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Cybersecurity scientists have discovered over 80 Magecart compromised e-commerce web sites that were actively sending credit history card details of on-line purchasers to the attackers-managed servers.
Operating their corporations in the United States, Canada, Europe, Latin The united states, and Asia, a lot of of these compromised web sites are reputable models in the motorsports business and significant trend, researchers at Aite Group and Arxan Systems unveiled right now in a report shared with The Hacker News.
In a environment which is escalating more and more electronic, Magecart assaults have emerged as a crucial cybersecurity menace to e-commerce web-sites.
Magecart is an umbrella phrase presented to various cybercriminal teams that are specialised in secretly implanting on the net credit history card skimmers on compromised e-commerce web sites with an intent to steal payment card details of their buyers.
Magecart is in the news a large amount currently for conducting a number of large-profile heists in opposition to main companies including British Airways, Ticketmaster, Newegg, and other people.
In accordance to the scientists, the technique authorized them to immediately uncover a lot more than 80 e-commerce internet sites compromised by Magecart groups, most of which ended up identified managing in excess of out-of-date variations of Magento CMS that’s susceptible to an unauthenticated add and remote code execution vulnerabilities.
“The absence of in-app protection, such as code obfuscation and tamper detection, will make web applications susceptible to a sort of cyberattack called formjacking,” the researchers stated.
“Several of the compromised web sites are operating version 1.5, 1.7, or 1.9. The arbitrary file upload, remote code execution, and cross-site ask for forgery vulnerabilities all have an effect on Magento edition 2.1.6 and under. Though it can’t be stated authoritatively that this is what led to the breach of these internet sites, these are susceptible versions of Magento that permit adversaries to inject the formjacking code into the web site.”
However the scientists have not named the compromised firms in its report, they labored with federal legislation enforcement to notify all influenced companies as properly as off-site servers prior to publishing their report.
“Due to the fact this is an ongoing and lively venture, we have resolved not to title the target sites,” the scientists instructed The Hacker News.
In addition, the scientists also analyzed Magecart’s monetization activities and located that apart from advertising the stolen payment card knowledge on the darkish world wide web community forums, the attackers also purchase items on authentic on the web searching internet sites and ship them to pre-chosen merchandise mules in an attempt to launder the fraudulent transactions.
“To recruit goods mules, the attacker posts work opportunities that provide individuals the skill to perform from house and earn significant sums of funds to acquire and reship goods acquired with the stolen credit history card figures,” the researchers say.
The mules then work with regional shippers who acquire underneath-the-table spend to send out merchandise to the eastern European locations, wherever it is bought to community buyers, eventually profiting attackers as a 2nd line of earnings.
The researchers propose e-commerce sites to, at foremost precedence, update or patch their system software package to the most current edition that shields them from recognized exploits.
Other than this, e-commerce internet sites should really also implement code obfuscation and white-box cryptography to make the world wide web kinds unreadable to the adversary, as very well as options to detect unauthorized modification of web page files.
On line purchasers are also suggested to routinely critique their payment card particulars and bank statements for any unfamiliar exercise. No make a difference how modest unauthorized transaction you observe, you must usually report it to your monetary institutions instantly.


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Square Enix revealed two new titles, The DioField Chronicle and Valkyrie Elysium, to close out the Sony State of Play event on Wednesday. Both games will be released sometime in 2022.
The DioField Chronicle is a tactical RPG that is very reminiscent of fan-favorite Final Fantasy Tactics. However, The DioField Chronicle boasts more modern 3D graphics as opposed to Final Fantasy Tactics‘ 16-bit style. The trailer showed off some gameplay, as well as some story elements. One interesting takeaway from the trailer is that the game does not have a grid-based movement system, but something more akin to the XCOM series.
The DioField Chronicle will be released this year on PS4 and PS5, and will also be available on the Xbox family of systems, Nintendo Switch, and Steam. The release windows for these systems have not been confirmed.
To end the State of Play showcase, Square Enix showed off Valkyrie Elysium, a new action-RPG that is connected to the Valkyrie Profiles series. During the trailer, we saw hints at some of the story beats for Valkyrie Elysium, as well as some gameplay. It seems that players will be allowed to explore this fantasy world and execute combo-based attacks in real time. Valkyrie Elysium will be coming to PS4 and PS5 this year, as well as PC.
Two upcoming Square Enix games were also highlighted earlier on in the State of Play. Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin has a new playable demo that is available today. We also got to see some new high-octane gameplay from Forspoken. The trailer comes after a recent announcement that the game has been delayed to later this year.
- Hideo Kojima partners with Sony on a return to the stealth action genre
- PlayStation State of Play, January 2024: How to watch and what to expect
- 5 Square Enix RPGs that need to make a Super Mario RPG-style comeback
- Everything announced at the September 2023 State of Play
- State of Play September 2023: How to watch and what to expect

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‘This week we have already seen a 50% drop’: Local businesses impacted by coronavirus pandemic
FLOWOOD, Miss. (WLBT) - Every day that passes leaves business owners on the edge of their seats.
Many business owners said they are struggling to stay afloat in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic.
They’re now searching for hope in a time of uncertainty.
”Normally on a Saturday, we would have a lobby full of people, cars waiting, and appointments throughout the day," said Randy Watkins, the owner of Meineke car care clinic in Flowood.
As COVID-19 continues to make its way across the Magnolia State, local businesses like his are starting to take a direct hit.
“This week we have already seen a 50 percent drop off," he said.
While more people start to practice social distancing, business has come to an abrupt halt.
“Honestly, at first, I did not think this would have an impact on us here," said Watkins. “But obviously this week, that all changed pretty quickly.”
Despite efforts to stay open during their busiest times of the year, the coronavirus is not making things easy.
“We are spraying the chairs, the handles, the bathrooms almost every hour and almost every time a customer has come and gone."
The car care clinic had to close down early on what’s supposed to be the shop’s busiest day of the week.
“My concerns are not only for my friends and family when it comes to the virus, but for my staff who depend on this business for their livelihood," said Watkins.
Watkins says their customers’ health and safety comes first, so they will be doing car pick-up and delivery, as well as utilizing online scheduling to make customers feel more at ease.
“We are dependent on our customers just as they are dependent on us to provide a service for them,” he said.
At the end of the day, Watkins says they will leave their doors open as long as possible. “We really appreciate our local customers.”
Copyright 2020 WLBT. All rights reserved.


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Shrewsbury will host the largest outdoor exhibition of new and pre-owned caravans anywhere in the UK later this month.The annual West Midlands Caravan and Motorhome Spring Show at award winning caravan dealership Salop Leisure’s Emstrey headquarters from April 29 to May 7 will be packed with a variety of things for the whole family to see and do.
Around 250 new and pre-owned touring caravans, static holiday homes and luxury lodges, motorhomes and campervan conversions will be on display at the show which is expects to attracts thousands of visitors.
Visitors will be able to see the latest innovations in new holiday homes, touring caravans and motorhomes, with new models from Atlas, ABI, Carnaby, Willerby and Swift set be launched at the event. Representatives from 20 quality holiday holiday home parks across Mid Wales and the Heart of England will be attending the show to help first time buyers find the ideal location for their holiday home or luxury lodge.
A team of experts will be on hand throughout the show to guide first time buyers through the complete process. Expert advice about towing touring caravans will also be available to ensure that customers are properly prepared before heading off on their holiday adventure.
The emphasis will be on family fun on both weekends of the show when there will be free entertainment provided by Hawkeye Falconry, a climbing wall and face painting for children.Coffees and teas sold to visitors throughout the 10 days will help to raise money for Severn Hospice, one of Salop Leisure’s adopted charities this year.
In addition to free parking and show admission, visitors will be able to specialist plants centre, Love Plants and the popular Love Coffee restaurant on site.


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Travis Scott has become a sage of collaborations, having been able to establish partnerships with companies such as Nike, Jordan Brand, McDonalds, Fortnite and more, and in 2021, the multiplatinum artist has aspirations to expand his business portfolio even further. . One such initiative includes a team with Anheuser-Busch titled ‘CACTI,’ a new line of agave spiked seltzers that will arrive in three fruity and refreshing flavors.
La Flame first teased the launch of the spirits brand in mid-December 2020, revealing the colorful designs on the cans, as well as the packaging of the lime, strawberry and pineapple options, all of which are inspired by great measure in tequila. The thirst-quenching seltzers are made in Los Angeles and will be available in 12 oz cans sold in an assortment of 9 in addition to the individual 16 oz and 25 oz cans.
To accompany the official announcement, Cactus Jack’s boss released a short video clip of him touring the CACTI Brewery headquarters to sample each flavor and see the thousands of drinks in production.
For those interested in stocking your fridge with the new beverages, you can expect them to hit the shelves starting March 15, 2021.
DISCLAIMER: We discourage irresponsible and / or underage drinking. Drink responsibly and legally.
In case you missed it, Scott was recently spotted wearing a fragment design, like the Air Jordan 1 High “Cactus Jack Royal.”


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Catalin Cimpanu reports:
Many brands of webcams, security cameras, pet and baby monitors, use a woefully insecure cloud-based remote control system that can allow hackers to take over devices by performing Internet scans, modifying the device ID parameter, and using a default password to gain control over the user’s equipment and its video stream.
In the last nine months, two security firms have published research on the matter.
The privacy implications are enormous
All these rebranded devices use the same Gwelltimes cloud service and Gwelltimes app (named Yoosee) to let customers manage devices. The Yoosee app has over 1 million installs through the Google Play Store alone, meaning that millions of video streams can be easily accessible through this service.
“Obviously, the device and the cloud service is not GDPR compliant,” SEC Consult said. “Here we have a Chinese company that is never mentioned anywhere, developing insecure products and sending our most private information home to their Chinese servers.”
Read more on BleepingComputer.


