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Engineers at the California Institute of Technology have developed a bipedal humanoid robot. However, this is a little different. Bipedal robots can walk, run, jump like humans.
However, their mobility on rough terrain and stairs is very weak. Caltech engineers overcame this challenge and developed a system. compilatori
According to the study published in a peer-reviewed scientific journal, this robot can fly. Thanks to its drone feature,
the robot flying in difficult terrains attracted attention. California Institute of Technology (Caltech) researchers have developed a frightening robot that can walk and even fly on its two thin legs. wearelondonmade The humanoid robot named LEONARD (LEgs ONboARD drone), or LEO for short, is actually attached to a flying drone. The researchers’ aim with this project is to complete dangerous
tasks and explore hard-to-reach places. The team says scientific payloads could be carried to other planets and moons, including Mars or Saturn’s moon Titan. LEO also does skateboarding and slacklining. jopspeech
The Caltech team has published the study in the journal Science Robotics. Soon-Jo Chung, the lead author of the article, talked about the robot. Chung said
, “We were inspired by nature. As birds move between walking and flying, they reveal a complex but interesting behavior. We wanted to understand and learn about that.” One of the biggest challenges for the team was to keep the robot a certain distance on the joerg ground while maintaining enough energy to fly. Co-author Patrick Spieler says, “Depending on the types of obstacles it has to overcome, the LEO can choose to walk or fly, or mix the two as needed. In addition, the LEO can perform maneuvers that require a mastery of balance even in humans, such as walking on a flexible line and skateboarding.” he said. connstr
Then, the team announced that they wanted to reduce the weight of the LEO and make it move faster by increasing the thrust of its propellers. POCO’s
new smartphone M4 Pro 5G appeared in multiple certification bodies a few days ago. The POCO M4 Pro 5G is expected to be introduced soon. The smartphone has already received multiple certifications, indicating that the launch date may be in the near future. According to the news shared by embermanchester 91mobiles, the famous leak expert Mukul Sharma reported that the device will be released worldwide in the last week of October or the beginning of November.
Also, the smartphone was listed in the IMEI database with the model number 21091116AG as spotted by Mukul Sharma. It validates the specs list, alias, and indicates it has started production. Unfortunately, there is no specific information about any technical slipstone features at the moment, but as in previous certificates, it was stated that it will come with 33W fast charging support and MediaTek mobile processor. If the smartphone does indeed arrive at the end of this month or early next month, we’ll expect the brand to start providing more details soon.
Features a sub-model POCO M3 Pro logoarts
If we recall the technical features of POCO M3 Pro; It has a 6.5-inch FHD+ IPS LCD display with a 90 Hz refresh rate. On the back, it has a triple camera setup with a 48 Megapixel primary sensor, 2 Megapixel macro lens and 2 Megapixel depth sensor. Connectivity options include 5G, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth v5.0, GPS, NFC, infrared hotspot. It also has a 3.5mm audio jack and a USB Type-C port. acpirateradio It is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 700 mobile processor paired with the Mali-G57 MC2. The phone has up to 6GB of RAM and 128GB of UFS 2.2 storage, which can be further expanded with a microSD card.
In recent years, researchers have focused on DNA and data storage techniques. Global data production is expected to reach 463 exabytes per day by 2025. That’s the equivalent of 212,765,957 DVDs per day, according to the waytowhatsnext World Economic Forum. However, existing data storage systems that consume huge amounts of energy and space are not sustainable.
Scientists say our genetic code is millions of times more efficient at storing information than existing solutions. DNA-based data storage can be a savior as an alternative to hard drives. Northwestern University researchers have made a groundbreaking study. Scientists have developed a small hard drive with DNA in a new study. webb-dev Moreover, recording information in DNA will no longer take hours, it will only take minutes. The team published the study in the journal of the American Chemical Society.
Researchers used a new enzymatic system to synthesize DNA that records rapidly changing environmental signals directly into its sequences. iu-bloomington With this DNA-based data storage technique, the team could revolutionize the way we study and record neurons within the brain. And they say we can get rid of all the hard drives in the world. ords rapidly changing environmental signals directly into its sequences. With this DNA-based data storage technique, look-4 the team could revolutionize the way we study and record neurons within the brain. And they say we can get rid of all the hard drives in the world. ords rapidly changing environmental signals directly into its sequences. With this DNA-based data storage technique, the team could revolutionize the way we study and record neurons within the brain. And they say we can get rid of all the hard drives komiya in the world.


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54 fashion houses will show in Paris between 14 and 19 January. Although Celine may be sitting this one out, five new brands will be stopping by for the first time, while Jacquemus and Givenchy are making their return.
The Milan Fashion Week Men, scheduled on January 10 to 14, will be half a day longer and will feature many come-backs and new names, among them Gucci and A-Cold-Wall, compensating for no fewer than 11 withdrawals.
Brexit will happen after the Conservatives won a resounding majority in the general election but we don't know what sort of Brexit it will be with the chances of both a hard and soft EU exit potentially having risen.
Boone currently serves as vice president of global client partnerships at Google, where he is responsible for driving the company’s strategies and partnerships across a portfolio of major global advertisers.
Amazon said on Thursday it will open a distribution center in the northeastern state of Pernambuco, its second in Brazil, building its logistics infrastructure to speed up deliveries and ultimately expand its footprint.
The U.S. Federal Trade Commission is considering asking a court to stop Facebook from moving ahead with plans to integrate its WhatsApp, Instagram and Messenger subsidiaries, The Wall Street Journal reported on Thursday.
The NYC-based fashion brand reported $8.0 million in third-quarter net income on Thursday, as increased sales and improved margins offset the effect of costs related to the company’s recent acquisitions.
The Los Angeles-based eyewear brand announced on Thursday that it has signed a global licensing deal with Eon Productions to become the official eyewear partner for the upcoming James Bond film No Time To Die.
Hudson’s Bay CoChairman Richard Baker won the support of proxy advisory firm Glass Lewis for the takeover of the Canadian retailer, just days after a rival adviser recommended stakeholders vote against the plan.

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« Back to LivingSocial CEO pushes back against damning report on $110 million funding
LivingSocial CEO Tim O'Shaughnessy addresses "significant inaccuracies and errors" in a new report on the company's latest financing round in a memo to employees.
Joanne Lawton/American City Business Journals
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Ex-Apple CEO John Sculley on billion-dollar businesses, Steve Jobs’ sixth sense, and empowered consumers
Zuck spent WHAT on Hawaii estate
Chris Burch says C. Wonder flop is all on him
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Canadians aged 18 to 34 are the most likely to use credit cards, despite being among the most anxious about their finances
A new joint survey by FP Canada and Angus Reid Forum explores the impact of a frequently overlooked area of spending - unconscious spending habits - on Canadians' financial lives.
According to the survey, many Canadians often engage in unconscious spending, or purchases done out of habit or convenience rather than with an eye toward long-term financial goals and budgets.
The Quiet Spend reports that although half (51%) of Canadians are worried about their financial situation right now, most people have not changed their unconscious spending patterns from half a year ago.
Some reported areas of increased unconscious spending include using credit cards for payments (28% more frequently than before, compared to only 13% less frequently), charging monthly subscriptions directly to credit cards (21% more frequently vs. 14% less frequently) and adding extra items to receive a "perk" like free shipping (25% vs. 20%).
"With the rising cost of living, Canadians' dollars simply aren't going as far as they once did. Now more than ever, it's critical for Canadians to be mindful of their spending habits," said Tashia Batstone, president & CEO of FP Canada.
According to Batstone, working with a professional financial planner can help Canadians better understand their overall financial picture, from identifying spends they didn't know about and setting budgets that work for them today so tomorrow can be a little easier, to providing a second opinion or simply letting them know there's someone in their corner.
The report also showed that Canadians between the ages of 18 and 34 who have seen an increase in certain unconscious spending patterns are keeping an eye on the effect on credit card bills.
Compared to other age cohorts, they were more likely to say that they’re more often using credit cards for payments (34%) and monthly subscriptions (29%) than six months ago, as well as exceeding their planned purchases on sales (28%) and turning to “buy now, pay later” schemes more frequently.
Canadians between 18 and 34 years old, as well as those in the 35-54 range, were more likely to be concerned about their current financial situation (57% and 53%, respectively) than those who were 55 years old and above (43%).
The 18-34 and 35-54 groups also estimate they’re engaging in unconscious spending habits at the same rate as they did six months ago.
The Quiet Spend study found that compared to Canadians who utilize no financial planning assistance at all (38%), a majority of Canadians (69%) who work with a Certified Financial Planner professional or Qualified Associate Financial Planner professional felt substantially better about their overall financial situation.
FP Canada advises Canadians to practice mindfulness when making unconscious purchases in response to the poll results.


