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Bryan McLeod can thank a U.S. shopping channel for the meteoric growth of his business.
Two years ago he was at a Las Vegas consumer electronics show, hawking Clickfree, a device you plug into your computer to back up files such as photos and other documents. The pocket-sized item caught the eye of top brass from QVC, one of the biggest shopping channels in the United States.
They liked the concept, but they weren’t immediately convinced, says Mr. McLeod, CEO of Storage Appliance Corp., the privately held Toronto-area company behind Clickfree.
“They said, ‘We’re going to try it,’” he recalls.
QVC’s first order was for 6,000 units, a lot to buy from a fledgling company. The channel showcased the item eight times an hour starting at midnight in the days after the initial order. Then requests from viewers came flooding in.
Over the past five years, ClickFree has seen a 64,240 per cent revenue growth, an expansion that has catapulted it to the top of Deloitte’s annual Fast 50 list of Canada’s fastest-growing technology companies, released Thursday.
The winners are also considered innovators in their field. Click here to see the full list.
Launched a decade ago, the program also presents awards for leadership and for environmental work, and it flags companies to watch.
“Clickfree is really at the front end of one of the biggest issues in the technology world, in that everyone’s data has become the most valuable part of consumer technology – not the device itself,” says John Ruffolo, national leader of technology, media and telecommunication at Deloitte.
The emphasis on data, he adds, was a trend noted in Deloitte’s global predictions from a few years ago.
All of the companies rounding out the top five have only been around for five years, Mr. Ruffolo says, and they all serve unique technological needs, another trend he’s noted.
Markham, Ont.-based Real Matters, which designed a system to help property owners get cheap home appraisals, came in second with a percentage growth of 40,532 per cent - more than 20,000 percentage points below Clickfree’s revenue increase.
“They’re really exploiting a specific niche,” Mr. Ruffolo says of the new tech companies. “And this way, when they focus in on the niche, they need less capital because (Canadian businesses) have far less capital.”
But Mr. McLeod rejects the term “niche” to describe his business because he feels his product has wide appeal. “I wouldn’t call us niche,” he says. “That usually signifies a small market.”
He points to one of his previous technological pursuits as an example of a niche area: software for use by neurosurgeons in North America.
Clickfree, on the other hand, can be used by almost anybody, he says, adding that concerns about losing valuable items such as photos is universal. “If someone can come up with a solution that’s just brain-dead simple, then you have a huge potential market.”
Mr. McLeod has climbed the revenue ladder with technology products before.
He was one of the business whizzes behind Harmony remote controls – one of the first universal remote-control systems devised in the early 2000s. In May, 2004, he and his partner sold the product to consumer electronics company Logitech for $80 million, the kind of sale that could be in the cards for Clickfree.
The Fast 50 list comes at an exciting time for the company, Mr. McLeod notes. Just a week and a half ago, the patent for the automatic back-up technology that’s integral to the operation of Clickfree was approved. The company had applied for it years ago, and “if anyone infringes the patent, they’re in trouble.”
The approval could lead to even greater revenue for the company, which has staff in Richmond Hill, Ont., and in Beijing. China is devoted strictly to software elements, Mr. McLeod says, while the Canadian office also deals with sales and marketing.
Despite the company’s success, Mr. McLeod says the company still has inroads to make with Canadian retailers. Despite its status as a Canadian company, Clickfree is available at Staples and Blacks Photography, among others, but it can only be found in U.S. Best Buy stores.
The top spot on the Fast 50 list might lead to other big changes for Clickfree, Mr. McLeod says. He expects to get calls from private investors Thursday when the list is made public. And he has high expectations for 2011.
“We’ll win again,” he says. “It’s expected we’ll double our revenue again next year.”
ClickFree just raised $15 million in capital, which it will use to expand production and marketing around the world. It has already gained a foothold in the Australian market, it just hired “three top guys” in Japan and it will look to do a “quick rollout” in Europe in the coming months.
“Obviously the percentage growth will slow down.”
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Showing results for: Dairy
This paper from the Oxford Livestock, Environment and People (LEAP) programme examines the narratives that have - at different times and places - surrounded three scenarios about the future of milk and dairy: “more milk”, “better milk” and “less milk”.
This report from the international non-profit Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy examines the climate impacts of large dairy corporations. It finds that greenhouse gas emissions from the 13 largest dairy companies have increased by 11% over the last two years, alongside an 8% increase in milk production, and that none of these corporations has published plans to cut total emissions in their dairy supply chains.
This working paper from the World Resources Institute compares the carbon footprint of dairy from 13 different countries and pork from 11 countries. It uses a carbon opportunity cost approach to carbon footprinting, i.e. it accounts for carbon that is not stored in vegetation or soils because the land is being used to produce dairy or pork.
This paper gives an overview of the potential public health impacts of dairy production and consumption across the globe. It notes that dairy production is projected to increase by a quarter between 2014 and 2025, driven by both a rising global population and increases in the amount of dairy consumed per person.
Eating Better has released a roadmap of 24 actions that government, food service, retailers, food producers and investors can take to halve UK meat and dairy consumption by 2030 and to switch to “better” meat and dairy as standard.
A joint investigation by the Guardian newspaper, Channel 4 News and the UK’s non-profit Bureau of Investigative Journalism has found that halving ammonia emissions from farms in the UK could save thousands of lives each year. However, a loophole in regulations means that ammonia emissions from beef and dairy farms do not have to be monitored.
This paper, written by researchers on the University of Oxford’s LEAP project and co-authored by the FCRN’s Tara Garnett, explores what drives the intensification of dairy farming, and the consequences for the environment, animal welfare, socio-economic wellbeing and human health. The paper also considers three potential approaches to addressing these consequences: sustainable intensification, multifunctionality, and agroecology.
This feature in the UK’s Guardian newspaper examines the environmental implications of China’s promotion of milk consumption. Dairy consumption in China has grown from very little to around 30 kg per year within the last few decades, and government guidelines recommend that people triple their current dairy consumption.
This report from Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations and the Global Dairy Platform shows the global dairy sector’s greenhouse gas emissions and outlines the measures the sector could take to contribute to climate change mitigation.
FCRN member Marie Trydeman Knudsen has co-authored this life cycle assessment of organic versus conventional milk production in Western Europe, which highlights the importance of including soil carbon changes, ecotoxicity and biodiversity in environmental assessments.
This paper calculates the carbon footprints of food supply across different European Union countries. Annual footprints vary from 610 to 1460 CO2 eq. per person, with Bulgaria having the lowest footprint and Portugal having the highest footprint. Meat and eggs account for the largest share of the carbon footprint (on average 56%), while dairy products account for a further 27%.
In this study, researchers investigated the views of urban Brazilian citizens on dairy production. The study also explored the public’s awareness of and their views on the acceptability of four common husbandry practices: early cow-calf separation; zero-grazing; culling of the newborn male calf; and dehorning without pain mitigation. Their goal was to understand Brazilians’ concerns around and acceptance of dairy farming.
The New York-based Guarini Centre on Environmental, Energy and Land Use Law has released a report exploring the policies that US cities could use to reduce meat and dairy consumption. Three main categories of policy are proposed: informational (to raise public awareness of the health and climate implications of meat and dairy consumption), procurement policies for public institutions, and economic interventions to incentivise different purchasing patterns.
A new report from the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy (IATP, a US non-profit research and advocacy organisation) and Genetic Resources Action International (GRAIN, a non-profit headquartered in Spain) finds that the five largest meat and dairy companies together account for more greenhouse gas emissions than ExxonMobil, Shell or BP. The top 20 meat and dairy companies have greater emissions than some nations, including the UK and Australia. The report argues that by 2050, the meat and dairy industry could account for 80% of the planet’s greenhouse gas budget if the industry grows as projected.
FCRN member Erasmus zu Ermgassen of the University of Cambridge has surveyed six NGO initiatives that are promoting sustainable cattle ranching in the Brazilian Amazon by using intensified pasture production to avoid deforestation. He finds that high-productivity cattle ranching is possible, requiring investment of US$410–2180/ha with payback times of 2.5–8.5 years. However, several barriers exist, including knowledge transfer, financial support and transparency in cattle supply chains.

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Ogilvy UK has announced a new partnership with influencer marketing platform Takumi to expand the agency’s InfluenceO tool to allow clients to effectively execute multi-market campaigns with influencers in multiple languages.
As part of the partnership, both Ogilvy and Takumi will support to expand the footprint of the tool, while also helping marketers mitigate the risk of influencer fraud.
The agency stated that the global partnership will make it simpler for brands to run multi-market campaigns by combining the abilities of its existing InfluenceO tool with Takumi’s proposition — which uses tech to connect brands with suitable influencers.
Currently, the InfluenceO tool hosts over a billion influencers across 60,000 categories. As well as pairing advertisers with creators, it also vets them and offers real-time measurement tools to help brands avoid issues that have plagued the industry, like fake followers and fraud.
“As more and more businesses are realising the impact of influence, we’ve experienced phenomenal growth in this area, especially as clients require influencer marketing not just across their offering, but across countries as well. The world of influence is changing dramatically, and brands need to harness the full spectrum of influencers to cut through the noise,” said Rahul Titus, head of influence at Ogilvy.
“This is a great milestone in our development as we continue to be able to work with Takumi to ensure the right brands are working with the right influencers, and we’re able to continually advocate for transparency and tackle fraud in the space.” he continued.
Adam Williams, Takumi’s CEO, added: “We are delighted to be working on this partnership with Ogilvy, executing localised campaigns with influencers in multiple languages.
“Our fantastic team and multi-market capabilities have created this exciting opportunity for brands to tap into the powerful creativity and influence of our Instagram content creators at scale,” said Williams.


