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Business leaders question use tax push
Though business groups have yet to take a stance on the use tax measure facing voters in November, some business leaders are questioning who will be affected most by the tax and whether the message coming from local government leaders is genuine.
The Columbia City Council and the Boone County Commission voted last month to place a use tax measure allowing local governments to tax out-of-state purchases on the Nov. 7 ballot. Use taxes are collected on items used or stored here but purchased elsewhere.
City and county officials have said a local use tax would allow local governments to collect tax on internet purchases from out-of-state vendors if Congress and state lawmakers pass legislation to no longer exempt online purchases from sales taxes. This exemption and the increasing popularity of online shopping have caused stagnant sales tax revenue growth in the city and county, officials have said.
But approval from voters in November won’t solve the issue and the immediate burden would be on businesses already paying the state use tax, said David Parmley, owner of The Broadway Hotel. He said he’s not opposed to a local use tax, but doesn’t believe it will address the online sales issue entirely and it is being promoted as if it will.
“I think it’s very disingenuous how they’re proposing this,” he said. “They know very well this won’t change anything until” legislation is passed. “At this point, it’s only going to hurt the business who are complying now, who are paying” state use tax and “now we’re going to be paying a city tax.”
Second Ward Councilman Michael Trapp said a “yes” from voters in November gives the city and county momentum when lobbying for tax reform at the state and federal levels.
Officials have also promoted a use tax as a way to “level the playing field” between online retailers and brick-and-mortar stores and between local and out-of-state suppliers because consumers would no longer be able to avoid paying sales tax on out-of-state purchases.
Boone County Counselor CJ Dykhouse said the businesses currently paying state use tax will be the only businesses required to pay a local use tax if it is approved by voters. Individuals making more than $2,000 worth of out-of-state purchases in a calendar year must also file use tax returns.
“When we say leveling the playing field, it means for businesses engaged in sales at retail,” Dykhouse said.
While officials have said a use tax is needed because of slow sales tax growth, they’ve also mentioned the city and county will likely see most of the initial revenue from use taxes paid by businesses, using construction materials brought in from out of state as an example.
Boone County Auditor June Pitchford calculated sales in the county would have brought nearly $1.3 million in tax revenue annually on average in the past three years. The city’s 10-year average is $916,000 annually.
Michael McClung, chairman of the Downtown Community Improvement District, said he wonders if the tax would help local business and whether businesses will receive more scrutiny over tax collections with a use tax.
Businesses can be audited by the Missouri Department of the Revenue and are notified if the department believes they have use tax to report to the state, department spokeswoman Michelle Gleba said. She said the department also works with “external sources” to find individuals who might be subject to paying use tax, but local officials have said the state lacks enforcement for individuals. When asked for the number of individuals who filed a use tax return between 2011 and 2017, Gleba said the department doesn’t track the information.
“I’m not for or against the tax because I don’t think the right information has been put out there,” McClung said. “I don’t know of any individual person who has ever paid use tax. Every person I ask has no clue what it is. Anyone who owns a reasonable-size business knows what it is.”
Downtown CID Executive Director Katie Essing said in a letter to Mayor Brian Treece and the city council in August that the organization supported tax changes that create fairness for the local business communit, but requested any tax reform be “fair and equitable in order to avoid burdening local businesses.”
“A local use tax could potentially increase the cost of purchasing operating supplies consumed by the business operation, resulting in an unintended consequence,” Essing said in her letter.
The Downtown CID and the Columbia Chamber of Commerce have not decided whether to endorse the use tax. Chamber President Matt McCormick said the chamber's board will make its decision next month.
Carrie Gartner, executive director of the Business Loop CID, said the organization's board won’t take a stance on the issue.
An article Wednesday incorrectly reported that Boone County Counselor CJ Dykhouse said businesses paying state sales tax will be the only businesses required to pay a local use tax if it is approved by voters. He said businesses currently paying state use tax will be the only businesses also required to pay a local use tax if it is approved by voters.


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WS Moore, Sports Correspondent.
Recent Savannah State University graduate Marcus Scott attended the inaugural Name Image and Likeness (NIL) Summit, held June 13–15 in Atlanta at the College Football Hall of Fame.
The event, which drew more than 350 student-athletes, was hosted by Student Athlete NIL (SANIL) and sponsored by NIL platform INFLCR. One of the reasons for the summit was to equip student-athletes with the tools, resources and information necessary to maximize their outcomes, both in the near term and well after they are done playing sports.
Scott, who played on the men’s basketball team at Savannah State, said that the total experience of attending the summit was very valuable and that he was able to meet many different brand owners, including World Wrestling Entertainment’s Paul “Triple H” Levesque.
“I felt very blessed to have the opportunity to be a part of the first NIL Summit, and my experience would rate a 10,” he said. “I was able to connect with other athletes that were there, as well as the many brands they had there. I was surrounded by many successful athletes that were able to attend, and we made connections that help me to feed off their success as I helped them feed off mine.”
He went on to say that two things he gained from the event were knowledge and connections. “The knowledge will help me to grow my brand the right way and in a very strategic way, and the connections will help me to get into doors that may not be open to everyone,” he said. “I made some really good friends there that I still keep in contact with now, and we are all on the same laser-focus goal, which is to better ourselves as student- athletes by branding and marketing our skills.”
Scott recently started marketing his own clothing line, and he said the things he learned will help him do a better job of selling himself and his brand.
“The many different speakers we had that talked about several topics such as marketing, social media appearance and excelling in your sport made an impact on me that helped me to become even more focused on myself and my brand and helping to shape my future,” he said. Former NFL quarterback Tim Tebow was one of the more than 50 speakers at the summit.
“One of the most important things that Tim Tebow said that helped me with my brand was, ‘If you want to lead, don’t try to be liked. Try to be respected. There’s a big difference,’” Scott said. “I can apply to this to my basketball philosophy, which can also enhance my brand.” The NIL Summit was born of the idea of giving student-athletes from across the nation a platform to converge as a community of influencers and change agents, to share ideas and collaborate alongside the transformative brands and organizations shaping the future of college sports.

domain: news


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Battlegrounds Mobile India (BGMI) is reportedly obtainable to obtain on particular Android gadgets. Several customers on-line have noticed the once-tarnished battle royale sport on the Google Play Store, able to obtain with none prior date affirmation from writer Krafton. Gadgets 360 can affirm the identical, albeit solely via the net (browser) model — the title will not present up in a lot of the evaluate items of telephones now we have in our possession. Late final week, Krafton confirmed that the Indian authorities allowed them the resume operations of BGMI within the nation, following a 10-month ban over safety considerations.
It seems some customers have been capable of obtain BGMI on their gadgets and run it, so long as they use the Play Store URL to entry it. The sport is not natively listed on both Google or Apple’s app storefronts, and subsequently, will not present up if you happen to seek for it straight. That stated, customers who’ve managed to obtain the sport have not been capable of play it but because the servers are presently offline. “Server is not online yet. Please check the official news for further information regarding availability,” the warning message from a user’s screenshot reads. Speaking of availability, Krafton had merely acknowledged that BGMI will probably be obtainable within the nation ‘quickly,’ providing no additional particulars moreover merely being grateful to the Indian authorities.
At the time, Rajeev Chandrasekhar, Union Minister of State for Electronics & Technology added that BGMI had been accepted by the federal government for a three-month trial interval, throughout which the sport will probably be monitored to make sure there are not any problems with “user harm” or “addiction.” Moreover, the title is reported to be making a number of changes, beginning with a set playtime restriction — restricted to a sure variety of hours — that’s presumably geared toward reducing dependancy dangers. Gore additionally appears to be the goal, with the default color of blood being modified from purple to inexperienced or blue.
BGMI was solely pulled from the Google Play Store and Apple App Store in July 2022, beneath Section 69 of the IT Act. The transfer in flip closely affected the Indian e-sports business, which noticed a increase in cellular gaming when PUBG got here round. A BGMI match additionally aired on mainstream tv — couple of weeks earlier than the ban — with a prize pool of Rs. 1.5 crore, highlighting its demand within the nation. More just lately, Dead by Daylight Mobile was delisted from cellular storefronts with out offering an express purpose. However, we are able to assume it needed to do with the sport’s writer NetEase, which is a Chinese firm liable for distribution inside Japan, Korea, and South Asian international locations.
Currently, Krafton hasn’t offered any official launch particulars for Battlegrounds Mobile India (BGMI).


