text:
Employees accused of stealing from furniture store
Charged with grand theft and dealing in stolen property were James Thomas Edwards Jr., 31, of 1900 SE Fourth St., Apt. 93; and Frederick Leonard Jones, 45, of 1728 NE Eighth Ave., Apt. E11, according to arrest reports by the Gainesville Police Department.
The men worked for Walker Furniture at 113 NW Eighth Ave. Police say they stole the chairs over the past year and used a company truck to take them to a consignment shop, where they were sold at a drastically reduced price.
A witness on several occasions saw a Walker delivery truck at a consignment shop across from his business and watched as new chairs were unloaded by two men, police said. The witness eventually contacted Walker Furniture.
An employee of the consignment shop told police that he had been dealing with Jones and Edwards since the store opened about a year ago. The employee said Jones and Edwards told him that Walker Furniture was overstocked and wanted to sell the chairs.
The report states that Jones initially told police he had never been to the consignment shop but then said he had been there on-duty. The report states Jones said that he sold only furniture that he and Edwards found on streets.
Edwards refused to speak to police, the report states.


text:
Allison William’s First Endorsement: Allison Williams’s all-American beauty has landed her a skincare contract. The Girls actress has signed on as the face of Simple skincare, a brand that’s formulated for sensitive skin-types. [People StyleWatch]
Raf Simons Dior a Hit: In other Dior-related news, it seems like Raf Simons’s version of Dior is a hit. The house of Christian Dior increased its overall sales by 24 percent in 2012. The LVMH brand’s sales totaled close to $1.59 billion this year. But that pales in comparison to LVMH flagship brand Louis Vuitton, who’s sales clocked in at $10.68 billion last year. [WWD]
Manolo Blahnik, Homeland Fan: Seems like Manolo Blahnik is a fan of upside-down frowns. The shoe designer told Footwear News that he’s addicted to Homeland because, “Claire Danes is fantastic.” [FN]
Workout in Heels? A new workout called ‘Heel Hop’ is taking off in Los Angeles. The exercise course founded by Kamilah Barrett, 34, is entirely taught in high heels. “Heels are really a sport,” Barrett told the Wall Street Journal, “if you’re spending so much money on these heels, why not know how to work them?” [WSJ]
Galliano Suing Dior? Is John Galliano on the prowl for redemption against his former employer, LVMH? The former creative director of Christian Dior has reportedly appeared, “at a Paris court hearing into his suit against former employer Christian Dior Couture,” WWD tweeted this morning. Over the summer Galliano reportedly filed a claim against Dior in Paris courts for €15 million. Dior and WWD have yet to officially confirm news of Galliano’s court appearance. However, it’s crunch time at Oscar de la Renta’s studio in New York where Galliano is helping out the label out with preparations for its fall 2013 fashion show next weekend—making this an awkward time for the disgraced designer to hop over to Europe for a quick court hearing. [Twitter]
The Metropolitan Museum of Art's new costume exhibition, PUNK: Chaos to Couture, tries to pay homage to the gritty, subversive, late-1970s movement. But has punk-inspired high fashion added to its legacy-or destroyed it?
Makeup for men is on the rise—and it’s no longer a taboo. Alessandra Codinha reports.

domain: news


text:
On April 18th, Li Auto's luxury 5-seat family SUV Li L6 was officially announced to be on sale with a starting price of 249,800 yuan and will begin mass deliveries in May.
On April 17th, XPeng Motors and Volkswagen Group officially signed the EEA Strategic Cooperation Framework Agreement. The official referred to it as a new milestone in the strategic cooperation between the two parties.
At the Fang Cheng Bao brand spring launch event held on April 16, the Fang Cheng Bao Bao 8 production version was officially released and will be launched in the second half of this year.
XPeng Motors sales staff said that the older model of P7 (2023 model 586E) can be priced at 140,900 yuan after comprehensive subsidies, with an official guide price of 239,900 yuan.
BYD has announced that its first new energy pickup truck is expected to be released within the year. The vehicle will be equipped with the DMO super hybrid off-road platform and is being developed for the global market.
From 9 a.m. on April 19th, the Xiaomi SU7 modification will be open for a limited time of 24 hours. Successful modifications require re-queuing and cannot be reversed.
Xiaomi released three articles in a row to angrily confront IM Motors for misleading the public, and IM Motors issued an apology.
The Li Auto L6 product launch event will be held at 8:00 pm on April 18th, positioned as a luxury five-seater SUV for families.
The Xiaomi EV app shows that the delivery time for the Xiaomi SU7 has been extended, and some orders have been scheduled for about half a year.
Xiaomi SU7 went on sale for 27 minutes, with over 50,000 units sold out. Xiaomi's stock price surged, rising more than 10% at one point.
BYD Chairman Wang Chuanfu said that the fifth generation DMI hybrid technology will be launched in May this year, with a full tank/full charge range of 2000 kilometers.
Li Auto's CEO, Li Xiang, admitted in an internal letter to strategic missteps in the rollout of the company's latest EV model "MEGA".
BYD has officially announced its entry into the Greek passenger car market during a product launch event held in Athens, Greece, on March 20.
In the pure electric MPV market alone, the Li MEGA's first week of sales ranked second in the Chinese market, only behind the Xpeng X9.
Ehang's quarterly revenue more than doubled: Obtained the industry's first airworthiness certificate, and achieved commercial use of aerial taxis this year.
Netizens exposed the first model of the NIO sub-brand without camouflage photos on social media platforms, and revealed that the new brand is called 'ONVO'.
Xiaomi officially announced that it will be scheduled for March 28th in 29 cities nationwide, with 59 stores simultaneously opening reservations for the Xiaomi SU7.
Xiaomi SU7's various car delivery centers have come online, with the new cars already in transit, and several more advanced new color options have been added.
Li Auto CEO Li Xiang speaks out on social media: Li MEGA encounters organized smear campaign. Richard Yu and He Xiaopeng show support.
On February 29, Xpeng Motors and Volkswagen Group signed a joint development agreement for platform and software strategic technology cooperation, accelerating the joint research and development of two B-segment electric vehicles.


text:
Nissan has released a rendering of an all-new British-built electric crossover vehicle that it plans to launch as part of a £1 billion (R19,7bn) investment… Read more →
Which of the current Volkswagen R models would get your vote?
CAPE TOWN OFFICE
36 Old Mill Road,
Telephone: (021) 530 3300
Fax: (021) 530 3333


text:
A cashier, left, returns cash to a customer at a Vineyard Vines store in Illinois.
Daniel Acker | Bloomberg | fake pictures
US consumers increased their spending by a strong 8.2% in May, partially erasing the record for the past two months, in the context of an economy that is likely to be slowing down due to its higher pace recorded this quarter.
The pickup in consumer spending last month followed spending drops of 6.6% in March and 12.6% in April, when the viral pandemic closed businesses, forced millions of layoffs and led the economy into a recession. Since then, many companies have reopened, luring consumers to stores and restaurants and restoring some lost jobs.
The Commerce Department report on Friday showed Americans increased their spending in May despite a 4.2% decline in personal income, which had soared 10.8% the previous month. Revenue rose in April due to the strength of billions of dollars in support through government payments in the form of unemployment aid, as well as one-time $ 1,200 stimulus checks. In May, these stimulus controls were no longer counted as income for most people.
In addition to what unemployment assistance states provide to the 30 million unemployed Americans, the federal government provides $ 600 per week in fringe benefits. Federal money has injected nearly $ 20 billion a week into the economy and has allowed many unemployed to stay afloat. But the $ 600 a week in aid will expire after July, and Trump administration officials have said they oppose an extension.
Without stimulus controls or an extension of unemployment aid, it is unclear whether consumers will continue to spend freely. In testimony before Congress last week, Federal Reserve Jerome Powell said he thought Congress should consider providing some form of unemployment benefits extended beyond its typical six-month period, under the assumption that unemployment is likely to continue being quite high for the end of the year.
The surge in consumer spending last month also coincides with a surge in coronavirus cases that is forcing states and businesses to consider reducing or even reversing reopens. If an escalation of the pandemic forces another round of widespread business closings, fewer people would shop, travel, eat out, or attend major events. That would reverse any spike in spending and further weaken the economy.
Consumer spending is closely watched because it represents around 70% of economic activity. Despite the increase in spending in May, economists have estimated that the economy, measured by gross domestic product, is contracting at an annual rate of about 30% in the April-June quarter after shrinking to a rate of 5% in January-March. period. That would be by far the worst quarterly contraction in the US since record keeping began in 1948.
In February, the economy fell into a deep recession, according to the National Bureau of Economic Research, the association of economists who is the official arbiter of recessions in the United States. Most analysts expect the economy to recover in the second half of this year before potentially regaining its pre-pandemic level in late 2021 at the earliest.
The Trump administration predicts a relatively fast and robust economic rebound starting this summer. Most private economists are much less optimistic. And they warn that if the pandemic escalates and forces a second round of business closings, it would further delay the job market and economy. The damage could be serious.
Meanwhile, a sign of hope comes from data compiled from Chase Bank’s credit and debit cards. It shows that consumers have gradually but steadily increased their spending since the government distributed the stimulus checks in mid-April.