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POWAY, CA (PRWEB) July 02, 2012
Anderson Direct Marketing (ADM) has been named the number 18 direct marketing Agency in the nation by DM News, the industry’s leader in direct marketing coverage. This is the 3rd year that ADM has been recognized, and has moved up three rankings this year, from 21.
“It’s an honor to be recognized as one of the top 20 direct marketing agencies in the nation,” said Scott Hopkins, Executive Vice President of ADM. “It is thanks to our associates’ continued loyalty and hard work, as well as our strategic vision, outstanding customer service and first in class services that make ADM one of the top agencies in the U.S.
With ADM’s commitment to ROI and quality, its unrivaled corporate culture, and exceptional creative campaigns and overall capabilities, ADM is truly exceptional. Featured companies were selected based on an array of categories such as revenue, client list, and employee turnover.
About Anderson Direct Marketing:
Anderson Direct Marketing is a vertically integrated direct marketing company providing complete campaign development and production services in house. Services include campaign strategy and development, creative, media and lists, database, data processing, e-marketing, SEO and SEM, direct mail and collateral production, digital and offset printing, lettershop, response capture and ROI analysis. ADM is ranked as one of the top 20 DM agencies in the country by DM News. For more information on ADM visit: http://www.andersonDM.com.


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On Tuesday, Smith and Wesson reported they tripled their earnings last quarter and raised it’s outlook for the rest of the year . The company reported $17.5M in the quarter ending January 31, which is up $5.4M from the same quarter last year.
The results were driven by “continued robust consumer demand for
firearms,” said Smith & Wesson CEO James Debney, who singled out
sales of the company’s Military & Police pistols and “modern
Smith & Wesson said it expanded production in the quarter and has been at maximum capacity for a year. “Despite these capacity increases, the company was unable to meet the ongoing demand across all of its firearm product lines,” the company said in a press release.
Obama seems to be doing right by at least one industry.


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In a recent update, OnePlus enthusiasts have been treated to a fresh set of renders for the highly anticipated OnePlus 12. These new images provide a more accurate representation of the device, as they are based on real-life photos of a pre-production unit, as opposed to earlier renders derived from prototype information.
One noticeable change in the design of the OnePlus 12 is the absence of the previously spotted periscope zoom lens. Instead, the device boasts a primary, ultra-wide, and telephoto camera setup, with the LED flash located externally. Additionally, there is an enigmatic new sensor on the camera island, the purpose of which remains shrouded in mystery. The front of the device houses the selfie camera, while the back sports OnePlus’ signature sandstone finish, a distinguishing feature that has become synonymous with the brand.
According to available information, the OnePlus 12 is expected to sport a 6.7-inch OLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate. Under the hood, it is rumored to be powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor, coupled with up to 16GB of LPDDR5X RAM and 256GB of storage. The device is slated to launch in China in December of this year, with a global release set for February 2024, aligning with OnePlus’ established launch strategy.
Opinions on the design of the OnePlus 12 may vary, but it’s reassuring to see the company committing to a design language that can serve as its identity. In an era where smartphones often lack brand consistency, OnePlus appears to be remedying the issue by maintaining a recognizable design, providing continuity and a sense of cohesion among its product lineup. This approach is sure to resonate with fans and enthusiasts eagerly awaiting the OnePlus 12.


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Australian scientists will be testing 2-D printed solar panels to power a 15,000 km journey on a Tesla Model 3.
Part of the Charge Around Australia (CAA) project, the solar panel-powered Tesla will journey across the country in September. This, according to the team, can potentially help Australians in their decision to switch to electric vehicles by easing range anxiety.
“(The) community is seeking these sorts of answers to the problems it’s being presented with, day in, day out, around climate change,” said Professor Paul Dastoor, the inventor of the printed solar panels.
The panels are made from lightweight, laminated PET plastic that can be made for less than $10 a square metre. They are made on a commercial printer originally used for printing wine labels.
During the 84-day journey, CAA founder Stuart McBaine and his team will be visiting around 70 schools to share with students the potential that these printed solar cells hold.
Each 18 meters long, these panels will be rolled out next to the vehicle to soak up sunlight when the vehicle needs charging.
The team will be testing both the endurance of the panels as well as its potential performance for other applications.
“This is actually an ideal test bed to give us information about how we would go about using and powering technology in other remote locations, for example, in space,” Professor Dastoor said in a report.


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Justin Bieber is NOT worried about him and Selena Gomez as he is convinced that he and his lady will get back together!!
This comes after he was flirting with Victoria’s Secret model Barbara Palvin after his performance at the fashion show.
But new reports have said that just has Selena has broke up with Justin many time it has not been publicized and they got back every time.
But after a long chat Selena has came to the decisions that they can not get back together.
But the new reports out today say that the pair are back together so we will just have to see what happens with these teen lovers!
One Direction’s Harry Styles was having fun at London Fashion Week.
The teen singer was dressed in a suite with a grey blazer and white shirt. When Harry was watching the models down the runway he sat along side Dita Von Teese then they both made their way to the after party at The Serpentine Gallery!
Kim Kardashian was spotted in Paris to support her friend Kanye West.
She was right at the front at Kanye’s fall presentation on Tuesday night she was sporting $6,000 shoes.
Kim posted on Twitter about the shoes saying:
I j’adore my shoes tonight!
Do you like Kims look??


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- Next-generation Holden Colorado previewed
- New Holden Trax set to be revealed
- View the latest Holden news and reviews
Holden has shown off new special editions of its Trax baby SUV, Colorado 7 SUV and its Colorado workhorse ute.
Holden's special edition seven-seat Colorado 7, dubbed Trailblazer, is based on the range-topping LTZ variant.
The four-wheel drive borrows its masked headlights from the Colorado Z71, while also benefiting from styling updates including a body-coloured roof spoiler and Trailblazer side badges and rear decal - a move that signals a potential name change for the next-generation seven-seater as previewed by the recent concept shown at the Bangkok motor show and designed by Holden.
The Colorado 7 Trailblazer also gains new 18-inch alloy wheels, carpet floor mats and a protector.
Holden is offering the special edition at a price of $48,990 driveaway, which is slightly more than the driveaway price now being offered for the LTZ variant.
The pint-sized Trax Active is based on the base LS variant, but has some extra gear and a few styling alterations thrown in for good measure.
Top of the list of goodies is new 17-inch alloy wheels, electric sunroof and roof racks. It also gets chrome exterior door handles and, of course, an Active badge to help differentiate it from the LS.
The Trax Active is priced at $23,990 driveaway, which is roughly comparable to automatic version of the base LS.
It is still powered by the same 1.8-litre four-cylinder petrol unit that is good for 103kW and 175Nm.
Holden is also revisiting its special edition Colorado Storm from last year, by offering a new 2016 variant.
The four-wheel drive dual-cab ute is based on the penultimate LTZ variant. It scores new 18-inch alloy wheels, black nudge and sports bars and a Storm branded bonnet protector along with carpet floor mats and Storm badges on the rear doors.
The Storm edition adds an extra $500 to the price of the Colorado LTZ.


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The British pound beat the peso in Argentina to a title, but it is one no one would want: the worst performing currency in the world.
The pound plunged 14% versus the U.S. dollar since the vote in the United Kingdom on June 23 to leave the European Union.
The pound is down 12% since the beginning of 2016 and is trading the lowest it has traded in 31 years.
Analysts expect the pound to fall even further from its current level to around $1.29. One French bank has a target for the medium term for the pound of $1.23.
George Soros said prior to the vote on Brexit that the pound might drop to lower than $1.15.
The pound has fallen because investors have become worried that the UK could drop into a recession because of huge political and economic uncertainly triggered by last month’s vote. Surveys that have been published since the vote June 23 suggest that consumer confident has all but collapsed.
The very cheap pound had become very good news for international tourists visiting the UK, but it is already making things much more expensive for Brits. Vacation prices and prices for gadgets are already seeing price increases.
The pound is worse thus far in 2016 than any other of the major currencies. The peso in Argentina is off 11.7% thus far in 2016 versus the U.S. dollar.
Argentina for years has been fighting deep economic problems. The second largest South American economy managed growth of only 0.5% during its first quarter in comparison with the same period one year ago.
The peso in Mexico is down 7% during 2016, while the rand in South Africa has dropped 5.7% and the yuan in China, which had its worst ever quarter versus the dollar, is down by 2.9%.
American tourists are flocking to the UK for summer vacations. Langham Hotel one of the UK’s luxury hotels in London costs £200 per night. That was over $450 prior to the Brexit votes, but is only $387 a night today.
The Queen’s residence Buckingham Palace is open during the summer to the public for tours. This makes for a perfect destination for tourists. A pair of tickets to visit Buckingham, its different state rooms, the Queen’s gallery and the royal mews costs £74. That price was $111 only two weeks ago, but is now $95.40.
Black cabs in London cost £20 for a trip through the city center. On June 23 that cost was $30, but is now just $25.75.