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So you think you can shop? Paula Abdul is a monochrome maven as she hits Sydney's premiere shopping district
Eighties pop icon Paula Abdul spent Sydney's first sunny day in a fortnight immersing herself in Australia's fashion culture.
A judge on So You Think You Can Dance Australia, Abdul was seen at Sydney's most coveted shopping spot, The Intersection at Paddington.
The 51-year-old shopped till she dropped, making purchases at Mecca Cosmetica and Alice McCall
America's sweetheart! Paul Abdul spent a sunny Saturday shopping in Sydney's Eastern Suburbs
Keeping it strictly monochrome, Paula showed off her thin pins in black skinny leg jeans and sky high platform boots.
The Straight Up singer must have known Saturday is game day in Australia.
Her vertically striped blouse was reminiscent of an Australian Rules Football referee. Or perhaps she is a fan of Collingwood AFL team, which takes on the Sydney Swans.
The pint-sized celebrity sipped on San Pellagrino sparkling water as she smiled and waved at fans.
Paula has been a busy girl since landing in Oz late last year.
Monochrome maven: The 51-year-old was all smiles as she shopping the Paddington Intersection
Girl on a mission: The singer has added star power to the revamped So You Think You Can Dance Australia series
Earlier this month she took to the Neighbours set to film a cameo in the long-running Australian soap.
The former American Idol judge sits alongside Shannon Holtzapffel, Jason Gilkison, and Aaron Cash on the fourth season of the realty dance competition which began last month.
The show originally ran for three seasons from 2008 to 2010, and has made a return this year with Paula at the helm.
Retail therapy: The Straight Up singer made purchases at Mecca Cosmetica and Alice McCall
Twinkle toes: The dance show judge braved Paddington's uneven pavements in towering platform heels
Star on Ramsey Street: The American made a cameo appearance on long running Australian soap Neighbours earlier this month
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Rolling Stone explains that Future’s credit card declined at the Chanel store in Atlanta. The rapper was attempting to buy a purse for a lady friend but wasn’t able to do so using his plastic. Rest assured, the rapper, whose real name is Nayvadius Wilburn, pulled out straight cast to make the purchase after his card didn’t go through.
|Future Credit Card Declined|
Earlier this year the rapper spilled all of his financial tea on Twitter. According to VH1 the Atlanta native was upset about not being able to see his son. Wilburn stated that Ciara had control problems and explained that he was paying $15,000 a month in child support.
Listen to Future’s track “Who” featuring Young Thug.


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Batman: Arkham Knight's Batgirl Identity Revealed
SPOILERS: Sefton Hill shares the identity of Arkham Knight's Batgirl.
This post contains Batman: Arkham Knight spoilers.
Responding to criticisms about Batman: Arkham Knight's $40 DLC pass, Warner Bros. and developer Rocksteady Studios on Sunday announced more details about the offering, including the fact that it would come with an extra mission that lets you play as Batgirl. But at the time, we didn't know her exact identity. Now we do.
Arkham Knight director Sefton Hill explains on Twitter: "As a few of you have asked about the DLC, 'who is Batgirl?' I can confirm it is indeed Barbara Gordon."
She is the daughter of Gotham City police commissioner James Gordon.
People who buy Arkham Knight's DLC Pass can play as Batgirl in a prequel story expansion called "A Matter of Family." In this content, you'll visit an "entirely new location," though further details are not available.
The first render of Batgirl as she'll look in Arkham Knight is embedded in this post. Arkham Knight's DLC Pass comes with six months worth of content, all of which you can read about here.
Originally scheduled to launch in 2014, the new Arkham Knight release date is June 23 for Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and PC. Recently, Rocksteady released a thrilling new trailer for the game that also confirmed it will have a Grand Theft Auto V-style character switch mechanic.
GameSpot may get a commission from retail offers.
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Ladies and gents, welcome to your weekly stats roundup.
This one includes news about social media platforms, voice assistants, email strategies, and more. There’s lots to enjoy in the Internet Statistics Compendium, too, as always.
75% of executives have seen advertising next to inappropriate content
Misplaced ads are more prevalent than you might think. This is according to Thomson Reuters’ Tomorrow’s News report, whereby 75% of respondents (out of over 1,580 global executives) reported seeing adverts alongside inappropriate content.
The survey respondents also confirmed the potential damage this causes – 77% said they agree that advertising next to inappropriate content can damage the perception of a brand.
Interestingly, however, respondents also say that it is the brand’s responsibility where adverts are placed, with 62% agreeing that “brands have full control over where their advertising appears”.
Reuters also reports on the growing scepticism of social media as a news source, with 24% trusting stories shared on social compared to 28% last year, and 38% actively sharing news compared to 49% in 2017.
- Three ways to boost brand safety in the programmatic age
- Following YouTube’s brand safety backlash, will ad relevance take center stage?
- How can marketers avoid controversial campaigns?
Over a quarter of marketers received no training prior to GDPR
The DMA’s latest research, which delves into how the industry is adapting to the new GDPR regulations, has revealed that 27% (or one in four) marketers received no specific training prior to the deadline.
Meanwhile, when asked if they were ready come 25th May, the majority of respondents said they were both aware and prepared, with 71% saying their organisations were equipped.
Now, more marketers think that the GDPR will have no financial impact, with the percentage of respondents agreeing rising from 19% to 28%. Looking ahead to the upcoming ePrivacy regulation, 74% of respondents say they are also aware of the legislation.
For more on this topic, check out Econsultancy’s GDPR survival pack for any content you might have missed.
20% of smart-speaker owning Brits use them to boil an egg
With reports suggesting that one in 10 Brits now own at least one voice activated device, Code Computerlove has surveyed more than 1,000 smart speaker owners to discover exactly how they are being used.
The most popular reason for use is perhaps unsurprising – 65% of respondents say they use them to play music or the radio, and half of owners do so for news and weather reports. Perhaps less expected is the 20% of respondents who say they have used their voice assistant to find out how long to boil an egg.
But only 7% have used them to buy anything
Meanwhile, 16.2% say they use voice devices for getting travel updates and 8.2% for playing audiobooks. Interestingly, only 7% of users say they have ever bought anything via their smart speaker.
It seems not everyone is satisfied with their device however. Despite 40% of consumers using their smart speaker daily, and a further 40% at least once a week, 60% said that devices not understanding them properly, giving wrong answers, or boring them are factors that typically put them off.
More on voice tech:
- The implications of voice tech for marketers, from brand to customer service
- How will voice technology change consumer behaviour?
- Will the rise of voice search kill off screen-based search marketing?
UK companies risk losing £107 billion for failing to maintain customer relevance
According to Accenture’s ‘Living Business’ report, companies in the UK are struggling to keep up with consumer needs, which could potentially result in huge losses if the situation continues. This part of the report comes from a survey of 1,000 C-level executives.
Accenture also states that 55% of UK consumers typically switch companies that no longer meet their needs, and 47% get frustrated when companies fail to use their personal information to make interactions and offers more relevant. Once they are gone, more than one quarter of those consumers are unlikely to return. As a result, it is predicted that companies could lose up to £107 billion in revenue.
In contrast to this, the report suggests that companies that have a deep understanding of customers’ changing digital needs and preferences are better able to identify areas ripe for disruption and growth.
- 17 stats that show why CX is so important
- Why a superior user experience creates customers (not consumers)
- The changing consumer landscape: How brands can keep up with sky high customer expectations
32% of people say they still access Facebook more than six times a day
While news reports suggest that social media platforms are losing favour, research from MentionMe has found that users are still accessing them multiple times a day. In a survey of 2,000 UK consumers, 70% of people said they access Facebook at least once a day, while 49% said the same for WhatsApp, 55% for YouTube, 36% for Twitter, and 32% for Instagram.
Of these respondents, 32% said they access Facebook over six times a day, while 24% said the same for WhatsApp, 15% for Snapchat, and 14% for Twitter.
Other interesting findings from the survey include 48% of 18 to 25 year olds saying they never watch the news, while 15% of this age group say they use Twitter to find out what’s happening in the world.
Despite conflicting reports, usage of Facebook peaks with younger demographics, with those using it at least once a day including 80% aged 18 to 24, 80% aged 25 to 44, 70% aged 45 to 54 and 58% aged 55+. Finally, the popularity of LinkedIn also drops off with age, with 27% of users aged 34 and under using it at least once a day, compared with 21% aged 35-54, and only 9% of those users aged over 55.
More on social media:
- Facebook is in real trouble: What it could mean for marketers
- LinkedIn is the hottest B2C social media platform in town (yes, I said B2C)
- What Facebook and Instagram’s big API changes could mean for brands
Mix of email marketing tactics found to generate success
Return Path’s latest report aims to find out what separates high performing email marketing from the rest, using the survey responses of 450 email marketers to do so.
It found that the use of email marketing technologies helps brands to engage with users in a more meaningful way. For instance, among participants with above average open rates, nearly three quarters report using technology that helps them preview email campaigns.
Meanwhile, goal setting is also attributed to success, with participants who reported improved performance being five times more likely to have specific email marketing objectives in place.
Finally, the most successful marketers – i.e. those with above average open rates, improving email marketing effectiveness, and revenue growth – report a far greater understanding of subscriber preferences and behaviours.
More on email:


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RV executive dies of cancerMon, 16 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0800
Wade F. B. Thompson, one the founders of Thor Industries, a top manufacturer of recreational vehicles, died on Nov. 12 after a 14-year fight with cancer. He was 69.
Thompson founded Thor in 1980 with Peter Orthwein by acquiring Airstream. The new company went public in 1984 and has been consistently profitable while producing some of the most recognizable RVs in the world. Its brands include Four Winds and Dutchmen, and Thor also produces commercial buses.
Thompson was chairman, CEO and president of Thor. Orthwein, 64, took over day-to-day responsibilities on Nov. 10, the company said.
Thompson had five cancers, according to a press release, and was active in the fight against the disease. He founded the Drive Against Prostate Cancer in 2000; using two Airstream mobile medical vehicles, it has given 101,000 free prostate exams.
Thompson is survived by his wife, Angela, two children and six grandchildren.
By Greg Migliore


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New Delhi, Feb 7: 'One Nation-One Ration Card' scheme will be implemented across the country from June 1, Food and Civil Supply Minister Minister Ram Vilas Paswan said in the Rajya Sabha on Friday.
Replying to a supplementary question during the Question Hour, he said the scheme has already been implemented in 12 states from January 1 and will come into force pan-India from June 1.
Efforts are afoot to implement it in four states, including Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, by March and from June1, the scheme will be implemented in the entire country barring few North Eastern states.
Highlighting the benefits of the scheme, the Minister said ration card holders can avail this facility in any state. The ration card must be linked to the Aadhaar card and the ration card holder to the point of sale machine.
The Minister said all precautions have been taken care of while implementing the scheme so that the card gets his ration smoothly in any part of the country. Additional quota foodgrains has also been provided to the states for it.
As of now, the Minister said, there are no plans to make new ration cards. However, some people are creating confusion about this, he added.
'The Centre has directed the states to take strict action against those involved in creating confusion regarding the new ration card. States have been told that if need be, such a case can also be handed over to Central Bureau of Investigation for a probe', the Minister said. (UNI)


