text:
Organic Mushrooms Growing Fastest
Organic mushrooms have continued to grow at a pace even faster than their conventional counterparts, and they have reached the point that most retailers would do well to consider them as a regular product.
“Growers produced 128 million pounds of mushrooms that were certified organic during the 2017-2018 growing season, 16% above 2016-2017,” according to a U.S. Department of Agriculture release in August 2018. “Sixty-eight percent of the total, or 87.4 million pounds, were sold as certified organic mushrooms. This is up 17 percentage points from the 2016-2017 crop year. Agaricus mushrooms accounted for 83% of the mushrooms sold as certified organic, while all specialty mushrooms made up the remainder.”
For the first time, the organic share of the market has reached double digits. And that number is still increasing.
“The total certified organic sales of all mushrooms represented 10% of the 2017-2018 total mushroom sales,” according to the release.
The pioneer among organic producers has come out with a line of specialty packs and varieties.
“We’ve been coming out with new products like organic medley, oyster and shitakes,” says Thomas Leo, sales and procurement manager at Mother Earth Organic Mushrooms, West Grove, PA. “Organic has been growing a little better than conventional the past 10 years. We were the first organic mushroom farm in the United States 26 years ago, and we’re seeing a good eight-percent growth in organics.”
Even the largest mainstream conventional producers are taking notice of the growing demand for organic mushrooms.
“We’re seeing organics grow quite a bit,” says Kevin Donovan, national sales manager at Phillips Mushroom Farms, Kennett Square, PA. “They’re up three to four percent, and that’s a consistent number.”
The greatest growth in mushrooms may be in products that were an afterthought not long ago.
“Whites and browns continue to dominate the category, but we are seeing double-digit growth in exotics and specialty mushrooms along with organics,” says Greg Sagan, executive vice president of sales and marketing at Giorgio Foods, Temple, PA.


text:
Following the mobile Internet, Spatial Internet powered by Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR)- together called as XR-will be the next big thing, said Philip Song, CMO, Carrier BG, Huawei,at the “5G Connecting Virtual and Reality” forum organized as part of Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2022.
Delivering the speech on the topic, “5G + XR: Bringing Imagination into Reality,” Song explained how Huawei itself utilized the power of AR and VR during the pandemic to conduct annual meetings and virtual site visits. With just a mobile phone, the team members were able to scan the ports of equipment, and the engineer knows which cable should be plugged in.
According to a survey, XR industry will contribute 1.5 trillion dollars to global GDP by 2030. In 2021, more than 10 million units of Quest 2 were shipped. These 10 million users will be the critical mass for the XR ecosystem to take off.
The growth of VR devices is comparable to that of smartphones. Going with the current trend, it is estimated that VR headset shipment will reach 100 million units by 2025. The price of VR device has dropped to 300 dollars, making it affordable to the mass.
Besides device availability, the most important factor driving the growth of AR/VR is content. SteamVR is a famous VR gaming platform. It took 41 months to connect 1 million devices per month. But just 11 months later, the number increased to 3 million.
Beat Saber, a popular VR game, has seen 4 million copies sold, generating more than 180 million dollars in revenue.
With the continuous innovation of technologies, XR developer tools are evolving fast. For example, in the past, it required more than 200 lines of code to create an AR special effect. But now, only 10 lines of code are needed with Huawei AR engine. Developers do not need specialized AR development skills. AR model development is as simple as writing PPT, Song added.
Operators across major markets have deployed AR/VR services successfully. In South Korea, LG U+ provides AR/VR content to AIS, enabling AIS to quickly acquire content to develop XR users.
China Mobile Miguhas built a VR content aggregation platform to bring in premium content, such as the Winter Game and popular concerts.
Another successful case is TikTok. They crowdsource content from users and transforms them from PGC to UPGC, truly differentiating their content.
The three cases can map to a three-step content strategy, namely content introduction, content aggregation and content crowdsourcing, Song said.
The industry is also ready with appropriate standards to support the growth of the ecosystem by providing unified APIs, enabling One Development -Multiple Deployments. OpenXR, for example, is being adopted by almost all major hardware, platforms, and engine companies in the industry.
Another major attraction driving XR technology adoption is the impact it brings on user experience, Song said. Global leading operators have already started delivering XR services to enhance quality of service and customer experience.
In South Korea, during the 4G era, the market share of LG U+ was 20%. After the launch of 5G, it has grown to around 24%. This, according to Song, is chiefly attributed to the company’s investment on AR/VR services. As a result, the DoU and ARPU increased significantly as well. The South Korean operator said that a three-month delay in XR launch may take three years to catch up.
AIS, the largest telecom operator in Thailand, has adopted a step by step strategy, from introducing content to creating original content. AIS is preparing to launch AIS 5G Next Reality Studio, the first and only AR/VR content production center in Thailand. AIS have increased both mobile revenue and subscriber base.
China Mobile Zhejiang has a leading 5G business performance.To enrich 5G applications, it has launched 5G VR, 5G cloud gaming, and 5G cloud storage services.
Analyzing the current AR/VR development status and future potential, it is estimated that VR 2C will grow steadily in the next three to five years, while AR 2B and AR 2C will grow faster than others, according to Song.
While selecting an industry, operators need to consider the following four factors: application potential, regional industry concentration, technical feasibility, and commercial feasibility. While operators need to identify the right industries, they also need to define the right business model to turn feasibility into financial results.
For consumer space, operators generally offer XR services as part of 5G package to achieve quick wins and foster partner confidence. Then they will move to premium content, and explore scenario-based experience monetization, he added.
On the other hand, for enterprise customers, operators can offer scenario-based XR solutions to monetize differentiated capabilities. Huawei believes XRtoB will be firstly adopted by the oil and gas, finance, education, and healthcare industries. On-site operations, 3D measurement, and virtual training will be the top three application scenarios. In all these scenarios, operators can monetize 5G and private line connectivity, cloud service and edge computing;
In addition to industry identification and business model design, operators need to keep improving XR experience and reducing production costs, as this is the common goal of the industry. Operators and the technology partners should build capability towards this direction.
Huawei proposes theMoore’s Law for the XR industry that will guide the continuous efforts of operators and technical partners. According to this, traffic demand of popular XR content doubles every 18 to 24 months.
Two years ago, 4K 30-frame full-view XR content was the mainstream, but now 8K 60-frame FOV XR content is becoming more popular. In the next 2 to 4 years, 12K or even 24K XR content with higher frame rate will be the more common. And this premium content will consume network bandwidth and cloud resources at an exponential pace.
In addition, cloud service capabilities should also double every 18-24 months, allowing production costs of premium XR content to fall exponentially, Song added.
Huawei Cloud XR Service, a typical XR platform open to all, features capabilities such as large-scale 3D mapping, all scenario adaptive spatial computing, device and cloud synergy of AI rendering algorithms, digital human rendering and 360-degree VR video with Tile-Wise-Streaming Field of View.
While the Moore’s Law of the XR industry may be a hypothesis for now, it can become the reality if the whole industry works together, according to Song.
Huawei is pursuing the Moore’s Law concept for XR through continuous innovation. In terms of data interaction, Huawei’s AR-HUD can achieve a display distance of 7.5 meters and an FOV of 10 by 4 degrees.
With data transmission and network access as its core capabilities, Huawei has launched 5G Massive MIMO for all scenarios and upgraded FTTH to FTTR. “We are committed to a Gigaverse with ubiquitous gigabit access to support XR experience anytime, anywhere. In terms of cloud-network synergy, Huawei launched the “Cloud-network Express” and E2E Slicing solution to help XR industry partners quickly access multiple clouds and use cloud-based development capabilities,” Song said.
For data processing, Huawei offers real-time cloud rendering service for XR, providing affordable and diverse compute power for XR partners. Meanwhile Huawei’s AR Engine, XR Kit and Reality Studio platform lowers barrier of content development, improves content productivity, and accelerates the growth of content application, he added.

domain: news


text:
This past week I was thinking about the time I spent in Nepal with Coca- Cola to see the devastation after the earthquake and the global brand’s response to it. The April 2015 4.5 magnitude earthquake upended lives and left cities in rubble. I saw much of it during our travels through Kathmandu and its surrounding towns. NGOs worked with their partners in the field … Continue reading Women’s Empowerment Program Update Four Years On
Last year I was happy to see women in Nepal benefitting from Coca-Cola’s 5by20 program. By 2020 Coca-Cola has pledged to help five million women entrepreneurs around the globe by allowing them to earn money through its value chain. That could mean teaching women valuable business skills as I saw in Kathmandu to providing women with opportunities to support their families through creating products with Coca-Cola products and packaging to helping women start their own small businesses.
For Mother’s Day, I was delighted to receive this tulip from Coca-Cola made by artisans who work for Mitz, a Mexican nonprofit where women devote 8 to 30 hours a week to create handmade products. Mitz creates jobs for women, funds kids’ scholarships and reduces waste.
The energy and enthusiasm was palpable as we walked into a room full of eager women entrepreneurs role-playing the everyday dynamic between business owners and their customers. While the room was loaded with fun and laughter during this exercise, its importance was not lost on any of the women who had come to the campus of Coca-Cola Bottlers Nepal Limited’s (BNL) 5by20 training, an initiative to empower 10,000 women business owners across Nepal by 2020. Even though these women are already a part of Kathmandu’s bustling community of urban shop owners, they had come because they realized there are more business skills to learn, hone, and improve. And, as women in micro-enterprise the more skills they learn, the more they can earn for their households in a country where men overwhelmingly dominate the private sector.