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FLORIDA, UNITED STATES, March 6, 2024 /EINPresswire.com/ — CookinGenie, the leading online marketplace connecting local personal chefs with households, is excited to announce its expansion into Florida. Following its successful operations in Ohio and Kentucky, this move marks CookinGenie’s commitment to bringing convenient private chef services to even more communities.
After thriving in the Ohio cities of Cleveland, Cincinnati, and Columbus, as well as expanding into Kentucky, CookinGenie is now poised for further growth in Florida. With Miami as the first stop, CookinGenie is gearing up to extend its reach to the cities of Tampa and Orlando, bringing its convenient and innovative personal chef services to more households in the state.
The private chef industry has been booming, with more people seeking personalized culinary experiences. CookinGenie has been at the forefront of this trend, empowering local chefs and simplifying the process of hiring a personal chef.
With its launch in Miami, Tampa, and Orlando, CookinGenie aims to support the vibrant culinary scene while boosting the local economy. By providing a platform for chefs to showcase their talents and connect with customers, CookinGenie is not only enhancing the dining experience but also fostering culinary entrepreneurship within the local chef community.
Customers in Florida can now easily hire talented personal chefs through CookinGenie’s user-friendly platform. From intimate gatherings to special occasions, CookinGenie takes care of all the kitchen chores, allowing hosts to enjoy their event without the stress of cooking and cleaning.
CookinGenie offers a diverse range of cuisines, catering to various tastes and dietary preferences. Whether it’s American classics, Mediterranean delights, or Asian fusion, customers can find the perfect chef to create a memorable dining experience.
“We’re thrilled to bring CookinGenie to Florida and provide residents with access to top-notch personal chefs,” says Sabah Drabu, CEO and Co-Founder of CookinGenie. “Our mission is to support local talent and make hiring a personal chef as easy as possible. Miami’s vibrant food culture makes it the perfect location to start our expansion.”
Executive Chef George Zappas shares the excitement, stating, “Florida is known for its diverse culinary scene, and we’re excited to be a part of it. This expansion allows us to showcase the incredible talent of our chefs and deliver exceptional dining experiences to residents of Florida.”
CookinGenie’s expansion underscores its commitment to revolutionizing the private chef-for-hire market nationwide. With its user-friendly platform and dedication to supporting local talent, CookinGenie is set to redefine how people experience dining at home.
Originally published at https://www.einpresswire.com/article/693728247/cookingenie-personal-chef-services-now-available-in-florida
Images courtesy of https://pixabay.com


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GM to Announce New Michigan Investments
at Detroit Economic Club
· Chevrolet Volt electric drive unit to be built in Warren, Mich.
· Michigan established as GM’s global center of excellence for vehicle electrification
DETROIT –Today at the Detroit Economic Club, General Motors Co. (NYSE: GM) CEO Mary Barra will confirm that the company’s Warren Transmission Plant will build the electric drive unit for the second-generation Chevrolet Volt. That means most major Volt powertrain components – from its battery cells to its range-extender – will be made in Michigan, establishing the state as the company’s global engineering center of excellence for vehicle electrification.
At the same time, Barra will announce capital investments of nearly $300 million in Michigan between now and the end of the year. Details will be announced later.
“We must provide the breakthrough technology that our customers want,” said Barra. “Our investments in the Chevy Volt and Michigan signify our commitment to lead the industry in technology and innovation.”
Since 2009, GM has announced more than $11 billion in investments in the United States, with almost half of that investment committed to Michigan.
In addition, GM has worked with its UAW partners to develop initiatives that will lead to more than 22,600 jobs in the United States. This hiring has begun and will continue over the next few years, and many of these jobs will be based in Michigan.
Approximately $1.82 billion in capital has been invested in projects dedicated specifically to vehicle electrification.
· GM’s Brownstown Township facility is the country’s first high-volume lithium-ion battery pack manufacturing site operated by a major automaker.
· The Chevrolet Volt and Cadillac ELR are assembled at GM’s Detroit-Hamtramck assembly plant.
- GM’s Flint Engine Operations will build the 1.5-liter, four-cylinder range extender for the Volt. The unit is part of an all-new engine family.
· Warren Transmission will build the GM Voltec Multi-Mode Electric Drive Unit, which allows the Volt to drive in pure electric or extended range electric mode.
Battery cells for the Volt and ELR are produced by LG Chem in Holland, Mich., and the Volt’s vehicle’s electric motors will also be made in the United States.
Within the first year of production, about 70 percent of the Volt’s parts will be made in the United States or Canada, which GM believes is the most for a plug-in or conventional hybrid.
· Since the Volt was launched in 2010, owners driving in pure electric mode have helped reduce gasoline consumption by more than 25 million gallons.
· Based on a GM study of more than 300 2011-2012 model year Volts in service in California, many owners exceed the EPA-rated label of 35 miles of EV range per full charge, with about 15 percent surpassing 40 miles of range.
· Volt owners who charge regularly typically drive more than 970 miles between fill-ups and refuel less than once a month. The 2014 Volt provides owners with EPA-estimated fuel economy of 98 MPGe (electric) and 35 mpg city/40 mpg highway on gasoline power.
· Nearly 70 percent of Volt buyers are new to GM. The Toyota Prius is the most frequently traded-in vehicle for a Volt.
· Volt is the most successful plug-in electric vehicle in the United States, with cumulative sales of more than 69,000 vehicles.
General Motors Co.(NYSE:GM, TSX: GMM) and its partners produce vehicles in 30 countries, and the company has leadership positions in the world's largest and fastest-growing automotive markets. GM, its subsidiaries and joint venture entities sell vehicles under the Chevrolet, Cadillac, Baojun, Buick, GMC, Holden, Jiefang, Opel, Vauxhall and Wuling brands. More information on the company and its subsidiaries, including OnStar, a global leader in vehicle safety, security and information services, can be found at http://www.gm.com.
# # #
In this press release and in related comments by our management, our use of the words “expect,” “anticipate,” “possible,” “potential,” “target,” “believe,” “commit,” “intend,” “continue,” “may,” “would,” “could,” “should,” “project,” “projected,” “positioned” or similar expressions is intended to identify forward-looking statements that represent our current judgment about possible future events. We believe these judgments are reasonable, but these statements are not guarantees of any events or financial results, and our actual results may differ materially due to a variety of important factors. Among other items, such factors might include: our ability to realize production efficiencies and to achieve reductions in costs as a result of our restructuring initiatives and labor modifications; our ability to maintain quality control over our vehicles and avoid material vehicle recalls; our ability to maintain adequate liquidity and financing sources and an appropriate level of debt, including as required to fund our planned significant investment in new technology; the ability of our suppliers to timely deliver parts, components and systems; our ability to realize successful vehicle applications of new technology; and our ability to continue to attract new customers, particularly for our new products. GM's most recent annual report on Form 10-K and quarterly reports on Form 10-Q provides information about these and other factors, which we may revise or supplement in future reports to the SEC.
Bruton Motor Sports News


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2020 has been… a lot. As people’s mental and physical health suffer, self-care has surged in popularity. But forget about the countryside walks and long baths because a different sort of self-care is predicted to take over in the new year: v-care.
The beauty of self-care is that it can mean almost anything to anyone, with the only definitional requirement being that it preserves or improves one’s own mental, physical or emotional health. A nationwide survey commissioned in August by The Body Shop revealed that self-tanning and luxury baths have been some of the nation’s favourite self-care activities during the COVID-19 lockdown, with millions extra in spending on self-tanning products, whilst the average person has spent an extra 15 minutes in the bath each month.
One thing missing from the survey’s findings, however, is the time spent on vaginal self-care (or v-care for short). Perhaps a reason v-care is often overlooked is that, honestly, it gets some bad press. Between Gwenyth Paltrow’s controversial jade egg claims and debates about whether or not too many hot baths are bad for your vagina, it has wrongly gained a diva-like reputation in recent years.
But it’s time to get comfortable with your vagina, as Stephanie Taylor, founder of the pelvic healthcare company Kegel8, and intimate health expert, predicts that in 2021 this will all change. Here are some of her predictions for what v-care trends we can expect to see.
V-beauty at home
Subjecting our intimate areas to tough hair removal rituals — including shaving, waxing and lasering — can upset or damage the sensitive skin over time. Even just wearing tight underwear can lead to issues like chafing, yeast infections and UTIs if bacteria and moisture become trapped against the skin.
Luckily, health and beauty brands are beginning to take notice of the gap in the market for accessible v-care products that women can use at home. 2021 will see products including intimate sheet masks and nurturing soothing balms being added to pamper-day wish lists.
Let’s talk about discharge
A viral TikTok video this year helped to start a conversation on the important (but often avoided) issue of discharge, teaching women all over the world why their discharge may be staining their underwear.
Vaginas have a different pH level to the rest of our body, with a healthy range being between 3.8 and 4.5, which is moderately acidic. Before menstruation and after menopause, a healthy pH tends to be higher than 4.5.
At times you may find bleach spots in your underwear if your vagina and its discharge are too acidic. But it is absolutely nothing to be embarrassed about and does in fact happen to a lot of women. Your vagina is generally pretty good at re-regulating itself but if this is something you regularly have issues with, try upping your intake of foods containing natural probiotics (including yoghurt). Alternatively, you could try investing in probiotic supplements containing ‘lactobacillus’ but do book an appointment to see your GP or a gynaecologist if your symptoms persist.
Investing in pleasure
Though self-pleasure is nothing new or ground-breaking, speaking up about it certainly is. Only in the last few years, women have finally been able to talk about masturbation, breaking down the taboo.
This year has seen some high-profile celebrities work to remove the stigma around female self-pleasure. Lily Allen released her own line of sex toys in October, with a mission to normalise conversations around women ‘deserving amazing orgasms.’ Just weeks later, Cara Delevigne announced that she had joined sex toy company Lora DiCarlo as co-owner and creative advisor.
In 2021 we will see even more influential women open up about self-pleasure, which will help encourage more women to talk about female self-pleasure without guilt or shame.
Pubic hair is back in fashion
Pubic hair trends have changed dramatically over the years, from the decade of ‘the bush’ in the 70s to the rise of the minimalist Hollywood wax in the 90s and noughties.
With salons forced to close for most of 2020 due to lockdown restrictions across the UK, many women were left with no choice but to embrace the au naturel look and grow out their intimate hair. We can expect this newfound freedom to certainly stick with us in 2021.
2021 will be the year of the pelvic floor thanks to the rise of at-home fitness regimes and increasing numbers of high-profile women opening up about their personal experiences.
Sales of pelvic floor toning and “Kegel” devices soared in 2020 as more women became aware of the importance of this type of training. This little-known muscle group holds all your pelvic organs in place and protects you against bladder incontinence, prolapse, and an unfulfilling sex life. Looking after your pelvic floor should be an important part of your daily routine, and a priority for the new year.
Words by Talya Honebeek, with thanks to Kegel8.
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Taiwan PV manufacturers delivered above-average financial results in January 2015. Although SAS’ sales revenue slightly decreased compared to last month, other tier-one manufacturers’ increased in contrast to previous month. Below is a summary of major Taiwan manufacturers’ sales performances from November 2014 to January 2015:
The sales performance for Tainergy turned out to be better than other companies from November to December 2014. Its earnings per share (EPS) may continue to grow and become the highest among all PV cell manufacturers in 2014. Meanwhile, Tainergy has put most of its effort in Vietnam cell mass production to maintain its shares in the US market after the US-China trade war.
Due to the increased Chinese demand, the sales revenue for both Giga Solar and Giga Storage hit record high in January 2015, reaching NT$1.057 billion and NT$1.294 billion, respectively. Giga Solar indicated that the shipments for all three types of pastes grew simultaneously under the strong market demand. Among all, positive silver paste with high gross margin represented about 60% of the total sales revenue. In addition, global silver prices have reflected a downtrend, leading to Giga Solar’s above-average sales performance in January; Giga Storage pointed out that it has begun to stock up despite the fewer working days in February caused by the Lunar New Year. It is expecting high sales revenue and profits in 1Q15.
Affected by the US anti-dumping and countervailing duty, Motech’s unit prices remained weak. Hence, it’s suffered from losses in 4Q14. Motech emphasized that it is positive about the cooperation with Topcell Solar and strong growth is likely to take place this year. In comparison with Motech, NSP had a relatively stable performance in 4Q14. NSP said it will continue to expand its downstream PV solar systems to stabilize the profit.
Green Energy announced its consolidated revenue in January – NT$1.538 billion, a 16.7% rise MoM. It shows that high-efficiency wafers did not impact by the US-China trade war and continued to be the focus. Green Energy further indicated that it will put more effort in the end-user market. By establishing strategic partnership with other cell manufacturers and Gintung, it can expand to downstream markets. In the meantime, the sales revenue for Solartech and Danentech increased 0.5% and 1.5% in January 2015, respectively.
SAS’s consolidated revenue in January 2015 reached NT$2.392 billion, a 3.8% drop from the previous month. Its sales revenue generated from PV segment was NT$1.035 billion, which grew 45.2% from the same period last year. SAS is positive about the growth in the PV market and will increase its capital expenditure and labor cost within the PV segment this year. In fact, SAS has already started to hire in Ilan and Hsinchu, Taiwan.