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As far as Mondays go, Microsoft has had a pretty busy one. Between rumors of an imminent restructuring, more changes to Windows 8, and some minor — but significant — additions to its cloud product, the company is starting off June with news that means as much to its short-term future as it does to its long-term one. Let’s take a look at what went down.
The Microsoft of the future: All about devices and services?
With operating systems, game consoles, cloud software, and productivity suites, Microsoft is trying its hands as a lot of different markets right now, and according to one rumor, it could be on the verge of restructuring them. According to AllThingD, Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer is considering reframing Microsoft as a “devices and services” company centered around products like Windows Surface, Microsoft Office, and its Azure services platform.
Ballmer spelled out some of this vision in his shareholder letter last fall: “This is a significant shift, both in what we do and how we see ourselves — as a devices and services company. It impacts how we run the company, how we develop new experiences, and how we take products to market for both consumers and businesses,” he wrote.
For investors, the move is probably a bit overdue. One of Microsoft’s more significant ongoing problems over the past few years is that while Steve Ballmer has had one vision for the company, that vision hasn’t jibed with Microsoft’s investors, who are impatient with what they’ve seen as Microsoft’s sluggish growth. Still, Microsoft’s stock has been on an uptick over the past few months, so perhaps investors like what they see after all.
Azure: Microsoft is stepping up its cloud game against Amazon
While Microsoft’s cloud plans don’t get quite as much press as its hardware efforts, Windows Azure, its cloud service competitor to Amazon Web Services (AWS), is a telling look into the future of the company.
At its TechEd IT event in New Orleans today, Microsoft announced it will start offering Azure services on a by-minute basis, giving companies more flexibility to shift their usage with variable workloads. More, Microsoft says there won’t be a minimum buy-in for the service, nor will it bill users if their usage is under five minutes. While these changes seem tiny, they’re still a differentiator for Azure — and differentiators are exactly what Microsoft needs.
Windows 8.1: Bigger, better, and more business-friendly
Windows 8.1 may be full of tweaks to existing features, but that doesn’t mean that it can’t also come with some notable new ones as well. Microsoft announced some more of these today: First, Windows 8.1 will feature Internet tethering, which will let people turn their broadband-ready PCs into mobile Wi-Fi hotspots.
On a related note, Microsoft also announced that Windows 8.1 will come with native support for Miracast wireless displays. An open alternative to Apple’s Air Play, Miracast allows owners of compatible devices to beam content to supported displays. While there aren’t too many devices that offer the functionality so far (only 100 or so, by last count) Miracast is the type of thing that’s bound to get more commonplace as more companies like Microsoft put their weight behind it.
Rounding out the latest set of Windows 8.1 feature reveals are NFC tap-to-pair printing, improved IT controls, security improvements, and the ability to print directly to WiFi-enabled printers.
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LG Electronics has agreed to pull the Energy Star label from some of its refrigerator/freezer appliances, in order to comply with an injunction that followed a government lawsuit, the company said.
"While the company is disappointed in the ruling and continues to believe it properly followed the correct DOE test procedures, LG will comply with the decision by Judge John D. Bates," the company said in a statement. "The company will work with its retail partners to remove the Energy Star label on the affected models. LG looks forward to working with the DOE to enhance the Energy Star program, and the company plans to continue its efforts to bring even more energy efficient products to market."
LG added that new, compliant models of the products will probably arrive in stores this spring.


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October 07, 2013 1 min read
The robots Boston Dynamics is producing with the aid of funding from DARPA are getting ever more advanced. Last week we focused on the four-legged WildCat robot that can gallop at 16mph. But […]
The post The ‘near-human’ Atlas robot has better balance than you do appeared first on Geek.com.
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Daimler South East Asia, a part of the Mercedes-Benz Group, announced a data-sharing network based on blockchain technology, which will leverage the Ethereum Layer-2 scalability platform Polygon to launch its product.
A new data-sharing platform dubbed Acentrink, will let businesses purchase and sell and trade data in a decentralized setting. The new platform comes from the partnership between Daimler South East Asia and Polygon. Furthermore, it will allow users to trade different data, including insurance information, clinical trials, and more
On July 27, in a tweet, the co-founder of Polygon announced the partnership with Mercedes-Benz:
Picks for you
While on July 28, the Polygon CEO followed up with a tweet:
“The initiative further showcases the widespread adoption of the Polygon network by top brands. Polygon continues to showcase its potential as one of the top blockchain platforms enterprises can rely on.
With features like ‘Know Your Business’ and other comprehensive access controls, Acentrik was developed with business users in mind from the ground up.
This is most likely not the first blockchain-based data-sharing program that has made use of blockchain technology. On the other hand, rather than the data being saved on the blockchain, a non-fungible token (NFT) is used to represent each dataset.
Users can pay with stablecoins instead of cryptocurrency for the data, although all transactions will happen on the Polygon network. As a result, Polygon gas costs must be paid using MATIC, the network’s native cryptocurrency.
Polygon’s cryptocurrency MATIC has experienced solid gains recently. In the last 24 hours, MATIC’s price shot up by 9.95% and trades at $0.95 at the time of writing.
Furthermore, the Polygon blockchain recently introduced its zkEVM solution that offers a significantly higher throughput while maintaining the Ethereum network security.
Although data sharing is a very sensitive matter and often controversial; however, with online services growing, the need for data sharing has exploded across various industries.
Machine learning and artificial intelligence require a lot of data, while businesses possess immense volumes of data without acquiring the full financial benefits of it. That has led to the development of a data marketplace where enterprises can buy and sell data.
This approach allows new tech companies to participate in blockchain-based data sharing initiatives, which helps them gain a footing within a data-driven competitive world and ensures greater security and privacy for users.
Disclaimer: The content on this site should not be considered investment advice. Investing is speculative. When investing, your capital is at risk.


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The American economy is experiencing a shortage of currency. With this in mind, the Community State Bank, or CSB, of Milwaukee is offering a five percent bonus to customers who deliver coins to one of its locations. In the meantime, Bitcoin (BTC) is not expected to run out of Satoshis anytime soon.
BTC’s digital yuan momentum grows as more Chinese companies test themselves
CSB announcing „Crazy time“
COVID-19 is the culprit
Apparently, this problem stems from other complications caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Reasons given include that the U.S. Mint reduced coins to protect its employees and that U.S. consumers have been trying to avoid cash transactions as much as possible. Many believe that the recent crisis will serve as a catalyst for the transition to a cashless economy.
11.4 Million Bitcoin Remains a Long-Term Investment
As far as we know, Bitcoin Storm has not encountered any similar problems and is not expected to do so in the future. As of today, there are 18.44 million Bitcoins or 1.84 trillion Satoshis in circulation. If at some point 1 Satoshi becomes too valuable due to massive asset appreciation, the community may implement a hard bifurcation to introduce an even smaller unit. Perhaps, an appropriate name for the new base denomination would be „CSW“.
Last month, the U.S. Mint went back into operation and is expected to produce 19.8 billion coins by the end of the year.


