.
Citylab Studio programme director Syed Iskandar explained the use of the Digital Navigator.
“Instead of printed maps, we wanted to make the Wisma Central guide an interactive experience for users.
“By using the touchscreen board, they can explore the new art spaces we have created as well as bits of history of the building itself,” he said.
Side by side with decades-old stationery shops and small restaurants, new creative businesses featuring locally made furniture, barber shops and cafes are planting their roots in Wisma Central.
Slowly but surely evolving into an art hub, Citylab’s own Prototype Gallery consistently features and curates 3D printed models, handmade artwork and fashion accessories to inspire other Malaysian artists to invest in the refurbished space.
Presently, Ipoh-based publisher and writing collective Projek Rabak as well as local clothing company Sejahtera Co have begun operations.
Projek Rabak co-founder Muhsin Abdul Razak said he shared Citylab Studio’s vision of Wisma Central becoming a local art hub.
“It is a very strategic location for a small bookstore like us.
“All our writers and customers can come here by public transport because its right in the middle of the city.
“Many of our followers are also coming up with ideas on how to contribute to this space, such as by holding their art events here,” he said.
Being a strata-title building, Wisma Central houses 400 different owners with varying levels of attachment to the old complex.
Having owned four lots over the past 30 years, former Wisma Central Management chairman Chin Keh Liang said he was open to ideas for upgrades but would let time decide the fate of the building.
“At first, we wanted to cover the building with aluminium.
“Fortunately Fathan and his team came up with low-cost ideas such as the mural and art.
“But those are just cosmetic touch-ups.
“We have upgraded a lot of things that you cannot see, such as the piping, wiring and switchboard systems.
“We spent close to half a million upgrading the heart of this complex.
“For a long time now, Wisma Central is due for redevelopment.
“Some say it will even be demolished but we do not know for sure.
“I just do not want it to be turned into a heritage building because that will reduce the value of the building,” said Chin, who is a quantity surveyor by profession.
Occupying the prime front row of Wisma Central is Forari Corporation car dealership.
Its owner Datuk Idris Tulis said his business had been in the complex since 1981.
“Some 30 years back, this was the only available space because Wisma Central was the second mall in Kuala Lumpur after Ampang Park.
“Now, even though there are other places to set up shop, all my clients know this is where I am.
“In fact, we are part of the face of the building, so I am all for the upgrades instead of a complete redevelopment.
“I am actually not worried that Four Seasons is going to tower over us next door, it just means more tourists will make their way here.
“Business is here, I do not want to move out,” said Idris, who is the anchor tenant at the building.
The original Wisma Central sign remains steadfast above the recently refurbished awnings on the front of the building, as if to signify that it is here to stay.
With art and ideas on its side, the next few years of upgrading efforts by Citylab Studio may even see green initiatives such as an urban farm on it rooftop.
Yet, with all evolution, only time will tell.


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Marketing News & Expert Advice
David Ward is a veteran freelance journalist based in San Diego, who currently focuses on online marketing, digital entertainment and the growth on new consumer technologies such as 3D in the home.
Mar 1, 2011 -
Chicago firm is beta testing a platform for ads in iPhone-, iPad- and Android-based games.
Jan 31, 2011 -
Bing, Google, Zynga, and Playboy touted the use of game mechanics in online campaigns at the first Gamification Summit.
Nov 29, 2010 -
Game format emerges as a means to extend USA Network's product placement deals online.
Oct 19, 2010 -
Double-digit growth in display ad revenue helped offset some declines in search.
Oct 13, 2010 -
More music stars come to Brand Affinity Technologies' pro athlete endorsement platform.
Sep 23, 2010 -
DoubleVerify's Trust Index measured compliance and brand safety among ad tech firms.
Sep 20, 2010 -
Nelson will take over for Sam Decker as chief marketing officer for the social commerce company. She joins after 20 months in the top marketing spot...
Sep 15, 2010 -
Ninety-eight percent of affluents are online and most are reducing their consumption of print magazines and newspapers.
Aug 17, 2010 -
ComiXology recently ran its first ad on its iPhone/iPad application.
Jul 29, 2010 -
Kenny was CEO of Digitas until its acquisition by Publicis and later stayed to guide the agency holding company's digital strategy.
Jul 28, 2010 -
Adobe Systems announced plans to purchase open source CMS company Day Software.
Jul 21, 2010 -
Many are focused on social media metrics like follower counts, rather than leads and sales, finds study by eROI.
Jul 15, 2010 -
Exclusive relaunch partner, Toyota, highlights 10th Prius anniversary.
Jun 30, 2010 -
Deal may help MTV compete better with Vevo and YouTube when it comes to selling ads around music videos.
Jun 28, 2010 -
Online publisher of entertainment, sports, and lifestyle articles and videos forges an online event sponsorship deal with mobile phone maker
Jun 21, 2010 -
Consumer goods giants have taken a strong interest in social media games like Tiki Farm and Bejeweled Blitz.
Jun 3, 2010 -
Lawsuit filed by Seattle locksmith is first click fraud legal action Google has faced since 2006.
May 14, 2010 -
Jeff Hayzlett will leave by May 28 to work on personal projects.
Apr 20, 2010 -
Quarterly profit more than doubled thanks to sale of Zimbra and early fruits of Microsoft deal.
Mar 10, 2010 -
Twitter activity was very strong during this year's telecast.
Feb 25, 2010 -
Vendors accused of using ad data without the knowledge of publishers or advertisers.
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Samsung has been working hard to get all of its newer flagships on various carriers updated to Android 7.0 (Nougat), and now that they've started updating older flagship devices, owners of the Galaxy S6 Edge+ have been seeing their Nougat updates, with today's update recipients being Sprint customers. Variants of the Galaxy S6 Edge+ worldwide started receiving their bumps up to Nougat back in March, and Sprint has reportedly now joined the club in the United States, making them the first major US carrier to do so. Reports began popping up on Reddit, accompanied by screenshots of the OTA download page on the device, clearly showing a bump to Nougat in the feature list. The update is reportedly nearing final approval for some other carriers, but release dates have not been given at this time.
The new software brings all of the Nougaty goodness one would expect from Google's second-newest Android version, right behind Android O, which is still in development. Nougat allows things like native split-screen, packs tons of notification and UI tweaks, and brings accessibility features to the forefront of the device. On Samsung's end, the Nougat update comes with a number of bug fixes, updates to the way accessories like the Gear S lineup and Gear X Icon are handled, the same UI updates that graced the Galaxy S7 lineage, and other changes.
Some users on Reddit are reporting that they're not seeing the update quite yet, which could mean that it's being rolled out in stages. Since Sprint did not announce the update, there's no telling how gradual the rollout may be or over how long a period it may take place. Most users who have gotten the update are reporting that they got it by checking manually for it in the About Device menu of their Settings. If you check there and don't have the update available, a reboot may help, but if not, then it likely will be rolling out to you in the near future. Thus far, nobody has reported any serious issues with the update, so it's to be assumed that Sprint and Samsung would have no reason to pull it.


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Secret toy reviewer becoming a target for global deals
YouTube videos by Arcadius Kul and Sammie have been viewed 297 million times
The secret toy reviewer, who posts under the name of Coolpinsky and are known to their fans as Arcadius Kul and Sammie , have more than 278,000 individual subscribers or fans
The president of Fullscreen, a huge global network of content producers and brands on YouTube, had a mission before visiting this year’s Web Summit: he wanted to meet a toy reviewer and his son deep in rural Ireland.
Ezra Cooperstein, whose business was valued at up to $300 million when telecoms giant AT&T and the Chernin Group bought into it last month, spent the Monday before the summit on a long drive to see the father-and-son toy review team in the hope of signing them up.
The toy reviewers, who post under the name of Coolpinsky and are known to their fans as Arcadius Kul and Sammie, have posted videos that have been viewed 297 million times and have more than 278,000 subscribers or fans.
Mr Cooperstein mentioned his visit to the unnamed toy reviewer during the course of a talk at the summit about how individuals were producing content that attracted global audiences.
After his talk, he declined to tell The Irish Times who was behind the hugely popular reviews or where they were. “We would love to do a deal with them but they are very sought after by our competitors too,” he said. “They are doing really well, so we wanted to meet them, talk with them and learn from them.”
Dubliner Jonathan Cloonan, director of partnerships at Group M, the world’s largest media company, said these reviewers were “Ireland’s biggest YouTube star that no one has ever heard of”.
“My job is to match YouTube stars with brands and broker deals. They are the next big stars and they are the next big brands themselves,” Mr Cloonan said. “I am in my late 20s so people my age might not have heard of them, but these are the Eva Longorias to the next generation.”
Mr Cloonan, who also spoke at the Web Summit, said North America had most of the world’s biggest YouTube stars but “the democratisation of the web means YouTube is a distribution platform where anyone can he a star.”
For example, he said the world’s biggest YouTube star was a 25-year-old from Sweden who made millions a year reviewing video games under the name of PewDiePie.
Arcadius Kul in its YouTube profile page gives little away about itself other than they love toys and want to review them in a family-friendly way. It describes itself as “a story about a father and his son Sammie. They have a mission to hunt for toys, to explore Surprise Eggs, to have a lot of fun, to put a smile on your face.”