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Container transportation lane will operate from Jubail Commercial Port
The new line for container transportation will operate from the Jubail Commercial Port through the global shipping line Hyundai Merchant Marine.
Saudi Ports Authority (Mawani) has launched a new shipping lane between the kingdom and East Asian countries.
The new line for container transportation will operate from the Jubail Commercial Port through the global shipping line Hyundai Merchant Marine (HMM) and partly in agreement with the alliance consisting of Hapag-Lloyd of Germany, OEN of Japan, and Yang Ming of Taiwan, according to a report by the Saudi Press Agency.
It will serve industrial companies in Jubail and Ras Al-Khair.
A statement by SPA said: “The new shipping line will contribute to linking the Jubail Commercial Port with East Asian ports, in addition to opening direct lines for shipping and exporting national products, increasing the quantities of handling in Saudi ports, in addition to facilitating and accelerating direct import and export operations from East Asian countries and increasing trade exchange.”
Arabian Business magazine: Read the latest edition online
Source: Read Full Article


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Instagram and Pinterest are two of the most popular social media outlets in today's market and are each worth billions of dollars. But now the apps are looking to use their access to millions of people to make more money for other businesses.
It was recently announced that both Instagram and Pinterest will be implementing a buy feature. The in-app purchasing feature will allow users to view advertisements for items and instantly purchase them, making them digital shopping centers via e-commerce payments.
Pinterest is a scrapbooking application that allows users to pin things they'd like to make, find and, most importantly in this case, buy. In five short years, Pinterest has become one of the most popular applications in the world with 70 million monthly active users and 50 billion pins across 1 billion boards, according to the Los Angeles Times. Given this growth in popularity, many feel that the next step for the application would be to make things that users pin available for instant purchase.
"What's next for Pinterest?" co-founder and chief executive Ben Silbermann said to the Los Angeles Times at Pinterest's San Francisco headquarters. "Whenever we have to face that question, we talk to pinners. People want to buy things on Pinterest."
Becoming the middleman for businesses and shoppers
Pinterest plans to roll out the new feature by the end of June, when pinners will be able to see blue price tags on pins, which they can tap on to find the price, color options and available sizes of the product, as well as any other important information. The user will then be able to purchase the product either through credit cards or Apple Pay.
Once the item is purchased, both the order and payment are sent directly to the retailer and they'll contact the user with delivery information. There will be no fees for the Pinterest user or business they ordered the item from.
This system will change how Pinterest is used, given that users were previously only able to collect images of items they'd want and have to purchase them on another website. This new buy feature makes Pinterest a convenient middle man between the two.
Oddly enough, Pinterest won't claim a percentage of the sales made with its new feature, which should encourage more businesses to use the service. However, Pinterest may use the fact that they didn't take a cut to convince these same retailers to pay for premium advertising.
Upon launch, there will be 2 million products available for purchase from major retailers such as Macy's, Neiman Marcus, Cole Haan, Nordstrom and many more.
While Pinterest is moving toward becoming a middleman of the e-commerce market, Instagram looks to join it. The picture- and video-sharing application announced that it will introduce more advertisements geared toward users' interests. With the help of Facebook, which purchased Instagram back in 2012, Instagram will direct advertisements to users and allow them to have control in what kinds of advertisements they're shown.
With both an increasing of advertisements and the addition of a buy button, Instagram adds itself to a growing number of websites and applications looking to grow the e-commerce market.
"We're excited to bring Instagram ads to more advertisers," the company said, according to the Los Angeles Times. "Businesses are important members of our community and we look forward to learning what works together."
Members of the e-commerce community feel that this decision could be a major game-changer in regards to the future of the shopping industry as a whole.


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New Haven, Conn. (WTNH) – Although you might have noticed a slight increase in gas prices in the past week, prices at the pump are significantly lower than they were during Memorial Day weekend a year ago.
According to Triple A, the average price for a gallon of regular unleaded in Connecticut is one dollar and ten cents less than it was last year. Those lower prices are one reason Triple A expects more than 37 million Americans to drive more than fifty miles during the upcoming holiday weekend. That’s an increase of more than five percent over 2014.
The travel agency also expects more of us to take planes, trains and buses than a year ago.


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By Ava Lee ’21
On Wednesday, January 20, 2021, President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris’ inauguration went down in history forever; however, one fascinating, yet less discussed, aspect of the day was the fashion choices.
To start off, we have what the internet described as the “iconic” trio: Vice President Kamala Harris, former first lady Michelle Obama, and current first lady Dr. Jill Biden. These three powerful women looked ever classy in modest but modern, jewel-toned outfits.
Kamala Harris appeared on Inauguration Day in an elegant, midi length, purple pea-coat. The look may seem simple, but there is actually a lot of meaning behind her monotone purple look. To start off, historically, presidents, first ladies, and vice presidents wore outfits made by white American designers. This year, our Vice Presidents’ look was made by designer Christopher John Rodgers. Rodgers is a black designer and his work usually revolves around the avant garde silhouettes and bold colors. Since arriving in Washington, Harris made a clear effort to support more black designers. Additionally, the color purple is often seen on Harris because of its representation in the women’s suffrage movement. Overall, the look was classy and outside of the box.
Next up, former first lady, Michelle Obama. Michelle Obama continued the monotone, jewel tones with a floor length magenta coat, high-waisted magenta pants, and a deeper magenta turtleneck sweater. In my opinion, this look perfectly combined some trendy styles with the classy tone Michelle always follows. Michelle even matched her black leather gloves to her black mask. Clearly, purple tones were a theme of the evening, and aside from the women’s suffrage movement, the color also represents bipartisanship. Michelle’s outfit received a record amount of attention as a simply iconic look, attracting more attention to the inauguration events.
First lady Dr. Jill Biden entered with her husband, President Joe Biden, in a fresh, blue, monotone outfit. The energy in Dr. Biden’s dress and coat brings a sense of hope and brightness to the overall message many people wanted to put out that day. Dr. Biden’s outfit actually caused some upset because of the designer she decided upon. Dr. Biden chose Markarian, a small New York fashion company, to dress her for the day. Alexandra O’Neill, founder of Markarian, designed Biden’s intricate tweed dress and knee length matching coat. Similar to how Kamala brought attention to black designers, it was important that Jill brought attention to female designers in a male dominated industry. Her look was accessorized by traditional pearls and matching blue gloves and mask.
In addition to her daytime attire, Dr. Biden attended the nighttime events in, again, a matching coat and dress. This matching white coat and dress had all of the U.S state and territory flowers embroidered on it, including the flower of her home state closest to her heart. The intention of the dress was to demonstrate the unity First Lady Biden plans on bringing to the country. The outfit was designed by Gabriella Hearst, another female designer.
Dr. Jill Biden was not the only member of the Biden family to show up more fashionable than ever. Natalie Biden, grandchild to Joe and Jill Biden, caught eyes from many in a pink dress, scarf, coat, and mask. Of course, she followed along with the monotone theme of the day, but her outfit was quickly spread among Gen Z as a jaw-dropping, on-trend look. The look would not be complete without her brown, tall boots. As people watched her stand out among seas of seemingly boring outfits, Twitter exploded with people “stanning” the sixteen year old as a new fashion icon.
Vice President Kamala Harris’ step-daughter, Ella Emhoff, attended the events in a sophisticated brown-toned, plaid jacket. She stood out in the jacket due to its beautiful shoulder detailing and large white collar. Inside, Ella showed off a beautiful burgundy, floor-length dress. Meena Harris, Kamala’s niece, wore a mostly green outfit. This look included an emerald dress, a green jacket lined with fur, and a patriotic mask. Meena added some sparkle to the look with heeled, sliver, glitter boots. Both young women showed their personal style through classy and stylish outfits, and they even ended up matching!
Many knew from the start the night would be remembered forever, but between Michelle Obama’s high-fashion statement and Bernie Sanders’ infamous mittens, the fashion displayed throughout the night showed the new energy that is hoped to be achieved soon.


