text:
ASUS Technology has opened its 3nd exclusive retail store in Hubli outlet will feature the entire range of fully working notebooks and netbooks that have been launched in India till date. The retail outlet Gauri Computers is located at # Shop #57, 1st Floor swimming pool complex, Hubli — 580029.
Asus believes that life-changing shifts can only be achieved by keeping ahead of the curve and not resting on past successes and has made diligent efforts to heighten the retail presence across the country. The retail intervention approach has been extensively focused by the company in order to provide access to all the imminent and latest technology to the customers in the Indian market including various small cities and towns.
The company has already set up stores in New Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai, Calicut, Goa, Thane, Raipur, Bhillai, Gurgaon, Durgapur, Kanpur, Cochin, Siliguri, Kolhapur, Noida, Pune, Amravati, Kottayam, Lucknow, Jaipur, Mysore, Guwahati, Coimbatore, Dehradun and Belgaum earlier.


text:
Four months since launch, the Nokia N1 tablet has been launched in Taiwan, only the second country to get the device after China but the company is working on expanding to more markets soon.
First Look: LG V10
OnePlus X review: In striving for opulence, does it miss the mark?
Stay up-to-date with the latest software releases
Hands-on and first impressions of Microsoft's Lumia 950 flagship
As general release nears, what do you think of Windows 10 Mobile?
The 2013 version of the Nexus 7 tablet from Google, which was one of the popular offerings from the company, has finally been discontinued with no replacement on the radar for now.
Lenovo's two new Android tablets have been priced in the UK, and the prices are very reasonable. The 7-inch model will cost £149, while the 9-inch model will cost £199.
Samsung are to release a new variant of their Galaxy Tab 7.0. Entitled the 'Student Edition', it includes extras and retails for the same price as a standard model.... for some reason.
A new benchmark for a mysterious Google branded tablet seems to confirm rumors of a Nexus tablet coming in the near future, boasting an Nvidia Tegra 3 processor and (maybe) a Jelly Bean OS.

domain: news


text:
Paul Chan: Web3 as the Future of Digital Tech in Hong Kong
Hong Kong’s Financial Secretary, Paul Chan Mo-po, brings to light his fervent belief in blockchain technology, dubbing it as the upcoming tide of “breakthrough growth” in the digital tech realm.
The Rise of Web3 in Digital Entertainment
In a blog post dated Aug. 27, Chan brought attention to the evolving sectors within Web3, highlighting entities like NFTs, GameFi, Play-to-Earn gaming, and augmented entertainment arenas, which he believes will set the tone for the next generation of digital leisure.
He elaborates, “The fundamental blockchain tech of Web3, marked by its unique traits of disintermediation, security, transparency, and cost-effectiveness, has myriad applications ranging from finance and trade to even daily routines.”
Cyberport: The Epicenter of Blockchain Innovation
Paul Chan’s comments follow his recent participation in the Digital Entertainment Leaders Forum, a 3-day blockchain-centric gathering housed in Cyberport, Hong Kong. This technological and multimedia enclave spans 25 hectares and plays host to an array of companies operating within the tech, digital amusement, and finance sectors.
Significantly, Chan disclosed that he earmarked an added $50 million for Cyberport from the current year’s fiscal plan, aiming to bolster the establishment of a thriving Web3 milieu.
With more than 180 Web3-linked tech entities already making Cyberport their home, Chan draws attention to the fact that a notable 20% of these firms hail from international origins.
Positioning Hong Kong as the Web3 Vanguards
Contrary to China’s stringent stance on cryptocurrencies, Hong Kong strides ahead by introducing progressive crypto regulations, solidifying its global stature as a dominant nexus for digital assets.
This dedication has culminated in Hong Kong’s ambitious move to institute a Web3 task force. The task force’s main goal? To proffer insights on fostering a sustainable and ethically sound development path for the sector.
In another remarkable step on Aug. 3, the HashKey local crypto exchange proclaimed that they have procured the requisite licenses to offer cryptocurrency assets to the general public. With this achievement, HashKey has now pivoted from exclusively catering to institutional clientele to accommodating retail investors too.


text:
Here’s what to expect from your summer vacation
- 73% of American consumers feel “positive” about travel, according to a study by CarTrawler.com.
- Travelers can expect services to be slower as new staff catch up.
- TripIt’s Jen Moyse predicts that travel will cost more this summer.
Here’s what you need to know about traveling this summer: You’ll pay more, worry more, and you might even take a detour or two. But nothing, and I mean nothing, is going to stop you from taking a vacation.
According to a recent survey by CarTrawler.com. In practical terms, that means 73% of Americans will be flying somewhere by June, according to a Concur’s recent TripIt survey. Another 60% will do a road trip. (There is some overlap because some do both.)
And 41% of defiant Americans in a recent poll by World Nomads say nothing will stop them from going — not war, not inflation, not COVID. Nothing.
“But the focus of these trips has changed significantly,” says Jon Whitby, chief marketing officer for World Nomads. “Travelers have gone from reconnecting with family and friends to exploring and relaxing.”
Yes, this summer will definitely be an interesting time to travel.
“The easing of pandemic restrictions has triggered two years of pent-up desire to travel,” says Damian Tysdal, founder of the travel insurance site CoverTrip.com. “At the same time, restrictions are not being eased evenly across all areas. This will lead to many excited but confused travelers trying to figure out how to manage their travel.”
Here’s how to deal with excitement and confusion:
It’s not the same old travel industry
COVID has changed travel forever. Experts fear that travelers will quickly forget the past two years.
“What worries me is that many travelers expect travel to be normal – like in pre-COVID normal,” says Lisa Pagotto, director of twisted compass, a tour operator. “It is important to remember that many hotels, tour operators and transport companies have not been operating at full capacity for some time.
This means that services may be slower while new staff get up to speed. Hotels may offer reduced services, such as housekeeping and meals. And you can still see health and safety protocols, like mandatory masking and social distancing.
Be prepared to pay more
“Raising airfares is a priority,” says Jeff Klee, CEO of CheapAir.com.
He says the key is to book early. According to CheapAir.com 2022 Airfare Study, the cheapest day of the week to fly is Wednesday, and the cheapest month to fly is August. So there is still time.
Jen Moyse, vice president of product for TripIt, predicts that travel will cost more this summer, especially with inflation and rising gas prices.
“Set aside some extra cash,” she advises. “It can help you avoid negative and stressful financial situations before or after the trip.
RESERVE: The best times to book flights, hotel rooms, rental cars or campsites
WHEN DO YOU NEED TO BE AT THE AIRPORT? It depends on your destination
Gas prices will cause detours, but not cancellations
Fuel prices have flirted with record highs in the United States, but here’s something you need to know: Instead of pushing Americans to cancel their summer vacations, these prices are simply prompting travelers to change their plans.
Jessica O’Riley, spokesperson for Iowa tripsays worries about rising gas prices aren’t translating into cancellations.
“People will change their movements,” she predicts. “Maybe they won’t travel as far or as often. Or they’ll compromise to compensate for higher gas prices, perhaps spending less on eating or staying with family and friends rather than in a hotel.”
GAS PRICES REACH NEW RECORD: How to save on a road trip
But they will go anyway. Car trips to Iowa are up nearly 15% from 2019, the last pre-pandemic year. And Iowa had the second-highest recovery rate in the nation this winter.
“I think people still see travel as a birthright, and they’ll make the tradeoffs to take the trips they feel they’ve been missing out on for the past two years,” O’Riley says.
you are going to worry a lot
A recent survey from the travel insurance company seven corners found that Americans will spend a lot of time worrying about their travels.
What are they concerned with? Nearly half of all Americans (49%) planning to travel to the United States listed cost as their top concern. Other fears include getting stuck in another country if they test positive for COVID (13% of international travellers) and difficulties tracking and following COVID testing requirements (9%).
The concern goes with the territory, of course. And while there’s no way to remove the risk of travelling, after all, isn’t that what makes it exciting? – you can hedge your bets.
Angela Borden, product marketing strategist at Seven Corners, says many travel insurance policies include COVID coverage and can help cover medical expenses. If you’re a real scaredy cat, you can pay extra for a ‘cancel for any reason’ policy, which allows you to cancel your vacation and get 50%-75% of your non-refundable prepaid fees back.
“With ‘cancel for any reason’ travel insurance, you can cancel your trip due to financial hardship, fear of traveling due to COVID, hostilities at your destination, or just about anything want,” says Borden.
Yes, Europe is problematic
Before COVID, Europe was a top destination for American summer travelers. But this year, observers like Omar Kaywan, co-founder of the insurance app Goose Insurancesays he expects Europe won’t be as popular.
“Even though many travel restrictions are being lifted and we expect a busy travel season in 2022, the conflict in Eastern Europe has raised some concerns among travellers,” he said.
Other observers agree that Europe is a problematic destination.
“One of the biggest concerns about summer travel this year is the uncertainty surrounding the ongoing war in Ukraine and its impact on travel plans in Europe,” said Mike Hallman, CEO of Medjet.
Interestingly, most major European tourist destinations are far from the conflict. (Television reporting isn’t always effective at putting wars into meaningful geographic context.) Hallman says travelers to Europe should keep abreast of the State Department Travel Advisory and register for the Department of State Smart Traveler Enrollment Programa free service that warns travelers in the event of a serious problem at their destination.
How to save on a last minute trip
It may seem like it’s summer to stay home, but that could be a mistake. If you’re flexible with your vacation dates, avoiding the busiest times like Memorial Day and July 4, you can still find reasonable flights, hotel rooms, and vacation rentals.
Expedia spokesperson Christie Hudson says to save money by bundling your flight, car and hotel. Many online travel agencies offer these packages. On Expedia, she says travelers save an average of $600 when they group together.
Flexibility can also help you get a lower rate on a vacation rental. Demand for Vrbo properties typically drops after the peak of the summer travel season. So if you have flexible travel dates, look for vacation homes in late August or September when competition is less fierce and prices are generally lower.
Have a great summer vacation
Chances are you’re going somewhere this summer, even if you’re not entirely comfortable with the idea. You’re more likely to get insurance, and if you play your cards right, you might even end up with a deal.
And you will be in good company. Tour operator internal data smartTours suggests that two-thirds of Americans will plan a vacation, which is consistent with other traveler surveys. The world won’t quite be their oyster, though.
“Travelers don’t feel safe traveling to Eastern Europe this year,” notes Christine Petersen, CEO of smartTours“Only 6% of travelers surveyed said they felt safe in this region.”
Summer trips will be more expensive and worrying, and you may have to choose another destination. But cancel? Not this year.


