text:
With unemployment reaching 5.7% in July, (up to 10.3% if you include those who are underemployed), many people are raising an age-old question in direct selling: is it counter-cyclical, recession-proof, recession-resistant or none of the above?
The full analysis is a bit more complicated, but it is instructive to look at the last documented recession, which lasted from November 2001 to November 2002. In 2001, direct selling companies reported an additional 1.2 million sellers over the prior year, with anecdotal reports indicating that many of those recruits came on board in the last quarter of the year, post 9/11. (The average increase between 1990 and 2006 was about 656,000 sellers per year.) Sales showed a similarly positive performance as 2002 sales were up $2 billion from the prior year, far outpacing the average increase between 1990 and 2006 of $1.2 billion.
Certainly the data from one recessionary period does not constitute a trend, but coupled with the steady growth pattern of direct selling over the past two decades, the numbers suggest that when the national economy sours, direct selling can be expected to demonstrate its recession-resistant tendencies. During more stable times, direct selling will track more closely with the economy, a fact that has become particularly evident since 9/11.
But back to the unemployment rate. A side-by-side comparison of direct sellers vs. the unemployment rate reveals that high unemployment doesn’t result in a mushrooming of direct sellers as a counter-cyclical argument would suggest. Instead, over the past decade the number of direct sellers has increased as unemployment has decreased, except for the 2001-2002 recessionary period following 9/11 when the number of sellers increased markedly during rising unemployment. This further supports the theory that a true recession causes a strengthening of direct selling numbers, whereas other economic situations result in a closer tie between performance of the direct selling sector and the economy.
So what about our current situation? Sales and salesforce numbers for 2007 showed the first declines in more than two decades. At the same time some companies are reporting solid sales and recruiting numbers while others are noting decreased sales. In addition, economists are still undecided if we are truly in a recessionary period. Can we predict that the worst is behind us, or is direct selling tied so closely to economic performance that we can expect the roller coaster ride to continue unless a documented recession occurs? Only time will tell.


text:
Cryptocurrencies have been gaining popularity in recent years, and one of the newest to join the game is Ratcoin Elon Musk. With its unique approach and backing by one of the biggest names in the business world, Elon Musk, Ratcoin has been making headlines. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at Ratcoin and its ties to Elon Musk.
Introduction to Ratcoin
Ratcoin Elon Musk is a relatively new cryptocurrency that was launched in early 2021. It was created with the aim of becoming a decentralized and community-driven currency. One of the unique features of Ratcoin is that it has no pre-mined coins, which means that everyone has an equal chance of mining the currency. Ratcoin’s blockchain uses a Proof-of-Work (PoW) consensus algorithm, which ensures that the network is secure and free from manipulation.
The Role of Elon Musk
Elon Musk is no stranger to the cryptocurrency world. He has been a vocal advocate for Bitcoin and other digital currencies in the past. In early 2021, Musk tweeted about his love for Ratcoin, which instantly brought the cryptocurrency to the limelight. The tweet read, “I love Ratcoin, it’s the future.” This caused a surge in the value of Ratcoin, with its price skyrocketing in just a matter of hours.
Ratcoin’s Price Surge
Following Elon Musk’s tweet, Ratcoin saw a massive surge in its price. The cryptocurrency went from being virtually unknown to having a market cap of over $1 billion in just a few days. This shows the power that Musk wields when it comes to influencing the market. However, it’s worth noting that Ratcoin’s price surge was short-lived, and it soon corrected itself.
Criticisms of Ratcoin
Despite the hype surrounding Ratcoin, it has faced its fair share of criticisms. One of the main criticisms is that it is too similar to other cryptocurrencies and doesn’t offer anything new or unique. Another criticism is that it relies too heavily on the influence of Elon Musk, and its price is subject to his whims. Additionally, some experts have raised concerns about the environmental impact of Ratcoin’s PoW consensus algorithm.
Future of Ratcoin
While Ratcoin Elon Musk future is uncertain, it’s clear that it has already made an impact on the cryptocurrency world. The fact that it was able to gain such a huge following in a short period is a testament to its potential. However, its success will ultimately depend on whether it can offer something unique and sustainable in the long run.
Ratcoin is one of the newest cryptocurrencies to join the market, and its ties to Elon Musk have made it a hot topic. While it has faced criticisms, it has also shown great potential. It remains to be seen whether Ratcoin can offer something unique and sustainable in the long run.

domain: news


text:
If you thought the second Paperwhite came out fast, don’t blink. The third generation of the Amazon Kindle Paperwhite e-reader is due for release sometime in the second quarter of next year, TechCrunch reported today. This will be mere months after the release of its second generation, which in turn showed up only a year after the original. But although Amazon may seem a little quick on the draw, the specs and feature improvements may well justify the fast turnover.
TechCrunch got their hands on a prototype for the new-new Paperwhite, code-named “Ice Wine” for the duration of development (not seen above; that’s a second-gen Paperwhite.) The results sound promising. For starters, the display resolution will get a sharp spike in display pixel count. It will be 300 pixels per inch (ppi), which is markedly higher than the 212 ppi the current Paperwhite’s display has. For comparison, the Kobo Aura HD e-reader display is 265 ppi.
Also making reading easier on the eyes will be a new custom-made font choice, designed exclusively for the Paperwhite, as well as an impressive-sounding automatic brightness adjustment. This latter feature will be able to detect the ambient light in the room and adjust screen brightness accordingly. It happens in a gradual manner so there’s no shock to the pupils, which themselves naturally dilate or contract according to lighting conditions.
Also new for Ice Wine will be a lighter overall weight despite Amazon swapping out the plastic screen for a matte-finish glass one; a flush-to-edges rather than recessed screen design; squeezable side buttons with haptic feedback for less cumbersome page-turning; and finally a more angular back casing similar to that of the Kindle Fire HDX.
Ice Wine is still being developed, so more features may be added or changed by the time it hits the shelves in a few months. No leaked photos are available yet, and there’s no word about whether there will be a price adjustment.
In the meantime, for those of you who already threw down for a second-generation Paperwhite, let’s all sigh with resigned exasperation.


text:
An Ohio man will lose his house, his car, spend more than two years in prison, eat a $367,000 fine and be forced to pay restitution after being convicted of selling pirated videogames online.
36-year-old Qiang “Michael” Bi made a big mistake when he mailed a spreadsheet containing details about his counterfeit software business from his personal email account to his work account at Nationwide Insurance, his former employer. It’s quite arguable that his real “big mistake” was selling over 35,000 pirated PC games over a period stretching from 2005 to the end of 2009, but however you want to look at it, the email and spreadsheet, which listed more than 50 eBay and PayPal accounts used to sell the games, was discovered by Nationwide and that’s where his troubles begin.
An investigation by the FBI’s Cybercrime Task Force and U.S. Postal Inspectors ensued, leading to Bi’s arrest, charges and conviction on mail fraud, copyright infringement and aggravated identity theft. Judge Algenon Marbley said he believes Bi is “a good person” at his core who “made a gross error in judgment… all motivated by greed,” but nonetheless sentenced him to 2.5 years in prison, 416 hours of community service and restitution of an as-yet-undetermined amount. Bi will also have to fork over $367,669 dollars representing the proceeds of the crime, along with his house, his car, his computer and other electronic equipment.
Investigators determined that the retail value of the games Bi sold, which he offered for $10 a pop, was roughly $700,000.
Source: The Columbus Dispatch


text:
A few days back, Samsung released the latest security patch to the Galaxy Z Fold 2 smartphone in South Korea. Now, the company’s second-generation foldable device started collecting a new firmware update on the Verizon USA carrier.
Identified via PDA release number F916USQU1DUF1, Verizon’s new software update for Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2 comes with a new security patch dated July 2021. However, it is an initial rollout, the carrier will soon expand its availability widely.
July 2021 Security Patch: Earlier this month, the Korean tech giant revealed that the July update brings fixes for 41 CVE items from Google and 8 SVE items from Samsung. Additionally, this update should improve the system functions and stock applications as well.
- The current software update provides performance improvements and the most up to date Android security patches on your device.
How to check for update manually?
As always, just open your device’s Settings, scroll down then tap on the Software updates menu. Wait for update checking and hit the Download and install button if the device recognizes a new OTA update.


text:
Russian regulator clears Almira LLC to buy KFC restaurants from AmRest
MOSCOW. Feb 21 (Interfax) - The Russian Federal Antimonopoly Service (FAS) has approved a deal for Almira LLC to buy the business of AmRest business in Russia, which manages KFC restaurants, the service said.
AmRest, which manages 214 KFC restaurants in Russia, said in December that it had agreed to sell the business for 100 million euros to Almira LLC. Details about the company were not given.
The FAS did not provide any details about the company in its message.
The deal also requires the consent of Yum! Brands Inc. , which owns the KFC brand.
AmRest is a restaurant holding that develops its own restaurants and manages well known restaurant brands in Europe and China. The holding has been operating in Russia since 2007, developing the KFC franchise.


