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Kasowitz Defeats Columbia Care’s Motion to Dismiss Complaint for Fraudulently Misappropriating Cannabis License
Kasowitz Benson Torres, on behalf of Florida MCBD, a company comprised of experienced cannabis cultivators and distributors, defeated a motion to dismiss MCBD’s lawsuit against Columbia Care, a New York-based cultivator and provider of cannabis products, and its founders Michael Abbott and Nicholas Vita. In its complaint, MCBD alleges, among other things, that the defendants conspired with MCBD’s joint venture partner, Sun Bulb, to fraudulently misappropriate MCBD’s rights to a Florida medical cannabis treatment license worth tens of millions of dollars and steal its trade secrets for the operation of defendants’ Florida medical cannabis business.
On September 9, 2020, Justice Jennifer Schecter of the New York County Supreme Court, Commercial Division denied Columbia Care’s motion to dismiss MCBD’s trade secrets claim, rejected Columbia Care’s argument that Sun Bulb was a necessary party to the action and denied the defendants’ motion to stay MCBD’s trade secret claim pending MCBD’s separate arbitration with Sun Bulb.
The Kasowitz team representing Florida MCBD is led by partners Sarmad M. Khojasteh and Maria H. Ruiz and includes associates Stephen P. Thomasch and Jacob Abrams.


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The device which accepts all forms of cards and mobile wallets also enable the merchants using it to get a pre-approved loan of Rs 25,000 for working capital requirements.
Paytm, MobiKwik, PayU, Freecharge, ItzCash and other digital wallet cos have been hiring people in key leadership positions, top company officials and search firms said.
Home to about 870 million people, the countryside will be in the thick of action for the rest of the decade, according to a recent BCG report.
"Customers can do day-to-day transactions using prepaid wallets. Small merchants will be able to receive digital currency without deploying physical POS terminals or other infrastructure," said Naveen Surya, chairman of the Payment Council of India and Managing Director of ItzCash.

domain: news


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Swiss mushroom production increased significantly in the first six months of the year, new figures from the Swiss Mushroom Producers Association (VSP) show.
Domestic production of mushrooms rose 11 percent to 4,313,750 kilos in the first half of 2021, according to the VSP. The production of fine mushrooms increased by 18 percent to 233,463 kilos. The development was not affected by the partly closed gastronomy. According to the association, apparently consumers prepared the mushrooms at home instead.
For more Information:
Verband Schweizer Pilzproduzenten VSP


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User alias Sei of the ResetEra forum divided Download the speed video for Square Enix’s open-world fantasy RPG Forspoken, released today January 24th.
Recall that promised on the eve of the release of Square Enix in the PC version “Super fast” Downloads achieved through DirectStorage technology. Owners of already fast NVMe drives can benefit the most.
As Sei has shown, the PC edition of Forspoken actually boots to NVMe very quickly with the help of DirectStorage – almost instantaneously, one might even say.
Other Users ResetEra Download Speed PC Version Forspoken impressed me:
- “Blink and Miss It All”says Grips;
- “I hope this becomes the norm”informed Greebman;
- “Hell. With technology like this, there’s no time to look out the window.”– annoyed BobLoblaw;
- “RIP checks your phone the moment the loading screen appears”– says goodbye to nsilvias;
- “Magic”— summarizes Isilia.
Forspoken is available for PC (Steam, Microsoft Store, EGS) and PS5. Fast downloads didn’t save the game from average scores on Metacritic. Along with the full version, a demo version made its way to the PC, which debuted on the Sony console back in December.


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CHAMPS trade show for counter-culture industry. The first prize winner this year was Chris Hurley, who took home a check for $10,000.
CHAMPS Trade Shows is where the counter culture industry meets ...and they’re looking to take it to the next level!
“We are a business-to-business trade show,” Jeff Hirschfeld explains, “so retailers and wholesalers from all over the country come to buy, meet and interact with the largest wholesale manufactur- ers and distributors in the counter culture world.”
Latest Products on Display at Massive Cannabis Trade Show
RACHEL MOORE KVVU FOX 5
Medical Marijuana dispensaries are coming to Clark County, and there's typically a lot more available at them than people may realize.
Counter-Point: HempMeds Addresses Cannabidiol (CBD)-Only Laws & Dispels Scarcity Myths
CBD-Rich Hemp Oil Products on Display & Sale at CHAMPS in Las Vegas, July 15-17; No Waiting List or Additional Paperwork Required for Purchase
HempMeds, the world's largest distributor of award-winning CBD-rich hemp oil products, is headed to Vegas as a sponsor of the CHAMPS trade show July 15-17 at the Las Vegas Convention Center.
Vendors in Town to Showcase Items for Cannabis Businesses
LAS VEGAS (KSNV & MyNews3)
Medical marijuana marketplace brings more than 600 vendors are showcasing items that locals may soon be able to find in dispensaries.
Marijuana dispensaries look to venture capitalists for seed money
TOM RAGAN LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL
Ross Kirsh, in Las Vegas for the Champs Counter Culture Trade Show this week, hasn’t hit the big time just yet. But he has sold more than 500,000 childproof bags in the past two months to medical and recreational marijuana dispensaries in Colorado.
These Are Heady Times for Glass Blowers' High Art
Handcrafted Pipes Gain Respect as States Legalize Marijuana; 'A Visual Song'
Like many devoted artists, Luken Sheafe has spent years perfecting his craft, shaping rods of multicolored glass into intricate mythological creatures that sell for thousands of dollars. But unlike many peers, Mr. Sheafe has never had a major exhibition, because his chosen medium is the glass pipe—an object typically displayed in head shops, not art galleries.
COUNTER-CULTURE NICHE BOOMING AT ATLANTIC CITY TRADE CONVENTION
ATLANTIC CITY — Raymond Chico, of Union Beach, Monmouth County, has made a tidy business out of selling plastic test tubes to carry and protect marijuana cigarettes.
Chico, an engineer by trade, came up with the idea while undergoing chemotherapy five years ago.
WHAT REALLY GOES ON AT CONVENTIONS IN VEGAS
Champs looks just like Burning Man if everyone at Burning Man made $100,000 less a year. To give a sense of how crazy it is: This is the first convention floor I’ve walked on without carpeting. All conventions have carpeting, and each booth then adds a second layer. After seven miles of walking in dress shoes, you’re as likely to visit a booth for its thick carpeting as for its free USB drives. At Champs, it’s almost all concrete.


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The New Essex Market at Essex Crossing Pushed Back to November
The new Essex Street Market is no longer opening this month as previously announced. Along the way, the timeline subtly changed to a nebulous “fall 2018.” Instead, a November launch is now on the books.
The Economic Development Corp. – owner of the 78-year-old market – couldn’t be pinned down for an actual date, but it’s not a well-kept secret. Other publications have noted the November launch.
As previously reported, the 24-story tower occupying Site 2 (aka The Essex at 115 Delancey) is home of the new market. Nearly eight decades after Mayor LaGuardia first forced the Lower East Side pushcart vendors indoors. The upgraded headquarters boasts ground floor and mezzanine with two restaurants and a demo kitchen.
Two-dozen existing vendors will make the jump across the street, with opening for business a few days after the fact. Fourteen new vendors are also added to the current roster, including Chinatown Ice Cream Factory and longtime favorites like Sugar Sweet Sunshine, Roni-Sue’s Chocolates, and Exit 9 gift shop.
Several of these new vendors “will require some additional build-outs and other logistical processes to be complete before they can open in their stalls,” an EDC spokesperson tells us. “We expect that process to be complete sometime in early 2019.”