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New year off to a rocky start for some restaurants
We really didn’t want to be writing about this in February 2020.
We hoped all the difficult news for independently owned restaurants – businesses closing and owners walking away from the industry – was reported in November and December. Yet, this remains the most common headline of the new year and impossible to ignore: Restaurants are struggling and even closing – in many communities and in high numbers.
In this story from Spectrum News 1, shared here in The Daily Prep List on Jan. 7th, one business owner in Santa Monica, California, laid out the reasons why so many businesses are having difficulty hanging on, pointing to “the minimum wage, the high cost, the high rents, the taxes.”
Four hundred thirty miles north of that city, small business owners in Santa Rosa are also struggling. Gerard Nebesky, owner of Gerard’s Paella Y Tapas, told Eater that he’s closing his restaurant, which has been the victim of “restrictive parking and a burgeoning homeless population.”
If you missed that story, shared here on Jan. 29th, you can check it out here: Well-Known Chef Blames Santa Rosa Officials for His Restaurant’s Demise.
In California, it’s not just coastal cities where small businesses are struggling. In Sacramento, more than a dozen restaurants have closed or announced they’re closing in the last three months. In fact, the struggle isn’t isolated to California.
Some restaurants in Arizona made news in January when they added a surcharge to their guest checks as a way to offset the new wage increase mandated by Proposition 206. You can read more here.
In a recent survey, shared here from Restaurant Dive last month, 48% of operators said rising labor costs are a top barrier to improving operations. Employee turnover can also be costly, and was on the minds of the survey respondents.
Let’s hope February brings better news. We know that it’s likelier that any new restaurants will operate a limited-service rather than full-service model. Limited service may mean fewer jobs than full service, but that’s better than the alternative, which is that all these dark, empty store fronts will be replaced by no one at all.
The Daily Prep Team


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A year after Ikea chests tipped over and fatally injured two boys, the Swedish furniture giant and safety regulators say consumers should keep the furniture - 27 million chests and dressers - away from children unless the products are mounted to a wall.
Ikea is offering a free kit to help consumers affix the furniture to a wall. The kit will be available to people who bought chests and dressers above specific heights, including 7 million of Ikea's Malm chests.
"They are unstable when built and used without a wall anchoring device," said CPSC spokesman Scott Wolfson.
The furniture maker, along with the Consumer Product Safety Commission, issued a repair program to provide a wall anchoring kit for 7 million of their MALM 3, 4 or 6 drawer chests, as well as 20 million other IKEA chests and dressers.
IKEA says the furniture can pose a tip-over hazard if not securely anchored to the wall.
The announcement comes more than a year after the death of two-year-old Curren Collas of West Chester, Pa. He died in February 2014 after a MALM 6-drawer chest tipped over and pinned him against his bed.
The other child died in June, 2014. He was a 23-month old from Snohomish, Wash.
The CPSC says a child dies every two weeks and a child is injured every 24 minutes in the U.S. from furniture or TVs tipping over.
Ikea isn't offering a refund or telling customers to return the furniture to its stores, and says customers don't need proof of purchase to get the kit. It described the move as a "corrective action" and said it has been working with the CPSC on the announcement for six months. The agency said that time period included a review of Ikea's repair kit to make sure it wouldn't make the problem worse.
The CPSC has announced several other dresser recalls this year as part of a campaign intended to warn parents about the risks of furniture that can tip over, but none approached the size of Wednesday's recall.
To receive a free wall anchoring kit, visit an IKEA retail store or call (888) 966-4532.
For more information:
Announcement on CPSC.gov
(Some information from the Associated Press.)


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“My concerns with regards to the metaverse are that investments are more akin to drilling for oil wells — you might come up empty-handed, you might strike it rich,” said Brian Yacktman, chief investment officer of YCG Investments, which oversees more than $1 billion in assets…… Yacktman still owns Meta shares, but his firm hasn’t added …
“….so long as we have business being conducted in the world people are going to want to issue debt to lower their cost of capital. And so, these guys, [Moody’s and S&P Global] we view them as just having an evergreen cash flow and that they have pricing power on that Global debt issuance industry because of that Global Network effect, that global language that they’ve created…”
“We view them pretty much like All-Weather stocks regardless of the outcome you pick. They seem to be fairly robust and we view them frankly, as Global Champions with enduring pricing power and a long runway for growth because they essentially act as a toll-taker on global insurance GDP.”
“Sometimes, the best investment opportunities are those where there is a temporary problem, but you can see that the business is sustainable and will come out the other side stronger,” says Brian Yacktman, founder and president of YCG Investments. “Estée Lauder is a global champion that checks every box for us.”
“The market has entered more of a casino mentality than ever before,” said Brian Yacktman, chief investment officer of YCG Investments, which oversees close to $1 billion in assets. “Anytime momentum is disrupted, it makes people start to question what they’re buying and what they actually own.” Yacktman’s investments include Microsoft, Facebook and Alphabet, and he hasn’t been selling …
“So, we think that the best recipe in this environment is to focus on owning a collection of Global Champions that have, ……….. very dominant Network effects, where it allows them to have pricing power.”
“…over the long run travel should continue to maintain its share of GDP, and in fact, actually grow its share of GDP and Booking essentially almost acts like a toll taker on the travel industry due to their powerful network effects.”
“This is a time of unprecedented uncertainty,” said Brian Yacktman, chief investment officer at YCG Investments. “What we’re seeing is a complete ping-pong match with markets bouncing around so much because nobody knows how things will shake out in the short run.”
Brian Yacktman “……we have found there’s just great value in fishing in a pond that stacks the odds in your favor by investing among very high-quality businesses………So, we’re looking to invest in the very few businesses that have the ability to charge a premium to their competitors’ offerings, even if they were to offer a virtually identical product or service, because there’s something unique about their business or their value proposition……”
Elliott Savage: “Banks we view as a great hedge because they’ve actually been hurt by all these declines in interest rates, and so , if we think banks can survive deep recessions, and also provide that hedging ability for the rest of our portfolio then we think it’s a really positive thing.”
YCG Investment’s President, Brian Yacktman, discusses luxury with Liz Claman on Fox Business Countdown to the Closing Bell. Luxury stocks like LVMH, Hermes & Richemont have global brands that are recognized across the world which enables them to have enduring pricing power because of this network effect.
“Brian Yacktman talks about some of YCG’s portfolio holdings: Copart, Inc. (CPRT), MSCI, Inc. (MSCI), Moody’s Corp. (MCO), and Mastercard Inc. (MA).”
“YCG Investments President Brian Yacktman discusses his brand-name stocks in relation to Nordstrom’s new store in Manhattan.”
“Cosmetic companies aren’t completely immune to tariff threats, but people are more willing to spend money on personal-care products in times of economic uncertainty, and they’re typically one of the last things that people will cut back on,” said Brian Yacktman, President and Chief Investment Officer at YCG Investments.
Brian Yacktman talks about investing opportunities driven by fear.
With a recent wave of IPOs, “it’s a unicorn stampede, and there’s a massive backlog of many more still yet to come,” says YCG President and CIO Brian Yacktman. “But I think there’s a lot of hype that gets built into investor mentality, like a casino mentality.”
“We started the year on edge, but Powell has shown that the Fed will be accommodative,” said Brian Yacktman, president and chief investment officer with YCG Investments. Yacktman said some of the concerns about China may be overdone. He noted that even though Apple has been hit by weaker demand for iPhones in China, other consumer companies are holding up well, such as Starbucks (SBUX), luxury giant LVMH (LVMHF) and cosmetics comapny L’Oreal (LRLCF). His firm owns stakes in LVMH and L’Oreal.
Oracle will likely need to constantly acquire businesses to transform and grow, and we don’t know whether or not they’ll be wise stewards over the capital they spend trying to achieve that growth,” Brian Yacktman, chief investment officer and portfolio manager of YCG Investments, told CNBC in an email. “But so far, after all that …
Brian Yacktman, chief investment officer of YCG Investments, which owns over $5 million worth of Facebook shares. “He’s [Zuckerberg] hugely incentivized to keep Facebook strong, not to mention the fact that Facebook is his creation and legacy.” Yacktman also praises Zuckerberg for delegating at Facebook so that he can spend time on outside initiatives, including …
This past weekend YCG, LLC (“YCG”) marked 10 years of operation. YCG is an independent investment advisory firm wholly owned by its principals Brian Yacktman, Will Kruger, and Elliott Savage. “We believe the unique option component separates us from other strategies in the marketplace,” says Will Kruger, Principal and CEO of YCG…Starting an investment business …


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Dubai: In the last week before the US Thanksgiving holiday, investors will be keeping an eye out for US Federal Reserve’s minutes from October and for more signs on how the world’s biggest economy is holding up.
Ahead of a final rush of Fed speeches preceding the final Fed meeting of the year, global indices ended last week on a positive note, whirling to multi-year highs on fresh US-China trade deal hopes.
President Donald Trump’s most influential economic adviser, Larry Kudlow, said that the world’s top two economies have made “very good progress” amid “constructive talks” aimed at ending their 16-month trade dispute. Wilbur Ross, the US Commerce Secretary noted that there would be no deal until there was a “deal on everything.”
“We’re getting close,” Kudlow said. “The mood music is pretty good, and that has not always been so in these things.”
Analysts at FAB Securities reiterated in a note that comments from Kudlow helped boost investor sentiment. “Higher than expected retail sales data and China’s lifting of a five-year ban on US poultry imports also underpinned the rebound.”
Oil indices too ended the week on a high footing as markets shifted to riskier assets following the latest Sino-U. S. trade news, Investors are hence expected to keep an eye on oil price movements the coming weeks.
“The outcome of trade talks between both countries will push and prod oil prices over the next few weeks and we would caution that markets have previously priced in an imminent deal only for policymakers to subvert it with new, stringent requests,” said Edward Bell, a commodity analyst at Emirates NBD Research.
Saudi Aramco’s initial public offering (IPO) is also expected to remain in focus, particularly in the Middle East. Analysts say that in the coming week markets will witness a ripple effect as a result of huge demand seen from local investors to get a bite out of the mammoth IPO on Saudi Arabia’s Tadawul.
“I believe the optimism will continue throughout the coming weeks which will follow the global markets rally and confidence,” said Mohamed Zidan, Chief Market Strategist for ThinkMarkets in Dubai. “The remaining liquidity from the IPO will be injected to the markets again”.