text:
When CompuServe--the oldest of the top four commercial online services--first launched, the Web didn't exist; the company had to create its own platform.
Now that the Web--with HTML as its authoring language--is the online standard, CompuServe is marching forward with its previously reported plans to put its content on the Web.
By the end of the year, the company will launch its Web-based business while keeping its proprietary service intact, according to spokesman William Giles.
He said the company is still ironing out details, such as how much the Web-based service will cost, and whether it will ultimately phase out its Internet access business.
Of course, CompuServe is not the first online service to move over to the Web. Microsoft Network did so with great fanfare about a year ago, announcing at the same time that it was phasing out its proprietary service. Ditto for Prodigy.
That leaves the largest service of them all, America Online (AOL), as the lone holdout. Although AOL incorporates HTML into its platform, it still operates on its own proprietary architecture, known as Rainman.
Developers are loath to write for two platforms, even one as large as AOL. Some content partners who have left AOL cite the dual-development issue as one reason for abandoning the service.
CompuServe said the move to the Web will save it a lot of money both on development and marketing. The company will no longer have to release new versions of its proprietary service every six months or so; it also can market to people directly on the Web, sending them through a hyperlink to the CompuServe service.
"We see the Internet as the primary platform on which we develop our service because that offers a lot of savings to us as a company," Giles said.
He added that the move onto the Web does not alter CompuServe's mission to serve the more sophisticated Internet user, with heavy emphasis on business and professional users.
"There are estimates from 20 million to 60 million people are on the Internet," Giles noted. "A very small fraction of those people are on CompuServe. We think there's a lot of people out there who are currently online and connected who could benefit from the content we provide."


text:
Halo Infinite: Something occurred during a live stream committed to the updates coming to prepare 2 of Halo Infinite. The stream was intruded on — hacked — to show an obscure message from a man-made brainpower organization called Lux Voluspa. Then, at that point, the engineers at 343 Industries continued discussing a new defensive layer coming to the game, the same old thing.
It was organized, obviously — only a tad of fun viral showcasing mid-stream to keep fans honest. Corona’s designers quickly began playing bashful, and many fans estimated that the short clasp was attached to some story stuff 343 will integrate into Halo Infinite’s multiplayer. However, a couple of others had an alternate perused: Could this have something to do with a fight royale mode?
I don’t believe there are areas of strength for a there, yet that doesn’t mean fight royale is off the table. In light of a report from our associates at Windows Central and another new proof, it appears to be possible that Infinite will get its own fight royale mode down the line.
Is a Halo Infinite fight royale mode coming?
It sure appears as though Infinite will get into the fight royale game. In January, Windows Central announced that Certain Affinity — a dev studio that has added to Halo Infinite as well as a few past Halo games — was chipping away at another game mode, codenamed Tatanka. Was Tatanka fight royale? At the time that was obscure, yet Windows Central’s Jez Corden has since added more subtleties: The mode has been being developed at Certain Affinity since spring 2020, with an emphasis on getting new players.
The new model might be a development of Halo 5’s “Disaster area,” a 24-player group mode that additionally included some light PvE components with bots. It sounds probably it will include the now-standard shutting circle that characterizes most fight royale games, however, subtleties are still light. Furthermore, anything that Creative Affinity is chipping away at is surely greater than the limited scale, fight royale-Esque Last Spartan Standing mode presented in Season 2.
However, we have really supporting proof that Tatanka, anything it seems to be, is in a dynamic turn of events. In April, Certain Affinity tweeted that it is “developing” its relationship with 343 and has “been endowed with further advancing Halo Infinite in a few very interesting ways” while advancing new position openings. Certain Affinity is additionally dealing with Infinite’s Forge mode, however, obviously, it has some new stuff on the way, as well.
Alright, things being what they are, fight royale when?
We don’t have the foggiest idea — it’s conceivable it dispatches with Season 3 in November 2022, yet Certain Affinity will likewise be occupied with delivering and further developing the Forge mapmaking instruments. It appears to be conceivable the reputed fight royale mode could deliver one year from now, however it would stir things up in the event that it arrived for Infinite’s one-year commemoration this year.
Be that as it may, stand by, didn’t 343 say Halo Infinite could exclude fight royale?
Indeed — yet that was quite some time ago. In July 2018, 343 essayist Jeff Easterling said, “I’ll let you know at this moment, the main ‘BR’ we’re truly intrigued by is ‘Fight Rifle.” But four years is quite a while, and Halo Infinite’s multiplayer has itself changed considerably all through advancement. 343 prototyped an Overwatch-Esque legend shooter approach for Infinite, as affirmed by a previous dev. That mode didn’t work out, however, most would agree that 343 is keen on attempting things with Infinite past the exemplary field shooter structure. What it was creating and talking about freely in 2018, an entire three years before discharge will normally be totally different from where it’s at in 2022.


text:
Featured News & Resources
(April 21 at 1 PM EDT)
What You Get from CivicScience...
Your engagement with us gives you access to rapid-turn, cost-efficient consumer research and sentiment data using intelligent polling and automated data science. With over 29 million respondent profiles currently stored, our data lets you:
- Get near real-time consumer feedback, with large sample sizes.
- Deepen your knowledge about any desirable consumer segments.
- Access insights on an unbelievably wide range of topics.
- Conduct custom-defined comparisons - you're in control!
- Monitor and analyze sentiment and trends over time.
More than 20 years ago, TV viewers were introduced to reality TV programming – which became a guilty pleasure for many. Since then, there has been a lack of innovation resulting in many spin-offs. What was once seen as a new and entertaining TV genre that attracted a large audience is now vying for viewers. […]
With St. Patrick’s Day festivities almost upon us (and with that, many a pub crawl to occur across our great globe), what better time than to use our valuable consumer data repository to find out who is more likely to prefer their beer from the tap, a bottle, or a can. Perhaps this is the […]
The Twitter-sphere went berserk yesterday over results to a phone survey released by Quinnipiac University, which found that Fox News was the most trusted national TV news network. As expected, fans of Fox News puffed out their chests with pride, while the more left-leaning crew characterized the results as essentially “terrifying.” This is a prime […]
by Bill Conaway, VP of Client Development As a new member of the “suits” team at CivicScience, I’ve spent the last few weeks exploring our treasure-trove of data, uncovering what most researchers and marketing executives would consider a goldmine of relevant insights. I can clearly see that CivicScience is already shaking up the market research […]
We do some pretty serious research around here at CivicScience. Some of the smartest people in the world spend countless hours mulling over hundreds of millions of poll responses and near-infinite lines of code. Sometimes, especially after a massive code release like we had this week, when burn-out is near, things can get weird. Today […]


text:
According to new information, Barnes and Noble is going to be shutting down about a third of the stores it currently has open.
The reasoning behind this move seems to involve the fact that E-readers are taking the world by storm. Barnes and Noble introduced the Nook E-reader, which has sold well and is popular among many avid readers and customers of Barnes and Noble.
Many of the stores in the chain are unprofitable, however, some will be relocating to better areas. Barnes and Noble used to hold many store openings all over the country every year until 2009, which was also when the Nook was introduced and released.
Technology and the E-reader seem to be the cause of the dropping of around 200 stores in the United States. Due to the same changes, Borders, a rival of Barnes and Noble, had to shut down and go out of business. Let’s hope the same doesn’t happen for everyone’s favorite bookstore, Barnes and Noble.