text:
The numbers: The coronavirus delta variant has added fresh stress on the U.S. economy, but companies face an even bigger hurdle in finding the supplies and workers they need to keep pumping out goods.
A closely followed index of U.S.-based manufacturing rose to 59.9% in August from 59.5% in the prior month, the Institute for Supply Management said Wednesday.
Economists polled by MarketWatch had forecast a reading of 58.6%. Any number above 50% signifies growth.
Big picture: Businesses have plenty of demand, even with delta variant spreading across he country. The biggest problem are broad shortages of supplies tied to the unprecedented Covid disruptions in the global economy and an explosion in pentup demand after the U.S. mostly reopened this year.
“Part shortages are our largest business constraint,” said an executive at a electrical manufacturer.
Hiring enough workers to produce the goods and services has also become a major headache.
Millions of people who had jobs before the pandemic still haven’t returned to work — and delta could make them wait even longer. Some companies have even had to cut back because they don’t have enough workers.
“Labor is still an issue,” said an executive a maker of plastic and rubber products. Other executives also reported the same problem.
The supply and labor shortages eventually should ease and return to pre-Covid patterns, though the delta variant could push out the timetable.
“I think we will continue to deal with it, but it’s going to add more stress,” said Timothy Fiore, chairman of the survey. “We are probably going to be living with these variants with quite some time.”
In the meantime businesses and consumers can expect to pay higher prices spawned by the shortages. Inflation in the U.S. is running at the highest level in 30 years, based on the Federal Reserve’s preferred price barometer.
Key details: New orders and production both increased in August and were at 60% or above. That’s the good news.
The bad news is, the backlog of orders grew again and remained near an all-time high. Companies can’t produce enough goods to sell them as quickly as the orders come in, reflecting the ongoing bottlenecks.
A gauge of employment also turned negative again. Fiore said it’s a struggle to find workers and delta has caused an increase in absenteeism, making it harder for companies to keep production lines fully staffed.
The ISM index is compiled from a survey of executives who order raw materials and other supplies for their companies. The gauge tends to rise or fall in tandem with the health of the economy.
What they are saying: “Demand in the U.S. factory sector remains strong,” said senior economist Michael Pearce of Capital Economics, but “supply constraints, and particularly labor shortages, are still proving to be a drag.”


text:
May 1st, 2012
I've said it before, but I'm surprised by all the attention Tera has received leading up to its release today. So far, early user reviews have been overall favorable: Some absolutley love it, calling it the "best MMO since Ultima." Others like the traditional action elements infused with MMO sensability. And others still fault it for being buggy and unbalanced.
Either way, the launch is significant for another reason: T-minus two weeks until frackin' Diablo III drops! And by t-minus two weeks, I really mean 15 days. But you get the idea. Diablo III is just around the corner.
In any case, May is shaping up to be a massive month for PC gaming. For most people, that means Diablo. But it's nice to see a new MMO garnering attention as well in the same month. Besides those two, anything else you want to play this month, whether from your back catalog or lower-profile release?
Read more: PC gaming headlines


text:
You are a business leader. Are you a trusted business leader?
According to the 2022 Edelman Trust Barometer survey report, which was reported on by Scott Van Voorhis in Harvard Business School’s Working Knowledge, of the four sectors covered by the survey, business, government, media and NGOs, business was the only one to earn a score of at least 60%, which is required to place a sector in the “trusted” category. Business’s 2022 score was 61%. That is the good news.
There is other news worth considering, however. First, trust in business has slipped since May of 2020, down from 61%. Second, over 60% of the respondents said that companies should place greater emphasis on the interests of customers; 60% said they should prioritize employees; and under half said they should prioritize shareholder interest more. The same respondents said that, in fact, companies prioritize shareholders above all, then customers, and employees in third place.
In the US, the gap between the results from high-income and low-income respondents was marked. The trust score given by low income earners was 23 points below that given by high income respondents. A majority of respondents also said that CEOs and businesses should take positions on and impact income inequality, climate change, racism, and the disruption to workers caused by automation.
My take-way from these results is that businesses have an incredible opportunity to capitalize on the fact that they are trusted, and to look for opportunities to positively differentiate themselves:
- In a competitive employment environment, by demonstrably and verifiably moving employees up in their priority list, and
- By emphasizing social and environmental factors in product design, creating design wins that enhance their competitive advantage.
Alternatively, businesses can continue to place shareholder interests first, and experience an erosion of trust. Businesses need not choose between shareholder interests, on the one hand, or social and environmental interests on the other. It is not a competitive, zero-sum game. If a company prioritizes employees so it comes out ahead in the war for talent, and it values customers and designs products they trust, shareholders will win, too.
Contact Clear Strategy Co. if you want to talk about charting a path toward a win-win future as a trusted business partner and leader. And if our blogs are helpful, interesting, or infuriating but make you think, sign up to receive them directly as soon as they come out.


text:
The UN's International Telecommunications Union released new figures that predict that the world will have nearly 3 billion internet users by the end of this year, with most coming from the developing world.
Internet has become an integral part of most of our daily lives. With the convenience of shopping online, ordering food, buying electronics and even cars, people around the world have rapidly adapted to the growing technology. While it is clear that the Internet has a massive network connecting different parts of the world, there have been no recent statistics to put this massive web connection into perspective. But a new report by the UN's International Telecommunications Union (ITU) revealed the extensive growth of Internet, which will reach almost 3 billion people across the world by the end of 2014.
The latest statistics by the ITU give more than just the expected expansion of Internet usage. ITU adds that the majority, two third of the Internet-connected users globally, will come from the developing world. Also, the mobile cellular subscriptions will continue to rise while the fixed lines will decrease. According to the report, published Monday, mobile-cellular subscriptions will reach almost 7 billion by the end of this year, a little more than half of which will be in the Asia-Pacific region.
"Behind these numbers and statistics are real human stories. The stories of people whose lives have improved thanks to ICTs [information and communications technologies]," Brahima Sanou, the Director of ITU's Telecommunication Development Bureau said. "Our mission is to bring ICTs into the hands of ordinary people, wherever they live. By measuring the information society, we can track progress, or identify gaps, towards achieving socio-economic development for all."
If the ITU report's predictions come true, about 40 percent of the world's population will be online by the end of this year. The report specifically revealed that in Africa about one-fifth of the population will have internet access and in the U.S. nearly two-third will be online by the year end. The Asia-Pacific region will record the largest population of Internet users and Europe will have the highest penetration rate with three out of four people connected to the Internet during this period.
Other revelations by the ITU include the mobile-broadband subscriptions that will reach 2.3 billion globally and 55 percent of the massive audience is expected to be in the developing world. As for the fixed line subscriptions, which have continuously declined over the past five years, it will decrease by 100 million by the end of this year than it was in 2009, ITU said.


text:
jueves, 16 de septiembre de 2010
Is this the name and cover of the upcoming My Chemical Romance album?
A U.K.-based retail site has listed a pre-order for the upcoming fourth My Chemical Romance album and possibly revealed the album title, release date and cover art. The site says the album will be called Danger Days: True Lives Of The Fabulous Killjoys and lists a U.K. release date of Nov. 22—although this was also rumored to be the title of an upcoming comic by frontman Gerard Way. There's also a thumbnail of a possible album cover which looks strikingly like a limited edition print recently posted for sale on the band's website. Guitarist Frank Iero wrote, "We have a plan, and we are sticking to it. But look alive, keep your ears to the ground and your eyes bloodshot and open...there are signs everywhere and it will all make sense to you soon. Keep checking back for the shit to hit the fan."
None of these details are confirmed by the band, but we'll keep you posted when word breaks. What do you think about this name?


text:
Bonfire Night goes with a bang
As well as the revelation that four WiiWare demos will launch across Europe this week, we also have brand new games for DSiWare and WiiWare as well. WiiWare: ThruSpace (Nintendo, 800pts) – A Nintendo-published puzzle game, this is the first ever WiiWare game to launch with a free playable demo. It's been out in...
A mix of catch-up and new titles in another big update for Wii and DSi.
There's a mix of new and catch-up titles in the update this week including the penultimate chapter in the new Tales of Monkey Island series: Tales of Monkey Island Chapter 4. Copter Crisis and My Zoo were both recently released in PAL territories. Reviewer Tommy Bowskill...
Bookworm and Bejeweled Twist to both get downloadable and retail entries
Not too long ago PopCap Games, the folks behind smash hits Bejeweled, Peggle, and the recent Plants Vs. Zombies, announced their intentions on expanding their output to include Nintendo consoles. We weren't sure whether that meant retail games or downloadable ones, but as it...


text:
New York Times Article about Bangladeshi Factory Inspections (Modified)
Background: On April 24, 2013, an eight–story clothing factory called Rana Plaza collapsed in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Over 2,500 people were injured and 1,129 perished in the disaster, considered the deadliest garment factory accident in history. Though the factory was overseas, several American brands were associated with the factory including Walmart, J C Penney, as well as the Swedish retailer H&M.
DHAKA, Bangladesh—Not even two months after the collapse of the Rana Plaza factory building claimed more than 1,100 lives, a team of engineers arrived to assess another factory in the center of the capital. It was named Al–Hamra Garments, and it was one of hundreds of factories undergoing post–disaster inspections as Bangladesh sought to prove that its critical apparel industry was safe.
But this inspection, conducted in mid–June, was startling. The two engineers discovered that the eight–story factory was partly propped up by temporary cast–iron pillars placed on the ground floor. Several original beams and columns were cracked or disintegrating. And the factory was open for business, with more than 1,000 workers producing clothing for a Bangladeshi apparel conglomerate whose customers include Walmart and Gap.
“Considering the severity of the building condition it is recommended that the use of the building be discontinued immediately,” the two inspectors, professors at the country’s top engineering college, concluded in their preliminary assessment report.
Yet last Saturday, nearly two weeks after the inspection, Al–Hamra Garments was still open. “The factory is fine,” said an administrator, Shafiul Azam Chowdhury, on Saturday afternoon. He said two other inspection teams had concluded that the temporary propping made the building safe enough to continue operations during structural repairs.
Julfika Ali Manik contributed reporting.
Source: Yardley, Jim. “After Disaster, Bangladesh Lags in Policing Its Factories.” The New York Times. July 2, 2013. Retreived on January 10, 2015 from http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/03/world/asia/bangladeshi-inspectors-struggle-to-avert-a-new-factory-disaster.html?pagewanted=all&_r=1&
Discussion Questions about Bangladeshi factories
- What situation is this article describing? What are the issues that factory owners and workers need to address?
- How is this story similar to or different from labor issues in New York City in the early 20th century?
- Think back to the traditional Jewish text from Mishnah, Bava Metzia 7:1 that talks about treating workers according to the “custom of the land” (minhag hamakom)? What does this article teach us about the “custom of the land” in Bangladeshi garment factories in 2013?
- As American citizens, do we have a responsibility to change labor practices in other countries? Why or why not?
How to cite this page
Jewish Women's Archive. "Bangladeshi Factories ." (Viewed on October 20, 2018) <https://jwa.org/node/22256>.