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Joey Campanaro, owner of the little owl, was as surprised as we were by a community-board report on Zagat Buzz that says he’s opening a new venture. “There will be a new restaurant from the team behind the little owl and Market Table called Penmanship…in the old butcher shop on 124 First Avenue, between Seventh Street and St. Marks,” says Zagat. Campanaro disagrees. “Someone may be doing a restaurant in the East Village, but it isn’t us,” he says. “We absolutely have nothing to do with it. It’s completely untrue. Nobody called to ask us, because we would have told them that. I wasn’t anywhere near a community-board meeting last night.” So who is behind this mystery eatery? What if it’s the Jonathan Waxman meat restaurant we heard about in April? We’ll investigate.
Clarification: Zagat Buzz has clarified its original report about Penmanship, a new restaurant in the East Village. The item mentioned a new restaurant from “the team behind little owl and Market Table,” which we inferred meant Joey Campanaro and Mike Price. In fact, Zagat was referring to Market Table’s GM, Gabe Stulman. He is a minority partner in both restaurants and will open this new East Village venture on his own. We are awaiting comment from Stulman.
Update: Neither Stulman or Campanaro will discuss whether Stulman is still the GM at Market Table. But if you call the restaurant and ask to speak to him, you are told, “He’s not around as much while he’s spending time on a new project.”


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Agencies are calling on out-of-home media owners to provide more digital inventory to trade programmatically, a survey of media buyers and specialists has revealed.
In its latest biennial State of the Nation global marketplace report, JCDecaux’s OOH programmatic trading marketplace, VIOOH, predicts 2020 will be the year programmatic digital out-of-home advertising will go "mainstream".
As a result of expected growth in programmatically traded DOOH, media agencies say they are beginning to change their team structures as they adapt to new ways of building and planning digital campaigns.
For example, WPP’s Group M is undergoing internal changes because DOOH now delivers a number of campaigns that are programmatic only.
Stuart Hall, managing partner, product, at Group M, said: "We have been impressed with the speed that our specific proposition has grown." Hall also thinks there will be a much larger range of panels available programmatically by the same time next year as more media owners get their integrations with supply-side platforms fleshed out.
Group M now has a "good number of clients" buying programmatic campaigns, with a strong pipeline going into 2019's final quarter, Hall added.
DOOH is growing at nearly twice the rate of the total OOH industry, according to the latest Advertising Association/Warc figures. The UK OOH industry was worth £1.21bn in 2018 and almost half of that (49.9%) was digital. In 2019, OOH is forecast to grow by 6.9%, compared with 13.4% for DOOH.
DOOH must outgrow 'London bubble'
However, media owners need to commit more to digitising "iconic and standout" sites, according to Mindshare UK’s joint heads of planning, Steve Ray and Emily Scovell, who complained that the industry is perpetuating a "London bubble" by not investing enough outside the capital.
Scovell said: "We want to see a massive increase in the digital network outside of cities. We are currently having to limit our innovative digital OOH planning to urban locations."
More investment in high-quality screens will provide massive potential for innovation, Ray and Scovell added, citing the London Underground's digital escalator ribbons as an example of a more fluid interaction between screen and audience.
Ray added: "Really, the essence of this wish is about reimagining what OOH looks like for our audience. Not everything has to be a rectangle or in fact one big screen."
Meanwhile, smaller direct-to-consumer brands are starting to turn to OOH because search and social media are getting expensive, according to Cécile Blanc, senior director, global solutions and innovation, at Xaxis.
She added: "As these new sources of revenues flow in, it will be easier for outdoor media owners to make the necessary investments to enable the next wave of programmatic OOH."
For others, client interest is naturally maturing as conversations around programmatic move away from "the pipes".
Joel Livesey, director of partnerships, EMEA, at The Trade Desk, predicted: "Programmatic pipes will become normal for digital OOH [in 2020]. That's not to say it'll become the go-to technology – we're still a way from that – but we'll be far beyond the industry-first stage we find ourselves in now."
Report’s key predictions for next year
Programmatic DOOH will go mainstream as agencies and advertisers transition from "test and learn" to a media plan "must-have"
Growth is happening as more programmatic trading of FMCG and DTC products look to build brand awareness and reach. Budgets will grow and flow from new sources as advertisers increasingly see it as a digital medium and DTC players see it as a brand-building opportunity
Trust will continue to convert new players: it delivers contextual, brand-safe environments as well as business results
Advertisers and agencies continue to see the synergies between DOOH and other mediums – such as mobile, with social and broadcast (such as podcasts) future big drivers
Agencies and platforms will increasingly change their structures to accommodate DOOH (as well as audio/addressable TV)
Media owners will continue to convert inventory, but at a pace too slow for many buyers
Jean-Christophe Conti, chief executive of VIOOH, added: "Programmatic in OOH is still in its early days and there are challenges with how to bring the best of this technology to the OOH industry. Luckily, we’re able to learn from the mistakes of other channels within the programmatic ecosystem to ensure a smoother integration."


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NEW YORK (GenomeWeb News) – Australian biomarker discovery firm HealthLinx said this week that the European Patent Office has rejected Sigma-Aldrich's objection to a patent issued to HealthLinx covering IgY immunodepletion technology.
The patent at the center of the dispute, EP1540304, is entitled, "Depletion of Plasma Proteins," and covers technology that is used in discovering protein biomarkers.
According to HealthLinx, it has been defending its patent position over the past 18 months. It noted that Sigma-Aldrich has a final opportunity to argue its position in September, but the firm is "confident that no additional material arguments can be presented by Sigma that would alter the EPO's decision."
Melbourne-based HealthLinx also said that it has a patent covering the technology in Australia and has offered Sigma the opportunity to license the technology. However, Sigma chose to withdraw its products that infringe the patent from the Australia market instead, it said.


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February 13, 2013
Condition One, the augmented reality app backed by Mark Cuban that lets users view videos from a 180-degree field of vision, just released its version 2.0 and Business Insider is “more impressed than ever.” The company, led by Academy Award nominated storyteller Danfung Dennis, launched an updated version that is “filled with cool new ways to watch video, particularly full high-def videos filmed with GoPro or RED epic cameras,” according to the article.
“Condition One works by taking distorted video shot with a wide-angle lens,” notes Business Insider. “The software then projects the video onto a dome that melts away distortion allowing users to see above, below, left and right.”
It targets “high-quality content creators” like businesses looking to add angles to videos aimed at consumers.
“Imagine a day when you can interact with a music video via Xbox Kinect and focus on the drummer instead of the lead singer,” says Condition One COO Andrew Chang. “Condition One’s software doesn’t provide the traditional lean back experience we’re used to.”
The flagship product is an immersive video player for the iPad and iPhone, but the company is also developing a Web player that will allow viewers to interact with videos via mouse.
The article includes an impressive 30-second video demo. The Condition One homepage also has a video featuring Dennis on the CES show floor.


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Just days after the tethered jailbreak of 5.0 for the Apple TV 2 was released, we have XBMC working hard to ensure that we don’t get left behind! If you were one the many users who happened to update your ATV2 firmware to iOS 5.1 you were likely saddened to discover that there was not yet a working version of XBMC 11.0 “Eden”. Well, your day has come. Memphiz and Davilla, a developers and team members of XBMC, has been working hard to patch the issues caused when trying to install XBMC over the latest 5.0 firmware update.
FireCore’s Seas0nPass has been updated to provide a tethered jailbreak for Apple TV 2 5.0 (iOS 5.1). Tethered jailbreak means that every time there is a need to reboot your Apple TV, you will have to connect it to a computer. Functionally, both tethered and untethered jailbreak are identical.
FireCore’s Seas0nPass jailbreaking tool has been updated for Apple TV 2 running latest firmware 5.0. It’s still a tethered jailbreak, meaning every time there is a need to reboot your Apple TV, you will have to connect it to a computer. XBMC, Plex, Remote HD, Rowmote and Overflow plugins are not yet working on AppleTV 5.0. Media Player, Couch Surfer, nitoTV, Last.fm, Weather, RSS Feeds and Maintenance are already supported. Non-working items require an author update for 5.0 compatibility.
Apple TV hacker and developer nitoTV has recently shared some thoughts on the Apple TV 2 5.0 (iOS 5.1) and Apple TV 3 jailbreak. According to him, without an A5 bootrom exploit being found, an Apple TV 3 jailbreak “will be an uphill battle.” That’s mainly because the “attack surface” on Apple TV is much smaller:
What’s comes after the new 1080p Apple TV 3? A recent revelation from Patently Apple details the technology that Apple may be preparing for use in a full-fledged Apple-branded HDTV. This new patent, published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, reveals advancements in the technology Apple currently uses in in its series of iMac computers. Our friends at Patently Apple go on to explain:
XBMC 11.0 “Eden” is finally here. That’s right Apple TV users: we finally have a stable release for both Apple TV 1 and the Apple TV 2. There are no more nightlies, betas, or release candidates! If you happen to be one of the new 1080p Apple TV 3 owners out there, feel reassured that when your device is jailbroken this release will also work for you.


