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In its latest release of contemporary characters announced Tuesday, American Girl has included a boy doll for the first time — “Logan,” the drummer friend of new character “Tenney Grant,” who bears a striking resemblance to country-pop star Taylor Swift in her younger years.
The new dolls are “designed to speak to even more girls' interests, backgrounds, and experiences.” But a spokesperson told the New York Times the move is also in part a response to demand from parents who wanted a character for their sons. “Some parents wanted a doll for their boys to play with, while girls were simply looking to diversify their collections,” she told the Times. “In fact, we know many girls who have created their own boy dolls from our existing lines.”
Meanwhile, American Girl owner Mattel also said Tuesday that the company has inked a deal with Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba to sell in China through Alibaba marketplace tmall.com. Mattel will also promote educational content through Alibaba’s media ecosystem and work with Alibaba's A.I. Lab to develop new tech-based, interactive educational toys, according to a press release.
At this point in the 21st century, the throwback nature of traditional gender lines in the toy industry is a head-scratcher. The product development, marketing and merchandising of toys remains highly gendered, despite research supporting that girls and boys should be allowed to play how they like.
Experts told Retail Dive last year that the gender lines in toy marketing have come back stronger than ever after being blurred in the 1970s thanks to the rise of feminism and some relaxation of gender norms.
“In 1975, only 2% of toy ads in the Sears catalog were gender-based, meaning they showed a girl with a baking toy or a boy with a building toy. By 1995, 50% were gender-based. It’s moving in the wrong direction,” Dan Nessel, founder of family-focused consumer reviews site Dad Does, told Retail Dive. “The toy industry markets pink and princesses for girls, and builders and blasters for boys. If anyone calls them on it, they say, ‘We did a focus group, and girls want princesses and pink things.’ I say, ‘That’s because you’ve been marketing them for a decade.’”
Parents like Nessel were behind Target’s decision in 2015 to remove the gender lines separating bedding and toys for boys and girls. The retailer has since developed gender-neutral lines of home decor for kids and, along with other retailers, even some apparel.
American Girl, while willing to acknowledge some demand from boys for their dolls, kept their press release squarely tilted toward girls and girl empowerment, suggesting that its marketing may lag behind its merchandising when it comes to breaking down gender lines. That could be leaving money on the table. “There’s a lot of work to be done, by all parties,” Nessel said. “But once sales go up, the toy industry will say, ‘This is great. We’re now selling to twice as many people. Let’s do more of it.’”


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The Conference Board predicts with 96% certainty that the US economy will enter a recession in 2023.
This scenario has Americans worried about their own financial prospects for the coming year. A recent survey found that more than two-thirds (69%) of US adults fear a looming recession, with 41% saying they are not “prepared” for tough economic times.
Good news? Financial experts say there are steps you can take to mitigate the effects of a nasty recession. But you will have to work at it.
“Let’s face it, many of us are stuck in a routine, living day-to-day and paycheck-to-paycheck without any plan,” said professional stock trader Thomas Kralow. After all, Steve Jobs never said, ‘Well, let’s see where this takes us’ when Apple invented the iPhone.
“If you want to achieve something big, you have to have a plan and stick to it,” added Kralow.
Six financial moves to make now, ahead of the recession
If you want to go big and stave off the recession in ’23, financial experts advise taking these measures — and the sooner the better.
Create a plan to fight the recession. Build a defensive financial plan — but not just any plan, Kralow said. “Simply listing your desires will not be worth it,” he noted. “Any plan must include the following”:
· Your current location
· Your long-term goals
· Realistic short-term milestones
· An assessment of your current skills and assets and what you need to add to achieve your goals
“Once you have your plan, be sure to check in regularly to make sure you’re moving in the right direction,” Kralow added.
Stop buying things you can’t afford. More than 3 in 5 (61%) Americans have a credit card, and the average balance in 2022 is $6,194. Add in late payments with Buy Now Pay Later schemes that put consumers even further into debt, and that debt becomes a problem.
“Stop trying to impress, stop comparing yourself to others, and stop buying things you can’t afford,” advises Kralow. “Apart from the bank managers who profit from your debt, no one cares about your frivolous purchases.”
Minimize food costs Inflation has skyrocketed 7.7% since October 2022, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics.
“To save, shop as much as you need to avoid perishable waste, but also shop on sale,” said DailyPay Vice President of Customer Success Kate Cheesman.
“Sign up for your supermarket’s rewards program and browse their weekly catalog for coupons and deals.”
Buy in bulk when you can. “It’s a great way to reduce the cost of needed goods,” Cheesman noted.
Diversify your income. Many companies are downsizing, and this trend is likely to continue during the recession. To protect yourself from an unpleasant situation, explore ways to supplement your income.
“You don’t need two full-time jobs,” Kralow said. “Instead, consider starting a home project, freelance, invest, consult, or share your knowledge online. This is where adding new skills and knowledge to your toolkit really comes into focus.”
Focus your portfolio on reliable consumer stocks. The good news for investors is that several successive and moderate rate hikes are widely expected to be appreciated by the markets.
“The bigger concern for stocks in 2023 is certainly the Fed’s proposed slowdown, which is likely to cause downward earnings revisions and/or earnings misses,” said Reid Hartman, chief economist at Global Predictions.
The safest stocks to hold in the new year are in sectors like consumer staples, utilities and health care, Hartman said.
“There are likely to be opportunities to turn into recovery-oriented stocks later in the year at reasonable prices (eg categories such as consumer staples, industrials and real estate) after expected earnings decline and prices fully moderate,” he said. “Investors should also feel more comfortable holding bonds when interest rates are peaking.”
Go the fractional way. Households seeking recession-proof investments should consider partial ownership of historically high-earning “real” assets/alternative investments such as real estate, high art, farmland, and franchises.
“Fractional shares have long been popular with the 1%, but only recently have they become available to retail investors,” said Franshares CEO Kenny Rose. “There’s a reason why you see so many celebrities like Patrick Mahomes and Shaq investing in these asset classes.”
Fractional shares offer the opportunity to provide passive income streams that can match or beat high inflation.
“This makes them attractive additions to any well-balanced portfolio, especially in recessionary conditions when stocks, bonds and mutual funds can deliver below-average returns,” Rose said.

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Last month, The Chinese telecommunications giant Huawei has announced the Watch Fit 2 smartwatch globally, as well as a new health service Health+, providing users with fitness, health care, and nutrition suggestions. After its global launch, now the company has started taking pre-orders of the Huawei Watch Fit 2 from today.
This information comes from a tipster ” @王山的Uncle” who revealed that the new smartwatch is currently open for booking in China on jd.com (a Chinese e-commerce platform ) and will be opened for pre-orders on June 29.
While the first sales are targeted for July 7. This new product is officially expected to introduce alongside Huawei Nova 10 series for Chinese consumers.
Specifications and Features of Huawei Watch Fit 2
The Huawei Watch Fit 2 is equipped with a 1.74-inch display with a resolution of 336 × 480 pixels. Implemented support for touch control. There is a physical button on the right side of the case. The equipment includes a receiver for satellite navigation systems GPS, Beidou, GLONASS, and Galileo.
The novelty is enclosed in a sealed case, made according to the 5ATM standard: immersion under water to a depth of 50 meters is allowed. There is support for wireless Bluetooth 5.2. Claimed battery life on a single battery charge up to 10 days.
The Huawei Watch Fit 2 offers new functions, including the HUAWEI Health app, to facilitate exercise management and health monitoring: healthy lifestyle management, HUAWEI TruSeen 5.0 (heart rate monitoring ), monitoring of sleep habits, management of the menstrual cycle…
Sport remains at the heart of the watch with new exercise modes added. In total, there are 97: running, cycling, bodybuilding, dancing, ball games, winter sports, etc. Huawei Watch Fit 2 also features a built-in animated fitness coach for 7 select modes, offering easy-to-follow audio instructions and demonstrations – including warm-up and cool-down.
Users can choose from soft and comfortable silicone straps, sleek leather straps, or the Milanese strap, all of which come in a range of shades and styles. Thanks to a snap closure system, the bracelets are removed in a jiffy, allowing users to easily change bracelets according to their mood or outfit.
Do not forget to follow us on our Facebook and Twitter to keep you always aware of the latest advances, News, Updates, review, and giveaway on smartphones, tablets, gadgets, and more from the technology world of the future.