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Aides To Trump On Chinese Tariffs: Don't Be A Grinch
President Donald Trump's trade aides appealed to his Christmas cheer to forestall his threatened tariffs on China. CNN reports the Trump Administration is under pressure from retailers to prevent a..
Credit: Wochit Business Duration: 00:48 Published 1 day ago
Boris Johnson Working On His Golf Skills To Woo Trump
Business Insider reports that Boris Johnson is working on his golf skills. Johnson hopes being good at gold will help the UK secure a favorable trade deal with US President Donald Trump. Johnson booked..
Credit: Wochit News Duration: 00:47 Published 3 days ago
Will We See a Recession by 2020, Trade Deal or No Deal?
Yesterday's delay in the implementation of the September tariffs may not be the light at the end of the tunnel that investors were hoping for. Stocks surged Tuesday on news that tariffs the U.S...
Credit: The Street Duration: 07:58 Published 4 days ago


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Toyota Recalls Vehicles a Second Time
The Center for Auto Safety is the nation’s premier independent, member driven, non-profit consumer advocacy organization dedicated to improving vehicle safety, quality, and fuel economy on behalf of all drivers, passengers, and pedestrians.
Toyota is recalling about 780,000 vehicles for a second time after its first effort to prevent a handling problem did not work, according to a report posted Sunday on the Web site of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
The recall covers about 18,000 2010 Lexus HS 250h autos, a hybrid model, with the rest being the 2006 through 2011 Toyota RAV4 sport utility vehicle. The agency says the failure of a rear tie rod on the suspension could “cause a loss of vehicle control.”
It is unusual for an automaker to issue what amounts to a recall of a recall, particularly involving so many vehicles. Toyota, once seen as a benchmark in quality and reliability, has seen that image undermined in recent years.


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What you need to know
- U.S. House lawmakers introduced several new bills that target companies like Apple, Google, Facebook, and Amazon.
- The new bills could weaken the dominance of Big Tech and make it harder to purchase other companies or engage in mergers.
- The legislation aims to hold "unregulated Big Tech monopolies accountable for anti-competitive conduct."
U.S. lawmakers have introduced five new draft bills that take aim at the biggest names in tech, particularly Amazon, Apple, Facebook, and Google. The bills seek to weaken these companies' economic grip in the world.
Rep. David N. Cicilline introduced the new antitrust legislation, saying the goal is to level the playing field between the largest companies and everyone else. "Right now, unregulated tech monopolies have too much power over our economy. They are in a unique position to pick winners and losers, destroy small businesses, raise prices on consumers, and put folks out of work."
The five bills would represent the largest push from lawmakers to regulate the power of the Big Four, which have a combined net worth of roughly $2 trillion and even greater market capital.
One bill, the "Platform Competition and Opportunity Act," would make it harder for Big Tech companies to buy out their competition. This is something that companies like Facebook have been accused of, particularly as it pertains to WhatsApp and Instagram. The "Merger Filing Fee Modernization Act" also introduces the first update to merger filing fees in two decades, making it more expensive to file the appropriate paperwork.
Two of the bills, the "American Innovation and Choice Online Act" and the "Ending Platform Monopolies Act," will further limit the dominance of these companies by prohibiting them from giving their own products and services preferential treatment over competitors that rely on the same services, a move that would likely affect Amazon the most. Amazon was recently hit with an antitrust lawsuit that claims the company is not being fair to third-party retailers. The bills would make it illegal for companies to offer a "product or service that the covered platform requires a business user to purchase or utilize as a condition for access to the covered platform."
Lastly, the "Augmenting Compatibility and Competition by Enabling Service Switching (ACCESS) Act" will require companies to make it easier for businesses and consumers to switch platforms through increased interoperability.
The new legislation follows a 16-month investigation into how companies like Google and Facebook operate, finding that they all hold unfair monopolies. The bills are being introduced to give consumers more freedom of choice and signal major changes on the horizon for Big Tech, which are all being faced with new legislation in other regions like the EU, Australia, and India.
Google, whose software powers all of the best Android phones, is already dealing with pushback on its efforts to improve online privacy, due to fears that it will just strengthen the company's hold on the internet. The new legislation also comes just before Amazon's Prime Day later this month, which the company has touted as a big help for small businesses.
The bills must pass a vote in the House Judiciary Committee before being presented to the full House and eventually the Senate.
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Derrek is a long-time Nokia and LG fanboy who loves astronomy, videography, and sci-fi movies. When he's not working, he's most likely working out or smoldering at the camera.


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In a move that echoes its innovative approach to business growth, Mint Group, the leading Microsoft Dynamics 365, Power Platform and AI partner in the Middle East and Africa, has reaffirmed its commitment to the transformative GYDE365 platform for an additional two years. This strategic decision reinforces Mint Group’s dedication to streamlining digital transformation initiatives and marks the next milestone in their partnership with Seer 365.
Mint Group’s early adoption of the GYDE365 platform in 2021 laid the foundation for this continued collaboration. Today, the partnership with Seer 365 remains stronger than ever as Mint Group embraces GYDE365’s capabilities within its core Microsoft marketing, sales, and project delivery methodology, known as ‘ProActive™’. By seamlessly integrating GYDE365, Mint Group is evolving digital transformation for organisations across the globe, mitigating complexities and risks in the process.
Carel du Toit, CEO of Mint Group, highlights the impact of GYDE365 on their operations: “Our ‘ProActive™’ business, powered by GYDE365, our internal solutions & other leading third-party solutions, has empowered us to stand out from the competition. Standardised call to actions in marketing, repeatable IP in the sales process across Dynamics 365, Azure Data Platform, Security & Co-Pilots have led to increased customer satisfaction and heightened employee productivity. Dennis Lupambo, Managing Executive for our Mint Africa operations, attested to GYDE365’s impact by revealing an impressive doubling of new customer acquisitions over the past year.”
In addition, Warren O’Reilly, Head of ProActive notes “Our ability to fast track Mint growth through the innovation of ProActive and GYDE365 is now the foundation of driving this for other partners in the Microsoft channel.”
This strategic expansion showcases Mint Group’s continuous commitment to innovation and growth.
Sam Dharmasiri, Seer 365’s CEO, praises Mint Group’s attributes as an exemplary partner: “Working with Carel and the Mint Group team has been a rewarding journey characterised by innovation and adaptability. We eagerly anticipate exploring new opportunities together and unlocking fresh possibilities for GYDE365 within their global operations.
As Mint Group paves the way for a future marked by transformation and growth, the stage is set for two more years of collaborative success, driven by the partnership between Mint Group and GYDE365.”
About Mint Group
Mint Group is a Microsoft Cloud IT consultancy and systems integrator providing innovation and disruption in the digital age. With expertise across all 3 Microsoft Clouds – Azure, Dynamics 365, and Microsoft 365, we craft solutions to help improve customer experience, increase agility, improve operational efficiency, and accelerate the digital transformation journey with AI and cognitive services for businesses and government institutions globally.
For further information, visit: za.mintgroup.net


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Plans are under way to boost the marketing and sale of quality products from the Pacific in New Zealand.
The Pacific Quality Mark project is being developed by the Pacific Cooperation Foundation to promote goods from Pacific Island countries.
The project evolved from last year's PCF annual conference.
The Chief Executive of the PCF, Markerita Poutasi, says to begin with, the focus will be on three sectors: long-life products, spa and natural beauty and fresh produce.
"Well the quality mark is really to try and help cultivate more opportunities for Pacific exporters in the New Zealand market. We know that there are some really great products out of the Pacific, and it's really an attempt to shine the ligh on what those products are, so consumers know where to purchase them and I guess some of the qualities of those products."
Markerita Poutasi says the PCF is now in the process of designing and developing a criteria for potential trade items.


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Apple's Shazam acquisition under EU scanner
BGR India Daily News Wrap
Apple acquires music recognition app Shazam
Apple confirms its acquisition of Shazam
Apple closing on $400 million acquisition of Shazam: Report
Here's how you can Shazam right from within Snapchat
Android's 'OK Google' will now Shazam songs, start your car for you
Apple to integrate Shazam’s song-identification capabilities into iOS 8: Report
Shazam and Saavn partnership expands to more Asian markets
Shazam launches new redesigned iPad app, introduces always-on background tagging
Shazam partners with Saavn for better discovery of local Indian music
Shazam gives Android users unlimited tagging in 2011, Shazam Friends
Call of Duty: Mobile has finally been launched but only in two countries for now.
#Chandrayaan2 is a Rs 978 crore mission, which will make India the fourth country in the world to land and ride on… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…
#TikTok is once again under the scanner of IT ministry.