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Short Pump mall suspends cell-phone tracking program
Short Pump Town Center and another shopping mall in California have stopped tracking shoppers' cell phone signals temporarily, following a request from U.S. Senator Charles Schumer of New York. CNNMoney was first to report the announcement.
Short Pump Town Center and the Promenade Temecula in southern California (both Forest City Enterprises properties) began tracking the cell phone signals of shoppers on Black Friday in an attempt to cull information about their habits. Though the tracking was done anonymously, it raised concerns among some shoppers and other observers who felt it still was a violation of privacy.
Both malls had put signs up on their properties to alert shoppers of the program and advising them to turn their phones off if they did not want their phones to be tracked. The malls planned to continue the program through New Year's Day.
"A shopper's personal cell phone should not be used by a third party as a tracking device by retailers who are seeking to determine holiday shopping patterns," Schumer said in a statement, according to CNNMoney. "Personal cell phones are just that -- personal. If retailers want to tap into your phone to see what your shopping patterns are, they can ask you for your permission to do so."
Forest City officials said that they have suspended the tracking program in order to work with its developer to address the concerns raised by Schumer and to discover if there are easier ways to allow shoppers to opt out.
Schumer had expressed concern that even though the malls were tracking shoppers anonymously, the possibility existed that the data could be available to hackers, who might then be able to connect to shoppers' personal information.
Richmonders Jim Morgan and Dan Stackhouse were married at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden in Lakeside Mar. 7 month after winning the Say I Do! With OutRVA wedding contest in February. The contest was open to LGBT couples in recognition of Virginia’s marriage equality law, which took effect last fall. The wedding included a package valued at $25,000.
Morgan and Stackhouse, who became engaged last fall on the day marriage equality became the law in Virginia, have been together for 16 years. They were selected from among 40 couples who registered for the contest. The winners were announced at the Say I Do! Dessert Soiree at the Renaissance in Richmond in February. > Read more.
The Fourth Annual Healy Gala will be held Saturday, Apr. 11, at The Cultural Arts Center at Glen Allen from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m.
The event was created to honor Michael Healy, a local businessman and community leader who died suddenly in June 2011, and to endow the Mike Healy Scholarship (through the Glen Allen Ruritan Club), which benefits students of Glen Allen High School.
Healy served as the chairman of Glen Allen Day for several years and helped raise thousands of dollars for local charities and organizations. > Read more.
The Richmond Battlefield Ruritan Club is holding a Brunswick stew sale, with orders accepted through March 13 and pick-up available March 14. The cost is $8 per quart.
Pick-up will be at noon, March 14, at the Richmond Heights Civic Center, 7440 Wilton Road in Varina.
To place an order, call Mike at (804) 795- 7327 or Jim at (804) 795-9116. > Read more.
Find out how your favorite dining establishments fared during their most recent inspections by the Virginia Department of Health. > Read more.
A wide variety of events are taking place within Henrico County this weekend! Whether you’re a newcomer or veteran to homeschooling, the 2015 VaHomeschoolers Conference and Resource Fair is the place for you. Theater buffs will enjoy CAT Theatre’s production of “Now Then Again” and 5th Wall Theatre’s presentation of “The Human Terrain.” Other performances include Bolshoi Ballet’s “Romeo and Juliet” and Abraham.In.Motion’s dual performance of “The Watershed” and “When the Wolves Come In” – all taking place at the University of Richmond. For all our top picks this weekend, click here! > Read more.
The Cultural Arts Center at Glen Allen will celebrate its 16th anniversary this weekend with “A Date with Frank & Marilyn,” an evening of fun and entertainment designed to raise funds for the center's three outreach programs. Another celebration, Halligan’s Hooligan’s Annual St. Paddy’s Day Bash, starts tonight and continues for five days! If you’re in the mood for some music, Lynne Mackey will give a piano recital at River Road Church Baptist; the Westminster Schola Cantorum will be at St. Michael Catholic Church; and Junior Sisk and Rambler’s Choice will perform at the Shady Grove Coffeehouse. For all our top picks this weekend, click here! > Read more.
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ClassifiedsATTENTION DIABETICS with Medicare. Get a FREE talking meter and diabetic testing supplies at NO COST, plus FREE home delivery! Best of all, this meter eliminates painful finger pricking! Call… Full text
CalendarTwin Hickory Library will host a used book sale from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. March 27-28. Children’s books will be sold on Saturday only. Sales benefit the Friends of… Full text


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Costco store coming to West Fargo
It's now firmed up.
The first Costco Store will be opening its doors in the Dakotas in a convenient West Fargo location.
The announcement that Rusty Goose Development, LLLP, has entered into a purchase agreement with Costco Wholesale Corporation to sell an 18-acre site for a store located in the southwest quadrant of I-94 and Veterans Boulevard was made this afternoon (Thursday) by Dan Bueide of the Vogel Law Firm, attorney and owners representative for Rusty Goose Development.
Bueide said the improvements and utilities necessary to support the project will be installed next spring with a store opening date of approximately Nov. 1, 2012, anticipated.
Property owners are Doris Borth and Mary Hammerud who were raised on the site that their parents Oscar and Martha Rustad farmed for many years.
A public hearing on the subdivision and rezoning of the parcel from agriculture to light commercial will be on tonight's West Fargo Planning and Zoning Commission agenda.


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Three of the four phones sold in the world-system Android
Every day the number and types of smartphones is increasing. Choose the one that suits the needs of each person, require adequate information about the technology, features, and operating system. [...]
Yahoo ranked third under Hotmail.
Based on data released by comScore (a website traffic monitoring agency world) in October 2012, which is a Gmail email service owned by internet giant Google, is expressed as the number one email service in the world.
Sophisticated glasses, Google Glass will use the “Bone Conduction” to create the sound of the speakers wore traditional.
The workings of this technology is to send sound vibrations to the inner ear through the bones of men.
Quoted from the [...]
You look forward to welcoming the Microsoft Office applications on Android and iOS seems to be more patient.
Because, the latest news says that Microsoft is delaying its release until 2014.
Quoted from ZDNet, Thursday (11/4), the largest software producer [...]
This feature can be used to create a reminder.
For the Pinterest users, now comes a new feature for the application of various writing and drawing.
Pinterest recently announced Secret Board, which allows the users to be able to make a writing board in [...]
Apacer Technologi Inc., as one of the manufacturers of SSD products, digital consumer products and memory modules, Thursday (10/04) launches a USB 3.0 flash drive AH450.
One thing that most enjoy is the speed of data transmission is very high up to 140 [...]
Among users of Android smartphones again got good news. This time, an application that has been available only on devices with iOS platform, will also be present on the platform bearing the green robot.
Snapchat, an application that allows you to transmit [...]
A leak of GizmoChina mention that Lenovo is preparing a smartphone with an amazing battery.
The products allegedly named Lenovo P770 is a smartphone based on Android 4.1 Jelly Bean. To accommodate all the needs, Lenovo immerse powerful battery 3500mAh.
It has been rumored for a long time by a number of observers.
Smartpone manufacturer from South Korea, starting today officially launched the Galaxy Note II version dual Sim Card.
In the official website of Samsung’s China, some observers expressed [...]
Apple reportedly ready to release a mini-version of the course will also be priced cheaper than its flagship smartphone, the iPhone.
Quoted from Techradar, Saturday (2/23), according to the report, the presence of the iPhone Mini will happen this summer.
Team University of Bangor, Wales, successfully developed a system of internet at speeds up to 20 Gbps, and can be increased up to 40 Gbps.
Some time ago, Google released a statement that surprised many observers and internet users around the world today [...]


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Shipping has resumed in Egypt’s Suez Canal, a man-made waterway constructed between 1859-1869, after a giant container ship that blocked it was refloated. For almost a week, a 400-metre-long Ever Given vessel blocked hundreds of boats, holding up over 9 billion dollars’ worth of cargo each day. Egypt was losing up to 14 million dollars in revenue each day.
Although Suez Canal Authority chief Osama Rabie praised the duration of the salvage operation as "record-breaking" claiming it would have taken three months anywhere else in the world, the authority must work at preventing such an occurrence in future.
The disruption of global trade by the incidence demonstrates how intertwined the international supply chains really are hence the need to have multiple sourcing options, the need to have a deep understanding of what can go wrong, and the need to develop forward looking contingency plans. About of 70 percent of all international trade still moves on sea. A crisis on the Panama Canal, or the Strait of Malacca, or the Strait of Hormuz would agitate global markets and trigger potential standoffs.


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Japanese investment group SoftBank (9984.T), through a variety of affiliated companies such as its $100-billion SoftBank Vision Fund, holds stakes in more than a dozen startup companies involved in some aspect of future transportation....
YourMechanic – on-demand maintenance/repairs
Manbang – logistics
Mapbox – mapping/localization
Nauto – data analytics/management
Innoviz – lidar
Brain – AI/machine learning
Mythic – AI/machine learning
It's not just the start-ups, among other related technologies, Softbank contributed their $5 billion NVIDIA stake to the Vision Fund.