text:
How not to fall victim to internet fraud
If criminals steal money from your bank or use your credit card remotely, the chances are you're to blame.
The banks, which are promoting March as Fraud Awareness Month, defend this harsh message by saying that their internet banking anti-fraud protections are sufficiently sophisticated that generally the only way for criminals to breach them is with the unwitting help of customers.
Broadly speaking, online criminals can use only one of two ways to get at your cash: 1. Steal your internet banking username and password using spyware, and 2. Dupe you into handing over those details, or paying them for services or goods they never intend to send. How not to fall victim to internet fraud - New Zealand's source for technology news on Stuff.co.nz
Back to: PC Security, privacy news


text:
BEIJING | China’s auto sales fall in November for fifth month
BEIJING — China’s auto sales plunged in November as a painful contraction in the biggest global market deepened for a fifth month.
An industry group, the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers, said Tuesday sales of SUVs, sedans and minivans shrank 16 percent from a year earlier to just under 2.2 million.
Total vehicle sales, including trucks and buses, fell 19 percent to just under 2.5 million units.
Auto demand has weakened as Chinese economic growth cooled and a tariff fight with Washington fueled uncertainty among buyers.


text:
Differentiating yourself from the crowd is a task that demands the full attention of any hotelier, and the responsibility has become an even greater one in the post-Covid-19 era. Patrick Landman, CEO and founder of Xotels, an international boutique and independent management company, looks at how to attract attention for all the right reasons.
While Covid-19 hit the hospitality industry hard, hotel markets in the Arab world produced intriguing results. Kostas Nikolaidis, Middle East and Africa executive for STR, takes a closer look at the figures to determine the real impact of the coronavirus on the Middle East’s hospitality sector.
Five years after the implementation of comprehensive economic reform, Egypt’s macroeconomic indicators are starting to show sustained improvement. Maximilian Quack, senior manager for the Middle East and Africa at HVS, delves deep into Egypt’s tourism market.
Hotel markets in the Middle East, and especially in the GCC, are often thought to share similar characteristics and dynamics, but is this a fair analysis? Hala Matar Choufany, president, Middle East, Africa & South Asia of HVS, takes a closer look at Oman’s hospitality sector and gives her thoughts on what we can expect from the country’s Vision 2040.


text:
Judge Extends Restraining Order on Generic Wellbutrin
Last week, a U.S. judge entered an order which prevented Eon from offering for sale or selling 100 mg tablets of its generic Wellbutrin (bupropion HC1) until noon on Monday, Dec. 1.
Eon has received U.S. regulatory approval to market its drug and planned to begin shipping it immediately. The move marks the second setback for GlaxoSmithKline’s antidepressant business in...
To view the full article, register now.


text:
Microsoft stores, which will sell Xbox 360 games, hardware and PC titles, are to be opened in major European cities such as London, according to gaming site MCV.
Neowin reported earlier this month that the stores, owned and operated by Microsoft, would be headed by David Porter - a 25-year veteran of retail giant, Wal-Mart.
The move is often seen as an attempt to compete with Apple, who opened their first retail store in 2001 and now has some 251 stores Worldwide, although Sony's Sony Centres would also provide another competitor for Microsoft's retail stores.
A Redmond-based source told MCV, "Porter and his newly created retail stores team will drive the planning and timing of store locations. Our target is a small number of high profile experience stores in a few major cities around the world."
"Our main objective is to change the buying experience for consumers around the world – to show and demonstrate Microsoft's key consumer products in a deeper and more meaningful way, making it more simple and easy for consumers to purchase PCs and devices that truly meet their specific needs."
Some people have expressed concerns over how this move will affect Microsoft's relationship with retailers, however Microsoft believes they will benefit from the opening of official Microsoft stores.
"The partnerships we have today with retailers around the world will continue to be an important focus area for the company and will benefit from these efforts. One of the goals of opening Microsoft stores is to better engage with consumers and gain a better understanding of the consumer PC and device purchase experience. We expect to apply these learnings across our existing retail relationships as well as in our own stores."


text:
Pepsico, Unilever and Nestlé accused of complicity in illegal rainforest destruction
Pepsico, Unilever and Nestlé have been accused of complicity in the destruction of Sumatra's last tract of rainforest shared by elephants, orangutans, rhinos, and tigers together in one ecosystem.
Plantations built on deforested land have allegedly been used to supply palm oil to scores of household brands that also include McDonald’s, Mars, Kellogg’s and Procter & Gamble, according to a new report.
“If more immediate action is not taken to enforce ‘no deforestation’ policies, these brands will be remembered as the corporate giants responsible for the destruction of the last place on earth where Sumatran elephants, orangutans, rhinos and tigers roamed side by side,” says the study by Rainforest Action Network (RAN).
Using satellite data, photographic evidence and GPS coordinates, the research builds on evidence gathered earlier this year to show ongoing illegal forest clearances across swathes of the 2.6m hectare Leuser ecosystem, despite a moratorium announced last June.
The palm oil reaches major brands via a twisting supply chain that stretches from the PT Agra Bumi Niaga (ABN) logging company, which delivers to a processing mill owned by PT Ensem Sawita (ES), which then sells the palm oil on to some of the world’s largest traders. PT is an abbreviation that denotes a limited liability company in Indonesia.
PT ABN declined requests for comment but after extensive Guardian inquiries, PT ES admitted using ABN’s palm oil – due to confusion after the logging firm changed its name – and said that it “regretted this failure”.
The company promised to “strengthen our traceability practices by exchanging information to relevant stakeholders who have palm oil plantation data.”
However, Gemma Tillack, RAN’s agribusiness campaigns director, said that ABN’s name change had been reported, and the continued inability of palm traders and food brands to source the palm they used back to the plantations showed a wider failing of due diligence systems.
“Relying on NGOs to uncover the truth is simply not good enough,” she said. “If RAN, with our relatively limited budget, can figure it out, then multibillion dollar, multinational corporations certainly can. The fact that they haven’t demonstrates that it is not a lack of ability holding them back, but a lack of will.”
Leuser’s vanishing ecosystem is already have a devastating effect on critically endangered elephants which use it as a migratory corridor. At least 35 elephants were killed in Leuser between 2012-2015, and human-animal conflicts are fast increasing as palm plantations fragment animal habitats.
Many species such as tigers, clouded leopards and sun bears are becoming more vulnerable to poachers, as their environment disappears. Leuser is still Sumatra’s largest rainforest and its Unesco world heritage status was reaffirmed this month, despite Indonesian government protests.
But its deforestation rate is among the world’s highest. In the 2015 haze disaster, Sumatran wildfires, often linked to plantation activity, destroyed 8,000 sq miles of rainforest, contributing to the early deaths of an estimated 100,000 people and emitting more CO2 than the whole of the UK that year.
Indonesia’s president Joko Widodo responded with a moratorium on new palm oil permits last April. Two months later, Aceh’s governor, Zaini Abdullah ordered palm oil companies to halt all forest clearing, even where valid permits existed.
But RAN’s research shows that ABN continued clearing another 336 hectares of Sumatran rainforest after Abdullah’s instruction, with 12 hectares of new deforestation since February.
In just one district of the Leuser, nine other suppliers to milling companies continued logging activities since last June across concessions with a combined area of more than 26,000 hectares, according to RAN’s research.
Tillack said: “We believe that there was a rush to clear land because the [logging] companies knew that there would be government intervention to stop forest clearances.
“Global brands like Pepsico can no longer hide behind paper promises and simply blame their international partners for forest crimes. The Leuser ecosystem will die a death of a thousand cuts if brands don’t start taking urgent action to address the root cause of this crisis.”
A spokesman for Pepsico, singled out by RAN as “the ultimate snack food 20 laggard”, said: “We take this issue very seriously, and we are making significant investments to improve every aspect of our palm oil supply chain. After being informed of the allegations, we immediately initiated a thorough investigation. While we do not source directly from the mills in question, we identified direct suppliers who had the mills in their supply chains. We have been assured that these suppliers are taking corrective actions to address the allegations.”
Unilever admitted that it had indirectly bought palm oil from PT ABN through its suppliers, Wilmar and Musim Mas, and said that it had requested “a response and an action plan” from them soon.
Nestlé also said that it was investigating the allegations with Wilmar – which told the guardian that it was sending a team to the region to assess whether other sources in its supply chain were using palm oil sourcing back to PT ABN’s 2,000 hectare concession.
Mars and Kellogg’s stressed their sustainable palm oil policies, while Procter & Gamble said that it had told suppliers about its responsible sourcing policy. McDonald’s denied any links to PT ABN.
Of the palm oil traders which supplying the food brands, IOI said that that it had “registered recent deliveries from PT ES in our supply chain” but that the firm had “confirmed that they no longer source from PT ABN”.
Golden Agri-Resources said that its exposure to PT ES was “relatively small” but that it would visit the company in the next weeks to find out if it was indirectly selling on palm oil from PT ABN. Cargill and Musim Mas both said that they were investigating the reports.
However, the companies had been warned about ‘conflict palm oil’ entering the supply chain through PT ES’s third-party suppliers since 2014, and engagement with the firm had not changed its behaviour.
“Brands and traders tend to hide behind supply chain complexities,” she said, “but consumers need to know whether or not the palm oil they use is connected to the destruction of rainforests.”
This article first appeared on the Guardian
edie is part of the Guardian Environment Network
© Faversham House Ltd 2023 edie news articles may be copied or forwarded for individual use only. No other reproduction or distribution is permitted without prior written consent.


text:
Businesses will face “widespread disruption” at the border even if the Government does strike a post-Brexit trade deal.
The National Audit Office has warned there remains “significant uncertainty” that new systems will be ready despite £1.4bn being spent this year.
The Whitehall spending watchdog said that preparations for new border controls - already rated “high risk” - had been further hampered by the pandemic.
It comes after the Bank of England predicted 1% could be knocked off GDP at the start of next year - even if there is a trade deal.
The damning official report claimed that some of the uncertainty for traders could have been avoided if ministers had acted sooner.
With just two months to go until the transition period ends, key IT systems have yet to be tested and transit areas for lorries aren’t ready.
Civil contingency plans to maintain the supply of medicines and other critical goods - were proving difficult as a result of coronavirus.
Meg Hillier, Chair of the Committee of Public Accounts, said: “The Government simply hasn’t given businesses enough time to prepare.”
The NAO also highlighted concerns about the checks needed for goods moving to Northern Ireland from the rest of the UK.
There was a “high risk” traders would not be ready by the time the new arrangements kick in.
Ministers have admitted that up to 70% per cent of hauliers will not be ready and they face queues of up to 7,000 lorries at Channel crossings.
In a sign of the uncertainty among businesses, the haulage industry warned it was not ready for a no-deal outcome.
Rod McKenzie, policy director of the Road Haulage Association, told a Scottish Parliament committee: “It’s been a shambles from beginning to end.
“The information we have is incomplete, inadequate and quite often totally incomprehensible.
“We feel we have been badly let down by the UK Government from beginning to end.”