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Generic Companies Join the Patent Pool
11 October 2011
Aurobindo signs on to increase access to HIV medicines
GENEVA, 11 OCTOBER 2011: Aurobindo Pharma Limited, a key producer of generic medicines, has signed an agreement with the Medicines Patent Pool for the manufacture of several antiretroviral medicines. This will speed access to critical HIV medicines in developing countries, in particular to new medicines still in development.
The full text of the agreement is available here [pdf].
Reactions from UNAIDS and UNITAID on the Pool’s first sub-licences:UNAIDS “strongly encourages other antiretroviral patent holders to establish agreements… [and] generic manufacturers to ultilize the licenses that the Pool can facilitate to expand access to antiretroviral treatment.” Full statement here.
UNITAID says new agreement “will increase the number of manufacturers of new products to treat HIV infections.” Full statement here.
The agreement will enable Aurobindo to manufacture products licensed to the Pool by Gilead Sciences in July: emtricitabine (FTC), cobicistat (COBI), elvitegravir (EVG), and the fixed-dose combination of these medicines known as the Quad (a combination of FTC, COBI, EVG, and tenofovir). COBI, EVG and the Quad are new products in development. Their uptake by generic manufacturers will help close the gap between the arrival of new medical technology in developed country markets and its often delayed arrival in developing countries.
Aurobindo has chosen to take advantage of a key provision negotiated by the Pool so it can sell tenofovir to a larger number of countries and without paying royalties [see note].
“We are pleased with the rapid uptake of our first licences by generic companies,” said Medicines Patent Pool Executive Director Ellen ’t Hoen. “Generic medicines producers have a key role to play in ensuring the availability of low cost medicines for the treatment of HIV.”
“We are excited about both the public health and business opportunities provided by the Patent Pool licences. Aurobindo looks forward to increasing its manufacture of HIV-related products, and expanding its work to cover promising new treatments, for the millions of people living with HIV across the globe,” said P.V. Ramaprasad Reddy, chairman of Aurobindo.
“UNITAID welcomes this new agreement, which will increase the number of manufacturers of new products to treat HIV infections,” said Denis Broun, executive director of UNITAID. “Competition from generic producers has been one of the most powerful tools to reduce drug prices. This agreement shows that generic manufacturers believe in the Patent Pool, and this is good news for people living with HIV across the developing world who will be able to access affordable, quality medicines.”
The Pool signed its first licence agreement with a pharmaceutical company, Gilead Sciences, in July 2011, securing several public-health related improvements on the status quo for voluntary licences.
Today’s announcement concerns the other critically important part of the Pool’s work — using licences in the Pool to encourage and expand increased generic production of antiretrovirals. Aurobindo has an established record in producing quality generic drugs for HIV, including fixed-dose combinations and pediatric formulations.
Generic producer MedChem has also signed licences with the Pool. MedChem is a new player in the HIV field. Attracting generic producers will help increase production capacity, which is needed to meet treatment goals.
The Medicines Patent Pool, founded with the support of UNITAID in 2010, aims to bring down the prices of HIV medicines, and stimulate the development of needed new formulations, through access-oriented voluntary licences. The Pool’s voluntary licences are negotiated to maximise their public health impact, and the full terms and conditions of each licence agreement are made public on the Pool’s website.
Note for the editor:
The Pool negotiated for its licences with Gilead to be “unbundled” – this means a generic manufacturer can elect to uptake licences on a product-by-product basis. Aurobindo chose to take licences covering emtricitabine, cobicistat, elvitegravir, and the Quad and not to take a licence on tenofovir, on which there is currently no product patent in India. This means that Aurobindo should be able to sell tenofovir to a larger number of countries than it was able to sell to before.
For further information, contact MPP Communications: gro.looptnetapsenicidem@sserp


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It's a decision that forms part of a much larger trend pushed both by governments as they look to reduce the air pollution in cities, and auto companies that realise customers are looking for cleaner, more efficient vehicles.
Instead of bringing a new prototype from the I.D. family, Volkswagen has made a decision to revisit the first Crozz just in time for the Frankfurt Motor Show in a bid to support its claims of pushing towards a greener future. "We are setting the scene for the final breakthrough for e-mobility", said VW CEO Matthias Mueller. Leaving its upmarket niche is putting the Californian startup on direct collision course with traditional automakers like VW, Toyota Motor Corp. and Nissan Motor Co.as falling battery costs are forecast to make electric cars more affordable in coming years. It's also earmarking over 20 billion euros (about $23 billion) to fund the electrification transition.
VW said it would require capacity equivalent to at least four gigafactories to power the vastly increased fleet of electric cars.
Müller said: "We have got the message and we will deliver". This is not some vague declaration of intent. Looking further ahead, Volkswagen is already gearing up for the next generation: solid-state batteries. VW has previously said they need 40 Tesla Gigafactory-size battery factories by 2025 to support electric vehicle production, and such a huge injection of capital would help fund a rapid expansion in battery production capability over the next few years.
Similar to the original microbus, the revamped electric version will also be offered as a cargo van, VW says, aimed at a commercial market in various cities where emissions regulations are making internal combustion-engined vehicles more expensive to operate.
He added: "For the time being we will be offering the whole spectrum from conventional to electric".
Muller said the firm was also expanding its CNG gas programme, while Audi is working on fuel cell technology that has the potential to reach mass production by 2025.


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An Africa Business Community
One of Nigeria’s mobile and switching companies, eTranzact International Plc, has been awarded the final approval by the Central Bank of Nigeria, to commercially launch the Mobile Money operation.
The eTranzact Mobile Money is designed to allow users conduct financial transactions anywhere, anytime.
The service is aimed at bridging the gap between the banked and the unbanked.
Reacting to the development, General Manager, Mobile Payment of eTranzact, Mr. Patrick Eregie, said that "Mobile Money service has been specifically designed to give access to financial services for Nigerians in low banking coverage areas through the use of mobile phones and to create job opportunities for many Nigerians".
The mobile money service works on all the GSM networks, extending the capability of the user’s mobile phone into a highly- interactive feature-rich payment device.
Eregie said: "This service offers various options such as cash withdrawal, cash deposit, purchase airtime recharge cards, funds transfer (to bank accounts, cards and mobile phones) and bills payment (for Cable TVs, PHCN, school fees, health insurance scheme, etc).


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New or used, cars are big-ticket items. Four new 60-second videos from the Federal Trade Commission can help buyers shop with confidence. The mobile-friendly videos, in English and Spanish, offer important information for every stage of the car-buying process.
Spotting Deceptive Car Ads warns that some car ads promise low payments, no interest, or zero down, but may come with a catch. Researching a dealer’s reputation before visiting the dealership can help consumers steer clear of problems.
Buying a Used Car covers using online research, the Buyers Guide, a vehicle history report, and an independent inspection to be sure consumers know what they are buying before they buy.
Financing a Car encourages consumers to shop for financing before shopping for a car.
Hypersaline water from FPL’s unlined canals seeps into the Biscayne Aquifer, which supplies water to millions of people. The aquifer underlies an area of about 4,000 square miles and is the principal source of water for all of Miami-Dade and Broward Counties and the southeastern part of Palm Beach County.
Judge Bram D.E. Canter has recommended that the Florida Department of Environmental Protection rescind or amend a Dec. 23, 2014 order approving a new plan for FPL to fix the cooling canals at its plant in southeast Miami-Dade County.
Canter said that DEP’s order does not require FPL to comply with groundwater standards or specify a reasonable time for FPL to come into compliance. The measures undertaken so far won’t stop the intrusion, and the saltwater intrusion and sodium levels are in violation of Florida water regulations, he said.
FPL spokesman said Friday that FPL has worked and is working to improve conditions at Turkey Point.
“FPL’s actions have been successful by reducing salinity levels in the Cooling Canal System, significantly improving water quality and stabilizing operations at the site. In October 2015, FPL entered into a Consent Agreement with Miami Dade County that identifies additional actions FPL will undertake to address high chloride concentrations in the groundwater near the CCS.,” Brostowicz said.
Brostowicz said FPL expects the DEP to consider Judge Canter’s recommendations and move forward in the near future.
“We are reviewing the study by Dr. David A. Chin and may provide comments before the mid-March deadline. However, we note that this report was conducted without any interaction with FPL engineers or Plant Operators, and does not include recent data that we believe would have significant impact on Dr. Chin’s conclusions. FPL has always participated with regulatory agencies, when asked. It would have been a more complete report had we had the opportunity to provide input to Dr. Chin’s review,” Brostowicz said.
DEP spokeswoman Jessica Boyd said both parties have until March 1 to object to the order and until March 11 to respond to any objections.
“The department’s Secretary will evaluate the judge’s order, any exceptions and responses, and issue a final order, which is due by May 15,” Boyd said.
The Turkey Point CCS is a 5,900-acre network which removes heat from water used to cool the plant’s generating units. The canals are unlined, and some water evaporates. However, some of the hypersaline water sinks beneath the canals and to the bottom of the Biscayne Aquifer, which is about 90 feet below, Canter said in his order.
FPL estimates that an average of 600,000 pounds of salt per day moves from the plant’s canal system into the aquifer.
The 2014 order was initially challenged by the Tropical Audubon Society, Miami-Dade County, the City of Miami, rock mining firm and landowner Atlantic Civil and others.
Andrew Baumann, a West Palm Beach attorney representing Atlantic Civil, said Thursday, “DEP has to require some kind of action of FPL to fix the problem they created.”
“It’s a 25-square-mile plume of water that is saltier than seawater, and it’s definitely FPL’s water that originated from inside the cooling canal system as identified by the tritium,” Baumann said.
Tritium is radioactive hydrogen, and is a by-product of nuclear power generation.
“The other issue is that this plume is continuing to move and expand at the rate of a few hundred feet a year. It could damage our business, both our agriculture and our rock mining,” Baumann said.
Laura Reynolds, who served as executive director of Tropical Audubon for 10 years and is now working with the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy, said SACE is engaged in elevating the cooling canal water issues to the federal level.
New data provided by Miami-Dade County shows that high levels of tritium are also in the surface waters at Biscayne National Park next to the power plant.
“It should be a federal case and shouldn’t have to be carried only by non-profits and business owners. The EPA should strip DEP of its responsibilities for failure to enforce the Clean Water Act,” Reynolds said.
In other action this week, the Miami-Dade County Commission made public a University of Miami preliminary report on the Turkey Point CCS. Civil and environmental engineering professor David Chin’s 49-page report examined the data and addresses issues such as salinity levels, temperature levels, the migration of the underground saltwater plume and the effects of pumping up to 100 million gallons a day from the L-31E Canal.
Chin’s report states that there is little doubt that seepage from the CCS in the Biscayne Aquifer has caused salinity increases within the aquifer, and that the impact extends several miles inland.
The strongest evidence comes from an analysis of tritium data, Chin wrote.
FPL’s Browtowicz said FPL is reviewing Chin’s study.
” However, we note that this report was conducted without any interaction with FPL engineers or Plant Operators, and does not include recent data that we believe would have significant impact on Dr. Chin’s conclusions. FPL has always participated with regulatory agencies, when asked. It would have been a more complete report had we had the opportunity to provide input to Dr. Chin’s review,” Bostowicz said.
The rule changes would affect certain “managers” and who work as salaried employees not offered overtime pay. These could be managers at fast food chains and in retail. If the changes are enacted, they would be eligible for 1.5 times their pay for each hour worked beyond 40 in a week.
Presently, employers avoid paying overtime to these managers by paying them more than $455 a week and giving them supervisory duties, which places them in a separate employment category not eligible for OT.
The rules Obama is proposing would double the amount these managers earn, to $970 a week, by next year.
The National Retail Federation, a business group, says its members would probably respond by converting many salaried workers to hourly status, which could cost them benefits such as paid vacation, the Associated Press reported. Other salaried workers would have their hours cut and wouldn’t receive higher pay, the wire service reported.
“It’s a job creation measure,” said Daniel Hamermesh, an economist at the University of Texas, Austin, told the AP. “Employers will substitute workers for hours, when the hours get more expensive.”
Do you like receiving robocalls on your cell phone? Probably not.
Today more than 58,000 consumers across the nation sent a message to the Federal Communications Commission: Do not allow robocalls to cell phones without our consent.
The message was delivered in a petition from a coalition of national consumer groups — the National Consumer Law Center, National Association of Consumer Advocates, Americans for Financial Reform, Consumer Action, Consumer Federation of America, National Consumers League, Public Citizen, and U.S. Pirg.
The coalition is fighting an industry proposal that would gut a key consumer and privacy law: the Telephone Consumer Protection Act.
The telemarketing, debt collection, and banking industries want the FCC to allow “wrong party” robocalls to cell phones, which will subject innocent bystanders to intrusive calls and texts if the caller obtains a number previously owned by someone else or if a debt collector associates a number with the wrong person.
“The ‘wrong number’ exemption would gut the law and permit relentless, unauthorized robocalls to your cell phone. Instead, companies can use technology and other measures to weed out numbers that have been transferred and to ensure they are calling the person who gave consent for robocalls,” said Margot Saunders, counsel to the National Consumer Law Center.
The Chamber of Congress, along with the American Bankers Association, the American Collectors Association, Consumer Bankers Association, and other powerful industry groups are behind the proposal.
“Americans have made clear they do not want intrusive calls and we hope the FCC’s response is not to roll back the regulations intended to curb these abuses,” said National Association of Consumer Advocates Legislative Director Ellen Taverna.
More than 223 million people have placed their home and cell phones on the National Do Not Call Registry, and in 2013, nearly 4 million complained to the FTC for do-not-call violations.
In January, 83 national and state civil rights, community, and consumer groups sent a letter to the FCC demanding that the commission keep the important protections for cell phone users, as mandated by the TCPA. In addition to the petition delivered today, 14 U.S. senators, led by Senator Ed Markey, recently sent a letter to FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler urging the FCC to be faithful to Congress’s intention to stop intrusive and unsolicited calls to consumer landline and mobile phones.