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October is near, and that means it’s time for falling leaves and fashion. With New York, London, Milan and Paris fashion weeks all in September, it can be difficult to stay up to date with the dozens of new styles and trends. Here are five fashion trends BYU students, fashionista or not, can try this fall season.
1. Ankle boots
Take a break from the typical lace-up booties. With a little heel, distressed leather and a buckle detail, zippered ankle boots give a “London rock star” vibe to any look.
“I really think a pair of ankle boots is essential for a college girl’s fall wardrobe,” said Amelia Dunn, a student studying psychology. “They are really cute and pretty much go with everything.”
2. Moto jackets
Just like the ankle boots, moto jackets can add a rugged flair to any outfit. Moto jackets look great with floral dresses or over a chunky cable knit sweater for an extra layer of warmth. H&M and Forever 21 offer great options for budget shoppers.
Emilee Draper, a student studying family life, is excited to pull out her leather moto jacket this fall. “Fall fashion is my favorite kind of fashion,” she said. “I actually have a leather jacket sitting in my closet. I just need to wait for the weather to cool off.”
Students running around campus don’t have to worry about uncomfortable toes again: sneakers are no longer just for the athletes. Students trying the trend for the first time can go for a conservative yet classic pair of neutral Chuck Taylor Converse. Anyone wanting to take the extra step can opt for a high-top pair with colored laces, graphic checkers or a tiny wedge heel. Sneakers have become one of the most versatile and fashion-forward items to buy, according to Refinery29.com.
4. White shirts
The white shirt is a classic wardrobe staple. Crisp and clean, it can add sophistication to any outfit. Slightly untucked and with sleeves cuffed just right, the white button-up shirt gives an “effortless chic” look to any outfit. Wear it with distressed jeans, a cardigan or even tucked into a skirt.
Sweater weather is now sweatshirt weather. Students with oversized sweatshirts for studying at home don’t need to put them away for class. Comfort is the trend now, and sweatshirts are becoming more tailored and refined. Gray, black, navy and white are all classic options, but sweatshirts now come in fun prints and pastel or jewel hues.


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New Delhi: Ahead of the launch of Asus ZenFone 3 series in India on Wednesday, Snapdeal has reportedly leaked the price of at least one of the smartphones.
An offer page has gone up on Snapdeal that at the time of writing hadn’t yet been pulled down. It lists the Asus ZenFone 3 (ZE552KL) at Rs. 21,999 – significantly higher than the global price at launch – $249, which translates to roughly Rs. 16,800.
The company appears only to have brought the 3GB RAM and 32GB inbuilt storage model to India, though it had announced a 4GB RAM and 64GB storage at the May launch in Taipei. The smartphone is listed to go on sale at 5pm IST on Snapdeal.
ZenFone 3 features a 5.5-inch full-HD Super IPS LCD display, a Snapdragon 625 processor, 3GB of RAM, 32GB of inbuilt storage, microSD card support (up to 128GB), a 16-megapixel rear camera, an 8-megapixel front-facing camera, USB Type-C port, and a 3000mAh battery.


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3D printing puts designer brands in the same situation that the music industry found itself in when MP3 files hit the market. / Kimya Shams
The new era of industrial production builds on the concept of cyber-physical systems. Consumers are expected to play an ever greater role in this new model.
The Internet of Things (IoT) a buzzword for a new technology landscape that is reshaping the way we live and work. But is its potential understood?
Is Elon Musk crazy? Or is he planning something only he can see?
3D printing could place designers the same position as the musical industry a few years ago. Solutions are forthcoming.
The trend towards circular economy is drawing increasing closer attention. The challenge is now to see the concept reach maturity.
The semi-conductor industries have perfected silicon-based technologies. However, they will soon be approaching the physical limits of solid state physics.
The prospect of having a 3D printer at home could seriously modify our consumer patterns. But some challenges remain.
MEMS are to the world of smartphones and tablets what transistors were to consumer electronics in the 1960s. They're everywhere!
What is graphene? A two-dimensional crystal consisting of a single layer of carbon atoms. And, also, a revolution.
Newest technologies have spawned a do it yourself micro-manufacturing movement: anyone can be both inventor and manufacturer.
It's been less than fifteen years since the issue of green chemistry has become a matter of public debate, yet it now seems to prove strategic for that industry.
To build a sustainable economy, consuming fewer natural resources, we need to think in terms of growth, not otherwise.
Just as the networking of computers led to multiple changes in our lives, the growing networking of things - connecting cars, power grids, even toilets to the Internet - may lead to other profound adjustments.


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The COVID pandemic has left people scared, worried that they might get seriously ill or even die. Now that there are vaccines, the fear has subsided, but many people were once looking for treatments to help them avoid contracting the deadly virus. This has led to many internet crimes, including online scams.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland recently took down two websites that were created to sell fraudulent drugs to prevent and treat COVID-19. The sites—http://pharmacywalmart.com and https://stromectol-ivermectin.com—were meant to mimic a Walmart website. The sites included the Walmart logo and were created to look like a legitimate Walmart site. These were the 12th and 13th COVID fraud-related domain names seized by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Those who accessed the sites thought they were buying medications. Instead, their personal information was being stolen through the domains. The site creators were using the sites to create phishing attacks and deploy malware. Those who visit the sites will now be redirected to another site.
An analysis showed that http://pharmacywalmart.com was created on November 4, 2019, from Russia. The phone number on the site,+1-718-475-90-88, looked suspicious, as the format did not match a phone number based in the United States. The website claimed to sell various drugs for the experimental prevention or treatment of COVID-19, including:
None of these drugs have been approved to prevent or treat COVID-19. When describing Kaletra, the domain name claimed that “Kaletra shows positive results in a blockage of a COVID-19 viral replication.” This statement is untrue and not supported by clinical trials or the FDA.
Neither domain name was authorized by Walmart. Now that the government has seized the sites, third parties cannot acquire the names nor access the sites in their present form.
This investigation was launched as part of Operation Stolen Promise by the HSI in April 2020. The goal is to protect Americans from threats caused by COVID-19-related fraud. As of May 2021, HSI has arrested 281 people and seized more than $49 million in fraudulent proceeds. The HSI worked with the U.S. Customs and Border Protection to seize more than 2,100 shipments of fraudulent COVID-19 test kits.
The COVID pandemic has brought about numerous scams. Many people are trying to take advantage of individuals and agencies to get money fraudulently. Since many people shop online, creating fraudulent websites is a good way to scam many people quickly.
Internet crimes are taken seriously. You could face state and federal charges. Seek legal help from the Columbia internet crimes lawyers at The Law Offices of Todd K. Mohink, P.A. Let us help you avoid a potential conviction. Call (410) 774-5987 or fill out the online form to schedule a consultation. We have two offices to serve you.
7310 Ritchie Highway, Suite 910
Glen Burnie, MD 21061
30 Corporate Center
10440 Little Patuxent Parkway,
Columbia, MD 21044


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The rebound comes after two dismal quarters. The economy actually shrank in the final three months of 2007 and limped into the first quarter at a feeble 0.9 percent pace. The 3.3 percent growth in the spring was the best performance since the third quarter of last year, when the economy was chugging along at a brisk 4.8 percent pace.
Still, the growth pickup is not likely to be seen as a lasting sign that the fragile economy is back on solid ground.
Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke recently warned the economy will be weak through the rest of this year. A growing number of analysts fear that the country will hit another economic pothole in the fourth quarter, as the bracing impact of the tax rebates disappears. And there are concerns exports could tail off as other countries' economies slow down.
GDP measures the value of all goods and services produced within the U.S. and is the best barometer of the country's economic health.
The economy is the top concern for Americans. Democratic presidential contender Barack Obama favors a second government stimulus package, while Republican rival John McCain supports free trade and other business measures to energize the economy.
Housing, credit and financial troubles have pounded the economy.
In turn, employers have clamped down on hiring, driving the nation's unemployment rate up to 5.7 percent in July, a four-year high. The Labor Department said Thursday that the number of people signing up for jobless benefits declined last week for the third straight period, but claims remained above 400,000, an indicator of a slowing economy.
Employers have cut jobs every month this year and wage growth is trailing inflation. That combination raises concerns about the future of consumer spending, one of the pillars underpinning the economy.
The biggest factor in the second-quarter's rebound was robust sales of U.S. exports to other countries. The weaker value of the U.S. dollar has bolstered those sales. Exports grew at a 13.2 percent pace in the spring. That was much stronger than the government's initial estimate of a 9.2 percent growth rate, and more than double the 5.1 percent growth rate logged in the first quarter.
Imports, meanwhile, fell at a 7.6 percent annualized pace in the spring, as economic troubles in the U.S. crimped demand for foreign-made goods.
The improved trade picture added 3.1 percentage points to second-quarter GDP, the most since 1980.
U.S. consumers boosted their spending at a 1.7 percent pace in the second quarter. That was slightly better than the 1.5 percent growth rate initially report and marked the best showing in nearly a year. Government stimulus checks of up to $600 a person helped energize shoppers who had hunkered down amid the economy's problems.
One of the country's biggest problems - the housing collapse - was evident in the GDP report.
Builders cut back at an annual rate of 15.7 percent in the second quarter- although that was a better showing than early this year and late last year.
Businesses trimmed spending on equipment and software in the spring. And, they reduced investment in inventories, but not as much as initially estimated by the government. That was another factor contributing to the improved GDP reading.
One measure of corporate profits showed companies losing ground in the second quarter. After-tax profits fell 3.8 percent in the spring, compared with a 1.1 percent increase in the first quarter.
An inflation gauge tied to the GDP report showed all prices rising at a rate of 4.2 percent in the second quarter, the same as initially estimated.
Taking out energy and food, prices rose 2.1 percent. That also was unchanged from the government's previous estimate but remained outside the Federal Reserve's comfort zone.
With the economy still coping with fallout from housing and credit problems, the Fed is expected to hold interest rates steady at its next meeting on Sept. 16, and probably through the rest of this year.