text:
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals is steamed at NBA GOAT LeBron James for sitting idly by while the Starbucks operating inside his Akron, Ohio, community center serves milk to customers. PETA is demanding that James force the coffee counter to go dairy-free.
PETA was udderly infuriated after it learned that the Starbucks was using dairy-based products at the new kiosk opened in James’ House Three Thirt community cemetery in Akron. In an April 5 open letter, the animal rights extremist group insisted that James “‘make a game-changing play’ for animals and people of color—many of whom are lactose intolerant—by establishing the location as the first dairy-free Starbucks.”
Activists from People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) dressed as zombies pose for photographers during a photo stunt to protest against meat eating in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, March 29, 2023. (Zahim Mohd/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
The group claimed that the call to establish a milk-free GOAT Starbucks was part of its ongoing campaign against Starbucks to force the company to use vegan milk and fake dairy products at all its locations instead of ingredients consisting of animal-based products.
It’s all about racism, too. PETA claims that using dairy “penalizes the approximately 80% of Black and Indigenous Americans and more than 90% of Asian Americans who are lactose intolerant.”
And adding a dairy product to your coffee is mean to cows, on top of it all.
“The dairy industry’s cruelty to cows, environmental impact, and negative health effects on lactose intolerant individuals contradict the hope your foundation brings,” PETA Senior Vice President Lisa Lange exclaimed. “The first dairy-free Starbucks location at House Three Thirty would set a precedent for socially responsible business practices and create ripple effects that would impact society for generations to come.”
LeBron James #6 of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts after a 128-117 win over the Utah Jazz at Crypto.com Arena on April 09, 2023, in Los Angeles, California. (Harry How/Getty Images)
The letter itself adds, “Cows produce milk for the same reason that humans do: to nourish their young. In order to force them to continue producing milk, factory farm operators typically impregnate them using artificial insemination every year. Calves are generally torn away from their mothers within a day of birth, which causes them both extreme distress. Mother cows can be heard calling for their calves for days.”
The group also insisted that manufacturing products made from cows puts our climate at steak, saying, “producing cow’s milk generates around three times more greenhouse gas emissions and uses nine times more land than vegan options do.”
The animal rights group concludes its missive by insisting, “The first dairy-free Starbucks location at House Three Thirty would set a precedent for socially responsible business practices and create ripple effects that would affect society in a positive way for generations to come. I hope you’ll consider my request. We could team up to make a positive change for animal welfare, the environment, and those who suffer from lactose intolerance.”
James’ House Three Thirty was opened on March 2 this year and reportedly offered hands-on job training, as well as financial services, and a space for community affairs events, according to the website.


text:
Are Patent Litigations Skewing Earnings Reality?
Maxwell is a member of The Motley Fool Blog Network -- entries represent the personal opinion of the blogger and are not formally edited.
All industries have litigation as a part of their business environment, but none more so these days than personal technology. With patent issues having developed an industry of its own, current issues can affect valuations to an almost absurd degree. I am going to look at some technology companies that have been affected mightily, though not necessarily logically, by patent litigation.
The big news right now concerns Vringo (NASDAQ: VRNG), which has been on a roller coaster the likes of which rarely occurs. On Oct. 31, Vringo's stock fell a shocking 36%, after it was learned the judge in Vringo's suit against Google (NASDAQ: GOOG), AOL, and other search engine sites entered a partial judgment in the matter, limiting the potential recovery. Specifically, Vringo sought damages due to patent infractions from Sept. 15, 2005. Instead, the court ruled that damage calculations would be limited to the period from September 15, 2011, until the patent at issue lapses in 2016. On that news, Vringo lost over one third of its value.
My, how things change. Just a week later, the U.S. District Court issued a judgment in Vringo's favor for about $30 million, with just over half that from Google, and the balance from the remaining defendants. The court would assess future damages, most significantly on 21% of Google's Adworks domestic revenue, on which Google must pay Vringo a 3.5% royalty. We are talking about hundreds of millions of dollars, as based upon historical growth Vringo will be recovering over $600 million just from Google through mid-2016.
On its own, without its patent portfolio, Vringo is not much. The company has a market capitalization of a little over $100 million as I write this, and its revenue through the first half of 2012 was $206,000. The judgment we are addressing could be a real game changer for the company, yet the market has not reacted as one might expect. That is due to the general feeling that Google and the other defendants have a legitimate chance of reversing the District Court judgment in whole or part on appeal.
To me, Vringo is a symbol for a real problem in the domestic economy. That is, the prevalence of "patent trolls," whose sole purpose is to find arcane patents on the cheap, and then troll around for companies who may be violating that patent. There is neither innovation nor wealth creation from that practice.
It is not just the pure trolls like Vringo that are doing it either. Google itself made a major bet on existing patents. Of the $12.4 billion Google paid for Motorola Mobility, $5.5 billion was for the many patents Motorola had developed. I have little doubt one or more Google employees does little more than use Google's nearly infinite resources to search for infringements of the acquired patent pool. But at least Google has a business that creates a great deal of wealth in its core operations.
Another patent troll is Document Security Systems (NYSEMKT: DSS). This company has an actual business with actual clients in document security. But it acquired Lexington Technology Group solely for its' patent portfolio, chief among them a set of patents that strike at the heart of Facebook's document storing and retrieving technology. Document Security Systems has filed suit against Facebook, Linkedin, and others for patent-related issues, but the legal case is nowhere near as far along as the Vringo matter. As the Vringo litigation reaches its conclusion, the results may or may not embolden Document Security Systems.
Vringo and Document Security Systems are "young" patent trolls, as their current litigations are the first major patent cases for both of these companies. Acacia Research and VirnetX (NYSEMKT: VHC) are the better established patent trolls. Acacia makes no claim to being any more than it is: an acquirer and protector of patents, with an army of litigators in its Rolodex eager to enforce existing patent rights. The company has a current market capitalization of some $1.1 billion, about half of where it stood back in August of this year. The market has apparently punished Acacia due to no substantial victories in the past couple month.
But Acacia has hundreds of viable patents, including many involved in the growing 4G LTE cell phone service that is gaining favor in this country. The lack of any "big hits" in the third quarter of 2012 drove revenues down almost 50% versus the third quarter of 2011, and resulted in a quarterly loss. But those types of variable earnings are to be expected of a business whose sole revenue is from court cases. If you believe in patent management as an ethical and viable business model, Acacia is on sale now.
VirnetX has a modest, ongoing business as a software company specializing in internet communications. But most of its money in recent years has been won through patent enforcement. In 2010, it won a judgment of $106 million judgment against Microsoft after it was found to have violated two patents owned by VirnetX. It also recently won a larger judgment, this time against Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL), on a matter concerning four patents dealing with Apple's Facetime technology. The judgment amount was $368 million, and Apple is committed to appealing the matter. VirnetX stock shot up some 30% on the news, but it will be a while before any money changes hands due to the appeals process.
Of course, that is the same Apple that not long ago won a judgment of over $1 billion against Samsung on allegations that the Korean giant misused Apple's iPhone related patents. Obviously, these patent actions are just a small fraction of Apple's business.
The practice of using patents not as a shield, but rather as a sword, is not what patent law is about. I hope that some legislator takes a look at the issue of costs that patent trolling creates in the economy, and finds a legal way to make patent trolling a less attractive line of business. In the meantime, investors should watch Vringo closely, as it still has plenty of time to run up before the latest patent lawsuit is wrapped up.
StockCroc1 has no positions in the stocks mentioned above. The Motley Fool owns shares of Apple and Google. Motley Fool newsletter services recommend Apple and Google. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.If you have questions about this post or the Fool’s blog network, click here for information.