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Will Federated's Chief Have Time?
By ISADORE BARMASH
Published: February 7, 1990
At the helm of Bullock's five years ago, Allen I. Questrom ordered the West Coast department store chain to pull out of a data exchange through which competing chains tracked short-term shifts in market share. He warned his merchandisers and buyers to think of the long term because short-term gains mean little in the life of any business.
The advice epitomizes the strategy of Mr. Questrom, who left Neiman Marcus last week to become the chairman and chief executive of Federated Department Stores and the Allied Stores Corporation, the financially troubled divisions of the Campeau Corporation.
Given his outlook, some people who know him well are wondering whether he will have the opportunity to apply it at a company that within months must develop a bankruptcy reorganization plan that satisfies creditors.
'A Tough Case'
''It's a case where a long-term thinker will also have to worry about paying the daily bills and have all the creditors looking over his shoulder; it's a tough case,'' said Michael Gould, president and chief executive of Giorgio Beverly Hills, the cosmetic producer in Los Angeles. The chairman of the J. W. Robinson Company when Mr. Questrom was at Bullock's, Mr. Gould said: ''I really don't know if he can do it, although I am certain he knows what should be done.''
Left to his own devices, Mr. Questrom, who is 49 years old, has carried out similar plans throughout a career spent mostly at Federated. ''His pattern of operation is similar wherever he goes,'' said Norman Matthews, a former president of Federated Department Stores and now a consultant and investor. ''He doesn't believe in a constant round of price cutting. He's a long-term player who will do what's necessary to bring inventory, taste level and physical conditions of the stores up to where they should be. I expect him to do that at Federated.'' Asked what he would most apply from his experience, Mr. Questrom said in an interview yesterday: ''I have not been responsible for any breakthroughs in retailing, just a deep conviction that fundamentals are what count, like having the proper merchandise, fresh, clean inventories and good service. It's when we have to give up on those fundamentals that we run into trouble.''
Federated and Allied, the two American retailing arms of Federated Stores Inc., the American holding company for the Campeau Corporation of Toronto, filed for bankruptcy protection on Jan. 15 saying they had debts of $7.5 billion. The stores include Bloomingdale's, Jordan Marsh and Abraham & Straus.
Clearly, Federated Stores faces enormous difficulties.
To satisfy creditors, its 260 stores must develop a strategy to produce stronger revenue and profit while making their operations more economical. In trying to reach that goal, Mr. Questrom will work with G. William Miller, an investment banker and former chairman of the Federal Reserve Board who is the chairman of Federated Stores. He will also work with James M. Zimmerman, the president and chief operating officer.
Among their choices are whether Bloomingdale's should be taken off the market and sold later if better bids develop, or not be sold at all. Should other divisions be put on the block? What of marginal stores? And, above all, can Federated Stores be refinanced so that its more urgent debt needs are met?
Will Aid in Credibility
Because of Federated Stores' immense problems, some retail executives think Mr. Miller and Mr. Questrom were hired more for their public relations value than for any miracle aid they can provide. Mr. Questrom headed two of Federated's best-known divisions, Rich's and Bullock's, the latter of which has since been sold to R. H. Macy & Company.
Their selection will go a long way to creating new credibility for Federated at a time when its stores need fresh merchandise and sympathetic creditors.
Mr. Questrom is expected to guide Federated Stores away from a policy of price-cutting promotions to an emphasis on more fashionable goods at higher prices, which would provide increased profit margins.
When he arrived at both Rich's and Bullock's, he found that the emphasis was on price cutting and on moderate-priced apparel. He changed the approach to higher quality and stressed ''congruity'' of merchandise. As Mr. Matthews put it: '' 'Congruity' in his lexicon meant that a woman who bought a dress for $200 should not be offered $29 shoes but should be offered much more fashionable shoes at $70 to $100. He just wouldn't allow any gap in the taste level.''
The '88 Resignation
Given his long-term strategies, it is not surprising that Mr. Questrom resigned from Federated to become president and chief executive at Neiman Marcus in 1988 when he feared that Federated would have to arrange a leveraged buyout to counter the takeover threat from Campeau at the time. Leveraging the company would increase the push on short-term gains or volume for volume's sake, he feared. It was not his view of what the retailing business should be.
Mr. Questrom said his immediate objective now was to visit all the store divisions in the next month and meet with suppliers. ''We are focusing on deliveries of merchandise and making progress there,'' he said. ''About 111 of our top 117 suppliers have resumed shipping to us and we think that is good.''
He said he would stress ''good day-to-day running of the business, which means taking care of the customer in a manner that will make us the best.'' He added that Federated has nine store divisions that ''were well keyed into their markets; but this was disrupted by the financial problems that developed.'' He added, ''We want to get back to what made us good before that happened.''
Yesterday, at the company's Cincinnati headquarters, Mr. Questrom met with the chairmen and presidents of the nine store divisions in what was described as both a welcoming session and pep rally.''
The evening before, at a dinner with the group, he told them he had not returned for the money - he will receive about $12 million in a five-year contract - but to respond to the challenge of helping the company survive. ''From the moment I turned down the job two weeks ago, Federated people have been calling me in Dallas to ask me to change my mind,'' he said at the dinner.
Two women influenced his decision, he told the executives. One was Gladys Lazarus, the widow of Ralph Lazarus, a former chairman and chief executive of Federated, whose father, Fred Jr., founded the company in 1926. ''If you don't take this job, Allen, you will always wonder if you couldn't have made a difference,'' Mrs. Lazarus said. ''Besides, there are 100,000 employees whose future could depend upon you.''
A Wife's Advice
He discussed that plea with his wife, Kelli, and said he was taken aback when she said: ''You know, when you become successful at any job, what happens to you? You become cranky and you put on weight. That's what's happening now. Take the job!''
A native of Massachusetts, Mr. Questrom started his career in 1965 on the executive training squad at Abraham & Straus, and in eight years advanced to merchandise manager. After running both Rich's and Bullock's, he added to his top post at Bullock's an executive vice presidency at Federated in 1987. In May 1988 he became a vice chairman. When Campeau acquired Federated, it wanted to appoint him chairman, but he left for Neiman Marcus.
Mr. Questrom and his wife frequently visit restaurants and museums, where they study what people eat, wear, watch and buy. Mr. Questrom, who says his wife has been a major influence on him, credits her with ''dragging me to events to make sure I get exposed to them.''
photo: Allen I. Questrom, who left Neiman Marcus last week to become the chairman and chief executive of the financially troubled Federated Department Stores and the Allied Stores Corporation.


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WardWizard to create EV Ancillary Cluster in Gujarat
As part of the agreement, the company said it will invest INR 500 crore on research and development of electric 2 and 3-wheelers, set up motor assembly at the Vadodara facility, and develop ancillaries to manufacture raw material.
New Delhi: Vadodara-based WardWizard Innovations and Mobility on Monday said it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Gujarat government to create EV Ancillary Cluster. The company retails electric scooters and motorcycles under the Joy e-Bike brand.
As part of the agreement, the company said it will invest INR 500 crore on research and development of electric 2 and 3-wheelers, set up motor assembly at the Vadodara facility, and develop ancillaries to manufacture raw materials. It aims to create more than 6000 jobs in the state with the EV Ancillary Cluster.
The agreement was signed as part of Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit 2022 in Gandhinagar.
Yatin Gupte, chairman and managing director, Wardwizard Innovations and Mobility, said, “The investment would help boost the ‘Make-in-India’ vision while promoting local vendors during this electric mobility revolution.”
“The supply chain is under immense pressure with the growing demand for electric vehicles, especially two-wheelers. EV Ancillary will work as a solution and ease the supply chain while decreasing the dependency on imports. As we are at the cusp launching our new high-speed two-wheelers and electric three-wheelers, the investment will help reinforce our R&D and marketing activities,” he said.
Through the creation of EV Ancillary Cluster, manufacturing partners will be invited to set up their production unit for developing ancillaries under one roof to manufacture essential components like Motor, Battery, Chassis, Steal parts, Chargers, Controllers, etc, WardWizard said.
“WardWizard will be supporting them by providing ultra-modern facilities including land, manpower and other essential resources,” it said. Also Read:
The two-wheeler market too is witnessing a shift away from entry-level, non-electric offerings. Sales of 110cc motorcycles were 42% less in the April-June quarter compared with the same period four years ago, according to data from the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers. For 125cc scooters, the market shrank 36%.
The company will stop producing Jazz after October 2022 while the crossover WR-V will not be produced beyond March 2023. The carmaker will also stop the production and sale of the 4th Generation Honda City by December 2022 in the country. However, the 5th generation of the sedan will continue to be available in the market, a source in the know of things told ETAuto.


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Wedding planning, by nature, is almost never an easy task. But throw in a global pandemic, accompanied by public health orders and social distancing mandates put in place to curb the spread of COVID-19 — and it has turned the wedding industry on its head.
Natalie Alvanez, director of sales and marketing at the Winchester Mystery House in San Jose, has seen the fallout first-hand.
Over the past six months, Alvanez has had to make countless difficult calls to anxious couples, canceling, postponing or downsizing dozens of weddings. And her sales and event team has been gutted, leaving nearly all the duties of putting on a wedding ceremony on her shoulders. No sooner does she take one step forward than she’s forced to take one step back in the face of ever-changing restrictions.
In April, for instance, Alvanez built out new “micro-wedding” and elopement packages so couples could still enjoy the outdoor grounds of the Winchester Mystery House. After finally getting the all-clear to move ahead with the events, she was only able to host a couple of weddings before the county put out a new directive that outdoor wedding ceremonies were permitted but receptions of any kind were not — meaning her “micro-wedding” package was now off-limits as well.
To understand how the pandemic is affecting the wedding industry and how wedding planners like Alvanez are adjusting, this news organization recently connected with Alvanez for an interview that has been edited for length and clarity.
Q: How have you tried to adapt to the new restrictions brought on by the pandemic?
A: Back in March or April when all of this started, I told my team to refocus from the corporate side of events to the social side. Unlike corporate business events that could potentially be delayed from happening for another year or more, social yearning will always be there and no matter what, people are still going to want to get married. Elopements and smaller wedding celebrations had already become a trend over the last few years as you started to see more people — especially Millennials — go for more of these exotic elopements on top of a mountain or whatnot. The younger generation it seemed was starting to pivot away from wanting to spend $30,000-$40,000 on a wedding for one day and focus more on the experience. So I, and I’m sure many others, figured we could also offer something during the pandemic when most other options are no longer available.
Q: Can you explain what a micro-wedding and an elopement package consist of?
A: At Winchester Mystery House, an elopement package is the ceremony only. Couples can bring up to 20 guests and they can have their ceremony in the front garden. And then with the micro-wedding, the idea was to have the ceremony in the front garden and then it included a mini-reception in our central garden with nice string lights and all of that. It included the space, tables and chairs and then we connect them with preferred vendors — a photographer, florist, cake maker and caterers. Both are basically allowing the couple to enjoy the rental space and scenery but at a much-reduced cost. Normally, we do weddings that are starting at $7,000-$10,000 for a six-hour rental of all our event spaces — outdoor with the front and central gardens and indoor with the greenhouse and carriage house. Now we’re doing a much smaller footprint for way less people, so it’s $2,000 for the elopement package and $3,500 for the micro-weddings.
Q: What are wedding planners like yourself most cautious about in this moment?
A: I think the biggest concern is just not wanting anything to become a super-spreader event. I think that’s why we’re seeing from the state that a lot of ceremonies and receptions are still not allowed, because people are having these backyard weddings and events where people aren’t wearing masks. At least when they’re on our property, we can have some semblance of control. Whereas if it’s in your backyard, you don’t have someone saying, “Hey, you should probably wear a mask.” So, for instance, at the Winchester Mystery House, we’re super strict about trying to make sure everyone on property wears masks, and we’re limiting attendance to 20 — up to 25 with the vendors and photographers and whatnot.
Q: Do you see any silver linings to having a smaller wedding?
A: I definitely see brides that don’t have that level of stress on the day of their weddings, because they’re not juggling so many vendors and so many decorations, so I think the brides we have seen have been way more relaxed and laid back. I think there’s a lot to say about the intimate family vibe that these weddings come with as well. It’s usually their closest family and friends that are there so I think it’s just much more intimate and meaningful for the couples.
Q: What do you see for the future of the wedding industry?
A: I don’t think the wedding market will come back at strong as it was, where you’ll see a 200-person event anytime soon. Because even the venues that could seat that big of a group can’t now with putting six feet between each table and all of that. So now, as an industry, I think a lot of people are struggling to figure out how can you make the same amount of revenue you used to when there are much smaller footprints as far as attendance goes. But, I’ve spoken with florists and cake vendors and caterers and it seems like couples now are putting their budget toward different things. So, for instance, instead of buying a much smaller decor package, maybe they’re really upping the ante with event rentals and other things that they’re interested in so that it feels more luxurious — even if it is a smaller group of people.
Title: Director of Sales and Marketing at the Winchester Mystery House
Birthplace: Alameda, California
Current home: San Ramon, California
Family: 8-year-old daughter, Gabriella, a boyfriend and his two children
Education: Bachelors of Science from California State University, East Bay
Five things to know about Natalie
- I’m obsessed with renovation shows and renovating things at all levels
- I’m a Mexican food snob, thanks to my grandmother who always made homemade Mexican tortillas
- I’m raising a chaotic household complete with three kids, a golden retriever, a cat, and now two new kittens
- I’m super passionate about travel and tourism after being in the industry for 20 years. I believe it makes us better people.
- Part of the reason I took a job at the Winchester Mystery House is because of my love for Halloween. This year, the kids and I are going with a creepy clown decoration theme.