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Tips on how to keep your shop in the public eye.
- Overly complex promotions – won’t customers simply take their business elsewhere?The announcement this morning by Which? to raise a serious complaint to the regulator regarding [...]
- Heinz Beanz launches 50% less sugar rangeHeinz has announced that it will be launching a brand new 50% less sugar product, [...]
- Smint unveils limited edition cover designsSmint has unveiled its striking new limited edition ‘Fresh to Impress’ range, available in stores [...]
- Pimm’s No.6 Vodka Cup returnsDiageo has announced that Pimm’s No.6 Vodka Cup is retuning in late May. The product [...]
- Nurishment launches £1 price-marked packsNurishment has launched limited edition £1 price-marked packs of the four best-selling SKUs of Nurishment [...]


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Hindustan Unilever (HUL), the maker of Lux soap, continues to wade through uneven movements in share price as couple of investors plan to exit from the company which has just scaled a landmark of Rs 5 lakh crore market capitalisation.
GlaxoSmithkline (GSK) and Horlicks will sell up to $3.4 billion (Rs 26,090 crore) worth of HUL shares through what could be India’s biggest secondary market block trades on Thursday, with the British drugmaker looking to monetise about 5.7% of HUL stock it had got after last year’s merger of GSK Consumer Healthcare and the country’s most valuable FMCG company. ET first reported about the potential deal on December 16.
Glaxo is seeking to benefit from the surge in HUL stock, which has climbed a fifth since the deal was announced a year ago.
Recently, HUL scaled a market capitalisation of Rs 5.08 lakh crore is almost half of its overseas parent Unilever.
The FMCG company is riding the change in earnings prospect and business outlook post Coronavirus outbreak.
The British-Dutch transnational consumer goods company co-headquartered in London, England, and Rotterdam, Netherlands, has withdrawn its outlook for the year after reporting sales were flat in the first quarter, despite an increase in demand for hygiene and in-home food products.
HUL rallied on the investor quest for safe haven demand. The risk averse investors pushed HUL’s valuation premium to a record high.
The key price-to-earnings (P/E) multiple is now nearly twice that of its industry peers — the highest in 17 years. At its current market capitalisation, HUL is now valued at nearly 77x its trailing 12-month net profit, against the industry’s average P/E of 43x. At around 3,300 basis points (bps), its valuation premium over the industry is nearly 6x its historical average of around 570 bps.
HUL’s premium valuation is attributable to its relatively faster earnings growth in the post-demonetisation period, and its superior capital efficiency.
This document is meant for the recipient only for use as intended and not for circulation. This document should not be reproduced or copied or made available to others. The information contained herein is from the public domain or sources believed to be reliable. While reasonable care has been taken to ensure that information given is at the time believed to be fair and correct and opinions based thereupon are reasonable, due to the very nature of research it cannot be warranted or represented that it is accurate or complete and it should not be relied upon as such. Also above note is not a recommendation to Buy or SELL and is only a view based on facts and figures and we will be in no way responsible for any losses incurred by anyone who uses this information to either trade or invests securities mentioned herein.


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The State of Streaming Media and Entertainment 2011
“In all of this growth, it is worth noting that people are really tuning in to live streaming,” Piech notes. “Sites like Livestream.com and Justin.tv have really caught the public’s imagination.”
Streaming Media and Entertainment Trends
Live streaming is just one of the trends driving content provision online. But it is also a hallmark of what might be called the biggest trend of all: fragmentation. “There are so many different options and niches being supported today, that the online streaming market is fragmenting down to an infinitesimal level,” says Mcilroy. “There is something out there for virtually everyone. This really cuts into the desire of old-style broadcasters to hold mass audiences with their repurposed off-air content. Yes, the viewers are there, but now that there’s lots more to choose from, many are watching web-only content that the TV networks have no stake in.”
“I think the broadcast TV industry is about to experience what happened to the newspaper industry when the web took hold,” says Fred Singer. He is CEO of Grab Networks, which helps clients manage and make money from streaming video. “In other words, streaming media is changing the game. People not only can watch what they want when they want to, but they are also tending toward 2–3 minute ‘video snacks’ rather than old-style bundles of TV segments interspersed with advertising.”
“Broadcasters simply can’t ignore this kind of online content,” he adds. “Like radio when TV came out, they are going to have to rethink their business and content models if they want to stay relevant and profitable.”
On the flip side, StreamingMedia.com EVP Dan Rayburn warns streaming media providers against indulging in fantasies about broadcast television’s demise. “It’s not going to happen,” Rayburn says. “Historically, new media doesn’t destroy old media; it just complements it. When TV took hold, radio didn’t disappear. Instead, it moved away from its diet of comedies and dramas and switched to music and talk. In turn, radio didn’t destroy newspapers, nor will streaming media destroy broadcast television.”
It will be a challenge for broadcast TV programmers to come up with content that can’t be found on the web. This is where 3D television, married to major sporting events and other spectacles, might give broadcasters an edge over their online competition.
The good news as far as broadcasters are concerned? Right now, it does not appear that streaming media is eating into the broadcast TV audience, says Piech. “Our research shows that while online viewing hours are going up, broadcast TV hours are staying stable,” he explains. This means that people aren’t switching one for the other. Instead, they’re just devoting more hours to screen time.”
Streaming Media and Entertainment Challenges
Despite its growth, streaming media is still in its infancy as a commercial business. Many challenges remain for streaming media content providers, on both sides of the business equation.
On the content side—the product that consumers will pay for—current levels of penetration make it difficult for providers to make a living. “The studios generally get 60%–70% of the revenues from Netflix, Hulu, and other such companies,” says Rayburn. “When your penetration rate is only around 1 million–2 million subscribers—not all of whom are necessarily watching a lot of content—it is hard to make enough money.”
On the distribution side—getting the product to paying customers—the current proliferation of proprietary streaming media boxes and the reluctance of some carriers to support bandwidth-hungry streaming video is causing headaches for content providers as well. “Last year, I had four or five streaming media boxes that I was testing,” Rayburn observes. “This year, I have about 20. All of them do different things, and none of them give me complete access to everything that’s online, which is what I believe consumers want.”
Viewers opened their wallets to skinny bundles and SVOD services last year, and there's more where that came from.
Now that the skinny bundle is finally here, what's next? Look for more bundles, more niche OTT offerings, and lots more VR in the year ahead (but—sadly—no a la carte plans).
While new media has claimed its share of victims, some old media publications and shows have learned to adapt. Benefit from their experience with this video.