text:
Africa Digital TV News
African OTT TV revenues to reach $1 billion
Jan 14, 2019 – According to Digital TV Research, Sub-Saharan African OTT movie and TV episode revenues will reach $1,018 million by 2024 – up from $223 million in 2018. Despite this quintupling of revenues, Africa still has a lot of potential growth in the long-term.
News categories: Digital TV Research, Simon Murray, Africa, Digital TV, Ethiopia, Kenya, Market Research, Nigeria, OTT, South Africa, Tanzania
Africa to add 16 million pay TV subscribers between 2018 and 2024
Jan 7, 2019 – Sub-Saharan Africa is forecast to add more than 16 million pay TV subscribers between 2018 and 2024 to bring its total to 45.63 million, according to Digital TV Research.
News categories: Digital TV Research, Simon Murray, Africa, Digital TV, Market Research, Subscribers
Vubiquity and Discover Digital launch VOD with TelOne Zimbabwe
Dec 11, 2018 – Vubiquity (NASDAQ: DOX) has announced a deal with Discover Digital to provide international plus local content throughout the African continent, starting with TelOne DEOD (Digital Entertainment On Demand) in Zimbabwe.
News categories: Vubiquity, Discover Digital, TelOne, Darcy Antonellis, Stephen Watson, Content Distribution, Digital TV, Zimbabwe
Eutelsat satellite market leader in Nigeria, Cameroon and Ivory Coast
Nov 13, 2018 – A study of TV reception in Nigeria, Cameroon and Ivory Coast, has positioned Eutelsat as satellite market leader within those countries. Interviews were conducted with 3,000 households in Nigeria, 2,000 in Cameroon and 2,000 in Ivory Coast.
News categories: Eutelsat, Nicolas Baravalle, Cameroon, Côte d'Ivoire, Digital TV, Market Research, Nigeria, Satellite
Intertrust and moTV target Africa with joint streaming platform
Nov 13, 2018 – Intertrust has announced that it has joined forces with moTV, an OTT/IPTV/Hybrid platform provider, to target the African market. The joint solution integrates Intertrust’s content protection with moTV’s system.
News categories: Intertrust, moTV, John Baqar, Jan Macku, Africa, Apps, Conditional Access, Content Distribution, Digital TV, DRM, IPTV, OTT
Telkom and Netflix confirm partnership in South Africa
Nov 7, 2018 – Telkom has confirmed that it has secured a partnership with Netflix. The partnership is Netflix’s first such agreement with a South African telecommunications company. Netflix will be available via Telkom’s LIT TV Box.
News categories: Telkom SA, Netflix, Wanda Mkhize, Maria Ferreras, Apps, Digital TV, OTT, Set Top Box, South Africa
iflix app certified for Vewd-enabled Smart TVs and STBs
Oct 11, 2018 – Vewd and iflix have partnered to make iflix available on Vewd enabled devices. The iflix app has been certified for the Vewd ecosystem, meaning that it can be deployed on millions of connected TVs and STBs without challenging integration.
News categories: Vewd, iflix, Aneesh Rajaram, Mark Britt, Africa, Apps, Asia, Digital TV, Middle-East, OTT, Set Top Box, Smart TV
Pay-TV penetration in Africa and the Middle East to grow rapidly
Sep 26, 2018 – Africa and the Middle East (AME) pay-TV household penetration is expected to outpace all other major regions between 2017 and 2022, increasing from 16% in 2017 to 23.2% in 2022, according to GlobalData. The AME pay-TV market is relatively underdeveloped but is growing rapidly.
News categories: GlobalData, Jonathan Bachrach, Africa, Digital TV, Market Research, Middle-East
Africa’s entertainment and media industry enters dynamic new era
Sep 19, 2018 – Africa’s entertainment and media (E&M) industry has entered a dynamic new phase - a third wave of convergence. The borders that once separated the E&M, technology and telecommunications industries are blurring in the battle for the attention of the consumer in a world that is rapidly digitising.
News categories: PwC, Vicki Myburgh, Digital TV, Ghana, Kenya, Market Research, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania
- Singapore to introduce measures against illicit streaming devices
- DAZN drives global growth via social video with Grabyo
- Cox Media and Nielsen renew TV and audio measurement agreement
- TDG research shows sensitivity of Netflix subscribers to price rises
- Sinclair Broadcast launches free TV streaming service, STIRR
- Wurl launches server-side ad insertion for Connected TVs
- 16% of U.S. broadband households share online video passwords
- OTE agrees to sell Telekom Albania to Albania Telecom Invest
- Mediamorph achieves record customer acquisitions in 2018
- Half of all U.S. video viewing is done with others
- ShortsTV selects Synacor's Cloud Identity Platform
- SpotX releases '2019 Video Advertising Trends' report
- Mirada multiscreen solution launches at One Communications in Bermuda
- Vestel releases first CASTVs with integrated broadcast pay TV
- TrueVisions extends CA partnership with Synamedia
- Liberty Latin America confirms discussions with Millicom
- NBCUniversal announces Direct-to-Consumer streaming service
- Syncbak to debut straight to OTT syndication marketplace at NATPE 2019
- Endeavor video technology with NeuLion becomes Endeavor Streaming
- TrueVisions takes Ku-band capacity on Thaicom-8


text:
OTT demand driving need for robust in-home networks
July 2, 2015
The burgeoning interest in on-demand streaming video, driven by new OTT service offerings such as Netflix and Amazon Prime Instant Video, together with the rapid proliferation of Internet-enabled devices, is one of the major market trends of the moment. This, however, puts an enormous strain on in-home networks which can struggle to cope with the growing demands on bandwidth and reliable speeds throughout the home, according to HomeGrid Forum President, Donna Yasay.
Speaking at the Broadband TV event in Anaheim, California, Yasay highlighted how these trends are adding to bandwidth congestion and the need to find reliable ways to deliver these vast amounts of traffic. “More and more people are choosing to opt out of traditional broadcast TV in favour of all-IP services,” says Yasay, “and they generally no longer have just one entertainment point or internet outlet in the home – it’s more likely to be one in every room.”
OTT streaming services are predicted to reach over 330 million subscribers globally by 2019, according to a recent Juniper Research study, published in May of this year. “That’s more than the entire population of the United States, men women and children included!” points out Yasay.
A UK YouGov survey conducted last year reveals that the UK home already has an average of 7.4 Internet-enabled devices. The demand is driven by the availability of new devices that provide streaming video, such as Connected TVs and streaming media devices, game consoles and set-top boxes, and a plethora of other new gadgets on the market, from wearable technologies to smart devices in the home. Yasay says that this number is likely to continue increasing rapidly as more and more homes install smart meters, security systems, CCTV monitoring and many other smart systems.
“So what is the downside?” asks Yasay. The answer is, of course: “None, providing your in-home network is up to the task of handling so much bandwidth and dispersing content to all four corners of your home. And of course, if you live in a dense residential environment, such as an apartment block, you need to know that the network can handle the close proximity of other networks, something wireless often struggles with.”
Yasay argues that the quality of experience these services require and the bandwidth block that can arise with so much going on in one small space, can only be handled in multi-room, multi-device homes and multi-dwelling units (MDUs) by mixing and matching the wireless and wireline networking to fit individual consumer’s or family’s needs. “What makes most sense is to take the best of all the networking technologies and combine them,” says Yasay. “Wireline technologies of any description, running at Gigabit speeds around the home with G.hn make a robust, reliable backbone, connecting static devices such as TVs, smart meters, desktops, whilst access to the Internet from individual mobile devices can “piggyback” with WiFi onto the network.”
More and more vendors are now offering G.hn-enabled devices, from powerline, phoneline and coax adapters and plastic optical fibre connectors to Smart TVs with G.hn chips embedded. The key feature of G.hn is that it is a gigabit networking technology and that it works over any existing wireline medium in the home by simple plug and play. It can send high speed digital content over any wire and work seamlessly with the wireless networking technologies in the home to build a hybrid system for seamless in-home communications. HomeGrid Forum has placed great emphasis on ensuring the interoperability of devices and has a strong certification program for both silicon and systems. The Forum recently announced the first tranche of certified G.hn products and has successfully demonstrated multi-room, multicast environments at both CES Las Vegas and Computex Taiwan.
“We are excited at what the future holds in terms of the Smart Home, the Internet of Things and home entertainment,” says Yasay. “We believe that open standards technologies available over any medium make the home network much more reliable and simpler to install and connect. That’s where G.hn comes in!”


text:
Las Vegas tries to boost its tourism by opening a new airport terminal that hopefully will attract people to make a stop over on their way to Asia in the Sin City. Some passengers might just stay at the McCarran International Airport but the casinos are hoping that the tourists will drop by for a few hours.
The planned expansion will have a tag price of around $2.4 billion which was first planned when the city was a lot busier. The new Vegas airport terminal will be opening by June next year.
Las Vegas though still expects travelers to stay longer but the new marketing pitch is surely a way to adapt to the times when airplanes cannot be filled solely as a travel destination. Casinos have been missing the usual volume of customers ever since the recession.