text:
Smartphones and tablets might be the current hot technology, but history says it’s all just another fad. Twenty years from now, almost nobody will own either device. Seems unbelievable, but the same technology that makes them hot today will make them not tomorrow. If this sounds ridiculous, consider what happened to another “must-have” technology that almost nobody uses any more: the fax machine.
Back in 1991, the Baby Bells were predicting an explosion of landlines and a corresponding shortage of phone numbers because “everyone will need a fax machine.” Phone companies offered to lease fax machines for “only (US)$60 a month on a three-year contract.” (Sound familiar?) Newspapers were offering early faxes of their main stories to subscribers for a buck a day. Every office supply store had shelf after shelf of fax machines for home and office use.
All those dreams got trashed by the Internet and cheap computers. Email attachments killed the fax machine boom. Today a fax “machine” is a $1 chip in a laptop, and like the modem chip, nobody even bothers to configure it. Faxing the newspaper? Newspapers are dropping like old news, and paywalls are mostly money-losers. Even those cries of “mom, we need a second line for the Internet” are just a dim memory. Instead of two, three or four landlines, many homes now have none. Indeed, many existing “landlines” are actually VoIP phones.
Holding On for Dear Life
The problem facing the telcos is that they’re in the phone business, not the “find the best way for people to communicate and give it to them at a competitive price” business. Their product is access to the telephone network. Worse, their entire business model hinges on an archaism — the 10-digit phone number monopoly. People increasingly don’t use phone numbers to contact each other, and the telcos are at risk of becoming just another data pipe for when you’re not near a WiFi connection.
Fax machines are just one of many examples of the future not turning out the way the telcos envisioned it. “Sure-thing” premium services like video calling never saw beyond limited use — too expensive, and people were not willing to shell out $600 for a videophone, plus the extra monthly charges — not when there was almost nobody to talk to on the phone network. Now it’s too late. You can have your “videophone of the future” experience via Skype, Google Talk or Google+ Hangouts at no extra charge.
Also dying is the business model of locking customers into long-term contracts by financing expensive mobile phones. Unlocked Android smartphones are going for less than $200 with no contract, and LG makes a nice $60 flip-phone.
Rise of the Smart Network
Today the same technology that lets phone companies move voice calls cheaply over the Internet also directly competes with them. What keeps phone subscribers on the hook are inertia (the “phone number” habit), lower prices, and increasing services — all of which explain why I’m paying less for a phone with unlimited calling across the country today than I was for local service 20 years ago.
The clock is ticking … and IPv6 will be the second-to-last step in our journey to a phone-free future, where every device has its own unique “phone number” and the network has enough smarts to locate you wherever you are, routing all communications to the nearest device, whether it’s a TV, car, public security camera, or the active display on the shopping cart at the mall.
Smartphones and Tablets in 2031?
Let’s go 20 years in the future. Pretty much every electronic device can interact with your video SPEKZ, which can be anything from a pair of plain-jane NokiaSofts to the latest cool shades from Apple. Cars, streetlight surveillance cams, water meters, televisions, and even your clock radio are all talking to each other — and your SPEKZ are piggybacking on their data streams. There’s not a single laptop, desktop, smartphone or tablet computer in sight.
It’s an amazingly seamless experience. The tiny twin cams on your SPEKZ let you share what you see with your friends and stream a copy to your home server. Your watch and charm bracelet contain sensors to detect your wrist movements and the muscles and tendons of your fingers flexing, all descended from Nintendo WiiMote technology.
Of course, since most men would be about as likely to wear a charm bracelet as they would a pink shirt (some things haven’t changed), they can also sub-vocalize emails and use eye-tracking technology to make selections “just like a fighter pilot!” You type on your SPEKZ virtual keypad and pick from menus and icons floating in 3D before your eyes.
Passwords? “What’s a password, mom?” Instead, your watchface contains a small camera that does both facial and fingerprint identification as well as other biometrics, and your SPEKZ do retinal, iris and voice ID.
It’s a safer, more polite world. The latest Amber Alert system allows people to opt in to automatically search the last few minutes of their SPEKZ data stream against a possible match. Road rage is also much less frequent, and not only because most cars are driving themselves. People even stoop and scoop because other fed-up dog owners forward SPEKZ videos of the culprits caught in the act to the city and post them on the Net.
SPEKZ systems are also saving lives. Before SPEKZ, 20 percent of all heart attacks went undetected. Now, biometric watchbands and ubiquitous WiFi detect heart attacks, heat strokes and hypothermia earlier, and your SPEKZ alert medical services even when you can’t.
How Do We Get From Here to There?
The telcos and ISPs will continue to try to oppose ubiquitous free WiFi mesh networks, just like they’re dragging their feet on implementing IPv6, but competition and public safety concerns will trump their increasingly weakened lobby.
With both phones and their phone network monopolies long gone, carriers will have to settle for being sellers of wireless bandwidth in areas without regular WiFi coverage, and operators of commodity infrastructure.
Saying that smart phones wont be around in 20 years is like saying games consoles or mp3 players wont be around in 20 years… everybody knows that already! It’s no insightful prediction to say "in 20 years we’ll have better technology to replace current technology" Oh wow really? Who would have guessed!? Obviously there will be more advanced technology which will most likely take a different form to today’s consoles, phones etc. You point out that that fax machine is now a small chip in a laptop, I believe your point is that eventually smart phones will be gone because technology will be integrated with other technology (your specs or whatever)… yeah it’s called convergence, it’s already happening (the smart phone itself is a product of convergence) and it will continue to happen. Also I disagree with you describing smart phones as a "fad", sure maybe for the very young it is simply a status symbol but most of us actually use our phones. The ability to check emails, browse the web, use cloud services, remotely connect to home or office pcs etc etc etc, all on the go. Seems like a useful tool to me, not a fad. Sure when the next more useful tool comes out ill probably use that, but that doesn’t indicate a fad, just like the fax machine, it was incredibly useful in it’s day, now it’s been replaced by more advanced technology. It’s advancement, it’s progression, it’s normal. While I do enjoy some of the pictures you paint of our future world, in general I found the article lacked depth and any real insight, although I AM in a bad mood today.


text:
Hey, it's worked for other obscure classic arcade characters, so why not give an HD reboot to Q*Bert? Sony Pictures Entertainment has licensed out the character to Gonzo Games and Sideline Amusements, two studio collaborating to bring you Q*Bert Rebooted.
This new package, which will be available on Steam and Mobile devices, will bring back the isometric gameplay of the original arcade hit in the classic 2D pixelated style as well as a new 3D HD overhaul, akin to Jetpac, Pac-Man, and other classic arcade remakes we've seen over the years.
In terms of gameplay differences, the 1982 original had Q*Bert jumping across cubes, but this new reboot will see him jumping across hexagons instead. Mind. Blown!
This is the second time Q*Bert has been attempted to be revived by a gaming publisher. He saw a brief resurgence on the PlayStation in a game back the first time when rebooting classics was all the rage thanks to the success of those awful Frogger games. You know, the ones everyone's grandparents bought them because of "Hey! Video games!"
Q*Bert was not as successful of a relaunch, most likely because the only interesting thing about him is the goofy language he speaks.
Here's to Gonzo Games and Sideline Amusements maybe for proving me wrong. The game's simplistic puzzle platforming could very well be a hit on smartphones. Q*Bert Rebooted will launch on Steam for PC, Mac, and Linux on July 8th for $5. After that, the studios will focus on iOS and Android before moving onto Kindle Fire and the Nook. I guess it's gatta stick somewhere, right?


text:
Queensland University of Technology (QUT) researchers have developed a treatment to extract and reuse polyester from polyester/wool mix fabrics.
Through extraction and reuse, the researchers hope to divert some of the 92 million tonnes of textiles sent to landfill each year.
QUT Institute for Future Environments faculty Robert Speight and Laura Navone found that a commercial enzyme dissolves wool fibres from polyester and wool mix fabrics, without damaging the polyester strands.
“Recycled polyester is a valuable tradable commodity,” Prof Speight said.
“The polyester extracted from fabric can be made into polyester chips and turned into anything from yarn for new textiles to playground equipment.”
Prof Speight said the value of recycled polyester has gone up significantly in recent years, and gives clothing manufacturers a marketing advantage when able to claim recycled material.
“Adidas, for example, has committed to using only recycled plastic by 2024, which includes polyester – contributing to the demand for recycled polyester,” he said.
Prof Speight said the next phase was to partner with recycling companies to scale and commercialise the process.
QUT Co-researcher Associate Professor Alice Payne said Australians send 500,000 tonnes of textiles to landfill every year.
“Australians discard an estimated $140 million worth of clothes each year, with an average lifetime of three months for each item,” Prof Payne said.
According to Prof Payne, polyester is incorporated in much of the 80-150 billion items of clothing made each year.
“Separating and reusing polyester is part of the drive to prevent waste in the fashion industry,” she said.
“Other ways to prevent waste is to use clothing longer, buy second hand rather than new, and circulate, lend, borrow, repair, upcycle or resell no longer wanted clothing.”


text:
Entrackr is a new age media platform for entrepreneurs, startups and technology enthusiasts. We cover technology startups and breaking developments around them with incisive analysis and deep insights on daily basis. We aim to empower entrepreneurs with the knowledge to make a positive impact on overall tech-driven startup ecosystem. Entrackr provides all the information related to Tech Startup News, Upcoming Startups in India and latest startup news at one platform.
- #StartupNews #PlaysimpleNews #business #lateststartupnews #entrepreneurship #businessnews #Entrackr #entrackrnews
Mobile development Indian startup, PlaySimple’s acquisition with the aid of using the Swedish game development corporation, Modern Times Group (MTG) for a whopping $360 million, last week became the biggest lesson for the Indian startup ecosystem in 2021. And this not just because of the cost it is news for Indian startups for numerous reasons.0 0 Comments 0 Shares
- #business #entrepreneurship #businessnews #Entrackr #entrackrnews #LatestMeeshoNews #lateststartupnews #Meeshonews #startupfundingnews
After just three months, of its previous funding round, Meesho, who is one of the best rising startups in India, is back at fundraising. This time it’s even bigger and better, with an aim to grab almost double its valuation. The social commerce platform is taking bigger steps now and is talking $100 million now, in a new round from two new and existing investors.0 0 Comments 0 Shares
- #AMAZON #CCI #FLIPKART #lateststartupnews #techstartupnews #startupnews #startup #news #entrackrnews #entrackr #Startupfinancials #amazonnews #flipkartnews
Startup financials & Tech Startup News
The Karnataka High Court on Friday ruled that the antitrust investigation by India’s competition watchdog into Amazon and Flipkart will go on as it dismissed appeals filed by the two companies against a previous order by the court which had allowed the investigation to continue.
“In the concerned opinion of this court by no stretch of imagination the inquiry can be crushed at this stage,” a division bench of Justices Satish Chandra Sharma and Nataraj Rangaswamy ruled.
The verdict came after Amazon and Flipkart filed separate appeals last month challenging an earlier order by a single judge bench of the Karnataka High Court which allowed the competition watchdog to continue its antitrust investigation into the two companies.
0 0 Comments 0 Shares
- #AKAMAI #DNS #PAYTM #Paytmapp #paytmnews #zomatonews #ZOMATO #startupnews #startup #news #entrackrnews #onlinegrocerynews #Paytmlatestnews
Paytm Latest News and Online Grocery News-
Digital payments company Paytm and food aggregator Zomato were among the digital platforms that experienced a temporary outage for nearly half an hour on Thursday night with users across the country experiencing accessing issues.
The outage came amid a global outage at Akamai, which also took down a number of other websites including Chase, AT&T and American Express. It is worth noting that the outage happened as Akamai experienced a DNS issue.
0 0 Comments 0 Shares
- #DIGITALCURRENCY #RBI #entrackr #startupnews #startup #ReserveBankofIndia #news #entrackrnews
The Reserve Bank of India is currently working towards a “phased implementation strategy” of a Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) and may conduct pilot projects to assess the use of the digital currency in wholesale and retail segments in the near future.
But before that, the bank is examining some key issues such as its underlying technology, its distribution architecture, that is, if it should be issued directly by the RBI or through banks, and the degree of anonymity that should be afforded to users of the digital currency.0 0 Comments 0 Shares


text:
Rumours are abound that we might be getting a remaster of 2010 Nintendo Wii title Sonic Colours (AKA Sonic Colors depending on your region) later this year following a couple of listings showing up over the weekend.
As first reported by Gematsu, German voiceover studio iksample listed a "Sonic Colors Remastered" in its portfolio on its website, which at the time of writing has since gone into maintainence mode. However, this was then later joined by a listing on French retailer Sogamely, who marked the as-yet-unannounced title as releasing on PlayStation 4, Xbox One and Nintendo Switch at some point in 2021.
Sega are yet to confirm whether either listing is accurate at the time of writing, although it is the Blue Blur's 30th anniversary this year, and you'd definitely expect Sega to be marking the occasion in some form with the games. The company has already announced a Netflix series entitled Sonic Prime that'll be heading to screens early next year.
We quite enjoyed the original Sonic Colours when it released in 2010 for the Nintendo Wii and Nintendo DS, and gave it an 8/10 in our review you can read over here. We'll let you know if an official announcement is forthcoming.