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Nissan has released a look at the GT-R50 which was debuted at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in 2018. This…
Lamborghini has revealed the new Huracán EVO Rear-Wheel Drive Spyder virtually, using for the first time Augmented Reality (AR) on…
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The Coronavirus has had an undeniably major impact on people’s lives over the last few months. The vast majority of us have been following the government’s instructions; isolating ourselves, and keeping to the social distancing rules. These behavioural changes have had an obvious impact on our communication and the maintenance of relationships with people who we’d otherwise have been meeting on a regular basis.
Some of us have adapted far more easily than others to the new normal. We’ve accepted the switch to home-working; as well as the regular video chats with friends, family, and co-workers. Reports have revealed a great increase in the amount of time and number of messages being sent on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn. Daily Zoom meetings have become the norm as we’ve tried to keep the connections alive during these trying times.
Personal & Professional Changes
It’s only natural that we’ve been making increased use of digital media, given the need to come together and maintain social connections. The Coronavirus has been the fuel for the rekindling of some relationships as it’s become increasingly clear that we’re all in this together. It’s encouraged many of us to reflect and take action in key areas of our lives.
There has been a change in the approach of many businesses, in recognition of increased customer concern over health and financial security. The focus has shifted to the maintenance of customer loyalty, with discounts and changed payment plans becoming the expectation. A number of businesses have realised the benefits of website development and social media engagement given the general increase in amounts of time spent online.
Of course there have been challenges to overcome in adapting to the increased use of digital media. Many elderly people have been experiencing the intense impacts of isolation. And there’s been a shared sense of awkwardness given the expectation of regular video chats. The use of digital media is bound to continue as we adjust to the post-pandemic world. However, there will always be a need for in-person connection.
The New Normal
If there’s one lesson to be taken from the pandemic it’s that things never stay the same. The increased reliance on digital media was quite inevitable given people’s need to remain in contact. However, there’s been a noticeable sense of relief as a semblance of normality has returned in recent weeks. There’s good reason for confidence and certainty in the return to a more normal way of life – one without face masks and social distancing.
The long-lasting impacts of the coronavirus should be considered with respect to the resilience and continued strength of the economy. There may well be a greater focus on online customer engagement through real-time website chats and social media. The use of messaging apps is sure to continue as businesses have come to realise the benefits of cost-effectiveness, improved engagement, and personalisation.
It’s likely to be some time before consumer confidence reaches pre-pandemic levels. There may well be a greater sense of reluctance and caution when it comes to spending on non-essential goods and services. More time may be spent reviewing the online buying options; with the expectation of personalised offers, services, and marketing communications through digital channels.


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At the Sept. 29 Clinton Global Initiative annual meeting in New York, Alibaba Group Executive Chairman Jack Ma talked about his company’s commitment to spreading e-commerce among hundreds of millions of China’s rural residents and farmers to help advance China farming, some 200 million of them making less than $1 a day.
Using Internet technology to boost prosperity in rural China isn’t just a talking point for Ma, who leads one of the world’s largest e-commerce companies—it’s also a government priority. China’s National Development Reform Commission last month released an action plan calling for faster e-commerce development for the farming sector, part of a larger government push to modernize the middle kingdom’s food production.
With much of the countryside still populated by small, poor farmers using methods that haven’t changed much for decades, progress is a big ask. Fortunately the China market is large enough and promising enough to attract international companies who want to help speed this transition.
One such company is U.S. based AGCO, a global leader in the design, manufacture and distribution of agricultural machinery and solutions. Last month, AGCO and Alibaba Group agreed to cooperate to make modern agricultural machinery and farming techniques more accessible in rural China through Rural Taobao, an Alibaba e-commerce site offering agricultural resources and consumer goods to rural villagers. In addition, the companies said they will collaborate to promote farm development through cloud computing, big data and rural finance, in what the companies called an “Internet-plus-Agriculture” program.
“For an agricultural company we are still young in China so our market share is still growing at a healthy rate, but we want it to grow even faster,” said AGCO Vice President Fred Yang, the company’s managing director for China. AGCO, which reported 2014 revenues of $9.7 billion and is listed on the New York Stock Exchange, has been selling in China for about 10 years, relying mainly on a network of 67 conventional dealerships. “We think this new way (using e-commerce) to reach out to our customer will help us to achieve faster growth,” Yang said.
AGCO’s heavy Massey Ferguson tractors, high-horsepower combines and baling equipment enjoy solid demand in the country’s northwest and northeast, where farming is dominated by large, state-owned enterprises, he said. AGCO wants to establish markets for its advanced equipment in Central China, where farms are smaller, private and more market-driven. “That’s where e-commerce will help us reach out to these customers,” Yang said. By working with Rural Taobao, AGCO hopes to tap into Alibaba’s growing network of Taobao Rural Service Centers, physical outlets that provide computer hardware, e-commerce training, technical support, and information about Alibaba’s online marketplaces to residents of China’s hinterlands. As of June 30, there were 63 Taobao county centers and 1,803 village centers open in 17 provinces.
“Working with the Taobao-backed staff of the center can immediately get us down to ground level, and help us reach information at the village level,” Yang said. Reps can provide sales leads and make farmers aware of the AGCO’s Taobao pages and its products, which could generate deals online in addition to promotion through the traditional dealer network. “This is not about one channel [e-commerce] replacing another channel [traditional distribution],” Yang said. “This is about making two channels more effective in selling to the customer.”
Farming in China is plagued by inefficient sales networks, a shrinking labor force and financing difficulties. AGCO’s bid to make heavy farming equipment more widely available in China matches up with the vision of policymakers who are trying to address these issues and make China self-sufficient in food production. “Moving to large-scale commercial operations rather than the traditional farm style is the only way to get there,” Yang said.
E-commerce not only provides rural residents with greater access to advanced agricultural machinery, but also is becoming an important channel for the sale of agricultural products. Beyond this, Yang says he expects information and data from business conducted on Alibaba’s online platforms to be able to improve AGCO’s ability to serve customers, develop new types of equipment, and target specific regions with the right products.
“That’s really the true value-add of an Internet company,” Yang said. “When there are more transactions, more information starts going through the Web. Accumulating this big data can be very valuable for us—not only to reach customers, but also to become smarter about how to serve the customer better.”
Serving the customer better includes meeting financing needs of smaller farmers who have limited access to loans. “The big struggle is not many of them have reliable credit data available,” meaning lenders have to “gamble” to extend financing to them, Yang said. However, Alibaba-affiliated Ant Financial Services Group runs an online credit-rating service as well as a small business lending operation that could pave the way for improved financial services in rural China. As more farmers go online to make purchases and sell products, “Big data is expected to be leveraged eventually to judge the credit rating of a certain farmer,” Yang said. “Finding a way to be safe but speedy in approving financing through the Internet can be a tremendous advantage for the (Alibaba-AGCO) partnership.”
Ultimately, the Internet is expected to help spread information on modern farming techniques throughout China, Yang said, boosting productivity and sustainability. AGCO is currently setting up several pilot farms in the countryside so farmers can come and see how to use AGCO equipment to their best advantage, and the company is using social media to distribute technical videos, articles, tips and provide online customer services.
“Frankly speaking, not many farmers realize the total benefits of technology yet,” Yang said. Most people think of farming as “a backwards thing,” he said, “but it can be very sophisticated based on today’s technology. To make it happen, all we need is the data.”


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Study: Strength of cannabis edibles regularly mislabeled
By Oscar Pascual |
You might not be getting exactly what you pay for when buying medical cannabis edibles.
An analysis of several edible marijuana products sold in dispensaries throughout Seattle, San Francisco, and Los Angeles found that only 17 percent of all products were accurately labeled for their levels of THC, according to a study reported by the New York Times on Tuesday.
A test of local edibles in San Francisco last fall similarly revealed rampant mislabeling.
In the most recent study, an overwhelming 60 percent of all edibles had less THC than advertised, while 23 percent held more THC than claimed.
“The point is not to say, ‘Hey, X medical marijuana company, you’re bad,’ ” said said Dr. Ryan Vandrey, the study’s lead author and an associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. “We don’t have the kind of quality assurance for edibles that we have for any other medicine.”
The study tested cannabis-infused candy, drinks and baked goods from 47 different brands to find the discrepancies. Some labels were so far off that in one case, a product contained only three milligrams of THC even though its label claimed 108.
The analysis found geographical differences as well. Edibles bought in Los Angeles were found to be more likely of having more THC than labeled, while the likelihood of getting less THC than labeled was greater throughout Seattle dispensaries.
The study only proves that regulation is sorely needed in states with medical marijuana. Products with too little THC could fail to relieve symptoms, while overly potent levels can lead to unpleasant side effects like severe anxiety.
“We need a more accurate picture of what’s being offered to patients,” said Dr. Donald Abrams, who has done notable marijuana research and serves as the chief of hematology and oncology at San Francisco General Hospital, in an interview with the Times. “What we have now in this country is an unregulated medical marijuana industry, due to conflicts between state and federal laws.”
Abrams believes that regulations will only come into effect if and when the federal government actually recognizes marijuana as medicine.
“When that changes,” Dr. Abrams told the Times, “we’ll see the industry rushing to standardize dosing, as well as laboratory testing of products.”
Photo credit: Flickr.com/eggrole