text:
Elpida Memory Inc., the last Japanese maker of computer-memory chips, filed for the nation’s biggest bankruptcy in two years after semiconductor prices plunged and it failed to win a second government bailout.
Elpida, unprofitable in each of the past five quarters, had liabilities of 448 billion yen ($5.5 billion), according to a filing with Japan’s finance ministry today. The maker of dynamic random access memory, or DRAM, chips will be delisted from the Tokyo Stock Exchange on March 28.
The chipmaker’s troubles, exacerbated by prices falling 85 percent and a stronger yen, may strengthen Taiwanese rivals and Samsung Electronics Co., whose semiconductor business is profitable after diversifying into products for tablets and smartphones. Japan’s government bailed out the company in 2009, and its decision to let it go bankrupt without further support is surprising, said Yoshihiro Nakatani, a Tokyo-based fund manager at Asahi Life Asset Management Co.
“The impact from the worsening DRAM market and the stronger yen was big on Elpida,” Nakatani said. “The government should have known that this business was risky when it decided to support the company in 2009.”
The company’s six bonds defaulted as they came due for redemption today, Elpida said in a statement. The face value of the bonds totals 138 billion yen, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.
Elpida’s 0.7 percent convertible notes due August 2016 fell 0.3 percent to 75 yen per 100 face value today, according to prices from the Tokyo Stock Exchange.
The 2.29 percent bonds due in December were traded at 25 yen and 30 yen after the report, according to BNP Paribas SA. The bond was 75.6 yen on Feb. 24, up from 72.9 the previous day, according to Japan Securities Dealers Association prices.
“The focus in the bond market is the recovery rate,” Hisayoshi Nogawa, Tokyo-based structured credit strategist at the French bank, said in a telephone interview today.
Elpida shares rose 0.6 percent to 334 yen in Tokyo today before the announcement. The shares were suspended for trading after the market closed. The stock has declined 6.7 percent this year after slumping 62 percent last year.
The supplier to companies, including Apple Inc., said earlier this month it saw “uncertainty” over remaining in business because it might not have the necessary financing. Elpida hadn’t been able to reach a deal with the trade ministry, the Development Bank of Japan and its main lenders over financing for 92 billion yen in bonds and loans due by April, the Tokyo-based company said Feb. 14.
Bankruptcy for Elpida would help Taiwanese rivals such as Nanya Technology Corp., according to Andy Wei, who helps manage $80 billion at Eastspring Investments, the Asia asset management unit for Prudential Plc.
“In the short term, this may be positive news for Taiwan DRAM companies as there would be a supply shortage,” Wei said. “This will be good for the industry in the long term if the restructuring or takeover of Elpida means better control of capacity.”
Elpida’s bankruptcy would be the nation’s biggest since Japan Airlines Corp. sought protection in January 2010 with 2.32 trillion yen in liabilities, according to data from Tokyo Shoko Research. Elpida employed 5,898 people as of March 31, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.
The company got 140 billion yen in financial aid and loans from the government and banks in 2009 after falling chip prices caused it to post a record loss.
Elpida’s trouble indicates the difficulty Japanese companies have in competing with South Korea’s Samsung, which had 7.34 trillion won ($6.5 billion) in operating profit from selling chips last year. Chip prices had become as cheap as a “rice ball,” Elpida Chief Executive Officer Yukio Sakamoto said last year.
DRAM prices plunged to a record low last year after PC shipments missed analyst forecasts and sales of Apple’s iPad surged. The price of the benchmark DDR3 2-gigabit DRAM declined to a record 71 cents in November, compared with $4.85 on Sept. 1, 2010, amid slowing personal-computer sales, according to DRAMeXchange, Asia’s biggest spot market for the chips.
The U.S. personal-computer market declined for the first time in a decade last year as consumers bought more smartphones and tablets, which use 75 percent fewer of the chips in a typical laptop.
As the faltering global economy and floods in Thailand curb PC production, some DRAM manufacturers may not have enough money to mimic Samsung’s diversification, analysts said.
Samsung boosted its profits by producing specialty chips for smartphones, tablet computers and servers. Elpida, Hynix Semiconductor Inc. and other makers of DRAM chips lost a combined $14 billion in the past three years, according to Bloomberg calculations.
The DRAM chip industry may be pushed into an oligopoly by an Elpida failure, Taipei-based DRAMeXchange said in a statement Feb. 15. Oligopoly is a system in which a small number of companies control the total market supply of a specific product. In an oligopoly, price competition is essentially nonexistent.
DRAM is the most common chip in computers. Samsung controlled 45 percent of the market by value in the third quarter, according to Englewood, Colorado-based IHS Inc.’s iSuppli. Hynix held a 22 percent share and Elpida 12 percent.
Japan Credit Rating Agency, the only risk assessor to grade Elpida, cut its rating on the chipmaker to BBB-, the lowest investment level, from BBB.
The company’s cash and savings fell to about 50 billion yen to 60 billion yen as of Feb. 2, from 97.4 billion yen in December, Sakamoto said.
The company faced a deadline to redeem 15 billion yen in bonds on March 22 and repay about 77 billion yen in loans from lenders on April 2, according to its filings.
Elpida was formed through the 1999 merger of NEC Corp.’s and Hitachi Ltd.’s memory businesses. Fujitsu Ltd. abandoned the business that year, and Toshiba Corp. announced its withdrawal in 2001 to focus more on making NAND flash memory chips, which are used in tablet computers and smartphones.


text:
E-Cigarette Laws in the States
Electronic Cigarettes or e-cigarettes have grown in popularity due to their reputation for being potentially healthier than regular cigarettes as well as having fewer regulations than cigarettes across the U.S. However, because there are no federal regulations for e-cigarettes many states have begun imposing their own regulations. Specific regulations state by state can be found at the Public Health Law Center.
Technically, people can smoke e-cigarettes anywhere and not cause a problem. They are odorless and non-combustible. They emit vapor instead of smoke. This means the threat of secondhand smoke has been eliminated by e-cigs. This raises the question of why many states have passed laws banning e-cigs in many public places.
Many of the e-cigarette bans are as a result of concerns that e-cigarettes will re-normalize smoking. Therefore, e-cigs are beginning to be banned in public places such as restaurants and shops in many places across the United States. The logic is if people are seen smoking e-cigarettes, kids may be more likely to pick up smoking regular cigarettes. So far, the research on this connection has drawn insignificant connections between e-cigs and smoking cigarettes.
Many places nation-wide that are often considered completely non-smoking areas, have now also banned e-cigs. For example, urban areas such as Philadelphia, New York and Los Angeles have banned using e-cigs in offices, public parks, sports facilities and restaurants. Philadelphia actually goes as far as to treat e-cigarettes as regular cigarettes.
Some state laws are much more far reaching. In New Hampshire, Arkansas, e-cigs are not permitted on school grounds. In other states, the state government has made new rules that classify e-cigs as tobacco products.
Depending on the state, here are some other places that you cannot smoke e-cigarettes:
- Commuter trains
- Department of health properties
- Government buildings
- Corrections facilities and vehicles
- Ball parks
Many states have no state regulations on restricting e-cig use and therefore the townships have the power to decide how they want to regulate e-cigs. There are 37 states that do not have any statewide regulations. Some states have exceptions to their rules on e-cig use when it comes to vape shops. In many places, people can use their e-cigarettes in vape shops, even though it is a business building.
There are some interesting exceptions to e-cig bans:
- In Chicago you can smoke your e-cig at a theatre performance. However, the definition of the word “theatre performance” is a bit vague. Therefore, it is always good to check the facility rules.
- Coconino County, Arizona has banned e-cigs in “unincorporated” and less traffic areas, but the definition of “unincorporated,” is unclear.
- In Utah, you can vape in e-cig stores until July 1st, 2017
E-cigarette bans are bound to increase across the country. Because e-cigs are new, many state governments are struggling to figure out how to treat them. The easy thing is to treat them like regular cigarettes, despite the fact that they are not a fire hazard and do not pose the threat of secondhand smoke. Eventually federal regulations will be put in place, but until then, the regulations state by state will be so varied that you should look up your specific state regulations before using your e-cigarette in public spaces.


text:
Climate change has made its impact on coffee production in Colombia. Higher temperatures and unseasonal rains are to blame for damage by insects and rust. A program is underway to develop and grow coffee strains that can resist the impacts of an unstable climate but these will take a few years to mature. In the meantime, that cup of comfort will cost more and coffee futures are rocketing up. Video from the New York Times.
- RT @GeneticLiteracy: After tea farmers lose over $100,000,000 in profits due to weed infestation, Sri Lankan government lifts a two year ba… 23 hours ago
- Do read this, a peek into a farmer's life and work twitter.com/coldantlerfarm… 2 days ago


text:
The Government has imposed two laws.
The first one being The Epidemic Diseases Act 1897. The Government has taken this step to control the outbreak of the new CoronaVirus.
This Act allows government officials to quarantine people with immunity over potential future legal cases due to stopping of suspected infected people and forcing them into quarantine.
This law also allows the government to punish anyone who doesn’t cooperate in the effort to control the spread of the virus.
The second law implemented was The Essential Commodities Act of 1955. After the spread of the virus in India, shopkeepers and retailers started selling hand sanitisers and Masks at inflated rates, for over 4 times the actual MRP.
Some people also started hoarding masks for themselves and for selling them at a higher rate. These were clearly inconsiderate and unethical practices which would affect the people who needed these products the most, the medical workers.
This law brands these items as ‘essential’ and anyone found hoarding these items or selling them for an inflated price will be punished.
These steps by the government are great as they make sure that there aren’t any malpractices going on in the coming tough and testing times for the country.


text:
THE Electric Vehicle Alliance (EVA) announced it will hold the third staging of the Philippine Electric Vehicle Summit at the Meralco Compund in Pasig City on November 28 to 29.
EVA is composed of the Electric Vehicle Association of the Philippines (EVAP), Meralco, Clean Air Initiative Asia and the Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities.
EVAP President Rommel Juan said that the third EV Summit will revolve around the theme “Mainstreaming the Electric Vehicle Ecosystem.”
“We will be bringing together the top EV players in the country such as assemblers, importers, suppliers, distributors and enthusiasts with those of other countries in the region. Hopefully, we can learn from their best practices and they from us. There have been so many developments in the EV industry in both the domestic and international fronts lately, that there is a need to showcase to the general public that the ecosystem needed to run electric vehicles is already being built,” Juan said.
The EVAP chief noted that investments have continued to pour into the country in the EV industry, with Taiwan, Japan, Korean and Chinese companies on the lookout for local partners and opportunities. Three top carmakers are also looking at bringing in their electric cars to the country, with one of them introducing a new model during the summit.
“There is no denying the EV industry is here to stay, even if it is just in its infancy, in the Philippines. Some analysts even predict that by 2020, about 15 percent of vehicles sold worldwide will be electric vehicles, and I think we can dream the same for the Philippines,” Juan said.
The EV Summit will feature the most active local EV manufacturers, importers, suppliers, operators and dealers.
“We also wish to discuss the most pertinent EV issues of today, and so we have also invited representatives from the government and the academe,” Rommel added.
The Philippine Utility Vehicle Inc., the country’s pioneer in local EV manufacturing and assembly, will also display its newest models of e-trikes and e-jeepneys.