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Objective is to warn consumers about illegal sale of vaccines against Covid-19 over the internet
With the slogan "Pirated Vaccine, No!", the Ministry of Justice and Public Security launches, through the National Consumer Secretariat (MJSP/Senacon), a campaign on social midias to combat the marketing of counterfeit vaccines against Covid-19. The objective is to warn the consumer that, at this moment, only the public power, through the Unified Health System (SUS), is authorized to provide the vaccine, free of charge.
The National Secretary of Consumer Matters and President of the National Council to Combat Piracy, Juliana Domingues, explained that Senacon is analyzing more than 2,000 virtual pages suspected of somehow offering pirated vaccines or inducing consumers to error. In addition, Senacon will also scan e-commerce platforms (marketplaces), aiming to identify illegal ads and marketing.
"This commercialization is a crime and brings risks to the health and safety of the Brazilian citizen. We are launching the campaign on social midias of the Ministry of Justice and Public Security to warn consumers that there is no internet purchase of vaccines against Covid-19", he explains. The secretary reinforces that the vaccine against Covid-19 is free and that it is distributed only by the Unified Health System.


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Let shipping industry pay for lock, icebreaker
You’ve probably heard the tag line: “Railroads move a ton of freight 436 miles on a gallon of fuel.” It may sound incredible, but it’s mainly true. Railroads are required to report to the federal government how much freight they move each year and how much fuel they consume.
The 436 ton-miles figure is a national average for all railroads. It’s an interesting coincidence that the Soo Line, the U.S. branch of the Canadian Pacific that operates in the upper Midwest, averaged 518 ton-miles in 2007.
Railroads brag about those 436 ton-miles while leaving consumers to guess at the competition. One gallon of fuel can move a ton of freight just 91 miles on an 18-wheel semi-trailer truck.
But huge lake freighters are a match for railroads’ efficiency. A 1,000-footer can move a ton of freight more than 600 miles, according to Minnesota Sea Grant. The trucking industry will point out, though, that neither a train nor the Paul R. Tregurtha can actually get that Amazon package anywhere near your front door.
Railroads claim another advantage, although it doesn’t make a catchy tagline for the Sunday morning news programs. Freight railroads are happy to remind that taxpayers that they pay their own way. The railroads build and maintain their own roads, they build and maintain their own bridges, tunnels and other infrastructure. When it snows, they clear their own roads.
We know about trucks. They pound the highways to dust and Lansing hopes we won’t notice when it sends us the repair bill.
And we know about ships. They couldn’t exist without the millions and millions of dollars that the federal government has pumped into their infrastructure. The shipping industry complains about the Float Down while facing delays every day at the Soo Locks. It lobbies Congress for a new lock in the St. Marys River — with a price tag of at least $600 million — while preaching doom and gloom should the current locks there fail.
It wouldn’t be the end of the world. A train can haul a ton of iron ore or coal 436 miles on a gallon of fuel.
The shipping industry wants a new Mackinaw-class icebreaker for the Great Lakes to deal with winter weather — at more than $200,000.
If a railroad needed an icebreaker, it would build its own. The shipping industry should, too.


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The positivity that has surrounded the very public transformation of Bruce Jenner into Caitlyn Jenner is a sign of an ever-increasing acceptance of the transgender community. It should come as no surprise, then, that modelling agencies are also reflecting this attitudinal change. In fact, it’s something we at Talent Management have followed and supported for a long time.
Earlier this year IMG, the agency behind the likes of Gigi Hadid and Karlie Kloss, made the headlines after signing 22-year-old transgender woman Hari Nef. She is not the first transgender model taken on by IMG (Valentijn De Hingh has that title) but she is first to go on the company’s international roster.
De Hingh is represented solely by the IMG branch in Paris but Nef’s global signing is being seen as an indication of recognition that transgender people are members of society worthy of reflection within the world-wide modelling industry.
Embracing and Prompting Society’s Changing Attitudes
Modelling as an industry has long been talking about its willingness to embrace all sections of society and the actions of IMG are giving further credence to this commitment.
There has certainly been no suggestion that Nef is a purely token signing, especially given the high profile work she has already completed. She opened this year’s New York Fashion Week after all.
Nef may not be the first – or even the second – transgender model to be given a major assignment but her deliberately high-profile stance cannot fail to be seen as a sign of the onward and upward trajectory of an industry increasingly willing to veer away from what was considered the ‘norm’ for many years.
Public perception of what is considered ‘normal’ when it comes to beauty is changing apace and it is important that the modelling world reflects this attitude shift. It is not only right but it is essential in an industry that prides itself on its trend-setting ethos.
It was not so long ago that it would have been unthinkable to have a transgender model fronting a major beauty or hair campaign. Yet, you only need to consider the career of Lea T to see how the tides have firmly turned.
Brazilian Lea was revealed late last year as the new face of Redken, meaning that the 33-year-old who was born as Leandro, became the world’s first transgender model at the head of a worldwide cosmetics name.
From the Sidelines to the Limelight
Another transgender model to have stepped firmly into the spotlight in recent times is Andreja Pejić, who was formerly Andrej. Gone are the days when she was almost treated as a sideshow with very little recognition. Today she is a catwalk mainstay and one firmly deserving of her place at the forefront of modern modelling.
One of the most notable changes to be seen in modelling agencies is not the existence of transgender models, it is their acceptance as valuable, viable members of the mainstream modelling fraternity. They are no longer being casted for the shock value but as a result of a genuine appreciation of their beauty.
Drag artist Conchita Wurst was famously included in the haute couture show by Jean-Paul Gaultier but this is one designer who always strives for the ‘wow’ factor, however it is to be achieved. The likes of Pejić and Lea, in contrast, are not there to make any particular statement. They are the ‘norm’ of the modern world.
The modelling industry is no stranger to gimmickry; entertainment or advertisement are at its heart, after all. And yet this new era of transgender success is not based upon the need for RuPaul feathers or Edna Everage specs. Beauty is central to the achievements of these models with the fact that they were born a different sex destined for little more than a sentence on Wikipedia.
Yes, the casting and recruiting of these models are making global headlines right now, but you cannot escape the feeling that this is a just a mere stepping stone until the likes of Hari Nef will no longer have the ‘transgender model’ tag attached to her name.
The fact that Pejić is strutting her stuff on some of the most prestigious catwalks will one day no longer be applauded the loudest within the LGBT community; nor will the fact that a disabled model or a size-22 woman takes centre stage.
The world’s eyes are always on the modelling industry but it is vital that the industry’s vision is always focused right back. The industry can only survive by reflecting what ‘real’ people want to see. And these ‘real’ people are by no means all cast from the same, or even a similar, mould.


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From the Mayor’s office:
HOBOKEN/WEEHAWKEN ANNOUNCE SPRING 2015 LAUNCH OF BIKE SHARE PROGRAM
The City of Hoboken and Township of Weehawken are partnering to launch a next-generation bike share program using smart-bike technology manufactured by Nextbike. The German-based company currently has systems with over 20,000 bikes in 70 cities across 14 countries. The Hoboken/Weehawken system would be their first in the United States. Because the technology is new to the country, the electronic components manufactured by Nextbike are still awaiting approval by the FCC, which is expected by late December. As a result, the launch of the program has been rescheduled for March, 2015.
“We are looking forward to launching one of the first next-generation bike share systems in the country,” said Mayor Dawn Zimmer. “This high-tech but considerably lower cost approach is more scalable and flexible than traditional systems and could open the door for an expansion of bike sharing into neighborhoods and communities across the region and country – not just our largest cities.”
“Weehawken is proud to be a part of this innovative program that will provide a healthy and green transportation option for our residents,” said Weehawken Mayor Richard F. Turner.
Financing for the system is being provided by Nextbike, and revenue will be generated through sponsorships, advertising, and membership fees at no cost to taxpayers. The program will be operated by Bike and Roll, the largest bike tour and rental company in the United States.
“Bike and Roll is very excited to be working with Hoboken and Weehawken and to be a part of bringing next-generation bike share to the tri-state area,” said Chris Wogas, President of Bike and Roll. “I applaud the efforts of both Hoboken and Weehawken as they ensure that their residents receive the most flexible, technologically-advanced and customer-centric bike share platform available today.”
The first phase of the system will have a total of 300 “smart bikes” — 230 bikes in Hoboken and 70 bikes in Weehawken. Smart bikes are the next generation of bike share technology. Traditional bike sharing systems rely on a “smart dock” approach for storing bicycles, which requires expensive infrastructure for docking stations. The “smart lock” approach relies on bicycles with built-in locks and communications equipment, providing increased flexibility at a fraction of the cost of traditional systems. This system will feature several “smart dock” stations along with a majority of “virtual dock” stations using traditional bicycle racks.