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An Animal Crossing: New Horizons fan has created an adorable real-life carpet in the shape of the video game series’ popular character Isabelle.
An Animal Crossing: New Horizons fan has created a rug in the shape of the video game series’ popular character Isabelle. First appearing in 2012’s Animal Crossing: New Leaf, the cheerful Shih Tzu became a sort of mascot for Nintendo’s simulation video game series. As such, it’s no surprise that Animal Crossing‘s Isabelle has been cosplayed by fans and is often the subject of fan art.
Animal Crossing: New Horizons recently received a major 2.0 update that added new features like remote island exploration, cooking, and permanent vendor shops. Launched earlier this month, this update was available at no cost for all players. Nintendo also released the Happy Home Paradise DLC, an expansion that enabled players more power in designing their vacation homes. This expansion was meant to be the last major content addition. However, now there is a rumor that Nintendo’s long-running series will receive yet another update just in time for the holiday season. According to a recent leak, Animal Crossing: New Horizons may get a holiday-themed update. The rumored update will not only bring back last year’s Holiday Festivities, but also add new items for players to enjoy.
Animal Crossing: New Horizons fan RugMuncher902 posted photos showcasing their fan art of Isabelle on the Animal Crossing subreddit. Though the carpet is just Isabelle’s bell-shaped head, the details of the rug are spot on. Isabelle has her hair pulled up into her signature ponytail–held together by her easily recognizable red ribbon and bell. The hardworking assistant is also depicted with her signature smile. Reddit user RugMuncher902 mentions in the comments that to create their fan art, they used a tufting gun. The carpet is so well done that it could qualify as official merchandise, or at the very least, be made available in-game to players.
Thankfully, Isabelle fans can see more of the character in the recent Animal Crossing: New Horizon updates. In the new Happy Home Paradise DLC, Isabelle acts as more than just the head of the Civic Consultation Counter and an employee of Animal Crossing‘s Tom Nook. She also acts as an employee of the Town Hall and gives the player Public Facility projects. In this role, she follows the player to the facility and provides a list of required items to the player. Thanks to the 2.0 update, players can now also see her outside of her office. Sometimes she can be seen visiting The Roost coffee shop.
Though there is no official word on another new update coming to the game, the fact that players can finally see Isabelle taking a well-earned break is still appreciated. And now with the possibility of a holiday-themed update, fans are most likely hoping for Isabelle in a new holiday-themed outfit. If nothing else happens officially in the game, at least fans like RugMuncher902.
Pokémon BDSP Duplication Glitch Explained
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It’s always exciting to get your hands on the next big thing in food. Once a trendy food, drink, or ingredient takes off, it almost doesn’t matter whether it’s worth the hype—it’s all people will talk about, even if it’s overrated, and every brand will try to jump on board before the wave crashes. In an attempt to be ahead of the pack, Whole Foods releases a trend forecast each year, and it’s always worth a glance.
“Each year, the Trends Council—a collective of more than 50 Whole Foods Market team members, including local foragers, regional and global buyers, and culinary experts—compile trend predictions based on decades of experience and expertise in product sourcing and studying consumer preferences, as well as in-depth workshopping with emerging and existing brands,” a Whole Foods representative tells The Takeout.
It’s important to clarify that these trends aren’t just what Whole Foods thinks will sell best at its own stores. These are the food and beverage trends it’s forecasting for all grocery stores nationwide in 2023.
“We anticipate seeing these trends in the food industry at large, on dinner tables, in lunch boxes and on our store shelves,” said Sonya Gafsi Oblisk, Chief Marketing Officer at Whole Foods Market.
How accurate will these predictions be? In retrospect, the brand’s 2022 predictions showed roughly an even split of hits and misses. We definitely saw a rise in popularity of things like yuzu flavoring, non-alcoholic beverages, and “reducetarianism” (a conscious effort to reduce meat, dairy, and eggs without cutting them out entirely). But we didn’t really see sunflower seeds, turmeric, and moringa (whatever that is) pop off in the way Whole Foods was hoping.
While we can’t fully predict what will gain traction in the next year and what won’t, we can certainly try. Here are Whole Foods’ 2023 trend predictions, along with our best guesses at whether they’ll come to fruition.


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close Video Apple announces fix for iPhone battery throttling CEO Tim Cook says an update to the iOS operating system will give users more information on the health of their smartphone's battery and also let people turn off any software slowdowns. It's easy to blame Apple for your low iPhone battery — but before you draft that complaint to CEO Tim Cook, think about taking a second look at your settings. You may be draining your power without even realizing it. So, before you panic about finding available outlets or stocking up on portable power banks, take a look at this list and see if you're really the cause of your iPhone battery woes. Here are seven ways you're destroying your smartphone's battery life. APPLE'S SIRI IN THE SPOTLIGHT FOR POTTY MOUTH Go to Settings > Battery > Battery Usage to see what apps are draining your battery. (Fox News) 1. Using battery-burning apps You may have a battery hog on your hands. To check which apps are … [Read more...] about iPhone battery dead again? 7 surprising ways you’re draining power
Apple iphone battery drain
Share This Story! Let friends in your social network know what you are reading about Facebook Email Twitter Google+ LinkedIn Pinterest What to do now if your iPhone's battery still won't make it through the day It's 2 p.m., and your phone is out of power. Apps and email pushes may be the problem. Here's how to extend battery life on iPhone and Android. Sent! A link has been sent to your friend's email address. Posted! A link has been posted to your Facebook feed. Join the Nation's Conversation To find out more about Facebook commenting please read the Conversation Guidelines and FAQs Jennifer Jolly, Special for USA Today Published 10:07 a.m. ET April 25, 2018 CONNECT TWEET LINKEDIN COMMENT EMAIL MORE Battery drain issues never seem to go away. You get a new smartphone, it seems awesome for a little while, and then before you know it, you’re back to barely making it through the day before it sputters to a stop. Is … [Read more...] about What to do now if your iPhone’s battery still won’t make it through the day
(CBS) - The iPhone 4S was released a little over two weeks ago, but there are already massive complaints about the smartphone's battery life. According to complaints at the Apple Support Communities forums, users are claiming battery drainage at rates that range from 1 percent every 3-4 minutes to 10 percent overnight on standby. Light usage has users claiming their batteries drain at about 12 to 35 percent every 30 minutes. Yikes! That means full drainage in only a few hours. Full coverage of Apple on Tech Talk Siri gets spoofed by Conan O'BrienHow to get the Steve Jobs biography for freeCNET's Josh Lowensohn pointed out that the battery issues affected iPhone 4 users, as well, meaning it is likely an issue with the iOS 5 software. Oddly enough, when CNET Labs tested the iPhone 4S' battery life their results were not in sync with other users. As a matter of fact, they achieved 9.2 hours of talk time on a single charge, as well as 8.2 hours of video playback and 64 hours of audio … [Read more...] about CBS News Logo Apple iPhone 4S battery drain has people crying “antennagate” all over again
Last Updated Jun 23, 2016 10:30 AM EDT If you're like the majority of iPhone addicts, you're constantly scanning for outlets the second you walk into a room, hoping to find a spot to charge your phone before it dies... again.But before you find yourself stuck without a cord, available outlet or portable charger, you may want to consider taking a more proactive approach to preserve battery life.Here are 7 ways you could be draining your iPhone's battery without even knowing it:1. Plugging your iPhone into a computer that's not activeWhen you've misplaced your charging block, plugging into a computer seems like an obvious alternative. But if your device is connected to a computer that's turned off or is in sleep or standby mode, that can cause problems. To avoid battery drain, make sure your computer is plugged in and powered on while charging.2. Exposing your phone to extreme temperaturesToo hot: Avoid exposing your iPhone to temperatures higher than 95° F. When your phone is … [Read more...] about CBS News Logo 7 ways you’re completely killing your iPhone battery
This is part of CNET’s “Tech Enabled” series about the role technology plays in helping the disability community. David Grissam was worried he’d have to quit his job. Grissam had steadily been losing his hearing, which was a serious problem for the 911 dispatcher based in Norman, Oklahoma. It had gotten to the point where normal hearing aids didn’t work anymore. But then Grissam — who has been deaf since the age of six — got the Cochlear Baha 5 Sound Processor, a hearing device that’s implanted in his skull. Connecting the Baha to his iPhone via Bluetooth lets the 44-year-old stream emergency calls directly to his ears, cutting out background noise and giving him crystal-clear sound. “With me missing the audio coming in, I was really concerned I was going to miss one of my friends screaming for help because he was shot,” Grissam said. But now, “I’m able to hear more than others in the room because of that … [Read more...] about CBS News Logo Apple iPhone tech helps reinvent the hearing aid
Is your iPhone slowing down with age? Or, in the case of its battery life, speeding up? One of the first signs of age on an iPhone is the battery not holding a charge as long as it once did. Of course, you might also experience odd battery behavior on a relatively new iPhone, where the battery conks out before the meter hits zero. Here are three common battery problems -- short battery life, shutting off unexpectedly, getting warm while charging -- and how to fix them. My battery dies quickly There could be any number of reasons for why your iPhone's battery is draining quicker than usual, but the first place to start your investigation is Settings > Battery. Under Battery Usage, you can peruse a list of your apps and see how much battery each has consumed in the past 24 hours or seven days. If you can live without a battery-hungry app, then delete it. Before deleting an app, make sure you read the fine print and see if underneath its name in the above list, you … [Read more...] about CBS News Logo 3 common iPhone battery problems and how to fix them
If you're wondering if your iPhone's battery has been running out more quickly since you downloaded iOS 11, you're not alone. Researchers have found that the initial release of iOS 11 drains iPhone batteries more than twice as fast as the previous operating system iOS 10 did. The analysis from mobile security company Wandera claimed the average battery decy for an iPhone running iOS 10 under constant use is 240 minutes. For devices that have upgraded to iOS 11, the decay time is just 96 minutes. However, recent patches to iOS 11 appear to have limited the battery drain. Wandera analysed the battery decay of 50,000 iPhones and iPads on its network that were used moderately to heavily. It compared the average battery drain over three days and estimated the average. A drop in battery life is fairly common on older devices that upgrade, since new operating systems often use more power than previous ones. They also have early bugs that are fixed in … [Read more...] about Is iOS 11 draining your iPhone battery?
Visit The Boston Globe Share on Twitter Share on Facebook Comment on this Scroll to top of page Hiawatha Bray Globe Staff January 11, 2018 Remember when people lined up at Apple stores for new iPhones? These days, the crowds are back, but to turn their phones in — for a few minutes at least, while Apple gives them a new battery, and their used phones a new lease on life.That’s ominous news for Apple and the entire smartphone industry, which need us to keep buying millions of new phones each year. Now Apple has given all of us a very good reason to hold off.Apple phones, dating as far back as the 2014 iPhone 6, are entitled to a new battery for a mere $29, instead of Apple’s usual replacement fee of $79, or for free if the phone is still under warranty. Advertisement This is Apple’s way of acknowledging that it deliberately made older models run slower, to ease the strain that certain apps would place on their batteries. Otherwise, … [Read more...] about Will Apple’s battery bombshell drain smartphone sales?
iOS 11 is one of the biggest software updates Apple has released, but it launched along with some bugs. Apple released iOS 11 in September for previous iPhone models and its most recent devices, the iPhone 8 and iPhone X. The update brought augmented reality support to iOS gadgets, as well as the new Files app, Siri and design improvements, as well as other features. iOS 11’s most recent update iOS 11.2 brought Apple Pay Cash to Apple device owners. While the update brought numerous features, it also came with bugs and other issues that required subsequent fixes and updates. Here’s a list of iOS 11 bugs and other issues users have reported: HomeKit Bug iOS 11.2 came with a security flaw in Apple’s HomeKit app. The vulnerability allowed hackers to gain control of IoT devices connected to the app. Through the flaw, cyber criminals could have been allowed to unlock doors, control smart lights and other IoT devices that are linked to the HomeKit app. Apple released a … [Read more...] about iOS 11 Bugs List: Battery Drain, Bluetooth Problems, Security Flaws Reported
Apple addressed recent concerns that it has been secretly slowing older iPhone models in an effort to force consumers to adopt newer devices, confirming that the older phones have their power demands moderated in order to avoid crashes, TechCrunch reported . The rumor of Apple intentionally degrading or “throttling” the performance of older iPhones has once again cropped up as previous generations of Apple’s smartphone have been hampered since the release of iOS 11. Driving the conspiracy that Apple intentionally slows its devices—a scheme commonly referred to as planned or forced obsolescence—is a recent benchmarking test that found older Apple devices had a cap placed on their processing power, which has led some to use the test as evidence Apple is hindering its own products. In a comment from the company provided to TechCrunch , an Apple spokesperson confirmed that the power of its older generation processors are indeed capped, but it’s done … [Read more...] about iPhone Battery Drain: Does Apple Intentionally Slow Down Older iPhones?