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On September 3, 2015, a new law went into effect prohibiting many private sector employers in New York City from requesting or using an employee’s or applicant’s consumer credit history. Unless one of the limited exception applies, employers may not ask employees or applicants about their credit status, bankruptcies, judgments or liens, and using any consumer credit history information. Additionally, as of October 27, 2015, New York City will regulate employers’ use of criminal history for pre-employment screening.
Both of these changes in the law will require most employers operating in New York City to revise their initial employment application forms to eliminate credit history or criminal history questions from such forms and to re-evaluate when and how they seek such information, if at all. In this regard, New York City joins a host of other jurisdictions that have been active in regulating the pre-employment use of credit or criminal history, including California, Connecticut, Hawaii, Illinois, and a host of cities through out the U.S.
Failure to follow these restrictions can be costly. Lawsuits filed by the EEOC alleging violations of the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) relating to background checks, have resulted in significant settlements including a $3 million settlement announced recently involving a major supermarket chain, as well as a $1.75 million settlement, covering approximately 30,000 individuals, involving a popular restaurant chain.
For more information. please see the article entitled “Criminal Background Checks: Damned If You Do, Damned If You Don’t” (Parts I and II) in WFCA’s Premier Flooring Retailer (March/April and May/June 2014).


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‘Meet the new board of directors’ was the headline in the Globe and Mail above a photo of Chrysler workers in jeans and t-shirts. As part of a rescue plan, the United Auto Workers (UAW) will obtain 55% of Chrysler shares and a seat on the board in exchange for lower pay and less generous benefits. Some describe the deal as a major victory for the union, whereas the Financial Times describes it as ‘less a victory than a coming-to-terms with reality’.
In what many consider as a highly unusual deal, the union has become a partner in a government-supported plan to revive Chrysler after bankruptcy. The New York Times observes that the UAW membership at the Detroit car factories has shrunk to a quarter of what it was in 1990, but that it still has ‘tremendous influence’ in Washington, partly because of its ‘heavy political contributions’.
According to the Financial Times, the influence of the union on the company will remain limited and it will likely be ‘less confrontational at the board table than at the negotiating table’, if only because as a shareholder, it will have an interest in making the company profitable.


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As the Detailresult Group sees its revenues rise, Albert Heijn and Jumbo expand their range of meal solutions and Deen set out to open three new stores, we round up news from the country.
Detailresult Group enjoys rise in revenue and profit in 2015
According to reports in Financieele Dagblad, Detailresult Group has seen its turnover rise to €2.03 bn in 2015, from €1.99 bn in 2014. The retailer’s store base has remained flat in 2015; although 16 Dekamarkt stores have been converted. The turnover growth in 2015 continues a period of expansion for the company, which generated a turnover of €1.94 bn in 2013.
Albert Heijn tests Allerhande boxes in-store
Albert Heijn has begun to make its Allerhande Box available in-store, with the initial launch price for the product being at €10. Shoppers who buy one of the boxes, which provide all the ingredients for a meal for two, will be asked for feedback on their purchase, with the chance to win an additional box.
Jumbo to roll out new store design, focus on prepared food
Distrifood reports that Jumbo is set to roll out a new look and feel for its core estate, taking learnings from its Foodmarkt business into the wider portfolio. The store design will see Jumbo add new, more premium fixtures and expand its pizza offer. The publication reports that Jumbo is set to add a sushi offer in some 200 stores as it looks to compete for shoppers’ demand for prepared meal solutions.
Deen adds three new stores
Regional supermarket chain Deen Supermarkten has announced it is set to open three new stores in Beverwijk, Amsterdam and Harderwijk. Following the expansion Deen will operate 79 stores in the country.


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Sustainable solutions for mono-material films and vacuum technology by Syntegon Technology can offset environmental concerns surrounding coffee cultivation.
Few luxury foods have endured in its popularity as coffee. People around the globe enjoy the versatile beverage. Consumers not only value delicious coffee but are growing increasingly concerned with the product’s environmental impact, and that largely depends on its packaging waste. Thus, alternative packaging concepts that protect the planet just as well as coffee beans are on the rise.
Sustainable packaging has swiftly gained awareness in Asia in recent years. Here, coffee has not only been grown for several centuries and exported all over the world; it is also becoming increasingly popular among Asian consumers, especially with young people. In Indonesia, for example, the domestic coffee consumption has quadrupled since 1990. For 2019 and 2020, the country has consumed 4.8 million 60kg bags of coffee1. With these increasing quantities in mind, consumers demand for eco-friendlier concepts to balance out environmental factors of coffee cultivation, leading to an increasing engagement of manufacturers in developing sustainable solutions.
The full article can be found on Food & Beverage Asia’s October/November 2022 issue here.


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Samsung Galaxy S21, The leaked photo revealed every colour and hue the device may come in.
Previously rumoured colours for the S21 (Phantom Violet, Phantom Pink, Phantom Grey & Phantom White), the new leaks by Roland Quandt show the same selection of colours for the S21 Plus- as well as another solid red hue.
The tweet above also reveals five possible colors for the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra – more than the Phantom Silver we’d heard before.
Note the cross-hatching on the camera block corner of three of those hues, a detail we hadn’t seen before. Perhaps more important: Quandt labeled these as ‘Custom Colors,’ implying that these may not come to all regions.
Quandt’s second tweet had another pair of images that showed the standard S21 colors and repeated the S21 Ultra’s hues from the first tweet.
While neither show colors we haven’t seen before, we now have the most complete collection of potential Samsung S21 options we’ve seen thus far.
The last couple weeks have been rife with info about the upcoming Samsung S21 phones, from confirmation of the January 14 launch date to details on pricing, which suggest the whole range may be cheaper than last year’s phones, though they might trim some specs to get there.
More rumors are emerging about the S21 Ultra’s distinguishing features, like that it could be the first Samsung phone with a display supporting WQHD resolution and 120Hz refresh rate at the same time.
Further, hints that the premium phone will support the S Pen sounded more real as renders leaked showing regular and folio cases with slots to house the stylus.
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Employee charged with stealing more than $25,000 from Assumption business
PIERRE PART- A woman was arrested after it was discovered she had allegedly stolen thousands of dollars from her employer.
According to the Assumption Parish Sheriff's Office, 36-year-old Danielle Fuller was arrested Wednesday.
On Dec. 28, deputies began an investigation into a potential theft at a Pierre Part business. The store manager had contacted authorities to report a suspected theft by an employee which they believed persisted over a period of time.
Through an investigation, Fuller was identified as a suspect. The sheriff's office says she was found to have stolen a significant amount of cash through deceptive and fraudulent practices.
Fuller was booked into the Assumption Parish Detention Center on charges of theft valued at over $25,000 and one count of identity theft.
Authorities say no customer information was used or compromised during Fuller's crimes.
Fuller remains incarcerated in lieu of a $30,000 bond.
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Facebook suspends another data firm for possible violations
Trump content with slow roll on North Korea
Acura RLX gets new look, but will it be enough to compete?
11 August 2017, 10:35 | Joann Bryant
2018 Acura RLX Refreshed
The RLX's hood also has been reshaped, and its rear end gets new LED taillights and a black lower diffuser with two large exhaust tips.
"This redesign of the 2018 Acura RLX is transformational, creating road presence and styling that better reflect underlying performance capabilities of the vehicle", said Jon Ikeda, Acura vice president and general manager, in a statement.
Interior updates include more premium materials and touchpoints as well as all-new seats, which now feature contrast piping and stitching.
I'm skeptically excited, and I'm really happy Acura found a corporate grille that doesn't suck with that new down-pointing pentagon.
When it goes on sale in November, the 2018 RLX should carry a starting price similar to the $55,400 and $60,900 it commands today for the standard V-6 and Sport Hybrid versions. This model now gets a 10-speed automatic transmission that Acura says improves acceleration and passing performance. Instead of the front axle, however, two of those motors are on the rear axle and they give the vehicle all-wheel drive.
Acura will roll out a refreshed 2018 RLX sedan during the Monterey Car Week that incorporates similar changes made to the smaller TLX sedan and MDX crossoverSUV.
The first Acura RLX debuted in 2013 as a replacement for the range-topping RL sedan. Like the NSX supercar, it uses a 3.5-liter V-6 engine and three electric motors.
A new Traffic Jam Assist feature is a significant addition to the RLX's standard AcuraWatch bundle of active safety features.
Like the current model, the AcuraWatch suite of safety tech is standard which includes adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, lane keeping assist, and other tech you'd expect to find in a auto in this class.
Other features, including adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assistance and automatic emergency braking are still included.
The 2018 Acura RLX is complimented by three new exterior colors including two premium paint offerings - Brilliant Red Metallic and Majestic Black Pearl.
Acura has not announced official pricing the sedans.
Pep praises speed of City's transfer deals
The City boss says that transfer fees can not continue to grow at the current case and expects them to level off at some point. He said: "We were favourites last season and missed out by 15 points, so being favourites this season means nothing".
Ancient infant skull yields insights into human-ape lineage
Faces resembling gibbons evolved independently in several extinct monkeys, apes and their relatives, the researchers say. Most fossils from more than 40 known extinct ape species amount to no more than jaw fragments or a few isolated teeth.
No Man's Sky Atlas Rises Update Details
Your snazzy visor that you use to scan and tag the various flora, fauna and aliens in No Man's Sky has had quite the upgrade. Players can build their standing with numerous NPC guilds and unlock more hard , more rewarding missions.
Jose Mourinho's verdict on his chase for Gareth Bale
It is said no player in the Madrid first team has a release clause lower than €500 with players in the youth tea, already on €300. Not taking them caused us to suffer a bit at the end. " But we gave them a good fight ".
SoundCloud shareholders vote today on its future
If it's rejected, SoundCloud CEO Alexander Ljung suggested that the company would not be able "to continue as a going concern". Axios yesterday pegged the new round at $170 million , describing today as SoundCloud's "do or die day" to seal new funding.