text:
Special Olympics World Games forever stamps now available: Morning Report
Linn's Stamp News gives you a quick look at what's going on in the world of stamp-collecting.
1. Special Olympics release
The U.S. Postal Service's Special Olympics World Games forever stamp was made available on May 9, and can be purchased online in blocks of four or 10, and panes of 20.
“The Postal Service is pleased to honor Special Olympics, an organization that — for nearly five decades — has changed the world by creating opportunities for children and adults with intellectual disabilities,” said USPS Pacific Area Vice President Dean Granholm.
2. Europhilex 2015 underway
"Europhilex, the 2015 international stamp exhibition, opened in London on Wednesday, May 13, to a good crowd of collectors eager to purchase from Royal Mail the souvenir sheet marking the 175th anniversary of the Penny Black."
3. More on Europhilex
Europhilex 2015 has been a hot topic on Twitter.
Check out a few notable tweets.
4. Yesterday's most-viewed post
5. Something social
@RoyalMailStamps Exhibit at #Europhilex @TheBDC until Saturday! pic.twitter.com/UVwo62wgzD— ThePTSandStampex (@ThePTSLondon) May 14, 2015
MORE RELATED ARTICLES
World StampsMar 20, 2023, 3 PM
New royal silhouette on Great Britain’s March 23 Flowers stamps
US StampsMar 20, 2023, 12 PM
Colorful tulips to blossom on 10 new U.S. stamps April 5
World StampsMar 18, 2023, 2 PM
Kyrgyzstan issues world’s longest postage stamp
World StampsMar 17, 2023, 4 PM
Highlights of Ibra 2023 world stamp exhibition in Germany


text:
AWS continues to extend its lead in cloud services. Amazon added free support for all AWS customers and picked up the endorsement of NASA, co-developer of OpenStack.
Late last week Amazon rolled out free basic support for all AWS customers and dropped some prices on its premium support tiers while expanding available services. The company keeps reducing prices as economies of scale and operational experience allow it to do so. This has got to make life difficult for rivals tying to claw back any market share from the leader, and especially for proponents of the OpenStack initiative, which has had issues with software maturity.
Amazon has renamed its service offerings descriptively, dropping the Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum scheme of old in favor of Basic, Developer, Business, and Enterprise. All customers are automatically enrolled in the free Basic tier, which covers account or billing questions in addition to "system health issues" -- in other words, not your own configuration or third-party applications.
The Developer level, at $49 per month, provides access to email support during the customer's own local business hours, and covers "configuration, operation, and maintenance of applications that make use of core AWS services," or "building blocks" as the service summary phrases it.
The Business and Enterprise tiers expand support to "use case guidance" and "application architecture," respectively, and get support tickets routed to senior support engineers. Both also feature access to the automated AWS Trusted Advisor, which "inspects your AWS environment and makes recommendations when opportunities exist to save money, improve system performance or fault tolerance, or close security gaps."
Enterprise customers also get 15-minute response, a Technical Account Manager, access to short-term consulting for planned events (such as an advertising or product launch), and access to a solutions architect for long-term infrastructure planning.
Help from the skies
Amazon got a boost recently from NASA. The space agency had been instrumental in the early development of OpenStack, a rival technology to Amazon's AWS. Last month NASA announced that it was withdrawing its participation with the OpenStack initiative. Karen Petraska, service executive for computing services at NASA's CIO office, said that NASA is "not interested in competing with commercial cloud companies, and would rather be a 'smart consumer' of commercial cloud services," according to Web Host Industry Review.
Being a "smart consumer" apparently means getting service from Amazon. NASA's CIO wrote in a blog post that the agency had "shifted to a new web services model that uses Amazon Web Services for cloud-based enterprise infrastructure," saving $1 million per year, reports Wired's Cloudline. OpenStack was not mentioned in NASA's post. Proponents of the open-source cloud technology might have felt stung by NASA's characterization of AWS as "interoperable and standards-based" -- the aims of OpenStack.


text:
The Eagers Automotive Ltd (ASX: APE) share price will be in focus during early trade after another profit upgrade from the car retailer.
The post Why the Eagers Automotive (ASX:APE) share price is on watch today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia. –
The Eagers Automotive Ltd (ASX: APE) share price is one to watch in early trade today. Shares in the Aussie car retailer could be on the move after the company released a trading update late on Wednesday afternoon.
Why is the Eagers Automotive share price on watch?
Eagers provided some good news to investors after Wednesday’s market close. The company released a trading update for the twelve months ended 31 December 2020 – the first full year of trade for the automotive group.
Eagers Automotive was formed when AP Eagers merged with Automotive Holdings Group in late 2019.
Eagers expects to report an underlying operating profit before tax from continuing operations of $209.4 million for 2020. That would represent a 108.6% increase on 2019’s $100.4 million figure.
Wednesday’s announcement was the second profit guidance upgrade in just six weeks for Eagers. The previous update had flagged guidance of $195 million to $205 million for 2020. The Eagers Automotive share price jumped to a new all-time high following that announcement on 11 December.
Management said the improved profit result compared to guidance had been delivered by strong performance in both its car and truck retailing businesses.
Why is Eagers’ business performing well?
The coronavirus pandemic has proved to be something of a positive for Eagers’ business. Used car and other vehicle markets have been hot with strong sales in the past year or so.
That’s largely come on the back of less economic impacts than anticipated as well consumers turning away from public transport during the pandemic. Strong government stimulus programs such as JobKeeper and early access to superannuation have also helped to increase many Aussies’ cash balances.
That has meant strong demand for used cars, trucks, motorcycles and boats which has boosted the Eagers Automotive share price higher.
In fact, shares in the Aussie car retailer are up 46.4% in the last twelve months. It’s been a similar story for rival Carsales.com Ltd (ASX: CAR) in 2020.
The Carsales share price has climbed 86.3% since the bottom of the March bear market compared to a 356.5% gain for Eagers Automotive over the same period.
The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) closed down 0.7% at 6,780.60 points on Wednesday afternoon.
Where to invest $1,000 right now
When investing expert Scott Phillips has a stock tip, it can pay to listen. After all, the flagship Motley Fool Share Advisor newsletter he has run for more than eight years has provided thousands of paying members with stock picks that have doubled, tripled or even more.*
Scott just revealed what he believes are the five best ASX stocks for investors to buy right now. These stocks are trading at dirt-cheap prices and Scott thinks they are great buys right now.
*Returns as of June 30th
- ASX 200 falls 0.6%
- Aussies ready to splash on travel, entertainment, cars
- Think you saw growth in 2020? Just wait for 2021: fundie
- Why these leading ASX gold and tech shares could rally on through 2021
- How ASX shares in the automotive sector outperformed the market in 2020
Motley Fool contributor Ken Hall has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended carsales.com Limited. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Bruce Jackson.