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As the world becomes more conscious of the environmental impact of human activities, the need for sustainable solutions is becoming increasingly apparent. One area that has seen a lot of attention is transportation, particularly in urban areas where emissions from vehicles contribute significantly to air pollution. In London, a city known for its heavy traffic and high pollution levels, low-emission delivery is becoming a popular solution for businesses looking to reduce their carbon footprint.
Low-emission delivery refers to the use of vehicles that produce fewer emissions than traditional delivery vehicles, such as those powered by petrol or diesel engines. In London, this has primarily involved the use of electric vehicles, which produce zero emissions at the point of use. With advances in technology, electric vehicles are becoming more practical and cost-effective for businesses, making them an attractive option for those looking to reduce their environmental impact.
Several companies in London are already embracing low-emission delivery, including major retailers such as Amazon and Tesco. Amazon has pledged to make half of all its deliveries in London emissions-free by 2030, while Tesco has set a target of net-zero emissions by 2035. Other businesses, such as food delivery companies and courier services, are also making the switch to low-emission vehicles.
One of the key benefits of low-emission delivery is the positive impact it can have on air quality in urban areas. London has some of the highest levels of air pollution in the UK, and reducing emissions from delivery vehicles can help to improve the health and well-being of people living and working in the city. Additionally, low-emission delivery can help businesses to reduce their operating costs in the long run, as electric vehicles are generally cheaper to maintain and operate than traditional vehicles.
However, there are still challenges to overcome in the adoption of low-emission delivery in London. One of the main barriers is the lack of charging infrastructure for electric vehicles, particularly in residential areas where many delivery drivers live. The cost of electric vehicles can also be a barrier for smaller businesses, although this is expected to decrease as the technology becomes more widespread.
Overall, low-emission delivery has the potential to play a significant role in creating a more sustainable future for London. By reducing emissions from delivery vehicles, businesses can help to improve air quality in the city while also reducing their operating costs. As more companies make the switch to low-emission vehicles, we can expect to see a positive impact on the environment and the health of Londoners.
If you’re a business owner in London looking to make the switch to low-emission delivery, consider using Finmile. Our platform helps businesses to optimise their delivery routes, reducing the time and cost of delivery while also minimising emissions. With Finmile, you can make the transition to low-emission delivery with ease, helping to create a more sustainable future for London and the planet.


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Last year, Facebook announced Messenger Lite, a slimmed-down version of the Messenger app designed for users in areas with slower internet speeds and with older phones. Now it’s come to the UK.
Tinder has released a new way for users to interact with potential love interests.
HSBC will allow customers to add details of accounts held with other institutions to its online banking app.
There’s little more annoying than spotting something you really like the look of, only to get it home and realise that actually you only liked the way it looked in a shop.
Google Assistant, the tech giant’s artificial intelligence-powered virtual assistant, has launched as an app for iPhone users in the UK.


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On May 11 of this year, U.S. President Joe Biden formally declared the national state of emergency for the COVID-19 pandemic over but, for much of the last year, Americans already have been returning to normal living and the nation’s convenience stores have been benefitting as traditional commuting routines and shopping behaviors bounce back.
Total U.S. convenience store sales reached a record high of $814 billion last year, an increase of nearly 23 percent year over year, according to the 2023 Convenience Store News Industry Report, the longest-running annual analysis of U.S. c-store industry performance.
For the second year in a row, motor fuel sales posted an annual increase upwards of 30 percent. Largely driven by higher gas prices, the industry’s 2022 fuel revenue rose by 32.9 percent to reach $538.7 billion. Fuel volume grew slightly, with gallons up 1.6 percent for the year.
Also for the second consecutive year, in-store sales at U.S. convenience stores hit a new high of $275.3 billion last year, up 6.6 percent over the prior year. While inflation pushed product prices higher throughout 2022, a 1.5-percent increase in the industry’s store count — led by single-store operators — contributed as well to last year’s strong in-store sales growth.
Industry gross profits overall jumped 3.3 percent last year, down slightly from the nearly 5-percent increase of 2021. While both in-store and motor fuel gross profits climbed last year, in-store saw a stronger increase, propelled by the power of the foodservice category. In-store gross profits totaled $73.35 billion for the year, while fuel profits totaled $50.61 billion.
Click below to download the full 2023 Convenience Store News Industry Report.


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Dow Jones futures jumped Tuesday morning, along with S&P 500 futures and Nasdaq futures, on continued coronavirus vaccine optimism and strong China manufacturing data. Apple (AAPL), Tesla (TSLA), Nio, Xpeng Motors and Moderna stock had been rallying before the wide open, while Zoom Video Communications (ZM) retreated.
The stock market rally shed surface Monday but came from lows, especially the Nasdaq, fueled by gains found in Apple (AAPL), Moderna (mrna) and Amd stock. In Monday’s consultation, Apple stock flashed a first buy signal, while Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) broke out. Apple chipmaker Qorvo (QRVO) similarly cleared a buy point.
Tesla, Nio Early Movers
The S&P 500 index will add Tesla stock in one fell swoop before Dec. 21, S&P Dow Jones Indices announced late Monday. Meanwhile, China rivals Nio (NIO) and Xpeng Motors (XPEV) reported November deliveries early Tuesday. Moderna simply kept soaring.
On the downside, Zoom Video, the ultimate coronavirus play, reported better-than-expected results and upside guidance. But Zoom Video stock fell solidly prior to the open
Tesla and Zoom Video stock are two of probably the biggest 2020 winners, up 578 % and 603 %, respectively as of Monday’s close. But MRNA stock is actually 681 % season to to date. Nio stock is up a 1,157 % so far in 2020. The latest IPO Xpeng stock is up merely 291 %, although it tripled in November by itself.
Apple stock, the ultimate megacap, rose prior to the open after closing right from an assertive entry.
On Monday, Chinese stocks struggled on a wide variety of elements, incorporating a looming House vote on legislation that could lead to delistings coming from U.S. markets. Fraud allegations vs. EV developer Kandi Technologies (KNDI) did not help. E-commerce giants JD.com (JD), Pinduoduo (PDD) and Alibaba (BABA) suffered significant losses. Tesla electric automobile rivals Nio, Xpeng and Li Auto (LI) also retreated.
JD.com stock, Pinduoduo, AMD along with Tesla are actually on IBD Leaderboard. Apple stock is on the Leaderboard watchlist. AMD and Tesla stock are on SwingTrader. AMD stock is on the IBD 50.
Dow Jones Futures Today
Dow Jones futures rose 1.05 % vs. fair value. S&P 500 futures climbed 1%. Nasdaq 100 futures advanced one %. Apple stock gave a lift to the Dow Jones, S&P 500 and also Nasdaq.
You can find renewed efforts to push for a new stimulus deal, at the very least on unemployment benefits. It is unclear if House Democrats and Senate Republicans will budget on the demands of theirs.
Caixin’s China manufacturing index rose 1.3 points in November to 54.9, probably the highest in ten seasons. Which comes a day after the recognized China manufacturing gauge hit a three-year high.
Keep in mind that immediately action in Dow futures and anywhere else doesn’t necessarily translate into genuine trading in the following regular stock market consultation.
Enroll in IBD pros as they analyze actionable stocks in the stock sector rally on IBD Live.
Coronavirus cases globally reached 63.70 zillion. Covid-19 deaths topped 1.47 million.
Coronavirus cases within the U.S. have hit 13.92 zillion, with deaths previously mentioned 274,000.
The Moderna coronavirus vaccine is 94.1 % successful, the biotech mentioned early Monday. Notably, it has 100 % effective in preventing severe Covid 19 cases. Moderna (MRNA) filed for FDA approval, a couple of many days after Pfizer (PFE)] and BioNTech (BNTX) filed together with the FDA for the 95%-effective coronavirus vaccine of theirs.
Moderna stock spiked twenty % Monday, capping a 126 % explosion contained November. MRNA stock kept soaring, tacking on 10 % early Tuesday.
Stock Market Rally
U.S. Stock Market Today Overview
Index Symbol Price Gain/Loss % Change Dow Jones (0DJIA) 29643.97 -266.40 -0.89
S&P 500 (0S&P5) 3621.82 -16.53 -0.45
Nasdaq (0NDQC) 12198.74 -7.11 -0.06
Russell 2000 (IWM) 181.30 -3.07 -1.67
IBD 50 (FFTY) 39.50 0.18 0.46
Last Update: 4:22 PM ET 11/30/2020 The stock market rally had a down day, though the Nasdaq was resilient while the best stocks did well general.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 0.9 % in Monday’s stock niche trading. The S&P 500 index sank 0.5 %. The Nasdaq composite lost only a fraction, after dropping more than 1 % intraday.
For the month, the Dow Jones soared 11.9 %, the S&P 500 10.8 % plus the Nasdaq 11.8 %.
A few highflying IPOs came under stress Monday, although they typically closed with modest losses or even reversed higher.
Growth stocks all round fared well. Among the top ETFs, the Innovator IBD fifty ETF (FFTY) rose 0.5 %. The iShares Expanded Tech-Software Sector ETF (IGV) climbed 0.45 %. The VanEck Vectors Semiconductor ETF (SMH) popped 1.1 %, with AMD stock a notable contributor.
Read The big Picture each day to stay in sync with the market direction and leading sectors and stocks.
Zoom Video Earnings
Zoom Video earnings shot up 1,000 % to 99 cents a share, with earnings in place 366.5 % to $777.19 million. Analysts anticipated Zoom Video earnings of 76 cents on revenue of $693.4 zillion.
The videoconferencing leader guided greater for Q4 as well as for 2021.
Nonetheless, Zoom Video stock fell seven % in premarket action. Shares rose 1.4 % to 478.36 on Monday, reclaiming the 50-day line.
AMD stock jumped 6.3 % to 92.66 in serious volume Monday, blasting previously an 88.82 purchase point from a double bottom foundation. CEO Lisa Su said in the course of a Credit Suisse convention on Monday that AMD sees Q1 product sales trending “a little bit better” than regular seasonality, suggesting a bit of upside.
Qorvo stock rose 4.4 % to 156.68, clearing the 154.53 buy point starting from a three-weeks-tight pattern. The chipmaker is benefiting from momentum in 5G wireless, like the new Apple iPhone. Qorvo was an IBD Stock Of The Day last week.
Qualcomm (QCOM), an additional 5G and Apple chipmaker, rose 2.3 % to 147.17, doing a four-weeks-tight entry using an official investment point of 153.43, based on MarketSmith evaluation. Qualcomm stock was Monday’s Stock Of The Day.
Giving an increase to Qualcomm and Qorvo stock, Apple stock rose 2.1 % to 119.05, however, it backed off an intraday high of 120.97.
Loop Capital upgraded Apple to a buy with a 131 cost target, planning on upside to other products and iPhone sales services and products. Morgan Stanley tapped the iPhone maker like a good 5G play.
Shares are rebounding from their 50 day moving average. The official investment point is actually 138.08, with original entries of 125.49 as well as 122.09. Apple stock did cross a direction line starting from the Oct. thirteen high, essentially closing right on that series.
An intense investor could simply start an AAPL stock position here, then perhaps add far more shares since it clears the 122.09 and 125.49 volumes and finally the 138.08 purchase point.
Apple stock has slightly lagged the broader market for the past few months. In case the tech giant can wake up, it would add serious momentum to the main indexes.
Apple stock rose two % prior to the open.
Tesla Stock Jumps On S&P 500 Update Tesla stock rose almost five % early Tuesday on the S&P Dow Jones Indices’ choice to add in the EV maker to the S&P 500 index in one go. Because of Tesla’s huge sector cap, the committee had mulled splitting the stock’s entry directly into 2 tranches.
Tesla stock has skyrocketed because the announcement which Tesla will join the S&P 500 before the open on Dec. twenty one.
Meanwhile, Tesla received China’s official green light on Monday to promote the Model Y from its Shanghai plant, as expected.
Tesla stock briefly rose to a new high of 607.80 soon after Monday’s available before reversing for a 3.1 % decline to 567.30.
Nio, Xpeng Deliveries
Nio delivered 5,291 electric vehicles in November, up hundred nine % vs. the first year earlier. That consists of 2,386 ES6s, 1,387 ES8s as well as 1,518 EC6s. The recently unveiled EC6 crossover is going to compete with the Tesla Model Y when which launches.
Xpeng delivered 4,224 electric powered vehicles, up 342 % vs. a year earlier. That includes 2,732 P7 sedans, which competes with the Tesla Model 3. Xpeng also sold 1,492 G3s, its small SUV.
Li Auto will probably release November shipping and delivery figures in the next day or two.
Goldman Sachs raised the cost targets of its on Nio and Li Auto stock for good measure.
Overall China EV production and sales, including Tesla figures will probably come week that is next.
Nio stock rose 2 % early Tuesday. Xpeng rallied five % in addition to Li Auto stock 8 %.
On Monday, Nio sank 6.4 % while Li Auto and Xpeng stock dropped nearly 9 % on a poor day for U.S.-listed Chinese stocks.
Kandi Technologies tumbled 28 % after short-seller Hindenburg Research accused the Chinese EV producer of fraudulent revenue.