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Direct online ad sales company isocket has received $8 million in a Series A round of funding. Foundry Group, the venture capital firm known for its online advertising investments in companies like Admeld, Triggit, Medialets, LinkSmart, and Trada, led the investment. New investor Costanoa also joined, with participation from seed investors DFJ, SoftTech, Accelerator, Quest, and Blumberg Capital.
In a further move, Seth Levine, managing director of Foundry Group and James Beriker, former VP for Yahoo Display Advertising and chief executive of Efficient Frontier and Dapper, are joining isocket’s board of directors.
“I have said before that I think we’ll look back at 2012 as a key year where programmatic direct advertising really began to take hold,” said Levine.
“Isocket has a unique and refreshing vision for how to drive real progress in the online ad industry. While a large amount of time, energy, and investment has gone into taking friction out of remnant inventory, very little focus has been paid to applying modern technology to the premium side of the display ecosystem. Direct ad sales should be easier and more fluid – and as a result more profitable for both publishers and advertisers – than existing tools allow for,” Levine added.
Isocket’s aim is to make the direct sales of online advertising easier for advertisers and publishers, explained John Ramey, the company’s chief executive and founder. Premium advertising, traditionally bought and sold by hand or through email attachments, represents more than 75 percent of all online advertising dollars. However, over 90 percent of the technology built in the last decade has been in the unsold “remnant” ad inventory segment, including ad exchanges, SSPs, DSPs, real-time bidding, and private exchanges. The result, Ramey said, is a major industry segment that has been grossly underinvested, with little advancement since the birth of online advertising.
Over 1,500 publishers ranging from AOL, Reuters, and Gawker and thousands of advertisers from Salesforce, BMW, and AppSumo are using isocket. The company’s newest product is BuyAds Pro, an application designed to tackle the needs of large-scale professional media buyers interested in planning and purchasing programmatic direct advertising. For the many situations where DSPs and RTB are not the appropriate method to buy online ads, particularly direct “guaranteed” buying, BuyAds Pro offers professional advertisers a large catalogue of publishers, with one-click ordering.
“Since we launched in 2009 with our first publisher TechCrunch, the isocket team has been focused on bringing the best technology and product principles from other areas of the web to the lagging advertising space. There’s no reason buying a premium online ad should have 900 percent more overhead cost than buying a comparable TV ad. Our mission is to fix that,” said Ramey.
Mark Liao, recent VP business operations and VP operations finance for the Americas at Yahoo, will also join isocket as the company’s chief finance officer.
“At Yahoo I had a unique perspective on the very real pain and needed solution for premium web publishers like Yahoo. I saw firsthand the need for more technology in direct sales, primarily to balance out all the solutions built for remnant buying that usually aren’t the right ways for publishers to sell their best inventory,” said Liao
He continued, “The next big opportunity in online advertising is making the process of selling premium ad inventory easier for both buyers and sellers by replacing the spreadsheet with APIs and web apps. When direct ad buying and selling get easier, the tide will rise for everyone – advertisers get digital access to higher quality, guaranteed inventory, while publishers are able to properly monetize their best inventory.”
New Top-Level Domains (TLDs) have become more popular in the last couple of years, so here’s everything you need to know about them.
Amazon Prime was launched in 2005 as an express shipping membership program and more than a decade later it has tens of millions of subscribers who enjoy a lot more than just free, fast shipping on millions of products Amazon sells.
Sure, some apps are doing personalized push notifications, but what happens when your users are in the app?
Since cloud computing first gained mainstream attention around 2009, its popularity has exploded. Promising increased efficiency, flexibility and cost-effectiveness, it was hailed as the ultimate business solution. But are users seeing the benefits?


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Just for typing amen to a prayer and sharing her testimony months after, a bride to-be, Busola will be having an all-expense paid wedding.
On the 10th of September, 2018, media personality, Tomike Alayande shared her proposal picture and said a prayer for whoever wanted such blessings.
“That kind of blessing that made an award-winning foodie like me see food but couldn’t lift a fork not to talk of eat (because I was too filled with joy) is coming your way this week in Jesus name!!!” she wrote.
Many of her followers, including Busola said amen.
In December 2018, Busola prayers were answered as her fiancé proposed to her. Sharing the testimony with Tomike, Busola linked her engagement to Tomike’s prayer.
Upon sharing Busola’s testimony, vendors started sending messages to Tomike on what they would like to gift Busola for her wedding. From event planning, wedding dress, accessories and even cash gifts, Busola’s wedding will be taken care of free of charge.
This is amazing !
Check out messages of vendors asking to contribute to Busola’s day.
Even her groom was offered gifts


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The UK has helped to prompt a boom in European crowdfunding and peer-to-peer (P2P) lending, according to new research from the University of Cambridge’s Judge Business School.
While the UK remained the largest alternative finance market in Europe by far, at €5.6bn (£4.9bn), the rest of Europe began to play catch-up as it grew its own market by 101 per cent, the data from the university’s Centre for Alternative Finance showed.
Though this meant the UK lost market share, senior research manager Tania Ziegler said it was a positive story for the country which was showing signs of consolidation in a maturing market.
“Europe is growing from a much lower base so you are going to see much more rapid growth,” Ziegler said.
“It’s slower growth in the UK but that’s because we have seen consolidation, and the platforms that are active are very strong incumbents. It isn’t much of a worry because it’s a case of Europe catching up.”
Ziegler added that the UK “has been ahead because of innovation and a regulatory regime that has allowed innovation to grow”, which other countries are beginning to learn from.
France came second after the EU in the size of its online alternative finance market at €444m, followed by Germany and the Netherlands. Some of the more surprising rankings included Finland at number four and Georgia at number seven.
Excluding the UK, Estonia ranked first for alternative finance volume per capita for the second year in a row, at €63, followed by Monaco and Georgia.
P2P consumer lending accounted for the largest portion of alternative finance in Europe at 34 per cent, followed by P2P business lending, invoice trading, equity-based crowdfunding and reward-based crowdfunding.
Source: City A.M.


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No-one can please all the people all the time, but not pleasing most people most of the time is a tricky predicament to be in.
Ever since the Europeam Union announced the Waste Electronic and Electrical Equipment (WEEE) directive in 2003 there has been much chagrin from the channel.
Environmental issues are the most fashionable topic of the moment – green is the new black – and the channel is in a prime position to help reduce every UK company’s carbon footprint.
However, no-one quite understood that being green could mean wading through swathes of so much red tape. Coupled with the time-consuming and mostly unnecessary red tape is the additional hit to the bottom line that many SMEs will face once the WEEE directive comes into force on 1 July.
As it stands SMEs will have to pay someone to dispose of their equipment for them, a cost many SMEs cannot absorb. If more small businesses collapse under the weight of these costs, the knock on affect to UK plc will be dramatic. Now one organisation has been proactive enough to try and do something about the situation.
The Independent Trade Association of Computing Specialists (ITACS), backed up by the Federation of Small Business and the National Association of Specialist Computer Retailers, is stepping in. Launching an online e-petition on the government’s web site today, the organisation is hoping to change the rules by going directly to Gordon Brown.
The WEEE directive has been a contentious issue in the channel. The directive is rife with ambiguity and there has been little in the way of explanation from the government. If channel players unite and sign this petition we could at least ensure that some of us are pleased about something.
To sign the petition go to: http://petitions.pm.gov.uk
Deloitte has been appointed as administrators for the struggling distie
It's been announced that billionaire tech pioneer Paul Allen died on Monday from non-Hodgkin lymphoma
Your latest edition of CRN
Air-IT founder Todd McQuilkin imparts the first 10 of his golden nuggets for MSP owners


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At Dakshinapan's Biswa Bangla store, prices have fallen across a range of sarees and readymade garments. Though the price of the lowest-priced garments remain unchanged, those above Rs 3,000 have witnessed a drop of Rs 300 to Rs 500. The higher the range, the steeper the fall, explained the store managers. A matka silk saree that would cost Rs 14,999 earlier is now available at Rs 13,000.
Khadi and Village Industries Commission appears to be among the worst affected by GST. “We are offering a 20% festive discount like every other year. But the impact is getting diluted as the GST is automatically increasing the price,“ said store manager, Amal Saha. Though the increase is marginal, it looks sizeable when one buys an expensive item or in bulk. “While a Rs1,000 saree will only have a Rs 50 increase, a kanjeevaram of Rs15,000 will cost Rs1,800 more,“ explained chief of Lepakshi, K Rohini.
In branded stores, new line of merchandise and price tags have come in. While some stores say there is no hike post-GST, there are many where prices have dropped. Others are working around the festive discounts to give the maximum benefits to their customers.
In United Colours of Benetton, buyers won't have to pay GST on the entire amount.“They will first be given the benefit of the discount. GST will be charged on the discounted price,“ informed store manager Tanuja Gurung. At Turtle too, a new line of T-shirts have been launched at Rs 995. Earlier the starting range for the same quality garments was Rs 1,395, said the store manager. “While there is a marginal increase in some products, there is a fall in others.While the Rs 3,299 range of jeans is now Rs 3,499, the one priced Rs 3,799 is now Rs 3499,“ said Jahid Anwar of Levis. In Louis Philippe stores, prices of 80% products have fallen. Readymade shirts that were priced Rs 2,499 are now available at Rs 2,299.“The new pricing has been done for the festive season to increase sale volume and allay post-GST fears. The margin is low but the firm will take a hit for now,“ said Sumit Das of Louis Philippe.There are tags on every shelf of Body Shop saying there is no change in MRP post-GST.


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The board of Eterna Plc has assured that the company is optimistic on its future outlook having employed innovative and trusted procedures to achieve business efficiency, The Nation reports.
Speaking at the annual general meeting in Lagos, Chairman, Eterna Plc, Lamis Dikko, said the company has established a proven strategic framework to sustain profitability in the years ahead. He added that the firm has engaged in major product updates through new licenses, renewal of existing licenses and the relaunch of its newly packaged lubricants.
He said the company has successfully acquired the sole licence to distribute and blend Castrol brand of Automotive and Industrial lubricants in Nigeria. He also stressed that the firm gives special attention to building both external and internal relationships, adding that such relationships minimize inefficiencies and aggressively increases sales and market penetration.