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Horror stories of exploding Galaxy Smartphones refuse to stop, with a new report telling us of a Galaxy S4 that exploded somewhere in the UAE. Thankfully, the owner of the phone was unhurt.
Phones which blast? A seriously scary thought. Think about it, you use a phone throughout the day. You hold it in your hands, you place it against your ears, you keep it in your pockets which is near your… You get the message. So it does get us real concerned when news starts pouring in of exploding phones, and not just any cheap Chinese knockoff, but perhaps the world’s fastest selling phone ever, the Samsung Galaxy S4.
This Galaxy S4 burst into flames after the owner from UAE left the phone on charging overnight. Thankfully, the owner is smart enough to not keep her phone beside her pillow and go to sleep every night, and has thus come out unhurt out of the entire fiasco. In the blast, the USB charging cable, the S-View cover and the micro USB port on the Galaxy S4 either completely burnt or fully melted down.
Samsung Gulf Electronics has promised to investigate this matter, and we sure hope that Samsung Mobiles globally takes this matter seriously. An exploding Galaxy S4? Well, there are 20 million owners of such phones. That’s a lot of human beings living in fear of their phones, if another such incident were to occur. The owner of the phone will receive a replacement unit and an undisclosed compensation amount.


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European Startup Initiative in partnership with Allianz Cultural Foundation and Atomico Ventures launches a survey to map Startup Europe. Where is Europe’s Next Silicon Valley? Cast your vote for your favorite startup places in Europe.
Luxembourg on the map
Vote for your favorite startup hubs in Europe on www.startupheatmap.eu – The non-profit european startup initiative, supported by the Allianz Cultural Foundation and Atomico Ventures, started a European-wide survey on the most popular startup places on the continent.
By asking « Where would you startup? » the group is creating a live map, which shows both where people come from and where they want to go. Founders who answer their survey can directly see the traces they leave on the map.
Co-Initiator Alexander Thannhuber explains the reasoning behind: “Everyone can say where startups are today, but we want to predict, where they will go tomorrow. It is like on the stock market, only the future matters.”
Promote your startup in Luxembourg
By mapping founders’ perceptions about European startup hubs, the Startup Heatmap creates a complete novel way of looking at the European startup scene, showing much more than the attractiveness of the top three hubs, but the interconnectivity of startup scenes all around Europe. Also, finding out about the drivers behind movement of startups and potential patterns, will help to understand why some places are hyped and others fail to attract the young creatives. In spring the team behind the survey wants to publish a detailed report on their findings. Already few startup describe their project in Luxembourg, don’t hesitate to share it too.
Already before its publication the survey stirred high attention from experts. Tom Wehmeier, head of research at investment firm Atomico Ventures, says about the Startup Heatmap: “Being able to understand the actual and potential movement of founders between hubs will be incredibly valuable for us.”


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Originally Saco-based, Vincenza's Italian Bakery opened a second location in downtown Portland three months ago. Less than a month later, the Saco shop closed. The company explained on its Facebook page that "there was not enough traffic to keep the doors open." Two months later, a For Lease sign appeared in the window at 10 Exchange Street in the Old Port.
The company has not responded to request for comment, and the phone numbers listed on its website and Facebook page produce endless rings. Has Vincenza's fallen victim to the Wannawaf maneuver, bleeding profits from its original location in an attempt to break into the enticing yet challenging Portland market?
· All Vincenza's Italian Bakery Coverage [-EME-]


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Car2Go, the on-demand rental service with 105,000 active users in Portland, announced Friday that it would no longer operate in the city at the end of October.
The company’s announcement comes two months after its sister company, ReachNow, cut 75 employees and pulled 350 vehicles from Portland’s streets. Collectively, the moves mean some 800 vehicles that were available to rent at the click of a button on smartphones across Portland as recently as this summer are officially gone.
Zipcar, which offers on-demand rentals but requires users to return cars to a dedicated parking spot, will continue to be available in Portland.
“We firmly believe that Portland deserves free-floating carshare,” Kendell Kelton, a spokesman for Car2Go’s parent company, ShareNow, told The Oregonian/OregonLive. “The reality is that it's a complex transportation market that requires a significant investment on the part of any mobility provider wanting to operate in the city and unfortunately, we are unable to continue doing so in a manner that’s sustainable for our business.”
ReachNow was previously a subsidiary of German automobile giant BMW until a high-profile merger officially teamed the mobility company with Daimler AG-owned Car2Go earlier this year. Car2Go, now branded as ShareNow, had 450 vehicles in Portland as of July.
In July, a different company spokesman told The Oregonian/OregonLive that it wanted to assure our members that ShareNow, Car2Go’s new name would continue to provide free-floating carshare in both Seattle and Portland, and “that they can continue to use our service with confidence."
Car2Go will still exist in Seattle, but not Portland.
The company said it had 137,000 members in Seattle.
“We are sorry that Portlanders will lose a transportation option that helps people live without the expense of owning a car,” said Dylan Rivera, a Portland Bureau of Transportation spokesman. “As the birthplace of car-sharing and a hotbed of transportation innovation, Portland welcomes private sector investors to join us in creating affordable options that reduce congestion and pollution.”
One of the dedicated Portland users, Kristin Slavin, said she was disappointed by the news.
The young architect moved to Portland in 2010, and like many newcomers to the city, she moved into dense Northwest Portland with a car.
That didn’t last long. She ditched the car and opted for the on-demand services.
“It was just such a hassle to park the car,” she said, “I didn’t use it much.”
By 2012, Slavin had bought a bike and was using services like Car2Go to get around town for errands that were easier with a car
Slavin, 32, moved around to various neighborhoods through the years, and estimated she’d use Car2Go three or four times per month and budgeted $20 per month for the service.
She also used ReachNow and thought when the two free-floating companies merged it would expand her options.
“I wasn’t overly concerned,” she said.
The company seemed to be committed to Portland, too, but the new Friday was the direct opposite of what officials said in July.
In a broader statement to news outlets Friday, Kelton said the decision “was not made lightly.”
“We have had to face the hard reality that despite our efforts, we underestimated the investment and resources that are truly necessary to make our service successful in these complex transportation markets amid a quickly-changing mobility landscape,” Kelton said in the statement.
“Since launching in North America in 2009, transportation has changed drastically and mostly for the better. Providing viable alternatives to private car ownership in increasingly densifying cities brings numerous economic and quality of life benefits. Though it still remains prevalent, studies agree that the sustainability of private car ownership in cities is limited. The industry has been disrupted and the bubble will eventually burst. Things are changing. And we firmly believe that free-floating carshare has played a role and still does.”
But the company cited “highly volatile” transportation markets, “especially in North America” as a factor.
“We are certainly not the only transportation player – from traditional automakers to ride-hail giants to micro-mobility disruptors – who have had to face this reality and adjust course. Ultimately, we know that in order to ensure the future of our business in North America, we have to think differently about where and how we operate,” he wrote.
Car2Go is also ceasing business in Austin, Denver and Calgary at the end of October. It will leave Chicago at the end of the year.
“We are now refocusing our efforts and our resources on the cities that present the clearest path to free-floating carshare success: New York City, Washington D.C., Montreal, Vancouver and Seattle,” Kelton wrote.
Slavin said she was concerned that the move would just mean more private cars on the street and more people driving.
She said she and her partner, who also used the service, will keep biking and figure out other ways to take care of errands that they’d otherwise rely on the car service for.
There’s one thing Slavin said she won’t do: buy a car.
-- Andrew Theen
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A controversial deal which will see Boston’s Assembly Rooms sold by the borough council is still going ahead – despite delays in the official announcement of the sale.
Contracts were due to be exchanged by the authority and the buyer last week, but confirmation has been delayed while paperwork is completed.
A spokesman for the council said he did not know exactly when the announcement was due to be made.
The delay comes after months of negotiations between the buyer and seller which have been shrouded in secrecy.
Council supremos have refused to reveal who had bought the historic site in the town’s Market Place and have said they will not comment on rumours that the building will be turned into a nightclub once the deal has gone through.
The sale, which has taken place in a bid to save money from council coffers, has also led to the closure of the public toilets underneath the premises.
Keep checking The Standard for the latest information about the sale of this grade II* listed building.


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- Tom WyattPresident: Old Navy
- Glenn MurphyCEO: Gap, Inc.
- Tara WickwireDirector of Public Relations
Old Navy: Sell Gay Pride Shirts in TN!
Old Navy has announced that they will be carrying a line of Gay Pride t-shirts. This is a first for a major clothing manufacturer in North America and they at first said the shirts would be available in all of their retail locations.
Now though, they have decided these shirts will not be sold in Tennessee, North Carolina, or Kentucky. In light of the passing of the "Don't Say Gay" bill SB0049 in Tennessee the refusal to sell these shirts is nothing less than a company willfully turning their back on the LGBT community of a state currently at the center of a gay rights struggle.
Please sign this petition to show Old Navy that not everyone in Tennessee is backward, barefoot, and bucktoothed. The LGBT community of Tennessee has just as much pride as any other and should not be excluded from what could be a wonderful opportunity for a company to show their support for gay rights.
- President: Old Navy
- CEO: Gap, Inc.
- Director of Public Relations
I was ecstatic when I heard of Old Navy's plans to sell a line of gay pride t-shirts. The very day after I heard about these plans though I was disappointed to learn that the shirts will not be made available for purchase online or at any local retailer in Tennessee, North Carolina, or Kentucky despite the original claims that they would be sold at all Old Navy locations. It is my request that these shirts be made available locally because to do otherwise is turning your back on a region currently in the middle of a struggle for gay rights.
As you most likely are aware, Tennessee recently passed the "Don't Say Gay" bill, SB0049. The coverage that this bill has received has placed Tennessee at the center of the national struggle for LGBT rights. Your shirts represent a first for a major clothing brand, but their lack of availability in an area where they would be proudly worn speaks volumes.
I'm writing to ask that you rethink where these shirts will be made available so that everyone, gay or straight, can show their pride.
Evelyn Crockett started this petition with a single signature, and now has 555 supporters. Start a petition today to change something you care about.
Today: Evelyn is counting on you
Evelyn Crockett needs your help with “Old Navy: Sell Gay Pride Shirts in TN!”. Join Evelyn and 554 supporters today.