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"It's[demand] all organic, since there has never been a full-size pickup campaign fully targeted to the African-American male or female consumer," said Marc Bland, president of diversity and inclusion at IHS Markit.
"The goal here is not for the industry to pick one consumer group over the other," Bland said, adding that the issue is inclusion. "It's time for the industry to look at actual African-American consumption patterns and add an African-American pickup campaign to the mix."
Ram ranked 11th out of 12 models among African-American buyers, based on new-vehicle registrations by select consumer groups. Ford's F-series — No. 1 for all consumers — came in at No. 4 for African-Americans for the first 11 months of 2017, according to IHS Markit.
For U.S. consumers as a whole, the Ram is fifth.
The profitable pickup market is surging. Light trucks accounted for 63.2 percent of U.S. new vehicle sales last year, up from 59.5 in 2016. Manufacturers hope to continue that momentum. A redesigned Ram 1500 will be launched this spring. The automaker is depending on the 2019 Ram to remain its top-selling vehicle and best profit generator.
But if the Super Bowl Ram commercial was aimed chiefly at African-Americans, Fiat Chrysler isn't saying. "The target of the Built to Serve ad was not a specific demographic, it was all of the 110 million-plus viewers watching the Super Bowl," FCA said in a statement. "The message of the spot was about service and serving others — one of the most universally accepted American values, and one that's relevant to audiences of all ages."
Michael Bernacchi, a marketing professor at University of Detroit Mercy, said a fifth of all Super Bowl 2018 ads, including the one from Dodge, had some element of what he called corporate social responsibility — touting causes instead of their products. "It was extraordinary, amazing, really," he said. "It was like, sexiness is out, and being caught doing good deeds is in."
Immediately after it aired, the Ram ad ignited a social media firestorm. Scores of viewers took to social media to accuse Ram of, at the very least, inappropriateness. The spot, which included black actors, starts by noting that King delivered the sermon known as “The Drum Major Instinct" 50 years to the day. In addition to showing a Ram transporting a church, the ad showed, among other things, various acts of heroism and struggle. However, the ad doesn't include the portion of the sermon that discourages extravagance and spending too much on cars.
Still, Bernacchi said FCA won what he called water cooler Monday. "Did Chrysler know it was going to be criticized? You'd better believe it," he said. "Did they gain attention? Absolutely. So, they got their money's worth."
Manufacturer intent notwithstanding, Michael Guinyard, who is black, called the commercial offensive. "How are you going to take a true American hero like Dr. Martin Luther King and try to use him to sell a d----- truck? That's horrible," he said, adding that he'd now never buy a Ram.
"I care as much about them as they care about me."
Not that Guinyard saw the commercial live, because he, like untold others, boycotted the football season over the plight of former quarterback Colin Kaepernick. Then, President Trump called for an NFL boycott barring a league crackdown on players taking a knee to protest police brutality against African-Americans.
Bland, however, believes the commercial was designed to appeal at least partly to African-American consumers. "Kudos to [Ram] for being the first to, directly or indirectly, create a full-size campaign where blacks were included," he said. “I think they did a heck of a job sending the message that we're all in this together. Now, I'm watching to see who picks the ball up next."
In addition to the potential for more sales, campaigns targeted at blacks would also serve to employ more African-American ad agencies. And besides, Bland said, it's just good business.
"We know that the segment is strong, and the affinity is strong," Bland said. "Imagine how much more money companies could make if they marketed to us?”
Mary Chapman is a freelance writer.


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Costco, Cabela's among stores rumored to be coming to metro
New stores would be near Memorial Road and Western Avenue
Rumors are swirling on local websites about new stores coming to Oklahoma City.
OKCtalk.com posted a story about several possible stores coming to an area near Western Avenue and Memorial Road.
The story said it is possible a Costco, H&M and Cabela's are among the new stores coming to the Quail Springs area.
KOCO contacted the Oklahoma City Chamber of Commerce, who would not comment on the rumors.
According to Steve Hill, the chief of staff for the mayor, the city has been working to attract Costco for awhile. Hill said Mayor Mick Cornett and Chamber representatives met with Costco in May.


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Slovenia’s Prospects Rise With The New Government
By InvestSlovenia Team
Posted: 29th September 2014 08:54Slovenia’s attractions for foreign investors include its position at the intersection of traditional trade routes, its well-developed physical and ITC infrastructure, its value chains, supplier networks and clusters… And what matters most when a country is on track to excellence is its ability to evolve. The global economic crisis did not spare Slovenia, but its economic growth is back thanks to quality, efficiency and responsiveness of its people. Strong FDI flows are expected as the restructuring of Slovenia’s economy gains pace and the country’s perception on international financial markets improves
Good news for potential investors in Slovenia after bank stabilisation and company restructuring start to show results and the first deals on selling the state-owned enterprises are sealed. The share of Slovenia’s exports on the global market increased for the first time since the outbreak of the crisis and the 5.3% and 3.4% year-on-year rise for exports and imports respectively in July are the first signs of economic recovery.
More structural changes will help revive economic growth and Slovenia’s new government promises to improve conditions for corporate financing by fostering privatisation and better corporate governance of the banking system and the real sector. Sustainable fiscal consolidation, better performance of the government and its institutions and a proper environment for the functioning of the economy are indispensable for a stable business environment conducive to the creation and growth of sustainable enterprises. By boosting the innovative capacity of the economy and integrating enterprises into global supply chains, particularly through foreign direct investment, the value added of goods and services will increase as new technologies enable more efficient use of resources without increasing environmental pressures.
In a nutshell, Slovenia’s economic development comes down to a larger inflow of direct foreign investment. Attracting foreign investors, however, Slovenia has to improve competitiveness by increasing value added through higher innovation capacity of the economy and tangible improvement in the business environment. The Global Competitiveness Report 2014-2015 published by The World Economic Forum puts Slovenia in 70th place out of 144 countries, but its individual rankings confirm its qualities so important to foreign investors: technological readiness (33), infrastructure (35) and innovation (42). When we add a highly educated workforce and a location close to European supply chains, Slovenia’s innovation-driven economy is a great opportunity for smart investors.
Significant progress has been made in improving labour market efficiency by strengthening flexibility and other flexicurity components, and by adapting Slovenia’s education system to the labour market needs. The number of researchers and population with a tertiary education is a reflection of substantial R&D investment over the past few years, but the transfer knowledge from the research sector to the business sector to enable faster growth in the innovation capacity and competitiveness of the economy has to improve. More FDI projects are necessary to deploy workforce with tertiary education hit hard by many years of economic slump and decrease the risk of brain drain. To give impetus to the faster growth in value added and productivity of the economy, Slovenian governments have done a good job in recent years in slashing administrative barriers to doing business. An improved business environment will benefit the economy by attracting not only fresh capital but also new technologies and the task to integrate Slovenia into global value chains, access fresh capital and convince foreign investors to increase equity capital in their Slovenian subsidiaries will be one of the challenges the new government will have to deal with soon.
However, Slovenia’s key selling points such as well-developed infrastructure and supporting industries, its clusters of specialised suppliers and competitive overall supply chain costs thanks to the country’s position at the centre of the market with 500 million customers, cannot beat the odds. Europe’s share of global foreign direct investment has fallen and though Slovenia has often demonstrated that it is successful and competitive, it has to work much harder to attract foreign investors. And this is exactly what the government officials and the investment promotional agency are doing: offering investment opportunities to foreign businesses in all sectors of Slovenia’s economy and looking for investors for state-owned assets such as the cargo port, motorways, national airline, Ljubljana airport, telecoms, insurance companies plus opportunities in the retail sector. In addition to privatisation opportunities for investors, pharmaceutical and white goods firms, manufacturing industries, strategic services, shared services centres, logistics and distribution centres, as well as R&D and the energy sector, particularly renewable energy, are opportunities not to be missed.
Another great opportunity for inward investment is in tourism. The country is beautiful and diverse - from the Alps to the Adriatic Sea there is much to see. Food and wine are exquisite, there are natural phenomena and historical places to visit will satisfy even the most discerning visitors. In the wake of the Winter Olympics 2014, overall interest in sports has surged after Slovenia won eight medals. The Washington Post Slovenia named Slovenia “a per-capita powerhouse at Winter Olympics”, so it should not come as a surprise that sports events are becoming a niche market for tourist resorts. They have positive effects on their reputation and earnings come not only from athletes and teams but also from their fans. Top level Alpine skiing competitions, biathlon races and ski jumps attract crowds to Pohorje, Kranjska Gora, Pokljuka, Bled and Bohinj and attract recreational skiers, aspiring children and holidaymakers in general. Foreign investors are invited to Slovenia’s summer resorts that operate year-round and often boast excellent facilities for conventions and other business events. The Slovenian spas built in the vicinity of thermal and mineral water springs with their wellness and sports facilities are the gems of the country’s hospitality industry, while many casinos, fun centres and arcades offer entertainment and gaming excitement.
Foreign visitors to Slovenia quickly notice that Slovenians have passion for life and for entrepreneurship. It's no wonder that successful entrepreneurs think ahead and want to build an ecosystem that will allow them to live and work in such a special place centrally located to serve east and south-east Europe, as well as Asia.
Verovškova ulica 60, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
P: +386 1 589 18 70 F: +386 1 589 18 77