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The Amazon Go grocery store at Amazon’s headquarters in Seattle, Washington.
David Ryder / Stringer | Getty Images
Amazon recently lost a high-profile executive who was responsible for overseeing the company’s growing physical divisions.
Amazon’s physical retail vice president Cameron Janes (Cameron Janes) on LinkedIn shows that he left the company on Tuesday.
“Today, 14 years later, is my last day at Amazon,” Janes wrote on LinkedIn on Tuesday. “The experience and opportunities Amazon provided me has changed my life.”
During his tenure at Amazon, Janes held positions in multiple departments, including overseeing the Prime Video streaming service, the Kindle e-reader, and the ill-fated Fire mobile phone team. Before starting to manage most of the company’s physical retail products, Janes helped launch Amazon’s physical bookstore chain.
Janes is responsible for the daily operation of Amazon’s unmanned cashier Go stores and the technology that supports these stores, called “Just Walk Out”, which the company has installed in its Fresh supermarkets and some Whole Foods stores. Amazon now sells cashierless technology to third-party retailers, enabling it to expand beyond Amazon’s own physical retail business.
Janes reports directly to Dilip Kumar, Amazon’s vice president of physical retail and technology. He developed and launched Amazon’s Go store and unmanned cashier technology. He is also responsible for overseeing Amazon’s experimental grocery technologies, such as the Dash smart shopping cart and palm scanner.
It is unclear where Janes is going next. He is not the only high-profile executive who has left Amazon’s grocery department in recent months. Wei Gao, who served as the vice president of Amazon’s grocery technology, products and supply chain, went to London-based online event startup Hopin in August.
Amazon representatives did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
watch: Amazon and Starbucks team up to create a cashierless pickup cafe
If you want to know more about business please go to https://updatednews24.com/category/business/


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Looking at the Call Me Ishmael phone, which features a rotary dial, you might assume it belongs in your grandmother's house. Despite its old-timey appearance, the device is very much of the 21st century. And the inventors of the phone, which contains a web app that allows users to dial a number and hear stories about a specific book, are hoping it becomes a fixture in bookstores and libraries.
The device grew out of the Call Me Ishmael program launched last year by Logan Smalley, the director of educational programs for Ted Talks, and Stephanie Kent, a writer and multimedia producer in New York City. Callers to a specific number--774-325-0503--can leave an anonymous voicemail about a favorite book, along with a personal tale. The most compelling messages, as determined by CMI's six-member team, are recorded and transcribed on an antique typewriter. Videos are then created and posted, on a weekly basis, featuring an image of the book while the audio of the featured call plays.
So far, the group, which works with 60 volunteers around the world, has collected more than 2,000 messages. It is estimated that over one million people have viewed and listened to the CMI recordings. While interest in, and interaction with, CMI varies day-to-day, the program is getting noticed. After bestselling author John Green raved about CMI on social media a few months ago, the service experienced multiple days where hundreds of calls were received.
Smalley and Kent envision the CMI device being used largely in bookstores and libraries. With its ability to hold up to 12 different stories at a time that can be changed daily, they feel booksellers and librarians would be ideal curators. The phone also has the ability to ring, allowing customers and patrons to answer the device and hear a story.
That the company pulls its name from the beginning of Moby Dick is not a lark, either. Smalley said the idea for CMI was hatched, in part, because he and Kent "are avid readers who have an appreciation for opening lines in books." After using the Internet to try and get readers to share feelings about their favorite books, Smalley said he found it frustrating that the stories could only be shared online. That's when the pair hit upon the idea of creating a device that would allow the stories to be brought into bookstores and libraries.
Janet Geddis, the owner of Avid Bookshop in Athens, Ga., which is Smalley’s hometown, will receive one of the first of the CMI phones. The bookstores was also the first to test the phone in its beta format, using it for several days this past summer. Geddis estimated that, during the test-run, the phone was used by seven booksellers and over 20 customers.
For Geddis, the CMI phone is an extension of her store's core mission: "to connect people to books that will be meaningful for them" and "to create a sense of community." And, seemingly, the CMI phone did its job; she said that her "customers love the concept.”
To raise funds to scale up production of the CMI phone, a Kickstarter campaign was launched earlier this month. As of press time, it had raised more than $15,000. The CMI team is hoping to bring in enough money to be able to send the phone to interested bookstores and libraries for a free, two-week trial. The cost of the device ranges between $500-$1,000; leasing it after the two-week free trial will cost between $30-$60 per month. Smalley also envisions collaborating with participating bookstores and libraries to include the stories of their own customers and patrons on their devices.
“It’s a service,” Smalley said. “It’s not like we’ll give them the phone and walk away. We want to tell stories together.”


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It’s going to be awhile more before we get our hands on the PlayStation Vita, but that doesn’t mean that we can’t learn anything new about it. Last week, the first Tweet from a PlayStation Vita was fired out and retweeted by countless people, and now we finally get to see how it was done. The folks over at Sony have released a video demonstrating the Social Essentials app on the Vita, and on the video we get to see the first Tweet ever sent out from the console.
While it’s certainly no video of mankind’s first step onto the moon, users will be pleased to know that they can use a proper touchscreen keyboard to type as opposed to the onscreen keyboard on the current PSP. Check out the video for yourself:
Next Story: Siri used to watch videos on Plex


text: COMEX Copper slipped today as traders eyed the recent Chinese economic cues. Activity in Chinas factories expanded at the slowest pace in five months in March, a private gauge indicated, in contrast with official data showing manufacturing activity at a three-month high. The Caixin China manufacturing purchasing managers index dropped to 51.0 in March from 51.6 in February, Caixin Media Co. and research firm Markit said Monday. The 50 level separates an expansion in manufacturing activity from a contraction. New orders grew at the slowest rate in four months, due to muted foreign demand and only a slight improvement in external demand, Caixin said. Production levels rose at the slowest pace since November as a result of lukewarm demand, Caixin said. The red metal is quoting down around half a percent at $ 3.04 per pound in Asian trades.


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The U.S. Federal Trade Commission today denied it acted improperly in seeking to promote generic competition to Cephalon Inc.’s sleep-disorder drug Provigil.
“I see no evidence” that agency officials “engaged in improper -- or even out-of-the-ordinary -- conduct with respect to any aspect of the investigation,” Richard Feinstein, director of the FTC’s Bureau of Competition, said in court papers filed today.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Alan Kay in Washington criticized the FTC on July 13 as he ordered it to respond to questions from Watson Pharmaceuticals Inc.. The Corona, California-based maker of generic drugs had accused the FTC of pressuring it to make a deal with Cephalon rival Apotex Inc. to produce a generic form of Provigil.
“The facts before us suggest that the FTC sought to place Watson between a rock and hard place, where the only way Watson could clear its name and escape further FTC scrutiny was to give in to pressure” from the FTC, Kay wrote.
Kay said it was a “strong possibility” that the FTC investigated Watson to stop it from completing an agreement with Cephalon that the FTC believed could delay a generic substitute for Provigil. The FTC may have initiated discussions between Watson and Toronto-based Apotex and supplied confidential company information to Apotex, Kay said.
The FTC said today it was Watson’s outside counsel, Steven Sunshine, who agreed Apotex could be contacted and that the agency properly passed along information as part of the investigation.
The FTC today also filed court papers to support its bid to subpoena Watson CEO Paul Bisaro.
Bisaro could reveal if it would have been in the company’s interest to relinquish its rights to making the generic version of Provigil, the FTC said.
In an interview last month, Jerry Pappert, general counsel of Frazer, Pennsylvania-based Cephalon, said the Watson case may show that the FTC lost sight of how to pursue its mandate of ensuring competition.
“These tactics, if they occurred, cross the line into improper and possibly illegal behavior and go well beyond the FTC’s proper role,” he said.
The case stems from efforts by FTC Chairman Jon Leibowitz to overcome drugmaker deals that the agency says can keep cheaper generic medicines off the market.
The FTC has accused companies of engaging in “pay-for-delay” settlements whereby brand-name companies offer generic manufacturers licensing rights to a product or other compensation in exchange for postponing the marketing of cheaper drugs.
On July 1, the U.S. House of Representatives approved as part of a war-funding bill a provision restricting pharmaceutical companies’ ability to make such deals. The measure was sent to the Senate.
Drugmakers have defended such arrangements, saying they cut litigation costs and in some cases speed the arrival of generic drugs to store shelves.