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Less than two months after someone compromised the official Bored Ape Yacht Club to steal $2.4 million worth of NFTs, BAYC creator Yuga Labs is once again facing questions about its security measures. In the early hours of June 4th, a scammer ran a phishing attack that earned him 32 NFTs worth about 142 Ethereum . After obtaining a community manager’s credentials, the hacker reportedly used the official Bored Apes Discord to promote a fake giveaway exclusive to Bored Ape, Mutant Ape, and Otherside NFT owners.
🚨BAYC & OtherSide Discords have been compromised‼
Seems because Community Manager @BorisVagner his account was hacked, allowing the scammers to carry out their phishing attack. Over 145 euros were stolen
Proper permissions could prevent this pic.twitter.com/lCl2DfZQ0W
— OKHotshot (@NFTherder) June 4, 2022
“Don’t mint through ANY other website,” the announcement said after linking to the website the hacker used to steal the NFTs. “This is the only official site!” According to the blockchain security firm , a BAYC and two Mutant Apes tokens were stolen in the scam. At the current Ethereum exchange rate, the entire 32 NFT treasure is worth approximately $256,000.
We reached out to Yuga Labs for comment. The company has yet to issue an official statement on the incident – although it was quick to shut down the Bored Apes Discord following the scam. The server, alongside a handful of others tied to high-profile NFT projects, was too chopped In early April, when a bad actor compromised the CAPTCHA bot Yuga Labs uses to discourage spammers.
This article was previously published on Source link


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Global equipment sales – PCs, tablets and mobile phones – point to about 2.21 billion units in 2019, according to Gartner forecasts. The numbers represent a stagnation compared to 2018, which totaled 2,221,270 devices sold.
According to the forecasts, the personal computer market will continue to decline in the years to come, but the mobile market will resume growth in 2020, up 1.2%.
Gartner's research director, Ranjit Atwal, explains that "the PC market stagnated for the eighth consecutive year, dropping 0.6 percent from 2018 to 2019."
Roberta Cozza, also research director at Gartner, believes that "consumers do not feel the need to purchase a new smartphone model unless it shows significant improvements over what they already have," which helps explain the decline that Gartner in this segment until the end of 2019.


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Is collusion behind this, or simple economics? While the Justice Department has announced a task force to investigate fraud and manipulation in the oil industry, most economists see this as little more than a public relations move coming out of the Obama administration - the U.S. had no way to control global price pressures on oil in 1979 and it has no way to control the price of the commodity in 2011.
One of the biggest influences on oil and gas prices can be found in your wallet: the U.S. dollar.
Commodities are priced in U.S. dollars on the world market, and we have a weak dollar right now. A feeble dollar means we have to pay more to buy foreign oil. It also means foreign currencies are able to buy more of the commodity for the same amount of money.
If foreign nations take advantage of a weak dollar and buy more oil, you've got rising global demand. When demand rises, oil prices are poised to rise. Since oil prices are set in U.S. dollars, we feel the impact of price spikes in a way that nations using other currencies may not.
Global Hunter Securities economist Richard Hastings attributes about one-third of pump prices to the weak buck. He recently raised eyebrows by stating to CNBC.com that gas could hit $6.50 a gallon this summer given high demand and the potential impact of 'one or two hurricanes'.
Emerging markets exert another big influence on oil and gas prices. Tremendous economic growth in China, India and other developing nations means they have a sustained demand for oil and gasoline, and it is not declining. Oil and gasoline prices are also subsidized in some emerging-market nations. This artificially breeds high demand.
Factor in recent political unrest in some oil-exporting nations, and you have the core reasons for $4 gas down the street.
One analyst sees potential for a new recession. Craig Johnson, president of the retail forecast firm Customer Growth Partners, just noted to CNBC that consumers are currently spending more than 6% of their income on energy costs. He cites that percentage as a 'tipping point', noting that five of the six recessions since 1970 have happened when personal consumption expenditures (PCE) for energy costs surpassed 6%. While rising fuel prices by themselves may not seem like a recession trigger, Johnson also mentioned the simultaneous jump in food prices - they are up 6.5% since the end of 2010. He estimates that consumers now spend about 15% of their incomes on food and energy prices.
What would bring gas prices down? Well, boycotting the gas stations in your region for a day is not likely to do the trick. Relief might appear as follows: high oil prices often encourage oil producers to increase supply, as they can make even more profit from sustained demand. But that can lead to a glut - too much supply at prices too high, a circumstance in which prices would be poised to pull back. In fact, Saudi Arabian Oil Minister Ali Naimi recently commented that the world oil market was oversupplied.
Another factor is our own consumer demand. You are hearing stories about people only driving on weekdays, or foregoing trips or cycling or taking the bus to work. Affirming this phenomenon, March credit card data from MasterCard SpendingPulse showed U.S. retail gasoline expenditures down 2.1% year-over-year.
Tom Kloza, who is chief analyst for the Oil Price Information Service, recently shared his belief on NPR that prices will 'correct or ease back a little bit and we'll [see] a driving season where we pay something between $3.25 and $3.75 for gasoline' with moderating demand and a slightly less heated commodities market. Let's hope he's right.


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Woman who urinated on potatoes inside shop faces charges
A woman who was caught on camera urinating into bins of potatoes in a Walmart in Pennsylvania, US, will face charges.
West Mifflin police said an officer was called to the store by an employee, who told him he noticed urine on the floor near the potatoes in the produce area.
The employee then "pulled a video that depicted a female at approximately 10.10pm urinating in the potato bins. He called the cops."
KDKA reports police identified the woman as Grace Brown and made contact with her.
"Brown, along with her attorney, came to the station, where she identified herself as the person urinating on the potatoes," said police.
"She is now being charged with criminal mischief, open lewdness, disorderly conduct and public drunkenness. She is awaiting a preliminary hearing."
In a statement, Walmart said: "The safety of our customers is a top priority for us. This type of obscene conduct is outrageous and we immediately disposed of the affected products and sanitised the area to ensure its cleanliness and safety for our customers."
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Sydney-based SME contract electronics manufacturer Circuitwise has announced two appointments, Dimitrije Grasar as Operations Leader and Sean Ross as CTO.
Grasar joined the company last year as New Product Introduction Engineering Leader, a role which will be rolled into his new one. He will manage all of the PCB maker’s manufacturing activities at its Bella Vista site.
“Over the past six months, Dimitrije has been a member of the company’s leadership team and has worked closely with Sean who was previously in charge of operations,” said CEO Serena Ross in a statement.
“Dimitrije is incredibly talented and we want to make the best use of his skills.”
Sean Ross would now, he said, focus on “identify[ing] opportunities for improving our processes and supporting any technically challenging customer inquiries or projects.”
Circuitwise Electronics Manufacturing’s customers include PPK Group, Siemens and Caterpillar. Last year it was part of the notus non-invasive ventilator consortium, led by Grey Innovation.
Subscribe to our free @AuManufacturing newsletter here.


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‘The Chinese brand that could bring real change’
Editor-in-chief Steve Fowler is excited about the future of Lynk & Co and is looking forward to seeing the Chinese brand in the UK
Western car companies are putting more and more effort into this lucrative market, while plenty of the Chinese makers continue to tease us with promises of heading to Europe and the UK with innovation and value (although judging by some of the tired-looking designs on display, we’d be quite happy if many of them stayed in the Far East).
Lynk & Co – the new global car brand launched late last year by the Chinese owner of Volvo, Geely, and led by many former Volvo guys – was launching its smart-looking, if not groundbreaking 01 SUV and similarly styled 03 saloon. Yet in its short lifetime, Lynk & Co seems to have captured the imagination of the Chinese car buying public.
What surprised me most was not the crowds rammed on to the stand, but the age of those flocking to see the cars. They were young car fans, very western in their outlook, with those I spoke to telling me they had fallen in love with Lynk & Co because the brand was “new and cool”.
The company is set to arrive in the UK in late 2018/early 2019 and has already announced it will sell its cars through a subscription service and offer lifetime warranties, and that it hopes to be the most connected car brand, starting with free traffic data.
The premium car market has seen disruption from Tesla, but mainstream makers have long been in need of a similar jolt. I reckon Lynk & Co could be about to deliver it.
Are you excited about Lynk & Co coming to the UK? Let us know in the comments section below...