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ARKANSAS, Oct 3 (Future Headlines)- The automotive landscape is rapidly evolving, with electric vehicles (EVs) becoming increasingly common worldwide, alongside the growing trend of larger and heavier vehicles. While this shift brings environmental benefits and innovations, it also poses challenges for infrastructure, particularly in parking garages.
The average weight of vehicles has significantly increased over the years. From an average of 1.5 metric tons in 1974, vehicles have grown to nearly 2 metric tons in 2023. This trend is attributed to the introduction of electric and hybrid batteries, as well as the overall increase in vehicle size.
In recent years, top-end executive cars, long-range SUVs, and pickup trucks have emerged, some of which weigh over three metric tons. While vehicles heavier than those from four decades ago are now more common, they typically remain within the capacity limits of designed parking structures.
The popularity of larger vehicles, including SUVs and executive cars, shows no signs of diminishing. This trend is further compounded by the introduction of heavy battery-powered and hybrid vehicles, adding cumulative weight to parking garages.
The increase in vehicle size and weight poses structural and safety challenges for parking garages. The potential collapse of parking garages under the weight of heavier vehicles has raised concerns. While vehicles that are simply heavier than their historical counterparts are generally manageable, the cumulative load of heavy vehicles like SUVs and pickup trucks can strain parking structures.
Structural engineers are now emphasizing the importance of assessing parking garages to ensure their strength and integrity. Weak structures may require strengthening in specific areas to accommodate heavier vehicles safely. In some cases, screening vehicles before entry to parking garages or allocating heavier vehicles to ground floors can be considered as cost-effective measures to manage weight-related challenges.
Fire safety is another significant concern, particularly for EVs. While EV fires are not common, extinguishing them, especially when the battery is involved, can be exceptionally challenging due to the energy stored. Sprinkler systems are proposed as a key solution to mitigate fire risks in parking garages, particularly in underground facilities. Sprinkler systems can suppress the spread of fire within the garage, offering valuable time for fire services to arrive and control the situation.
Balancing safety considerations with sustainability goals is crucial. EVs contribute to reducing carbon emissions, which is essential for combating climate change. Ensuring that parking garages are safe for EVs and their drivers is essential to promote electric mobility.
In February 2023, the European Commission launched a task force focused on the “fire safe deployment of recharging points in covered parking garages.” Co-led by AVERE, The European Association for Electromobility, this task force aims to create guidelines for the safe installation of EV charging points in parking garages while maintaining fire safety.
Balancing fire safety and accommodating larger vehicles, including electric ones, is a key challenge in parking infrastructure. This requires a multi-stakeholder approach involving parking operators, firefighters, EV industry representatives, insurers, and charging point manufacturers to collaboratively develop guidelines. Additionally, adapting existing parking structures to meet safety standards without incurring excessive costs is a crucial aspect of this effort.
The evolution of the automotive industry towards EVs and larger vehicles presents both opportunities and challenges for parking infrastructure. While structural engineers and experts recognize the importance of adapting parking garages to accommodate these changes, they emphasize that these initiatives are not intended to be “anti-EV.” Instead, they aim to facilitate the smooth integration of EVs and larger vehicles while ensuring public safety and structural integrity.
As the world embraces electric mobility, it becomes imperative to address the complex interplay of vehicle design, infrastructure adaptation, and safety measures. By doing so, we can ensure that parking facilities evolve alongside the automotive industry, fostering a safe and sustainable future for transportation and urban planning. Initiatives at both the national and European levels are aimed at finding innovative solutions to ensure the smooth integration of EVs and larger vehicles into parking facilities, promoting sustainable and safe transportation in urban environments.
Reporting by Alireza Sabet; Editing by Sarah White


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(BUSINESS WIRE) dunnhumby, a leading customer data provider, has released their second annual Retailer Preference Index (RPI) covering the $700 billion U.S. grocery market. The RPI study surveyed 7,000 U.S. households to determine which of the top 56 largest grocery retailers have the strongest combination of financial performance and consumer emotional sentiment.
Trader Joe’s was again the top-rated grocery retailer. Following it were:
- Costco Wholesale
- H-E-B (Texas)
- Wegmans Food Markets (New England, Mid-Atlantic)
- Market Basket (New England)
- Sam’s Club
- Sprouts Farmers Markets (19 states, primarily California and Arizona)
- WinCo Foods
- The Fresh Market (East Coast, Southeast)
“While consumer confidence in the U.S. is at a near 18 year high and the U.S. economic growth is outpacing the rest of the world, there are signs of turbulent times ahead and grocery retailers need to be prepared,” said Jose Gomes, President of North America for dunnhumby.
The overall RPI ranking evaluates retailer performance on price, quality, digital, operations, convenience, discounts/rewards and speed. The retailers who focus their business on superior value perception – defined by the strongest combination of price and quality – tend to have the most financial success and the strongest emotional bond with consumers.


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Updated: Jun 13, 2020
The nationwide lockdown has meant that people have had to find creative ways of keeping busy, entertained and engaged - alone, or with family.
Movie theaters, restaurants, and bars have been shut for weeks. Sports arenas, concerts, and conferences have been cancelled. Schools and businesses have also been closed.
Most people’s wellbeing has suffered due to the coronavirus pandemic and large numbers of people have had to adjust to the new normal and find coping strategies. Nonetheless, people have found different ways of keeping themselves occupied and this is what we found.
Platforms such as Zoom and House Party have become extremely popular, with friends and family flocking to a variety of platforms to stay in touch.
Zoom says its global daily users went from around 10 million in December last year to a massive 300 million in April, while Houseparty has revealed that its app has seen 50 million sign-ups.
Video game usage has broken records around the world. There has been a spike globally and numbers coming from some of the hardest-hit countries have been mind-boggling. One of China’s most popular games, Honor of Kings, reported a recent increase in daily active users from 65 million to 100 million. According to Verizon, in the US alone, there has been a 75% increase in video game usage during peak hours and a 12% uptick in video streaming.
Dance routines, dramatic scenes, hacks and tricks - it would appear that TikTok has unleashed everyone’s inner content creator and creative performer. Though the social media platform came long before the coronavirus outbreak and global lockdown, TikTok has reached new levels of popularity and use worldwide.
Initially founded in China in 2016, Tik Tok quickly became one of the most widely used apps. By 2018, the application garnered even more popularity globally and in 2019 TikTok was named the seventh-most-downloaded mobile app of the decade, between 2010 to 2019.
Watching films and using streaming services
The second most popular way people have been coping, is binge watching series and watching movies.
Almost 5 million people in British households have signed up to streaming services since the coronavirus lockdown began, with many turning to Netflix, Amazon Prime and Disney+ to alleviate the impact of the restrictions.
Manish Chopra, Director and Head of Partnerships, Facebook India said: "Culture has gone virtual in the new normal of social distancing, which can be seen in the rise in Facebook and Instagram Lives."
Meanwhile, according to YouTube, video titles around ‘Cook with me', ‘Clean with me' ‘Study with me' saw average daily views of videos increase by 600% since March 15 compared to the average views for the rest of the year.
Spending more time with the people we live with - and helping neighbours
According to the Office for National Statistics, more than half of UK households (54%) say spending more time with the people in their household has helped them cope in the last 10 weeks.
Community spirit has also grown.For weeks since lockdown began we’ve seen an outpouring of support for the vulnerable from individuals and communities across the UK. People have come together to help one another through these trying times.
We’ve also seen football players, managers and legends call vulnerable fans who are at home alone. Clubs have also taken on other activities to help tackle isolation in their local communities, including running virtual sporting classes for children.
Staring at the same four walls has caused a lot of people around the country a lot of anxiety and stress over anything and everything – jobs, money, living arrangements, the pandemic itself – and those feelings have been compounded by an absence of the ways we usually escape from them.
While exercise is not a solution for serious mental health problems, it is proven to have benefits for the mind that can lower stress, reduce feelings of isolation and help ease anxiety and depression.
Walking, specifically for exercise, has been the most popular new activity with three in ten (30%) introducing this into their lockdown regimes. Following walking, the next most popular exercises people have taken up are: jogging, yoga, running, home treadmill, weights and cycling outdoors.
Cooking and baking
For many, cooking and baking carry an emotional connection.It’s a way to celebrate special occasions, observe cultural practices, or even serve as a comfort in sickness or mourning.
Cooking with your family has always been viewed as a great way to bond and make new memories and many families have bonded through cooking during lockdown, as a fun activity to pass the time.
According to a survey conducted by KitchenAid, cookies, pizza and banana bread are among the top treats people in the UK have been making during the lockdown.
The study revealed what culinary delights have been created over the last few months, with sausage rolls, sourdough bread and lemon drizzle cake also proving popular.
It also emerged the time spent baking has increased, with 67 minutes a week now spent kneading, sieving and rolling – compared to just 41 minutes previously.
A rise in community spirit has also seen almost a third deliver their sweet and savoury goodies to others, including 36 per cent to relatives outside of their home and 23 per cent to neighbours.
A new survey has revealed that people in the UK have almost doubled the amount of time they spend reading books since lockdown began, but instead of the proverbial fiction novels that many readers enjoy, they are turning to the “comfort” of crime and thrillers.
Nielsen Book’s research found that 41% of people said they were reading more books. Readers also revealed their tastes have changed since the outbreak of Covid-19, with their interest in other popular fiction increasing.
Gardening is one of those things that you either love or hate. According to studies, gardening boosts both the body and the mind.
Whether planting new flower beds, nurturing an allotment, or tending indoor plants, the UK is finding that gardening has provided hours of pleasure, and not only has gardening benefited people’s mental well-being, it also plays a part in serving our physical and social wellbeing as well. Online centre Gardening Express has seen a huge rise in sales since lockdown began.
While the world has been feeling a bit grey at times at least lockdown enabled some people to go green and inject colour into their gardens.
Arts and crafts.
Getting creative during these uncertain times has helped kids and adults cope with isolation.
The arts have played an important role throughout lockdown, promoting well-being and creating a space for social connection.
Craft specialists, including high street chain The Works,have experienced a surge in online sales as Britons have taken inspiration from new TV shows such as Grayson’s Art Club, presented by artist Grayson Perry and comedian Noel Fielding’s online art club.
Hobbycraft, the UK’s biggest arts and crafts retailer, said the number of people visiting the ideas page of its website – where the projects range from the ambitious Japanese toy-making technique amigurumi, to the more straightforward art of scrapbooking, had tripled since the lockdown began.
Its “50 sewing projects for beginners” blog post had been its most popular post with searches for sewing machines, fabric and thread up 155%, 60% and 310%, respectively on the previous six weeks on the back of it.
While lockdown has caused a lot of anxiety and uncertainty for some, it has allowed others to learn something new and find a hobby they enjoy.
Report covers research from a range of sources