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- Haus makes self-sustaining, 3D printed smart homes.
- The house can go on any flat piece of land, with no utility hookups necessary.
- Haus says its homes are “zombie proof,” and anti-viral and anti-bacterial.
- Visit Business Insider’s homepage for more stories.
Haus is selling homes that seem to do it all – self-sufficient smart homes that can be erected anywhere in the world, with protection against viruses.
Part of the appeal of the Haus models is the ability to live totally off the grid. The homes come move-in ready, fully furnished, with the technology to use solar energy and recycle water, no utility hookups needed. They don’t even need specialized foundations or installation processes – Haus says they can go on any flat piece of land.
The glass and sleek, white exterior look like a spaceship, with a futuristic fingerprint entry. Every aspect of the home can be controlled through an app, like temperature, humidity, and how much energy is being used. Maybe most attractive of all – Haus says that its air purifying system can protect inhabitants from 99.9% of viruses and bacteria, which could be a welcome feature in the world of the coronavirus.
Though homes aren’t scheduled to be delivered until October, there’s already clear interest. CEO Max Gerbut told Business Insider that the company already has more than 19,000 buyer requests, with 40 preorders, all before the unit was officially presented in public. Haus will unveil its first units in September, and interested buyers can “test drive” a unit to see the smart home in action.
Here’s how it works.
The house starts with a 3D printed frame.
The exterior is made of carbon fiber, polymers, and guarded glass panes.
Haus says the 3D polymer frame can withstand hurricanes and earthquakes.
The houses are completely prefabricated, so they are delivered ready to move into.
The Haus comes with a water tank, solar energy battery storage, and autonomous sewage, so the structure can be set up on any flat piece of land.
Haus says its homes are equipped for at least 365 days of autonomous living at a time before needing maintenance and filters replaced.
mOne, the smallest model from Haus, is a 400 square-foot studio.
Haus says it is “perfect for two inhabitants.”
Everything inside, including furniture and appliances and even wine glasses, is packed and ready upon delivery.
Buyers can customize color, appliances, and decor on their unit.
Personalized units take about seven weeks to be manufactured, then another two to three weeks for delivery throughout the US.
The small studio is designed with built-in furniture that uses the space efficiently.
For example, the couch folds out into a bed, and is surrounded by built-in storage shelves.
Though utility hookups can be added, Haus can potentially be powered only by solar energy, with a battery that has storage to power the house for a week.
In disasters or unusually bad weather conditions, the home will automatically switch to low energy consumption mode to conserve power.
Haus is covered in windows, but the company says “they are virtually unbreakable (bullets excluded.)” Haus even says it is “secure from zombies.”
Other safety measures are part of the smart home features, which can be controlled on the owner’s phone.
The app is the central place to monitor or change temperature, check battery power, and control security.
It can be unlocked by fingerprint or face recognition.
When not connected to a city water system, Haus has a water tank that can be filled from any source.
Water is purified to drinkable quality, and is 99.9% virus and bacteria free.
The house can even gather water from condensation in the air, if needed.
Water is then recirculated to the shower, where smart sensors dispose of dirty water and correct temperature and pressure.
As the world adjusts to the coronavirus, protection from the virus might become a selling point for Haus.
Haus smart air purification system claims that it “guarantees 99.9% protection from viruses and bacteria and makes air cleaner and more breathable.”
The smart home also monitors and adjusts humidity and CO2 levels, which Haus says can make the environment “of higher quality than some outside environments, even.”
The mOne starts at $199,000, not including delivery costs.
Haus has a larger smart home designed for a small family, the mTwo, at 800 square feet.
The mTwo has most of the same features as the mOne, with twice the space.
The bedroom, kitchen, and living spaces are larger to accommodate a small family.
Like the mOne, the mTwo comes completely furnished, including an outdoor barbecue.
All the technology that makes the house “smart” is included, like a Sonos speaker system, Nest camera and thermostat, Apple TV, projector screen, and internet connection.
Even the fingerprint door lock is included.
The mTwo is pricier, starting at $379,000 with higher prices based on customizations.
The larger mTwo is made of two prefabricated pieces that fit together.
Inside, the design is still sleek and minimalist, though there’s slightly more room for other furniture
Most renderings of Haus designs place the homes in idyllic locations, like a tropical island or in the mountains.
However, Haus has included a post-apocalyptic rendering as well, showing the potential of their Zombie proof claim.
Haus’ newest design is mFour, a two-story, 1600 square foot home for a large family.
The glass building will start at $1 million, with plans to be ready by December 2020.


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i OS 11 was a major update, as well as some of its later "11.X" versis. But while they've added a plethora of features to Apple's mobile operating system, it's safe to say that iOS 11 has not been the cleanest versi of the company. 39; company. Updates have been tainted by a wide variety of bugs since the very first release of iOS 11, ranging from general blackout to applicati failure issues. Here are the worst iOS 11 bugs of the past and present.
11 Black Dot text bomb
Apple's operating systems are not strangers to so-called "text bombs". of characters can cause massive problems for iOS, including applicatis that crash and the lack of general respse. And the last "text bomb" appeared recently – and has not yet been officially corrected.
Image via EverythingApplePro
The text bomb, which ctains a black dot surrounded by other invisible characters, can cause a messaging applicati to crash indefinitely each time. It is open. Currently, the soluti is to reopen the affected applicati by any means and to remove the offending text thread immediately. Apple would be aware of the problem and a fix should be installed in the next versi of iOS
10 Touch feature disabled
It is generally recommended that users do not have their iPhone repaired at vendors third. This is the case for several reass. But a new and particularly critical bug arose for iOS 11 users who had their iPhone 8 devices …


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Combating Covid-19: Air India suspends all flight bookings until April 30
Spokesperson says a decision on what happens next will be taken after April 14.
Air India has stopped flight bookings until April 30 for all domestic and international routes due to the coronavirus pandemic.
"We are awaiting a decision post-April 14," a spokesperson said on Friday.
The clarification comes in the wake of the airline's offices in the UAE offering bookings for April 15 and beyond.
On Thursday, India's Minister for Civil Aviation Hardeep Singh Puri said that India may look to resume flights with the UAE once the 21-day lockdown ends on April 14.
Other airlines like IndiGo and SpiceJet have also extended temporary suspension of services until April 30.
On Friday, the General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) maintained that all passenger flights to and from the UAE remain temporarily suspended, except for cargo and evacuation flights.
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When Novell, Inc. (NASDAQ: NOVL) agreed to be acquired by privately held Attachmate Corp. in late November, part of the deal included the concurrent sale of some of Novell’s intellectual property to CPTN Holdings LLC for $450 million. CPTN was identified in Novell’s press release as a “consortium of technology companies organized by Microsoft Corporation” (NASDAQ: MSFT). The other members of the consortium are Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL), Oracle Corp. (NASDAQ: ORCL), and EMC Corp. (NYSE: EMC).
So far, that’s about all anyone knows for sure about the mysterious CPTN Holdings. The most obvious question is whether or not CPTN plans to make it easier or more difficult to license the 882 patents once held by Novell.
One possible reason for the purchase could be that the four companies want to assure themselves that they hold the legal rights to components of their own technologies that they either licensed or should have licensed from Novell. Without getting into the alphabet soup of computer software development, it is probably safe to say pending lawsuits among CPTN companies and Novell will disappear, and that companies outside the consortium face some pretty formidable opposition should they be the least bit vulnerable to a patent infringement charge.
The target here has to be Google Inc. (NASDAQ: GOOG). Oracle has already filed suit against Google for infringing intellectual property related to Java that Oracle acquired with its purchase of Sun Microsystems. Google is already the main target of patent infringement suits over its Android smartphone operating system, and now that the company has released a preview version of its Chrome operating system, the target painted on its back just got bigger.
Microsoft, especially, and Apple could feel the impact of Google’s cloud-based Chrome OS. Early reviews of Chrome are lukewarm, to be sure, and many doubt that the OS will ever amount to much. But if you’re Microsoft, you can’t be too careful.
Oracle’s lawsuit against Google goes right to the heart of Android, seeking to enjoin Google from distributing the OS and destroying all copies that are already out there. On top of that, Oracle wants statutory and treble damages. Google has to fight this lawsuit, but may choose to pony up some cash if the CPTN group gets lawyered up.
At the very least, the CPTN group’s purchase will save them from potential lawsuits related to the 882 patents and it gives them the right to enforce their own rights should they choose to do so. A good guess is that they will choose to do so, and very aggressively too.
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Every month we publish new data, showing how different consumers are faring and feeling in the tough economic climate. This month, we identified how many households are struggling to pay for food.
Our latest Consumer Insight Tracker data found that five million UK households needed to use credit or savings to cover their spending on food last month.
That’s a huge number, so we looked deeper to find out who these people are. We discovered that many of them are low-income families, they’re likely to be financially vulnerable and are typically aged 30-49 years old with children. Nearly half of these families are on the lowest incomes, earning £21,000 or less per year.
With food prices rising in the last year, it isn’t surprising that shoppers tell us that the cost of food is one of their top three worries. Eight in 10 of the struggling households say they’re worried about food prices. More than half say they plan to cut back spending on food in the coming months. However, others feel they’re not able to cut back when trying to feed their households.
Using savings to pay for food
I was shocked by these findings. I didn’t realise so many people can’t afford to cover their monthly food bill. And as well as using credit and savings to cover their spending, it seems struggling households are resorting to all sorts of means to get by and put food on the table. A third of them borrowed money from family or friends, while more than one in 10 defaulted on a bill last month.
While they use more credit and whittle down their savings, I’m not surprised that two thirds of these households are worried about their savings levels and the same proportion are worried about their levels of debt.
The food budgeting challenge
I’ve had a look into how much people typically spend on their food bills – around £76 a week on average. Yet, in the last year food prices have risen by around 4% – something has to give.
I do most of my food shopping online and, to save money, always check the special offers to see what deals I can get. Although, sometimes it means we eat the same thing for a few days just because it’s reduced! I’ve also discovered a great fruit and veg stall at our local market that’s much cheaper than going to the supermarket.
In a previous Conversation, DiB shared a tip for making your food budget go further, while acknowledging that it’s not always an easy tip to follow:
‘In the present economic climate many shoppers go for the cheap option rather than value. I found that buying better quality means I buy less, waste less, and it goes further. But then when I’m faced with what’s in my purse at the time the better quality product often stays on the shelf.’
What action have you taken to make ends meet and cover food bills? How have you noticed the impact of increased food prices on your monthly spending?