text:
China’s zero-COVID policy, which has led to long lockdowns in major cities and the suspension of operations in factories, businesses and schools, further weighs on the country’s overall economic growth.
The country’s economic figures continue to paint a grim picture of the government’s policy of eliminating all cases of coronavirus. From new car sales to high-tech equipment to major exports, the continued shutdowns are hitting many sectors of China’s economy.
Shanghai saw no car sales last month as nearly all dealerships were closed during the city’s sudden lockdowns, according to a statement from the Shanghai Automobile Sales Trade Association posted on its social media account on May 16.
Overall, auto sales in China fell 31.6% in April from a year ago, according to official figures.
The loss doesn’t just seem to be in monthly sales. Tu Le, founder of Beijing-based consultancy Sino Auto Insights, told VOA that China’s auto manufacturing industry is facing a bigger supply chain crisis due to labor shortages. and components across the country.
“There are currently two major problems: production has stopped at many local factories and customers cannot buy cars. If people can’t buy cars, market dynamics will be hit hard. The whole (automotive) supply chain is in crisis,” Tu said.
Shanghai plays a vital role in China’s automotive industry. The city ranks first in overall auto production, with nearly 3 million new vehicles produced in 2021. This accounts for 10.9 percent of the nation’s auto production, according to statistics from the country’s automakers association.
Shanghai authorities have announced they will allow more businesses to resume normal operations from early June after nearly two months of lockdown, but Tu remains concerned about unpredictable lockdowns affecting the future of the auto industry. Chinese.
“Uncertainty will persist until COVID is completely or almost completely eliminated from China,” Tu said.
The story is similar with high-tech products.
Several major Taiwanese computer makers with factories in Shanghai, including Quanta Computer, Compal Electronics, Wistron, Inventec and Pegatron, reported a double-digit year-over-year decline in April revenue due to suspension of factory lines during shutdowns.
During Quanta Computer’s first-quarter earnings conference call on May 13, Vice Chairman and President CC Leung said the company’s production in April was down 40% from a year ago in due to supply chain issues in Shanghai, Yahoo Finance reported. Leung expected production to decline 20% year-over-year in the second quarter.
Chien-Chun Huang, head of the Mainland China Business Division at the China National Federation of Industries in Taipei, told VOA that the impact of China’s zero COVID policy on the electronics industry is expected to increase over the next two next quarters.
“The biggest problem is the mobility of people, that is to say that the limitation of the movement of personnel in the different cities is still quite strict. Even if there is a way to resume work, the workers cannot go to the factory, so the goods cannot be produced,” Huang said.
Wu Jialong, an economist from Taipei, told VOA that as long as China sticks to the zero COVID policy, businesses will have no choice but to operate with limited capacity.
“Companies have problems transporting raw materials. Even if you have inventory, they still struggle to ship finished products to consumers,” Wu said.
China’s pandemic policy is also hurting businesses in other countries. Japanese automaker Toyota said on Tuesday the company would introduce production pauses at 10 Japan-based factories due to parts shortages caused by the lockdown in Shanghai.
US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said last week that COVID lockdowns in China appear to be hampering the movement of goods and hampering the global supply chain. She warned that China’s slowing economy could affect other countries.
Due to the strict containment measures and supply chain deadlock, more and more foreign companies are reconsidering their investments in China.
A survey released earlier this month by the European Union Chamber of Commerce in China showed that 23% of respondents are now considering moving their current or planned investments out of China to other markets due to the China’s COVID policy. This number has more than doubled since the start of 2022 and is the highest proportion in the last decade.
Tech giant Apple has offered to ramp up production in India and Vietnam to reduce its dependence on China, according to a the wall street journal May 21 report. Currently, more than 90% of Apple products are made in China by outside contractors.
With competitive labor costs, Vietnam and other Southeast Asian countries are benefiting from a shift in global supply chains. Vietnam recorded a 19% growth in exports last year and is becoming a key exporter of electronic and computer components.
Nick Marro, head of global trade at The Economist Intelligence Unit, said multinational companies should focus on expanding into Southeast Asia as China won’t abandon its zero COVID policy anytime soon.
“We don’t expect China to abandon its zero-COVID stance before the Party Congress in the fall, with a gradual move away from these protocols unlikely until 2023,” Marro told VOA in an e-mail. -mail. “This means that the risk of future and sudden shutdowns, production suspensions, mass testing and other disruptions will persist for some time.”


text:
10 home trends you can bank on in 2010
Is glamour dying?
At the very least, it’s being redefined during an uncertain economy as we enter the next decade.
“There’s a change away from the hip modernism we’ve borrowed from hotels with all the Lucite, mirrored furnishings and bright yellow and turquoise geometric carpets,” said interior designer Peter Dunham of Los Angeles, whose client list includes Ben Affleck. “We want comforting things. More American pie, less flash in the pan.”
So what exactly is in store — and will be in stores — for our homes in 2010?
“More craft and things that have been touched by hand,” said Keith Johnson, buyer-at-large for Anthropologie stores and the subject of the Sundance Channel’s “Man Shops Globe.” The eight-episode series followed Johnson to South Africa, India and across Europe as he sped through flea markets and met with artisans in search of Holy Grail furnishings and accents.
1. Black on track
Black walls are turning up in home magazines and blogs, much bolder versions of the grays we’ve grown used to.
“Dark walls actually make smaller rooms look bigger,” said Susan Bartlett Crater, granddaughter of Kennedy White House decorator Sister Parish. Crater and Libby Cameron last year wrote the book “Sister Parish Design on Decorating” (St. Martin’s Press, $35). “Black also pops color in a sophisticated way.”
Patricia Shackelford of Kansas City, author of the nationally recognized design blog “Mrs. Blandings,” included a post on world-renowned interior designer and Kansas City native Thomas Britt’s black walls of the 1970s. Some of the rooms looked as if they could have been ripped from modern magazines that feature black rooms with crisp white trim and accents.
Designer Peter Dunham is even seeing black in furniture upholstery, such as black Chesterfield sofas. And Edwardian-like black coincides with what’s popular in fashion, he says.
2. To grandmother’s house we go
We’ve heard “this ain’t your grandma’s ...” A new buzz phrase might be “that’s so granny.”
Shackelford thinks we’ll see more patchwork quilts, hooked rugs, needlepoint and chintz.
“On ‘Top Design,’ a contestant (Ondine Karady) was criticized for being too ‘grandma’ for using a crocheted throw,” Shackelford said. “Actually, she was on to the next trend.”
Shackelford said it’s the return of Sister Parish design, using heirlooms or pieces with history. “It’s a way to bring comfort to formality,” she said.
Crater said using family pieces can be stylish. “My grandmother always said houses should be receptacles of memories,” Crater said. “What better way than using grandmother’s things?”
3. Graffiti furniture
Antiques in recent years have become more affordable. But some pieces can be unwanted, drab even, and call for help.
“Antiques don’t always have to be these sacred things,” Johnson said. “They can be reinterpreted.”
When “Man Shops Globe” visited Belgium, Johnson asked an artist to breathe new life into a wooden Louis XV headboard by spray-painting it, graffiti-style.
Graffiti artists have over time earned street cred, and some have gained respect.
4. Made in the U.S.A.
In 2010 and beyond, a “made in the U.S.” label will resonate strongly with buyers, because people want to strengthen the economy. Buying more local items also is better for the environment.
5. Homestead chic
More of us are growing vegetables, crafting our own cheeses and battling city hall to keep chickens in our backyards. Just as we’ve been reconnecting with the land, look for that bond to strengthen in the rest of the home. We’ll use more locally harvested wood and reclaimed barn wood.
We’re becoming fonder of burlap-style grain-sack and rustic linen pillows. The fabrics follow on the heels of the classic rural European look popularized by Belgian designer Axel Vervoordt. He sparingly mixes industrial furniture with worm-holed unstained wooden pieces. Restoration Hardware’s latest furniture seems to be directly inspired by Vervoordt, Dunham and Shackelford say.
6. Flea market frenzy
Many made their first visits to flea markets and thrift stores in 2009, a trend that will get even bigger this year.
A recent visit to the Salvation Army store turned up 48-cent pieces of classic creamy Ironstone dishware.
“People aren’t doing the full-scale bathroom and kitchen re-dos they were a few years ago,” Dunham said. “But they can easily perk up a room with textiles or a new lamp.”
“Wary Meyers’ Tossed & Found: Unconventional Design From Cast-Offs” by Linda and John Meyers (Stewart, Tabori & Chang, $27.50) features how-to ideas for Aunt Millie’s stuff and thrift-store finds.
7. Innovative recycling
In an episode of “Man Shops Globe” in which Johnson travels to South Africa, he talks about how recycled items will be purchased only if they are beautiful. On a visit to a store called Magpie, he fell in love with a chandelier made of Barbie legs and milk-bottle caps. At the end of the show, we learn President Barack Obama commissioned a $4,800 recycled chandelier for his daughters’ room at the White House (based on Johnson’s recycled find).
8. Design magazine evolution
Two popular design magazines, Domino and Metropolitan Home, published their last issues in 2009. On the upside, 2009 saw the start of a new online-only magazine called Lonny (www.lonnymag.com). Will there be more?
9. Converging like crazy
We anticipate more design apps (short for applications) for our smart phones.
Sherwin-Williams in 2009 introduced color-matching software for the iPhone. You can take a picture on your phone and match it to a paint color, which is highly useful now that camera phone quality has improved.
10. Laughter inducing
We don’t mean talking Jerry Seinfeld bobbleheads, although those would be stellar desk toys. What we do expect to see are more imaginative everyday household items designed to tickle our funny bones.
In December, Johnson visited Design Miami, a show that is gaining prominence worldwide, and “Grandfather Clock” got his attention. It’s a large wooden piece with a clock face in which a blurry gentleman on a screen keeps passersby up to the minute by erasing the old time with a paper towel and redrawing the current time with a dry-erase marker.
“We need things that make us laugh,” Johnson said. “Or at the very least, make us smile.”