text:
NEW YORK (AP) – Gas, food and rent prices are on the rise. The Federal Reserve raised interest rates at its highest level since 2018. The US economy shrank for two consecutive quarters.
Economists are divided on whether a recession is looming. What is clear is that economic uncertainty will not go away anytime soon. But there are steps you can take now to be ready for whatever happens.
Yiming mom, an assistant professor at Columbia University, says it’s not a question of if but when a recession will occur. People should prepare but not panic, he said.
“Historically the economy has always been up and down,” said Ma. “It’s something that just happens, it’s kind of like catching a cold.”
But, he notes, some people’s immune systems are able to recover better than others. It’s the same with finances. If you think a recession could destabilize yours, here are some things you can do to prepare for it.
KNOW YOUR EXPENSES AND MAKE A BUDGET
Knowing how much you spend each month is essential. But he recommends that you sit down and write down how much you spend on a day-to-day basis. This will help you see what’s coming, what’s coming out, and what unnecessary expenses you might be able to cut.
“By understanding what money you are getting and what you are spending, you may be able to make adjustments to help you through difficult times,” advises Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation’s Money Smart.a financial education program.
Budgets often reveal expenses that can be eliminated altogether or impulsive expenses that can be avoided with planning.
For guidance on creating a budget, free courses such as “Create a budget (and stick to it) ”By CT Dollars and Sense, a partnership of Connecticut state agencies and Nerd Wallet’s Budget Calculator they can be good starting points.
SAVE AS YOU CAN
The more non-essential expenses you can cut, the more you can save.
It’s not possible for everyone, but Gene Natali, co-founder of Troutwood, an app that helps people create financial plans, says it’s ideal to plan enough savings to cover basic needs for three to six months.
Programs like America Savesa nonprofit campaign from the Consumer Federation of America can help create a roadmap.
And if you have a savings account, it’s important to check if your bank offers you a good interest rate and shop around if not, Ma said.
His advice is to keep an eye on the monthly fees or service charges that could dent your savings. But don’t limit your options. Online banks sometimes offer better rates than traditional ones.
CONSOLIDATE YOUR LOANS AND DON’T TAKE ANY MORE
As interest rates rise, experts recommend consolidating loans so that you have only one fixed-rate loan and, if possible, pay off as much of the debt as possible.
“Job security tends to worsen when a recession comes, it’s not a great time to build up debt,” Ma said.
But by paying off your existing debt it’s easier said than done. The Federal Trade Commission’s guide to consumer advice on getting out of debt can help you make a plan.
With high interest rates, it’s not even a great time to take out new loans for big expenses like cars, although experts advise that if you need durable goods like vacuum cleaners, stoves or dishwashers, buy them as soon as possible to avoid. future price increases.
VISIT THE SECOND-HAND STORES AND SITE SALES
Allen Galeon, a home caregiver in California, has been affected for months by rising prices for basic necessities like groceries, paper towels, and gas for his commutes.
Her son’s favorite Hi-C orange juice, which used to cost $ 1.99 for a six-pack, now costs $ 2.50.
Since the start of the pandemic, when Galeon reduced the care of multiple families to a single client to reduce his health risks, his family has faced financial instability.
One choice he has made is to buy items such as clothes or electronics second hand whenever possible, from Goodwill, pawn shops or Craigslist. And Craigslist allows you to search by area, reduce driving, which means less gas and inconvenience.
NEGOTIATE YOUR MONTHLY BILLS
After the pandemic, many companies updated their relief policies and became more flexible with users, according to Kia McCallister-Young, director of America Saves..
Calling monthly service providers to negotiate bills – whether it’s for utilities, phone services, cable, Internet, or auto insurance – can lead to significant savings, McCallister-Young said. Individuals can request the best rate, any discounts, rebates, or coupons available which may lead to a reduced monthly rate. If a supplier is competitive with other companies, there’s an even better chance of getting a discount, she added.
“If you tell them ‘I’m thinking of changing’ or you’re shopping around, this helps: if they know you’re thinking of leaving, they’ll give you the best rate and the goal right now is to find the most cash flow possible.” , he said.
Check out federal programs like the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, which helps cover the bills and Lifeline, which can help with phone bills. If you are unsure if you are eligible for any federal or state program, you can call 211who will put you in touch with a local specialist who can assist you.
TURN ON YOUR POWER
Shopping with a meal plan, buying generic rather than branded products, or buying in bulk are some of the recommendations from the Consumer Federation of America.
“Many stores have matching prices, so if you show them that a competitor is selling the same product for a lower price, they’ll match it,” McCallister-Young said. “You also want to look at the stores closest to you, so you don’t spend the extra money you would save on gas.”
An alternative way to save on groceries is to check out food sharing apps like Olio, that connects people in their community to share extra groceries and Too Good to Go, where customers can buy companies’ surplus food at a discount.
SEE THE GOVERNMENT’S ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS
Even with these savings and spending practices, a month’s salary isn’t always enough to cover major expenses. If this is your situation, programs are available across the country to assist you.
“Sometimes there isn’t enough ‘end of the month’ at the end of the month,” said Michael Best, an attorney at the National Consumer Law Center who deals with financial services issues.
To use these resources, check if you are eligible for the Emergency Rental Assistance ProgramSupplemental Nutrition Assistance ProgramAgricultural Market Nutrition Programo the Homeowner Assistance Fund. All of these are federal programs coordinated by state governments. Some states offer additional local programs for their residents.
SEEK COMMUNITY ASSISTANCE
If you are experiencing food or housing insecurity, look for non-profit or community-based organizations around you. From housing support and food banks to utility assistance, non-profit organizations across the country can help. National organizations such as Feeding America host food banks in all 50 states.
“We are already seeing the community contacting us in overwhelming numbers due to what is happening in the country in terms of economic stability,” said Sakhi for South Asian Women’s Kavita Mehra.an organization that helps survivors of domestic violence in New York City.
His organization provides shelter, food, and cash emergency assistance to people in the community. She said that between January and June, her group distributed over $ 150,000 in cash emergency assistance to survivors who were having difficulty keeping the lights on and putting food on the table. This is more than anything last year.
Food assistance organizations such as Ample HarvestAmerica without hunger and Food Rescue USA they offer maps that allow users to search for a nearby food bank by typing their postcode.
TAKE CARE OF YOUR MENTAL HEALTH
Between worrying about your bills and not knowing what your financial future might look like, your stress levels can skyrocket.
“It’s a hectic existence,” Galeon said. “You have to do a lot of gestures and you have to stay calm, for the sake of your mental health.”
Debra Kissen, clinical director of the Light On Anxiety CBT Treatment Center, recommends that you first recognize when your body is stressed. Then she recommends mindfulness exercises such as breathing, touching a wall to calm you down, and completing the “five senses to relieve anxiety” exercise..
Most health insurances cover some types of mental health care. If you don’t have health insurance, you can search for therapists on a sliding scale across the country, including via FindTreatment.gov and the Anxiety and Depression Association of America directory.
The Associated Press receives support from the Charles Schwab Foundation for educational and explanatory reports to improve financial literacy. The independent foundation is separate from Charles Schwab and Co. Inc. The AP is solely responsible for its journalism.


text:
Swiss still has 100 million to reimburse customers
news-single-imgcaption" style="width:240px;">Swiss has been hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic. (keystone)
The Swiss airline company still has to reimburse a hundred million francs to its customers, including fifty million to travel agencies, said commercial director Tamur Goudarzi Pour. The Lufthansa branch wants to reimburse customers who wait the longest within six weeks.
The official clarified that the national carrier still owed its customers “an amount in millions with three digits at the bottom of the range”, without revealing a detailed figure, in an interview with the specialized portal Travelnews.ch.
“We aim to respond to the demands of our customers who are waiting the longest in the next six weeks. We stick (…) to the requirements of the Confederation to reimburse tour operators by the end of September at the latest, ”he added.
While Swiss, like the rest of the airline industry, has been hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic, the airline sees signs of improvement.
For Tamur Goudarzi Pour, “there will certainly be a catch-up effect among people who have not been able to travel so far. In Europe, we see very high demand and a high occupancy rate in the short term ”.
In late June, the German Consumer Protection Association (SKS) demanded that all refunds be made within six weeks. Swiss then indicated that it would pay several million francs a week after having been forced to cancel almost all of its flights and immobilize most of its fleet due to the coronavirus pandemic.
In early May, the Confederation announced emergency aid of 1.275 billion francs for the companies Swiss and Edelweiss. The shareholders of the parent company Lufthansa had given their approval at the end of June to a rescue plan of 9 billion euros (9.6 billion francs), which prevents the group from the cessation of payments.


text:
It is probably the most anticipated game of the current generation of consoles. The Last of Us Part II now has a new official release date, after being postponed indefinitely. The Naughty Dog adventure will be available from June 19 – the news was released on PlayStation itself this Monday.
The first confirmation was scheduled for February 21, but the stadium was forced to postpone the launch until May 29. In early April, however, the company again announced the postponement of the game, but this time indefinitely, given the pandemic of COVID-19.
The news comes after a leak caused several video games to emerge on the internet. The videos showed important cutscenes of the game, revealing parts of the story. Although no reference was made to the event, it is possible that it hastened the confirmation of the new date.
To give some prominence to this new The Last of Us, Sony was forced to reschedule the release of Ghost of Tsushima. The debut of the new Sucker Punch game was set for June 26th – just a week after this new date for The Last of Us Part II – but so that the Naughty Dog title can take a prominent place for a while longer, Ghost of Tsushima s hit the market on July 17th.
In The Last of Us Part II you'll be able to continue Ellie's story, now 19 years old, passionate and very angry to manage. Remember that the character was not the protagonist of the first title, but Joel, who now seems to take a more secondary role.
The hordes of infected return, but it is only humans who seem to pose the greatest threat from this sequel.


text:
Electric vehicles not the only way to meet CO2 targets, Italy car lobby says
MILAN (Reuters) - Electric vehicles are not the only effective route to reducing carbon emissions produced by the car industry, the head of Italy's automotive lobby said on Tuesday.
Other technologies could help to decarbonise the industry, meeting the same targets on emissions while preserving know-how and jobs in Italy, said Paolo Scudieri, the chairman of automotive industry association ANFIA.
"I refer to the tangible contribution that biofuels and synthetic fuels, as well as hydrogen, can provide," Scudieri said opening ANFIA's public assembly, adding the Italian automotive industry was already making huge investments on hydrogen.
Biofuels and synthetic fuels, referred to as e-fuels, are being developed to allow modified versions of combustion engines to continue to be used rather than a wholesale switch to battery electric vehicles (BEV).
Scudieri said that exclusively focusing on BEV technology, currently dominated by Asian producers, would put some 73,000 jobs at risk in Italy in coming years, which would not be compensated by about 6,000 new jobs expected to be created by electric mobility.
He added around 450 car parts maker in Italy, out of a total of 2,200, risk going out of business as they have not yet started to shift production towards electric technology.
The European Commission has proposed a 100% cut in CO2 emissions by 2035 for the industry. The target, which is part of a bigger package of climate change policies launched last year, would make it impossible to sell new fossil fuel-powered vehicles in the 27-country bloc.
The European parliament will hold a debate next week on a number of climate policies, including a plan to effectively ban combustion engine cars by 2035.
Scudieri said there was not a prevailing position among different political groups within the European parliament.
"Every single vote will count and my wish is that our MEPs will vote also having the country's interests in mind," he said.
(Reporting by Giulio Piovaccari; Editing by Keith Weir)