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,mTAMWORTH shoppers have helped to raise more than £5,500 for local charities in just six months, after 16 organisations fundraised at the town’s shopping centre.
Between January and June this year, charities including Tamworth Sea Cadets, Cats Protection, St Giles Hospice and RAFA Tamworth visited Ankerside Shopping Centre to raise awareness and funds, which saw generous shoppers donate £5,525 to a number of worthwhile causes.
“Here at Ankerside, it is really important to us to be able to support charities, groups and organisations based in and around Tamworth, and it has been a great six months of fundraising at the centre,” said Jeff Wigley, Ankerside Shopping Centre Manager.
“Since January, 16 charities have had fantastic success whilst at Ankerside,” he said. “Macmillan Tamworth in particular had a brilliant visit to the centre, raising more than £750 with a tombola and clothing appeal. Plus, the town’s Dementia Action Alliance raised funds by hosting Tea and Twiddle knitting sessions at AB’s Coffee and Cakes and also Druckers, which we are now looking to make a monthly meet-up.
“Not only have we had charities coming into the centre to raise money, but we have also had organisations promoting awareness of various causes including the British Heart Foundation, Carers Hub and Tamworth Rotary Club.”
Some organisations’ fundraising has gone so well at Ankerside, they have decided to return for another charity day later in the year. “For the rest of the year, we already have a full calendar of groups coming into the centre to raise money, including Marie Curie, Youth Cancer Trust and Tamworth Samaritans as well as Operation Christmas, which we support every year by inviting shoppers to donate presents in the centre. Plus, Glascote Community Library will also be coming along to raise awareness of their volunteering opportunities too.
“£5,500 is a brilliant amount to be able to raise over six months and we can’t thank Ankerside shoppers enough for their generosity,” Jeff said. “We are looking forward to continuing our fundraising throughout the second half of this year and can’t wait to announce our annual total at the end of 2017.”


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When Doug Olson, the president and general manager of Meredith magazines, reaches for an analogy to describe the launch of The Magnolia Journal, his mind goes immediately to O, The Oprah Magazine.
“It’s the first time in our history at Meredith that the largest retailers in the business called back on day one, and said, ‘We’re already sold out. Can you send more copies?’”
The quarterly lifestyle magazine, based on a partnership with Joanna and Chip Gaines, the stars of HGTV’s “Fixer Upper,” debuted in the fall of 2016 as a newsstand-only title with an initial run of 400,000 copies. Within a year, the publication claimed a rate base of 1.2 million through full-price, direct-to-consumer subscriptions and newsstand placements with an average sell-through rate of 60 percent, Meredith says, more than twice the industry average.
Those numbers can’t put The Magnolia Journal in quite the same league as O, a Hearst title whose rise was so meteoric it was outselling the top women’s magazines in the country with a circulation of over two million within months of its launch in 2000. But the intervening 18 years have seen audiences move en masse from print and live TV to digital platforms, making the magazine’s apparent success all the more remarkable.
Even more striking is the genesis of its founding partnership. O, multiple sources say, would never have come to fruition had editor Ellen Levine not persuaded the TV personality she needed an outlet with the quasi-religious power of the written word. Olson says it was the Gaineses who approached Meredith through their agent: “[Joanna] had a lot of things she wanted to say that she couldn’t cover in the television show.”
So why should the TV host turn to print, and not digital media? Because it seems a business model dating back to the days of the internet’s infancy may be working now better than ever before.
Identifying potential partnerships
For celebrities and high-profile brands with their eyes set on a new print venture, the appeal of partnering with a publisher like Meredith—or the former Time Inc., as Martha Stewart did, all the way back in 1990—is infrastructure and experience.
When Joanna and Chip first approached Meredith, the company quickly identified their vision as aligning closely with the more domestic-oriented titles in its Des Moines, Iowa-based special interest media group, such as Midwest Living and Traditional Home. Meredith’s existing staff, with its expertise in areas like story planning, photography and production, would help the couple execute their ideas. An added benefit was that cost-sharing partnerships inevitably save both parties money.
But the investment for publishers only proves worthwhile if the personality or brand can deliver a sizable, loyal and focused fan base.
Nearly two decades after introducing O, Hearst looks to not only TV ratings, but web and social media followers as evidence of a potential partner’s influence, says Michael Clinton, president, marketing and publishing director of Hearst Magazines.
In June 2017, when Hearst launched The Pioneer Woman magazine as a joint venture with Scripps Networks, Ree Drummond could point to the 25 million followers of her “Pioneer Woman” blog, her Food Network show of the same name, and a line of branded products as evidence of her reach.
“Finding those uber influencers, there’s a great recipe for a print magazine,” says Clinton, who points to Hearst as the original incubator of the joint-venture model.
For Meredith executives, it was not only the scope but the diversity of the “Fixer Upper” fan base that made a magazine from its stars such an attractive prospect: “[The show] really transcended [age], from young millennials all the way through retirees, and everybody liked it for a different reason,” Olson says. “There was the subject matter, the home improvement; [Chip and Joanna’s] relationship, how they interacted with each other; and others really liked the family aspect of it, how the kids were involved.”
Starting off slow
Meredith launched The Magnolia Journal with two test issues displayed on newsstands, mailed to targeted readers and advertised digitally, taking a page of out the Hearst playbook.
Both Olson and Clinton describe these early editions as data points in the companies’ research on consumer demand. Soliciting feedback and gauging the public’s interest is an important part of the magazine launch process because name recognition doesn’t guarantee success, notes Samir Husni, director of the Magazine Innovation Center at the University of Mississippi’s Meek School of Journalism.
Take the example of Lifetime magazine, based on the popular women’s cable network: a year and a half after its debut in April 2003, Hearst and the Walt Disney Company shuttered the publication amid disappointing results.
Hearst’s attempt to duplicate the success of O was a failure, Husni says, because Lifetime’s audience had no one unifying interest or idol: “There was no center point; there was no gravitating point that would be the magnet. People watched it for the movies, there was no uniqueness to it.”
While Lifetime leaped into the market with a circulation of 500,000, the industry average today is a more modest 350,000, Husni says.
Less can be more. Titles like The Magnolia Journal and Goop—Gwyneth Paltrow’s new magazine, produced by Condé Nast—have proven that printing at the reduced frequency of a special interest magazine, ideally, signals to readers and advertisers that a publication is a collectible item meriting a heftier price tag and higher CPMs. Both magazines—the former priced at $7.99 a copy, the latter at a lofty $14.99—are published on higher-quality paper than the typical glossy. While quality raises demand for ad inventory, a limited supply (TMJ in particular limits ads to a relatively low 25 pages per issue) gives publishers the opportunity to charge more for each unit.
Since its launch, The Magnolia Journal has developed a “really nice mix” of advertisers from sectors as diverse as food, auto and tech, Olson says. Goop’s premier issue, of which just under 250,000 copies were printed and released in September, featured ads from luxury brands including Gucci, Neiman Marcus, and BMW.
The reviving value of print
With its own clothing label, fragrance, book imprint and vitamin collection, why does Gwyneth Paltrow’s company need a print magazine?
The editor-in-chief and CEO herself, in an interview with Business of Fashion, insists the publication is “very legitimizing for the brand—and a really interesting way of … getting across our point of view and what our values are.” The magazine may be an attempt to burnish Goop’s image in the wake of mounting attacks from journalists, watchdog groups, and doctors who accuse the lifestyle company of making “deceptive” health and disease-treatment claims to market many of its products.
At Hearst, Clinton agrees that print enjoys a perceived credibility that other platforms lack: “We’re living in a very tipping-point moment, where consumers and advertisers have begun to step back and say, ‘What are the environments I can trust? What is the content that I can trust? How do I know real people are reading this content, that it has true authority?”
Hours upon hours of time can be invested in a story by editors, fact-checkers, photographers, designers and other magazine professionals before it’s printed, and Clinton believes that “the consumer … spends time with the magazine knowing that.”
Print’s cachet appears to be so high at the moment that even hospitality startup Airbnb jumped on the bandwagon last spring. Airbnbmag, which hatched last spring out of conversations between Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky and Hearst chief content officer Joanna Coles, “offers a three-dimensional look at the brand,” Clinton says. (And, with a controlled circulation among Airbnb hosts, it attracts advertisers looking to place their wares in front of millennial travelers.)
While Hearst has a couple of other joint-venture ideas “cooking,” Clinton hints, Meredith is for now focused on tending to The Magnolia Journal and other high-performing titles like Allrecipes.
The magazine’s growth is “even more amazing,” Olson says, considering that it has almost no online presence, with the exception of a few downloadable PDF files.
Meredith isn’t committing to any increase in rate base at the moment, but Olson expresses confidence in The Magnolia Journal‘s future. And Chip Gaines may have confidence enough for the whole company, which doubled down on its commitment to print with the purchase of Time Inc. this spring.
“From day one, Chip came in and asked me, ‘So, what’s your biggest magazine?’” Olson recalls. At the time, Better Homes and Gardens had a circulation of 7.6 million.
“He said, ‘‘That’s our goal.’”