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A Bill To Distill Simmers In Tennessee
Would Tennessee whiskey by any other name taste as sweet?
A debate in Tennessee simmers over a legal definition of what makes Tennessee whiskey "Tennessee."
The state legislature passed a bill last year saying whiskey can be labeled "Tennessee" only if it's made in the state from a mash that's 51-percent corn, trickles through maple charcoal, and is aged in new, charred oak barrels.
There's some precedent in the spirits world. A sparkling wine is champagne only if it's from the Champagne region of France, Scotch whisky is from Scotland, and tequila from blue agave grown in Mexico.
The Brown-Forman Corporation, which makes Jack Daniel's Tennessee Whiskey in Lynchburg, likes the law. They credit their founder, Mr. Daniel, with steeping his mash in maple charcoal to "mellow" the drink. Jack Daniel's sells about 90 percent of the Tennessee whiskey in the world, and Jeff Arnett, their master distiller, has said, "We shouldn't do anything that would make Tennessee whiskey an inferior product."
But Diageo PLC — a British company, wouldn't you know, that owns Smirnoff Vodka and Johnnie Walker scotch — bought the George Dickel distillery, which has been making what they consider equally Tennessee whiskey since 1870.
A Diageo spokesperson says, "We're in favor of flexibility that lets all distillers, large and small, make Tennessee whiskey the way their family recipes tell them."
There is a history of Tennessee families making whiskey, licensed or not, that goes back to moonshining days. And there are small-craft distillers today — artisanal moonshiners, if you please — who make whiskey "according to our own methods with our own ingredients of choice and our own techniques," as Phil Prichard of Prichard's Distillery says. They believe they're as Tennessee as Mr. Daniel.
So some representatives now have what sounds like lawmaker's remorse for the bill. Rep. Ryan Haynes, who chairs the state government committee, now says, "It's wrong for the government to codify recipes."
This week, they moved the matter to summer study. Sounds like a nice summer. Study Tennessee whiskey on a porch, at twilight, over Lookout Mountain, a small glass in hand — and watch the sheriff chase those artisanal moonshiners.
Copyright 2021 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.


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Bandai Namco has released a new trailer for their upcoming Dark Souls-inspired vampire action game, Code Vein, which also reveals the game’s release date.
The new Code Vein trailer confirms that the game will be released in September this year for the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One.
Set in a world where the human race is no more, the game sees you taking on the role of one of the game’s vampires called a Revenant. Players will be venturing out killing all kinds of monsters along with their AI companion as they protect their home called the Vein. It’s clear from what has been shown that the game takes inspiration from both Bloodborne and the Souls series as bosses and enemies won’t think twice to beat you down as you dodge their attacks. By defeating enemies you will become stronger meaning that those once overwhelmingly difficult enemies will become a tad easier to defeat. Leaning too much on your vampiric side though could you see you becoming a Lost, basically a creature devoid of any humanity. Keeping this balance will prove difficult as the lure of becoming stronger could prove too much.
While the game is clearly inspired by the Souls games, it does have it’s own identity thanks to its flashy moves and unique (and also intriguing) setting and world. It would be interesting to see if the game will do justice to the series that inspired it.


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Losses at mixed-goods retailer Instore have more than doubled from £2.2m to £5.8m. Like-for-likes fell 0.8 per cent in the year to February 28 and the total was down 0.3 per cent to £295.8m.
The retailer, in which the entrepreneurial Tayub family took a controlling stake through their Crown Crest investment vehicle last summer, said the loss “reflects a period of fundamental repositioning and redevelopment of the business”.
Chief executive Aziz Tayub has focused on cost control, an improved profit offer, store branding and formats and strengthening the management team.
He said the previous management’s attempts to reposition the business to appeal to the middle market were “flawed” and that the historic Poundstretcher fascia was being re-energised. Out-of-town shops are to rebranded Poundstretcher Extra.


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Copyright © 2015 Albuquerque Journal
The chefs who sell tacos, barbecue and other goodies out of food trucks say it’s just rude to park in front of a brick-and-mortar restaurant, and for the most part, they don’t do it.
But a proposal at City Hall would make it illegal – and that has many vendors simmering.
City Councilor Isaac Benton this week introduced a proposed ordinance that would restrict where food trucks can set up, in addition to establishing a new permitting system with fees.
The measure would prohibit food trucks from parking on a city street within 100 feet of a restaurant, unless they have permission.
But it also would loosen some restrictions. Food trucks, for example, could set up on private property in most areas, as long as the property owner agreed.
Benton said he supports food trucks in general, but traditional restaurants deserve consideration, too. Some restaurants have complained, he said, about food vendors parking right out front.
“Everyone likes them,” Benton said of food trucks. “I do, too, but sometimes there are conflicts – primarily proximity to existing restaurants where it might be somewhat unfair competition.”
Food-truck owners, meanwhile, fear the proposed restrictions are too broad, and they dispute that they’re unfair competition.
Matthew Fuemmeler, who owns the “Boiler Monkey” diner and bus in addition to a traditional restaurant by that name, said the 100-foot rule could push food trucks out of the most desirable stretches of Central Avenue, where people gather in Nob Hill and Downtown.
The popularity of food trucks has exploded in Albuquerque over the last few years, a natural complement to the growing number of local breweries that offer beer, but not much food, especially in the Downtown and Nob Hill areas. The city now has about 100 food trucks in operation.
Some pubs now screen food trucks and invite the best to set up shop outside on a rotating basis, allowing customers to grab some food outside and take it in while they drink. But some bars sell their own food and aren’t keen on the curbside competition.
Mobile food vendors say the competition is fierce and they fear the possibility of new restrictions.
In a sprawling city, Fuemmeler said, it’s already hard enough for vendors to find pedestrian-friendly spots.
“It’s a free market,” he said. “If we kowtow to one end of this market … we’re choosing which businesses can survive and which can’t.”
Katie Calico – who, along with her husband, Chris White, owns and operates the TFK Smokehouse trailer – said she doesn’t view herself as drawing from the same customer base as traditional restaurants. No one brings you bread and appetizers while you’re waiting in the heat or cold for food from a sidewalk vendor, she said.
“It should be the customer who gets to choose” where to eat, she said.
But Carol Wight of the New Mexico Restaurant Associations said she likes the proposed ordinance. Starting a restaurant is a sizeable investment, she said, and it could really hurt to have someone just come along and park their food truck out front.
A distance requirement would help, she said.
“I do think it’s necessary,” she said.
Benton’s proposal is a long way from approval. It’s been referred to the city’s Environmental Planning Commission, an appointed body that will review the legislation and make a recommendation to the City Council.
Benton said it’s aimed at long-standing, minor conflicts involving food trucks. His goal is to strike a balance, he said, between the interests of mobile vendors and built-out restaurants.
“I always consider these things open for amendment or discussion,” Benton said. “I don’t think (food trucks) have anything to fear.”
The city doesn’t have any specific on-street limits for food trucks.
Under Benton’s proposal, food trucks and other “mobile food units” would be:
- Allowed to occupy parking spaces on city streets as long as they have a permit. The city would charge a reasonable annual fee “that gives due consideration to the value of the privilege of operating from public rights-of-way in the city.” The fee isn’t specified in the legislation.
- Exempt from the traditional time limits for occupying a parking space. But they could have only two spaces for up to four hours a day. They would have to leave by 11 p.m. most days and by 2 a.m. on weekends.
- Allowed on private property, except in residential zones. The food truck must, however, have written permission from the property owner.
- Required to stay at least 100 feet away from the entrance to any restaurants, unless they have written permission. The ordinance doesn’t specifically define a restaurant, except as a “site-built food service establishment.”
The distance would be measured along the sidewalk or street edge. If the food truck is across the street, the width of the street would be included in the measurement.
Benton, however, said his intent was for the 100-foot requirement to apply only to the same side of the street.
Food truck operators say they’re concerned about the 100-foot distance requirement, especially at Tractor’s Nob Hill location, which is across the street from, but near, an Arby’s sandwich shop.
In any case, the ordinance was drafted to apply a similar approach to the rules used in Austin, Boston and San Francisco, according to City Council staff.
Patrick Humpf, owner of the Gedunk food truck and an administrator for a local co-operative of food trucks, said he expects the distance requirements to generate widespread opposition among vendors.
Most food trucks won’t park outside a restaurant as a matter of “professional courtesy,” he said, but staying 100 feet away isn’t necessarily the answer.
“I’d rather not have to go to them (for permission) and have my rights as a vendor curtailed in order to give a brick-and-mortar (restaurant) that extra boost,” he said.