text:
Tata Motors chairman N Chandrasekaran on Tuesday said that the company is examining various options around its UK-arm Jaguar and Land Rover (JLR), which has been hit by volume slowdown and mounting losses.
Tata Motors chairman N Chandrasekaran on Tuesday said that the company is examining various options around its UK-arm Jaguar and Land Rover (JLR), which has been hit by volume slowdown and mounting losses, including meeting multiple private players and looking for partnerships in China to lessen the financial burden on the group’s bottom line.
Speaking to the shareholders at the company’s 74th annual general meeting, Chadrasekaran highlighted that the automobile sector is capital intensive and demands continuous investment in product and technology. He said that more than the final outcome of the Brexit, it’s the continuing uncertainty that is hurting JLR in its home market of UK and continental Europe, which is the largest source market for a lot of parts that JLR procures annually.
“The only way to handle the ongoing crisis and the continuing need for large capex is additional investment through partnerships, because we want to spread the investment, which cannot be shut either. “There are many discussions from tactical to strategic for such partnerships. Opportunities are coming and we keep evaluating them and as long as it is in the interest of Tata Motors. We will forge such partnerships so that we are able to address the capex issue,” Chandra said.
He also said, “Meetings are happening with multiple players for JLR; will go ahead if something works out in the interest of Tata Motors,” a business news channel quoted him as saying.
Last week, Tata Motors reported a debilitating operational loss of Rs 3,679 crore for the three months to June even as it braces for more challenges due to Brexit and a sharp slowdown in global automobile sales.
The company’s earnings came under pressure impacted by the 395 million pounds loss posted by JLR. With industry volumes down in most regions, JLR reported a 11.6% decline in its global retail sales to 128,615 vehicles for the quarter. China, reported an over 29% decline in volumes during the quarter. Additional plant shutdown time and delays resulting from Brexit contingency planning also contributed to the lower sales and profits.
Senior management have highlighted that the cash flows at JLR are expected to remain negative for the full year on account of continued investments in the luxury car maker, while the profit before tax though positive will remain in the lower band of the guided range.
Chandra said on Tuesday that JLR has seen its volume plunge around 50% in China, which was its biggest market till the general economic slowdown hit the world’s largest auto market since the past two years. However, he said that there is some silver lining in China, whether it is a trend needs to be watched out for.
He said during the past 12-18 months, JLR has cut down capex from around 4.5 billion pounds to 3.9 billion pounds. And the company is working towards cutting down further, however, it cannot take a very drastic cut. On the Brexit, he said, “more than the impact of Brexit, it is the uncertainty of its potential impact, and this is much higher on JLR than any other company.
“The real concern is if Brexit were to happen with or without a deal, what will be the impact on our supply chain. We import millions of components from other parts of the world, particularly Europe. In the situation of Brexit, there’s a possibility of a supply chain breakdown, which essentially means production cannot happen, inventories are to be maintained,” he said.


text:
Single-use plastic and plastic packaging have long been used for their convenience and affordability. However, taking the direction the world is going, it’s about time we sought more sustainable packaging alternatives.
The detrimental effect of plastic on the environment cannot be ignored. From harming marine life to polluting water and releasing dangerous chemicals during their lifecycle, the negative effects of traditional plastics are becoming more prominent than ever.
TIPA Compostable Packaging conducted extensive research showcasing interesting findings regarding alternative packaging use in the U.S. and the UK. The research offers valuable insights into how consumers in the U.S. and UK perceive and prioritize sustainable packaging. As public consciousness about environmental issues rises, this study highlights a promising inclination towards compostable and recyclable solutions, suggesting a hopeful trajectory for the packaging industry.
Awareness of Plastic Packaging
There are certain industries that are the largest users of plastic and plastic packaging, such as the fresh produce industry at the top of the ladder. Next follow groceries, frozen produce, health and beauty, and the e-commerce industry.
Interestingly enough, an increasing number of consumers are willing to pay more for a product packed in an alternative packaging such as a compostable one. In both the UK and the U.S., the majority of citizens (84%) are seriously concerned about the plastic waste generated by plastic packaging. People in the U.S. and the UK find alternative packaging to be very important in their everyday lives.
On a global scale, there are a number of campaigns highlighting the risks of single-use plastic (carrier bags, drinks bottles, coffee cups, and packaging), and luckily, more and more people are becoming aware enough to seek an alternative.
Exploring the Alternatives
According to TIPA research, many people are aware of compostable packaging but do not know all its advantages. In the UK, 31% of respondents are aware of compostable packaging, while in the U.S., the percentile is around 30%. Alternatively, recycling habits are more prominent, with 50% of the UK’s residents aware and practicing recycling; in the U.S., around 47% of the survey participants responded to being aware of recycling practices.
When surveying preferences, 30% of respondents both in the U.S. and the UK indicated a preference for compostable packaging, while a similar percentage favored recycled packaging. Interestingly, the preference for compostable packaging was nearly on par with recycled packaging, and even surpassed it among those who were familiar with compostable options. This data is promising, especially considering that the general public is more familiar with recycled packaging. It suggests that with increased awareness about compostables, they could potentially become a more preferred choice.
The Relationship Between Consumers and Packaging Alternatives
According to the TIPA results, there are several states in the U.S. with a higher level of awareness for using compostable packaging and even paying more to use one. For instance, Washington and California are at the top of the ladder as the states that are the most willing to recognize, use, and pay for compostable packaging. Surprisingly, New York is a bit less aware.
Over 75% of the respondence are willing to pay 3%-5% for their preferred alternative packaging. Those who prefer compostable packaging are more willing (80%) to pay 3%-5%
for their preferred alternative packaging.
Given the results, customers who prefer compostable packaging are typically more aware of its benefits and are willing to pay a higher cost to have their product packed in compostable packaging compared to those in favor of recycling.
Another intriguing observation is that respondents aged 25-34 perceive the differences between recyclable and compostable packaging as more pronounced (50%-60%) than other age groups. It’s no surprise that they are the most ardent supporters of compostable packaging.
Demand Drives Innovation
Today, we are happy to see a lot of companies using compostable packaging, which has already delivered a positive impact.
For example, the American Fresh Harvest, that deliver organic produce, use TIPA’s home compostable bags for delicate items, ensuring freshness and eco-friendlines; Jac Vandenberg’s SUNRAYS, recognized for their grapes, have adopted TIPA’s compostable zipper bags, catering to eco-conscious consumers across the U.S. and Canada; InstaBrew, makers of portable coffee cubes, have chosen TIPA’s high-barrier laminate for wrapping, merging quality with sustainability; Riverford, an organic grower offering home-delivered veg boxes, have incorporated TIPA’s home-compostable bags to maintain the freshness of their produce, emphasizing quality without compromising on sustainability. These are only a few examples.
Successful initiatives like this one only show that compostable packaging is a practical way to become more sustainable. Additionally, governments around the world are increasingly responding to the concerns of the public regarding package waste, particularly single-use plastic waste.
In that context, governments are dedicated to implementing specific regulations to narrow the window for environmental waste, as we all enhance traditional waste-management processes.
All aspects considered, the world is slowly grasping the full potential of alternative packaging options, especially compostable ones, and with so many resources at hand, we hope we’ll see cleaner horizons for everyone.