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No one is happy all the time. And that’s ok says Burger King in a new campaign in support of Mental Health America.
The new Burger King “Real Meals” campaign has a dig at it’s rival McDonald’s “Happy Meals” offering. The campaign is in partnership with Mental Health America to encourage everyone to come in and #FeelYourWay. The moods of the boxed meals include the Pissed Meal, Blue Meal, Salty Meal, YAAAS Meal and DGAF (Don’t Give a Fuck) Meal.
The Real Meals boxes – which include the Whopper meal or a Whopper, fries, and a drink – are available at a handful of locations in Austin, Seattle, Miami, Los Angeles, and New York City.
“With the pervasive nature of social media, there is so much pressure to appear happy and perfect. With Real Meals, the Burger King brand celebrates being yourself and feeling however you want to feel,” states the Burger King release.
Tim Kvasnosky composed the original track, via ad agency MullenLowe US.


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JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA — (Marketwire) — 12/01/10 –www.stockcall.com/ offers investors comprehensive research on the wireless communications industry and has completed analytical research onAmerica Movil S.A.B. de C.V. (NYSE: AMX) and NII Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ: NIHD). Register with us today at www.stockcall.com/ to have free access to these researches.
Wireless ubiquity has become almost expected in the US and throughout major European and Asian cities but there are numerous markets currently on the rise. Many South American and Latin American countries, like Colombia, Argentina and Mexico are rapidly upgrading their wireless capabilities through massive infrastructure spending. Register now athttps://stockcall.com/development/stockcall/page.php?name=register.html to have free access to our reports on the wireless communications industry.
www.stockcall.com/ is an online platform where investors doing their due-diligence on the wireless communications industry can have easy and free access to our analyst research and opinions on America Movil S.A.B. de C.V. and NII Holdings Inc.; investors and shareholders of these companies can simply register for a complimentary membership athttps://stockcall.com/development/stockcall/page.php?name=register.html
The rise in infrastructure spending in these countries has led to significant gains for several companies such as NII Holdings Inc. which won contracts in the region. Companies in the region are also benefitting from an underdeveloped landline system that is currently in place. NII Holdings Inc. research report is available for free by signing up now atwww.stockcall.com/NIHD011210.pdf.
In Mexico, one of the biggest trends is a consumer preference for banking via mobile phones. One of the region’s largest wireless providers, America Movil S.A.B. de C.V., recently announced that it would offer 50 financial services to 50 million people who do not have bank accounts but own mobile phones. America Movil S.A.B. de C.V. research report is accessible for free by registering today at www.stockcall.com/AMX011210.pdf.
In South America, the Argentinean and Colombian governments have opted for increased wireless capability over massive overhauls to a decaying landline infrastructure. The upgrades are primarily aimed at providing greater 3G networks as well as improved wireless internet connectivity. Visit www.stockcall.com/ to see how companies in this industry have grown over the past years and how they are expected to perform in the future.
Overall, the US, Europe and emerging markets of Asia typically dominate the tech conversation but Latin America and South America have recently been growing the fastest. Wireless companies in the regions could see sustained profits if the upgrades continue at their current pace.
StockCall.com is a financial website where investors can have easy, precise and comprehensive research and opinions on stocks making the headlines.


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"Today, the Coalition for Better Ads announced that it is expanding their initial Better Ads Standards beyond North America and Europe to cover all countries, worldwide". It doesn't block all ads, but only ads on sites that feature intrusive adverts that have a negative impact on users' internet browsing experience.More news: Tim Cook: new Apple services will arrive year
Chrome started blocking such ads back in February previous year while Google also put a halt to selling ads that violate the Coalition for Better Ads' guidelines and have a negative impact on the web browsing experience. Examples of abusive ads include pop-up ads, auto-play video with sound, prestitial ads, and large sticky ads.
This announcement comes on the back of a release from the Collation, that it's applying its standards to ads run beyond North America and Europe. Chrome's ad-blocking mechanism will follow a set of guidelines called the "Better Ads Standards" to determine if an ad exhibits spammy behaviour and whether it should be blocked. As Chrome follows the same standards, Google has chose to expand their coverage on the same date to stay aligned with the Coalition.More news: Rape Case Investigators Issue Warrant For Cristiano Ronaldo's DNA
The expanded ad-blocking functionality in Chrome will go live on July 9th, Google has confirmed. It's been great news for those of us in the U.S., Canada, and Europe so far, as it means tens of thousands of websites no longer display those aggressive adverts. As of January 1, 2019, two thirds of all publishers who were at one time non-compliant to the Better Ads Standards are now in good standing. Google will first warn the concerned parties if an ad is detrimental to users' web experience, and if they fail to take necessary action, Chrome will block them on the website. Also, less than 1 percent of websites had their ads filtered out of millions of sites the company reviewed. From their they can toggle the setting for "Blocked on sites that show intrusive or misleading ads (recommended)" to "Allowed" as shown below.More news: Flu cases increase in Lucas County
- Apps that do nothing but serve ads ‘tricked’ 9 million Android users
- Pompeo Visits Middle East to Increase Pressure on Iran
- Samsung confirms foldable phone release for the first half of 2019
- Jaguar Land Rover fight to survive in current Chinese economy
- US Confirms Iran Holding American Navy Vet for Last 6 Months
- Professional Tennis Players Investigated In Match-Fixing Scandal
- Looks Like It's Time To Talk About The SOPRANOS Finale Again
- FDA warns of possible chocolate, caramel candy hepatitis A contamination
- Tim Tebow Engaged to Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters -- See the Sweet Announcement!
- Hubble Space Telescope’s most advanced camera shut down


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A quarter of consumers do not trust companies to protect their data, with nearly half believe mobile devices are less safe than PCs and laptops
Nearly half of consumers believe mobile devices such as smartphones are less secure than PCs and laptops when it comes to protecting their personal data.
Research by security company Integralis found one in four (25 per cent) of the 1,000 consumers it surveyed said they do not trust anyone to hold their personal details securely online.
Despite nearly half concerned that smartphones and tablets are less secure than PCs and laptops, with only one in ten believing they are more secure, over half of smartphone users (53 per cent) do not regularly update the security settings on their mobile phone.
While nearly half of respondents said they use social media every day, 68 per cent admitted they do not trust them. Facebook was the most trusted, by 23 per cent of consumers, followed by YouTube, Twitter and Google+ with 9 per cent each.
Less than a quarter (24 per cent) trust supermarkets to hold their data securely, and only a third (36 per cent) trust online retailers like Amazon and eBay with their personal details.
Integralis information security consulting practice director Mick Ebsworth said: “While UK consumers love going online to do their banking, shopping and social networking, there’s an intrinsic lack of trust in the sites they’re using.
“Although many banks and retailers are putting in place more robust security and privacy systems to encourage more of us to go online, it’s right to be cautious about where your personal information is and how it’s being used.”


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Fans who struck out once were hoping for better luck when tickets to Garth Brooks’ second Mosaic Stadium show went on sale at 10 a.m. today.
tap here to see other videos from our team.
The price remained the same: $94.95 for each seat in the house for Brooks’ in-the-round stadium show. Fans are limited to eight tickets per purchase.
After being on sale for several hours, tickets were still available in multiple upper sections of the stadium.
Many fans unsuccessful in getting tickets online expressed frustration with the Ticketmaster process a week ago. Anyone who joined the digital queue when tickets went on sale at 10 a.m. was met with a message saying there were “2,000+ people in front of you.” For those at the back of the virtual line, that message held for over an hour until a black bar appeared on the page: “Uh-oh! These tickets went fast and we’re unable to find more right now.”


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Madame Onassis got nothing on you, Rod Stewart complimented in his hit You Wear It Well in 1972. Now we can all wear it well, based on the fashion-meets-health-mashups at the 2014 Consumer Electronics Show. Several events underline this observation at the CES this year: – Fitbit has signed up Tory Burch to put her […]
Coast-to-coast, stress is the modus vivendi for most Americans: 55% of people feel stressed in every day life, according to a study from Televox. A Stressful Nation: Americans Search for a Healthy Balance paints a picture of a nation of physically inactive people working too hard and playing too little. And far more women feel the […]
There are thousands of downloadable apps that people can use that touch on health. But among the 40,000+ mobile health apps available in iTunes, which most effectively drive health and efficient care? To answer that question, the IMS Institute for Healthcare Informatics analyzed 43,689 health, fitness and medical apps in the Apple iTunes store as […]
When it comes to retail shopping, most people spend most of their time shopping in brick-and-mortar stores – not online. 92% of spending happens in stores. 3 in 10 people spend most their shopping time online. Brick-and-mortar is far from dead, concludes the report Recasting the Retail Store in Today’s Omnichannel World from AT Kearney. This […]
Women and binge drinking…job and financial stress…sleeplessness…caregiving challenges…sex…these were the topics covered in Health 2.0 Conference’s session aptly called “The Unmentionables.” The panel on October 1, 2013, was a rich, sobering and authentic conversation among 7 women and 1 man who kept it very real on the main stage of this mega-meeting that convenes health […]
About Jane & Health Populi
Jane Sarasohn-Kahn is a health economist and management consultant that serves clients at the intersection of health and technology.
Her clients include all stakeholders in health, including providers, payors and plans; companies in biopharma, medical devices, financial services, technology and consumer goods; non-profits and NGOs. Jane's lens on health was best described by Dr. Regina Benjamin, U.S. Surgeon General, who says that health is where we live, work, play and pray.
California Healthcare Foundation White Papers
- Consumers blame insurance and pharma for health costs, but love their primary care doctors October 22, 2012
- Patients want online communication with doctors, and more clinicians are listening July 26, 2011
- ePatients: a connected, collaborative, creating community September 30, 2010
- Patients want to see the notes their doctors write about them: the power of transparency in health care October 2, 2012
- Digital health is hot at South-by-Southwest #SXSH March 7, 2014
- Risk-shift: employers continue to push more risk to employees and families for health costs March 7, 2014
- Employers spending more on wellness in 2014, with growing focus on food March 4, 2014
- HIMSS14 Monday Morning Quarterback – The Key Takeaways March 3, 2014
- HIMSS14 Monday Morning Quarterback – The Key Takeaways | Health Populi: […] economics in the U.S….and opportun...
- Cloud technology to propel growth in healthcare IT market By Dan Bowman | EIX System: […] a recent post to her Health Populi blog,...
- Hillary Clinton wows the HIMSS14 crowd of 20,000+ | Health Populi: […] pleasure of experiencing Bill Clinton...
- Laura Henze Russell: Best thing to do: get healthy, so you don't need ...