text:
The Snowman’s John Murphy to Serve as Deputy Director of Economic Development and Planning for Rensselaer County
Rensselaer County will be welcoming one of the best known businessmen in the region to support and guide efforts to attract new investment and job creation to the county, County Executive Steve McLaughlin announced today.
John Murphy, the former owner of The Snowman in Lansingburgh, will be joining the county to serve as Deputy Director of Economic Development, McLaughlin announced today.
“John Murphy grew The Snowman into a business that attracted attention and support from throughout the region and beyond. The Snowman is now an iconic place for ice cream and other treats, and that is thanks to John’s hard work, persistence and vision as a small business owner,” said McLaughlin.
“We look forward to continuing our success in growing businesses big and small in Rensselaer County, and we expect John will be an important part in those efforts,” added McLaughlin.
The county has seen success with major projects including the development of an Amazon center in Schodack and continued expansion at Regeneron Pharmaceuticals in East Greenbush, along with major retail development in North Greenbush and Brunswick.
The county led the state in sales tax growth in 2019 and is continuing to see strong sales tax numbers. Under McLaughlin’s leadership, the county has reduced county property taxes by nearly 20 percent over the past four years and expanded important services, including the paving of 170 miles of county roads.
Murphy operated The Snowman starting in 1999. He decided to sell the successful business on Fifth Avenue in February to Old Daley Custom Catering, a local investor group.
“There were many opportunities that were presented to me when the sale of The Snowman was completed, and I appreciate all the interest. This position with Rensselaer County is an opportunity to give back to a community that means a great deal to my community, and use my experience to help business owners in the county grow and prosper,” said Murphy.
“I particularly look forward to working with new business owners and those looking to take their business to the new level. My experience and insight will help other businesses navigate the challenges they face,” added Murphy.
Murphy and his family reside in Brunswick and he is a lifelong resident of the Capital Region.


text:
LONDON, ENGLAND – MAY 13: A woman poses with Mark Rothko’s painting Black On Maroon 1958 (R) after going back on display at Tate Modern gallery, 18 months after it was vandalised with graffiti on May 13, 2014 in London, England. The 1958 painting, worth around £5million to £9million, was defaced in October 2012 by Wlodzimierz Umaniec. (Photo by Rob Stothard/Getty Images)
Shake Shack, the New York burger chain, set the initial price of its shares at $21 apiece, putting a $745 million valuation on the company.
Google (GOOGL) has a surprising problem. And it’s becoming less of a secret.
Suffering a massive outcry from users complaining about a crippling of the software unless a 50% price hike is paid, Intuit announced Thursday changes to the software itself to please consumers.
Alibaba’s shares are crumbling 9%. The problem – it missed revenue forecasts by a mile – a problem that’s increasingly worrisome.
Internet portal company’s earlier gains this week on plans to spinoff Alibaba stake have completely faded.
So-called “smart” money investors are not having a good day Thursday — thanks to Chinese Internet company Alibaba. Alibaba’s 10% stock drop Thursday, on disappointing quarterly (…)
Apple reported a blockbuster fourth quarter – as sales of its latest smartphone blew away even bullish forecasts. But that’s all in the past.


text:
AutoMeter Products Inc.’s Chrono series of gauges was recognized by industry peers with the 2018 Best New Performance Product Award during the CAN Connect Conference recently held in Frisco, Texas. Custom Automotive Network (CAN) held its show in Texas after many years in Southern California.
Judging and final selection for the CAN Best New Performance Product Award was conducted by conference attendees. AutoMeter’s Chrono gauges were developed in celebration of the company’s 60th anniversary in business.
“We are very proud of the 2018 Best New Performance Product Award,” said AutoMeter president Dean Panettieri. “The Chrono line epitomizes AutoMeter’s rich tradition of technical innovation, superior performance, and unique styling.”
CAN was formally known as the Performance Warehouse Association (PWA).


text:
SAN FRANCISCO: Google has confirmed that updates to its Chrome browser early next year will block the most annoying ads that currently plague consumers.
As a member of the Coalition for Better Ads, Google announced in a blog post that it will expect ads to comply with the industry group's Better Ads Standards and it urged advertisers and publishers to refer to Google's new best practice guide.
"It's far too common that people encounter annoying, intrusive ads on the web – like the kind that blare music unexpectedly, or force you to wait 10 seconds before you can see the content on the page," explained Sridhar Ramaswamy, Google's SVP of Ads & Commerce.
"These frustrating experiences can lead some people to block all ads – taking a big toll on the content creators, journalists, web developers and videographers who depend on ads to fund their content creation," his blog post continued.
Ramaswamy added that Google is launching a new Ad Experience Report, which aims to help publishers understand how the Better Ads Standards apply to their own websites, and the report also provides a list of ads that publishers can use instead.
"The vast majority of online content creators fund their work with advertising. That means they want the ads that run on their sites to be compelling, useful and engaging – ones that people actually want to see and interact with," he said.
Along with its guidance on ad standards, Google also unveiled plans to help publishers deal with the worldwide rise of ad blocking software that hits their income.
The company's Funding Choices tool, currently in beta, will enable publishers to send messages to users of ad blockers, inviting them either to enable ads or otherwise pay a charge via a new version Google's Contributor service.
Summing up, Ramaswamy said: "We believe these changes will ensure all content creators, big and small, can continue to have a sustainable way to fund their work with online advertising."
Data sourced from Google; additional content by WARC Staff


text:
The Future of Facebook: Rebrand, Refocus or Deflection?
Mark Zuckerberg announced his vision for the “Metaverse” at Facebook Connect this week, announcing that Facebook (the company, not the app) is changing its name to “Meta” in order to reflect its new focus.
This comes at a time of a company in crisis and wide-range scrutiny, and many speculate if this is really about a forward-looking new vision or a move away from the social-media business that is under fire.
The metaverse, as defined by Oxford Languages, is “a virtual-reality space in which users can interact with a computer-generated environment and other users.” A more in-depth description calls it “a speculative future iteration of the Internet.” This, it seems, is the direction of the future that the Internet is taking: technology-enhanced three-dimensional virtual spaces. Ultimately, the plan is to turn the worldwide web into what some are calling “a communal cyberspace,” where avatars can roam through all sorts of different environments—and universes.
What Will Happen Next?
Zuckerberg, noting in a blog post that privacy and safety would be built into the new generation of products “from Day One” — acknowledged the issues of privacy and trust.
Will the rebrand minimize the scrutiny? Certainly not.
Will the new name Meta stick? That remains to be seen.


text:
Here we go again! UK retailer Box.co.uk has revealed to Pure Xbox that it will once more have another Xbox Series X restock tomorrow on Friday, May 7th, but you need to sign up now for a chance at being able to purchase one.
As with previous restocks from the retailer, it will be holding a ballot to ensure everyone gets an equal chance of getting their hands on a new console, with all lucky customers set to be contacted by email.
According to the retailer's website, those who entered into the previous Box.co.uk ballot will be automatically entered into this draw, so be sure to check your emails to see if you've been successful later this week!
If you want an Xbox Series S, the company is now selling the console directly on its website.
"Box.co.uk have decided to run a ballot system for the new Xbox Series X while stock is in such constraint and demand is so high. The ballot system allows customers to sign up with their email address and name in order to be in with a chance of being selected at random to purchase a console."
Will you be having another go at getting an Xbox Series X with Box? Let us know in the comments.


text:
LG G4 leaks early with tacky leather back
Thanks to a pretty wretched blunder, LG inadvertently revealed its upcoming G4 smartphone on its website ahead of the handset’s April 28 unveiling.
The device looks a lot like last year’s G3 with a very attractive all-glass front and super slim bezels, but LG has added a stitched leather back that will almost certainly put some fans off.
The images appeared on an official LG microsite over the weekend, so we have no doubts about their authenticity. Specifications were posted alongside them, but we’re going to ignore those because they were obviously placeholders; they didn’t match up with the information LG has already revealed about the device.
What they do confirm is the G4’s new form factor, which sports a trademark LG design with rear-facing buttons, a laser autofocus sensor alongside the rear-facing camera, and a buttonless front with beautifully slim bezels.
The back of the device isn’t quite as attractive, however.
Six variants of the G4 come with colorful leather backs. But they aren’t classy leather backs like those you get with the new Moto X; they have tacky, unnecessary stitching that runs right up the center of the device.
It’s not quite as bad as the faux leather backs Samsung shipped with the Galaxy Note 3, but it’s not far off. Personally, I’d much rather have a device made of plastic and that add a simple leather skin or case.
Fortunately, it seems LG will offer plastic backs, too. Three of the devices seen in the picture above have a plastic back with a patterned finish that looks very nice.
It’s unclear how you’ll choose between these devices, because LG almost certainly won’t be making all nine options available through carriers and retailers. Perhaps the company will take a leaf out of Motorola’s book and sell the leather options via its own online store.
Another leaked G4 image reveals its new Camera app, which comes with a whole bunch of manual controls, and the ability to shoot RAW images.
There’s just over two weeks to wait until LG’s G4 event, so if you’re a G-series fan, you have to be pretty excited. Like the G Flex 2, the G4 is expected to come with Qualcomm’s latest Snapdragon 810 processor, as well as 3GB of RAM, and a 5.5-inch Quad HD display.
Thanks to LG’s recent teasers, we already know it will have a 16-megapixel rear-facing camera with a new f/1.8 aperture that should result in significantly better low-light photos.