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South Florida ports are readying themselves for gale force winds and a downpour of rain as Tropical Storm Erika prepares to make landfall in the Sunshine State this Monday.
Florida Chamber President Mark Wilson Tells Florida Cabinet 150,000 New Trade and Logistics Jobs Can Be Created
17 Mar 2015
Three carrier alliances are launching Asia-U.S. East Coast services that will increase capacity on the route by 6 percent, according to industry analyst Alphaliner.
13 Mar 2015
Florida Gov. Rick Scott’s attempt to lure shippers — from Bacardi to Ikea — away from California may not necessarily bring big business to the Sunshine State, but it will bring the national media attention that some say Florida ports need.
12 Mar 2015
Florida's Gov. Rick Scott says he is amping up efforts to bring new business to Florida's ports, and he is set on taking business from the U.S. West Coast.
11 Mar 2015
After a banner year for freight and an unexpected tax revenue boost, U.S. inland waterways could see shovels in the ground on a list of long-overdue projects in the coming year, helping shippers move their commodities more efficiently.
18 Feb 2015
Florida needs to amp up its marketing efforts, offer new incentives and cut red tape in order to reclaim containerized imports and exports tied to the state but handled by other states’ ports, according to study released on Wednesday.
12 Dec 2014
Throughput at Port Everglades jumped 12.5 percent in October, newly released port statistics show.
03 Dec 2014
A barge port and industrial center are planned on the 800-acre site of a former paper mill at St. Marys, Georgia, just north of the Florida state line.
14 Nov 2014
Horizon Lines’ exit from the U.S-mainland- Puerto Rico trade lanes later this year could give the ailing Jones Act lane some much-needed stability by allowing the three remaining major carriers to raise rates.
03 Nov 2014
A record-breaking year for Port Everglades is only the beginning, port director Steve Cernak said, as the East Coast's second-fastest growing port is embarking on several projects to add capacity and service bigger ships.
31 Oct 2014
The Port of Jacksonville’s first dedicated Asian container terminal opened in 2009 — just as U.S. consumer demand plunged because of the global recession. Now the promised Asian container traffic boom is starting to become a reality with volume up 20 percent year-over-year in the port’s fiscal year ending Sept. 30.


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Papa John’s has rolled out a gluten-free crust to its more than 3,300 domestic locations after testing it earlier this year.
The crust is made in a separate facility from other crusts, but the Louisville, Ky.-based chain still advised against people with Celiac disease or severe gluten intolerance eating the pizza due to risks of cross contamination.
The crust is made with sorghum, teff, amaranth and quinoa. A two-topping pizza with the crust is available for $9.99. It was tested earlier this year in Los Angeles, Phoenix, St. Louis, Houston and Nashville.
In a press release announcing the rollout, Papa John’s chief ingredient officer Sean Muldoon said it took the chain more than two years to develop.
“The fact that our pilot customers [in the test markets] told us they loved the taste proves that we made the right decisions,” he said.
Domino’s introduced a gluten-free crust in 2012, and also warns about cross-contamination risks.
In 2015, Pizza Hut introduced a gluten-free pizza to about a third of its domestic restaurants. The crust’s ingredients and preparation is certified by the Gluten Intolerance Group.
Papa John’s new crust is the latest in a series of ingredient changes at the chain, which has gotten rid of artificial flavors and colors, high fructose corn syrup, MSG and the preservatives BHA and BHT. It also uses only cage-free eggs and chicken raised without antibiotics.
Contact Bret Thorn at [email protected]
Follow him on Twitter: @foodwriterdiary


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A working team has been established to specially detect imported merchandise which may have evaded tax and follow up the movements of online traders in the wake of the growth of pre-order businesses on websites and the social media, Customs Department director-general Kulit Sombatsiri said on Monday (Oct 2).
Mr Kulit said the team will gather information on importers who often declare the prices of imported goods lower than the actual prices to evade tax, taking the advantages of tax exemption on goods delivered by post with a price of less than 1,500 baht.
He said an adjustment of the policy has been made. Before, only a few officials were used to handle this matter. Now, a team has been set up to specially check for tax-evading imported goods
The movements of online traders at auction sales of second-handed brand-name goods for importation will be closely followed. If found to be breaking the law they will be blacklisted. Goods imported by them will be subject to strict checks for possible tax evasion.
Mr Kulit said the expansion of e-commerce prompted the Customs Department to have developed a database system to check the prices of imported goods and install x-ray machines over conveyor belts to scan for smuggled brand-name goods to increase the revenue collection efficiency.
Moreover, a system has been developed to shorten the process of submitting shipping documents to provide convenience for lawful e-commerce operators such as Alibaba and Lazada which have a plan to invest in the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC).


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New Plans For The Point
6 June 2013, 14:38 | Updated: 6 June 2013, 15:09
New plans to demolish Central Milton Keynes' Point complex and replace it with another pyramid-shaped building have been unveiled.
These are the latest proposals by developers who want to revitalise the cinema and leisure complex.
When it opened in 1985, The Point was the home of restaurants, a nightclub, a bingo hall and the UK's first multiplex cinema. Having multiple cinema screens in one building is something that is now commonplace in towns and cities across the country, but at the time was completely new to Britain.
Developers Hammerson say The Point no longer meets the needs of today's leisure and retail businesses, because it has poorly configured floor space and reflective glass, which stops you being able to see in from outside.
They say "leisure and retail operators now require more flexible formats and The Point has been superseded by more recent developments (for example Xscape) which can meet the demands of leisure operators. Accommodation in The Point building can no longer compete effectively."
In its place, they want to build "a high quality, attractive and open building".
The latest plans, to replace The Point with another pyramid-shaped building containing retail and leisure space, come after plans announced in spring 2012 were criticised for being bland, and not ground-breaking in the way the original Point was in 1985.
Hammerson say the new pyramid-shaped design pays homage to the old Point. The detail of what would be inside the building has not been finalised. The plans would mean the demolition of the existing Odeon cinema, but the multi-storey car park behind would remain.
Rather than just containing shops, as the 2012 plans envisaged, Hammerson say their new proposals for the site could see it being used for leisure too. That could mean a cinema, a bingo hall, or other uses.
These latest proposals have gone on display inside The Point and the company want the views of people in Milton Keynes on them. You can see more details about the proposals and have your say at www.thepointmiltonkeynes.co.uk
Pictures below show (a) The new Point by day, (b) by night, and (c) The Point as it is today
25 May 2012 - Plans To Demolish The Point
What do you think about the latest proposals? Leave a comment.


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Ford is already readying the second generation of its Mustang Mach-E EV crossover. If a report from industry data analyzer Auto Forecast Solutions turns out to be true, a new Mach-E and Mach-E coupe will come in 2026.
The report outlines a future roadmap of existing and coming vehicles through the mid to late 2030s. In the report, it lists the current Mustang Mach-E with a production date of February 3rd 2020. Its production end date is listed as June 2026 which would give the model a six-year run. A second generation the Mach-E is listed as going into production just a month later. What’s interesting is this so-called Mach-E Coupe.
Listed under a program name called CX799, this Mach-E coupe is set to enter production on the same date as the regular Mach-E, June 2026. Both the coupe and standard Mach-E are set to run through the early 2030s with the Mach-E coupe ending production first in 2031 and the Mach-E in 2033.
If all of this turns out to be true, the big news will obviously be the coupe, which already sorta exists. The bigger question, though, is what exactly will this coupe be? Ford could go wild and make a crossover coupe version of the Mach-E with two doors. Or they could pull a VW (like Atlas and Atlas Cross Sport) and make a Mach-E Coupe with a lower roofline. But with the Mach-E’s already low roofline that may or may not work. The third option would be the more obvious: this would be an EV version of the recently introduced seventh-generation Mustang. This would make sense, but the report lists the seventh-gen Mustang as running through the Spring of 2029.
Whatever this Mach-E coupe turns out to be, it should be interesting. It seems as if more and more automakers are thinking of doing interesting models with their EVs. And I’m on board for whatever they have coming.


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By every objective measure, the economy has been at best mediocre, and, when compared to the performance of the economy since Reagan, this economy has been flaccid, especially in 2019.
The Economy in Context: September 2019
The Economy in Context: April 2019
There are a lot of indications, not least of which the rhetoric coming out of the White House, that the economy is not as strong as has been sold.
The Economy in Context: August 2018
Despite numerous deregulation victories and his incessant bragging in 2016, Trump's economy has created more jobs than Obama's second term (post recession) economy only 7 out of the last 20 months.


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National Breast Cancer Awareness month may be over, but the support is still going strong in Miami. John Hardy creative director and head designer, Guy Bedarida, was on hand at Saks Fifth Avenue at the Dadeland Mall on November 12, showcasing his Fall 2009 jewelry line and signing all unique purchases of his designs in the name of charity.
The collection, which is indicative of the stand the company took against global warming a few years ago by choosing to minimize its economic footprint, featured Balinese-inspired hand-woven silver designs made from bamboo, depicting bamboo saplings and leaf shoots. In an effort to become a carbon neutral company, John Hardy offsets the carbon emissions of its advertising, business travel and electricity by planting bamboo on Nusa Penida, a small island off the coast of Bali.
“We have vowed to make our company greener every day,” said CEO Damien Dernoncourt. “The Bamboo collection is a way for collectors of John Hardy jewelry to participate in one of our efforts to contribute to the environment. A portion of the proceeds of the sale of each piece is set aside for planting bamboos. We call this program Wear Bamboo, Plant Bamboo.”
Five percent of the event’s sales were donated to the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Miami/Ft. Lauderdale Affiliate, an organization dedicating to raising awareness about breast cancer and empowering people in an effort to eliminate the deadly disease.


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First Nations Fashion & Design (FNFD) will be featured as the latest designer spotlight for the Edit Collection at Sydney’s Chatswood Chase, featuring Gantharri designer Bobbi Lockyer, Ihraa Swim designer Nat Dann, Clothing the Gaps designer Laura Thompson and Cultural Craftsmanship designer, Grace Lillian Lee.
Created from a partnership with Afterpay, Vicinity Centres, Australian Fashion Council and supported by marketplace Welcome to Country, the Edit Collection pop-up space is a minimalist and futuristic space created by utilising the latest in fashion technology to revitalise and elevate retail like never before.
FNFD will utilise the new technology to engage and excite the public – including shoppable change room mirrors, gesture-controlled screens that create brand immersion and a digital assistant to shoot and share selfies. The store is designed by Sydney based Designer and Art director, Kyle Jonsson, and is also fitted out with fully recyclable clothes hangers crafted from upcycled marine plastics, ocean bound plastics and post-consumer plastics courtesy of Arch & Hook.
FNFD x Edit Collection
Level 1, (Near MJ Bale)
Chatswood Chase Sydney,
345 Victoria Avenue,
Open from May 21 to June 22, 2022.