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By Amanda McElfresh, firstname.lastname@example.org
This article is brought to you by Cox Business.
For a business owner, a natural disaster or a cyberattack is a worst-case scenario. Damage to infrastructure and data can mean lost revenue and an inability to serve customers in a timely fashion. As a solution, Cox Business offers multiple services that can ensure companies are up and running again even while a recovery is occurring or in progress.
For example, when Hurricane Ida struck south Louisiana in August 2021, Cox Business customers with cloud-based services were able to continue working from alternate locations, said Calli Trabeaux, Cox Business senior product manager for managed services. The same has been true for businesses that have suffered damages from fires, floods and other weather events that may cause employees to be displaced.
Trabeaux said one popular Cox Business offering are backup internet services that allow business owners and employees to get back online within seconds of an internet outage. The service is scalable, making it ideal for small stores and restaurants, large companies with multiple locations, or any business in between. This allows employees to continue to access data and stay in communication with each other using virtual platforms throughout the duration of the outage.
“The great thing about our products is that they are managed services, which means Cox Business manages the installation and maintenance of the service,” said Tim Adams, Cox Business enterprise senior product manager. “A customer may have to update some minor configurations, which is an easy step. Our professional implementation team can work with the customer to take care of everything else; the business owner doesn’t have to worry.”
Trabeaux added that all Cox Business managed products have been designed to operate automatically with minimal need for a customer to intervene.
“They are all designed to be set it and forget it solutions,” she said.
However, Cox Business team members are also on hand to answer questions and provide assistance as needed. In addition, business owners can log into their Cox Business My Account self-service portal from anywhere to make any necessary changes or updates.
Furthermore, Cox Business offers a full suite of voice services and calling features, like call forwarding, said Michelle Stanton, senior product manager for voice services. This means that if a customer calls a business number at an empty or damaged facility, those calls can immediately be forwarded to another designated landline or a cell phone to reach a company representative. Stanton said other Cox Business voice services allow business owners and employees to use their laptops as phones, complete with headsets, to stay connected.
Stanton noted that for voice customers who may be using call forwarding or other services for the first time, Cox Business experts have helped ensure the call flow is working properly so services are not interrupted.
“If we know we are facing a situation such as a hurricane in the Gulf, our sales representatives will reach out to our customers ahead of time to check on them and make sure they have everything they need,” Stanton said. “We also advise them on how to prepare to ensure they can keep their business running.”
Having businesses operational as soon as possible after a disaster has many implications for both companies and the community. Stanton noted that many of these businesses are supporting first responders in recovery efforts, meaning their services are vital in the restoration process.
Adams said studies have shown that business can lose thousands of dollars each hour they are offline, which can have major impacts on companies, employees, and the overall economy.
“We’re really proud of our products and the fact that we offer a suite of services to meet multiple needs,” Adams said. “Our internet backup products even come with a battery backup to help customers deal with situations like a short-term power outage. We are putting devices and infrastructure in businesses to help them overcome any challenges.”
For more information on Cox Business products and services, visit www.coxbusiness.com.


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The Pireaus Port Authority (OLP), managed by the Chinese shipping company COSCO, has announced major plans for the overhaul of the port of Pireaus. The plans include the construction of four hotels, a new cruise terminal and shopping centres totalling 40,000 square metres, which will be available to the public as well as cruise passengers. The move is yet another sign of growing Chinese investment and influence in Greece.
The OLP plans were submitted for consultation to local community entities and representatives of the municipalities neighbouring Piraeus. The plans are based on a study carried out for OLP by McKinsey aimed at highlighting Piraeus as a metropolitan hub for cruise tourism in the Eastern Mediterranean.
OLP appears to place great emphasis on drawing considerable tourism interest and boosting the cruise sector.


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Receptional – the Bedford, UK-based digital marketing agency – has appointed James Bennett to its board as PR director. He brings 12 years’ experience in the iGaming industry, as editor of eGaming Review, head of communications at Playtech and director at Square in the Air.
In his new role, Mr Bennett will bolster Receptional’s digital marketing services for sports betting and iGaming firms. The agency already counts a tier-one bookmaker and leading brands, such as Betdaq, Casumo, Lottoland, Plus500 and Time2Play, among its clients.
Its team of specialist sports writers and link builders create and place 7,000 pieces of content with 10,000 sites annually.
He will augment these services with a focus on digital PR, brand and creative strategy, and paid and social media for B2B companies in the sector. This includes Receptional’s latest proprietary tool, Decision Maker, which enables suppliers to gain both brand awareness across target media and measurable sales from target buyers, with bespoke campaigns that no other agency can offer.
He will also spearhead Receptional’s expansion into international markets, where changing regulations are creating new opportunities for sports betting and iGaming brands.
Mr Bennett said: “I’m delighted to have joined such a forward-thinking and dynamic agency as Receptional. We’ve already begun to take our new proposition to market and the feedback has been phenomenal.
“We’re launching a series of must-have digital marketing and PR services for the sports betting and iGaming industry that no other agency can offer, which will make a huge difference to brands and suppliers in 2022 and beyond.”
Justin Deaville, managing director at Receptional, added: “James has built an extensive network of knowledge and contacts across the global sports betting and iGaming industry. Having him on board will elevate our knowledge of the sector, expand our already growing client base, and enable us to become the only specialist agency able to offer a complete range of digital services.”
Receptional will be showcasing these services in April at ICE London – the largest global gathering of iGaming operators and suppliers in Europe.
On 13th April, the agency will host an exclusive research briefing, unveiling its latest analysis of bettors’ behaviour, with a panel of both players and operators discussing the trends.
Mr Bennett is the latest in a string of senior hires that Receptional has made to build its creative services division. Robin Smith joined as Creative Director in summer 2021, bringing 35+ years’ experience in some of the world’s top agencies – and more than 100 creative and effectiveness awards.
Amy Canavan followed in the autumn, to lead Receptional’s consumer PR team, having held publicist roles at Pan Macmillan and Lionsgate UK.
Outgoing CEO Simon Hammon will remain at the company until October 2024 in support of the handover process
A list of MGA-licensed entities can be found on the regulator's website
He previously served as finance director at Push Gaming Group


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Nomura’s Rick Sherlund believes gaming business has been losing billions for Microsoft, but Android licensing fees obscure deficit.
Microsoft is hiding billions in losses from its Xbox gaming business, according to Nomura analyst Rick Sherlund. In a note to investors yesterday, Sherlund laid out a plan suggesting what steps Microsoft should take to resolve its current CEO vacancy and address some key issues going forward. One of Sherlund’s key points in the note is that the Xbox platform, despite being largely viewed as a success, is actually losing huge amounts of money for Microsoft, according to his own estimates.
“If we start with the overall traditional [Entertainment and Devices Division] business that actually loses money before corporate allocations and back out the nearly $2 billion 95 percent gross margin Android phone royalties, we conclude that Xbox platform plus Windows phone and Skype lose about $2.5 billion per year, and we…
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New York, N.Y., November 20, 2018 – Paul Polman, chief executive officer of Unilever, will be honored by the United States Council for International Business (USCIB), which represents America’s leading global companies, at the organization’s 2018 International Leadership Award Dinner. The gala event will be held on December 11 at the Delegates Dining Room at the United Nations HQ in New York City, under the theme “Business and Society: Creating Shared Value.”
“Under Paul Polman’s leadership, Unilever has worked tirelessly to decouple its growth from its environmental footprint and to increase the company’s positive social impact,” said USCIB President and CEO Peter M. Robinson. “Paul has actively sought to drive transformative change across sectors to implement long-term, sustainable business models. As chair of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), one of USCIB’s key global business partners, he is demonstrating vigorous business leadership on the international stage, both on sustainability and on a host of other issues.”
Polman has served as Unilever’s CEO since 2009. In addition to his chairmanship of ICC, he is a member of the International Business Council of the World Economic Forum, chair of The B Team, vice chair of the UN Global Compact, and a board member of the Consumer Goods Forum. Polman also served until recently as chair of the World Business Council for Sustainable Development.
Established in 1980, USCIB’s International Leadership Award is presented annually to a leading CEO, international figure or institution, recognizing outstanding contributions to global trade, finance and investment, and to improving the global competitive framework in which American business operates. Recent recipients have included Ajay Banga of Mastercard and Randall Stephenson of AT&T. The annual USCIB award dinner attracts hundreds of top business executives, policy makers and members of the diplomatic community. More information on the event is available at www.uscibgala.com.
USCIB promotes open markets, competitiveness and innovation, sustainable development and corporate responsibility, supported by international engagement and regulatory coherence. Its members include U.S.-based global companies and professional services firms from every sector of our economy, with operations in every region of the world, generating $5 trillion in annual revenues and employing over 11 million people worldwide. As the U.S. affiliate of the International Chamber of Commerce, the International Organization of Employers and Business at OECD, USCIB provides business views to policy makers and regulatory authorities worldwide, and works to facilitate international trade and investment. More at www.uscib.org.
Jonathan Huneke, USCIB
+1 212.703.5043, email@example.com