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Google Quiet on Hardware Ambitions to Stay Alive
So why isn't Google coming clear about its alleged mobile hardware ambitions? Self-preservation. Schachter said it will not state this goal because it fears damaging the precious, powerful brand Google has cultivated over the last 11 years if the company fails. Indeed, there are always risks when companies, particular software-driven businesses, double as purveyors of hardware. Jefferies Research analyst Youssef Squali wrote in a Jan. 6 research note that Google's retail model could depress margins:Yet Schachter sees another silver lining in the Webstore. He believes that by offering the Nexus One and other devices through its own store, Google could diffuse some of the fragmentation plaguing Android, for which multiple operating system versions-1.1, 1.5, 1.6, 2.0 and 2.1-exist. He said that by infusing its smartphones with the most current software, Google can encourage other carriers and OEMs to essentially keep up with Google and update their own Android devices with the latest software versions as well. The Webstore, backed by Google's promotion on its front page and elsewhere, should help in that regard. Still, mobile advertising is the business model that most financial analysts are rallying around in the wake of the announcement. Squali sees the Nexus One and Webstore as another way for Google to expand its mobile search and apps footprint, which can then be monetized via ads. "During the 3Q09 call, Google saw 30 percent quarter-over-quarter rise in mobile searches," Squali wrote in a Jan. 6 note. "We expect Google to monetize this hyper-growth in search volume via location-based search ads, which are typically more attractive to advertisers, given the 'in-market' nature of such consumers." Eventually, thanks to the direct-to-consumer model of its Webstore, Google could gain some control over how consumers buy mobile device and services, enabling it to offer VOIP or ad-subsidized mobile devices in the future.
"We believe that as the 'merchant of record,' Google is likely carrying the inventory risk for a business that's likely to generate profitability that is substantially below the company's traditionally 60 percent-plus EBITDA margin."


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Every Can Counts is the programme that’s getting people recycling at work and on the go. Find out more here!
Every Can Counts aims to make it easier to recycle your drink cans and make a difference. The partnership between drink can manufacturers and the recycling industry, aims to encourage you to recycle more whether it be at work, at college, at an event or festival or whilst you’re out and about.
STIRLING’S THISTLES SHOPPING CENTRE GETS READY TO MAKE EVERY CAN COUNT - The Thistle Shopping Centre in Stirling has teamed up with drinks can recycling programme Every Can ... READ MORE


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Apple Inc.'s new iPhone operating system should help the company win a larger share of customers buying smart phones, analysts said.
Thomas Weisel analyst Doug Reid said Apple's presentation on the new features Tuesday left him "more confident that (Apple) remains well positioned to gain share in the smart phone market."
In a client note Tuesday, he estimated the Cupertino, Calif. company will capture 11.8 percent of that market this year, up from 7.7 percent in 2008. He kept an "Overweight" rating on shares.
Apple's new software will allow users to cut and paste text for the first time and offers new tools to third-party software makers, including the ability to create applications that have items for sale within them and access to customers' iTunes library of songs.
Needham & Co. analyst Charlie Wolf told clients in a note Wednesday that the new system shows "that Apple is not standing still but continues to build on its leadership in the smart phone operating system and application software market." He kept a "Strong Buy" rating on the shares.


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This 7 days Apple announced the very first SoC in its next era of in-property silicon. Apple debuted the revamped M2 chip in the redesigned MacBook Air, and 13″ MacBook Pro. Now the inescapable concern arises: when are we heading to see the M2 Pro, Max, and Ultra?
According to a person analyst, they will be coming from TSMC, and will debut later this 12 months. Even far more tantalizing is the notion that these Apple SoCs will most likely be the very very first to use TSMC’s bleeding edge 3nm approach. This is mildly surprising given the M2 chip uncovered this week was built using TSMC’s 5nm method, just like the former M1 merchandise. Launching the M2 on two distinctive nodes would involve Apple to do the design do the job twice — once for a 5nm M2 and as soon as for the 3nm M2 Pro.
Information of Apple’s plans will come from 9to5Mac, which gleaned the details from analyst Jeff Pu of Haitong Intl Tech Analysis. Mr. Pu claims, in accordance to his sources, Apple will be using TSMC for its M2 relatives of SoCs. Which is not a massive shock, as no one expected Apple to swap to Samsung or, Intel. Nonetheless, Pu states the M2 Professional chip is by now created and will go into creation later on this year. TSMC is anticipated to begin producing 3nm products in late 2022, so the M2 Professional may well be the really to start with chip to roll off the output line. Though Apple will be tapping 3nm for its substantial-effectiveness SoCs, it will reportedly nevertheless use 5nm for its forthcoming A16 Apple iphone processor. Curiously, the other shopper for the original batch of TSMC’s 3nm may well be Intel. It’s been beforehand described Intel needs TSMC’s slicing edge node for the GPU tiles on Meteor Lake. Intel is also applying TSMC for its Arc GPUs.
If this revelation comes to go, it will not be the initial time Apple was initial in line for TSMC’s most state-of-the-art node. It unveiled its 5nm M1 chip all the way again in 2020, if you recall. Despite practically two decades possessing gone by, AMD and Nvidia are just now tapping TSMC’s 5nm for their next-era GPUs. AMD is also utilizing this node for its approaching Zen 4 CPUs. On a equivalent be aware, Intel is at the moment utilizing its third-generation 10nm method for Alder Lake, which is named Intel 7. If you are puzzled about the nomenclature shift, we demonstrate it in additional depth in this article, but put basically: Intel has altered its technique for speaking about nodes and is applying new labels going ahead. It is anticipated to at last hit the equal of 5nm upcoming 12 months, with a procedure it calls Intel 4.
TSMC’s 3nm node is the final end on the FinFET convey for the Taiwanese chipmaker. Over and above that it will move to a gate-all-all-around design for 2nm, reportedly using nanosheet transistors. As the chart above notes, it’s anticipated to deliver modest enhancements more than its 5nm process. The enterprise will surely not have any trouble offloading its new chips, as reports reveal it is currently completely booked. TSMC also mentioned earlier that it expects to deliver 3nm products for the next three yrs, and possibly past.