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Mebane, N.C. – (April 16, 2008) – ArcaTech Systems (www.arcatechsystems.com),a leading supplier of transaction automation solutions for the financial, retail and self-service industries, is pleased to announce the appointment of Kirk Nelson, OEM sales director, to the Self-Service & Kiosk Association (SSKA) Advisory Board.
“I’m honored to have been selected to serve on this board,” said Kirk Nelson, OEM sales director for ArcaTech. “Having worked with hundreds of manufacturers around the world, I am excited to be able to bring this broad perspective to the association. With the rapid expansion of self-service devices in our daily lives, this is a very exciting time to be part of this industry.”
The SSKA is the only professional membership association serving the needs and promoting the interests of companies engaged in the self-service and kiosk industry. With members worldwide, SSKA is in a unique position to provide a collective voice for the industry, encourage effective and ethical business practices, and promote the growth and health of industries throughout the world. th Nelson joined ArcaTech Systems in 2001 as a project developer with a decade of business development experience. While at ArcaTech, he has helped develop new markets involved with original equipment manufacturers. In 2005, Nelson became the OEM Product Manager and currently manages the OEM sales team, vendors and manufacturing partners.
“ArcaTech has enjoyed tremendous success and growth in the financial industry and is seeing an increasing demand for its cash automation technology in the retail industry,” said Halpin. “I’m excited to work for a company that is a leader in cash automation solutions, and to continue working with the many contacts I’ve made through the years in the retail industry to provide them with new solutions for doing business in the 21st century.”
ARCA is a global leader in cash automation technologies with a reputation for delivering reliable products with the shortest lead times in the industry and a commitment to excellence in service and support for the life of our products. Financial institutions, retailers, and OEM self-service and kiosk manufacturers all over the world rely on ARCA products to streamline their cash operations and save them time and money while increasing the efficiency and security of cash. Visit arca.com for more information.


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NY – King Kirby Ale Launch Party
Ron Marz, Paul Harding, Tom Raney, Fred Van Lente, Crystal Skillman, and more appear at the Shmaltz Brewery on Thursday August 28th from 4:00 – 8:00 PM!
Shmaltz Brewery in Clifton Park, NY will host a fundraiser birthday party on Thursday, August 28th, 2014 to celebrate the late Jack “The King” Kirby’s birthday. Kirby is considered by many to be the co-creator (along with Stan Lee) of the Marvel Comics Universe. Kirby co-created many of the superheroes being adored by fans of Marvel’s recent blockbuster movies, including the Avengers, the Hulk, Captain America, Thor, the Fantastic Four and many more.
A group of local comic professionals approached Shmaltz about doing an event, with proceeds to be donated in Jack Kirby’s honor to Hero Initiative, a non-profit organization that helps comic creators in need. Shmaltz stepped up in a big way, creating a limited-edition, Kirby-labeled ale exclusively for the party. King Kirby Ale will make its debut at the event, and a limited number of cases will be available for purchase. With a special edition label designed and drawn by Clifton Park artist Paul Harding, the ale will be available in both Pale and Dark varieties. Shmaltz is donating a percentage of ale sales to Hero Initiative.
“I tried to capture Kirby from an angle that few have seen before, in a way that people can actually look up to him and get a sense of his artistic power,” said Harding, who has sculpted statues and action figures for DC Comics and many other comic-industry clients.
The Aug. 28 event will run from 4 to 8 p.m., and feature an impressive array of comic professionals, including Ron Marz, Paul Harding, Tom Raney, Fred Van Lente, Crystal Skillman and many others, who will be signing and sketching for donations to Hero Initiative. Van Lente and Skillman are the co-authors of the recent play “King Kirby,” about Jack Kirby’s life, which enjoyed a successful, well-reviewed run in New York City. Fans attending the party will be able to get autographs and sketches from the comic pros, and enjoy a beer tasting as well as a piece of special Jack Kirby birthday cake. Live music will be provided by Saratoga-based rock ensemble Sugar Pill, led by virtuoso John Stack on guitar and vocals. Party tickets are $20, with proceeds donated to Hero Initiative. Door prizes have been donated by Comic Depot of Saratoga Springs, and Excellent Adventures Comics of Ballston Spa.
6 Fairchild Square, Clifton Park, NY 12065


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In recent days since a deal was signed for the acquisition of Golan Telecom Ltd. by Electra Consumer Products (TASE: ELEK) the pace of subscribers abandoning the company has risen. The company lost a net of 70,000 subscribers in 2016. Given the uncertainty about prices in the market, the fact that more subscribers are leaving Golan Telecom should surprise no one.
Golan Telecom lost 200 subscribers a day in the week before the deal, but the pace picked up last week. Last Wednesday, for example, the company shed 400 subscribers, and more than 600 on Thursday.
Despite the natural uncertainty about the deal, Golan Telecom subscribers should not feel any difference in their packages or rates; they should be receiving services as normal. It is possible that the subscribers leaving the company are afraid that their prices will rise, and they want to ensure attractive packages now. Another possibility is that the competing cellular companies could be redoubling their efforts to attract Golan Telecom's customers, while taking advantage of the period of uncertainty.
Published by Globes [online], Israel Business News - www.globes-online.com - on January 8, 2017
© Copyright of Globes Publisher Itonut (1983) Ltd. 2017


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TYLER, Texas — An East Texas veterans home is asking the community's help in mailing cards to their residence for Valentine's Day.
Watkins-Logan Texas State Veterans Home's director of activities, Christina Randolph is asking locals to shower the veterans with Valentine's cards this season.
"We have found that the psychological benefits of getting a card during a special holiday season is just massively rewarding for these guys," Randolph said. "A lot of our guys served overseas and so they would get letters from home, mom or dad would write, the wife, the kids and they were used to that. Having the same thing happened in their golden years is phenomenal for them and makes them feel like they're still in touch with the community and the world that they serve to protect."
Randolph urges card senders to sign the cards with their names and address so their veterans can send a letter back thanking them.
"Some of our guys are going to want to respond, they're going to want to say thank you for sending that letter of joy and kindness," Randolph said. "So it's always a good idea to have a return label so that we can say thank you.
The veterans home is looking forward to receive many letters for Valentine's Day this year.
Send your Valentine's cards to Watkins-Logan Texas State Veterans Home, 1466 Honor Lane, Tyler, Texas 75708.
In past years, the home has received anywhere from 1,500 to 2,000 Valentine's card but this year they want to hand out more cards!


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Bombardier has order for 10 C-Series jets, options for 10 more
Dec 20 (Reuters) - Canadian plane and train maker Bombardier Inc said on Thursday Latvia's airBaltic has placed a firm order for 10 C-Series jets, with an option for up to 10 more.
The company said the deal is worth about $764 million, or up to $1.57 billion if all of the options are exercised.
- Islamic State threat 'beyond anything we've seen': Pentagon
- Oklahoma City policeman arrested for raping women while on patrol
- U.S. says Russia must pull convoy from Ukraine or face more sanctions |
- Exclusive: Apple iPhone 6 screen snag leaves supply chain scrambling |
- Gaza gunmen execute 'collaborators'; mortar kills Israeli boy |


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TMZ Goes To The Silver Screen
(image via nestelklik)
TMZ, the site who gave us "firecrotch" -- not literally, mind you -- is coming to a small screen near you. From Paidcontent:
"Time Warner grabbed the pre-NATPE spotlight with the announcement of a syndicated entertainment news show based on oh-so-hot TMZ.com, the AOL-Telepictures JV that launched in late 2005. The company hopes to also grab a brass ring that has been elusive for years: a web2tv success. (The TV show was in the JV’s long-term plans; the online success may have pushed up the timing.)The half-hour daily strip already has been sold by TW’s Warner Bros. Domestic Television Distribution to the Fox O&Os, which should give it presence in NYC, LA and Chicago for a planned fall 2007 premiere; Fox has 35 stations in its O&O group and recently rolled out a MyFox format for its local sites. It’s a multi-year deal. Among the selling points—a proven internet brand and promises of a broadband-broadcast combo. Release. Some details:
"-- Among the online elements being promised: exclusive TMZ content; a branded TMZ module for station front pages; full integration into the station’s site; updates 24/7.
"-- For broadcast, TMZ for TV plans to provide a 254/7 newsfeed with branded reports and unedited footage the stations can use.
"-- Plans calls for a show as edgy and timely as the site. Words being tossed around include 'irreverent' and 'young skewing.'"
Let's hope the contract limits the amount of screen-time that the bloated and oily brandon Davis gets. Otherwise, imagine 5 million Nielsen families in unison wiping their tv screens with moist towelettes, trying to "get the oily off."
The full story here.


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Latest Ubiquiti vulnerability #
Earlier this year, Ubiquiti, a popular networking equipment manufacturer for businesses and consumers, disclosed a security breach that potentially exposed customer data. However, recent news indicates that the reported breach was intentionally and severely underreported, and the potential impact was much greater than disclosed. You can read the Krebs article for more in-depth reporting of the breach and its potential impact.
Right now, it's critical to audit and find Ubiquiti devices. After you've identified these devices, consider:
- Changing the passwords and enabling 2FA, if you haven't already.
- Ensuring the devices are on the latest firmware.
- Deleting and rebuilding your device profiles from scratch, if you want to be absolutely certain your systems are not impacted by this breach.
Finding Ubiquiti devices with Rumble #
Rumble users can quickly find Ubiquiti devices in their inventory with this handy pre-built query. This query searches for any live asset that has Ubiquiti as the vendor, hardware, or OS, and it also searches for the UBNT protocol.
alive:t AND (vendor:Ubiquiti OR hw:Ubiquiti OR os:Ubiquiti OR protocol:ubnt OR names:unifi OR names:ubiquiti)
Try Rumble #
Don't have Rumble and need help finding Ubiquiti devices? Start your Rumble trial today.