text:
Travala.com, a platform that combines blockchain technology with travel booking services, has introduced a rewards program that permits customers to receive up to 10% back in Bitcoin for qualifying travel reservations. This development integrates cryptocurrency-based rewards into the user experience.
In association with the AVA Foundation, this reward is available to Travala.com customers who reach the Smart Diamond level within the AVA Smart Program, aiming to acknowledge the platform’s consistent users.
The selection includes over 3 million travel options worldwide, with the Bitcoin cashback being directly credited to the customer’s Travala.com account shortly after the travel is completed, enhancing the convenience of the reward process.
The introduction of cryptocurrency in rewards programs reflects a growing trend towards digital currency’s utility for its simplicity and reduced transaction costs. Bitcoin, in particular, facilitates transactions without the complexities and fees associated with traditional financial systems.
As preferences in travel loyalty evolve, the traditional models are gradually losing traction. Travala.com’s initiative to provide Bitcoin as a cashback option represents an adaptation to these changing dynamics, offering an updated form of incentive for today’s travel enthusiasts.
Juan Otero, the CEO of Travala.com, comments on the growing integration of Bitcoin into mainstream use: “Bitcoin is here to stay, and it’s now beginning to be more appealing to mainstream audiences, thanks to the recent approval of the first Bitcoin spot ETF. By enabling travelers to receive Bitcoin back on travel bookings via the AVA Smart Program, this broadens the appeal of using crypto for day-to-day usage and makes it easy to use these reward initiatives efficiently.”
Steve Hipwell, representing the AVA Foundation, notes the distribution of over US$2.1 million in AVA token rewards to Travala.com customers through the AVA Smart Program: “To date, over US$2.1 million worth of travel rewards in the AVA token have been distributed via the AVA Smart Program to customers who completed trips booked on Travala.com. We expect that by integrating direct Bitcoin rewards, we will be able to reach an additional niche of travelers who are looking for ways to save on their trips.”
Since its inception in 2017, Travala.com has been at the intersection of cryptocurrency and travel, offering a platform for bookings across a broad spectrum of properties, activities, and airlines. The platform’s commitment to cryptocurrency adoption is evident in its support for over 90 digital currencies, aiming to provide value and options for its users.
The AVA Foundation focuses on developing a decentralized loyalty ecosystem anchored by the AVA token. This approach to loyalty rewards, utilizing blockchain technology, aims to modernize and enhance traditional loyalty schemes, offering users benefits and access within the digital currency space.


text:
LPG and other declared goods, edible oils, bread, ready-made garments and intermediate goods may face 5% value added tax (VAT) from April 1, 2008. At present, VAT is levied at 4% on these items.
The Centre wants states to increase the floor rate of VAT from 4% to 5%, which will offset any revenue loss they incur due to reduction in central sales tax (CST) from 3% to 2%. Phased reduction of CST was agreed on in 2006. The state governments, on their part, have asked the Centre to bring imports under VAT.
As part of the CST phase-out plan, the state governments had agreed to hike the floor rate by 1%. This hike was to be implemented when the CST is cut to 2%. According to the roadmap, in the first stage, CST was to come down to 3% from 4% from April 1, 2007. The levy is to be brought down to 2% from April 2008 and 1% in 2009, before being abolished on March 31, 2010.
The state governments, which are resisting the move to hike the VAT rate, will take a final call on the issue in a couple of days and inform the Centre. The Centre, however, wants states to implement what was agreed upon as part of the phasing out.
There were some problems relating to some items. They are being worked out amicably between us and the Centre, Asim Dasgupta, chairman, empowered committee of state finance ministers, said. The members of the panel on Monday met finance minister P Chidambaram to discuss the modalities. They will now respond to the Centres suggestions by the weekend.
The compensation package for phasing out CST, which began from April 1, 2007, included transfer of power to levy service tax on some services, removal of additional excise duty on tobacco products, VAT on imports, budgetary support and hike in floor rate of VAT. The total collection from CST is pegged at about Rs 25,000 crore. With the reduction in CST rate from 3% to 2%, states will lose about 12,000-13,000 crore in revenue.
The Centre has removed additional excise duty from tobacco, provided for budgetary support and has begun transfer of revenues from 33 old services to states. However, it is yet to bring the 44 new services under the tax net. Moreover, of these 44 new services, states have agreed to bring healthcare, education, amusement parks and legal drafting under tax net.
It is likely that these services will be brought under the tax net this Budget. However, since the revenue loss due to 2% reduction will be quite high, state governments want the Centre to compensate them in full.


text:
India’s transgenic cotton tragedy
Hopes of a genetically modified crop bonanza in India are fading fast. Maharastra state has banned the use of a particular type of transgenic cotton made by industrial giant Monsanto, saying it’s a threat to people’s lives and to other crops.
Posted on July 17, 2013, in Big Pharma, buisiness, Food, GMO, Government, Health, politics, SCIENCE and tagged Bacillus thuringiensis, Cotton, Genetically modified food, Government of India, India, Indian government, Maharashtra, Monsanto. Bookmark the permalink. Leave a comment.


text:
IAA, Inc. has completed its spin-off from KAR Auction Services and began trading the “regular way” on the New York Stock Exchange on Friday.
Later in the day, IAA president and chief executive officer John Kett spoke with Auto Remarketing by phone from the NYSE.
"It's almost a bit overwhelming," he said. "It really is exciting ... Just walking over there (to the NYSE from the hotel) by myself, it was powerful for me, just to think about the journey that I've been on and the company.
"One of the things that gets me going is the 3,600 employees and how dedicated and committed they are,” Kett said. “So, for all of them, I'm really excited.”
The spin-off was first announced in February 2018, with the end result of IAA as an independent, publicly traded company.
“We are excited for IAA to enter the public markets as a strong, independent company. As a standalone publicly traded company, IAA will continue to be a leader in the salvage auction industry, benefitting from an enhanced strategic focus and a streamlined operating structure,” Kett said in a news release.
Photo from IAA.
“We plan to maximize long-term value for our stockholders and customers by building on our core strengths and executing against our defined growth strategy,” he said.
The new IAA
So, what might the auto industry and the end customer notice about IAA?
Well, for one, the company is going by the “IAA” moniker. But the service and innovation that IAA brings its customers will continue, Kett said.
Emerging as a standalone company does give IAA more flexibility and “allows us to really focus on our vision and our strategy,” Kett said in the interview.
"It allows us to make investments when and where we deem appropriate,” he said. “It just gives us that flexibility, and it's exciting for, again, our employees. Because I think they've always identified with IAA and I think this really makes it very clear to the market.”
As far as the opportunities that might open up, IAA will “continue to expand our relationships with our core customers,” Kett said, and focus on the “blocking and tackling” of its core business. But there is room for growth.
“We are really looking at broadening the spectrum of offerings. So, if you think about a total loss claim from the beginning to the end, we've pretty much lived at the end of that claim for most of our history. But as we've mapped out the entire process, there's a lot of opportunities for us to deliver value throughout that process,” Kett said.
“And we've been introducing products and will continue to introduce innovative products to help drive value there. Our international buyer base, while it's vibrant and robust ... (we're) really refocusing our efforts to continue to grow that, because it's so important to the market,” he said.
“And then using our data and analytics to help, again, drive some of the innovation. We've got a really unique data set that we can take advantage of. And then I think the last one from a strategic perspective would be to think international,” Kett said.
A news release from KAR on Friday indicated that IAA will have control over the “pre-separation salvage auction businesses of KAR,” which in addition to IAA here in the U.S., would also include Impact Auto Auctions Ltd. in Canada and HBC Vehicle Services Limited in the U.K.
In that same release, KAR chairman and CEO Jim Hallett said, “Today marks the beginning of a new era for KAR and our investors, employees and diverse customers around the globe.
“KAR’s strong, focused strategy positions us well to lead the digital evolution of our industry and expand our broad portfolio of innovative, integrated and data-driven solutions. We look forward to seizing the many opportunities ahead, advancing our entrepreneurial culture, and upholding our historical commitment to customer service.”
More on expansion
In mid-June, IAA announced it had opened IAA Houston South, a new 125-acre-capacity location, which marks IAA’s third in the Houston metro area. It was also the 17th branch in the state for the company.
So, might physical facility expansion like this continue?
“As we continue to grow our business, we've expanded where we need or where we see opportunity ... the business we're in, there is really an important requirement around having physical property. The intermittent delays that are built into a total loss transaction require the cars to be stored in a safe environment for some period of time before we can properly sell them. So, real estate is certainly an important aspect of our business."
Asked about expanding beyond salvage into whole cars, Kett said that approximately 20% of IAA’s sales are non-insurance vehicles.
“Those are primarily damaged and older, high-mileage vehicles that we sell on behalf of fleet providers, the rental car companies and even dealers," Kett said. “So that's going to remain a part of our business as we go forward."