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Former SpaceX engineer says his pizza-making robot, located across the road from Elon Musk's HQ, sprayed cheese everywhere during testing
engineersaid his pizza-making robotsprayed cheese everywhere during initial testing.
- CEO Benson Tsai, who worked at
SpaceXfor five years, said there was a bug in the robot's system.
A former SpaceX engineer said his new robot that makes a pizza every 45 seconds, sprayed cheese everywhere when it was first built.
Benson Tsai, who worked at Elon Musk's
One of the failures happened three years ago when the pizza-making robot "dumped melted cheese everywhere" during testing, Tsai said.
Stellar Pizza's robot was attempting to make a cheese pizza, but the robot's motors started spinning the wrong way, pulled the cheese off the pizza and onto the automated peel, which slides the pizza in and out of the machine.
The cheese went in all the wrong places, according to Tsai.
The company figured out that there was a bug in the robot's system, which caused the cheese explosion, Tsai said. "It's funny but it's all part of the design process."
"While we don't like wasting cheese, an event like this is a great learning opportunity for our team," Tsai said. "It was much cheaper than crashing a rocket to gain insight into our machine."
Stellar Pizza's pizza-making robot fits into the back of a truck, which is parked across the street from SpaceX headquarters in California, according to Tsai, who used to design advanced battery systems for the company's rockets and satellites.
Musk hasn't tried the pizza yet, as far as Tsai was aware, but he said a lot of his old coworkers at SpaceX have tried it.
Customers order the pizza solely through an app. It costs $7 for a 12 inch, and prices can go up to $10, Tsai said.
Stellar Pizza, which is hoping to open in spring this year, wants to roll out up to six pizza-making robots in trucks in the next year, Tsai added.
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SEA: Lexer, a customer data platform for brands and retailers, announced that it has plans to expand into Southeast Asia following its AU$33.5 million (US$26.3 million) Series B funding.
The round was led by VC firms Blackbird Ventures and King River Capital, with January Capital also participating.
The company said that it is aiming to hire one person every week for the next year to double its headcount in Australia, the US, and Southeast Asia (SEA), as it plans for global expansion.
Founded in 2010, Lexer is a platform that helps SME and MSME brands manage their data by assembling it all into one platform.
Lexer provides insights to brands like customer shopping patterns among different groups of visitors to help marketers use the information to drive future sales.
“Lexer has a bright future across the global retail sector. Many brands will benefit from its products as they continue adapting to rapidly changing consumer behaviours. We are delighted to be investing in the company as it looks to international expansion,” said King River Capital Partner Zebediah Rice.
While few companies are operating within this sphere in SEA, Lexer might have to compete with a similar company called Antsomi, a Singaporean marketing technology software that has a presence across the region.


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Tesla CEO Elon Musk and Ford Motor Company’s CEO Jim Farley joined together on Twitter Spaces today to announce that Ford customers will be able to utilize the Tesla Supercharger electric vehicle (EV) charging network in North America starting in early 2024.
Ford customers currently have access to around 10,000 fast chargers. Tesla has around 12,000 in the U.S. and Canada, meaning that Ford F-150 Lightning, Mustang Mach-E and E-Transit customers will have double the amount of charging opportunities within the space of a few months.
Further Ford vehicles, from 2025, will be equipped with a NACS charge port, like the one Teslas have now, eliminating the need for an adapter.
Farley called the news, “A huge move for our industry and for all electric customers.”
Current Ford EV owners will need an adapter for their charging port to use a Tesla branded charger. Ford has confirmed that Tesla-designed adapters will be made available for purchase in early 2024. Musk said the adapters won’t be cost prohibitive, “in the hundreds of dollars”.
The Detroit-based automaker says that further details of charger adapter sales are forthcoming.
Ford vehicles will still be able to use other charging networks. Details are still being finalized, but Ford customers will be able to activate and pay for charging via the FordPass app or FordPro Intelligence commercial vehicle fleet management system.
Farley said Ford would have several options for paying at the network, including subscription.
“We don’t want the Tesla Supercharger app to be like a walled garden,” Musk said.
Tesla does not intend to throttle charging speed for Ford customers when they use the new Supercharger with Musk saying that they intent to make Supercharger charging a “seamless and positive experience for Ford owners”.
Those charger speeds currently range from 90 to 250 kilowatts (kW). The Ford Mustang Mach-E with the extended battery can take a maximum of 150 kW on a DC charger.
“To have two CEOs of any major industry participate in a relatively open forum like Jim Farley and Elon Musk did today reflects a change in how companies reach customers and share news. This seems to be a new way to use Twitter. Tesla said months ago that it would open its SuperCharger network to vehicles from other automakers, but this is the first tangible proof of movement to the goal, in the US,” Stephanie Brinley, associate director of research and analysis at S&P Global told Newsweek.
“Opening the SuperCharger network can go a long way to easing consumer charge anxiety as well, though might also make already busy SuperChargers harder to access. The news also does not eliminate the need for further charging network development—increasing access to Tesla’s Supercharger network can help alleviate pressure on non-supercharger locations, but it’s still not enough to meet the need.”
During the Spaces chat, Farley acknowledged Tesla’s dominance in the electric vehicle space and the way the company has found success saying of building EVs, “it’s super hard.” Musk chuckled in apparent agreement.
Musk added to the news saying that he was joining the Spaces discussion from Tesla’s studios where his team was working to finalize the design of the new Tesla Roadster, and thanked Roadster intenders for their patience as the company works through the process.
Musk, who is also Twitter’s largest shareholder, praised the Ford-Tesla partnership. Both CEOs agreed that they were open to the opportunity to working together in the future.
This has been a big news week for Ford. The company has confirmed that it will move toward non-negotiated pricing next year and plans to bring an all-electric three-row SUV to market in the coming years, among other announcements.