text:
There's no denying the fun in Snapchat filters. I, for one, am obsessed with the rainbow vomit face. The social media platform is known for its face altering entertainment but has recently also found itself in the center of negative conversation regarding social beauty standards and body image.
I've recently expressed an unsettling feeling with Snapchat's "beautifying" filter (or as I like to call it, the "catfish" filter). The popular feature-warping tool immediately sheds pounds on your face, chisels your cheekbones, and banishes every bump and blemish. Early this year, Snapchat also released a temporary Bob Marley filter in celebration of 4/20. It received backlash from users and fans of the reggae legend who referred to the filter as digital blackface and an insult to the deceased icon.
Now, Snapchat users are criticizing the popular Coachella filter, pointing out that the enhancement actually "whitewashes" the tone of your skin. Similar to the catfish filter, the Coachella filter will instantly transform your face, leaving your complexion significantly glossier, your eyes more doe-shaped, and your skin tone noticeably lighter.
Users expressed their disappointment in the app, pointing out that while the filters are fun, they also promote altering your features so that they are more socially desirable. While Snapchat has yet to comment on the brewing backlash of its photoshopping enhancements, hopefully a positive conversation about embracing your features instead of altering and photoshopping them can be sparked as a result. Read on to see more of the reactions on the popular filter.
snapchat and face whitening.
Cus black women are only "pretty" when they're not as black pic.twitter.com/4b5AxlqHCc
— Melanin Monroe (@newyears__eve) April 16, 2016
— big fluffy cosplay (@namieamuros) March 10, 2016
Guys let's be real, Snapchat filters whitewash.
— Macy IS IN TOO DEEP (@maaasaaai) May 17, 2016
Why did Snapchat whitewash me pic.twitter.com/UuLK9toNoy
— reckless behaviour (@neesh_chal) April 29, 2016
also no offense but why do all the pretty snapchat filters whitewash u
— nadia (@nadiaelsherif) April 21, 2016


text:
Atari Announces Atari Fit, Fitness App with 150 Exercise Routines that Unlock Classic Atari Games
Atari, one of the world’s most recognized publishers and producers of interactive entertainment, today announced Atari Fit, a gamified fitness app coming to mobile devices in Early 2015. To develop impactful fitness routines, Atari teamed up with Michael Porter, certified personal trainer and performance enhancement specialist through the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM), to provide more than 150 exercises – including full-body circuit workouts, running programs and custom routines.
Atari Fit motivates users to exercise individually or in collaboration with friends, while earning points to unlock classic Atari games, including Pong, Centipede, Super Breakout and more.
Atari also announced its integration of the Walgreens Balance Rewards application program interface, which allows users to earn Balance Rewards loyalty program points for participating in challenges that log steps taken. Points can be redeemed at Walgreens and Walgreens.com.
“We look forward to welcoming Atari into our Balance Rewards for healthy choices program,” said Adam Pellegrini, Vice President of Digital Health, Walgreens. “Atari’s knowledge of gamification will bring a new dimension to our program.”
“By certifying all exercise and workout routines included in the app, Atari Fit is ensuring that the programs are safe and effective,” said Porter. “The variety of programs and features incorporated were designed for users at every level, making exercising fun for the newest of fitness followers to the most experienced athletes.”
Atari Fit will be packed with numerous social features, and compatible with the industry’s most popular wearable health and fitness devices, including Fitbit and RunKeeper. Atari Fit will also aggregate data from other world-renowned fitness apps, such as Google Health, allowing users to track all of their fitness activity statistics in one mobile application. Atari Fit will include a robust set of tracking capabilities to capture the user’s distance, speed, pace, time and calories burned.
“Atari Fit is the first fitness app to motivate and reward players with gameplay for being active in between gaming sessions,” said Fred Chesnais, Chief Executive Officer, Atari. “It’s a gamified fitness experience with an Atari twist. Players are motivated to work toward their fitness goals, while offering a fun, competitive experience where they earn coins and can unlock their favorite classic Atari games. The team and leaderboard components are especially unique to the Atari Fitexperience, as players around the globe can exercise, play and get healthy together.”
Additional Atari Fit features include:
- Gamified Workouts: Users are motivated by daily tips, and a multitude of exercise routines or custom programs that offer various levels of workouts that track distance, speed, pace and calories burned. Whether users work out alone or with a team, they can rise to the “top of the world” leaderboards and be the “fittest player on Earth.”
- Multiplayer: Players can exercise individually or with friends located all over the world at any time. Users can join a team, workout or race against each other, and track activity statistics for group encouragement to become the fittest team of gamers worldwide.
- Online Leaderboards for Atari Classic Games: For the first time ever, Atari games included in the app will highlight leaderboards where users can rank their skills against other players from around the globe.
- Social Sharing: Participants can post updates to Twitter and Facebook at the end of every workout, sharing player achievements and personal workout bests with friends.
(Atari Fit will eventually be localised)


text:
Maruti Suzuki India (MSI) The country's largest carmaker said that its total wholesale in May stood at 1,61,413 units
Maruti Suzuki India (MSI), the country's largest carmaker, reported a total wholesale of 1,61,413 units in May. MSI said in a statement that it sold 46,555 units in May 2021.
Domestic sales increased to 1,34,222 units last month, up from 35,293 units in May 2021, according to the report. "The May 2022 sales results are not comparable to those of May 2021 because the company's operations in May 2021 were considerably impacted by COVID-19-related disruptions," the automaker explained. Last month, sales of compact cars such as the Alto and S-Presso totaled 17,408 units. In the same month the previous year, it was 4,760.
In May of this year, the business reported 67,947 units sold in the compact sector, that includes models like the Swift, Celerio, Ignis, Baleno, and Dzire. It was 20,343 units in the same period the previous year.
Ciaz, a mid-size automobile, sold 586 units during the period under consideration. In May 2021, it was 349 units.
MSI reported that utility vehicle sales that include the Vitara Brezza, S-Cross, and Ertiga, totaled 28,051 units in March, up from 6,355 units the previous month.
Last month, there were 10,482 van dispatches. It was 1,096 units in May of the previous year. Exports were 27,191 units last month, up from 11,262 units in May of last year.


text:
Belgium kicks off pre-ordering of Audi e-tron
In Belgium advance ordering of the new electric Audi e-tron SUV, built in Brussels, starts on Wednesday 10th of January. This was confirmed by Denis Gorteman, CEO of Belgian Audi importer D’Ieteren Auto. With an advance payment of 2.000 euro you can put yourself on the waiting list for the e-tron. The price will be between 85.000 and 90.000 euro.
The Audi e-tron is a prestige project. The first full electric model of the German premium car manufacturer has an autonomy of 500 km. The car will be built in the Belgian factory in Vorst (Brussels). Audi doesn’t want to confirm any information but according to the unions production will start in August 2018 and the target is to build 4.700 e-trons this year.
5% of the market
D’Ieteren Auto expects sales of electric cars to be booming the coming years. “By 2025 35 to 40% of our sales will be partial or full electric”, Gorteman says. A bold prediction, because last year 27.000 electric cars were sold, or less than 5% of the market.


text:
NEW DELHI: Leading Indian and foreign companies including Vodafone
, Larsen & Toubro, Tech Mahindra
, Tata Power
and France’s EDF are eyeing government’s purchase of 50 lakh smart meters
, which will give them access to big data on power consumption and create a market for 50 lakh SIM cards for connecting the devices.
Forty companies, which also include equipment makers and trade bodies, have held discussions with Energy Efficiency Services
(EESL), which has tendered for 50 lakh smart meters in Uttar Pradesh and Haryana in the first phase as part of the smart-grid project. Bids are expected next week.
EESL is looking at a GPRS-based model for smart meters, which is basically placing a SIM card in the meter for communication. Telecom companies will hugely benefit by this model, EESL managing director Saurabh Kumar told ET.
"Ultimately, biggest gainers will be these data networks. 50 lakh data points will be connected (in Haryana and Uttar Pradesh), which they are getting paid every month. For them, this is big business. They would very much like to make sure signals are okay," Kumar said.
GPRS is an open technology
, and also most widely-accepted worldwide for setting up smart meters, which also brings cost benefit for the procuring agency. "What do you want as a public procurement agency? You want an open procurement, which does not get into any proprietory issues. GPRS is an open communication medium. It does not matter whether the SIM card belongs to Jio or to anyone else," he said.
A SIM-card based model will help bring down the capital cost for EESL, Kumar added. "Another reason is, because SIM card is very simple, it doesn't cost much, I mean capital cost. So, my overall cost of procurement will go down. If I take any other source, then there is a capital cost, which gets added to the cost of meter," he said.
Interested bidders do not have a choice as to whether they want to adopt any other form of communication for the smart meter.
"It is not a question of (companies) agreeing or not agreeing, this is what I want. Naturally, I mean I will look at my commercial interest, right. And also, it is easy. I mean, why should I build a communication network, when I have access to a network already," Kumar said.
The initial phase will see deployment of 40 lakh smart meters in Uttar Pradesh and 10 lakh in Haryana, Kumar said. He added that other states like Bihar, Jharkhand, Gujarat and even Delhi are keen on deploying smart meters.
There may be another bid for smart meters, depending on how the first one takes off, Kumar said. "It all depends on how quickly the first bid takes off, how quickly they are deployed So, we have just said, 'just hang on for a while, let's see what cost throws up'," he said. "If the costs are very high, I may not be able to take this forward."
Among other players who participated in the pre-bid were HPL Electric and Power, India Smart Grid Forum and Indian Electrical and Electronics Manufacturers Association (IEEMA), which is a body of 800 manufacturers of electrical, industrial electronics and allied equipment in India.
The tender is divided into two parts — meter procurement and system integration. System integrator will see meter installation, data storage on cloud, preparing dashboards, among other things. The first bidding process is expected to take place this week, Kumar said.