text:
The number of container ships waiting for berths at the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach across the Pacific coastline is growing and has now exceeded one hundred to 101 ships.
According to the latest data from the Marine Exchange of Southern California (Marine Exchange of Southern California), there are 101 container ships anchored or roaming the two U.S. gateway shipping lanes waiting for berths along the 1,000-mile stretch of North American coastline. Before the outbreak, ships that typically took only two weeks to sail from Asia to North America are now taking up huge capacity due to congestion delays, with some voyages taking more than 45 days at berth. "The Zhonggu Shan Dong has been waiting for berth for 55 days.
While the Port of Los Angeles disclosed that the number of waiting ships shrunk by nearly half in a week, and the fact that congestion has not eased. Last month, U.S. authorities pushed anchorages for ships waiting for berths off the California coast, requiring ships to anchor in waters 150 miles from the coastline. While no one can see the large fleet of container ships, the number of vessels in subsequent congestion continues to grow.
Cross-tracking corroborated by Clarksons' port congestion data and analysis of the Port of Los Angeles' outbound vessel volume data shows that port congestion remains unabated. The reduction stems from the adjustment of anchorage arrangement rules resulting in some vessels not being counted.
The Southern California Shipping Exchange adjusted its anchorage queuing rules on November 15. Under the previous rules, ships waiting to enter port were allowed to wait at anchor within 20 nautical miles of the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach. For safety and air pollution reasons, the new rules stipulate that, except in special circumstances, ships waiting to berth can only wait in waters 150 miles southwest of California and 50 miles away from California and Mexico, and only ships that have been notified by the port that they can enter the port within 72 hours will be allowed to slowly approach the port anchorage and wait for berthing. As a result, the spacing between ships is widened and the speed of cargo entering the port is lengthened, which leads to further congestion in the port.
The latest data from the Marine Exchange of Southern California (Marine Exchange of Southern California) shows that there are currently 101 container ships stranded, 30 of which are moored in Southern California waters and 71 of which are slowly sailing or drifting outside of designated safety and air quality zones.
"Can you imagine the risk of 101 container ships all converging within 40 miles of Los Angeles during tonight's storm?" The ships are now spread over 1,000 miles, many of them located in relatively calm waters south of the Mexican coast." The exchange said in a Facebook post on the 13th.
As of the evening of the 13th, authorities had actually cleared all boats moored in Los Angeles and Long Beach in anticipation of the impending major storm.
In the latest video in his popular YouTube series "What's Happening to Shipping," Sal Mercogliano, an associate professor at Campbell University in North Carolina, points out the extremely long wait times for ships on the trans-Pacific trade route. The video points to the Navios Amarillo, waiting in the waters of Baja, Mexico, and the Maersk Esmeraldas, waiting in the waters of Xiamen, as prime examples.
The 4250 TEU Navios Amarillo left the port of Busan, South Korea on November 17 and is currently berthed in Mexican waters, with a 46-day berth in Los Angeles scheduled for January 2.
The 13,000 TEU Maersk Esmeraldas, which called at the ports of Hong Kong, Shenzhen, Yantian and Xiamen in late November, left Xiamen two days ago (and actually left the port on Dec. 1) and is still anchored off the Chinese coastline, scheduled to arrive in Los Angeles on Jan. 11. The month-long transit time required is indicative of the scale of congestion on the trans-Pacific route.
The ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach announced on the 13th that the planned "overdue container detention fee" to be charged to shipping companies will be postponed for another week, which is the fifth time. The fine was first proposed in October, but has not yet been implemented.
With soaring consumer demand to be met in the run-up to Christmas, some importers need to ensure their goods are on the shelves in time for the holiday season and have had to forgo shipping by sea in favor of air.
However, according to statistics, air freight prices to and from major Asian routes have doubled in the past three months.
The Financial Times reports that airfreight prices on routes from Shanghai to North America reached a record high of $14 per kilogram, well above the $8 per kilogram at the end of August, and the current price has set a record high of $12 per kilogram at the beginning of the new crown outbreak. But the additional costs associated with airfreight could put pressure on consumers through inflation.
At the same time, airfreight prices on similar routes, such as the Hong Kong, China to Europe and the United States route and the transatlantic route between Europe and North America, have seen significant increases.
"Everyone knows that if you want merchandise to hit the shelves before Christmas, you have to use air freight." said Yngve Ruud, head of global air cargo at Kuehne+Nagel, one of the world's largest freight forwarders. A freight forwarder said, "The market expects the peak season and air cargo market demand to continue until March next year."
The Financial Times analysis states that air freight prices have soared for a number of reasons:
•The first is that global shipping congestion has caused a large number of companies to switch to air routes to transport products such as fashion items, consumer electronics and parts.
•Second, the widespread spread of the Neocon "Omicron" strain has created a global demand for Neocon testing reagents and personal protective equipment.
•Finally, the global supply chain is extremely busy due to the holidays such as Black Friday and Western Christmas.
It is understood that some airlines have shifted to undertake air freight operations, and logistics companies such as FedEx and DHL are filling some of the gaps to adequately respond to the growing demand for such convenient but expensive services.
Marco Blomens, head of cargo consulting at Accenture's Sibley Consulting, said current capacity in the airline industry is still 13 percent less than in 2019, while demand rose 6 percent over the same period, resulting in a gap of nearly 20 percentage points between supply and demand. And according to the latest statistics and analysis report, the current chaotic supply chain situation may not be alleviated until the second half of 2022.
Contact: Manager Gao
Add: Wire Mesh Zone,Anping County,Hebei Province,China.


text:
For Wright Medical ( WMGI), a niche player in the joint reconstruction business, things have gone terribly wrong. The company's CEO, Laurence Fairey, has flown off to "pursue other interests" after warning of a huge profit shortfall on Tuesday. He lasted just 15 months on the job. Fairey's exit comes at a time when even much larger orthopedic device makers, including industry giant Zimmer ( ZMH), have found themselves struggling to obtain the price increases that boosted their profitability in the past. But Fairey wound up doomed by other problems -- outside the domestic reconstructive business -- in the end. "In what is becoming a familiar theme at Wright, the biologics and international divisions led the shortfall," noted Piper Jaffray analyst Raj Denhoy when downgrading Wright from outperform to market-perform on Wednesday. "The company believes the overall business tone is improving in these divisions, but the quarter was the fourth in a row of lackluster results, and we have little confidence in a quick turnaround." In one of his last public comments as CEO, Fairey said that the company would fall short of its expectations due to a 10% dive in domestic biologics sales and ongoing challenges in both Italy and southern France. As a result, the company said it would post third-quarter revenue of $73.4 million -- up just 6% from a year ago -- and a profit of between 10 cents and 11 cents a share instead of the 17 cents Wall Street was anticipating. After plunging 20% Wednesday, Wright gave up 6 cents Thursday to $19.14.
From the Hip
Still, Wright tried to serve up some good news along with the bad. Notably, the company said that its domestic reconstructive joint business -- a major focus for most industry investors -- continues to perform quite well. Specifically, it said that third-quarter sales of hips and knees rose by 15% and 13%, respectively.


text:
Features by Sally Herships
Posted In: staples, Amazon, office supplies
Analysts say part of the problem is too much competition from the likes of Amazon.
Posted In: big data, credit
Some big data companies are offering faulty consumer credit reports.
Posted In: Russia, ukraine, Russian exports
Some critics of Russia's move on the Crimea say the U.S. should consider economic sanctions. But the U.S. doesn't do much business with Russia.
Posted In: startups, Google, stanford
Build research-friendly colleges... and get some money.
Posted In: netflix, Comcast, Time Warner Cable, net neutrality
Netflix breaks down and pays Comcast directly for faster access. Who’s next to collect -- Verizon, AT&T? More to the point, who picks up the check? Us?
Posted In: foster care
Family care outside of the foster system is cheaper, but some children may lose out on services and oversight.
Posted In: quitting your job, Economy, workplace culture
So was no one at the Department of Labor watching the Superbowl?
Posted In: NAACP, discrimination, Banks
A recent NAACP report suggests 'yes'
Posted In: income tax
Plus, 10 simple reasons to file your taxes early.
Posted In: marijuana
The Obama administration is considering regulations that will encourage banks to take legal marijuana business money. What are those businesses doing now, if they can’t deposit into banks?


text:
Footwear brand manufacturer Wolverine Worldwide promotes an e-commerce exec
August 19, 2013 10:26 AM
Consumer brand manufacturer Wolverine Worldwide Inc. has promoted Jodi K. Watson from vice president of e-commerce to president, consumer direct. Watson now leads direct-to-consumer operations in stores as well as online, reporting directly to chairman, CEO and president Blake W. Krueger.
Wolverine Worldwide sells footwear from 18 brands that it owns or licenses, including Chaco, Hush Puppies and Keds. It is No. 235 in the 2013 Top 500 Guide.
Prior to joining the company in 2009, Watson in 2008 was chief marketing officer for e-retailer Bag Borrow or Steal Inc., according to her LinkedIn profile. From 2003 to 2008, she served as vice president of housewares retail chain Williams-Sonoma Inc., and from 1998 to 2002 she was a director at apparel retailer Eddie Bauer LLC, the profile says.
Williams-Sonoma is No. 22 in the 2013 Top 500 Guide; Eddie Bauer is No. 101.
“Jodi is a consumer-centric executive with a proven track record of success,” Krueger says. “She is an excellent leader and a student of the industry but, most importantly, she is passionate about our consumers and our brands.”
Wolverine’s web sales in 2012 increased 10% year over year to $77.5 million, according to Internet Retailer estimates.


text:
Electric vehicle is synonymous with autonomous driving. Though it was not the case back in the 90s when self-driving was first explored by a South Korean professor. In any case, autonomous driving is kind of like a must-have if anyone is making an EV.
There is something particularly alluring about old product restored with new technologies. The Hyundai Heritage Series PONY Electric Vehicle is one such old product that, as the name implies, restored to become an electric vehicle.
Before Mercedes EQ, there was other Mercedes-Benz EVs. The 2013 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Coupe Electric Drive you see here is one of them. You may remember this electric green supercar was presented with a matching Cigarette Racing AMG Electric Drive Concept Boat at the 2013 Miami International Boat Show.
In just 6 years since acquired by Ninebot, Segway’s portfolio has expanded beyond balancing two-wheeled transporters to include motorcycles and robotics, and soon, sports bike too.
This is the MG Cyberster, a decidedly exotic ride developed by MG Advanced Design Centre in London that draws on the brand’s tradition of designing roadster.
If you take a closer look at the electric vehicle market, they are mostly mid-size sedans and SUVs. Never large size sedan – much less large size, mainstream luxury sedan. Well that changes recently when Mercedes-Benz EQ, the BEV arm of German luxury car maker Mercedes-Benz, introduced the 2022 Mercedes-Benz EQS.
Mention electric bicycle or ebike, the image of a regular-looking bicycle with electric motor surfaced. The XION CyberX Custom Electric Bicycle, however, makes you rethink that image.
While Lexus is one of the pioneer in luxury hybrid vehicles, it is not known for EVs. Especially not in stateside where its first UX 300e is not available. But with the unveiling of the Lexus LF-Z Electrified BEV Concept, there’s a new hope for a Lexus BEV in North America.
Kia Motors has revealed its first dedicated battery electric vehicle, the 2022 Kia EV6. It is not a concept; the EV6 is the real-deal that will hit the global markets in the second half of 2021. In fact, online reservations have already begun in some markets since March 30.
You may have heard that Triumph Motorcycles is working on an electric motorcycle. The project, dubbed TE-1, has started since 2019, but what makes this electric two-wheeler noteworthy is, it will not be just another motorcycle stuffed with an electric drivetrain.