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The first Durham Night Market at American Tobacco drew a great crowd on Thursday, August 26, 2021. Almost 50 vendors participated. The night was a “fabulous sip and shop night under the Lucky Strike Water Tower!”
“We had a good first-time turnout despite the high temperatures and COVID variant,” said ATC Events & Property Experience Director Valerie Ward. “We are already looking to expand the footprint in September and will theme up the December Market as a Holiday Market.”
DBBC Asst General Manager – Operations Scott Strickland stopped by to check out the Durham Night Market. He told Capcom he attended for multiple reasons. He wanted to see what the event was like, since he has never attended a night market and to see how many folks came.
“I wanted to help support some of the local small businesses who have likely had a very tough 16+ months,” he said. “As a resident on campus it’s been great to see events starting to come back… Obviously biased with the DBAP, but also the DPAC starting to have shows and ATC bringing events back to campus and utilizing all of the wonderful spaces campus provides… So it’s important to get out there and support these events so they hopefully will continue to increase in frequency!”
Strickland had a good time checking out the event.
“There was a ‘booth for everyone’ and I especially enjoyed the beef and seafood sales booth and the gentleman who makes carving boards, bottle openers, American flag art, etc.!” he said.
Visit American Tobacco online and on social media (Facebook, Instagram and Twitter) to stay tuned for details about future Night Markets in the coming months.
Thanks to ATC’s Valerie Ward for these Capcom photos.


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How to buy it – Footwear News
If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, Footwear News may receive an affiliate commission.
Adidas is releasing a new colorway of the popular Yeezy Knit Runner this weekend.
The sportswear giant has confirmed via the Yeezy release schedule that Kanye West’s running-inspired sneaker will drop tomorrow in the ‘Stone Carbon’ makeup.
A first look at the upcoming style surfaced on social media in January, revealing the slip-on shoe will feature a predominantly dark gray knit upper contrasted by a dark brown ankle collar. Additional details include the sneaker’s size stamped by the heel, Yeezy and Adidas Trefoil logos printed on the insole, a recessed midsole and a rubber outsole.
The Yeezy Knit Runner “Stone Carbon” will be the fourth Yeezy style to release this week, which kicked off with the Yeezy Boost 350 V2 “Bone” on Monday followed by the restocking of the Yeezy Boost 700 “Wave Runner” on Tuesday and the launch of the Yeezy 450 “Cinder” yesterday.
According to Adidas Originals on Twitter, the Yeezy Knit Runner “Stone Carbon” will release tomorrow at Adidas.com/Yeezy, Yeezy Supply, and select Adidas Yeezy retailers. The shoe will also launch via the Confirmed app in North America, Europe and China and on the Adidas app in select countries. The shoe will be available in adult sizes and will retail for $210.


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Samsung Electronics Co is combining two of its three business divisions and appointing new leaders to replace its three chief executive officers in its biggest management shakeup since 2017.
The reorganization, decided under the oversight of de facto leader and Samsung heir Jay Y. Lee, would see its consumer and mobile divisions merged into a newly formed SET Division, to be led by Han Jong-hee.
Promoted from the company’s TV research and development team, Han succeeds co-CEOs Dongjin Koh and Hyunsuk Kim, who had led the smartphone and consumer appliances groups respectively.
Kyung Kye-hyun is stepping in to lead the company’s Device Solutions group, which encompasses its key semiconductor business lines, such as memory, logic processors and chipmaking, for outside customers.
“Today’s announcement shows the company keeps its performance-driven culture,” Seoul National University professor of business management Lee Kyung-mook said. “It also shows Jay Y. Lee’s willingness to more actively engage in management.”
Since he was released from prison in August, Jay Y. Lee has gotten involved in major decisions for the company, and recently traveled to the US to conclude and announce plans for a US$17 billion plant in Taylor, Texas.
He is currently on a trip to the Middle East, where Samsung Electronics and Samsung C&T Corp are participating in multiple projects.
The consolidation of consumer offerings under one umbrella simplifies the company’s operational structure and might help the South Korean electronics giant better compete with US archrival Apple Inc.
“Apple uses one OS [operating system] for phones, PCs and TVs, and its products show seamless integration,” Lee Kyung-mook said. “Samsung’s IT products, however, lack such seamless integration between phones and gadgets. The merger between its consumer and mobile divisions, which have until now operated independently, may help fix this issue.”
That the merged SET unit is to be overseen by someone from home appliances rather than the smartphone business suggests that “the company probably thought the mobile unit needs a lot of improvement and consolidation,” Daiwa Securities Capital Markets Korea Co analyst S.K. Kim said.
Samsung remains the world’s biggest smartphone maker, with a 20.8 percent market share, the latest data from IDC Corp showed.
As part of the reorganization, Samsung also announced that Park Hark-kyu is to be its new chief financial officer, having previously held a post in the Device Solutions team.
Samsung Electronics shares rose after the announcement, although they remain more than 5 percent down for the year.
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC, 台積電), the world’s biggest contract chipmaker, has decided to slow down its 3-nanometer chip production as Intel Corp, one of its major customers, plans to push back the launch of its new Meteor Lake tGPU chipsets to the end of next year, market researcher TrendForce Corp (集邦科技) said yesterday. That means Intel has canceled almost all of the 3-nanometer capacity booked for next year, with only a small amount of wafer input remaining for engineering verification, the Taipei-based researcher said in a report. Based on Intel’s original schedule, TSMC was to start producing the new chipsets in
DATA SHOW DOWNTURN: Manufacturing in Taiwan contracted as production and demand slumped, while growth in chip exports last month eased in South Korea World chip sales growth has decelerated for six straight months in another sign that the global economy is straining under the weight of rising interest rates and mounting geopolitical risks. Semiconductor sales rose 13.3 percent in June from a year earlier, down from 18 percent in May, data from the global peak industry body showed. The slowdown is the longest since the US-China trade dispute in 2018. The three-month moving average in chip sales has correlated with the global economy’s performance in the past few decades. The latest weakness comes as concern about a worldwide recession has prompted chipmakers such as Samsung
‘NO NEED TO WORRY’: The central bank governor said foreign selling on the TAIEX is normal for this time of year and that the nation has ample forex reserves Taiwan would emerge unscathed from China’s retaliatory actions to protest US House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taipei, top monetary and financial officials said yesterday. Central bank Governor Yang Chin-long (楊金龍) shrugged off unease over potential instability in the foreign exchange and stock markets after foreign portfolio funds trimmed their holdings of local shares for two straight days amid Beijing’s threats of retaliation. “There is no need to worry,” Yang said on the sidelines of an event to celebrate the first anniversary of the opening of Central American Bank for Economic Integration’s (CABEI) Taipei office and the 30th anniversary of
Italy is close to clinching a deal initially worth US$5 billion with Intel Corp to build an advanced semiconductor packaging and assembly plant in the country, two sources briefed on discussions said yesterday. Intel’s investment in Italy is part of a wider plan announced by the US chipmaker earlier this year to invest US$88 billion in building capacity across Europe, which is striving to cut its reliance on Asian chip imports and ease a supply crunch that has curbed output in the region’s strategic auto sector. Asking not to be named due to the sensitivity of the matter, the sources said the