text:
Apple Cedes Market Share in Smartphone Operating System Market as Android Surges and Windows Phone Gains, According to IDC
FRAMINGHAM, Mass. August 7, 2013 – Despite beating Wall Street expectations in terms of shipment volumes, Apple's share in the worldwide smartphone operating system market posted a year-over-year decline during the second quarter of 2013 (2Q13). Meanwhile, Android and Windows Phone both managed slight increases during the same period. According to the International Data Corporation (IDC) Worldwide Quarterly Mobile Phone Tracker, vendors shipped a total of 236.4 million smartphones in 2Q13, up 51.3% from the 156.2 million units shipped in 2Q12. Second quarter shipments grew 9.3% when compared to the 216.3 million units shipped in 1Q13.
"The iOS decline in the second quarter aligns with the cyclicality of iPhone," says Ramon Llamas, Research Manager with IDC's Mobile Phone team. "Without a new product launch since the debut of the iPhone 5 nearly a year ago, Apple’s market share was vulnerable to product launches from the competition. But with a new iPhone and revamped iOS coming out later this year, Apple is well-positioned to re-capture market share."
"Last quarter we witnessed Windows Phone shipments surpassing BlackBerry and the trend has continued into the second quarter," said Ryan Reith, Program Manager with IDC's Mobility Tracker Programs. "Nokia has clearly been the driving force behind the Windows Phone platform and we expect that to continue. However, as more and more vendors enter the smartphone market using the Android platform, we expect Windows Phone to become a more attractive differentiator in this very competitive market segment."
Smartphone Operating System Highlights
Android maintained its leadership position, with strong contributions from Samsung and its Galaxy S4. Not to be overlooked were LG and Chinese vendors Huawei, Lenovo, and ZTE, which each recorded double-digit shipment volumes in the millions. Combined, these vendors accounted for 62.5% of all Android-powered smartphone shipments during the quarter. Still, the remaining vendors within the Android ecosystem should not be overlooked, as many have developed a strong local presence within key developing markets.
iOS finished the quarter as the clear number 2 operating system, showing that, even without new product launches, demand remains strong. Moreover, Apple added new mobile operators to its camp, boosting short-term volumes and cementing long-term end-user relationships. What remains to be seen is how the new iOS 7 will be received once it reaches the market later this year, as much of the look and feel of the user interface has been revamped.
Windows Phone posted the largest year-over-year increase among the top five smartphone platforms, and in the process reinforced its position as the number 3 smartphone operating system. Driving this result was Nokia, which released two new smartphones and grew its presence at multiple mobile operators. But beyond Nokia, Windows Phone remained a secondary option for other vendors, many of which have concentrated on Android. By comparison, Nokia accounted for 81.6% of all Windows Phone smartphone shipments during 2Q13.
BlackBerry saw its market share decline during the quarter, reaching levels not seen in the history of IDC's Mobile Phone Tracker. However, BlackBerry has shown steady progress since the launch of its BB 10 platform, which has grown to three models, additional mobile operators, and a greater presence within its total volumes. It is still early days for the platform, however, and BlackBerry will need time and resources to evangelize more end users.
Linux, with few vendors supporting the open source platform and virtually no global presence, barely scraped together a single percentage point of market share during the quarter. Most vendors have transitioned to Android and those that remain have limited presence within specific markets. It should be noted that IDC includes Linux-branded shipments in these numbers, and excludes Android-branded shipments. Several other branded variations of Linux, including Firefox, Tizen, and SailFish, are expected to launch later this year, providing a potential boost to volumes and market share.
About IDC Trackers
IDC Tracker products provide accurate and timely market size, vendor share, and forecasts for hundreds of technology markets from more than 100 countries around the globe. Using proprietary tools and research processes, IDC's Trackers are updated on a semiannual, quarterly, and monthly basis. Tracker results are delivered to clients in user-friendly excel deliverables and on-line query tools. The IDC Tracker Charts app allows users to view data charts from the most recent IDC Tracker products on their iPhone and iPad.
For more information about IDC's Worldwide Quarterly Mobile Phone Tracker, please contact Kathy Nagamine at 650-350-6423 or email@example.com.
IDC is the premier global provider of market intelligence, advisory services, and events for the information technology, telecommunications, and consumer technology markets. IDC helps IT professionals, business executives, and the investment community to make fact-based decisions on technology purchases and business strategy. More than 1,000 IDC analysts provide global, regional, and local expertise on technology and industry opportunities and trends in over 110 countries worldwide. For more than 49 years, IDC has provided strategic insights to help our clients achieve their key business objectives. IDC is a subsidiary of IDG, the world's leading technology media, research, and events company. You can learn more about IDC by visiting www.idc.com.


text:
After nearly two years of being in business, Thumb Coast CBD continues to grow — quite literally, in fact. The family-owned business recently celebrated the opening of their second location, a storefront in Fort Gratiot’s Birchwood Mall.
Thumb Coast CBD is owned by the wife-and-husband team of Mara and Kyle McCalmon, as well as a few extended family members. It’s from their St. Clair County farm where the McCalmons started growing hemp plants, first intending to sell the plants before deciding to make their own CBD products themselves. They would go on to open Thumb Coast CBD in the St. Clair Riverview Plaza in January 2020.
[Read more about the Thumb Coast CBD story in “From seed to sale: Local hemp farmers open CBD store in the St. Clair Plaza” in The Keel.]
CBD, which is derived from hemp plants but lacks the “high”-inducing THC compound commonly associated with marijuana, has a host of health benefits, alleviating pain and other ailments. Thumb Coast CBD makes and sells a variety of such products, including CBD lip balms, body lotions, bath bombs — there are even CBD-infused pet treats.
They’ve proven so popular that the McCalmons decided it was time for a new location, opening in the Birchwood Mall this November. Kyle says he noticed that many of their customers were already making the drive from Port Huron and Fort Gratiot, so maybe it was time to open a second location closer to them.
He credits the company’s growth to their attention to quality and meeting the needs of their customers. It’s about trust.
“I think it’s been to our benefit, being from the area. People know us and as they got more familiar with the store, they could trust what we were selling. CBD is still a pretty unregulated market and there are a lot of bad actors out there. We’ve developed trust with people in the area,” Kyle says.
“Our products are tested in a third-party lab, they’re certified by the state. We’re striving to put out the best products we can. We’re not in it to make the most money possible.”
Kyle cites Alan Mulally’s time as CEO of Boeing as an inspiration, saying that if you focus on quality first, the money will follow.
Much of Thumb Coast CBD’s role is in education, he says, helping customers determine the right amount of CBD dosage that works for them. Each person is different, and more isn’t always best. Kyle likes to recommend that customers start low and build from there.
Thumb Coast CBD makes and sells a variety of their own products, including CBD lip balms, body lotions, and bath bombs. (Photo: Facebook)
“People that come into the store, when they’re in pain and trying to alleviate that pain, they can be desperate and want to start with the highest dose. But that’s not always the most effective treatment,” he says.
Kyle, for his part, is also regularly educating himself, attending physician-led classes online to stay up-to-date. As for the business, upcoming projects include new signage and an updated website
to further increase online sales.
But for the McCalmons, the growth happening on their St. Clair County farm is just as important as growing the business itself. And helping their customers? Even moreso.
“Our main concern is making sure that we have quality products,” Kyle says. “Money comes second.”
Thumb Coast CBD
is now open in the Birchwood Mall in Fort Gratiot, as is their original location in the St. Clair Riverview Plaza.


text:
The Colorado Department of Revenue (DOR) Marijuana Enforcement Division on Friday issued a health and safety advisory after finding potentially unsafe levels of total yeast and mold and aspergillus contamination in flower produced by Physician Preferred Products (PPP) (dba Doc’s Apothecary).
A DOR investigation identified Mac and Punch harvest batches produced by PPP that contained levels of contaminants above acceptable limits for total yeast and mold. It also found a batch of Apple Fritter as well as another with unacceptable levels of aspergillus.
Packages from the contaminated batches were sold between March 4, 2022 and September 22, 2022 at a pair of Doc’s Apothecary locations, one in Northglenn, CO and another in Denver.
The investigation also found that batches created between January 1, 2020 and September 21, 2022 were improperly submitted for testing. As a precautionary measure, DOR also included these batches in the advisory.
PPP initiated a voluntary recall for the affected batches.
Consumers who have the affected product in their possession should destroy it or return it to the retail location for proper disposal.
Consumers who experience adverse health effects from consuming the marijuana flower should seek medical attention immediately and report the event to the Marijuana Enforcement Division.