text:
As The New York Post appropriately put it: “Daddy’s little what now?” Amazon got nailed for selling an offensive shirt emblazoned with “Daddy’s Little Sl*t.” Credit for the removal goes to HuffPo’s excellent reporter Yashar Ali who Twitter-shamed Amazon into taking it down. But they are still allowing their third-party sellers to continue hawking other off-color items.
The original $18 shirt sold by OnlyBabyCare started going viral Friday morning, as images of the shocking slogan circulated on Twitter. It brings to mind incest and pedophilia big time. It’s been available on Amazon since June, with a description claiming it was “suitable” for “playing outside, birthday party, baby shower, baptism,” among other family-friendly activities. The t-shirt was labeled unisex and suitable for ‘little girls or boys.’ You’ve got to be freaking kidding me.
From The New York Post:
“Humanity was a mistake, Example #3,415,621,” @JoanneMason11 wrote.
“If I ever saw a child wearing this T-shirt, I’d call the police,” @PhoenixRisingSt wrote.
“I’m actually on the phone with Amazon. The CSR doesn’t even seem shocked,” @JewelResists wrote.
1. Available for sale on @amazon: “Daddy’s Little Slut” t-shirt…for children
— Yashar Ali 🐘 (@yashar) November 8, 2019
“And while the shirt was taken down eight hours later, the seller continued to offer a confusing array of children’s clothing, including a tee that read “Boats and Hoes” and a hat with the words “Black Guns Matter,” with an automatic rifle across the top.
“An Amazon spokesperson told The Post that “All sellers must follow our selling guidelines and those who do not will be subject to action including potential removal of their account. The product in question is no longer available.”
2. It’s been taken down pic.twitter.com/qls1mQgAld
— Yashar Ali 🐘 (@yashar) November 8, 2019
“But the spokesperson declined to comment on the other products sold by OnlyBabyCare that are still available. Twitter do-gooders clearly still have a lot of work on their hands when it comes to policing offensive clothing. Recently, the online retailer Zazzle was called out for selling a shirt with the words “At least I’m not Jewish” printed on a plain black tee. Walmart was also pushed to remove a shirt from their website which read “Rope. Tree. Journalist. SOME ASSEMBLY REQUIRED.” It still made its way into the wild, though. A United Airlines passenger was recently spotted wearing it, prompting another passenger to raise the issue with the airline.
“And elsewhere on the internet, “Daddy’s Little Sl*t” merch is still widely available. Etsy, for example, sells both a crop top with the slogan, as well as a black thong with the phrase printed on it.
“A tweeter’s work is never truly done.”
If I ever saw a child wearing this t-shirt, I'd call the police.
— Kathy Copeland (@PhoenixRisingSt) November 8, 2019
The Daily Mail noted that third-party seller LINGMEI, which sold the offensive child’s t-shirt, still offered items that read “Spank me, Daddy” on Amazon. Just disgusting.
Last March, Amazon pulled baby jumpsuits labeled “daddy’s little f*** toy.” Professor Marci Hamilton of the child advocacy think tank Child USA told The Sun, “It is shocking, and I’m surprised it is there in the first place. It has a way of normalizing the activity [child sex abuse] which is extremely dangerous to children. It is the first time we have seen such wording aimed at pedophiles on clothing for babies. [Amazon] should have much better controls over products for children generally.”
I hope each package comes with the phone number for Child Protective Services
— Goon Grief (@Goongrief) November 8, 2019
While Amazon says that sellers need to follow certain guidelines, this is hardly the first time they’ve come under fire for inappropriate products being sold on their site. Back in March, PJ Media’s Megan Fox reported that a third-party retailer was selling sex dolls that look like children on Amazon. Within hours of the story being published, Amazon removed the offensive listings.
It’s amazing to me that Amazon is hot to trot to pull down Christian authors’ books but it takes months to pull down lude, vulgar children’s clothing. And that was only done after a stink was raised on Twitter. Amazon’s brand should not cater to pedophiles.
Sadly they think that a baby onesie, is also appropriate. There is a pleathera of options.
I wish I could unsee this. pic.twitter.com/mueQp2H7a7
— 𝓛𝓲𝔃𝔃𝔂 𝓛𝓸𝓾 (@lizzylouwho02) November 8, 2019


text:
The American Bar Association’s (ABA) antitrust and international sections have warned the European Commission that any regulation of online platforms may fail to keep up with the market.
According to the ABA, “[o]nline platforms drive innovation and growth in the digital economy. They play an important role in the development of the online world and opening new market opportunities, notably for SMEs. […] Online platforms offer major new efficiencies in accessing global consumer markets.” The Sections recognize, however, that some competitors have expressed concern regarding the operation of some platforms in the EU.
As the Commission recognizes “the (EU) competition rules … prohibit, inter alia, abusive behavior by platforms that are found to be dominant on the relevant markets(s) where they operate.” As the Commission notes, online platforms are in their essence a “gateway to markets” for businesses with goods to sell. As a general matter, online platforms are not situated differently from other avenues to market—such as traditional wholesalers—merely because they involve software and the internet. And as such, online platforms remain equally subject to the well-established competition laws.
The ABA concludes that the EU imposing significant burdens on integrated platforms could lead them to limit or terminate third-party access to their platforms through lawful means and thus reduce competition rather than expand it.
Full Content: American Bar Association


text:
Zacks Equity Research wrote in Yahoo Finance that the trade war has suppressed US chip makers rather than Huawei.
Chip stocks fell due to Huawei
In 2018, the entire American market accounted for only 6.6% of Huawei's total revenue of more than $105 billion. The company specializes in telecommunications networks, information technology, smart devices andcloud service. It relies on sourcing chips and technology from several large and medium-sized US companies.
Trump's announcement on August 9 caused a heavy blow to chip stocks, although some of them rebounded before the close due to White House clarification. AMD fell nearly 2%, but rose 1% before the close, Micron Technology, Intel and Sijia News fell 2%, 2.5% and 3%.
AMD, Micron Technology, Sijiaxun and Qualcomm's stocks have risen 75.7%, 32.8%, 13.8%, 22.7% and 15.6% so far this year, and Intel fell 2.8% at the same time.
Huawei's next step?
Huawei has beatenappleBecome the second largest smart in the worldMobile phoneManufacturer, whose goal is to go beyondSamsungTake the first place. On July 30, it released its first half of the year, an increase of 23.2%.
Considering trade restrictions, Huawei has planned to invest 800 million US dollars to build a new factory in Brazil. The company has built a facility in São Paulo to produce telecommunications equipment for mobile operators, and the new plant will increase its potential in modems and processors.
TSMC, the world's largest chip maker, has confirmed that Huawei will continue to supply Huawei regardless of the US ban. Since the CFO Meng Zhouzhou was detained last year, Huawei has been stocking parts and components, and has also certified non-US suppliers that will support the supply chain in the long run.
At the same time, Huawei has two new chips designed by its chip company, HiSilicon, including Kirin 985, which is manufactured by 7nm EUV lithography. Huawei will launch its high-end smartphone Mate 30 series based on new chips. The company also launched the 5G version of the Mate 20 X mobile phone.
Trade restrictions may not affect Huawei's revenue, but damage the sales of US chip makers. Huawei is replacing its US suppliers with suppliers in other parts of Asia. Both Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd. and Taiwan’s Liji Electronics have received increased orders.


text:
Upper Deck partners with USA Football
By Andrew Tolentino | Football Editor
Upper Deck and USA Football announced an unprecedented partnership today.
According to details on Usafootball.com, this is the first time that the sport’s national governing body for international competition has paired up with a trading card company. As an official sponsor of USA Football, Upper Deck is poised to make a big impression on America’s growing youth football membership — a prime audience comprised of players (potential collectors) between the ages of six and 14.
Today’s announcement also foretold some near-future hobby impacts, including special edition U.S. Under-19 National Team cards slated for an appearance in 2011 SP Authentic Football. These cards will feature photography from the early-2011 Team USA vs. The World game (featured in the video below) and a selection of game-used jersey swatches.
“Any effort to promote the great game of football is a step in the right direction and the opportunity to capture members of the U.S. Under-19 National Team on trading cards is one we’re very excited about,” said Upper Deck’s vice president of marketing, Jason Masherah.
USA Football’s executive director Scott Hallenbeck added, “Our national team program and Player Academies will benefit from Upper Deck’s industry-leading work and their commitment to youth football for the millions of kids who love to stay fit by playing America’s favorite sport and gain from the game’s team-first values.”


text:
Danzig is gearing up to release a brand new album, Black Laden Crown, in about a month, on May 26th via his new Nuclear Blast imprint, Evilive.
Today, the first single, "Devil on Hwy 9," was released to radio stations and internet streaming services. The track begins with about a minute and a half of solid riffing, and then Danzig's vocals come in. While initially, his voice sounds a bit jarring, eventually it all works out, and after a few listens, I'm into the track.
What do you think of the new jam?
You can pre-order Black Laden Crown on Amazon for as low as $9.49.
Meanwhile, Danzig's next performance is his big Blackest of the Black fest in late May in souther California.


text:
Metro Phoenix year-over-year consumer prices up 4.9% in April
PHOENIX — The bill for items and services in the Valley was nearly 5% higher in April this year than last, according to the latest Consumer Price Index report released by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics on Wednesday.
The rise was on par with neighboring regions and the country as a whole, 3.9% and 4.2%, respectively, and nearly every item measured by the price index rose in the past 12 months.
Energy prices in the Valley were one of the biggest jumps (18.6%) driven by higher prices for gasoline, according to a press release, which had a 34.3% hike.
The increased price of gasoline was not the only hardship for those who have personal transportation.
It cost 20% more to buy a used car or truck this April than the previous year, according to the price index, while insurance rose 29.3%.
Gasoline prices have started to go in the other direction, however, as prices in April were 1.2% less than in February.
The other rise of note was the price of apparel, up 12.8% and a significant difference from the neighboring regions (3.3%) and the country as a whole (1.9%).
Food also had a slight increase in price year-over-year, up 3%.
The bill for eating out jumped 3.4%, while the cost of staying home and cooking food rose 2.7% since a year ago.
The only items to be cheaper in April 2021 than a year ago is meats, poultry, fish and eggs (-0.4%), and alcoholic beverages (-1.3%).
The next consumer price index for the Valley is scheduled to be released in July, covering the month of June.