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Microsoft acquires Minecraft developer
Microsoft is acquiring Swedish game developer Mojang, responsible for the hugely popular Minecraft franchise, in a deal worth $2.5bn.
Following the deal, Mojang founders Markus Persson, Carl Manneh and Jakob Porser are leaving the company. The rest of the Mojang team will join Microsoft Studios, which includes the studios behind games such as Halo, Forza and Fable.
Microsoft said its investments in cloud and mobile technologies will enable Minecraft players “to benefit from richer and faster worlds, more powerful development tools, and more opportunities to connect across the Minecraft community.”
Launched in 2009, Minecraft is one of the popular video games in history with more than 100 million downloads on PC alone. The sandbox world-builder is also the top online game on Xbox and the top paid app for iOS and Android in the US.
Microsoft plans to continue to make Minecraft available across all the platforms it has been available on to date including PC, iOS, Android, Xbox and PlayStation.
“Gaming is a top activity spanning devices, from PCs and consoles to tablets and mobile, with billions of hours spent each year,” said Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella in a statement. “Minecraft is more than a great game franchise – it is an open world platform, driven by a vibrant community we care deeply about, and rich with new opportunities for that community and for Microsoft.”
The Minecraft community has played more than 2 billion hours played on Xbox 360 alone in the past two years
Microsoft added that it expects the acquisition to achieve break-even in the 2015 financial year on a GAAP basis. Subject to regulatory review, the acquisition is expected to close in late 2014.


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Former Angry Robot publisher Marc Gascoigne has been hired to lead the new imprint. He will be tasked with establishing deals for Asmodee board game properties including Catan, Ticket to Ride and Pandemic.
“Asmodee’s stated mission is to bring the world ‘Great Games, Amazing Stories,’” says Andy Jones, head, Asmodee Entertainment. “Aconyte is another key milestone along that path, literally creating those amazing stories and bringing further depth, intrigue, characters and narrative to some of the best game worlds ever created.”
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More fallout from Ashley Madison breach
Fallout from the Ashley Madison data breach continues into the second week since hackers released details of subscribers to the cheating service.
And now the web site’s owner, Avid Life Media, has posted a reward of $500 000.00 (Canadian dollars) for information leading to the arrest of the hackers.
The company could find itself out of pocket for more than the reward money, however, as outed users start opening lawsuits.
First out of the blocks are two Canadian law firms that have filed a $578-million class-action lawsuit against Avid Life Media.


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The rapidly expanding world of ecommerce brings both good and bad changes for business owners operating in the digital universe. On one hand, business has never been better. Per the 2016 World Payment Report, non-cash transactions rose 8.9% in 2014, the highest growth rate since the Report’s inception. It is no longer only the young [...]
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Cheaper electricity rates for manufacturers in Mexico increases the country’s allure
For decades Mexico’s the three most potent cards that the country has had to play when attracting foreign direct investment in manufacturing plant and equipment to its territory have been its competitively priced labor, its geographical proximity to the largest consumer market in the world and the tariff and duty benefits that it enjoys as being one of the NAFTA region’s signatory countries. Although there have been a battery of strategically significant reforms that have been devised, passed and implemented over the last several years, the one that seems to be having the most immediate and positive effect on the nation’s fortunes has to do with the electricity rates for manufacturers in Mexico.
Increasingly competitive electricity rates make Mexico even more attractive of a location
According to Duncan Wood, director of the Mexico Institute at Princeton University’s Wilson Center, “Probably, of all the energy reforms that have been passed, the changes in the electricity sector are going to be the most helpful to Mexican productivity and competitiveness.” Additionally, Wood also pointed out in his comments that “When you come to the electricity sector, peak rates for industrial consumers were sometimes 120 to 130 percent higher than what their counterparts in the United States were paying.” More competitive electricity rates for manufacturers in Mexico has become another card that the country has added to its economic deck.
The progress that has been made towards offering cheaper electricity rates for manufacturers in Mexico has had an impact on large investment decisions that have recently been made by companies to sink large sums of foreign direct investment money in the country. Among these companies are BMW, Nissan and Daimler, Ford and Audi. In late 2014, BMW announced that it had chosen Mexico as the country in which to build a new $1 billion dollar automotive production facility to service North America. That will come online in 2019, while Nissan and Daimler made the decision to team up to build a shared $1 billion Mexican manufacturing facility, as well. Last year both Ford and Audi decided to build automotive manufacturing facilities in Mexico, and, since these decisions were made, The head of Mexico’s national electrical utility (CFE), Enrique Ochoa Reza, announced that, between March of 2014 and March of the present year, electricity rates for manufacturers in Mexico dropped in a range of between 18 to 26 percent for industrial users nationwide.
Access to plentiful and attractively priced US natural gas has been a factor in rate declines
Cheaper electricity rates for manufacturers in Mexico have largely resulted from the country’s proactive moves to change much of the nation’s power-producing infrastructure to natural gas technology in order to capitalize on the import of plentiful, advantageously priced supplies of that resource from the United States. Although, at the time of the enactment of the reforms, oil prices were up to four times that of national gas, natural gas still maintains a 2 to 1 price advantage. Both Mexican officials and foreign manufacturers are optimistic in a continuance of the movement toward cheaper electricity rates for manufacturers in Mexico. It is anticipated that this trend will continue in a significant way as more capital, both foreign and domestic, is invested in the extraction of domestic natural and shale gas.


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On Dec. 16th, Overdigm signs distributor contract with Saudi Arabian Marketing Company, Star Time
Overdigm signed on Dec. 16th(Mon) distributor contract with Saudi Arabian Marketing/Advertising company, Star Time, and thus is expanding the market to Saudi Arabia.
Star Time was established in 2009 and has advertising/PR/event businesses not only with Saudi Arabia companies but also with global brands.
Star Time has visited the Overdigm HQ from Dec.16~17th and proceeded with the signing ceremony. Afterwards visited Sports Complex station, Insadong “Secret Garden’ exhibition, Hwaseong factory and learned thoroughly about the product and service.
Now Overdigm has expanded its market from China and Saudi Arabia and is turning world’s 2D panels to 3D.


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While the service does not offer new releases at the moment, the selection is still plentiful with movies like Drive, Adaptation, Gattaca, True Romance, Last Action Hero, Legends of the Fall and Panic Room, amongst others, as well as TV shows like Fringe, Quantum Leap, Gilligan’s Island, Heroes, and The Bachelor. Users can also view IMDb originals through the service.
Freedive viewers can watch the ad-supported content via their computer or through Amazon devices like the Fire TV, while a dedicated mobile app will be launching soon.
"Customers already rely on IMDb to discover movies and TV shows and decide what to watch," Col Needham, founder and CEO of IMDb said in a statement. "With the launch of IMDb Freedive, they can now also watch full-length movies and TV shows on IMDb and all Amazon Fire TV devices for free."
At the moment, Freedive is only available in the US, and it’s unclear if it will launch internationally. Furthermore, the company said that the IMDb Freedive catalog will continue to grow with new titles added regularly. You can view all of the titles available by clicking the bar below.


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Sports games are getting better and better.
MLB The Show has some of the most realistic sports titles out there and it will get better this year with the popular home run celebrations we see throughout the season.
Baseball fans know that some players like to have a little fun after a home run and MLB The Show 16 has added that fun element to the game. Celebrations are a big part of other sports games, so the game developer has made sure they’re featured this year.
One home run celebration shows Toronto Blue Jays player Edwin Encarnacion, who is known for circling the bases throughout the season. The game developer has already announced that his teammate, Josh Donaldson, is the cover athlete.
Home Run Celebrations
Encarnacion, who has 258 career home runs, will have his Walk the Parrot home run celebration in the game. MLB The Show 16 will also have other popular celebrations, so hitting home runs will be very fun this year.
Four days ago, MLB The Show 16 announced its Diamond Dynasty Expansion. The game developer worked with baseball analytics firm Inside Edge to give gamers a daily rating of the players for the 2016 MLB Season. The feature gives baseball players a one to five star rating, depending on the team they’re facing.
Players who have good games against a certain team will have five star ratings. If they struggle against them, a one star rating will appear. The expansion has many more features, including flashbacks for the players. The flashbacks feature the best moments of their careers and other highlights.
PS4 and PS3
Earlier this month, it was confirmed that there would be three versions of the game. Two of the versions come with bonus items such as avatars for the PS4. A PS3 version will also be released the same day. During the announcement, it was also revealed that the game would feature ShowTime, which gives players the ability to slow down time and make the best plays. Face scan and tattoos have been left out of this year’s game.
MLB The Show 16 will be out in stores for the PS4 and PS3 on March 29. The regular version will cost $59.99, the MVP Edition $69.99 and the Digital Deluxe Edition $99.99. The Digital Deluxe Edition will only be released on the PS Store.
What do you think about the celebrations and features? What would you like to see in this year’s game? Let us know in the comments.