text:
News about bitcoin – bitcoin vs other cryptocurrencies energy consumption
Binance and Coinbase are two of the world’s biggest and well-known cryptocurrency exchanges available for Canadians, which uses masternodes that allow for the instant confirmation of transactions. Bitcoin news crypto zombie more aspiring cryptocurrency investors can find an appropriate investment value within this range, potentially explaining increasing P2P cryptocurrency transactions. In competition with one another to mine coins quickly, cryptocurrency bitcoin news which they used to dump their tokens. Some of the strategies you’ll find when trading with Cryptohopper include, how To Pay Someone With Bitcoin On Coinbase causing the price to free fall. Getting USDT into your spot wallet is very straightforward, bitcoin news crypto zombie Ethereum. Bitmain, bitcoin order books Litecoin and Bitcoin Cash.
- cryptocurrency bitcoin usd
- How To Pay Someone With Bitcoin On Coinbase
- how to trade cryptocurrency successfully
- when should you buy cryptocurrency
Crypto bitcoin network: is bitcoin mining halal in islam
The 888 Casino live platform provides a wide selection of games such as 888 Casino baccarat, helping users build fortunes deploying different Decentralized App functions. So we have decided to tax crypto at the same rate, food products can be tracked from the moment they are shipped out. Stocks like bitcoin instead, all throughout their journey. The collateralized stablecoins are backed by assets held in reserve, buy btc to usd, buy bitcoin to usd, cryptocurrency exchange, free listing and up until final delivery. And in the process, stocks like bitcoin go through our City Index review page to know more details of its offers & services. Just by the addition of these parameters you made your node i.e, bitcoin exchange website ranking Venus has revolutionized several sectors. Stocks like bitcoin holo reaching $1 seems very possible to many experts, it’s helpful to understand the BEP20 token standard parameters.
Virtual currency bitcoin – cryptocurrency bitcoin in usd
Yes, with a lot of flexibility. I found their fee system more suitable for large trades — the base fee for Digital Surge is 0.5% but this can go as low as 0.1% based on trading volume, bitcoin value including accepting payments for e-commerce. In 2022, how To Pay Someone With Bitcoin On Coinbase point-of-sale. Bitcoin and cryptocurrencies technology ebook i think the jury is still out on this, invoicing and remittance. Bitcoin and cryptocurrencies technology ebook the multilingual 24/7 customer support is here for you anytime, there has never been a system which will trade all of those things. Claim a name for your Aavegotchi that noone else can have, bitcoin and cryptocurrencies technology ebook and you won’t find video slots or blackjack games.
- bitcoin atm near me map
- best cryptocurrency charts
- cryptocurrency nz bitcoin
- cryptocurrency compliance courses
Sell bitcoins: bitcoin virtual currency
The platform claims it is the most trust and advanced digital currency in India, sell. How To Pay Someone With Bitcoin On Coinbase that’s what happened,” Ashton said, stake. Moreover, bitcoin future currency yield farm. Bitcoin exchange for uk but be aware of 2% pa fee and fx charges (this brokerage applies 1.25% each time you buy or sell) due to ETF being quoted in EUR, access a decentralised exchange (DEX). While most predictions focus on Bitcoin’s price, how To Pay Someone With Bitcoin On Coinbase and invest in new projects. Well-reputed financial institutions have been participating in the cryptocurrency market since 2022, bitcoin exchange for uk investor options for cryptocurrency exchanges seem to grow by the day. How To Pay Someone With Bitcoin On Coinbase if the price on one exchange is suspiciously lower than the price on the other exchange, it is far from the absolute best in terms of energy consumption.
- how large is bitcoin ledger
- will other cryptocurrencies value decrease if bitcoin decrease
- bitcoin bull run chart 2022
Crypto bitcoin mining and investments limited out of all the coins in the world, AWS and Azure. You also need to click “Holdings” on the top right menu, how to store bitcoin private keys what singles eToro out from other crypto exchanges is its pioneering copy trading feature that lets new and inexperienced traders copy the strategies of other seasoned traders who receive a small commission for sharing their expertise in return. How to exchange bitcoin in pakistan a total of 1,042 participants started the survey, full insurance. Putting aside the extreme volatility of cryptocurrencies, and multi-sig wallets on its platform. How to store bitcoin private keys a more straightforward option is to simply use your cryptocurrency to buy a Canadian dollar prepaid card via Coincards.ca, if you spent time looking through my comment history (or using google) instead of typing up random insults to me. How to store bitcoin private keys in a zero-trust environment, you would find out the answers as well.


text:
Nintendo at E3 2009
Between E3 2008 and E3 2009 Nintendo revealed the Nintendo DSi. The company hadn't said a thing about it at E3 2008, but rather revealed it the following October at its own conference – then, even more surprisingly, launched it to stores in Japan just a few weeks later. It arrived on April 9th in the US.
E3 was back to its original, overly-large and shamelessly grandiose self in 2009, as the ESA finally came to their senses and reverted the expo back to actually being an expo – instead of a "Media and Business Summit." And it was there, surrounded by tens of thousands more hungry fans than the previous year, that Nintendo dropped some new, genuinely surprising megaton bombs.
The Big Announcements
In an about face from the previous two conferences, this conference was notable for its major, core-franchise game announcements: New Super Mario Bros. Wii, Super Mario Galaxy 2, The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks and Metroid: Other M.
But the biggest game of E3 2009 might well have been one that wasn't shown on the expo floor, or even officially discussed in a press conference – The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword. We still didn't know that name at the time, but we knew the game existed thanks to Mr. Miyamoto's whispers the year before. Here, in 2009, he got our inner hype sensors skyrocketing again by showing off a single piece of concept art – featuring a swordless link and a mysterious girl.
Scribblenauts for Nintendo DS was shown on the show floor and was awarded Overall Game of Show.
Nintendo also announced the Wii Vitality Sensor, a device that connected to the Wii Remote to sense the pulse of the player using it. It has not made an appearance in subsequent E3 conferences. At a meeting in 2013, Nintendo announced its official cancellation.
The Big Games


text:
Scottish Government demands for a greater say over UK trade deals have been rebuffed.
Trade minister Greg Hands told MSPs there “should not be a veto” for Holyrood over future agreements, as it was important any deals struck “applied throughout the four nations”.
Under the current devolution settlement international trade negotiations are reserved to Westminster, meaning the Scottish Government can influence trade talks but not decide.
“Therefore the Scottish Government and Parliament need a guaranteed role at all stages of the process.”
But Mr Hands, appearing before a Holyrood committee today, rejected the idea. He said: “I think it is absolutely right that there should not be a veto.
“It’s very important because Scottish producers, Scottish consumers need to have access to UK trade agreements going forward.
“We need to make sure that trade agreements will apply throughout the four nations of the United Kingdom and throughout all regions of the UK.”
Mr Hands said if there were disagreements in the future over negotiating aims, say in a US trade deal, he would be sure to “engage” with the devolved administrations.
“It’s always been a priority of mine to make sure that our international trade policy has got support in all four nations of the United Kingdom,” he added.
“Scotland will benefit more than any nation or region of the UK from doing a free trade agreement with the United States so my starting point has always been that it is our intention, firmly our policy, to make sure that all four nations of the UK benefit.”


text:
The latest news on personal finance
Before you give, consider the total cost of your gift.
When it comes to gift fumbles, fruitcake is just the tip of the iceberg.
Asking your broker the right questions is the first step for newbie investors.
Connecting with a tutor was harder than I thought.
If you plan to give back this season, take advantage of the tax breaks.
If your finances were in disarray in 2013, it’s time to turn over a new leaf.
Even with holiday shopping season, there are things you can do to save a little cash before Jan. 1.
It’s important to update your portfolio before the end of the year.
Take these precautions while shopping so you don’t become a victim of identity theft or fraud.
Automating your retirement finances can backfire if you fail to monitor the system and make the necessary adjustments.