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Diaz Foods has adapted its business strategy during the past 25 years as Atlanta's Hispanic population has evolved. By understanding the different buying habits within the Latino market and forging relationships with restaurant and store owners as they've launched ventures in other states, the company has grown into one of the nation's largest distributors of Hispanic food.
That wasn't the goal when the wholesale company was founded in 1980.
"It was basically to service our own grocery stores," said Rene Diaz, president and CEO of Diaz Foods, referring to the five stores the family owned and operated in Atlanta dating as far back as 1969. "There wasn't much strategy involved."
Now with more than 3,000 customers in 26 states, revenue generated by Diaz Foods and its three subsidiaries is expected to reach $150 million this year.
Diaz said the company has been successful by switching its focus as the market changed and breaking its customers into submarkets and understanding their nuances. Items as basic as evaporated milk or jalapeños, for example, have a variety of brands, depending on country of origin, he said.
"We understand that there is a difference," he said. "We knew going into it that Conchita Foods is a Cuban brand, you market that toward the Cubans. We understood that going into the business."
Diaz Foods carries the top dry, refrigerated and frozen brands for each nationality, including goods from Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Mexico, Nicaragua, Puerto Rico and Venezuela. It also has items from Cuba, Jamaica, Spain, Thailand and the Caribbean.
Breaking the target audience into submarkets is a way for businesses to connect with customers. For example, if you're selling washing machines, there are buyers who make price the biggest factor and others interested in paying for a higher-end product if they can see the value, said Terry Loe, director of the Center for Professional Selling at Kennesaw State University.
Loe said companies must start with an analysis of their core competencies and advantages they provide over competitors. That will then determine who they'll be best able to target, instead of doing it the other way around, he said.
In the early '80s, Diaz saw an opportunity in providing goods for Mexican restaurants with which his father had a strong rapport through the grocery business. Within a year, they made a strategic decision to pursue the restaurant business, he said.
At that time, there were about 25 Mexican restaurants in Atlanta, but three or four new restaurants were opening a week. That focus boosted revenue from $100,000 in 1980 to $5 million in 1987, Diaz said.
Then, in 1987, they witnessed a migration of Mexicans to Atlanta as Houston experienced a recession, and then again in the '90s with the pre-Atlanta Olympics construction boom and the city's housing boom, he said.
"We needed to start refocusing our efforts again on the grocery division because more grocery stores were popping up," he said.
In 1980, retail groceries contributed 100 percent to the company's sales.
By 1987, it had flipped to 90 percent food service and 10 percent groceries. As clients started moving to other states to open restaurants and grocery stores, they continued to use Diaz Foods as their distributor.
"They called us because they didn't know who else to call," Diaz said.
Today, sales are made up of about 60 percent retail groceries and 40 percent food service. Diaz said they've been able to create loyalty among customers by emphasizing their service and customer knowledge. More than 80 percent of its 250 employees are bilingual and its work force represents more than 13 Latin American countries.
Pete Booth, founder and president of Booth Research Services Inc., said companies develop strong ties with customers by first determining their core market. Frito-Lay, for example, determined its heaviest purchasers were mothers with teenage children. The snack food-maker promoted heavily to those families with target marketing, such as sending out coupons for new products.
"Most of the companies that are successful get really close to their customers," he said.
Loe said the retail market in particular depends on customer loyalty programs, such as frequent flier miles or frequent diner cards.
"That's one way companies have been using that allows them to have a buy-in, a 'reward-me' for going back," he said. But he adds it won't take the place of the customers' positive view of the experience.
In addition, business owners must have a good relationship with their sales force and provide a way for them to relay information that management can use, Loe said. Every time salespeople go into the market, they should be collecting data about customers' likes, dislikes and buying habits.
Diaz Foods connects with its clients with its knowledge about what products each set of customers desires. But the company must never assume buying habits stay the same.
"One of our challenges is making sure we're on top when it comes to new products," Diaz said. "We want to be the first ones to carry it."


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Nano-scale “Vacuum Tubes” Can Produce Even Faster Semiconductor Chips
The Pitt Chronicle recently publicized a discovery that may mark a significant step forward in semiconductor technology that actually borrows from old technology: vacuum tubes.
“Moore’s Law” states that the speed and efficiency of transistors used in computer chips, related to the shrinking size of these transistors, tends to double every two years. The law has held up over time, but scientists and manufacturers are starting to reach the limit of current technology due to the cost and difficulty of production on a nanometer scale. Kim notes that even in the smallest transistors aren’t that efficient. “Electrons traveling inside a semiconductor device frequently experience collisions or scattering in the solid-state medium [silicon].”
Kim’s answer was to reconsider vacuum tube technology, which effectively eliminates the silicon medium altogether, resulting in higher efficiency and speed. Using a newly designed vacuum model, he and his team were able to extract electrons from a silicon chip using negligible voltage. The whole process is spelled out more in the article, but honestly it’s a bit beyond me.
Suffice it to say that this discovery could further extend Moore’s Law beyond the limitations of the silicon chip using nanometer-scale vacuum channels.


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Crypto Cannabis Club is a home for fans of cannabis and NFTs from all over the globe. It’s definitely getting bigger.” The people behind the Crypto Cannabis Club are far from new to the business. I was a general manager for the largest dispensary in the state.” Hunter is one of the many heavy hitters behind the Crypto Cannabis Club. I’m also overseeing the launch of our own cannabis brand, which we’re doing in partnership with Camp Nova, and that’ll be available in California next month.” Courtesy of Crypto Cannabis Club Crypto Cannabis Club is a speeding, runaway train that remains on track. You can also breed cannabis plants and then you enter them into cannabis competitions.
Crypto Cannabis Club is a home for fans of cannabis and NFTs from all over the globe. In a short span of six months, the club has already amassed over 10,000 members, spending their days swapping stories, selling cannabis plant NFTs on secondary markets, and even entering crypto cannabis cup competitions. It’s a new force to recognize in the metaverse.
The club began as a family business. It was co-founded by two brothers, Jimmy and Kevin Fitzpatrick. As crowded as the cannabis marketplace is, the duo saw an empty space waiting for NFTs (translation: non-fungible tokens available to sell and trade).
Read the full article @ High Times