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Local phone prices in cities such as Toronto have yet to budge – and in some cases are set to increase – despite Ottawa's efforts last year to boost competition by deregulating the industry.
Former phone monopolies Bell Canada Inc. and Telus Corp. have so far been focused on using their new-found pricing flexibility to offer discounted bundles of phone, TV and high-speed Internet services in several markets, not lower local phone rates across the board.
That, in turn, has given Rogers Communications Inc. the confidence to actually raise its local home phone prices via a 30 per cent hike – to $5.95 from $4.50 – in the monthly "system access fee" charged to subscribers, itself a source of consumer frustration.
The increase – one of a series of fee increases on March 1 for its residential cable, Internet and telephone services – amounts to a 4 per cent hike in the price of Rogers' cheapest home phone plan. Unlike Bell and Telus, Rogers was never subject to price regulation in the local phone market.
"What's surprising about this is that it pertains to local telephones," said Michael Janigan, the executive director of the Public Interest Advocacy Centre in Ottawa. "We were told that prices were going to go down with the advent of local telephone deregulation."
The federal government said last April that it was accelerating plans to deregulate local phone service.
Former Industry Minister Maxime Bernier promised at the time the change would "put the customer first."
Under the new rules, Bell and Telus are no longer required to obtain federal regulatory approval to change their phone prices in any consumer market as long as there are three competing service providers, one of which can be a wireless carrier.
The phone companies had argued the change was necessary to allow them to better compete with local phone newcomers such as Rogers, which has snagged hundreds of thousands of Bell and Telus customers by offering discounts on so-called "triple play" bundles of phone, TV and Internet services.
Iain Grant, managing director of consulting firm The Seaboard Group, said Rogers' price hike demonstrates a growing confidence in the quality of its phone service, which is based on Voice over Internet Protocol technology.
"Rogers raising their rates says to me that customer satisfaction is pretty good. They don't need discounts to pull people in any more."
Taanta Gupta, a Rogers spokesperson, said the firm's pricing strategy is "to be competitive, not at a premium."
But Janigan took issue with the way Rogers is planning to raise its local phone rates.
He said increasing the so-called "system access fee" allows Rogers to keep its advertised rate low while leading consumers to believe the extra charge is coming from somewhere else. He likened it to the controversial "fuel surcharge" that some airlines add to their tickets.
Rogers isn't alone in this practice. Bell charges a $5.95 "network access" fee to customers who have a discounted long distance plan. Telus, meanwhile, charges a $4.95 "long distance administration fee" for customers with a plan and a $2.95 "network access charge" for those who don't.
All three companies are currently being targeted by a class-action lawsuit that alleges the "system access" fees charged to their wireless subscribers – $6.95 at Rogers and Telus and $8.95 at Bell – unfairly misled people into thinking it was a government-mandated tax.
Gupta said the Rogers home phone "system access fee," which is described on the firm's website as a "non-government fee," is meant to offset the "hundreds of millions" the cable firm invested in the technology needed to offer its telephone service.


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Queen of tourism, she runs a R$22 million hotel chain in Rio Grande do Sul
- June 12, 2022
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Gabriela Schwan went from intern to CEO at the Swan hotel chain and now wants to take the concept of “experience hosting” to all of Brazil
The Brazilian hotel industry lacks female figures in leadership. Although they represent a good part of the workers in the tourism sector in Brazil, their presence in positions of influence is still a minority. Data from the Federal Revenue indicate that only 35% of all partners in tourism companies in the country are women.
It is a scenario that becomes even more evident when looking at the nine companies in the sector listed on the stock exchange. In these companies, female participation on boards of directors is less than 11%, and women are not the majority on any board, according to a study prepared by the Brazilian Journal of Tourism Research.
Gabriela Schwan is one of the few examples that escape the curve. President of the Rio Grande do Sul hotel chain Swan in Brazil and Portugal, she is today one of the only two female hotel CEOs in Brazil — the other is the founder and president of the Blue Tree network, Chieko Aoki. “It’s strange to think about the fact that women are the basis of hospitality in Brazil, but few actually make it to the top,” she says.
In the company — an essentially family-owned network — for 22 years, and in a trajectory of ascension that went through internship and trainee positions to management and directors, in 2020 she took command to restructure a company heavily punished by the restrictions caused by the covid pandemic. -19.
Among the motivations for the executive’s rise to leadership were her experience with certifications and processes that attest to the quality of hotels, a non-negotiable requirement for companies that need to be accountable to shareholders. “Swan is a family-owned network, but it also has a part dedicated to investors. It is essential to have this transparency of the ability to guarantee quality, regardless of the economic moment”, says the businesswoman.
The second motivation lies in the executive’s passion for fashion and design, two central pillars for the network’s future at a time when tourism takes advantage of travelers’ mood to prioritize experience and comfort over economy.
Keeping an eye on this trend, Schwan divided hotels into three categories: classic, traditional hotels; the collabs, which mix hotels, short-term stays and shared and boutique work and living spaces, the hotels dedicated to leisure and luxury. “I love bringing a little of my personality to the business. I feel like it revitalizes the operation,” she says.
The Generation project, inaugurated in Porto Alegre at the end of 2021, is the chain’s main focus and exemplifies what is seen by the gaúcha as the future of hospitality. A modern building that looks like an art gallery in which each floor is signed by a different artist, with exclusive works. According to Schwan, the expectation is to increase the network’s revenue by 90% compared to the pre-pandemic period, a projection that already considers the positive returns with Generation.
To a large extent, the bet on design and experience hosting is what should bring the network closer to pre-pandemic results. In 2019, Swan earned around BRL 19 million. For 2022, the ambition is to reach R$ 22 million.
The optimism with the new standards and the recovery of the sector also made Swan double its bets when it comes to openings. Recently, the chain opened its first hotel in the city of Canela, also in Rio Grande do Sul, a region known for receiving tourists interested in stays and experiences in the midst of the Rio Grande do Sul mountains and their araucaria forests.
Just for this opening, which took place in May of this year, the network investment was R$ 20 million — a value that even exceeds the company’s revenues in recent years.
Strong presence in the South
The first Swan project started in 1993, in the city of Novo Hamburgo. The debut hotel was born from the poignancy of the southern region as a tourist and business center, but which, at the time, lavished accommodation options only in the capital. Today, the chain has 11 units, six of which are in Portugal. In Brazil, the focus is on the cities of Porto Alegre, Caxias do Sul, Canela and Novo Hamburgo, all in Rio Grande do Sul.
In the medium term, the intention is to take Swan to other states, in an expansion that should start in the Southeast. “It is time we went beyond the South. We want the whole of Brazil”, he says. In a second moment, Schwan’s ambition is to take the network to North America. “New York is our big dream”, he says.
Economic incentive to RS
In addition to running the hotel chain, Schwan is also vice president of Transforma-RS, a council that brings together 30 leaders, including entrepreneurs, representatives of universities, federations and the government of Rio Grande do Sul.
Heading the group’s tourism committee, she is responsible for articulating actions to encourage the sector in the region, promoting interaction between the public and private sectors. “In a study we carried out, tourism ranked third among the sectors with the greatest potential to improve the state’s competitiveness. We decided it was time to act,” she says.
The first woman to join the group, Schwan says that Transforma’s intention is to build a long-term strategic plan to help key sectors for the economy of Rio Grande do Sul, in addition to bringing more representation.


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It seems that inflation is everywhere. You’ve seen it at the grocery store, at the gas pump, and reported in the news. We have a lot of elements adding to the inflation story.
First, the consumer is flush with cash. The government has given consumers around $3,200 since March 2020. While many used this stimulus to compensate for cut work hours and lost jobs, many saved or invested this found money. Now that the economy is beginning to open with restaurants accepting full capacity and stores relaxing mask mandates, consumers are ready to spend. Couple that with supply chain disruptions caused initially by China’s manufacturing shutting down and compounded by minimized inventories, a shortage of truckers, and debacles with the Suez Canal and the Colonial Pipeline, and you have a perfect storm for restricted supply. Restricted supply and increased demand is the perfect recipe for inflation.
However, let me put our current inflation into perspective: According to the Department of Labor, inflation, as measured using the “Consumer Price Index,” was up 9.0 percent in 1978, up 13.3 percent in 1979, followed by 12.5 percent in 1980, and up 8.9 percent in 1981. Today’s annual inflation reading is 4.2 percent for the 12 months ended April 2021 Inflation is a natural part of an economic cycle. Aside from asking, “Why is chicken so expensive?” or “Do you know where I can get cheap gas?” the popular question is, “How do I invest through this?” Well, let’s take a look.
Commodities are the basic raw materials used as production inputs for the finished goods we consume every day. With inflation, it takes more dollars to buy commodities, leading to a perception that they are worth more, or have increased in value. In my opinion, stocks are the best vehicle for long-term growth. During inflationary times, I generally recommend larger percentage allocated to the non-durable goods sector, as they can pass inflation costs almost immediately to consumers. It includes consumer staples like food, utilities, toilet paper, and other necessities, as well as fuel. These businesses should be able to maintain profit margins and dividends and serve as a hedge against inflation.
William G. Lako, Jr., CFP®, is an Executive in Residence at Kennesaw State University’s Coles College of Business and a principal at Henssler Financial and a co-host on Atlanta’s longest running, most respected financial talk radio show “Money Talks” airing Saturdays at 10 a.m. on AM 920 The Answer. Mr. Lako is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional.