text:
SINGAPORE - The Land Transport Authority (LTA) is re-examining the case of an electric Tesla that was slapped with a $15,000 carbon surcharge.
The authority said while all imported used cars must be individually tested, it was working with Tesla engineers to see if the Model S - which qualifies for tax breaks in most countries - was tested correctly in the first place.
The latest turn of events came just days after Tesla boss Elon Musk called Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong after news of the Model S' seemingly anomalous surcharge reached him.
The Prime Minister's Office told The Straits Times that various agencies were looking into the case.
The Model S - the first and only one here - was imported by Mr Joe Nguyen, a 44-year-old senior vice-president with an Internet research firm.
The car was first registered in Hong Kong in 2014, and had clocked about 1,000km before it was shipped here.
The LTA said tests conducted by Vicom Emission Test Laboratory showed the car had a power consumption of 444 watt-hour/km.
After factoring in CO2 emission of 0.5g/watt-hour at the power plants, the car's emission was deemed to be 222g/km. This puts it in the $15,000 surcharge band in the Carbon Emissions-based Vehicle Scheme.
Tesla Motors has informed the LTA that the Model S' energy consumption was rated at 181 watt-hour/km when it left the Tesla factory on June 28, 2014.
Hence, a brand new Model S would have qualified for a $30,000 rebate, the LTA noted.
But Mr Nguyen's car was not new. And according to regulation, all imported used cars had to be tested individually since their efficiency can "vary significantly", depending on "how they were driven and maintained previously".
The LTA said it "would not know how much the car's condition might have deteriorated" otherwise. "We cannot make exceptions as it would not be fair to other car owners."
It added: "LTA and VeTL will be working with Tesla engineers to look further into this case."
LTA also said it welcomes electric vehicle manufacturers to bring clean and energy-efficient vehicles into Singapore.
Peugeot Ion, an electric vehicle model which was previously imported brand new into Singapore, enjoyed rebates in the CEVS A1 band.
This is LTA's full statement:
The Land Transport Authority (LTA) has been in discussion with Tesla on the recent case of an imported used Tesla Model S, which attracted a $15,000 surcharge under the Carbon Emissions Vehicle Scheme (CEVS).
All imported used cars, including used electric cars, have to be subject to emissions and fuel efficiency tests before they are allowed to be registered for use in Singapore. This is because the emissions and fuel efficiency of a used car, unlike a new car, can vary significantly depending on its prevailing condition, how it was previously driven and maintained, etc. The imported Model S was first registered in Hong Kong in 2014.
Based on tests run by VICOM Emission Test Laboratory (VeTL), Mr Nguyen's used Model S had an electrical energy consumption of 444 Wh/km. An emissions factor of 0.5g CO2/Wh was then applied. This emissions factor, which is based on data provided by EMA, is consistently applied to electric and plug-in electric hybrid cars to account for the carbon emissions produced when the car is being charged. The outcome showed a carbon emissions level which placed this used car into the CEVS C3 surcharge band.
Electric cars are not carbon emissions free. They may not produce emissions from the tailpipe like conventional cars, but they take electrical power from the national power grid which has to burn fuel to produce the electricity, and in the process produces carbon emissions.
Tesla has informed LTA that based on the car's original Certificate of Conformity, its energy consumption rating was 181 Wh/km when it left the Tesla factory on 28 June 2014. LTA confirms that a brand new Tesla Model S would thus have fallen into the CEVS A1 band, and enjoyed a rebate. However, Mr Nguyen did not bring in a new Tesla Model S, but a used car, and as is the policy for the import of all used cars, must be individually subject to emissions and fuel efficiency tests since LTA would not know how much the car's condition might have deteriorated. We cannot make exceptions as it would not be fair to other car owners, and would have an impact on our environment-related policies.
LTA and VeTL will be working with Tesla engineers to look further into this case.
LTA welcomes electric vehicle manufacturers to bring clean and energy-efficient vehicles into Singapore. An EV model which was previously imported brand new into Singapore is the Peugeot Ion which enjoyed rebates in the CEVS A1 band.


text:
Mexican customs had a historical 2021. Meanwhile, Latin America is becoming an increasingly attractive investment destination.
View from the Top
Antonio Pelaez Diaz
CEO & Co-Founder
‘We are enablers,’ says Antonio Pelaez of his company Dapp’s contactless payment network that allows payments from multiple wallets.


text:
Pepsi executives are looking to improve their image. And in that vein, the New York company announced today it has committed to cutting sweet calories in its product offerings by 2025.
The company will reduce added sugars in two-thirds of its products to 100 calories, or for drinks that are 12 ounces or larger. It says this is more ambitious than the company’s original — and somewhat nebulous — goal of reducing 25 percent of sugars in some drinks in some markets by 2020.
MORE NEWS: Project Veritas Slams CNN And New York Times
Pepsi gets most of its revenue from other snack and party foods, such as Mountain Dew, Tropicana fruit punches, and high-fat hummus and guacamole products. Its new goals have also addressed the high sodium and high saturated fat content in some other wares.
The soda companies have actively lobbied against recent health-focused measures to curb obesity. The World Health Organization issued a report last week that discussed the latest research on sugary drink taxes, proving that taxes of 20 percent or more led to considerable reduction in caloric intake and thus helped lower obesity rates. Similarly, the report also showed that when governments used the revenue from sweet drinks taxes to subsidize healthier options, such as fruits and vegetables, people began making more nutritious food choices.
Soda companies, however, have opposed 28 bills in recent years aimed at levying soda taxes or placing restrictions on advertising to vulnerable populations. In light of the opposition to these movements, the about-face from Pepsi strikes some as a publicity stunt more than a sincere concern for public health.
[lz_bulleted_list title=”Obesity in U.S.” source=”http://www.stateofobesity.org”]Adult obesity rates now exceed 35 percent in four states, 30 percent in 25 states, and are above 20 percent in all states. Louisiana has the highest adult obesity rate at 36.2 percent; Colorado has the lowest at 20.2 percent.[/lz_bulleted_list]
Sugar substitutes come with their own problems. The five approved artificial sweeteners — saccharin, acesulfame, aspartame, neotame, and sucralose — taste sweeter than actual sugar and can nurture a taste for hyper-intense sweet foods. Some research even shows that we begin to forget the association between sweet foods and high calories, causing us to consume more unhealthy food. One study showed that people who drank a high proportion of diet drinks in one week were twice as likely to be overweight or obese.
And some health professionals feel skeptical about whether soda taxes would even work. “Reducing the sugars isn’t going to do much for obesity — nor will a tax. People will still choose sugary foods and then add soda. Education is the key; then people can be free to make their own choices,” said Christina Major, nutritionist and co-owner of Radiance Holistic Center and Academy in Sunbury, Pennsylvania.
Major concedes that stevia might not have as many negative effects as other sweeteners, but should still be used with caution. “Using stevia might help, since it is a more natural sugar alternative. But people with potassium problems should be made aware of the significant side effects,” she told LifeZette. Stevia leaves contain potassium, among other things.
MORE NEWS: Allen West Knows America Needs Prayers
Pepsi has been fighting soda taxes for a while now, and the company may have a point. Such taxes place a disproportionate financial burden on poor people and small businesses. African-Americans and Hispanic-Americans consume more soda than people in white communities, mostly as a result of targeted advertising and nutrition education.
In the end, the solution may not be to raise taxes, since that will unfairly target already vulnerable populations. It may have more to do with helping and teaching poorer communities about nutritious food choices.


text:
Many of the things we think are important turn out to be mere distractions. Computer games, political pundits and social media are not essential for our well-being.
When gasoline was in short supply in parts of the country, many people panicked. Lines at gas stations were long and unruly. The country may soon experience a different kind of shortage, and the implications are equally distressing.
Most of our medications are now manufactured abroad. Because the majority of dispensed prescriptions are generic drugs, we are heavily dependent upon foreign supply chains. The COVID pandemic is impacting manufacturing and shipping of such medicines.
China supplies India with a majority of the key chemicals needed to make medications. These active pharmaceutical ingredients are often shipped to India by air cargo. Once in India they are formulated into finished drug products.
The United States is highly dependent upon India for essential medicines. Hospitals cannot function without key drugs made there. Many generic products dispensed from pharmacies around the country come from Indian companies such as Glenmark, Macleods, Sun Pharma, Torrent and Wockhardt.
A report by investigative journalist Anna Edney for Bloomberg (May 5, 2021) reveals that the China-India connection appears to be in trouble:
“Drugmakers in India are warning that a halt on some cargo flights from China could imperil an important link in the global pharmaceutical supply chain.” India has been experiencing a tremendous surge in COVID-19 cases and deaths.
The acting Food and Drug Administration commissioner, Dr. Janet Woodcock, told Ms. Edney: “It’s a dynamic situation. We’re going to work closely with manufacturers there. We are concerned in several ways: Will they be able to keep up production and continue to manage quality?”
We agree with Dr. Woodcock that quality is an ongoing concern for drugs made overseas. The FDA halted inspections of foreign manufacturing facilities shortly after the pandemic began. In practical terms, that means that many of the drugs in our medicine cabinets have come from plants that have had limited or no FDA oversight.
Even in the best of times, the FDA has difficulty monitoring foreign drugmakers. The General Accountability Office recently reported that: “GAO has had long-standing concerns about FDA’s ability to oversee the increasingly global pharmaceutical supply chain, an issue on our High Risk List since 2009.”
What would be the impact if essential medicines were no longer available? People who need heart medications, asthma inhalers, critical antibiotics or diabetes drugs might sicken or even die without access to their normal supply.
No one in this country has responsibility for drug shortages. The FDA offers lists of drugs in short supply, but it has no authority to solve the problem. Neither do the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention or other health agencies. As a result, no one knows what to do to address these dangerous drug shortages.
It’s a lot like the weather: Everybody complains about it, but nobody does anything to change it. Maybe it’s time for Congress to consider creating incentives for making medication here in the U.S.
Joe Graedon is a pharmacologist. Teresa Graedon holds a doctorate in medical anthropology and is a nutrition expert. Their syndicated radio show can be heard on public radio. In their column, Joe and Teresa Graedon answer letters from readers. Write to them in care of King Features, 628 Virginia Drive, Orlando, FL 32803, or email them via their website:


text:
Working with 'Their Future Today' we donated enough fabric for 1400 brand new uniforms for children in some of the poorest communities in Sri Lanka.
'Their Future Today' is working to improve the lives of children in some of the poorest communities in Sri Lanka. Education is one of their main areas of focus as in these communities it is often seen as a luxury and not a basic right. Families struggle to afford the school uniforms and stationary that their children need to go to school. Their is often a stigma attached to not wearing a uniform and so when asked children put uniforms at the top of their wish list.
Their Future Today approached us to ask if we could donate enough fabric for 900 school uniforms. We went a step further and supplied enough fabric for 1400. Parents prefer to have the fabric and not ready made uniforms so that they can adapt the uniform as their children get bigger.
We donated the type and amount of fabric that particular schools had asked for and the school distributed the fabric to those families who needed it most. By February 2013 over 1000 children had their brand new uniform.
We’ve collected over 1,000 tonnes of food for those is need through our food collection partnerships in the UK, Poland, Hungary and the US.
In early December, we held our UK food collection campaign, ‘Help Feed People In Need’, with the Trussell Trust and Fareshare. Almost 900 stores took part in the collection and thousands of our colleagues volunteered their time to help. In total, we collected 1,000 tonnes of food, the equivalent to almost 2.4 million meals or 18,000 trolleys full of food.
We've also run collections in Hungary, the US and Poland. In Poland we’ve been supporting Food Banks for 12 years and this Christmas over 200 stores got involved.
Our new learning centre in Thailand
We have launched our first Tesco Learning Centre at our Pinklo Hypermarket in Bangkok.
The centre will offer courses to help people in the local community improve their life skills and will also provide self-learning facilities for students.
New suits made from recycled polyester
We’re saving carbon by using 100% recycled polyester for our colleagues’ new suits in store. Look out for the green labels.
Each year we use 225,000 jackets, trousers and skirts and we estimate that using recycled material will save 95,000Kg CO2 without impacting on the quality and fit of the garments.
But that’s not all, after 18 months wear we don’t throw them away, they are returned to the distributer who arranges for them to be used by charities, for example, they can be shredded and used in mattresses.
Help Feed People in Need
We’ve launched a nationwide food collection for Christmas.
Our nationwide food collection will take place in more than 800 of our stores on December 1st and 2nd and will help provide much needed food for hundreds of thousands of people this Christmas.
Apparel Skills Foundation
We've opened a Skills Foundation to support garment workers in Bangladesh.
The Skills Foundation’s objective is to equip the industry with training, expertise and tools to improve productivity while improving conditions, pay and opportunities for factory workers.
The Foundation will train and upskill factory owners on better worker management, ethical leadership and new production techniques to increase productivity.
Initiatives that have already been trialled in pilot programmes, which include reducing long working hours, giving workers productivity bonuses and implementing mentoring and buddy systems for new workers, have improved the working environment as well as making the factories more productive and sustainable.
£25million investment in British farming
We are creating two new groups, run by committees of farmers, which will guarantee beef farmers an above market price for their meat and a price linked to the cost of feed for pork farmers.
Farmers in the groups will have direct contracts that will last for up to 36 months, giving livestock farmers more security, the ability to plan ahead and a guaranteed fair price for their meat.
Micro-lending comes to Scotland
The Grameen micro-lending system, which has helped lift millions of people out of poverty worldwide, is to be launched in Scotland early next year with the aid of Tesco Bank and other major supporters.
Our Bank will provide half a million pounds of the loan capital for what will be Grameen’s first venture in the UK. We will also offer savings facilities and business support for aspiring entrepreneurs who wish to start businesses in some of Scotland’s most deprived communities.
Regeneration Partnership milestone
We’ve helped 5,000 long-term unemployed people get back to work.
On 4 October we opened our 45th Regeneration Partnership Store, Higham’s Park. Its opening means that we’ve now taken on and trained more than 5,000 long-term unemployed people through partnerships with local councils and Job Centre Plus.
Healthy Appetite wins award
Poland's best selling health magazine, Vita, has recognised us as the leading company promoting health for our in-store and online 'Healthy Appetite' programme.
Our team in Poland launched a new 'Healthy Appetite' programme in July of this year.
We're showing that healthy eating can be easy, tasty and affordable. On our new website customers can create their own nutritional plan, be inspired with new healthy recipes and get advice from nutritional experts. There is a smartphone app which provides tips and advice on the go. We also run local activities in-store including cookery demonstrations, tasting sessions and advice from nutrition experts.
Stand Up To Cancer
We're the proud lead sponsor of Stand Up To Cancer. We hope you enjoyed Friday's fantastic live show on Channel 4.
The total amount Stand Up To Cancer has raised so far is £6,483,995! Thank you to everyone who's got involved and donated. But remember, if you haven't already it's not too late...


text:
Bitcoin exchanges and trading posts have been hacking targets over the past year, but now one hacker has taken on ISPs to loot cryptocurrency from mining pools.
The professional social network introduces a trio of recruiting products to "take the work out of retaining and finding top talent."
Despite a few hiccups, 8 Ball Pool is an addictive, straightforward billiards app that is endlessly entertaining, whether you're a pool shark or not.
Pricing not available
Although its US business is humming along just fine, international expansion will provide the real growth for the video-streaming company.
The new phablet sets itself apart from all others on the market with a screen that curves over the right edge of the device, with a sort of infinity pool effect.
The company has officially launched in France, but it faces a rough welcome.
This Kickstarter campaign is close to its goal of raising $250,000 toward building a pool off Manhattan that would feature real river water for swimming.
The rumors keep mounting that Apple will use its Tuesday event to announce the use of near-field communications tech for mobile payments. The latest claims come via a banking news site.
Commentary: Microsoft's virtual assistant has the ability to hand off voice commands to mobile apps, a welcome compromise that could benefit users and developers.
A silhouette and a count of 1, 2, 3 suggest that Sony has more than one device up its sleeve for next week's IFA unveiling.


text:
- Subscribe NowLimited Time Offer
Business boosters grapple with crime problem
New initiatives inspire fresh hope for progress
When talking to growing companies looking to move to Oakland, business leaders and brokers have had to answer the perennial question: What about crime?
That question has taken on added urgency recently as San Francisco’s office vacancy shrinks and rents soar, and companies look once again at the affordable rents, great weather and cultural richness that Oakland offers. But sorting out the perception of a serious crime problem in Oakland from the reality is not necessarily straightforward.
Now city boosters have a strong partner in City Hall, which is pushing several new policing initiatives, as well as another tool to convince prospective tenants: Crimemapping.com. The Crimemapping app shows a surprising fact: a person is less likely to be robbed in downtown Oakland than in the area around Twitter’s Mid-Market headquarters.
There have been 212 robberies within a one mile radius of Frank H. Ogawa Plaza in downtown Oakland since May. According to Crimemapping.com, which aggregates crime reports from across the country, since July, there have been 610 robberies around Twitter’s Mid-Market headquarters, and 776 in the financial district, Chinatown, SoMa and Civic Center.
Scott Greenwood, a broker with Colliers International, said maps like these have been helpful in showing potential tenants exactly what they want to see: crime reports from the area around a property.
Greenwood has experienced tense questions about Oakland’s crime rates from nearly every potential tenant looking to move to the city. Crimemapping “helps to dispel that perception with the actual crime statistics of an area,” said Greenwood.
Josh Cain is an editorial intern at the San Francisco Business Times.
- Most popular
- Raiders view San Antonio as a viable NFL market, Texas official says
- S.F. restaurants with high-risk health violations in Q3 2014
- InterContinental scoops up Kimpton Hotels for $430 million
- Kilroy commits to affordable S.F. Flower Mart leases, $80M space
- City's hungriest real estate investor plans grocery store for West Oa
- Impending financial district vacancies to attract large-scale tenants
- Peet's Coffee & Tea abruptly shutters stores in three states
- The coolest San Francisco office spaces to open in 2014
- Fremont scientist: It's the world's thinnest flexible computer display
- Sale of Emeryville office towers would be biggest East Bay deal of the
Recruiting Research and Sourcing Associate Waldron | San Francisco, CA
Performance Improvement Coordinator Brown & Toland Physicians | San Francisco, CA
Ruby on Rails Developer - Heroku, SaaS CyberCoders | San Francisco, CA
Housekeeping Supervisor Morrison Management Specialists | San Mateo, CA
Holiday Sales Associate Tumi, Inc | San Francisco, CA


text:
Even though Google has canceled both its upcoming events because of coronavirus concerns, they’re still getting tons of new devices and gadgets ready for us. One of those new products may be a brand-new Google Chrome Ultra that will bring new features.
Google has been present on tons of news and rumors lately. We have recently seen a leaked video and some images of its upcoming Pixel 4a, the Pixel 5 also mentioned on the AOSP and more. Now, we were also expecting more products from Google, and it seems that the new Chromecast Ultra may be one of them.
According to the guts from 9to5Google, we would soon get a new Google Chromecast Ultra that would include Android TV and external remote control. The device is codenamed “Sabrina,” and its design resembles the 3rd gen Chromecast. This device would fill a long-awaited gap in the market since it would be a mass-consumer dongle that runs Android TV, and it would also let you stream media to your regular TV. There’s no price or more information about the availability of this device, but maybe, it could’ve launched during the recently canceled Google I/O 2020.


text:
Fashion chain Fenn Wright Manson has collapsed into administration – the latest casualty of the downturn.
The retailer, which was founded in 1974, operates 17 standalone stores and 62 concessions in department stores such as John Lewis. It was acquired by private equity group Darwin in 2010 and employs some 350 staff.
Administrators from the insolvency specialists Zolfo Cooper have been appointed. Partner Peter Holder said: "Unfortunately, as with many other fashion retailers exposed to declining consumer spend,the deterioration in trading conditions in recent months has led to increased financial pressures on the business." FWM will continue to trade while Zolfo Cooper seeks a buyer.


text:
The hardest part about working out is finding the motivation to get going.
With the help of their new smart sports bra, that helps track your biometrics, OMsignal believes it can help you change the way you feel about fitness and how you actually work out.
"Our focus was to create a beautiful sports bra to enhance a woman's body, respond to the unique strains of running, and accurately detect the body's core signals," Joanna Berzowska, head of electronic textiles at OM, said in a statement.
The OMbra has been in the works for sometime but is now available for purchase.
"Boasting specially engineered fabrics and advanced sensory technology, OMbra truly is a product of science and engineering that simultaneously features innovative and inspired design," Berzowska said.
The Canadian company says this is the first smart sports bra that tracks heart and breathing rhythms as well as your steps and movement while you work out, delivering biometric data in real-time.
OMsignal says the sports bra was made possible thanks to a new $10 million round of funding, led by Relay Ventures.
It's release comes at a time when the wearable tech market is only heating up and fitness continues to become a top priority for consumers. The wearable market, in fact, is expected to reach $25 billion by 2019, according to CCS Insight.
As retail and tech investors pour money into the wearable space, it will likely spark innovation and competition.
OMsignal first released a line of smart shirts for men in 2014, and on the heels of that success turned their attention to developing smart gear for women.
The smart bra works when you attach an OMbox to the band of the bra, which then is able to gauge your stats.
The OMbra starter kit, which includes the bra, OMbox and micro USB charger, retails at $169.00.