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The Hinoman company in Kibbutz Be’eri is growing the world’s smallest vegetable that contains all the essential amino acids plus iron and vitamin B12.
By Batya Jerenberg, World Israel News
The world’s next superfood may be growing exclusively in the greenhouses of Israel’s Kibbutz Be’eri, Channel 12 News reported Monday.
First discovered in the waters of the rice fields of the Far East, the tiny green plant is officially called Lemnaceae, or duckweed. Its commercial name, however, is Mankai.
It sounds appropriately Asian, but if you listen closely, you’ll hear two Hebrew words hidden inside: Man (manna in English), the miraculous food that the Jewish people ate in the desert for 40 years after the Exodus from Egypt, and “kai,” or “alive,” as the guttural “ch” sound is usually pronounced by non-Hebrew speakers.
Mankai is worth growing because it’s amazingly rich in protein that contains all the essential amino acids, similar to eggs, that can be easily absorbed by the body. It also contains iron, minerals and even vitamin B12, which is unusual to find in a plant. And because it is tasteless and odorless, it can be added to almost any food to enrich the health of its consumers, from pizza to sandwiches to hamburgers.
It is the smallest vegetable in the world, says Ron Salpeter, CEO of Hinoman, the first company in the world to grow the duckweed commercially.
“There are millions upon millions of tiny green dots” growing hydroponically under the Israeli company’s greenhouse roofs, he said. “And the amazing thing is that each dot is a separate plant.”
Mankai grows in the streams of Israel’s north as well as the Far East, but Hinoman has a secret formula that enables it to be grown all year round under controlled conditions, untouched by human hands.
There is nothing artificial about it, said Yariv Erez, the company’s director of agricultural development.
“We haven’t engineered anything, it comes as is from nature,” he said.
Along with other academic researchers around the world, groups from Ben-Gurion University of the Negev have begun investigating the plant’s healthful properties. Last year, ISRAEL21C reported that the Israeli team found that it lowers blood sugar levels very efficiently, which would make it a boon for diabetes sufferers. The team published its findings in an article last year in Diabetes Care, the official journal of the American Diabetes Association.
“We have seen it make significant, measurable changes, such as lowering cholesterol, lowering blood pressure and clearing the liver,” Salpeter said.
Forbes Magazine has rated Hinoman as one of the 50 best ground-breaking companies in the world in the field of food technology and agriculture, said the news report.


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SAN FRANCISCO--Just in case you don't have enough backseat drivers, your car could one day tell you when you're about to screw up.
On Thursday, General Motors demonstrated a vehicle-to-vehicle, or V2V, wireless communication system that alerts you when a collision is imminent. The automaker equipped regular Cadillac STS sedans with wireless and Global Positioning System antennae and computer chips that allow the cars to communicate with other vehicles with similar equipment.
The technology, demonstrated here with three cars navigating a special course, creates what could be described as a digital-driving symphony. The wireless technology in one car detects the presence of the other two Cadillacs and avoids collisions by either alerting the driver of danger or by automatically stopping the vehicle in an emergency.
In terms of an alert, the driver's seat gives off a heavy vibration to the left leg if the driver signals to enter the left lane, unaware of a car in his or her blind spot. Such a warning is an example of what, in the auto industry, is called "haptic feedback"--feedback related to the sense of touch. There's a visual cue too: An icon flashes in the car's rearview mirror to alert the driver that there's another car in the way.
"We're trying to standardize the wireless communication between cars, and we hope other car manufacturers will follow. This would be the reinvention of the vehicle," said Priyantha Mudalige, senior research engineer at GM and one of the four engineers who built the wireless safety system.
Of course, that's the obvious downside to this intriguing technology: For it to work effectively, all vehicles on the road would have to be fitted with similar equipment. Theoretically, if just one car on a busy highway lacked the right gear, the consequences could be severe.
"Before this works, we need to have market penetration," Mudalige said.
GM expects it could be five to 10 years before the safety system could go into production, Mudalige said. That's because it will likely take that long to sign agreements with other manufacturers and with standards agencies like the Federal Communications Commission.
Here's how the technology works:
A GPS antenna on the top of the car receives satellite information on the positions of other cars. A wireless antenna on top of the vehicle also receives up to 100 different data points from the car's internal network, including information on speed, braking and the use of turn signals. The computer system combines that data and broadcasts it.
That message is heard by any other equipped car within a quarter-mile radius. To ensure privacy, the messages do not include car identification numbers or personal information.
The car's software constantly calculates, in real time, other vehicles' positions and speeds. GM's proprietary algorithm, called the "threat assessment algorithm," also processes data from the GPS and the car's computer network, along with messages from other cars, in order to fire off warnings and prevent collisions.
The car's dashboard computer screen will also show icons of nearby vehicles. The typical green icon will turn yellow if there's reason for caution (the distance between vehicles is decreasing at a fast clip, for instance). The icon will change to red if there's imminent danger, and at that time, the driver's seat will vibrate.
Drivers can turn on an automatic braking feature to ensure the car will stop in the event of an upcoming crash.
GM is using the communication protocol called Dedicated Short Range Communication, or DSRC, to send and receive messages. The cars communicate using the wireless spectrum 5.9 gigahertz licensed from the FCC for public safety. Toll agencies already use the spectrum to automatically charge commuters with digital IDs.
The Cadillac prototype itself has four computers in the trunk, along with a GPS system and wireless communication module. GM would try to fit much of the software onto a single chip by the time the cars would be ready for production.
The technology was researched over the last two years, but serious development began a year ago by four engineers in GM's internal research and development department, said Mudalige.
One of the biggest benefits of the wireless system would involve cutting the costs of radar and so-called lidar sensors, which measure speed and distance. GM, BMW and many other carmakers currently use those sensors in luxury cars for features like adaptive cruise control, which modulates the speed of a car based on surrounding vehicles.
Mudalige said the wireless sensors could do the work of the long-range and short-range sensor technology much more inexpensively because they're relying on wireless communication between vehicles. To get the same surrounding effect of wireless V2V sensors, carmakers would have to put radar sensors in many places on the car, which would be too expensive. The wireless sensors cost about $100, he said.
Cars like BMW's Mini Cooper already include sensing technology that alerts the driver when the car is too close to another vehicle while parallel parking, for example. Those sensors are lidar and radar sensors. To get the same effect with wireless technology, GM and others would have to build infrastructure in parking lots, for instance.
The V2V system is still far from perfect in other ways, too. In a test drive with a reporter as passenger, the car's computer system failed during an emergency stop. Luckily, Mudalige took over by braking himself.
Despite such bugs, Mudalige is still confident about cars communicating wirelessly. The technology could not only help protect people, it could also help traffic advisers detect and deliver alternate routes to commuters during traffic jams.
"The auto industry will definitely go towards wireless because it's a significant benefit to society to save lives, reduce pollution and for energy conservation," he said. "This is just the beginning."


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The Internet of Things (IoT) is composed of physical devices, appliances, and other items that have sensors, software, actuators, and network connectivity. This makes it possible for them to connect and exchange data. It is projected that there will be 20.4 billion connected items by 2020.
In the era of technology, it is impossible to ignore IoT. However, the industry still has a few issues that need to be solved. In the future, there will be a wide array of devices generating vast amounts of data. Right now, the possibility of a smart city seems possible thanks to the use of IoT devices and machine-to-machine communication.
The Problem μNEST Seeks To Solve
Although IoT is all over and spreading, the massive data it generates is not treated with the care it deserves. If the IoT industry is to succeed, there needs to be better security. In this era, big companies are constantly collecting personal data. Hackers see this as a good opportunity, and they are always trying to crack open the servers.
Researchers warn that in the future, devices such as smart sound boxes can monitor all kinds of voice communication. Modern devices can collect user data and utilize it to sell products to them on the mobile phones or other devices. However, the upgrade of IoT technology continues to lag behind.
For instance, in 2016, Botnet Mirai launched a 14-gest DDoS attack. This led to the compromise of numerous home cameras and routers. The major issue that the IoT market faces today is the integrity of data transmission, collection, storage, and processing.
However, that is hard to guarantee since most of the IoT market is in the c/s mode. The mode is centralized, thus has the problem of a single point of failure. For instance, the Tpo2 shared bike company often faces a central point breakdown. When it happens, bikes in a large area remain locked.
Another problem that exists is that the Public Key infrastructure has significant flaws. For one, it is quite fragmented. Besides that, despite huge amounts of data being harvested, large companies have limited options for sharing the data. This information ends up in silos; its value is underutilized.
For instance, when a patient visits a new medical facility, most of the tests usually need to be repeated. The reason for this is that the data sharing mechanism among hospitals often has glitches. This problem of data silos has a real cost, especially in the auto industry. Insurers may identify a pattern with vehicles, but they are not able to share the data with manufacturers.
The μNEST Trusted Blockchain + IoT Data Security Project Solution
UNEST proposes to lower entry barriers for IoT blockchain integration. This will make it possible for developers to deploy PoC with ease. Thus, they are creating a pub blockchain together with the hardware. This will be dedicated to IoT to make up for shortcomings of current projects. The project will bring security to IoT and allow for efficient value exchange and collaboration in a non-test environment.
μNEST NEST Token ICO Details
Parameters Of The ICO
- Ticker: NEST
- Total Tokens: 7,000,000,000 NEST
- Date: TBA
- 20%- Team
- 5%- Proof-of-i/o
- 15%- Pre-A fundraising
- 25%- Community