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Lunar's been around a while. Made a name for himself, a soft and cushiony footwear technology, and versatile. They use him in hoops. They use him in running, training. If they still made hockey skates, they'd use Lunar in that, too.
He's proven his worth. The boss says he brings in $2 billion a year in sales now since jumping onto the scene with his contemporary, Free ($1 billion in annual sales), back in the '08 Beijing Olympics.
So he's an earner. A big man on the Nike World Headquarters campus.
Then along comes Flyknit. New on the scene last year, she represents the future. Attractive, yet efficient. Lightweight, yet virtually waste free. Slender, with no seams.
On Monday, their worlds collided. The prospect batting behind the first-ballot Hall of Famer. The starlet pairs with the Academy Award-winning director. Chocolate + peanut butter. Lunar and Flyknit. All winning combinations?
That last one is yet to be known, but the first chapter of this love story is underway with Nike Inc.'s release of the Nike Flyknit Lunar1+.
Lunar refers to Lunarlon, the footwear cushioning system that was introduced around the Beijing Games that has become a staple across nearly all of the Washington County company's (NYSE: NKE) footwear categories.
Flyknit is the lightweight footwear technology that debuted at last summer's London Olympics that features a seamless, knitted upper. It's not only lighter, but by being seamless it can be produced with far less waste than the typical shoe, Nike says.
Nike CEO Mark Parker — the boss — has been one of Flyknit's biggest advocates, calling it the company's next great growth platform. In talking to analysts last month, he said the footwear geniuses inside Nike's Innovation Kitchen were already cooking up ways to adapt Flyknit to other categories.
Monday's public unveiling of the Flyknit Lunar may be the most obvious offspring of that effort. A seemingly ground-breaking upper technology on top of a $2 billion-a-year cushioning technology seems like a recipe for money, based on Nike's past performance in the market.
Parker, himself, was involved in developing one of the early Lunar-Flyknit pairings. Back in April and July, Nike's HTM Collection — a collaboration between Parker, Japanese designer Hiroshi Fujiwara and legendary Nike footwear designer Tinker Hatfield — featured Flyknit and Lunar combinations in some limited release footwear.
If anything, Nike is showcasing the versatility of Flyknit. I wouldn't be surprised to see the Flyknit paired with the minimalist Nike Free technology sometime in the near future.
Won't Lunar be jealous.


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After the Land Transportation Office (LTO) announced a shortage in physical plastic cards in April, it revealed that there are plans to launch digital driver’s licenses with the help of the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT).
The implementation of the digital driver’s license is still unknown but the DICT, earlier this week, gave a preview of how it will look.
LTO and DICT Digital Driver’s License
The preview of the digital card was shared by the People’s Television Network (PTV) and showed the photo of the license through a smartphone.
The digital driver’s license has the same information as the traditional license, including the holder’s name and address, restrictions, height, weight, and blood type, but with a different layout. The bigger change that the digital license brings though is a barcode, which we can only assume will be used for transactions or verification.
As of writing this though, it’s uncertain how the two agencies will implement the digital driver’s license, but according to PTV, it will be rolled out this June.


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Riot Games has announced that it has named Logitech G as the latest partner for the Valorant Champions Tour EMEA division. As noted in a blog post, we’re told that the hardware vendor will supply the esports league with headphones and other peripherals in broadcast rooms and broadcast facilities at Messe Berlin Charlottenburg.
“We are delighted to welcome Logitech G to the VCT EMEA ecosystem. They are a world-renowned brand, and we look forward to using their state-of-the-art hardware across the site,” said Eva Suárez, Managing Director EMEA Esports partnerships. “Logitech has a history of producing great gaming peripherals that we’re sure will be of great value to gamers, coaches, and streamers all year round.”
As part of the deal, Logitech G will also provide the VCT Game Changers EMEA tournament, which kicks off in a few weeks.
Brent Dubin, known as the Gaming Giant among Globe Live Media staff, is the chief Gaming Reporter for Globe Live Media. Having attended all the major events of Gaming around the World, he is sure to give you exactly the update related to gaming world you are looking for.
Work Email: email@example.com


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It’s here, folks. For months we’ve awaited the reveal of the sixth-generation Chevy Camaro, and now it’s here. The 2016 Chevy Camaro in Scottsboro AL is due to arrive at Harbin Automotive later this year, which is welcome news to anyone who has ever looked at a car and had to wipe drool from their chin. Fully restyled and boasting three terrific powertrains, the new Camaro retains its everyman cred while pushing the model unmistakably forward. It sits lower and slimmer than in past iterations, while its move toward a fastback silhouette can’t be ignored. And, since its almost 200 pounds lighter than in its last generation, it’s more agile than ever before as well.
The 2016 Chevy Camaro offers three different powertrains, each of which is excellent in its own way. The standard configuration is a 3.6L V6 that uses active fuel management and an available eight-speed automatic transmission to offer better fuel efficiency than ever before. Next up is a 2.0L Turbo that takes advantage of the Camaro’s load-lightening to offer added agility through twists and turns. Finally, rounding out the lineup is a muscular 6.2L LT1 V8 that uses a small-block design to offer the highest horsepower of any Camaro SS ever. All told, the 2016 Chevy Camaro offers a little something for everyone, true to its nature as the sportscar of the everyman.
As recently as a decade ago, the viability of a gas-electric hybrid, and much less an all-electric vehicle, seemed like a far-off notion. Yet, in 2010, Chevy introduced the Volt, and any notions far-off or otherwise were quickly eliminated. The Chevy Volt brought the future to the present with its dynamic lines and reliable performance. And now, with a full redesign for the new model year, the 2016 Chevy Volt in Scottsboro AL arrives to carry the hybrid torch for a new generation of Alabama drivers. With a design language that is well in keeping with other Chevy vehicles, the latest Volt softens its hard edges for 2016, all while it refines its performance to attract new buyers like never before.
The changes begin under the hood, where the 2016 Chevy Volt introduces a 1.5L four-cylinder engine that pairs with an 18.4 kWh electric battery to boost overall horsepower by as many as 15. The new arrangement will offer a 50-mile all-electric range, and will get an estimated 41 highway mpg when it’s using hybrid power. All told, this means that the 2016 Chevy Volt will offer a 400-mile range when fully fueled, and for those who face a relatively short daily commute, it’s entirely plausible that a person could use the EV function with almost no hassle. With such convenience in such an attractive package, it’s little doubt that the 2016 Chevy Volt will be a fan favorite when it arrives at Harbin Auto in summer of 2015.


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Microsoft gave up all sorts of cool information at E3 2019, and one of those bits of info was a Minecraft Dungeons gameplay trailer. The game is a dungeon-crawling title where players get to team with friends to take on various challenges.
The trailer shows off forests, lava-filled castles, and other settings. Players get to use all sorts of weapons and armor. They also have levels, enchantments, and a variety of stats. Standard weapons include things like a hammer, but magic will be a factor as well.
Players will get to enjoy a range of customization options, and the game overall has a much more action-focused style of play than Minecraft.
Minecraft Dungeons is expected in spring 2020 for PC, consoles, and on Xbox Game Pass. The game sounds exciting, and sort of like a family friendly Diablo says Polygon.


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Iron Man 3 movie has not been released, Gameloft has prepared his game to iOS and Android devices.
Quoted from Slashgear, Thursday (28/3), Iron Man 3 games scheduled to be released on 25 April, or the day before the movie appeared in theaters.
Promoting tourism and economic development to the outside world with more easily.
Google began to introduce the features of Google Street View in Indonesia after Friday afternoon (11/23) symbolically release two special cars that will record the roads [...]
The advantages of this TV compared to other brands is Samsung’s Smart Interaction technology.
Television technology is now more intelligent. Predicate “smart” are not just limited to smartphones but also for TV. Market demand for Smart [...]
You look forward to welcoming the Microsoft Office applications on Android and iOS seems to be more patient.
Because, the latest news says that Microsoft is delaying its release until 2014.
Quoted from ZDNet, Thursday (11/4), the largest software producer [...]
Buzz Aldrin, Apollo 11 astronaut, plans to sell graffiti sheets contains instructions and guidelines that he uses when for the first time landing on the Moon.
Sheets of paper that contains guidelines used Aldrin when Neil Armstrong was driving the Lunar [...]
As a gift to the loyal fans of the game ‘Angry Birds’.
In the third birthday, Rovio as a manufacturer of world’s most famous game, Angry Birds, released the latest level for the loyal fans.
Games featuring the ‘Angry Birds’ [...]
A man named Jim Stickley so far recorded more than 1000 bank he had robbed.
Uniquely, the hacker genius was never arrested let alone sent to prison.
Yes, Stickley is a ‘tester‘. His job is to penetrate and break through the security of computer [...]
BlackBerry Live event held in Orlando, USA, Tuesday (14/5), BlackBerry announced their new hero on the BlackBerry 10 platform, the BlackBerry Q5.
Quoted from Ubergizmo, Wednesday (15/5), according to a recent leak outstanding, the Q5 is a cheap version [...]
The news about the presence of the successor to the iPhone 5 more widely heard. If previously only known to be released summer of 2013, the latest info mengunkapkan that the smartphone is ready to go July.
Quoted from Techradar, Tuesday (30/4), about [...]
If the basic applications like wallpaper request access to the GPS data, then it is suspicious.
More than 100,000 Android apps in the Google Play are included in the category of “suspicious” and “questionable”, according to a [...]
Raise money for children with cleft lip.
Today many people are using Google Maps to find directions to a mall, offices, and other locations in the city, a man wearing this app to walk 5.000 miles or 8046.7 kilometers.
Armed with the Google Maps application [...]