text:
Marmite, a savory yeast extract spread, is considered to be an acquired taste. Apparently, so is the TV ad that Unilever, the makers of Marmite, has come up with in their new campaign.
Unilever embraced the “love it or hate it” reaction people have for the salty paste, creating a commercial that features a special task force going house-to-house to rescue jars from being forgotten and neglected in the back of cupboards.
The complaints have trickled off but within the first 24 hours of the commercial debut, the Advertising Standards Authority received approximately 250 complaints, reports BBC News. Viewers found the message offensive because it came across as trivializing the work of animal rescue workers.
Here is the commercial courtesy of The Telegraph:
The ASA has no plans to take action with the complaints having come to an end.
A spokeswoman for Marmite said it didn’t intend to offend anyone, explaining, “We hope that everyone will watch and enjoy this commercial in the light-hearted way it was intended.”
Marmite’s Facebook page has had mixed responses with people saying they’d ban the product after seeing the commercial and others commenting that there is no comparison between the two, animals and Marmite, and to “get a sense of humor.”
The commercial sees the abandoned Marmite jars reunited with appreciative families and ends with the tagline, “Love it. Hate it. Just don’t forget it.”
What is your reaction to the commercial?Read More


text:
Decade-old Pebble smartwatches gain Pixel 7 support in ‘one last update’
It’s been nearly a decade since the Pebble smartwatch started shipping to backers of its wildly successful initial Kickstarter campaign, but there’s still life in the ol’ dog yet. The wearables are now compatible with Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro, as well as 64-bit-only Android devices that will arrive later.
As noted by Ars Technica, Katharine Berry, who works on Wear OS and is a prominent member of the Rebble group that’s keeping the Pebble ecosystem alive, wrote that the latest Pebble update comes four years after the previous one. The last update allowed for many of the Pebble app’s functions to run on independent servers. Fitbit, which Google has since bought, shut down Pebble’s servers in 2018, two years after buying some of the smartwatch maker’s assets.
Along with Pixel 7 compatibility, the latest update also improves Caller ID reliability on recent versions of Android. While the app isn’t available on the Google Play Store, the APK is signed with official Pebble keys and retains Google Fit integration, Berry noted.
On the surface, this might finally appear to be the end of the line for Pebble in terms of official support. “Thanks to Google for providing us with one last update,” Berry wrote on Reddit. However, as Ars Technica points out, it looks like a Pebble hackathon is set to take place next month. So if your Pebble’s e-ink screen and battery are still holding up, it might be useful for a while longer yet.
All products recommended by Engadget are selected by our editorial team, independent of our parent company. Some of our stories include affiliate links. If you buy something through one of these links, we may earn an affiliate commission. All prices are correct at the time of publishing.


text:
In the second quarter, the situation in the labor market was still good in Estonia. Employment was high and unemployment low. According to Statistics Estonia, in the second quarter, the unemployment rate was 5.8% and the number of the employed grew strongly, by 4.9%, over the year, but the stat. office survey does not take into account the 50, 000 Ukrainian refugees that have reached Estonia by now as their labour force survey’s sample was formed at the start of the year, before the war in Ukraine escalated. Together with Ukrainian refugees, the unemployment rate reached an estimated 6.5%. One tenth of the registered unemployed were Ukrainian refugees.
Despite the nearly 50,000 people being unemployed, employers still face labour shortages, especially in the construction sector. According to Statistics Estonia, 16,000 Estonian residents work abroad, 6,000 of them in the construction sector. The cooling of the economic climate in Scandinavia might attract some of them back to Estonia.
In the second half of this year, GDP growth is expected to slow considerably. Entrepreneurs are plagued by rising costs, various supply chain issues, declining orders, and war-related business restrictions. Private consumption is suppressed by an exceptionally large decline in household purchasing power. June’s economic data already showed a decrease in the volume of both industrial production and retail sales.
The deteriorating economic environment affects the labor market. However, the increase in unemployment will remain moderate, as the economic downturn is expected to be mild and short-lived. The increase in the number of the unemployed should alleviate labor shortages somewhat. However, wage growth will remain rapid both this year and next. Swedbank forecasts a 10-percent increase in the average gross wage for this year. In addition to the shortage of specialists the labour market needs, the rapid rise in prices and the increase in the minimum wage are behind the rapid wage growth.


text:
Regulatory Series on Cryptocurrencies: US-CFTC Sues Naveda Company in $11 Million Cryptocurrency Fraudulent Scheme
EM Asian currencies likely to prop up as U.S. and China remain on track to reach a partial trade deal, says Scotiabank
U.K. headline inflation remains unchanged at 1.7 pct in September, likely to stay below 2 pct in near-term
Australian bonds slump after U.S.-China trade tension disturbs investors once again; Sep labour report disappoints
Italian consumer price inflation eases marginally in August
Italian consumer price index rose in August. Sequentially, the headline inflation came in at 0.4 percent. On a year-on-year basis, the consumer price index also came in at 0.4 percent, the same as in July 2019. The flash estimate was 0.5 percent.
The stability of All items index was due to a situation with very small differences with respect to July. Non-durable goods saw a rise of 0.6 percent. The core inflation rate, which excludes energy and unprocessed food, came in at 0.5 percent and inflation excluding energy came in at 0.6 percent.
The rise on monthly basis was mainly driven by prices of services related to transport, whose dynamics was impacted by seasonal factors.
The annual pace of change of prices of goods was zero and that one of prices of services was 0.8 percent. As a consequence, the inflationary gap between services and goods was still positive. Prices of grocery and unprocessed food rose 0.1 percent sequentially and by 0.7 percent year-on-year.
The harmonized index of consumer prices was null in August compared with the prior month and came in at 0.5 percent year-on-year. This was an acceleration from 0.3 percent in July.


text:
Specialist tech agency, BENCH PR, has announced it has added both Tintri and Receipt Bank to its client portfolio.
Tintri, a hybrid storage startup, raised $75 million in a Series E funding round last year and counts global enterprises such as AMD, F5 Networks, GE, NEC, Polycom and Panasonic as customers.
Vanessa Curtis, senior marketing manager, Asia Pacific at Tintri said, “We selected BENCH PR for its expertise in the IT sector and senior counsel. We’re busy building the team here in Australia to take advantage of the huge opportunity we see in this market and have some exciting announcements to come in the next few months. We’re looking forward to working with BENCH to help us raise our profile in the region.”
Receipt Bank, the bookkeeping tool that automates bills, receipts and invoices, has also appointed BENCH to represent the company in Australia and New Zealand. Working with the Receipt Bank team, BENCH will target the accounting and bookkeeping industries on cloud-based software and automation for running more efficient practices.
Jocelyn Hunter, managing director of BENCH PR said, “We’re thrilled to be working with both Tintri and Receipt Bank, two organisations disrupting their respective markets with rapid success and big plans for growth. As senior PR professionals who live and breathe the technology sector, the team at BENCH thrives on working with exceptional IT companies like these. We’re looking forward to joining Receipt Bank and Tintri on their journey and helping support their business goals in the region.”
Australian owned and operated email and SMS marketing software company, Vision6, announced the launch of its first-ever national brand campaign and new brand platform “Simply Reliable”. Founded in 2001, Vision6 was one of the first email marketing software providers in Australia and has since been relied upon by thousands of Aussie businesses and organisations for […]
Out-of-Home media company JCDecaux New Zealand has appointed business growth specialist Adam McGregor in preparation for its bid to win upcoming local government street furniture tenders across the country. With contracts for the provision of street furniture including bus shelters across New Zealand up for renewal from late 2022, they collectively represent the biggest advertising […]
Fetch TV has announced that ABC iview will soon be available as a dedicated Virtual Playlist Channel on the Fetch platform. Virtual Playlist Channels (VPCs) were developed by Fetch to promote content discovery, and to provide a clear bridge between the traditional world of linear TV and the growing availability of on demand content via […]
Jackie Gillies, businesswoman, psychic medium and cast member of The Real Housewives of Melbourne is bringing her sassy, inspirational and adventurous spirit to her new podcast Shine It Up, With Jackie Gillies, which launches today via Acast. Hosted and distributed by the creator-first podcast company Acast, the show will offer listeners inspiration and motivation to […]
Crowdsourcing platforms DesignCrowd and BrandCrowd are promoting vaccination efforts in a unique way, launching a logo redesign contest among their networks of designers. The initiative saw iconic Australian brands such as Hungry Jack’s, Jetstar, JB Hi-Fi, and Bunnings undergo a redesign. “We thought it would be fun to see some other iconic Australian brands back […]
Jillian Davison has been named editor-in-chief of the recently relaunched Harper’s BAZAAR Australia. She will oversee all content, development and creative direction across the iconic magazine’s digital and brand platforms. Davison (pictured) succeeds Eugenie Kelly, who recently stepped down to pursue other opportunities. The announcement was made by Maureen Jordan, publisher of Harper’s BAZAAR Australia […]
Freedom Foods and 72andSunny Sydney have launched the first advertising campaign for Australia’s Own range of plant-based beverages. The campaign introduces a new visual world and identity for the brand and captures the healthy, positive feeling you get when spending time in nature and when consuming Australia’s Own certified-organic, plant-based beverages. As well as featuring […]