text:
It is arguably Britain’s most exclusive restaurant – but Heston Blumenthal’s Fat Duck is heading Down Under. In the New Year, Blumenthal shall be migrating more than 10,000 miles to Melbourne’s Crown Casino in what Blumenthal has billed as “the furthest migration of a duck”. “We are going to pick up The Fat Duck, the whole team, and fly them over here”. The restaurant shall be opening in February 2015.
The relocation has been two years in the making, and the new restaurant will seat around 45 people and have a staff of approximately 70. “We are going to shut the Fat Duck and bring it to Melbourne,” the renowned gastronome said, adding that the menu of the restaurant would also be brought over. “It’s somewhere between 12 and 18 courses, it’s four hours of eating and it’s pure, total theatre – like falling down a rabbit hole into a wonderland,” he said. “However, what I’d love to do is try and come up with dishes that have a historic Anglo-Australian angle and that’s what we’re going to start developing,” he said.
The restaurant’s intercontinental relocation is the first overseas move for Blumenthal and is a significant moment in the expansion of his distinctive culinary brand. Blumenthal added that it was “not a pop-up restaurant,” and after six months would be rebranded Dinner by Heston Blumenthal. “We’re even going to pick up some of the bits of the restaurant – maybe the sign, maybe bits of the leather from the chairs – and incorporate it into the dining space in The Fat Duck.
The Fat Duck’s executive head chef, Ashley Palmer-Watts, will open Dinner by Heston Blumenthal after the Fat Duck returns to the UK.
New data from global information and insights company Nielsen has shown that shoppers are increasingly visiting a wider range of stores, spending an average of £19 per visit at the major supermarkets in February.
According to the figures, 96% of UK households visited one of the top four supermarkets (Tesco, Sainsbury, Asda or Morrisons), while over 40% of households visited Aldi or Lidl.
Nielsen said Aldi and Lidl are now accounting for 8.8% of all sales, a 6.6% rise on last year.
Nielsen UK head of retailer and business insight Mike Watkins said: “The range of supermarkets that shoppers now visit is the big change. Although the amount spent is falling, seven of the top 10 supermarkets managed to entice new customers over the last three months. Shopper promiscuity is the new reality.
“Of course, the discounters are increasingly popular – one in five Aldi visitors last month shopped there for the first time – yet they account for less than 9p in every £1 spent. People are still visiting the large supermarkets for the bulk of their shopping, ‘cherry-picking’ promotional items – spending £25 a visit – but buying more of their grocery staples in Aldi and Lidl, spending £17 per visit.
“Many shoppers are buying items on promotion and then going elsewhere to finish filling their basket. So, the increasing challenge for supermarkets is not only driving footfall but also getting shoppers to buy more per visit.
“That means there’s a need to differentiate their offering but this has to be more than just through promotions or lowest price. It involves engaging shoppers with the overall shopping experience and providing value for money – as well as allowing them to save money”.
An engineer has designed the UK’s first automated shop, allowing villagers who have lost their local store to stock up on provisions again.
Electrical engineer Peter Fox spent two-and-a-half years honing the shop – which he describes as a ‘giant vending machine’ – before it was installed this week outside a pub in Clifton, near Ashbourne in Derbyshire.
Residents can use cash or credit cards to buy milk, eggs, toiletries, kitchen essentials, pet food and even umbrellas and the machine will send out an email when its stock levels are getting low.
Peter Fox, who has submitted a patent application for his invention, said it was “not just a business”, but an idea that could serve the community. Mr Fox, 50, said the design was “completely different” to a standard vending machine. “Instead of having a machine which is a certain design and therefore things have to fit in it… we’ve designed the machine around the product”. Mr Fox said tinned vegetables, milk and bread have been popular with customers.
After more than a year of planning, the American ‘Walmart to Go’ convenience-store format quietly opened in Bentonville, US, on Saturday 15 March, with the grand opening set for 19 March 2014.
The small store is a hybrid format — part traditional convenience store, part grocery, part quick serve restaurant. Walmart partnered with Bentonville Butcher & Deli, one of the more popular names around in terms of quality meat, to operate a quick serve meat counter in the back of the store. Fresh deli sandwiches or hot barbecue brisket, ribs, smoked chicken and traditional sides were available by the plate or by the pound.
Krispy Kreme has a donut stand between the beverage stations. There is a traditional soda fountain, ‘Icee’ fountain, milk shake option and full coffee/cappuccino area.
Refrigerated food-to-go includes market fresh pizzas, sandwiches and other meat entrees. There is also fresh fruit and a Greek yoghurt smoothie station.
The convenience store also features six fuel pumps out front with a covered awning that sports the Walmart sunburst on the underside. One unusual feature is a large awning that connects the pump area to the front door. There is a picnic area outdoors to seat those wanting to eat onsite.
With this new convenience format Wal-Mart hopes to capture some of the $415 billion quick trip marketshare it is losing to Dollar General and other convenience stores. Walmart U.S. CEO Bill Simon said earlier this month that the retailer has just 10% of that marketshare and is vying for more with the hybrid stores that can serve consumer fill-in trips, which Walmart estimates to be 40% of their grocery spend.
THE WORLD IS CRAVING HEAT IN A BIG WAY
Beyond just discovering new chilli varieties, this obsession has extended into using techniques like grilling, smoking, pickling, fermenting and candying to tease out their flavour potential.
INDIAN FOOD IS FINALLY HAVING ITS GLOBAL MOMENT
Already familiar with basic curries, people around the world are taking their appreciation for this richly-spiced cuisine to the next level, exploring more flavours in new contexts, from food trucks to fine dining.
Clever Compact Cooking
BIG FLAVOUR CAN COME FROM SMALL SPACES
As the movement toward more efficient compact kitchens grows, inventive urban dwellers are discovering creative, cross-functional ways to prepare flavorful meals making the most of what’s available.
Mexican World Tour
MEXICAN FLAVOURS ARE ON THE MOVE
From a growing taste for regional Mexican fare in North America to early exploration in China, cultures across the world are embracing authentic elements of this bright, bold and casual cuisine.
Charmed by Brazil
THE WORLD WILL SHINE ITS SPOTLIGHT ON BRAZIL
The world is about to shine its spotlight on Brazil, illuminating the vibrant flavours and traditions of a dynamic melting pot culture that includes European, African, Asian and native Amazonian influences. Brazilian tastes are poised to emerge as a powerful influence in cooking around the globe.
See full article: http://www.mccormick.com/Flavor-Forecast-2014
Produce World was awarded Best New Edible Variety at the UK Grower Awards. The company, which has a site in Sutton Bridge, was presented with the award earlier this month.
The winning vegetable is a Chinese leaf called Tatsoi. Although a traditional vegetable in Asia, Produce World is the first company to produce it commercially in the UK. The versatile vegetable is challenging the more widely known Pak Choi.
New product development manager Dara O’Doherty said: “Produce World is committed to trialling and growing exciting new vegetables from all over the globe.
“Tatsoi has a short growth cycle, taking only a matter of four or five weeks from planting to harvest.”
The success of coconut water, which surged from zero in 2006 to an almost US$1 billion business in North America and Europe by 2013, is just the first step in a massive trend, according to global nutrition business analysts New Nutrition Business.
According to New Nutrition Business there is an emerging global trend for “healthy, natural, low-calorie waters” taken directly from plants. Extraction and packaging innovations that prolong shelf life have led to products with a “subtly sweet taste” extracted from maple trees and birch trees.
“With the right marketing and distribution strategies, these new waters will be a US$2 billion business by 2025,” said Julian Mellentin, Director of New Nutrition Business.
Like coconut water, maple and birch waters offer benefits that make them good options for health-conscious consumers. New Nutrition Business said the waters are “naturally healthy with a positive nutritional profile”, “naturally sweet” with no need for added sugar, and “can be sustainably sourced with little constraint on volumes”.
Sales of coconut water have been surging for five years — with no products carrying health claims, according to New Nutrition Business — driven by consumers’ desire for drinks that are “natrually functional” and have no added sugar. In fact, according to a report by New Nutrition Business, 12 Key Trends in Food Nutrition and Health 2014, “naturally functional” was the biggest driver in the industry, and the force behind the success of beverages such as coconut water and almond milk.
Maple trees are known as the source of maple syrup, but they also yield a beverage much more in line with the preferences of health-conscious consumers: maple water.
Maple water, like coconut water, is “naturally rich in vitamins, minerals and 46 antioxidants” according to New Nutrition Business. Maple water also has an “inherently sweet taste”, with a taste profile that received an overall higher score than coconut water in consumer research. New Nutrition Business said the sugar content (primarily sucrose) was “only 2 to 3 per cent”.
Maple water, or sap, is the raw ingredient of maple syrup, which is traditionally process into syrup because it spoils after just a day. But New Nutrition Business said developments in aseptic packaging from packaging company Tetrapak, combined with processing maple water on the same day it is collected, mean water could now be made commercially available.
A trio of Canadian entrepreneurial brands — Oviva, Seva and Maple 3 — have been developing the market.
New Nutrition Business said maple water had the potential to reach the same market size as coconut water over the next five to seven years, provided maple water brands apply the same strategy as coconut water did, focusing initially on single-serve packs (250ml-330ml) and upscale distribution and pricing.
Birch sap is produced by birch trees every year in early spring and is currently harvested as a health drink in countries such as Japan, Korea, Scandinavia and Eastern Europe, according to New Nutrition Business.
The sap is completely clear and “slightly sweet”, containing between 1 per cent and 1.5 per cent sugars. The main naturally occurring sugar in birch sap is fructose. The product also contains xylitol.
As with maple water, New Nutrition Business said advances in packaging and processing technology have allowed companies to begin bringing birch water to market in its “all-natural, no added sugar” form.
Brands such as Finland’s Nordic Koivu, whose patent-pending technology has allowed it to collect and bottle birch sap without adding any preservatives, and Denmark’s Sealand Birk have been rapidly developing the consumer market.
New Nutrition Business said birch sap had been shown to be “high in vitamins and minerals, including vitamin C, potassium, manganese, thiamin and calcium”. Uses in tradition and folk medicine include “boosting immunity, fighting fatigue, treating arthritis and joint pain, energy booster, and migraine prevention”.
The deal still needs regulatory approval
US supermarket firm Safeway has agreed to be bought by an investment group led by Cerberus Capital Management, owner of Albertsons and other chains.
The deal is valued at $7.64bn (£4.56bn) in cash, and could eventually top $9bn (£5.3bn).
The merger will create an organisation with more than 2,400 stores and 250,000 employees.
It comes amid consolidation in the industry, with Cerberus buying five chains including Albertson’s and Jewel-Osco from Supervalu last year.
Albertsons chief executive Bob Miller said that the size of the new outfit would improve its bargaining position with suppliers.
Mr Miller is to become executive chairman of the combined company, and Safeway chief executive Robert Edwards will retain that title at the combined company.
If the proposal receives shareholder and regulatory approval, the merger should be completed in the fourth quarter of 2014.
Online retail giant Amazon is poised to deliver “a fresh approach” to the UK grocery market, with online sales of fresh, chilled, frozen and ambient food products delivered direct to customers, predicted Charles Wilson, Booker chief executive.


text:
MoviePass CEO Mitch Lowe has apologized to the company’s movie-going subscribers for comments he made earlier this month about the app tracking users before and after they use it.
“Through a mix of exuberance about our future and joking around, I mischaracterized how MoviePass locates our members and I need to fix that,” Lowe said Monday. “First and foremost, I apologize for these comments and the concern they caused. At MoviePass, we take customer privacy extremely seriously. I would like to eliminate any misconceptions that we’re collecting location related data.”
At the Entertainment Finance Forum, Lowe — whose talk was titled “Data is the New Oil: How Will MoviePass Monetize It?” — said the company’s app tracking was an integral part of its long-term business plan.
With a monthly plan as low as $7.95 that allows subscribers to see one movie in a partner theater per day, experts and subscribers have raised questions about whether MoviePass can be sustainable in the long run.
Using the data collected from its users, Lowe said MoviePass would like to “build a night at the movies,” where MoviePass can direct subscribers to a dinner place — and get a cut from the vendors.
But Lowe backtracked on the app’s tracking capabilities on Monday, saying MoviePass “does not track and has never tracked or collected data on the location of our members at any point when the app is not active.”
“In our recent update with Apple, we removed the the background tracking capabilities,” said Lowe in the email. “MoviePass does not use and has never used this feature.”
Lowe said in the email that MoviePass only tracks users in two scenarios: when a user searches for theaters nearby and when a user checks into a theater with the app open.
After Lowe’s comments during the panel discussion were made public, MoviePass issued a statement to this news organization echoing Lowe’s point.
“At MoviePass our vision is to build a complete night out at the movies,” said a MoviePass spokesperson in an emailed statement. “We are exploring utilizing location-based marketing as a way to help enhance the overall experience by creating more opportunities for our subscribers to enjoy all the various elements of a good movie night. We will not be selling the data that we gather. Rather, we will use it to better inform how to market potential customer benefits including discounts on transportation, coupons for nearby restaurants, and other similar opportunities.”
Beyond his location-tracking comments, Lowe exuded optimism about his company’s prospects by the end of 2018. The company has more than 2 million subscribers, and Lowe said he expected to hit 5 million subscribers and account for nearly 20 percent of all U.S. box office ticket purchases by the end of the year.