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Assessing customer demand for 4K
One of the challenges facing cable MSOs and other MVPDs (multichannel video programming distributors) is determining whether customer demand for 4K (Ultra HD) programming will follow the trajectory of HD or 3D TV.
Consumer electronics retailers are the most bullish on the outlook for customer adoption. 4K was a big topic at the 2014 International CES, and many retailers were aggressively promoting discounted prices for Ultra HD TVs as part of last year’s Black Friday and Christmas holiday promotions.
Fueling their optimism was a “Seeing Is Believing” study released last spring by CEA, the Consumer Electronics Association. The CEA study found 73% of shoppers who experienced Ultra HD in a showroom viewed the technology as positive, compared to 45% who did not see or hear about the technology in a store.
Apart from customers looking to replace old or broken TVs, the report predicted 43% will buy 4K TVs to improve picture quality, 42% to increase their screen size and that 62% of online consumers would be more willing to purchase an Ultra HD TV if the picture quality “was so clear that it felt like they were experiencing what they were watching in person or if the picture quality was better than a movie screen."*
There are signs the sales push is paying off, particularly in Asian markets where there are many first-time TV buyers. According to a report compiled by Futuresource Consulting in December, worldwide shipments of 4K Ultra HD TVs were on track to exceed 100 million units by 2018.**
In contrast to these findings, the Diffusion Group (TDG) pushed its initial timeframe for 4K adoption out by five years, from 2020 to 2025. “There’s no reason to invest. No one is on the verge of losing market share because they don’t have 4K,” TDG senior analyst Joel Espelien told CED magazine.***
This observation is reinforced in a news story this week from The Hollywood Reporter saying the broadcast division of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has "no plans for 4K TV broadcasting" during the 2016 Rio Olympics. “There is no demand from our rights holders for 4K,” explained Yiannis Exarchos, CEO of Olympic Broadcast Services.****
While the IOC’s decision is a good reminder that adoption of 4K may not be too far along by 2016, the data from Futuresource demonstrates that there will be a growing number of homes who are purchasing Ultra HD TVs and will be looking for 4K programming to enjoy on them. Examples of content providers who are already stepping in to fill that void include the NBC and USA television networks, which have begun to make TV shows available in Ultra HD. In addition, international video providers like BBC TV are shooting original productions in 4K as part of “future-proofing” their libraries.*****
Will 4K follow the trajectory of HD TV or that of 3D TV? The findings of CEA’s “Seeing is Believing” study remind us that one of the major drivers will be customers in need of replacing their existing TVs. Like the BBC - and the rest of us who must make technology decisions - they will want to future-proof their purchases.


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AMAZON AIR ENCROACHING ON UPS & FDX AIR SPACE
“We think the market is missing the risk Amazon Air poses to UPS/FDX growth,” say researchers at Morgan Stanley. “Our work with AlphaWise shapes our analysis of AMZN Air’s impact to date and plots a potential expansion course. Lowering PTs for UPS and FDX and quantifying AMZN savings.”
Morgan Stanley notes that, for now, investors are focusing on Amazon’s last-mile efforts, but the Manhattan-based multinational bank and financial services concern believes the Amazon Air challenge is just as relevant.
“We’ve written extensively on Amazon’s build-out of its internal logistics network, but given Amazon’s plans to take delivery of 40 planes and build an air hub that could potentially handle 100 planes, we’ve taken a closer look at the impact of Amazon Air (its in-house Express Air network) on UPS/FedEx Air volumes,” state the researchers, who point to their own interactive online map.
Learn more at morganstanley.com.


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The production of NovoSkin, a new brand of artificial skin, has begun at an industrial park in the Republic of Buryatia.
This is the region’s first biotech product and the world’s first advanced artificial skin technology. The high-tech, cutting-edge product is based on the collagen-laminin matrix and innovative cell technology. It will be used in regenerative medicine to treat wounds and burns. The technology does not use human cells, only animal fat. It is expected that the product will be available at pharmacies and people can use it themselves.
The project is being implemented by SheneSkin, part of Diamed Group. Head of the republic Alexei Tsydenov attended the opening ceremony of the new facility. Last year, the regional government presented the company a grant worth some RUR 10 mio ($160K) for the best innovative project.


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Every year, Christmas tree growers across America team up with FedEx to provide free Christmas trees to military families. Last year over 17,000 trees were delivered to over 60 military installations in the U.S. This year 20 farms in Maine are donating 300 trees, which are brought to Piper Mountain for FedEx pick up. Several members of the Maine Christmas Tree Association gather 3,000 ornaments to be placed in bags of 10 each to go with the trees.
Piper Mountain customers who would like to donate a tree are invited to do so! Please inquire at the counter.
We wanted to update you on our current hours of operation! Currently we are open on Saturday and Sundays only until November 27th, when we open 7 days a week, from 8 am - 5 pm! Hay rides will be available on the weekends! So stop in, enjoy a warm cup of cider and pick a fragrant balsam fir from our farm.


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Cheers! Russian entrepreneur plans to make cryptocurrency-themed vodka
A rather crafty Russian entrepreneur wants to spread the joy of cryptocurrencies in the form of vodka.
Dmitry Troitsky, from the Russian city of Ekaterinburg in the Ural mountain range, has filed trademarks to use the names Bitcoin, Ethereum and Ethereum Classic as vodka brands. “I want to use the names of cryptocurrency when issuing goods in the 33rd class of the international classification of goods and services (alcoholic beverages, except beer), these three names are the most top-notch,” Troitsky told Russian site Life.ru.
Disappointing alcoholics and cryptocurrency fans worldwide, Troitsky failed to provide further details on his cryptodrink, saying that “I can not say yet how it will look and when it will be released” before adding (seriously) “but I’m sure that it [the vodka] can be useful.”
Whether drinking large amounts cryptovodka during bitcoin and Ethereum’s various ups and downs is useful or not is a matter open to argument, but in any case it will be interesting to see how the Russian government deals with Troitsky’s idea.
Russia has had a mixed reaction to all things cryptocurrency-related over the last few years. The country banned bitcoin sites in January 2015 before the decision was overturned later the same year. The Russian finance ministry called for an outright bitcoin ban in June 2016 with the exception of foreign currency transactions. In August 2016, Russia saw the launch of its first physical bitcoin exchange in Moscow, which opened despite the uncertainty about the legal status of bitcoin in the country, followed by an outright ban of cryptocurrency exchanges earlier this month.
Whether cryptovodka will gain similar attention is yet to be seen. But the story from Russia concludes with a quote from a patent lawyer that’s hard to argue with: “The names of cryptocurrencies can cause people to have pleasant associations with respect to certain goods.”
There’s one remaining question true cryptocurrency fans will ask, though: If Troitsky forks his vodka in the future, will we get a free bottle of new “Cryptovodka Gold” for every existing bottle of crypto-vodka we own?
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Remember Robin Hood? The good-natured hood wearing thief from the medieval era who robbed from the rich and gave to the poor with the assistance from his merry men. If you thought robbing was a criminal issue then you are not going to believe this: Wearing a hoodie is now considered to be an idiotic move if the circumstances are seen from a criminal or a political point of view.
A hoodie has been in the eye of controversy over the recent months. It should be recalled that early this year, 17 year old African-American teenager Trayvon Martin from Florida was shot dead by a man because the later suspected him of unethical and indecent activities just because of his attire at that particular time. And what was his clothing at the time of his death? You guessed it! A hoodie. Wearing a hoodie and expecting everything to be fine can truly be an understatement especially at this time of the year.
But how come this article of clothing becoming a fashion these days? The answer is quite simple actually. It is the trademark clothing of the founder, creator and CEO of not only the best social-networking website in the world, but also the number one website in the world. It needs no introduction at all: Facebook. Observing the recent controversies and legal issues directly or even indirectly related with wearing a hoodie, it surely is unwise to wear it in the public but Mark Zuckerberg is not afraid to make a change.
Perhaps Zuckerberg is unaware of the fact that wearing such an article of clothing can possibly be considered taboo by the political society; or perhaps the CEO has no sense of proper clothing. It should be recalled that he has attended several official meetings and other business related issues while wearing his trademark cloth: a hoodie. Is it a matter of pride? Or is Zuckeberg sticking it to the man?
Wedbush Securities’ analyst Michael Pachter has claimed that Zuckerberg’s thought of wearing hoodies while meeting with the big boys signifies immaturity. However, he did mention that the former once wore a suit while meeting with America’s president Barrack Obama. Some parts of the world make a big deal of clothing like Wall Street. Others consider it unnecessary because of the firm belief that it is the actions that make the man. Whatever the case may be, the mere hoodie is becoming a fashion because of the large following of Facebook’s CEO despite the safety risks.


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Omron, InterCure jointly address UK hypertension market:
This article was originally published in Clinica
Omron Healthcare, a UK-based subsidiary of Japanese sensing technology specialist, is teaming up with InterCure, the New York, US-based developer of the RESPeRATE device for lowering blood pressure, in a co-marketing effort aimed at the UK hypertension market. As part of the agreement, Omron will include product information about RESPeRATE in boxes of its M10i blood pressure monitors, while InterCure will provide information on Omron's product in its RESPeRATE packaging.
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The latest drug development news and highlights from the Pink Sheet’s US FDA Performance Tracker.
US FDA’s latest effort to provide guidance for consumers on pharmacogenomics tests underscores the challenges the agency faces in the absence of a clear regulatory framework for lab-developed tests – and with no easy mechanism to update labels for off-patent drugs.