text:
While we were all snoozing in between Christmas and the new year, the National Park Service went ahead and approved revisions to its policy that will allow some corporate logos and signage within park boundaries in the country’s public places, despite public backlash against the idea. Some critics think this is a very bad, terrible, no good idea. [More]
campaign for a commercial-free childhood
Backlash is growing against a proposal by the National Park Service that would allow some corporate logos and signage within park boundaries, with the majority of folks who weighed in on the idea during a public commenting period saying they’re against it. [More]
Last week, Niantic, the company behind the wildly popular Pokémon Go app, unveiled its first sponsored partnership with McDonald’s in Japan, turning the country’s fast food restaurants into PokéStops where players can purchase items for their characters. While there currently aren’t any sponsored stops stateside, one group is trying to get ahead of the Poké-ball, urging the game maker not to deliver personalized ads to kids based on PokéStops and gyms at retail locations. [More]
Child Protection Advocacy Group Rejects Facebook Privacy Lawsuit Settlement, Asks Court To Reconsider
Facebook is notorious at this stage for playing fast and loose with users’ privacy. In 2013, the social sharing behemoth faced and settled a class-action lawsuit regarding its privacy practices. Today, one of the advocacy groups awarded a share of the settlement has reversed their stance, refused the payment, and is asking the court to reconsider the deal.
Visits from the Tooth Fairy are, by their nature, a commercial transaction. Many families buy or make special under-pillow holders that make it easier for the overnight visitor to find the teeth she (or he) is after and leave behind some cash. What the Tooth Fairy lacked was a coordinated marketing campaign with an online game, books, costumes, toys and other merch. Until now. [More]
If you’ve purchased Baby Einstein products, your tot is probably somehow—inexplicably—still not a genius. But you may be eligible for a refund of the purchase price, due to overzealous claims made about the products.


text:
Russia to increase imports of vegetables, meat and dairy products from India soon
The Dollar Business Bureau | @TheDollarBiz
Russia is expected to increase imports of fruits, vegetables, meat and dairy products from India starting December 2014 under an agreement reached between Russia’s phytosanitary watchdog Rosselkhoznadzor and India’s Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) this week.
According to official sources in Russia, Sergey Dankvert, Head of the Rosselkhoznadzor, and Santosh Kumar Sarangi, Chairman, APEDA, have agreed to complete the quarantine and other certifications in two months, which will allow exports of Indian food products to Russia by December 2014.
Russian veterinary experts are expected to arrive next month and may stay in India to control the production chain and shipment of products to Russia, as is being done in China. The move will help boost India’s meat and seafood exports to Russia as well.
India is the world’s largest producer of milk, and a top exporter of meat and seafood products, but exports to Russia are negligible, partly due to the strict quality standards and Russia’s preference for agriculture products from Europe and neighbouring countries.
However, Russia’s tiff with western powers over the Ukraine crisis has opened doors for several countries including India. Last month, Russia banned imports of fruit, vegetables, meat, fish, milk and dairy imports from USA, EU, Australia, Canada and several other countries. Russia has also banned imports of alcoholic beverages, candy, and confectioneries from Ukraine and is likely to ban imports of fruits from Ukraine next week.
It is estimated that Russia will have to source food products worth $16 billion as a substitution for products from EU alone. Russia’s annual milk and milk products import requirements are estimated at above 5,000 million tonnes, and the country used to buy 50% of its dry milk and cheese from the former Soviet Baltic republics and Finland. The ban has led to huge opportunities for the Indian dairy sector, allowing India’s largest exporter of milk products, Amul, to become the first Indian dairy company to enter the Russian market.
According to Anatoly Sirotinin, Chief Executive, Galactica Group, the Russian dairy company will begin distribution of Amul’s milk and dairy products in Russia soon. He told the state news agency in Russia that Amul is likely to be certified by Rosselkhoznadzor within a month and distribution of Amul products will begin after that.
This article was published on September 20, 2014.


text:
Like last year, Amazon has announced its new slate of pilots, which are available for free on Amazon Instant Video and will be picked up based on which shows get the most views and positive feedback from viewers. Of the 10 pilots up for consideration this year, Amazon is offering up three new comedies:
Mozart in the Jungle - From writer-director Roman Coppola, Jason Schwartzman, and Broadway director Alex Timbers, Mozart in the Jungle is “based on the book by Blair Tindall” and “follows Gael Garcia Bernal as the brash new conductor of the New York Symphony and Malcolm McDowell as the old timer being pushed out.”
The Rebels - Written by Jeremy Garelick and Jon Weinbach, The Rebels had creative support from Ice Cube and former football player Michael Strahan and “follows ex-cheerleader Julie Levine (Natalie Zea) after her husband dies and leaves her the owner of the fictional Los Angeles Rebels pro-football team.”
Transparent - From Jill Soloway (United States of Tara, Afternoon Delight), Transparent centers on a dysfunctional family in Los Angeles starring Jeffrey Tambor as “the patriarch with a big secret.”
Mozart in the Jungle sounds especially intriguing, and with the hopeful renewal of Alpha House and Betas, it looks like Amazon Studios is becoming a legitimate contender in the online comedy series game.


text:
Hallways were buzzing with attendees, booths were filled, and orders were being penned, but this yearlong U.S. trade war with China loomed like a specter at the 36th biannual Hong Kong International Jewellery Show, which wraps today.
“Hong Kong fine jewelry exports to the world increased 15 percent to reach $57 billion in 2018,” said Kent Wong, chairman of the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) Jewellery Advisory Committee.
“But the global economy is seen as increasing in uncertainty and slower in growth in the year to come. The U.S. is Hong Kong’s largest jewelry export market. We grew by 18 percent last year. However, a single-month figure in December showed exports falling. Although the global economy is uncertain, there has been progress in the way Hong Kong exporters have, poetically, found ways to upset the impact of the trade [war],” Wong continued.
Poetically, indeed. Creativity abounded at this show, from jade-encrusted butterflies and dragonflies at Dawn Jewellery to the delicate desktop bouquets of 18k gold, rubies, and emeralds at year-old Maison Guan.
During the first half of 2018, Hong Kong’s exports of precious jewelry grew by 18 percent, with the United States, European Union, and Switzerland as the biggest markets. Sales to the United States, in particular, increased by 19 percent.
The HKTDC expects the demand to calm a bit due to the political climate. However, an improvement is expected for the U.S. market, in particular. “China’s more stable economy, coupled with structural reforms crafted to support consumption, should whet an appetite for jewellery in the medium term,” said an HKTDC statement. And in mainland China, numerous players are keen to stake their claim in the market, too, including Cartier, De Beers, Chow Tai Fook, and Lao Feng Xiang.
It seems that demand for fine jewelry is going nowhere anytime soon.
Top: Hong Kong International Jewellery Show’s Hall of Extraordinary
Note: Kristin Young is writing the Off the Chain blog while Victoria Gomelsky is on maternity leave.Follow JCK on Instagram: @jckmagazine
Follow JCK on Twitter: @jckmagazine
Follow JCK on Facebook: @jckmagazine


text:
Managing YouTube Ads with Marin Software
You might not think that there is much value in advertising on Youtube but you’d be wrong. In fact, very wrong – at least that what we’ve heard.
For several months many online advertisers have been showing their cards and calling YouTube ads an opportunity not to be missed thanks to relatively low costs and an immense audience returns.
According to comScore, YouTube deliver more than 2 billion viewing sessions each month in the US alone. That may be one of the reasons that online advertising management company Marin Software has extended its services to help their clients manage YouTube ads.
Advertisers can now manage search, display, social and video marketing campaigns through one interface, greatly improving overall marketing efficiency. Marin streamlines the marketer’s workflow and improves financial results by providing automated bidding, keyword management, creative testing, and detailed cross-channel reporting. Marin’s support of YouTube is available immediately for Enterprise and Professional Edition customers.
“With consumers’ appetite for online video growing at unprecedented rates, ads on sites like YouTube are becoming an increasing component of media plans,” said Wister Walcott, co-founder and executive vice president of products at Marin Software. “Our integration with the world’s largest online video site will help advertisers realize workflow efficiencies and improved financial performance on their video efforts, and better insight across search, display, social and video.”


text:
We have just received a brand new third generation Toyota Prius into the Top Speed test fleet. Wile we are usually about high horsepower rides that are in contention to set land speed records even we must bow out and admit that these little Hybrid commuter cars are only going to become more common as time goes on. Now this is not quite the prototype we saw back in May, our 2010 Prius didn’t come with the very trick sunroof mounted solar panel and we didn’t even get leather. But that’s OK, because we do have the same 1.8 Liter Hybrid Synergy Drive engine that was in the previous Prius we saw. In an effort to improve fuel economy Toyota has decided to increase the engine’s displacement giving it more torque across the rev band meaning that it won’t have to work as hard getting the Prius moving to the tune of 50 MPG.
It seems that everything about the Prius was made so that the car could cut through the air with the least amount of resistance. The bulges on the sides of the front bumper push air away from the turbulent rotating wheels at speed, which are covered with some pretty interesting plastic covers that were almost certainly included as a fuel-saving afterthought. The design team even incorporated finlets at the rear of the flat paneled under tray that are more functional that the majority of the diffusers bolted to the bottom of a rear bumper. Toyota engineers go to countless measures to squeeze every last ounce of efficiency from their flagship hybrid. A number that was being thrown around when we first spoke to a Toyota representative was one million, because that is how much the Japanese automaker spends every hour of every working day conducting drag reduction research which has led to the Prius’ .25 Cd.
Continued after the jump.