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The government is taking up a Tk 200 crore project to develop export-oriented vegetable gardens to increase vegetable export.
According to sources, the Ministry of Agriculture submitted a project proposal and is awaiting the approval of the National Economic Council.
"There may be some contribution in foreign funds but it would not be dependent on the donors," said a high official at the ministry.
Five government and non-government organisations will implement the massive project in the next five years.
The organisations are the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation (BADC), Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (BARI), Hortex Foundation, and Department of Agricultural Marketing.
"The main objective of the project is to motivate farmers into producing high quality vegetables items," said Agriculture Minister Motiur Rahman Nizami, who is now the industries minister.
He told The Daily Star that some demonstration fields would be developed under the project to motivate the farmers. The agriculture minister said the Export Promotion Bureau would also get involved with the project to ensure overseas export markets.
According to the project, high quality vegetables producing gardens would be developed and the produce would be marketed in the developed world after proper quality assurance and packaging.
The demonstration of fields would be developed in the main vegetables producing districts of Comilla, Kushtia, Chapainawabganj, Chandpur, Jessore, Narail, Gazipur and Narsingdi.
Bangladesh has been earning around $15million dollars by exporting fresh vegetables every year.
The expatriate Bangladeshis are the main consumers of fresh vegetables from Bangladesh. Six Middle East countries and Europe are the main market of Bangladeshi vegetables.
The super markets of the developed world do not as yet import fresh vegetables from Bangladesh for want of quality assurance and lack of proper freezing and preserving facilities.
The Hortex Foundation has developed a number of high quality vegetable gardens in the country and exported vegetables abroad through BRAC.
The export prospects of Bangladeshi vegetables are huge, as there is an annual market of $2,000 billion worth of fresh and processed vegetables in the world.
The main competitors of Bangladeshi products are India, Kenya, China, Turkey and Thailand.
Finance Minister M Saifur Rahman had on several occasions said the agriculture sector would get the highest priority in the next budget. He said the government would provide full support to develop agriculture sector and improve the quality of agriculture items.
However, agriculture minister Nizami said this project was taken up having integrated some other projects that started last year. During a pre-budget discussion with the finance minister, the agriculture ministry sought special allocation for agriculture research and agriculture sector rehabilitation in the event of any natural calamities.


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Xaxis, WPP’s largest trading desk, on Thursday announced the launch of a new data management platform (DMP), dubbed Turbine. The company invested $25 million to build the platform.
The company pitches Turbine as a new breed of DMP because it takes audience segmentation from a two-step process -- first storing then analyzing the data -- to an "always-on" system. It claims Turbine will allow audience segments to be built in real-time based on fresh data.
“In this game, speed certainly matters,” Brian Gleason, managing director, North America at Xaxis, said to Real-Time Daily.
Turbine will not replace Xaxis’ existing DMP, which Gleason said will still be used for “analytical” reasons (to see where audiences go, what they’ve done, etc.) However, Gleason called Turbine “much more real-time” than the existing DMP, and said it gives Xaxis that same type of information on the fly.
“What we are trying to do with Turbine is make things more predictive,” he said. Instead of relying on data that tells where audiences went and what they did to build segments, Xaxis wants to know where audiences will go and what they will do.
To do so, Xaxis will make use of Big Data’s full spectrum. In addition to using its first-party data and existing pools of third-party data, the new Turbine DMP will employ “second-party data,” which comes straight from publishers.
“We are able to work with large publishers to access anonymous data on their sites,” Gleason said. “That component is a new ingredient.”
While Xaxis disclosed that it spent $25 million to create the DMP, Gleason remarked that the figure is just “one number that falls into our overall investment” in technology.
“It’s a number to say we are investing in tech and will continue to do so,” he said.
Gleason said Xaxis spends about $750 million a year, which makes a $25 million investment to build a new DMP seem rather small (under 4%) by comparison.
The other question is: How quickly will that $25 million pay itself off? Gleason declined to reveal specific figures, but claimed results were “very positive” during the DMP’s testing period. He asserted that both advertisers and publishers saw benefits.
At launch, the new DMP will be available worldwide exclusively through Xaxis.
Editor's note: The story has been updated to reflect that Turbine will be available worldwide, not just in the U.S.


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For months on end now, the United States has been haunted by a supply chain riddled with clogs and delays. The White House has talked about the work it’s doing to bring about solutions to this problem; however, the supply chain is still in deep trouble.
One of the most obvious dangers of a clogged up supply chain is baby formula shortages. The White House claims parents should try to work around this by getting samples of formula from their pediatricians. Unfortunately, pediatricians don’t have samples to give.
As the supply chain crisis drags out, multiple infants across America are being admitted to hospitals because they can’t get the necessary formula.
While all these problems stem from a delayed supply chain, many people wonder when the supply chain will return to its former glory.
Sadly, the predictions on this matter are not good at all.
The Likely Future of the Supply Chain
FreightWaves is a company that manages trucking and other moving parts which impact the supply chain. Its CEO, Craig Fuller, is warning that everyone needs to buckle up for a supply chain that’s riddled with a series of problems in the foreseeable future.
On the FreightWaves website, Fuller explained that unrest on an international level is going to have ongoing impacts on the supply chain. Delays in other countries will ripple out and impact the United States.
The CEO also pointed out that reduced access to labor will hurt the supply chain as well. In Asia, for instance, the population is getting older, which is limiting the number of workers able to do jobs for cheap rates.
Radical environmentalism is another factor that will continue to gut the supply chain, per Fuller’s predictions. The CEO explained that regulations which crack down on pipelines and otherwise reduce production limit access to energy resources.
A Dark Forecast For America’s Future?
News that the supply chain is unlikely to return to normal doesn’t bode well for the United States.
Holdups with the supply chain come amid various forecasts of food shortages, a recession, and the rise of automation in jobs that typically went to human workers.
When Biden was elected, he vowed to “restore” the soul of the nation. Sadly, the nation continues to face one set of hardships after the next.
Recent polls show that over 80% of Americans believe the nation is on the wrong track. This troubling news about the future of the supply chain does not help matters whatsoever.