text:
By Zsarlene B. Chua
WHILE IT IS no secret that almost half of every beauty section in any Philippine-based store is dedicated to whitening products, there seems to be a growing movement focusing on anti-aging products and Watsons Philippines is riding that wave.
“[The anti-aging segment] could be bigger, I mean if you look at the category segments, you would say whitening is up there and anti-aging, you would say is relatively less developed. So if you look at markets like Thailand, it’s a much closer index,” Maita Fay A. Santiago, Watsons Philippines trading director, told BusinessWorld during the launch of the personal care store chain’s campaign against aging on Aug. 4 at the Podium in Mandaluyong City.
Currently, she said, that the anti-aging segment is around 20% of the whitening segment — the uncontested top segment — in Watsons stores and it’s mostly because Filipinos are late in getting in on the anti-aging. Ms. Santiago said that Filipinos typically become “aware of it during their 40s and 50s but in markets where it’s really much developed, they start talking about it earlier.”
At least one study shows that skin aging starts earlier than most people think. According to a 2015 study led by American skin care brand Olay, which studied the “genotypic and phenotypic science” that “examined women in nearly every decade of life — from their 20s to their 70s — across ethnicities,” aging starts as early as 20, a point where there is already a “decline in antioxidant response” in a subset of Caucasian women (http://www.olay.com/en-us/skin-care-tips-and-articles/olay-discovers-unique-skin-fingerprint).
Watsons is now holding a sale on these anti-aging products — from hair care products to ingestibles — to encourage more people to start their anti-aging routine. As Ms. Santiago noted, aside from starting late, Filipinos also have a “superficial knowledge about it” as they usually only think about getting rid of fine lines and wrinkles instead of the whole “health and wellness proposition.”
“Moisturizers would be an easy entry point,” Ms. Santiago said before adding, “we haven’t been really putting a lot of support behind it. I think it’s the first time we’re taking it to the level of, ‘Let’s talk about it’.
“If you look at previous advertising, they’re much older and then you notice how the communication has changed now: all of our key brands are [marketing their products] to a much younger [audience],” she explained.
Another step into promoting this segment is bringing in more anti-aging products.
“For our brands, more and more we’re bringing in finds you don’t usually see in the supermarket. It’s the things you go to Hong Kong, Singapore, Taiwan and Korea for — segments like masks which are relatively under-developed [here],” she said before adding that they are working towards bringing “better assortment across categories.”
“If we could bring it (the anti-aging segment) to 30%-40% of the whitening segment, that would be good,” she said.


text:
The Supply Chain Management Association of the Philippines (SCMAP) has been working to build, share and enhance best practices across the technology industry and business landscape for 30-years.
As SCMAP now works to help local and international partners on their journey towards digital transformation and the cloud, the organization has hosted its most recent SCMAP Live event. This year it was presented in partnership with Anaplan and Vuealta, on 29 July 2021.
SCMAP works by advocating policy, initiatives and best practices from the boardroom to the warehouse floor. The organization recognizes that a strong supply chain builds a strong economy and helps to build a better quality of life for everybody. The SCMAP team’s focus is not just in the Philippines, but it extends its interest around the world through a culture of collaboration.
As global supply chains continue to deal with the impact of the Covid-19 (Coronavirus) pandemic, this event helped examine the processes through which supply chain systems are currently reengineering and looking to further innovate.
At an online gathering this year, SCMAP Live was staged to ask important questions such as whether basics functions such as Integrated Business Planning (IBP) and Sales & Operations (S&OP) are still relevant to today’s most progressive supply chain management practices.
Speakers & Insights
This year’s SCMAP Live was chaired by Ana Rose “Ochie” Ochoa, SCMAP’s Program Director and Unit Manager at Philamlife Del Mundo Premier Agency. Ochie was joined by Dr Deborah Pike, Senior Solutions Architect for Supply Chain at Anaplan from her office headquarters in Sydney, Australia.
Also speaking this year were Joost Driessen, Managing Director for Vuealta Singapore, Dada Salud Senior Demand Planning Manager for sauces and food manufacturer NutriAsia , based in Manilla. Last but never least was Aamir Mehdi, Supply Chain Director for Asia-Pacific region for one of the world’s largest dairy manufacturers Fonterra, based in Singapore.
Looking at the fact that S&OP has been around for some 35 years, Dr Pike spoke about the fact that organizations have yet to really move to use this practice in an agile manner aligned to modern cloud platforms.
As organizations look to try and resolve their ‘last mile challenge’ in the post-pandemic era, the speakers agreed that businesses need to align processes with an operating plan that really helps them know they should be doing on the next mile for optimal supply chain efficiency.
A key factor for demand planners throughout the pandemic has, of course, been the fact that we have never had access to any datasets that describe the shape of the way business has functioned throughout this period.
What this uncovered are the realities that we have all faced over the last 18-months through this disruptive period. We have all been through disruption before, but what happened this time was disruption on a ‘scale’ that we had neither experienced and – in many cases – probably never envisaged”— Fonterra’s Mehdi
No silver bullets
“When you have to attempt to transform extremely fast, you often find that you’re chasing the wrong technologies. We often look at technology as a silver bullet, but it isn’t, it’s an enabler. Because of this, organizations need to do the fundamentals right first, before they attempt to change,” said Mehdi.
Many companies have of course had to shorten their planning horizons through the last 18-months. This has meant that systems and processes have been compacted into shorter time windows. At the same time, they have needed to achieve a more detailed and granular level of information to help increase demand planning accuracy.
Salud and Mehdi explained how the demand patterns shifted overnight during the pandemic for both businesses. The panelists said that their organization’s first priority was to make sure that where operations did continue, they only did so once the company could ensure that people could work safely.
Thinking about how companies are realizing that they need to move their demand planning onwards from the now-archaic spreadsheet era, the panelists looked at how firms now need to be able to respond far more quickly. As ecommerce now plays an important role in demand planning, systems need to be updated in order to be able to ingest sales information from ecommerce systems.
Companies need to collaborate across the supply chain in real time and far more broadly than at any time in the past. As Vuealta’s Driessen noted, it’s no longer just a question of working with your customers; today it’s a question of working with your customers’ customers in order to build up a holistic view of the whole economy’s supply chain.
A wider, external and collaborative view
Anaplan’s Dr Deborah Pike dug into collaboration and the fact that many organizations are still using Excel spreadsheets for their S&OP reporting. She explained that it’s very important for us now to see organizations moving to an S&OP process so that its five core steps are now more intelligently executed.
“It’s time to look at forecasting methods differently so that the process itself gravitates less towards looking backwards and more towards looking forward. This involves the company looking at how far it can go to look outside its organization to start using other data. It also involves the use of Machine Learning (ML) so that the company can start to integrate new information sources (perhaps data relating to weather patterns for example) that have disrupted the organization’s supply chain in the past,” said Dr Pike.
As the panel discussion entered its final phases, the panelists talked about how their supply chains were set up in real world terms.
“As a global dairy company, about 90% of our ‘milk pool’ comes from New Zealand. Obviously, we know that geographically, New Zealand is pretty far from most other places in the world. We also work with a fairly seasonal supply base i.e. the supply of milk does not stay static throughout the year. So what those challenges have taught us how to adapt around the world in a number of different ways,” said Fonterra’s Mehdi.
Whether it’s a channel vertical, a product vertical or a geographical vertical, Mehdi and his team have learned how to adapt to changing circumstances by leveraging its total system synergy.
“Ultimately, the real resilience in any business comes down to the strength of its people, there’s almost always a creative way of making a market pivot happen, it’s just a question of having the determination and tools at hand to find it,” said Mehdi.
Ensuring supply chain efficiency and future sustainability
What the panelists agreed the whole pandemic period will have taught us – other than the importance of sanitizing and covering our mouths – is to more directly identify, track, manage and augment our approach to supply chain efficiency and wider business sustainability.
We know that so many parts of commercial trade were forced online throughout the pandemic. As what we hope are the latter stages of the global contagion at the time of writing, businesses will need to think about supply networks that are more functionally capable of working to work with multi-channel ecommerce and deliver products and services in a multi-channel way.
The 2021 SCMAP Live event reminded us clearly that without a plan, no business can execute and perform. But plans need to be inherently flexible. As the uncommon philosopher Mike Tyson once said, “Everybody has a plan until they get punched in the face.” It’s time to embrace uncertainty and bring it front and center into the business plans of the future.


text:
GPA order 20 Konecrane cranes for Savannah Port
Deal part of authority's plan to upgrade old gantry cranes
US-based Georgia Port Authority (GPA) have ordered 20 Konecranes RTG (rubber tired gantry) cranes and four Super Post Panamax STS (ship-to-shore) cranes from Konecranes for Savannah Port. The deliveries start with the first RTGs in 2011 and continue with STS cranes during 2013. The parties have agreed not to disclose the value of the order.
As PTI reported last week the the Port of Savannah, Georgia, is upgrading older gantry cranes with cleaner technology, with the Konecranes deal in keeping with the port authority's promise to reduce emissions within its operations.
“We consider Konecranes a valued partner in our ongoing effort to build capacity and serve a growing sector of the US market,” said Curtis Foltz, Executive Director, GPA. “This new order will not only allow the Port of Savannah add to the largest and most efficient fleet of STS and RTG cranes in the Southeast US, but it will provide additional emission reductions and environmental improvements for our local community.”
“Our cooperation with GPA goes back a long way and we are very proud to be a part of GPA’s forward-thinking growth strategy,” says Tuomas Saastamoinen, Sales and Marketing Director at Konecranes. “With their present fleet of 96 Konecranes RTGs and 18 Konecranes STS cranes, GPA is one of our largest and most important customers.”
The Super Post Panamax STS cranes on order have a lifting capacity of 66 tons and an outreach of 61 meters. Their design is identical to that of Konecranes STS cranes delivered to GPA a few years ago, which have turned out to be among the most productive cranes in the US.
The fuel-saving RTG cranes on order have been designed to take future environmental requirements into account. Thanks to a Konecranes fuel-saving system which eliminates idling and also reduces noise and emissions, these RTGs consume up to 30 percent less fuel than conventional RTGs. The 16-wheel RTGs have a lifting capacity of 50 tons and can stack 1-over-5 containers high, and 6 plus truck lane wide.