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Older clubbers boost Luminar
The UK's biggest nightclub operator today hailed high-spending older clubbers in helping it achieve a 'satisfactory' festive trading performance.
Luminar, which owns brands such as Oceana and Lava & Ignite and Liquid, said greater disposable incomes enjoyed by its older revellers had helped to offset falling numbers visiting its clubs.
The company now expects to hit full-year profit forecasts of between £27.5m and £34m despite reporting a 'toughened' trading environment in November and early December.
Like-for-like sales at its 86-strong dancing division in the three weeks to January 3 were up 1%, while sales for the year to January 10 rose 1.1%, slower than the 4.1% lift enjoyed in the first-half of the year.
The company's branded division, which comprises 53 sites, saw like-for-like sales up 4.3% over Christmas, below its full-year level of 5.7%.
Luminar added that a fuller picture of the impact of the smoking ban on its clubs was now beginning to emerge.
It said clubs with 'smoking solutions' such as outdoor terraces, now comprised 70% of its estate and these were performing better than those without.
Luminar has also rolled out scented units across its venues to combat the sweaty odours of clubbers and said it was focusing attention on the few remaining sites without outside areas.
The firm added it had completed its development programme for the current financial year, opening five branded sites and refurbishing a further five and added no further openings are expected for the remainder of its financial year.
Shares in the company, which have lost 60% in the past nine months on fears it will bear the brunt of a spending slowdown, fell more than 2% today to a five-year low.
Richard Carter, analyst at Numis Securities, predicted annual profits will come in at the bottom end of forecasts at £27.5 m. 'Although trading has been mixed in the 19 weeks to January 10, the trend is clearly that of deterioration.
'The key weakness is admissions, which is being mitigated partly from higher spend per head by older, more affluent customers. Quite simply, we think Luminar will struggle to grow profits in the dancing division next year.'
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Thanks in part to a partnership with the Beef Checkoff Program, the American Heart Association has listed three beef cuts as part of its Food Certification Program. This program places the association's heart-check mark on food packages to helps healthy consumers over age 2 identify foods that meet criteria for saturated fat and cholesterol.
The three beef cuts that met the American Heart Association's criteria for extra lean and now are certified to display the heart-check mark include:
- Boneless Top Sirloin Petite Roast (select grade)
- Top Sirloin Filet (select grade)
- Top Sirloin Kabob (select grade)
"We are extremely thrilled to receive the American Heart Association certification because, for consumers, it represents the independent voice of a trusted health organization," says Beef Board Member Margie Hande, a cow/calf operator from Amidon, N.D., and chair of the checkoff's Joint Retail Committee. "Today, the Beef Checkoff Program has added another nutrition success point to its growing roster to show that a serving of extra lean beef can be part of an overall sensible eating plan. The nutrients in lean beef, such as protein, iron and zinc, help people feel satisfied longer and get more nutrition from their calories without sacrificing taste."
The American Heart Association's heart-check mark is the one of the most trusted icons on food packaging today – and it continues to resonate with health-conscious shoppers, even in a challenging economy. In fact, more than 83% of consumers have an aided awareness of the heart-check mark, and nearly 75% of primary grocery shoppers say the heart-check mark improves the likelihood that they'll buy a product.
This certification allows retailers to display the heart-check mark on fresh case beef packages, promoting the health benefits of a serving of these particular beef cuts to their customers. This is good news, as many of the food industry's top brands have certified products. The mark has been shown to influence sales by as much as 5%. In addition, The Beef Checkoff Trade Association Certification simplifies a retailer's processing and related costs to participate in the American Heart Association's heart-check mark program, such as waiving of certain fees and significant discounts to participate.
In addition to the three products certified by the American Heart Association, there are many popular beef cuts that meet government guidelines for lean for a single serving, including favorites such as sirloin, flank steak, tenderloin, T-bone steak and 95% lean ground beef. With about 30 lean beef cuts, it's easy to build great-tasting and healthy meals that include America's favorite protein – beef – with vegetables, fruits and whole grains.
"Lean beef helps Americans build a healthy diet and manage their waistline because one three-ounce serving provides 10 essential nutrients for about 154 calories, helping you meet the new Dietary Guidelines," says Cheryl Hendricks, a registered dietitian with the National Cattlemen's Beef Association, which contracts to manage retail marketing efforts for the beef checkoff. "With today's focus on obesity, lean beef is a solution that satisfies our appetites and provides more nutrients for fewer calories than many other foods."
For retailers, the checkoff-funded integrated promotions feature merchandising elements where it matters most –the point of purchase. As part of the integrated promotions, there is a comprehensive campaign including on-pack labels, recipes and more to help drive awareness, traffic to lean beef cuts in the meat case and ultimately product sales.
"Knowing that 99% of primary grocery shoppers think lowering saturated fat is important to managing overall health and wellness, we are pleased to be able to provide the three American Heart Association-certified beef cuts as another option in creating an overall sensible eating plan," says Hendricks. "Looking forward, we're not stopping at just three cuts. We are in the process of obtaining certification for some of our other extra lean beef choices as well."
To learn more about receiving the American Heart Association's certification, please visit www.BeefRetail.org.
About the Heart-Check Mark
The American Heart Association established the heart-check mark in 1995 to give consumers an easy, reliable system for identifying heart-healthy foods as a first step in building a sensible eating plan. Approximately 800 products that bear the heart-check mark have been screened and verified by the association to meet criteria for saturated fat and cholesterol. To learn more about the heart-check mark, and to see a complete list of certified products and participating companies, visit heartcheckmark.org.


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The demand for Irish organic beef is on the rise, particularly in Europe, according to Teagasc.
It says that the Irish organic market is worth around €98m, up from €63m in 2004. Meanwhile, it says, the EU market has quadrupled in size over the last 10 years and is now worth over €20 billion.
There are shortages of organic produce in both Ireland and Europe, it says, with demand outweighing supply, especially in grain, milk, fruit and vegetables.
In Ireland, just over 1% of land is farmed organically, a doubling of the area since 2000. There are in excess of 1,500 organic operators including 40 organic farmers in Co. Mayo. The majority of these (about two-thirds) are dry stock farmers.
Last year, Teagasc held 12 organic farm walks across the country to highlight the opportunities that exist in organic farming.
According to Teagasc, Irish organic food enjoys an “excellent reputation” both at home and in Europe.
Recent research shows that the Irish organic retail market has grown 9% so far this year, but is not yet back to pre-recession levels, according to Bord Bia.
Speaking at a hearing of the Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture in recent weeks, Eileen Bentley, Bord Bia, Entrepreneurship Manager said the value of the Irish organic retail market is just over €110m and is approximately 1% of the overall food and drink market in Ireland.
However, she said in 2014 and 2015 the organic market has returned to growth and although not yet back at pre-recession value, year to date growth in 2015 is plus 9%.
Bentley said at least 50% to 60% of the €110m comes from the Irish market purely based on the strength of horticulture and dairy sector products represented in those categories.


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The other day, Hakan Samuelsson, the Swedish auto concern’s chief executive, made a public statement, which is a little bit revolutionary for the world motor cars market. Mr. Samuelsson proudly stated that since 2019 all cars which were produced by the carmaker would be equipped with hybrid or electric engines.
The Financial Times quotes the head of Volvo: “Volvo intends to sell more than one million electric vehicles by 2025. A good tradition of Volvo is to keep a promise.”
The Swedish auto concern has become a pioneer among automakers in the sphere of total abandonment of the habitual internal combustion engines.
Volvo has already taken significant steps to implement their ambitious plan. Seven years ago, in 2010, the Swedes bought the auto company Geely, which is a fairly large Chinese automaker. It is the only company in China that sells in the United States. Its specialization is development and implementation of electric motors. Thus, due to this Chinese purchase, the Swedish auto concern has gained an access to the two largest markets of electric vehicles: China and the United States.
At the moment, only one in a hundred bought in the world cars is equipped with an electric motor. Despite of this, the sphere is incredibly dynamic and, according to many experts, the near future promises a real revolution in this sphere.
Even the most pessimistic analysts do not exclude the possibility that in 10-15 years not less than 80% of the used cars will be equipped with electric motors.
This news has had a positive effect on the stock quotations of the Swedish automaker. The trend will continue in the near future.
The material was prepared with the participation of Andrey Majorov,
a leading analyst of the brokerage company CT Trade


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South Korean electronics company LG unveiled their “Digital Upcycling Project” by Tilda ahead of World Environment Day on June 5th, the first ever artist artificial intelligence developed by LG’s AI Research, on a mission to help save our planet.
Following a successful debut at New York Fashion Week this past February in collaboration with Seoul-based label Greedilous, the “Digital Upcycling Project” by Tilda (pictured above) will launch exclusively in the Metaverse on World Environment Day, June 5th, 2022, presenting her first solo collection of entirely upcycled garments, while shining a spotlight on the very real issues of digital and physical waste.
The first artist and activist AI of its kind, Tilda’s goal in launching this collection is to spread awareness for the little things we can all do to improve our carbon footprint, while creating opportunities for new business ventures that don’t sacrifice our environment.
Human adversity to AI
AI have seeped their way into systems we use daily, but how many of us have stopped to seriously ponder the effects and influence of AI technology?
Many corporations have invested mini-fortunes into AI research, but only a few of which have made significant or successful breakthroughs. According to the Korea National Information Society Agency (NIA), of the 465 AI start-ups registered as of 2019, the vast majority have suffered fatal deficits or declared bankruptcy. It’s no wonder the betting pool for AI as a positive contributor to humanity remains unpopular.
This poses the need to ponder the feasibility of the technological dream: ’can artificial intelligence become our allies?’ For now, the answer to that question remains an unsolved mystery.
Tilda: humanity’s ally?
AI artist ‘Tilda’ is crashing the stage to boldly declare that artificial intelligence can in fact become humanity’s allies. Tilda is an AI artist created by LG AI Research, operating on LG’s hyperscale AI technology Exaone.
She’s been drawing attention with her continued ventures that combine art with artificial intelligence. Tilda’s Digital Upcycling Project is aiming to show there’s more to AI than just cold and stoic technology. It’s a tangible manifestation of her desire to assist humanity in the global fight against climate change.
Using ‘fashion’ as her chosen medium is not just a pretty coincidence. Every year, 92 million tons of fabric is discarded globally as waste. That’s roughly equivalent to one truckload of clothing thrown away per second. We are poisoning Earth in the literal sense to appease humanity’s supply and demand chain.
Tilda is utilizing this generation’s premier technology and fashion to illustrate how AI can successfully contribute to a better life for humans. Through the power of imagination, she is slowly but surely closing the gap between online and offline, art and fashion. Most importantly, she is doing so without infringing upon the sanctity of humanity or human crafts.