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Imagine you’re browsing the used car market, and you spot a familiar face. No, it’s not your neighbor or that high school friend you haven’t seen in years. It’s Warren Buffett, the Oracle of Omaha himself, diving into the used car business. Sounds surprising, right? But it’s happening, and it’s stirring up the industry in a big way.
Warren Buffett, known for his Midas touch in investments, has decided to park some of his billions in the used car market. This move has everyone talking and wondering, what’s the strategy behind it? It’s not every day that one of the world’s most successful investors decides to get his hands dirty with used cars. But then again, Buffett is not one to shy away from unconventional investments that catch his eye.
- Warren Buffett, the legendary investor, has surprisingly entered the used car market, signaling a potential transformation within the traditionally fragmented and low-margin industry.
- The move underscores the importance of looking beyond conventional sectors for investment opportunities, highlighting the untapped potential in markets ripe for digital innovation and enhanced trust.
- Buffett’s strategy includes leveraging his reputable name to overcome the industry’s notorious trust issues and employing an innovative approach that might prioritize online platforms, revolutionizing how used cars are bought and sold.
- The entry of Berkshire Hathaway into the used car industry could lead to increased consumer confidence, industry consolidation, and spur innovation, setting a new standard in an industry fraught with skepticism.
- For entrepreneurs and business enthusiasts, Buffett’s foray into the used car business serves as a master class in identifying and capitalizing on overlooked opportunities, emphasizing the importance of curiosity, vision, and the courage to explore unconventional paths.
- Reflecting on Buffett’s track record of unconventional investments, this venture could offer valuable insights into achieving success through a deep understanding of market inefficiencies, long-term value, and the strategic use of technology.
Warren Buffett’s Entrance into the Used Car Business
Delving into the used car market, Warren Buffett, a name synonymous with meticulous investment choices, has raised eyebrows and piqued the interest of many. Investor’s Oracle of Omaha as he’s fondly called, has yet again demonstrated that the essence of a great investment lies not in the conventionality of the sector but in the untapped potential it holds.
As an entrepreneur yourself, fascinated by online businesses, startups, and the thrill of a side-hustle, Buffett’s move into this sector isn’t just news. It’s a masterclass in identifying and harnessing opportunity. Despite the digital age revolutionizing retail and services, the used car market has remained somewhat traditional. It’s here that Buffett sees a golden opportunity.
Buffett’s strategy rests on two pillars:
- Established Trust: Knowing that credibility counts in scaling businesses, Buffett leverages his reputation to instill confidence in a market notorious for skepticism.
- Innovative Approach: His investment could signal a shift towards online platforms, modernizing how used cars are bought and sold. This plays right into your alley, as it embodies the essence of integrating traditional business models with digital innovation.
What’s remarkable here is not just the decision to dive into the used car market but the underlying message to entrepreneurs and business enthusiasts everywhere. Opportunities don’t always come in sleek, tech-forward packages. Sometimes, they’re nestled in the most traditional sectors, waiting for someone with the right vision to unearth them.
Buffett’s venture is a clarion call to those ready to look beyond the surface. Whether you’re in the trenches of your latest start-up, optimizing your online business, or scouting for the next big side-hustle, remember, the principles of success remain the same. Curiosity, an eye for opportunity, and the courage to venture into the unexplored can unravel paths you never thought existed.
Why Warren Buffett’s Move is Surprising
When you think about the types of investments that catch the eye of someone like Warren Buffett, used cars probably aren’t the first thing that comes to mind. Known for his strategic bets on big-name companies and industries with solid, long-term growth potential, Buffett stepping into the used car market is a head-turner for entrepreneurs and business enthusiasts everywhere.
First off, the used car industry is notoriously fragmented. There’s no single company that dominates the market, making it a completely different playing ground from Buffett’s usual investments. This fragmentation means a high level of competition and typically, lower profit margins. For many investors, these characteristics would be deterrents. Yet, Buffett’s venture into this sector might suggest he’s spotted an underutilized opportunity or a loophole that many have overlooked.
Moreover, the move is surprising because it signals a potential shift towards online platforms within the industry. In recent years, there’s been a growing trend of purchasing used cars online, but it’s still an area ripe for innovation and improvement. Buffett is known for betting on business models that can benefit from technological enhancements, and his interest in the used car market might indicate an upcoming revolution in how these transactions are conducted.
For you, as an entrepreneur, Buffett’s unexpected dive into the used car business is a reminder that unconventional sectors can harbor untapped potential. It stresses the importance of looking beyond the glamorous tech startups and considering traditional markets that might just need a sprinkle of innovation to unlock a new level of success.
Lastly, the fact that Buffett, who often champions the value of trust in business dealings, is making a move into a sector historically plagued with trust issues, is arguably the most intriguing aspect. This could hint at a strategy centered around building robust, trust-based relationships with customers, setting a new standard in an industry where this has been a rare commodity.
As you ponder your next business move or side hustle, remember that success might not always be where you expect it to be. Sometimes, it’s in the most traditional sectors that the most revolutionary opportunities lie waiting.
The Impact on the Used Car Industry
When news broke that Warren Buffett, a name synonymous with investment wisdom, was venturing into the used car business, it sent ripples through the industry. You’ve probably wondered, just as I did, what shifts this could bring to a market that’s been historically fragmented. Let’s dive into how Buffett’s entry might just be the game changer the used car industry needed.
First off, you’ve got to appreciate the magnitude of influence Buffett carries. His Midas touch has transformed numerous industries, bringing to them a level of credibility and financial solidity previously unseen. The used car market, known for its volatility and trust issues, stands to benefit massively from this. With Buffett’s backing, consumer confidence is likely to see a significant boost. Imagine the peace of mind you’d feel buying a used car from a Buffett-owned dealership. That’s a level of trust that money can’t buy, yet here we are.
Then, there’s the inevitable push toward digitalization. In today’s world, where you can buy almost anything with a click, the used car business has somewhat lagged. Buffett’s foray into this sector hints at a potential revolution; a move towards online platforms where purchasing a car is as easy as ordering a book from Amazon. This transition not only broadens the market but also makes it more accessible to you, regardless of where you live.
Furthermore, the entry of a heavyweight like Buffett can catalyze a wave of consolidation in the industry. His presence could prompt smaller players to either step up their game or merge with bigger entities to stay competitive. This consolidation might just streamline the market, making it more efficient and customer-friendly than ever before.
Lastly, the Buffett effect could spur innovation in areas of the business that have long needed a fresh perspective. From new financing options to warranty programs that actually make sense, the possibilities are endless. For entrepreneurs and business enthusiasts like us, it’s a vivid reminder that the landscape of opportunity is vast, often where you least expect it.
Uncovering Warren Buffett’s Strategy
When you dive into Warren Buffett’s foray into the used car market, it’s like peeling back the layers of a well-thought-out plan by one of the world’s most astute investors. Much like the strategy you’d apply in starting your own online business, Buffett’s approach isn’t about a quick win. It’s about the long game, sustainability, and revolutionizing a market ripe for change.
Buffett’s entry isn’t just a vote of confidence in the used car market; it’s a strategic move aimed at leveraging technology to redefine how we buy and sell cars. For aspiring entrepreneurs and business enthusiasts like yourself, this move is a master class in identifying and capitalizing on market inefficiencies. Buffett sees the digital transition in car sales not just as an evolution but as a revolution in customer experience and operational efficiency.
Digitalization is at the heart of Buffett’s strategy. By embracing online platforms for purchasing used cars, his venture promises a streamlined, transparent, and customer-friendly process. This mirrors the trend you’ve likely noticed in the success of online businesses and startups: the move towards digital platforms isn’t just a convenience, it’s becoming an expectation.
Buffett’s influence also hints at potential industry consolidation. Think of how many online businesses start small but grow through strategic partnerships or acquisitions. Buffett’s entrance could encourage smaller dealerships to band together, improving their reach and capabilities in a market dominated by a few large players.
This strategic move by Buffett isn’t just about selling cars; it’s about setting a new standard in an industry. For you, as an entrepreneur looking for the next big side-hustle or startup idea, Buffett’s venture exemplifies the importance of vision, innovation, and timing in transforming traditional markets.
The Track Record of Warren Buffett’s Unconventional Investments
As someone deeply involved in the world of startups, side-hustles, and the pursuit of success, you’ve likely looked up to figures like Warren Buffett for inspiration. Buffett, often referred to as the “Oracle of Omaha,” has an unparalleled knack for spotting investment opportunities where others see none. His foray into the used car market isn’t as unconventional as it might seem at first glance, especially when you look at his past investment choices.
Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway has a diversified portfolio that includes industries from insurance and energy to food and, now, the automotive sector. However, what sets Buffett apart is not just what he invests in but how he chooses to invest. He’s known for picking companies with strong value propositions, regardless of their industry. This strategy has allowed him to capitalize on opportunities overlooked by others.
- A major stake in a leading ketchup company, which seemed mundane but proved lucrative.
- Investment in a Chinese electric car manufacturer, a move that was ahead of its time considering the shift towards sustainable energy.
- His early investment in a technology giant at a time when he was famously cautious about tech stocks.
These examples show Buffett’s ability to see beyond the market noise, focusing instead on the long-term potential of these companies. His success stems not just from the sectors he chooses but from his unwavering commitment to his investment philosophy: invest in what you know, understand the intrinsic value, and be patient.
As you delve into the dynamics of starting and scaling your ventures, there’s a lot to learn from Buffett’s approach. Whether it’s his careful selection process or his patience in waiting for the right time to invest, each aspect of his strategy can offer valuable lessons. His move into the used car business underscores the importance of innovation in traditional markets, something many entrepreneurs aim for but few achieve.
Warren Buffett’s foray into the used car market isn’t just a new business venture—it’s a signal that the industry is ripe for change. With his knack for innovation and a strategy that leans heavily on technology, you’re likely to see a shift in how cars are bought and sold. This move might just set the stage for a more streamlined, customer-centric approach to the used car market. And if history’s any guide, when Buffett bets on an industry, it’s worth paying attention. So keep your eyes peeled. The road ahead in the used car market is about to get a lot more interesting.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Warren Buffett’s latest venture in the market?
Warren Buffett has entered the used car market, emphasizing technology to revolutionize how cars are bought and sold, aiming for a streamlined, customer-friendly process.
How does Buffett plan to change the used car buying experience?
Buffett aims to leverage online platforms to simplify the buying and selling process, making it more efficient and user-friendly for consumers.
What potential impact could Buffett’s entry have on the used car industry?
Buffett’s entrance could lead to industry consolidation as smaller dealerships may feel the need to band together to compete effectively, also encouraging innovation in a traditionally static market.
Why is Warren Buffett’s move into the used car business significant?
Buffett’s move is significant because it reflects his ability to identify long-term potential in markets overlooked by others, emphasizing innovation’s importance in traditional sectors.
How has Buffett’s track record influenced the reception of his new venture?
Given Buffett’s history of successful unconventional investments, his venture into the used car market is seen with optimism, highlighting his knack for seeing beyond market noise to the inherent value and long-term opportunities.


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The first quarter national report is finally out (in September) for existing condominium and cooperative sales from the National Association of Realtors and it seems condos have actually been quite resilient in an era of dropping prices and failing inventories. The NAR reports stable prices overall across the U.S., dropping an average of only 2.8 percent for the first quarter 2008, compared to the same time a year ago.
Despite dropping sales volume of 25 percent compared to March 2007, the sales prices in March 2008 averaged $219,400. The Northeast and Midwest regions have actually seen price increases at 4.3 and 3.2 percent respectively. Condo prices in the South have dipped 4.9 percent compared to the same period last year, while the prices in the West have dropped more than 18 percent in a year.
Month to month prices have demonstrated an upswing in prices, however, across the country.
In various cities around the country, this stability in pricing has proven out – In the 2nd Quarter Median Sales Price Report from NAR, the condominiums have held pricing in city after city:
- Chicago: +5%
- Dallas/Ft. Worth: +2.8%
- Norwich/New London, CT: +6.4%
- Portland, Maine: +2.5%
- Rochester, NY: +4.8%
Even in large cities, while the news has focused on price drops and sales volume in markets such as Florida and California, many areas have experienced stable prices and only small dips year over year.
- Washington, D.C.: -2.4%
- Phoenix: -5.1%
- Boston: -3.9%
Out of the 60 metropolitan areas reported by NAR, nearly 30 percent have had price increases, while another 30 percent have experienced price drops under 6 percent over the same time period last year.