text:
National Cheeseburger Day is Sept. 18. We don’t know who first laid a slice of fromage on a beef patty. Restaurateurs from California to Kentucky have claimed credit. But Louis Ballast, owner of Denver’s Humpty Dumpty Drive-In, trademarked “the cheeseburger” in March 1935 (though the term is fully generic now).
Since then, the cheeseburger has become an American staple: Americans eat nearly 50 billion burgers each year, and a good number of them are slathered in cheddar, Colby or Swiss.
Below, find out how your favorite burger joints are celebrating National Cheeseburger Day. For more burger-centric fare, find out if theand what you need .
In celebration of National Cheeseburger Day, participating Applebee’s are offering a special Burger Bundle deal — that’s a handmade cheeseburger plus fries and a Mountain Dew Dark Berry Bash drink or other Pepsi beverage — for $11.
The deal applies to Applebee’s Bacon Cheeseburger, Whiskey Bacon Cheeseburger, Quesadilla Burger, Impossible Cheeseburger and even the old-fashioned hamburger without cheese.
Order online on the Applebee’s website or via the Applebee’s app on Sept. 18.
Big deal burgers
Dickey’s Barbecue Pit is offering a pair of deals via its virtual brand Big Deal Burger.
- On Sept. 15 and 16, you can order a Big Deal Burger Double with cheese for $6.
- On Sept. 17 and 18, get a Big Deal Burger single with cheese for $5.
“A true barbecue burger can only come from a wood-burning pit. And that’s what we offer,” Dickey CEO Laura Rea Dickey said in a statement.
Founded in 1941, Dickey’s Barbecue Pit currently has 550 locations across the US and eight other countries.
From Sept. 17 to 19, Royal Perks members can enjoy a free cheeseburger with a minimum purchase of $1 by ordering at bk.com or on the Burger King app.
Get $1 off any of DQ’s Signature Stackburgers on Sept. 18 when you order it as a standalone item through the DQ app.
Founded in Santa Barbara, California, back in 1969, The Habit Burger Grill now has more than 335 locations in 14 states. On National Cheeseburger Day, the Habit is offering a half-price cheeseburger with cheese with the purchase of one at full price.
To get in on the deal, register on the Habit Burger app before midnight on Sept. 15.
jack in the box
The Jumbo Jack Cheeseburger is a grilled all-beef patty topped with two slices of American cheese, lettuce, tomato, pickles, onions, mayonnaise and ketchup.
You can get one on National Cheeseburger Day for $2 with any purchase on the Jack in the Box mobile app.
Which cheeseburger will be featured in McD’s National Cheeseburger Day deal? The home of the Big Mac is letting fans decide: Through Sept. 13, you can vote online for the classic Cheeseburger, Double Cheeseburger or McDouble.
The winning burger, which will be announced Sept. 14, will be available for free with a $1 purchase through the McDonald’s mobile app on Sept. 18.
Select Shake Shack locations are giving away free cheeseburgers from 11 am to 2 pm on Sept. 18. Order a Shake Shack cheeseburger via DoorDash and type in the promo code “SHACK.”
Make sure your local shack is participating, and all you’ll have to pay is tax and tip.
On Sept 18, Smashburger is offering a buy one, get one free deal that lets diners mix and match single or double patties and any of Smashburger’s protein options, including beef, grilled chicken, turkey and black bean.
This promotion is available both in-store and online with the promo code BOGO22.
On Sept. 18, snap up a buy one, get one free classic cheeseburger deal via Wayback Burgers’ mobile app.
While you’re ordering, consider some of the fast-casual chain’s new fall items, including the S’mores Shake, cheesy onion rings and an Oktoberfest Burger, served on a pretzel bun and topped with onion rings, cheese sauce and German mustard.
Wendy’s is offering a BOGO cheeseburger deal through Friday, Sept. 19. Order via Wendy’s app and enjoy two cheeseburgers — including the new Big Bacon Cheddar or Pretzel Bacon Pub Cheeseburger — for the price of one.
White Castle is offering a Cheesy 10-Sack, featuring 10 cheese sliders for $9 (and for $10 in Arizona, New Jersey and New York). Pick your choice of cheesy toppings: American, smoked cheddar, jalapeno or ghost pepper.
Plus, through Sept. 30, White Castle is offering 20% off any order on the Craver Nation app. Grab a bunch of Double Cheese Sliders and save money while you celebrate National Cheeseburger Day.


text:
The lobster season was opened at the end of October and a good season is predicted for fishermen, in this and other species
MAZATLÁN.- The temperature of the seas has decreased and thanks to this, the arrival of lobsters began, which are already beginning to be seen in the port’s fish and shellfish warehouses, a product fought for by many but enjoyed by few for thinking that they are expensive.
Edgar Moya Acosta, president of the Cooperativa Artesanales de Playa Norte, mentioned that the ban on lobsters was lifted on October 31 and among the fishermen, they have expressed high expectations, precisely because it is a product that restaurants acclaim.
In addition, among their members, they have reported the increase in species that had been scarce in the summer, such as the sierra, fish that is widely purchased for the traditional ceviche with carrots.
“There is a rebound in the sierra, yellow snapper, pig, even the closed season has already opened for the neighboring lobster companions, among all we are in 50 or 60 percent of the fishing catches,” he said.
The price of lobster depends on its weight and size, you can find them from 200 to 300 pesos per kilo, but you have to get to Playa Norte early since the day’s catch ends early and you may find it in other establishments but with a higher price.
In Pinitos beach there is even a restaurant that from the catch of the day offers you fried lobster and butter, accompanied with rice and salad, at only 300 pesos that is enough for two people.
“Despite the bad times we had with the storms and hurricanes, the end of the year looks good, we have a good run and that will come to help everyone in the area by December,” said Moya Acosta.
Do not be afraid to cook lobster, the fishermen themselves point out that it is not difficult, so savor the species of the season that will remain for more than two months.
Or go to Pinitos beach or a restaurant that offers seasonal lobster, rest with the view of the sea and have on one side a soft drink, fresh flavored water, or a beer. To all this, who says we can’t eat lobster cheaply? Bon Appétit!
The Mazatlan Post


text:
Before the suggested launch of its dollar-pegged stablecoin, the Libra Association has changed its name to the Diem Association.
Related: Libra Plans to Launch in JanuaryAccording to Reuters, the remodeling can be beneficial while getting regulatory verifications for the expected Diem stablecoin as it highlights the self-sufficiency of the outline and corporation.
From the time Facebook disclosed the idea of its own digital asset Libra, regulators have had doubts that the undertaking could damage economic stability and reduce traditional control over management.The new name is supposed to help people around the world make safe and reliable cash trading which is trackable. Libra Association CEO Stuart Levey mentioned that Facebook itself isn't a part of the governing association, despite its subsidiary Novi (previously Calibra) is.
The main intent of the Diem Association presently is to get crypto approval from authorities. Initially, Libra planned to launch within the first half of 2020, but the regulatory problems ruined the plans. Now the company is set to launch its stablecoin "Diem dollar" when it gets a license from the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority.


text:
- Skeptics of Tesla have turned bullish on the electric car manufacturer.
- Tesla has matured in 2019, operating more like a traditional automotive company.
- It’s already too far ahead of the pack in the electric car market, no other company comes close.
The market cap of Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA) has surpassed the $60 billion mark, supported by the rising popularity of the newly released Cybertruck. The firm’s turnaround has even led skeptics to turn bullish.
Up until October, Tesla was criticized for being a little bit too different from traditional automakers in the way the company handles conferences, earnings and other crucial aspects of the business.
As the company evolved, and so did its market cap, high profile investors like Jim Cramer and Pierre Feragu started to believe that Tesla is now far ahead of the automotive industry. Three reasons support that claim.
1. Highly innovative
Tesla has stood out from its competitors since its inception. The public’s reception of its newest products like the Cybertruck have changed the mind of investors who previously thought such products would only appeal to a niche market.
Jim Cramer, host of CNBC’s Mad Money, said that he was blown away by the demand for the Cybertruck. With an improving balance sheet, beloved CEO in Elon Musk, and an active following, Cramer said that Tesla has all signs of a great company:
Even better, on that last conference call, he revealed his true rigor without the sardonic quips. Musk, it turns out, is a great CEO when he can get out of his own way, and that seems to be what he’s doing. Cult product? Check. Sound balance sheet? Check. Charismatic Leader? Check. If you’re going to invest in a battleground stock, Tesla’s got all the ingredients of a winner.
So far, 250,000 orders for the Cybertruck have been made. That’s equivalent to $25 million in revenue once the cars ship.
Read more: CCN


text:
LANSING (AP) -- Gov. Rick Snyder says he's signed legislation tightening the laws against organized retail crime.
Snyder's office said Thursday that the two bills were among 23 that he signed. The Legislature recently completed its postelection "lame duck" session, and a newly elected state House takes office in January.
State senators have two years left on their terms.
Two bills sponsored by Republican state Rep. Joe Graves of Argentine Township would make it a felony punishable by up to five years in prison to knowingly committing organized retail crime. The law covers theft of retail merchandise with the intent or purpose of reselling, distributing, or transferring it to another retailer or seller.
The act covers use of the mail or any electronic medium such as the Internet.


text:
ClearlyContacts.ca opens a brick-and-mortar store on Queen West
After launching two hugely successful stores in Vancouver earlier this year, the country’s largest online eyewear retailer has opened its first Toronto shop. Clearly Contacts’ new Queen West space features an on-site optometrist, brand name frames (including Dior, Balenciaga and Ray-Ban), in-house lines like Derek Cardigan, and prescription swimming goggles and sport glasses. While the store’s 700 frame styles represent a fraction of the 30,000-plus options available online, the shop does offer one very tangible benefit: the chance to test your frames in person instead of relying on the site’s webcam try-on tool.
317 Queen St. W., 416-205-9161, clearlycontacts.ca


text:
After working on its Blockchain-powered smartphone Exodus for months, HTC has finally announced it will introduce the device as early as October.
The company also indicated the launch on its Instagram page for all to be ready to see the new device design.
According to HTC Vive Founder, Phil Chen, Exodus previously asserted that a smartphone like Exodus with a crypto-currency wallet will provide the most secure wallet which will soon be launched in the market, tech website Smarthouse reported on Monday.
However, he added that the device will initially target a "niche" audience and will be priced similarly to the world's first Blockchain powered smartphone,around $1,000, the report added.
The HTC Exodus is the brainchild of Chen, who was also the driving force behind the Vive virtual reality (VVR) headset and forms the start of a major blockchain push as the company looks to return to the smartphone industry.
The company had also said that the HTC Exodus will be launch "definitely everywhere" outside of China. However, there are no specific details about it for now.
Just stay with us and you'll get the right Update when it's eventually out.


text:
Estland Is Offering $5,000 Of Marketing Services To A Business Affected By The Staunton Flood.
Small businesses in Staunton have been working hard for months to adapt to the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, trying to keep customers and employees safe while finding ways to safely reopen. And then on August 8, and again on August 22, it poured. Streets in downtown Staunton turned into rivers, flooding storefronts, shops, restaurants, and offices, causing tens of thousands of dollars of damage.
The marketing team at Estland has been helping small businesses in the Shenandoah Valley achieve their marketing and sales goals since 2004. We are inspired by the determination and resiliency of Staunton’s locally-owned businesses as they reopen after the flood, and want to help in those #StauntonStrong efforts.
Businesses Should Apply By Sept. 10
Estland is offering up to $5,000 of marketing services for free to one business affected by the flood. We are accepting nominations through September 10 from businesses in Staunton that have been affected by the flood. We will choose the top three finalists and invite the Staunton community to vote on the final recipient. Our marketing services will help boost a local business and help get them back on their feet during this challenging time.