text:
Sainsbury’s new boss Simon Roberts has reshuffled his senior leadership team on his first day at the helm.
Chief digital director Clodagh Moriarty has taken on an expanded remit at the grocer in the new role of retail and digital director.
Sainsbury’s chief marketing officer Mark Given has been promoted to the retailer’s operating board as part of the changes.
Moriarty has been at Sainsbury’s for a decade and became the grocer’s first ever chief digital director when she was promoted to the role in June 2018.
In her new role, she will take on additional responsibility for Sainsbury’s and Argos stores and creating an “integrated and seamless experience” across the group’s stable of brands, which also includes Habitat and its Tu clothing business.
Please sign in now if you have a subscription or are already registered with us.
Retail-Week.com provides premium, in-depth intelligence that helps retailers judge risks, spot opportunities and identify what they need to do to win in the digital economy.
Register today for a taste of our high-quality intelligence and enjoy:
Discover Retail Week register now
Please note, if you have recently purchased a subscription, it may take a few moments before your account is updated.


text:
Brands beat celebrities
One of the things I've noticed at work this year is the number of brands getting involved with Facebook.
Now Facebook may seem like a no brainer to you but believe me it's not.
Up until quite recently many clients have been reluctant to set up a presence there.
I suspect even more clients will say yes to Facebook when they read the latest report on social media by IAB UK.
According to the report around one in five people (20.3%) follow brands on Facebook.
That figure is a lot higher than I thought it would be.
And way higher than the 13.4% of people who follow celebrities on Facebook.
That means there's more people following brands than celebrities.
Pretty interesting don't you think?


text:
Well folks, March 7 it is! Apple has just sent out press invites to confirm what appears to be the next iPad launch. And from the looks of things there is a button missing.
Now Apple also has incredible and desructive timing in the past, so once again they do not let anyone down. It appears the media invites were passed out during the middle of Eric Schmidt’s Google/Android keynote at Mobile World Congress held in Barcelona. Check the source link from TUAWS for more information. And to answer your question TUAW, this was completely deliberate without a doubt.
The iPad 3 does appear to have a much richer screen which may confirm the Retina HD screen. As for the rest of the rumors, we will know this time next week. Stay tuned! Apple tends to start press conferences at 1:00 PM EST.


text:
The UK is recognised as one of the world’s leading countries when it comes to encouraging and stimulating small businesses and entrepreneurship, so why is the government not taking any steps to prevent these from slipping into the abyss?
By Daniel Rodgerson, Senior Associate in Corporate & Commercial
We’re finding that many businesses simply aren’t qualifying for the government’s Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS), predominately by virtue of them not being considered ‘viable’ by the banks before the coronavirus crisis hit.
There’s an obvious need to ensure people aren’t defrauding any support packages in place for businesses through this crisis period, but by introducing subjectivity through the inclusion of ‘viability’ in relation to lending criteria, has resulted in banks being overly cautious around lending to businesses that can’t demonstrate viability.
I believe that the current caution being exercised was not what was intended by the government when they stated, over and over, that they would “do whatever it takes”. What we do know is that the support packages are not reaching the bulk of SMEs and start-ups, who incidentally, are the very businesses who urgently need the valued support funding. They are, simply, falling through the cracks.
Why are SMEs slipping through the cracks for support?
Typically, start-ups and SMEs do not take much from their business because they are focused on investing for growth and attracting external investment. A large portion of founders don’t pay themselves salary or dividends from the business in the early stages, which has, unfortunately, resulted in them not qualifying for either of the government’s Job Retention Scheme or self-employed assistance.
Most company directors of start-ups and SMEs also don’t have the option to furlough themselves, as they will technically be in breach of the scheme if they claim the grant and choose to do any work during the furlough period. Even simple work tasks like arranging to pay suppliers, updating their website or improving technology could be deemed a breach, and furloughing both themselves and their staff would mean there would be no one left to run the business. Many also don’t qualify (or have not opted) to charge or recover VAT, and therefore don’t qualify for the VAT deferral on offer either, and as the relief does not cover VAT MOSS, those operating in the digital space will not be able to defer such payments.
All these complexities pose government and lenders a real quandary, but many SME leaders are pushing for this to be something that needs urgent attention and recognition, with a potential solution required immediately.
It’s common for start-ups to seek equity funding, but there isn’t anything currently available to encourage such investment in environments like the one we’re in right now. Venture capital firms, private equity houses and other investment vehicles want to protect their portfolio companies first and foremost, and therefore many aren’t considering investments in new or loss-making businesses. At least with the CBILS, the banks are mostly protected by the government if such businesses fail. The same protection isn’t available for investors, yet.
Of particular concern are those businesses that require significant initial investment into research and development in the early stages, notably tech businesses. These are surely doomed to fail without any support, as they can often be loss-making for longer periods than those in other sectors.
Has the government purposefully forgotten about these start-ups?
I don’t think the government has forgotten– they’ve set up funding systems for the masses first, which is understandable. But, as I say, these are the types of business that have simply fallen through the cracks of the support that’s available right now.
The government needs to consider criteria that’s been specifically designed to capture these SMEs and start-ups, many of which are pioneering innovation in a range of existing and emerging markets – something the UK is hailed for globally.
I believe that the government has relied on HMRC for statistics on which to base the support, which has inadvertently caused the gap, as many smaller limited company directors often don’t do things so ‘traditionally’.
Instead, and often to keep their business going, some company directors will create overdrawn director’s loan accounts instead of paying themselves by way of consistent salary and/or dividends and they are also often encouraged to take other efficient tax steps, including payments into pensions. All of these have distorted the traditional view and caused such individuals to miss out on the current support options available.
The majority of businesses we’re speaking to are now in crisis survival mode – many of whom have a real fear that they may not last the course of this unprecedented event without specific support becoming available.
Passionate leaders who believe in their business will likely have to apply for ‘normal’ loans, which will inevitably come with higher interest rates, immediate or unrealistic repayment periods or other unfavourable terms for a business at this stage. Many would prefer an equity option where shares in the business are given away instead of having to make consistent repayments, as a small piece of the pie is better that no pie at all!
Currently, I believe that France is leading the way in its efforts to protect start-ups, but my view is that we need something even more refined and attractive here in the UK. Start-ups need equity choices, better debt products and a support wage (based on a number of factors that aren’t currently included within such calculations). Such steps could include government-matched or backed investments, an increased favourable tax position for investors in order to stimulate activity and, arguably, they may also need to reverse the changes made in the Budget to Entrepreneur’s Relief to encourage individuals to reinvest into start-ups following a sale of their business.
It’s clear – and understandable – that the government is concentrating its funding support and economic efforts for businesses around short-term survival, but the reality is that it has created huge challenges for so many SMEs and start-ups across the country.
The UK is recognised as one of the world’s leading countries when it comes to encouraging and stimulating small businesses and entrepreneurship, so why is the government not taking any steps to prevent these from slipping into the abyss? I understand there isn’t a quick fix to this problem, but we urgently need a solution with some real thought behind it in order to prevent abuse and save our SME and start-up communities. Based on the current support on offer, so many of our precious small businesses will fail. So many of these businesses are only ever a few weeks and months away from failure, even in the good times. This is a real concern right now, and evidentially already too late for some. But now is the time to act.


text:
Soundbites: Anti-Theft Technology
DEARBORN, Mich., Sept. 19, 2011 – Fewer Americans were victims of car thefts last year. The FBI’s annual Uniform Crime Report shows a 7.2 percentage decrease in auto thefts compared to 2010. Improved anti-theft devices and safety tips can help continue this downward trend. Unfortunately, potential thieves will not give up on their efforts to steal your car. But with the same persistence, Ford is constantly improving technologies and methods to keep vehicles secure for its customers.
Ford provides several technologies to better protect your investment:
Despite significant and ongoing improvements in security features, no system is foolproof. The goal of each preventative measure is to deter theft by making it more difficult for thieves to steal your vehicle.
For increased protection, Ford dealers also provide additional anti-theft safety services:
Everyday things you can do to protect against theft:
You might think most stolen vehicles are expensive sports cars or multipurpose passenger vehicles, but that’s not always the case.
It also doesn’t matter whether you live in a big city, the suburbs or in the country; anyone is susceptible to vehicle theft.
In fact, 40 to 50 percent of vehicle theft is due to driver error, which includes leaving vehicle doors unlocked and leaving keys in the ignition or on the seats.
But there are measures you can take to make sure your vehicle is not an easy target for thieves:
Finally, if you have information on an auto theft crime, first report it to police and then see if there is a theft prevention program like Michigan’s Help Eliminate Auto Thefts program (1-800-242-HEAT) that offers potential cash rewards for information on auto theft crimes.
FBI Uniform Crime Report-Motor Vehicle Theft by Region
Motor vehicle theft
To read the report, click here.
About Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Mich., manufactures or distributes automobiles across six continents. With about 166,000 employees and about 70 plants worldwide, the company's automotive brands include Ford and Lincoln. The company provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. For more information regarding Ford's products, please visit www.ford.com.