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Newton, MA—Apress releasefrom the Silent Spring Institute points to research suggesting certain consumer behaviors—including flossing with certain dental floss brands—can contribute to elevated levels in the body of toxic per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).
PFAS chemicals, according to the release, are water- and grease-proof substances linked to numerous health problems. They are used in a range of products, including fast food packaging, non-stick pans and waterproof clothing. Besides being exposed through ingested food, people can be exposed through indoor air, dust and contaminated drinking water.
These chemicals, the release says, have been linked with kidney and testicular cancer, high cholesterol, and effects on the immune system, among other effects.
The research, led by Silent Spring Institute in collaboration with the Public Health Institute in Berkeley, CA, measured 11 different PFAS chemicals in blood samples taken from 178 middle-aged women enrolled in the Public Health Institute’s Child Health and Development Studies, which explores the impact of environmental chemicals and other factors on disease. The finding: Women who flossed with Oral-B Glide tended to have higher levels of a certain type of PFAS in their body than those who didn’t, according to the release. Glide products tested positive for fluorine (a market or PFAS), as did store-brand flosses marketed as comparable to Oral-B Glide.
Natural products shoppers seeking for a fluorine-free floss might look to Toms of Maine or RADIUS as examples of floss from transparent, natural companies.
The full study, published in the Journal of Exposure Science & Environmental Epidemiology,can be foundhere.


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Ann Arbor Area Business Monthly
Small Business and the Internet
The Sony Hack
By Mike Gould
Regular readers of mine (both of you) may recall that a scant one year ago I wrote about habits of secure business people (URL below). I guess Sony didn’t get their issue of BizMo that month, ‘cause boy howdy, did they ever leave their servers unlocked, ready to be burgled, bamboozled, and blowed up real good.
This is being written in the middle of December ’14, and by the time you read this, there will be even more revelations, reactions, and general on-line reveling in the disclosures and the juicy tidbits therein. But here is what we know so far, along with my thoughts as to how the concerned small businessperson should consider all this.
…is today’s vocabulary booster: it is a German word meaning “pleasure derived from the misfortunes of others”, according to our old pal, Wikipedia. There is something gloat-worthy in observing the downfall of a mighty entity, especially one that has done so much to shoot itself in the foot in so many ways, online and -off. And one that is universally loathed by large swaths of gamers, hackers, and the general digerati.
To make things even more delicious, the massive breach revealed thousands of emails between other industry people, most notably the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA). The emails exposed an ongoing war with Google over online piracy. They included plans to bribe states attorney’s general to go after Google whenever things appear online that the MPAA doesn’t like. There’s enough dirt here (URL below) to fill a couple of outraged articles, but let’s keep our focus on Sony for the moment.
The Facts of the Hack
A group calling themselves the Guardians of Peace (GOP) sent an email to Sony Pictures CEO Michael Lynton on November 21 of this year. They demanded money and threatened to release terabytes of data they had stolen from Sony’s servers.
On Nov. 24, the website of Sony was hacked with a similar threat. No response was forthcoming from Sony, so the hackers unleashed a barrage of once-confidential Sony data, unreleased movies, and emails. Among the data were salaries of Sony execs, movie stars, and just plain Joes and Janes, along with their SSNs and email addresses. Also bared were marketing plans for upcoming movies, and, most interesting to other hackers, all the plain-text passwords and online security certificates used to access data on other servers and services.
Sony initially blamed North Korea (DPRK) for the hack, as that nation had previously threatened the movie maker over the upcoming release of The Interview, a movie starring Seth Rogan and James Franco in which a plot to kill dictator Kim Jong-un is featured. DPRK denied the charge, but praised the hack.
The FBI has been investigating, and latest reports indicate that they don’t think the DPRK is behind this. Rumor has it that the attack was launched from a hotel in Bangkok, which means anyone could be behind it. The FBI has declared the attack “unprecedented” and unique enough that the agency issued a flash alert to warn other organizations of the threat. So instead of a state-sponsored attack, which would be bad enough, we seem to be watching a bunch of pissed-off hackers, or fairly advanced cyber-criminals, attempting to hold a major corporation for ransom. The ransom wasn’t paid, and havoc ensued.
You’ll Never Work In This Town Again
And by havoc I mean that Sony may be toast. They currently can’t pay their studio bills because their accounting software isn’t working, their networks are broken, and they have experienced a PR nightmare that is making A-list movie stars run screaming from their lots. Sony may never be trusted again as far as confidential dealings with other industry entities who have had their skirts lifted, exposing seamy underbellies and all that. And the hackers are promising a “Christmas present” in a couple of weeks of even more terabytes of revelations.
Even more interesting will be the effect this all has on business as usual in tinsel town. Long notorious for “Hollywood accounting”, the entertainment business is built on smoke and mirrors as far as reporting profits, compensating its recording and other artists, and other financial shenanigans. This hack has outed just about everything there is to know about how a major movie maker does its business with its peers and competitors. This data is now out there, and it will be mined for years to come by those seeking redress of bad faith contracts, phony financial reports, and general greed. Lawyers, start your engines…
Most of this can be laid at the feet of Sony executives who ignored the first signs of the break-ins back in February. And those in the company who mandated minimum mojo in the form of corporate security on the cheap. Everyone is talking about how this could have happened to any corporation; everyone but the security industry professionals who are systematically analyzing how the attack went down, and the steps that could have been taken to minimize the vulnerability of the networks and servers involved.
Why Should I Care?
After all, I’m just a person in Southeast Michigan, with a small business, maybe a small network, far from the nonsense that is Hollywood, secure in my own little world. What’s there to fear?
Well, you saw what just happened to one of the largest, most monied corporations out there: their business was pretty much destroyed by an as-yet unidentified cabal with a grudge against Sony. What if one of your competitors goes to the dark side, or a disgruntled former network admin develops an attitude, or maybe you had some passwords on file with Sony because you sell them office supplies or something? A lot of “little people” became collateral damage because they worked in Sony’s orbit.
I am not an expert on business security, but given the post-Sony world we live in now, I would seriously advise that you review all aspects of your computer-related business, and, depending on how paranoid/cautious/concerned you are, think about hiring professional help.
Secure habits article: http://mondodyne.com/b2b/smbiznet.191.shtml
Mike Gould keeps his data off of the cloud, was a mouse wrangler for the U of M for 20 years, runs the MondoDyne Web Works/Macintosh Training/Digital Photography mega-mall, builds laser display devices, performs with the Illuminatus 3.0 Laser Lightshow, and welcomes comments addressed to email@example.com.


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On June 19, girls from Girls Inc. of Metro Denver cut the ribbon to their brand new Strong, Smart & Bold Beans mobile coffee truck.
Bold Beans is a girl-voiced, girl-run, girl-led coffee business, and it gives teen girls an opportunity to explore entrepreneurship, gain tangible life-skills, and it sets them up for long-term economic independence. The mobile truck is a brand new addition to this business that came into existence with the support of Mile High United Way’s Women United Initiative.
In August 2018, Women United launched their first Innovation Prize where select nonprofit organizations were invited to apply for a $30,000 prize that would fund a new and innovative project. And in September 2018, it was announced that Girls Inc. of Metro Denver was the winning recipient! Their innovative Bold Beans coffee truck took the cake…or the coffee for that matter.
Read the rest of the story from Mile High United Way here.


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The City of Kawartha Lakes has been selected to host a cannabis retail store following a second lottery draw by the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO).
On Wednesday morning, AGCO announced the results of its cannabis retail licence draw, held Tuesday, which saw 42 new store authorizations.
Among them is Huge Shops Ontario Inc., which proposes a store at Fowlers Corners at 566 Frank Hill Rd and Highway 7 in the City of Kawartha Lakes. The proposed location also borders the city of Peterborough and was one of seven proposals chosen in the draw from the East Region.
The location currently houses a Coffee Time store.
Last December, FSD Pharma announced it was investing $1.3 million in the Toronto-based Huge Shops to acquire a minimum of 10 locations and become a recreational cannabis supplier.
FSD Pharma is also setting up a major medicinal marijuana facility in Cobourg.
AGCO says the 42 stores were selected from 4,864 eligible expressions of interest.
Selected applicants have until Aug. 29 to pay licensing fees and provide a letter of credit for $50,000 to the AGCO, at which point the regulator will undertake its full eligibility and licensing review. The AGCO will only license applicants and authorize stores that meet all legal and regulatory requirements.
More to come.