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MYOB Country Manager Ingrid Cronin-Knight announced the company's effort to encourage lawmakers to require two-factor authentication within the financial services space, pointing to the rise in small business cyberattacks that have affected as many as 150,000 businesses in the country.
"We're calling on the New Zealand government to follow the example of the Australian Taxation Office and make two-factor authentication a mandatory standard for all online financial service providers," Cronin-Knight said.
Any such legislation would mean financial service providers would need to require more than a password when a customer logs into their online platforms. Two-factor authentication could take the form of a single-use passcode texted to the customer or biometric authentication like fingerprint scans, in addition to passwords.
MYOB implemented two-factor authentication controls in its own products in Australia last year, reports said, with plans to have the same requirements for New Zealand users next month.
"This is just one of the advanced security and monitoring systems we have in place to protect our users," noted Cronin-Knight. "While we appreciate that it will create another step in providing access for users, making two-factor authentication mandatory is a massive leap forward in security by further reducing the risk of compromise."
The Australian Taxation Office introduced such mandates on cloud accounting systems last year.
MYOB is currently in the midst of a potential acquisition by private equity firm KKR. Earlier this month, reports said MYOB's second largest shareholder, Manikay Partners, offered a reluctant approval for a $1 billion takeover.
"We remain very disappointed that, despite our repeated efforts to convince you otherwise, you failed to change your recommendation in light of the material improvement in market conditions since announcement of the scheme, among other factors," the shareholder stated in a letter sent to MYOB Chairman Justin Milne.


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May face action
Liquor companies have a knack of pushing their brands through despite the law forbidding it. They are now promoting their products extensively through hitherto unknown channels like facebook and other networking sites even as the State Excise Department is busy, as it usually is, in generating revenue and blinking at such brazen acts of violation of Excise Laws.
Advertisements of companies such as Antiquity, Dewars, Kingfisher, Vat 69, etc. have been put up on facebook asking users to ‘like’ the post. The advertisements, designed brightly and gossily to attract the users in myriad ways, explain the readers about the ‘divine’ qualities of their brand of liquor.
This is in gross violation of State Excise rules which prohibits any publicity of liquor or tobacco brands, direct or indirect.
“Influencing people to go for their brand of liquor is illegal and unethical too. We do not want our younger generation to get trapped in alcoholism and forget about their goals in life. As most of the users on Facebook are youngsters and teenagers, they can get easily swayed by such luring advertisements,” said Adv. Praveen Khare, a leading practitioner at law.
When contacted, Superintendent of State Excise Mohan Varde said that this has come to their notice for the first time. “We will definitely take action against them,” he said.
Varde told Nagpur Today that the department will first verify the companies that are indulging in such violations. The law is amply clear that nobody can solicit the use of liquor through any means whatsoever.
“We will consult our legal department before proceeding against anybody. We will write to the concerned companies to withdraw the controversial advertisement. If required, we may also contemplate filing of FIR against the offenders,” said Varde.
… Rohinikant Matey


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PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — Curry County officials announced Wednesday night the county has been approved for Phase 1 reopening. The announcement comes ahead of a scheduled teleconference during which Governor Kate Brown will announce the counties approved for Phase 1 reopening.
Curry County Public Health and the Curry County Commissioners Office said Brown’s office notified them Wednesday night that their application to reopen had been approved.
Oregon Governor Kate Brown will hold a press conference Thursday morning to announce the counties that can enter Phase 1 of reopening this week. The governor will make the announcement via teleconference and will be joined by representatives from the Oregon Health Authority. KOIN 6 News will stream the announcement live, starting at 10 a.m.
Phase 1 will begin on Friday, May 15 under Brown’s reopening framework. The governor previously said rural counties with very few COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations could start applying to reopen their businesses. According to the governor’s website, more than 30 counties have submitted theses applications.
If a county meets the prerequisites, then stores such as furniture stores and boutiques can reopen as long as they can follow the new OSHA guidelines like continued social distancing and sanitation along with wearing masks. There are several counties that feel like they’re ready to reopen this week, including Jefferson, Linn, Hood River, Tillamook, and Sherman.
KOIN 6 News will update this story on Thursday.
Follow KOIN 6 for the latest news and weather


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A new forecast indicates ad spending in the United States bottomed out earlier this year, with the overall figure for 2010 expected to decline 1.3 percent to $145 billion, down from the $147 billion spent in 2009. U.S. ad spending for 2011 is projected to increase 2.5 percent to $149 billion in the most recent 70-nation forecast report from GroupM.
The U.S. trend for 2010 is in contrast to the global advertising picture, where spending in measured media is expected to increase 3.5 percent in 2010 to $451 billion. That figure was revised up from a projected 1 percent growth six months ago.
The study, “This Year, Next Year” is part of GroupM’s media and marketing forecasting series drawn from data supplied by parent company WPP’s worldwide resources in advertising, public relations, market research and specialist communications. It was released Friday by GroupM Futures Director Adam Smith and GroupM Chief Investment Officer Rino Scanzoni.
"The U.S media marketplace has clearly bottomed out earlier this year and we expect moderate growth in 2011 consistent with GDP improvement,” said Scanzoni. “Television and online spending will outpace other media as they lead with return on investment metrics."
If achieved, the global dollar total of $541 billion for 2010 equals the amount spent in 2006-2007, or in 2004-2005 when accounting for consumer price inflation. The report also forecast a 4.5 percent global increase for 2011.
The 2009 figure for the U.S. represented a 7 percent drop from the previous year.
As anticipated, countries in the so-called BRIIC nations (Brazil, Russia, India, Indonesia and China) contributed significant growth to the global figures.
“China remains the world’s biggest contributor to ad growth in 2010, accounting for one in three of all net new ad dollars we expect this year, and one in five as the rest of the world catches up in 2011,” said Smith. “Indonesia and India are the next biggest contributors from Asia. Our grouping of ‘new world’ countries accounts for 34% of the global economy this year and 30% of measured media investment.”
Smith said digital advertising expenditures are also playing a key role in worldwide advertising expenditure growth.
“The recession has not impacted Internet ad spending except in a handful of highly stressed markets, adding 10 percent to its measured total in 2009,” Smith said. “What continues to power the medium is the steady advance in creativity, analysis and technology which embeds digital in almost all marketing activity. Measured Internet added two points of global ad share in each of 2007, 2008 and 2009 and we think it will sustain a rate of one point a year this year and next, to reach 16 percent in 2011.”


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Topic: College of Communication Information and Media
March 17, 2014
Ball State University’s Sports Link, the immersive learning experience for digital sports production, will again play a role in one of the largest sporting events in the country — the 2014 NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Championship.
As many as 25 students under the direction of Chris Taylor, a telecommunications instructor and director of digital sports production, and Alex Kartman, telecommunications instructor and assistant director of digital sports production, will edit and produce real-time video highlights from all 67 games of the tournament for the Coke Zero NCAA March Madness Social Arena.
NCAA March Madness Live will provide college basketball fans with unparalleled multiscreen access to every game of the tournament, bringing fans more than 150 hours of live basketball on more devices than ever before. With streaming video, highlights, stats, news and social engagement throughout the tournament, NCAA March Madness Live will provide live coverage of all 67 games.
This is the fourth consecutive year that Ball State Sports Link has worked with Turner Sports in the operations of the Coke Zero NCAA March Madness Social Arena, a forum to extend the conversation surrounding the games. Fans can follow game tweets, view Instagram photos and — for the first time — Vine videos. Fans can also participate in the social commentary by using the hashtag #MarchMadness.
Produced by Turner Sports, NCAA March Madness Live will introduce redesigned product features, including a new bracket layout, a redesigned GameCenter experience, a new Bracket Challenge game and enhanced social features. These will be available to consumers for the first time on the Windows Store, as well as the Apple App Store and Google Play.
This year, March Madness Live platforms include ncaa.com/marchmadness, CBSSports.com, bleacherreport.com and the Amazon App store for Android and Kindle tablets. In addition, fans can watch games via live streaming on TNT, TBS and truTV's digital platforms as well as participating television provider websites.
Also, for the first time during the National Semifinals on April 5, March Madness Live will provide three distinct feeds of both games to provide new viewing options for fans — live streaming of the traditional game coverage provided on TBS, along with streams of the team-specific presentations offered via TNT and truTV.
In addition to Sports Link’s work with March Madness Live, the Ball State program has launched a new class within its digital sports production major to assist the NCAA national office with its digital strategy.
Students researched and produced exclusive video content (#MarchMoments and #SocialSpotlight) for the @marchmadness account on Twitter as well as the social media presence on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.
“We are excited to partner with the Ball State Sports Link program on this new initiative,” said Nate Flannery, director of NCAA digital and social media, championships and alliances. “Not only does it provide our men’s basketball social media platforms with valuable content, it also gives the next generation of content producers first-hand experience.”
Earlier this year, Ball State opened its new digital sports production center in the Ball Communication Building. The 1,500-square-foot facility was modeled after the Turner Sports Digital Event Operations Center. The center allows students to get experience using the same workflows and tools for social monitoring and digital programming as those used at the Turner Studios facility in Atlanta — a one-of-a-kind live operations center for Turner Sports-produced digital products.