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Drinking at least six cups of coffee a day can help you live longer, a new study has revealed, although the amount is twice the daily recommended limit.
A decade long analysis has show the world's most popular beverage really does help people live longer - no matter how much they put away.
And it's not the caffeine that has the effect as the results were the same for those who drink decaf, the Mirror reports.
In one of the biggest studies of its kind mortality rates of almost half a million middle aged and elderly Britons were compared with their coffee intake.
Those who consumed six or seven cups a day fared best and were 16 percent less likely to die from any disease over a ten year period than those who didn't drink any.
Meanwhile, those who got through eight cups a day or more, which is twice the maximum amount of caffeine recommended by the UK Food Standards Agency, saw death rates cut by 14 percent.
The benefits were also seen among moderate and light coffee drinkers, but to a lesser degree.
Two to five cups, one cup or less than one cup a day reduced mortality by 12, eight and six per cent, respectively.
Lead author Dr Erikka Loftfield, a cancer epidemiologist, said the results applied to all types of coffee including ground, instant and decaffeinated.
Dr Loftfield said the findings suggest the importance of its "non-caffeine constituents."
The study published in JAMA Internal Medicine adds to mounting evidence coffee should be "part of a healthy diet," she said.
No association was identified between any amount of coffee consumed and long-term health risks including cardiovascular disease, respiratory disease and cancer.
She said: "In this large study of nearly 500,000 people in the United Kingdom, coffee drinking was inversely associated with all-cause mortality, with statistically significant inverse associations observed in participants drinking 1 to 8 or more cups per day."
Coffee has long been linked with combating heart disease, cancer, dementia, diabetes and depression.
It is abundant in antioxidants which reduce inflammation and boost lung function and sensitivity to the glucose-controlling hormone insulin.
People are normally advised to drink no more than four cups of coffee a day - about 400mg.
Too much caffeine has been known to trigger insomnia, a fast heartbeat and even muscle tremors.
The latest study was based on data from the UK BioBank, one of the world's most ambitious projects that tracks the health and lifestyles of hundreds of thousands of volunteers.
Previous studies in the US, Europe and Asia have found a consistent link between coffee drinking and reduced deaths from all causes including diabetes, cardiovascular disease, Parkinson's disease and liver, bowel and womb cancer.
Dr Loftfield said: "Such evidence played a major role in the 2015 US Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee report, which concluded moderate coffee consumption of up to 5 eight-ounce cups per day can be a part of a healthy diet."
Dr Loftfield, of the National Institutes of Health in Maryland, said: "Coffee drinking was inversely associated with mortality, including among those drinking eight or more cups per day and those with genetic mutations indicating slower or faster caffeine metabolism.
"These findings suggest the importance of non caffeine constituents in the coffee-mortality association and provide further reassurance that coffee drinking can be a part of a healthy diet."
Her team followed the 498,134 participants, aged 38 to 73, from 2006 until 2016, during which time 14,225 of them died.
They were asked "How many cups of coffee do you drink each day (including decaffeinated coffee)?" They selected either the number of cups, "Less than 1," "Do not know," or "Prefer not to answer." They were also asked what type they drank - - decaffeinated, ground or instant.
Dr Loftfield said: "The UK Biobank presented a unique opportunity to assess potential differences between drinking instant versus ground coffee because 55 percent of coffee drinkers reported usually drinking instant coffee."
Exactly how coffee may lower mortality risk is still up for debate.
Dr Loftfield pointed out as the results were based on observation they cannot prove cause so should be treated with caution.
But she said: "Nevertheless, these results provide further evidence that coffee drinking can be part of a healthy diet and may provide reassurance to those who drink coffee and enjoy it."
In 2015 a study of just over 90,000 Americans followed for ten years by the same team found similar results - those who drank the most coffee over ten years were around 18 percent less likely to die.
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Mark Zuckerberg-led social media giant is having a tough time convincing concerned lobbies about intentions and future plans. The Cambridge Analytica scam has shaken the whole world and people are concerned about cybersecurity like never before.
On being questioned about whether it’s a monopoly, Facebook Inc. is making a bold argument: owning so many communications platforms helps keep users safe.
On 22 May, the European Parliament asked Chief Executive Officer Mark Zuckerberg whether he should be allowed to own two of the world’s largest chat applications, Messenger and WhatsApp, in addition to the biggest social network and the photo app Instagram.
The company answered 23 May in an online post, saying there are “many consumer benefits” to having Facebook control so much of the world’s communication.
Follow-up questions from EPDuring his meeting with the Conference of Presidents, Mark Zuckerberg answered a wide range…
“By working together we have been able to improve safety across all these services,” the company wrote.
When Facebook spots spam, exploitative images or illegal content, for example, it can obliterate it on all platforms at once.
European regulators may not buy the argument, especially since they spent some of Tuesday’s hearing critiquing Facebook for not being effective enough in its treatment of harmful content. Though Facebook is investing in computer-based solutions, the company still relies heavily on users to flag the worst offenders on its apps.
Also, Facebook has shown it doesn’t necessarily have to own something to help keep it safe. The social network shares its tips on terrorist content with other companies, including Twitter Inc. and Google, through the Global Internet Forum to Counter Terrorism, for example.
Menlo Park, California-based Facebook has also touted safety as a reason for data collection in at least two other cases with lawmakers: sharing data between WhatsApp and Facebook and tracking people who don’t use Facebook on sites around the web.
Zuckerberg during this week’s EU hearing reiterated that the tracking of non-users was needed for security purposes. On Wednesday, Facebook clarified that it also keeps tabs on people who don’t have accounts on sites it doesn’t own to serve them ads suggesting they sign up for Facebook.
Zuckerberg, in responding to European and U.S. lawmakers’ questions, has generally avoided talking about the business reasons behind Facebook’s strategies. He has sought to portray Facebook as a benevolent business with more interest in user well-being than profits.
Zuckerberg was also questioned on how he thinks he will be remembered – as one the three big internet giants along with Steve Jobs and Bill Gates who enriched the world, or as the genius who created a digital monster?
Facebook said it would cooperate with European authorities on any of their antitrust questions. It has also pointed out that users have other options. If someone wants to post a video, for example, that person can post it on Flickr, Vimeo, YouTube, Twitter, Google, Pinterest, Snapchat and DailyMotion. If a business wants to advertise, it can choose to do so on Spotify Ltd., Amazon.com Inc., Snap Inc.’s Snapchat, Google or Twitter.
Facebook and Alphabet Inc.’s Google dominate in digital advertising and are capturing most of the market’s growth. But Facebook said when it comes to the entire $650 billion global advertising market, its share makes up just 6 percent.
Earlier this month, Facebook hosted its annual F8 Conference for developers this week and Mark Zuckerberg addressed the people on the first day. The CEO reiterated how important privacy issues are to the company and announced a number of new releases for Facebook’s multiple platforms.
In spite of the rising concerns regarding Facebook and Cambridge Analytica scam, it is hard to rule out the social media giant out of our lives. With more than 2.2 billion monthly active users, Facebook alone is already hard to escape. Add to this, the users of the other most popular social apps and services across the globe like that of WhatsApp, Messenger, and Instagram which are owned by Facebook.
Academics are divided on their opinions about the rising user base of Facebook. Some feel it is worthy of giving a second thought about, others think that the social media giant is doing something right which is, in turn, endearing itself to the users.


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In the Netherlands, coffee shops where cannabis can be purchased and consumed are known around the world. Many attribute the more recent progress in international moves towards legalization to the pioneering efforts of the Dutch cannabis industry.
You’ll never guess which country smokes the most weed
Brits to be banned from Amsterdam's cannabis coffee shops post-Brexit
What the US can learn from Holland’s coffee shop cannabis model
tap here to see other videos from our team.
Despite their profile, cannabis coffee shops in the Netherlands are part of the illicit market, obtaining their products from illegal sources. In an effort to address this issue, and to bring coffee shops over to the legal side of the market, the country created a four-year program to legitimize how these businesses source their weed.
The weed experiment, or Wietexperiment , was designed to address the grey area between council-licensed coffee shops and illicit growth and supply. The plan would allow for 10 licensed producers to legally grow and distribute cannabis to Dutch coffee shop participants, where they would, in turn, sell and serve their customers with the product. The issue is that some of the cities, where the largest coffee shops are located, are not interested in program, citing too many problems with the process.
“This experiment is too little, too late”, Kaj Hollemans, a drug policy consultant told to Marijuana Business Daily
The trial period, which has no extension contingency, would force participating coffee shops back into the illicit market after four years of facilitating legal sales, something that holds little appeal for many businesses. The experiment also requires the businesses to exclusively purchase from an assigned supplier, leaving the coffee shops open to supply issues, lack of product variety and, potentially, loss in sales.
In a statement, Mayor of Eindhoven John Jorritsma begrudgingly joined The Hague and Amsterdam in rejecting the terms and conditions of the proposed experiment. Jorritsma originally expressed interest when the trial was announced, but pulled out when the details were outlined.
The deadline for being involved in the experiment was June 11, 2019, leaving the Netherlands effort to legalize cannabis in limbo.
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