text:
The newest line of automated beer brewing machines from the Seattle company, the Z series, is made for those who want the option of making bigger batches of brews.
PicoBrew is making a move into craft breweries and restaurants, but the startup says it will still be available to brew beer on your kitchen counter.
The newest line of automated beer brewing machines from the Seattle company, the Z series, is made for those who want the option of making bigger batches of brews – think restaurants, bars, breweries and serious individual beer lovers.
PicoBrew launched about five years ago with a home brewing machine, the Zymatic, that was about the size of a microwave oven and aimed to automate some of the beer-making process, making it easier for aspiring garage brewers.
So far, about 2,700 Zymatic units have sold and about half went to professional brewers who wanted to make pilot batches of new beers, said PicoBrew founder and CEO Bill Mitchell.
Most Read Business Stories
- Alaska Airlines reaches a milestone contract deal with its pilots union
- Rad Power Bikes puts the brakes on RadWagon 4 over safety concerns
- Seattle is America's fastest-cooling housing market, Redfin says
- Airbus wins $4.8 billion China jet order in blow to Boeing
- They were entitled to free care. Renton-based Providence hospitals hounded them to pay
PicoBrew has since announced smaller brewing units that more compactly fit into a home and come with curated ingredient packs, if the brewer desires. That Pico series will still be available.
But the Zymatic — which could brew only 2.5 gallons — will be replaced by the Z series. It allows brewers to make between 1 and 10 gallons at a time, a larger capacity that commercial brewers wanted.
The Z series allows brewers to add or remove some components depending on how big a batch they’re brewing, an idea that former Microsoft executive Mitchell modeled on the scalability of data centers.
PicoBrew has relied on Kickstarter to launch its product sales in the past, but this time it’s moving away from the consumer-focused website. Instead, it will take orders on its site beginning today.
The Zymatic is still currently on sale for $1,999 and the small Pico C costs $449. The Z series, available in June, costs between $1,499 for a machine that makes 2.5 gallons of beer to $3,999 for a 10-gallon unit.


text:
With Rising Cybersecurity Fears, Bain Capital Acquires Blue Coat Systems
Blue Coat’s previous owner agreed to sell the company for $2.4 billion in an all-cash deal after taking it private in 2012 for $1.3 billion.
SUNNYVALE, Calif. – Blue Coat Systems has been acquired by Bain Capital for $2.4 billion in a deal that reportedly prepares the network security company to go public again.
The Silicon Valley company was taken private by San Francisco-based Thoma Bravo in a February 2012 deal valued at $1.3 billion.
RELATED: How to Protect Your Security Business Against Cyber Espionage
The sale came after a competitive bidding process run by Goldman Sachs Group. Blue Coat’s products help speed up data flow over the Internet while blocking inappropriate websites and cyber attacks.
The company claims to be used by 80% of the Fortune 500 and said it blocks more than 3 million threats a day.
RELATED: Home Security Systems, Peripherals Said to Be Vulnerable to Hacking
“Bain Capital has a long history of accelerating growth, and I look forward to partnering with them in our journey to be one of the top performing security companies in the world,” Blue Coat CEO Greg Clark said in a press release.
David Humphrey, a managing director at Bain Capital, said in the same release, “We are excited by the opportunity to work with Blue Coat’s world-class management team to grow the business organically and through acquisitions, and to ultimately return the company to the public markets.”
Blue Coat bought several companies after it was taken private, including anti-malware company Norman Shark, security analytics company Solera Networks, and SSL technology from Netronome which helps inspect Internet traffic.
If you enjoyed this article and want to receive more valuable industry content like this, click here to sign up for our FREE digital newsletters!
Security Is Our Business, Too
For professionals who recommend, buy and install all types of electronic security equipment, a free subscription to Security Sales & Integration is like having a consultant on call. You’ll find an ideal balance of technology and business coverage, with installation tips and techniques for products and updates on how to add sales to your bottom line.
A free subscription to the #1 resource for the residential and commercial security industry will prove to be invaluable. Subscribe today!


text:
Announcements are already flowing in advance of the Solar Power 2007 conference, which kicks off in Long Beach, Calif., with a reception Monday evening.
Fat Spaniel Technologies on Monday launched a new product, Fat Spaniel Insight Manager, to manage renewable-energy systems across multiple sites at the same time. Envision Solar said Monday it is building a solar-powered charging station for electric cars and plug-in hybrids for the U.S. National Renewable Energy Laboratory.
Last week, SMA America released a new inverter that it claims is easier to use and provides 20 percent more wattage than previous models. Inverters convert renewable energy from direct current (DC) to usable alternating current (AC).
KACO Solar also announced it would launch a new inverter at the show this week. And Lumeta said it would launch a new roof-integrated solar panel that would reduce installation time and cost.
These are only a few examples of announcements that so far seem to focus more on easing consumer use and installation rather than on new technologies in solar cells and modules.
Of course, new equipment advances are still needed and still coming (see Earth2Tech's solar roundup). And announcements also reveal plenty of manufacturing growth. Schott Solar last week announced plans to expand U.S. production by more than 60 megawatts, Global Solar Energy said it would build a 30-megawatt thin-film plant in Berlin and XsunX said it would present plans to build a 100-megawatt solar-panel manufacturing plant at the conference this week.
But developments making it easier to install and use solar power represent a significant shift that's necessary to grow the solar market.
After all, in the United States more than half the cost of solar-power systems is due to installation, not equipment, according to Photon Consulting (see Beating the Odds).
And aside from the cost, the sheer difficulty of installing solar-power systems can be a deterrent.
Bob Epstein, co-founder of Environmental Entrepreneurs (also known as E2), and William Reilly, senior advisor for the Texas Pacific Group and founding partner of Aqua International Partners, discussed these problems at the Cleantech Venture Forum in February, and Topline Strategy Group and Sunlight Electric published a study about them in November.
Because a shortage of solar-grade silicon has limited the supply of solar equipment in the last two years, solar companies have been able to sell as much as they can make.
But a more concentrated focus on making it easier and cheaper to install and use solar power shows that companies are preparing for a time when the shortage is over and competition for customers will begin (see Silicon Steals the Spotlight, Again).
The conference, which last year attracted more than 6,500 attendees, expects to bring together 10,000 solar enthusiasts this year.


text:
26 Jan 2018 · A tweet from Richard Devine appears to have revealed a new unreleased synthesizer from Black Corporation. Apparently it will be ready for Superbooth. Does anyone know what it's called?
Black Corporation - News and Rumours
You want all the latest news, rumours and everything else there’s to know about Black Corporation? We're happy to oblige: On this page you’ll find everything at a glance – and it’s always up to date!
11 Jan 2018 · A Black Corporation Instagram photo reveals the new Deckard's Dream Expander is ready to go and will be on show in Anaheim at NAMM 2018 along with this dream of a synthesizer.


text:
Pilgrim’s Pride Corp. is recalling approximately 11,240 pounds of ready-to-eat chicken nuggets and other products that may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) reported Wednesday.
The problem was discovered as a result of on-site internal testing at two of its Texas establishments — in Mount Pleasant and Waco.
The company says it has received no reports of illness in connection with the products.
Being recalled are:
‚Ä¢ 10 lb. boxes containing 2 5-lb bags of “Sweet Georgia Brand Fully Cooked Breaded White Chicken Nuggets Shaped Patties”
‚Ä¢ 30 lb. boxes containing 6 5-lb bags of “Pilgrim’s Pride Fully Cooked Grilled Chicken Breast Fillet with Rib Meat”
The “Chicken Nugget Shaped Patties” have a date code of 11471010 inkjetted on the box, and bear the establishment number “P-7091A” inside the USDA mark of inspection. Each 5-lb bag is marked with the date code and “P-7091A.” These products were produced on May 27, 2011 and shipped to distribution centers in New Jersey and Texas for further distribution to food service institutions.
The “Grilled Chicken Breast Fillet with Rib Meat” has a date code of 11801050 and a use-by date of Dec. 26, 2011 inkjetted on the box, and bears the establishment number “P-20728” inside the USDA mark of inspection. The inner bags are marked with the code date and Use By Date. These products were produced on June 29, 2011 and shipped to a distribution center in Ohio, for further distribution to food service institutions.
Consumers with questions about the recall should contact the company’s representative, Cheri Schneider, at 800-321-1470
On Oct. 12, 2002, deli products made at a Pilgrim’s Pride plant in Franconia, PA were the source of an outbreak of listeriosis that killed seven people, sickened 46 and caused three miscarriages. Pilgrim’s Pride recalled 27.4 million pounds of sliced deli poultry after Listeria monocytogenes was found in a drain at the Franconia facility. At that time, the recall was the largest ever in the U.S.


text:
How do you think social media influences what people buy? If you believe a recent report on the influence of social media on shopping this past holiday season, the answer is not much. As the article said:
online shoppers mostly ignored social channels as purchase influencers,according to survey results from Baynote. Pinterest and Twitter influenced online and in-store purchases for just 1 in 10 shoppers surveyed, with Facebook garnering only slightly more interest. Instead, online ratings and reviews were most likely to influence both online and in-store purchases (33% and 24%, respectively), with Google search results including a pictured product available by the retailer coming in next for online purchases (26%) and paper catalogs (21%) second for in-store purchases. Not surprisingly, social channels were most influential among younger consumers (aged 25-34), while paper catalogs got the attention of the 45+ crowd.
This was accompanied by another piece which announced that “only 2% of traffic to retailers during the holiday season came from social networks, per figures released by Adobe Systems.” The article then goes on to say “Adobe isn’t the first to detail social media’s rather small influence over the holiday season.”
I could be wrong about this but given that Adobe is the parent company of one of the large analytics firms, I’m assuming they looked for traffic into shopping carts from social media. Their question – is social media converting into sales – isn’t the right one. How about “does social media influence sales?” I’m willing to bet that a large percentage of what’s on Pinterest is aspirational – something the user wants or acknowledges as desirable. Maybe it’s a place people use to research gifts for friends? You will have a hard time convincing me, just based on what crosses my Twitter stream and Facebook news feeds, that people aren’t researching purchases via social media.
The Baynote data is a survey – let’s always remember that what people say and what they do sometimes don’t align. That said, I think taking “catalogs” as a whole while segmenting digital into pieces (search vs. social vs online stores) is a bit misleading. It also doesn’t reflect how users may begin with a search, move over to social to check out their connections’ thinking on what they’ve found, and then their use of the online store to buy, perhaps several days (and sessions) later.
Given the continuing and impressive growth of online shopping during the last holiday season I’m a believer in social as a influence. People spend more of their lives online and that includes shopping. Maybe these folks are asking the wrong questions. I’m sure they’d have just as hard time proving that TV or print resulted in the conversions they’re discussing yet very few people deny those media have an impact. What do you think?