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After two years of business, Wrinkle & Boon closed its doors on Dec. 23.
In a Facebook post written on Dec. 3, the coffee shop announced:
“This is not an easy season for any small business so your support means everything. This has been such a tough decision. We have made lifelong friendships and have had the opportunity to make many connections within our community.”
Sadness was expressed by many community members on social media, as well as how much they enjoyed not only the coffee but also the connections that were made over the months and years (including many LebTown meetings).
Wrinkle and Boon additionally revealed that Sydney Roasting Co. will be opening up in their space on 9th Street in Lebanon on Dec. 26.
On Jan. 2 and 3, the cafe was open for a preview opening weekend. Owners, Zanetta and Kenny Kok, served coffee drinks and pastries during this weekend.
Friday, Jan. 8 will be the soft opening from 6:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Free 12oz cups of regular drip coffee will be given out, as well as pastry samples, and a discount will be placed on the bags of coffee.
The official grand opening will be announced on the Sydney Roasting Co. Facebook page, as the date has not been determined yet. There will likely be a musician attending and more giveaways offered to the community.
After the soft opening, Sydney Roasting Co. will be open from 6:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., seven days a week. Their menu includes favorites for breakfast and lunch, pastries, fresh roasted coffee and espresso drinks. The most popular item offered currently is the cold brew.
“People always say it’s super smooth and they can drink it black without cream and sugar, which surprises most people,” Zanetta Kok, the owner of Sydney Roasting Co., said. “We haven’t launched the food menu anywhere yet, but I think people will really love the Mrs. Figg, which is a turkey sandwich on honey wheat with bacon, cheddar cheese, fig jam, golden ranch, lettuce, tomato, and onion.”
At the cafe, they will be making all of their own syrups for flavored lattes. In addition to some of the basics like vanilla, hazelnut, and caramel, a few signature flavors will be offered like Rosmerta’s Butterbeer, Salted Maple Butter Rum, Red Velvet Cheesecake, Almond Coconut Cream, and Vanilla Caramel Crunch.
“We operate as both Kitty Town Coffee and Sydney Roasting Co.,” Kok said. “We’ve been in business since 2017 after taking up roasting as a hobby on popcorn poppers in my garage. We’ve been roasting at the former Bethlehem Steel plant on Lincoln Avenue since 2019. We will remain there for all roasting operations.”
Kitty Town Coffee was the Koks’ first brand and the inspiration for starting the company. Coffee blends are named after real life cats they know and love, and each bag sold feeds a homeless cat at a local animal shelter for a week. Kitty Town Coffee is sold at grocery stores, gift shops, cafes, and online. Sydney Roasting Co. is the second brand that is more focused on freshly roasted specialty coffee at an affordable price. They sell through the website, and do wholesale for grocery stores, restaurants, and convenience stores.
“I fell in love with coffee while working at the local coffee shops here in Lebanon,” Kok said. “I worked at Legends Cafe, Timeless Cafe, and Cumberland Coffee & Tea. Growing up, I always saw myself ultimately running a cafe. When the opportunity arose to open one here in the town I grew up in, it was an offer I couldn’t refuse.”
“Since we don’t currently have a space that allows customers to come visit, we’re looking forward to being able to meet customers directly and develop relationships with people in our community,” Kok said.
To stay updated on Sydney Roasting Co., be sure to like the cafe’s Facebook page.
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With the click of a mouse, consumers can buy DNA tests that claim to do everything from pinpointing risks for life-threatening diseases like cancer to steering them to a healthier lifestyle through dietary supplements -- all in the comfort and privacy of their homes.
All it takes is a few hundred dollars, a sample gathered by swabbing the inside of your cheek, and a trip to the post office.
But these products remain largely scientifically unproven and unregulated, even as their use grows rapidly. Federal lawmakers soon will decide if that should change.
Sen. Gordon Smith, R-Ore., and Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., introduced a bill this month that would require companies selling direct-to-consumer DNA tests to submit evidence to the Food and Drug Administration showing their products are accurate, reliable and being performed properly. That information would be posted on a public database, and complying tests would be labeled as being FDA approved.
The bill also creates new certification standards for laboratories doing genetic testing, and would require samples to be analyzed in those laboratories.
Health care experts and regulators have been increasingly worried about DNA tests marketed directly to consumers, because the products' quality and usefulness vary widely. Some advisory boards have been calling for more regulatory oversight and specialized lab standards for years.
Genetic tests are currently available for more than 1,300 diseases, many of them rare conditions. Screenings for more common medical risks, such as the BRAC1 and BRCA2 tests for breast and ovarian cancer, are now widely available online.
The Federal Trade Commission, which monitors deceptive or fraudulent businesses and advertising, last year warned consumers to be wary of at-home DNA tests. But FTC officials said they have no active cases against testing companies.
The products have proliferated as research continues to tie more medical conditions to genetics. Analysts have estimated that by 2009, the genetic-testing market could be worth $12.5 billion annually, according to Business 2.0 magazine.
Those in the direct-to-consumer industry say home testing empowers patients and curtailing it with traditional FDA standards could keep information critical to their health out of their hands.
Howard Coleman, founder and CEO of Genelex in Seattle, started out in forensic and paternity testing 20 years ago. Genelex branched out into at-home screens for drug interactions in 2000, and was the first in the nation to market "nutrigenetic" tests that offer personalized nutritional and lifestyle advice based on a genetic analysis. Genelex operates a federally certified lab and Coleman agrees with the proposed genetic lab specialty standards. But he's concerned about what kind of proof the FDA might require to show a test's clinical usefulness.
Convenience and privacy are two strong selling points for at-home tests, which can run from around $300 to $3,000. Most are sold over the Internet.
"People are afraid to have genetic testing because they are afraid they will be discriminated against in hiring or will lose insurance coverage," said Susan Hahn, an assistant director at the Miami Institute for Human Genomics at the University of Miami's Medical School. "They think, 'If I pay for the test myself, and I'm the one who gets the results, they won't get tipped off.'"
But Hahn and others say there are downsides. Among the concerns:
Genetics still is in its infancy and with more than 20,000 genes in the human body, there are a lot of variables. A patient with a positive test may never develop the disease indicated; a negative test could mean the screen missed the specific gene associated with the condition.
Many direct-to-consumer tests don't offer one-on-one counseling with trained professionals to help patients understand what could be complex medical issues surrounding their results. This is a particular concern when testing for serious diseases like breast cancer or cystic fibrosis.
Medical privacy, the reason many consumers turn to at-home tests, could be a concern. Many companies post results online.
There is so little oversight that it's difficult for consumers to tell which at-home DNA test companies are legitimate and which ones are not.
Genetic professionals are especially wary of the nutrigenetic tests. These products claim that by analyzing a DNA sample along with lifestyle and medical questionnaires, they can predict a person's genetic propensity for conditions like heart and bone disease, or brain aging. Consumers then are offered advice on how to reduce their risks.
But a federal Government Accountability Office study, released in conjunction with Smith's hearings last summer, found nutrigenetic tests purchased from four Web sites mislead consumers by "making predictions that are medically unproven and so ambiguous that they do not provide meaningful information," the report said.
One of the companies was Genelex. Two of the four Web sites recommended taking costly "personalized" supplements which from one site cost $1,200 a year -- even though a GAO analysis found the pills contained the same vitamins and antioxidants as vitamins that would run $35 annually. The "personalized" report from all the sites was generic health information, the report said, such as suggestions to stop smoking or exercise more.
Dr. Muin Khoury said patients would be better off having an in-depth review of their family's medical history with their doctor.
"Whatever runs in your family, you are at increased risk of that disease," said Khoury, director of the National Office of Public Health Genomics at Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "The best antidote to all of this is a savvy and informed consumer."
Diane Lade can be reached at email@example.com or 561-243-6618.
Most DNA tests sold directly to consumers are not FDA regulated.
Genetic tests for medical risks never should be used in place of a workup and consultation with your physician.
File a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission if you feel a company deceptively marketed its tests. Call 877-382-4357. Or go to: www.ftc.gov/ complaint.
To find a genetic specialist in your area, go to the National Society of Genetic Counselors at www.nsgc.org. Or call 312-321-6834.
INSIDE: Tips for buyers. 10A
Sources: FTC, CDC
BEFORE YOU BUY
Before you buy an at-home DNA test:
Discuss with your doctor whether the test will provide useful information, and understand the benefits and limits of the test.
Ask whether the company has genetic counselors on staff to help you interpret your results, and if this will cost extra.
Only use tests run through a lab with a federal Clinical Laboratory Improvements Amendment (CLIA) certification. To check on a laboratory's credentials, go to www.geneclinics.org.
Check that the test company's Web site is secure if results are to be posted online. Ask whether the company shares customer information with marketers.
For more information:
National Office of Public Health Genomics: A branch of the CDC. Go to www.cdc.gov/genomics. Or call 800-311-3435.
Sources: Federal Trade Commission, CDC


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For the first time in his career, Mateus Isaac (Starboard / Severne) will not be sailing for JP and NeilPryde. The Brazilian has decided that now is the right time to move on to a new challenge, which will see him linking up with the Starboard & Severne Team.
Mateus Isaac: "Hello friends, I'm announcing the first ever sponsorship change of my life. This is obviously a big shift for me. I've only known and ridden the same brands as far back as I remember, but the time of change also came for me. In my quest to reach the next level on the racecourse, there was only one direction I could go. That is why I'm super excited to announce that I'm joining Severne and Starboard for the 2021 season.
Severne has for years been a leading brand in sails and Starboard has an incredible history of producing the best boards out there.
I'll be traveling to Tarifa very soon where I'll start up this new chapter and to start my preparations for the season. I can't wait!"


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Colleagues at Sainsbury’s Trinity Street store got involved in ‘Big Bandage Day 2015’ to support poorly children.
Staff came to work with fake injuries and wore bandages to raise awareness of the special day, in support of Birmingham Children’s Hospital.
From arm slings to eye and ankle dressings, the colleagues had a great time pretending to be injured. Two members of staff were even sponsored to be bandaged together for a day.
A spokesperson for the store said: “The colleagues really got stuck in and it was a fun opportunity for the first aiders to try out their bandaging skills.
“The store raised over £70 and all the proceeds will be donated to Birmingham Children’s Hospital which the staff are really passionate to support and we would like to raise even more next year for the event. We would like to thank all customers who donated to the great cause while in store.”