text:
ahwatukee.com on Facebook
- Main Street
Arts & Life
- Special Sections
Displaying results 1 - 25 of 485 for online shopping. Subscribe to this search
There’s a new place to shop for original gifts in the East Valley, and it’s only going to be open about three weeks.
Small Business Saturday is gaining in popularity, according to a new survey by the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB).
While Black Friday and Cyber Monday are gone, that doesn’t mean our holiday shopping is done.
Following the general trend in home décor, holiday trim and accessories this year are an eclectic mix of traditional and non-traditional colors and styles.
Have Americans lost hope? The trust-deficit between them and their policymakers is distressingly large, with only 19 percent, according to an October Pew poll, who say that they have faith that the government will do what is right just about always or most of the time.
My assignment: In 700 words or less, I’m supposed to keep you and your money safe while you’re out buying for the holidays. How about I do it in 17 words and two punctuation points: do not buy gift cards, do not shop online, and do not get talked into extended warranties!
Black Friday used to be the one day where you could find bargain-basement deals on computers, TVs, game consoles, home goods, clothes, toys, and the list goes on.
Bring your friends and your shopping list for a unique Gift Mart featuring one-of-a-kind holiday gifts while celebrating the magic of the season. Holiday purchases benefit the Arizona Animal Welfare League & SPCA and help another homeless pet be home for the holidays from 2 to 6 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 8 at The Arizona Biltmore, 2400 E. Missouri Ave. in Phoenix.. Tickets are $40 per person, $70 for two if registered by Nov. 29. Tickets includes entrance, appetizers and one signature cocktail.
Residents got into the spirit of Halloween last week and showcased their creativity with original, cute, funny and scary costumes for the Ahwatukee Foothills News online costume contest.
Halloween, the holiday built around the twin pleasures of playing dress-up and eating too much candy, is obviously a hit with children.
HERE: PARC’s 7th birthday party Oct. 5
Excitement is in the air for this annual East Valley party in the park for adults and children to celebrate the relationships we share with our most loyal of friends — DOGS! Friends for Life Animal Rescue’s 14th annual BARKtoberfest event will be from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Oct. 12 at Gilbert Town Center, 50 E. Civic Center Drive.
Save the Family is hosting its sixth-annual “Taste of SanTan” event, slated for Friday, Oct. 4 from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. at SanTan Village Shopping Center. More than 350 guests are expected to “enjoy a fun night of culinary delights, entertainment, fantastic door prizes, and much more,” according to Save the Family.
The Arizona Diamondbacks will host Throwback Night, featuring the Second Alumni Game, on Aug. 31 at Chase Field. The current D-backs team will wear “throwback” jerseys that feature the team’s former purple, black and teal colors, during their game vs. the Giants at 5:10 p.m. Shortly after the game, D-backs alumni Luis Gonzalez, Matt Williams, Augie Ojeda, Travis Lee, Reggie Sanders and Steve Finley will take the field to play a three-inning game.
Amigos, here’s a worthy poster to nail on the gate post: “Wanted: Safe Bargain Shopping on the Internet.” In case you’re new to frugal buying online, here’s a big “howdy” to the new frontier of shopping.
Families with kids looking for something exciting to do don’t have to look very far now that Macaroni Kid is in Ahwatukee Foothills.
The most important component to prevent and reverse disease, experience lasting fat loss and your highest level of health begins by being mindful and conscious of what you choose to eat. Good nutrition and healthy eating is a journey that begins with making smarter choices when shopping for food.
Entrepreneurship fuels Ahwatukee’s economic innovation and prosperity. But did you know that when you shop at locally owned businesses, your money is recirculated over and over? With every $100 that is spent at a local retailer, $68 will return to the community through taxes and payroll. These dollars create wealth and additional sales tax revenue to pay for things like parks, libraries, and city services.
HEBER-OVERGAARD: Arizona Crawfish Festival
Up to 10,000 pounds of crawfish will be trapped in Mogollon Rim lakes, rivers and streams in the week leading up to this 10-year-old festival, where the tasty little crustaceans will be boiled, seasoned and gobbled up with red potatoes and corn.
You’ll also find a crawfish-eating contest, Cajun food vendors, frozen daiquiris, live Cajun and country music, a beer garden and vendors selling arts, crafts and antiques. Order your meal online in advance, and you’re guaranteed 3 lbs. of boiled crawfish to eat at the event.
DETAILS >> Noon to 9 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 10. The Shops at Bison Ranch, 2269 Highway 260, Overgaard. $15 per adult (or two adult tickets for $25), $3 for kids ages 13-17, free for children 12 and younger. $5 to park. (928) 535-4323 or ArizonaCrawfishCompany.com.
As the summer winds down, and the first day of the new school year approaches, kids are busily compiling their back-to-school wish lists. And that means back-to-school shopping. From school supplies to new clothes, back-to-school shopping can be an overwhelming task. Luckily, Ahwatukee is full of fabulous stores for shoppers of every age and every need.
Medicare covers a variety of heath care services that you can receive in the comfort and privacy of your home. These include intermittent skilled nursing care, physical therapy, speech-language pathology services, and occupational therapy.
The round, white, paper light shades sold at IKEA for $5 are a familiar item in contemporary interior design. But these inexpensive lanterns are knockoffs of light sculptures created by the renowned artist Isamu Noguchi in the early 1950s.
Honeyville Farms, a retail store near Ahwatukee just across Interstate 10 in Chandler, specializes in food storage, bulk wheat and grains, baking mixes, emergency preparedness items, water storage and more.
After reading that the Senate has passed a bill to have online retailers charge sales tax exactly the same as brick and mortar businesses, I am hopeful that Congress will see the impact this will have on their communities. Small businesses have suffered and many have closed because people can save tax dollars by purchasing online. In fact, many people use local retail businesses as testing grounds for whatever they want to buy online. While we all love the idea of getting a deal, it shouldn’t be done on the backs of our local retail businesses. If the same tax is charged online as in person sales, both types of retail would be better served. I hope our Congressmen will realize that when the issue comes to a vote.
Do your kids love chocolate milk? It may have more calories on average than you thought.


text:
The convergence of advertising technology (adtech) and marketing technology (martech) is a popular topic among marketers, vendors and investors, but it is rarely explored beyond high-level chatter and token product expansions.
But, according to a Forrester report, convergence is happening despite the two categories’ different worldviews and it will affect tens of billions of dollars in marketing spend.
The report A More Perfect Union: Adtech And Martech Convergence Will Revolutionize Marketing says that, while marketing doesn’t require advertising, advertising is definitely marketing.
The adtech and martech convergence isn’t merely a foregone conclusion; it has already started. The prospect of convergence with martech may be disruptive, but adtech vendors still have an opportunity to control their own destinies.
The opportunity to apply the strengths of advertising technology to broad marketing challenges beyond display media is a once-in-a-generation opportunity, Forrester says.
Adtech vendors need to carefully consider their options to fully leverage their data and technology capabilities, select ecosystem partners, and prioritize their road maps according to likely convergence paths.
The following are the three key takeaways from the report:
Macro trends drive convergence
The adtech and martech convergence has historically occurred in fits and starts due to the challenges of resolving different priorities and business models. But new economic and marketing trends now make convergence a priority across stakeholders.
Convergence is a positive outcome
The adtech and martech convergence is disruptive and appropriately viewed with skepticism. But it drives tangible long-term bene ts for B2C marketers, technology vendors, and agencies.
Convergence is a process
This isn’t a single-step process. It is the first stage of a larger advertising and marketing integration and will occur over several years in phases as technologies, marketing practices and market dynamics play out.
For more, see: https://www.forrester.com/report/A+More+Perfect+Union+Adtech+And+Martech+Convergence+Will+Revolutionize+Marketing/-/E-RES135282


text:
NEW YORK – Luxury US apparel retailer, the RealReal, has been forced to issue an apology to consignors and customers after fakes were found on its website during investigations by CNBC. It was alleged that not everything on the site has been reviewed by authentication experts which meant some customers spent hundreds of dollars on mislabeled or counterfeit goods. RealReal shares sank 7.4 per cent on Wednesday and are down 22 per cent in the past week.
“Of nearly 1,400 reviews of the company found online, the top complaints are fakes, damage and poor customer service,” the CNBC notes. “The complaints include wrong sizes and that the photos online were misleading because they did not match the appearance of the item.”
This is Premium Content
Only user with Online and Print subscription can access this.
If you are a Free Subscriber, click here to upgrade.
If you already have Online or Print subscription Login To Unlock The Content!
“Authentication is extremely complex. It’s both an art and science. We stand by our authentication process and will always work with our customers to make things right,” the company said in a statement to CNBC.
RealReal CEO Julie Wainwright has emailed customers, saying: “… the entire team at The RealReal works diligently seven days a week to ensure the highest standards in our authentication practices. We employ certified experts such as gemologists and horologists, luxury experts who have worked at companies like Sotheby’s and Christie’s, and brand experts who have worked directly for luxury brands. We are constantly and consistently training our teams, and evolving our technologies to ensure your items are the real thing. There is no resale company doing more to remove fakes, and put counterfeiters out of business, than The RealReal.”
The RealReal has also been criticised for selling designer collaborations for Target and other mass-market stores as luxury goods. In addition, Chanel has a lawsuit pending against the company for selling counterfeit Chanel goods, although, according to a former employee, all Chanel goods are sent to be authenticated by the official authentication team.


text:
As part of efforts to promote tourism development in Africa, the UN World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) has signed an agreement with Casa Africa, a Spanish government agency, to support better policies to sustain the sector on the continent.
According to the UNWTO, the pact was signed October 4, 2012 in the Spanish capital, Madrid.
“This agreement will allow UNWTO and Casa Africa to reinforce Africa’s capacity to employ tourism as an effective instrument of socio-economic development and poverty reduction,” said UNWTO Secretary-General, Taleb Rifai, who signed the agreement alongside Casa Africa Director-General, Santiago Martínez-Caro.
“Activities will be undertaken to support better tourism policies in Africa, as well as to create employment opportunities through increased investment in, and marketing of, African destinations,” he added.
In a statement, the UNWTO says the agreement formalizes the already on-going collaboration between the two organizations, which stretches back to 2010 with the creation of the Tourism Investment and Business Forum for Africa (INVESTOUR), an event that aims to increase the visibility of Africa as a tourism destination and mobilize investment for sustainable tourism projects in the region.
“There are huge business opportunities in the Africa tourism sector,” said Casa Africa’s Martínez-Caro.
“This initiative allows Spanish businesses to sit down with their African counterparts and invest in viable tourism projects in Africa,” he added.
By Ekow Quandzie