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Gleanings - AF Weekly news summary
8th November 2023
More sugar beet shenanigans
Last week British Sugar went outside of the negotiation process with the NFU, and contacted growers directly with their £38/tonne offer for the 2024/25 season. This has led to an understandable outcry amongst growers, and a swiftly convened zoom meeting for all growers last Friday 3rd November.
British Sugar are quoted as saying “Following significant pressure from growers, we have decided to offer you the choice to contract with us now and lock in your seed for next year, whilst we continue the negotiation and dispute resolution process with NFU Sugar” .
This 5% reduction from the 2023/24 price of £40/tonne comes after the AF Aginflation calculations showed a 7.15% increase in cost of production, and a 51.32% price increase of granulated sugar to British consumers.
Charles Whitaker, Managing Partner at Brown & Co issued a statement here supporting the growers position and arguing that the offer price should be £55/tonne.
We await further developments with interest.
Retailers pushing for deflation
The Grocer has reported seeing an email where Waitrose is asking suppliers for “deflation proposals”.
So no sooner has the ink dried on the latest cost of production estimates, including our Aginflation report, than the retailers are requesting their ‘share’, despite farmers subsidising increased production costs for years, and absorbing huge inflation since 2021.
Dairy, beef, lamb, sugar beet and potatoes are all still costing more to produce than the increases in payment by supermarkets over the last two years, yet prices in store continue to increase above inflation.
This on top of the recently reported mass import of foreign eggs, which fail UK welfare and food safety standards, the 29% cut in milk price over the last 12 months and the farmer distribution centre blockades in protest at unfair pricing.
Will retailer actions to support British farmers ever match their increasingly thin rhetoric?
And in response to the news, Jo Frankllin (@theladyfarmer) tweeted:
Mayor of London Sadiq Khan wants beavers to be released throughout the country. Following his visit to release beavers back into Paradise Fields in Ealing, London, the capitals newest castorfile feels qualified to propose rural ecological policy.
Khan said: “I’m disappointed that they (DEFRA) are not bringing beavers back. They know the evidence about beavers helping protect ecosystems, and one of the points I’m saying to the Labour team nationally, is not only is this the right thing to do for our environment, for our communities, it is a vote-winner – a no-brainer.”
In reply, Tim Bonner, chief executive of the Countryside Alliance, advised “While urban politicians might take a romantic view of expanding greenery, rewilding has become a divisive issue in the countryside, largely because advocates show little to no regard for those living and working on the land where they propose species be introduced.” He added: “Rewilding might be a fun pet project for the Mayor of London, but it will have catastrophic consequences if isn’t tightly controlled and those that live on the ground aren’t fully consulted.”
As yet no comment from Mayor Khan on the other proposed species for reintroduction, including lynx, bison, wild boar, wolves and bears. The latter could be an interesting conflict for the hipster eco-amateurs: where they co-exist, a bear’s preferred food is…beaver!
Tweet of the week


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Team Fortress 2’s summer update brought new cosmetic items to Valve’s 2007 team-based shooter, but it seems that the very same update also introduced a bug that has thrown the game’s online item marketplace into chaos.
It’s a rough situation that Valve is still trying to get under control (PCGamesN reports that the company has disabled TF2’s marketplace to temporarily plug the leak), and an example of one of the potential complications devs face when community-driven economies come into play in online games.
Like other games that use Steam Marketplace for item trading, Team Fortress 2 allows players to buy, sell, and trade items obtained in game like weapons and hats using funds in their Steam Wallets. The value of those items naturally hinges on their rarity and the chance that they’ll drop when opening one of the game’s loot box-like Mann Co. Supply Crate.
But, as a post on the game's subreddit points out, the crate drop rates for “Unusual” items seem to have increased to 100 percent with this latest update, causing the marketplace value of those Unusual-class items to tank as once rare gear became easily obtainable.
For example, an Unusual item that sold for between $35 and $17 over the last month currently runs around $5 on the Team Fortress 2 marketplace. For some items, the drop has been even more significant.
As mentioned before, PCGamesN reports that Valve has disabled access to inventories outside of regular gameplay to halt buying and selling, on top of pausing the ability to open new crates. Valve has yet to make an official statement on the matter, but, prior to the trading pause, that Reddit post cautioned players not to trade items until the bug has been ironed out.


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Salesforce.com has reached a deal to acquire RelateIQ, a Palo Alto, Calif.-based startup, according to a regulatory filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
The deal values RelateIQ at a combined $390 million: Salesforce will issue shares worth about $350 million in exchange for all shares of RelateIQ. The filing says Salesforce expects to issue between 6.2 million and 7.6 million shares. Also RelateIQ has $40 million in cash from its latest VC round.
RelateIQ has built what it calls a “relationship intelligence” platform that uses machine learning to automatically capture data from email, calendars and phone calls to provide users with insights into their working lives in real time. The deal calls for RelateIQ to become a Salesforce subsidiary, the filing says.
RelateIQ had raised about $69 million in venture capital investments. The latest was that $40 million Series C announced in March and led by Redpoint Ventures with the participation of Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, Felicis Ventures and the News Corporation. That round valued RelateIQ at $245 million, according to a report in The Wall Street Journal. Prior investors included Battery Ventures and Accel Partners.
I’ve reached out to Salesforce.com for a comment. But the filing is right here in black and white.
Update: RelateIQ CEO Steve Loughlin has now confirmed the deal in a company blog post. He writes that RelateIQ will inject a new level of intelligence across Salesforces’s service, marketing and sales products.
I met with this company last year, and I can see how they fit together. However, there’s a few people out there speculating that RelateIQ represented a long-term strategic threat to Salesforce, and so the bigger company is getting the technology for a song. Here’s a few comments from Twitter about that:
This article originally appeared on Recode.net.


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This post is in partnership with Fortune, which offers the latest business and finance news. Read the article below originally published at Fortune.com.
By Verne Kopytoff
Jack Ma, co-founder of Chinese online retailer Alibaba Group, likes to tell anyone listening that his company faced slim odds as a startup.
“We are a very lucky company,” he recalled during a talk at Stanford University in 2011. “There was no chance that we would survive. I don’t have any background, rich father, or strong uncles.”
Today, Alibaba is an e-commerce colossus that is roughly the equivalent of eBay, PayPal, and Amazon.com combined. On Tuesday, it filed for an initial public offering that could be the largest in U.S. history. Ma, a former school teacher and English translator, stepped down as Alibaba’s chief executive last year to, as he put it, leave room for younger talent that is more in tune with…
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With the opening of The Heads of Advertising at Kansas City’s Reactor Design Studio, designer and director Dana Lechtenberg, contributor to Gallery1988 in Los Angeles and coordinator for Thirty-Three and a Third Album Art Shows, offers visitors a deeper glimpse into the personalities behind Saturday morning cartoons and after school TV commercials.
“When I was about nine or ten, I would go to the local grocery store with my mom, grab a brown paper bag from the big barrel of peanuts, sit in front of the cereal aisle, and draw the characters from the boxes,” said Lechtenberg. “The show is a just a chance to smile, maybe hum a jingle or two and think about these lovable guys whose sole mission was to get us to beg our parents to spend.”
An opening-night reception will be held on Friday September 5th 2014 from 5PM to 9PM. Reactor is located at 1817 Grand Boulevard, Kansas City, MO. The show will be on display for about a month and with fifteen portraits including Burger King, Captain Cupcake, Frankenberry, Bud Man, Sprout, Woodsy Owl, Charlie Tuna, and Quisp.


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Johnson & Johnson Knew They Were Poisoning Women
It may not be enough to hold Johnson & Johnson responsible for ovarian cancer and mesothelioma deaths of millions of Americans as the FDA looked the other way
Monday, March 29, 2021 - It is anyone's guess how Johnson & Johnson was able to influence the cosmetics committee to look the other way when it comes to adopting stricter asbestos testing of the company's talc supply. Some say that the committee was seeded with Johnson & Johnson pensioners to promote the company's desire to avoid stricter asbestos testing protocols. Even today, the FDA does not think it has the authority to demand stricter uniform testing of talc used in the beauty, health, and baby care industries despite testing and finding asbestos in bottles of Johnson's Baby Powder purchased from Walmart, CVS, and Rite Aid. Women with ovarian cancer are coming forward every day and contacting Johnson's Baby Powder Cancer lawyers to file a claim.
The FDA does not require cosmetics companies that want to sell their products to Americans, to have them tested, nor are the products tested once on the market, yet they claim that they regulate the cosmetics industry. "FDA regulates cosmetics under the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act (FD&C Act). Under this law, cosmetics must not be adulterated or misbranded. ... If you manufacture or market cosmetics, you have a legal responsibility for the safety and labeling of your products," according to the FDA.
A lack of effort on behalf of government lawmakers has allowed Johnson & Johnson to mislead consumers and tell American mothers that they should dust their baby with talc they knew contained asbestos. I can think of no more deadly a talc/asbestos delivery system than the squeeze or shake bottle that Johnson & Johnson chose to package the product. Shaking baby powder causes an inhalable cloud of dust for a child and mother to inhale several times per day during diaper changes. Thousands of people with ovarian cancer or mesothelioma have filed suit that claims they had no other exposure to asbestos at work or at home other than using Johnsons Baby Powder every day. Judges have instructed jurors that "Johnson & Johnson acted out of a profit-driven self-interest and exercised a willful disregard for public safety." Reuters has incriminated the company by uncovering documents that show executives knew they were poisoning infants. "J&J didn't tell the FDA that at least three tests by three different labs from 1972 to 1975 had found asbestos in its talc - in one case at levels reported as rather high."
Experts believe that the next move will be for Johnson & Johnson to expand on the $100 million settlement offer that was offered to 1000 plaintiffs with ovarian cancer that are suing the company. The company has been hit with a series of jury awards in the hundreds of millions of dollars. They have set aside $4 billion this year to settle or pay Johnson's baby powder asbestos/cancer cases. Settling all baby powder cancer cases currently against the could cost over 10 billion and take years.