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In a bid to have a different, integral approach to Cloud solutions, and to help resellers navigate an often confusing, and undefined Cloud market, Distribution Central, has launched a new Cloud delivery strategy.
The service, called DC CloudSelect, provides partners with the ability to build Cloud infrastructure or access a range of distie’s Cloud ready or tailored solutions - CloudPODs, under one purchase order.
DC CloudSelect will be led by Harris Loefti, who recently joined from Symantec, where he led its Cloud services and MSP program strategy and practices in Asia-Pacific and Japan.
The hybrid Cloud service integrates NetApp Private Storage and Amazon Web Services Direct Connect, hosted in a Equinix data centre.
This four-way partnership will help DC deliver the Cloud solution to resellers, and serve as a single aggregation point for configuration, transaction processing, support and delivery.
The distie has invested nearly $1 million in R&D, mainly in the technology that supports the strategy, Distribution Central managing director, Nick Verykios, said.
It aims to help resellers work out the different stacks, options and mix of Cloud solutions, to fit their service strategy.
“Cloud solutions don’t have to be exclusively private or public. Increasingly, business are choosing hybrid Cloud solutions to take advantage of benefits of both worlds,” Verykios said.
It also involves the DC CloudSelect Configurator, providing an extensive billing engine that will help resellers configure and calculate estimated costs of a solution.
DC will also provide measurable ROIs to their partners for their customers, Verykios said, adding that depending on the provision of certain data metrics, the new service technology will be able to calculate and provide ROI estimates.
It aims to capture the whole ecosystem of partners from resellers, system integrators to service providers. For value added resellers, in particular, it hopes to arm them with a strategy that will help them solve business problems, and “quickly translate the business conversation into a purchase order,” Verykios said.


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When it comes to role models and influential figures, India has no dearth of business leaders that help inspire startups to innovate and keep up with the pace of technology.
Even corporate leaders are taking notice of the potential of startups and international investors have proven to be very influential in backing the right businesses in the Indian tech ecosystem. From the likes of Mukesh Ambani to Softbank’s Masayoshi Son, startups in India have become hot property among the wheelers and dealers of the world.
But with attention come controversies and India had a fair share of them in 2019 in the context of startups with mega scams to nationwide protests as technology continues to permeate every aspect of our lives.
To read more, click here.


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The Customer Effect
5 ways banks are using Snapchat
- With an projected user base of 70 million in the U.S. alone, banks are increasingly looking to Snapchat to reach millennials.
- Banks' use of Snapchat is still in the experimental phase, with a focus on marketing to job seekers, addressing questions from customers and increasing brand visibility.
[caption id="attachment_13775" align="alignright" width="295"] Citibank video taken with Snapchat Spectacles.[/caption] It was bad enough when your mom joined Snapchat to see what all the fuss was about. Now your bank wants to send you snaps, too. “They feel like there’s a need to jump on Snapchat or else they’re going to get left behind,” said Mike Metzler, director of client strategy at Delmondo, a company that manages influencer campaigns and produces Snapchat branded content for prominent consumer brands, including Mastercard. But consumers, particularly Snapchat’s largely millennial user base, have a high bar for organic content, analysts say. If the material isn’t sufficiently compelling, a user may completely shut out a brand. “The process of adding someone on Snapchat is so cumbersome,” said Metzler. “If you’re a bank and you get someone to add you and make crappy content it’s a risk.” Banks have been considering different uses for Snapchat, including marketing to job seekers, addressing questions from customers and generally trying to be more visible in a social media channel more heavily used by younger people. They are still trying to figure out what works best, so the approach is still cautious and experimental. “They don’t know what they’re trying to achieve,” said Peter Wannemacher, senior analyst at Forrester. “Bank customers are not screaming out for ways to combine their financial lives and their social media lives.” Here are five ways banks are testing Snapchat: [caption id="attachment_13773" align="alignright" width="200"] Would you give them your money, though?[/caption] Recruitment In November of last year, BNP Paribas launched Snapchat Recruitment week, where recruiters from five cities around the world gave snapshots of the company’s working culture. American banks have also amped up their Snapchat recruiting efforts. Not long after their launch of Snapchat Spectacles, Citibank employees began shooting videos with them to offer insights of life as a Citibank worker. “The videos provide a bird's eye view of a day in the life at Citi, allowing recruits to follow someone as they interact with colleagues and do their job,” said Courtney Storz, head of global campus recruitment and program management at Citi. Customer service Dutch bank ABN Amro launched a Snapchat customer service capability (Snapchat “webcare”), a feature that’s yielded them 2000 followers since its launch a year ago. The bank posts stories to engage users who can ask questions using photos, videos, emojis and filters. Not being too serious is a lesson learned from the product’s first year, spokeswoman Brigitte Seegers told American Banker. [caption id="attachment_13776" align="alignleft" width="207"] LGBTQ pride Snapchat filter from CIBC.[/caption] Aligning with a cause Through Snapchat, banks are affiliating themselves with causes close to customers’ hearts. For example, CIBC, Canada’s fifth-largest bank, launched a Snapchat pride filter to mark LGBTQ pride festivities last summer. In the U.S., JP Morgan Chase used Snapchat ads to mark international Women's Day with a takeover of the international women’s day story on March 8 highlighting the firm’s female leaders. Providing financial tips and advice The Bank of Ireland pulled in celebrity influencers who use the Snapchat offer financial tips and advice to younger customers -- a part of the bank’s FeelFree student reward program. Laura Lynch, head of youth banking at the Bank of Ireland, told the Irish Times that the bank is looking to use Snapchat “ to communicate with our student customers and share helpful tips with them on a range of topics and give them behind-the-scenes access.” [caption id="attachment_13760" align="alignright" width="200"] A Snapchat geofilter for JPMorgan Chase's London Corporate Challenge.[/caption] Adding brand visibility at sponsored events Bank of America’s Llama was used as a Snapchat lens was released last summer in conjunction with the MLB All Star Game to promote the bank’s mobile app. Meanwhile, JPMorgan Chase has used Snapchat geofilters for the Chase Corporate Challenge.


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Maco’s manufacturing expertise enables not only the ability to manufacture PacXpert, but also to fill it through Maco’s co-packing capabilities, which provides a turnkey approach for brand owners.
“Maco has been a strategic collaborator for Dow over the past few years and this agreement solidifies our joint commitment and belief in the technology,” says Fabrice Digonnet, global leader-PacXpert Packaging Technology. “We believe that Maco is a key collaborator in proliferating the adoption of PacXpert throughout North America.”
PacXpert has reached 75 packages on the commercial shelf globally, which reaffirms the commitment from Dow, Maco and several other industry leaders around the world to making this packaging technology a success in a variety of different applications.
“We are very excited to be an official new member of the PacXpert team,” adds Tom Seymour, Maco account executive. “Between Dow’s technical expertise and our manufacturing capabilities, we feel like we are well positioned for making PacXpert a success in North America.”
More info: http://bit.ly/1SBQIa6


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Blockchain infrastructure provider InfStones, which aims to serve as a flexible Amazon Web Services-like platform for Web 3 development, has closed a $33 million Series B funding round from a group of investors that included Susquehanna International Group (SIG) and Dragonfly Capital. No valuation was provided, and the round brought the company’s total funding to $45 million.
Other investors in the round included Qiming Venture Partners, DHVC, A&T, and Value Internet Fund.
Founded in 2018 with offices in Beijing, the United States and Canada, InfStones plans to use the funds to expand its operations in Asia, Europe and South America. The company will also triple its team from 30 to 90 employees over the next year and expand support to more than 100 blockchains and protocols, up from more than 50 today.
InfStones has been profitable since 2018, CEO Zhenwu Shi told CoinDesk in an interview. The purpose of fundraising is to build the ecosystem and network of supporters. Current InfStones clients include cryptocurrency exchange Binance and analytics firm Dune Analytics.
The InfStones platform provides easy access to protocol consensus and the benefits of proof-of-stake participation. Users can run validation nodes, access on-chain data, and build decentralized applications on multiple chains. The Platform as a Service supports tens of thousands of nodes on blockchains, including BNB Chain, Cardano, Chainlink, Ethereum, Polkadot, Polygon, and Solana.
“Many blockchains want to become more decentralized, which requires more people to launch a node in their ecosystem. But those people are inexperienced in technology and don’t know how to maintain those nodes,” Shi said. “Using our product, they can very easily launch and participate in the blockchain network.”
InfStones has also released a new front end user interface that allows customers to easily deploy nodes in a matter of minutes. The public Application Programming Interface (API) can implement nodes for BNB Chain, BSC Archival Data, Ethereum and NEO with support for Cosmos and other chains coming soon.
“Just as AWS has made it easy for enterprises to deploy applications on servers, storage, and databases, InfStones makes it easy to deploy nodes, APIs, and other services,” Tom Schmidt, a partner at Dragonfly Capital, said in a press release. “Their platform helps lower the barriers to entry for startups looking to incorporate blockchain technology into their stack.”
Other firms vying for the same crown are also raking in big bucks. Both Blockdaemon and Alchemy have raised hundreds of millions of dollars in recent weeks.


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Eat at Billings’ Jersey Mike’s on Wednesday (3/31) for Landon’s Legacy
I love a great sandwich. I also love helping out worthy causes in Billings. On Wednesday (3/31) I can combine both of these passions during a fundraiser at Jersey Mike's Subs, when Jersey Mike's is donation 100% of all sales on to Landon's Legacy.
The story of Landon's Legacy began when parents Marcie and Scott Smith wanted to honor the death of their son, Landon Patrick Smith, who passed away in 2013. Landon was a huge baseball fan, and dreamed of hitting a home run and rounding the bases on a real baseball field.
The Landon's Legacy Foundation has partnered with Billings Kiwanis and Billings Parks & Recreation to build the cities first special needs baseball field. According to the fundraising thermometer on their website, they're approaching their $1,000,000 goal thanks to community grants and private donations. The Miracle League field, at 38th and Poly, is tentatively schedule to begin construction this year.
John Vagner, owner of Billings' Jersey Mike's locations, said they're excited to help with the fundraising efforts, as part of their stores commitment to giving back to the community. Every Jersey Mike's location in the US partners with a local non-profit when they open and Vagner said choosing Landon's Legacy was an easy decision for them. He mentioned that out of 1,800 franchises, Billings is in the top 5 for fundraising efforts! On their Day of Giving 100% of all store sales are going to Landon's Legacy. The event was cancelled last year, due to COVID.
John added that customers will also receive a coupon for a free sub when they spend at least $5 at the store during the fundraising effort on Wednesday. Free delivery is offered and please call ahead for large orders. Remember to be patient, as they're expecting an unusually heavy volume of traffic.
LOOK: 15 Discontinued McDonald's Menu Items