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Homeowners demand more EV charging stations in their condos, co-ops, and townhomes
Have you noticed the number of EVs exploding in your neighborhood? What about EV charging stations? Do you hear more people talking about getting an EV and installing a charging station in their home, building, or townhome parking garage?
Over the past few years, we’ve watched the number of electric vehicles (EVs) in our neighborhood grow exponentially. Five years ago, there were just 1,000 EVs in our state. Now the license plates number in the tens of thousands. In our own little suburb, we mostly see a variety of Teslas, but increasingly Rivian trucks and other EVs are showing up.
Millions of EVs in the U.S.
In 2018, there were just about one million EVs in the country, according to Department of Energy data. According to the Department of Energy, California led the way with just over 563,000 EVs. At that time, experts predicted there would be 18 million EVs by 2025.
Welcome to 2023. We’re not even close to that number. According to J. D. Power & Associates, EVs account for one percent of the U.S. car market, or about 2.5 million electric vehicles sold. At this rate, it will be a while before there are 18 million EVs in the U.S.
Two years ago, the number of homeowners and renters had grown enough that we discussed a thorny issue facing EV owners: Where to charge their EVs. At that time, public charging stations were few and far between. Last year, we revisited the subject of where owners could charge their electric vehicles. More people were thinking about installing Level 2 charging stations, while condos and co-op buildings were grappling with owners and renters fighting over charging times and who should pay for the electricity.
EV charging stations – everyone needs a place to charge
But every EV owner knows they need a place to charge their vehicle. Preferably, somewhere close by that has a Level 2 charger. Better yet – in their own garage.
What’s new this year is the real estate industry recognizes it must deal with and solve the problem of charging electric vehicles. It also recognizes that the vast majority of existing buildings can’t easily install enough chargers to meet the current and coming demand.
Turns out, there are a number of physical, logistical and even financial problems that have to be solved before EV chargers can be installed in every building. This is especially true for buildings that are more than five years old. At the recent National Association of Real Estate Editors meeting, Ilyce listened to a panel of real estate experts discuss the EV trend, and how the vast majority of existing buildings can’t accommodate the charging capacity residents desire.
Older buildings can’t easily accommodate EV charging stations
For starters, many properties don’t have the proper wiring to manage the required electrical load. Residents in condos and coops are already fighting about who should pay for the electricity and how the charging rotation should be managed. And, the electrical grid in many parts of the country apparently can’t deliver the amount of electricity needed to accommodate the number of EVs on the road today, let alone plan for the next 20 million EVs.
There are important questions companies need to answer as well:
- If companies allow some employees to plug in for free, should that be considered an employee benefit and taxed?
- Is it fair to give some employees access – effectively subsidizing their mode of transportation – and not others?
- What kind of technology can manage this and perhaps deduct the electricity cost from an employee’s paycheck?
Real estate investors can choose one of three EV charging station models
David Aaronson, CEO Refuel EV Solutions, noted that there are three basic models when it comes to EV charging:
- A building or HOA could buy and own its own own system and run it themselves. A condominium building or homeowners association could purchase an EV charging station. That includes paying for the electrical conduit, the cost of the charging station itself, cell connectivity, software, and the time and cost of managing it. But whatever profits are derived would flow back into the property.
- Buildings can license someone else’s system which would be installed as a service model. You can hire an outside company to install a charging station as a service. Homeowners and renters would pay for what they use. There are software programs that could help manage charging slots. This option could potentially drive a small amount of revenue for the homeowners and condominium association, or for real estate investors, as well.
- A hybrid: A building could own the equipment but hire someone else or a different company to service and/or operate it. In this owned/operated model, an outside company installs the charging station and maintains it. Revenue is then shared between the outside company and the real estate owner, landlord or condo/homeowners association.
Labor and infrastructure issues prevent EV charging station growth
Jim Hurless, EV real estate lead for CBRE Group, Inc., one of the world’s largest commercial real estate services and investment firm, said that there are labor issues and infrastructure issues today which are preventing the building and installation of enough EV charging stations.
“You can’t find people to build them. The labor market is tough,” he said. CBRE is “building a facility in Jacksonville to train our 20,000 people.”
Infrastructure is another issue. Buildings that are older don’t have the necessary wiring to accommodate an EV for every owner. And even if they did, local substations may not be able to deliver enough power to the building to accommodate that level of charging. Hurless says these are problems the real estate industry is starting to work on. Especially now that they’re starting to recognize that EV chargers could present a revenue opportunity.
In the 1990s, condo owners and renters started to request an in-unit washer and dryer, said David Aaronson, CEO of Refuel EV Solutions. “EV chargers are the next thing tenants and owners want. You’ve got a captive audience.”
©2023 by Ilyce Glink and Samuel J. Tamkin. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency.


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It's hard to believe that just a few short years ago, networks were throwing as much reality television as they could come up with at viewers. Now, even on network television, the reality TV trend is dying, with fewer and fewer new unscripted programs released each year. Even amidst the huge dip, however, it's still a pretty good moneymaker for cable and network television. Apparently it's not a model that works for the subscription streaming services, like Netflix, that rely on binge-watching to bring in new viewers, though, and that was just made abundantly clear by a key executive at the company.
Recently, Netflix chief content officer Ted Sarandos explained this to investors at a conference, according to Bloomberg, highlighting how the subscription streaming service's original scripted programming, including the likes of House of Cards, Orange is the New Black and newbie Marvel show Daredevil are or will be consumed for years while reality shows tend to very popular for a very short amount of time.
The kind of disposable nature of reality, basically doesn't have much of a long shelf life. It hasn't been a great category for us.
A lot of this stems from the difference between Netflix's model and cable's model. Network and cable TV relies on advertising dollars to continue producing new programming, and the more eyeballs that are willing to tune in live to see Rumor Willis' latest performance on Dancing with the Stars or to see Mama C backstab everyone on Survivor, the better. However, soon after those episodes air, audiences move on to new programming, meaning the shows don't really have much longevity. And if people don't want to go back and watch past seasons of shows for fun or to catch up to the latest season, it's not programming Netflix really wants to invest in. It doesn't have the luxury of living in the moment. At least right now, Netflix originals need to play the long game.
This is the same basic reason why Netflix hasn't been interested in broadcasting sports. The practice is extremely lucrative for a ton of more traditional channels, but the price to air, or in Netflix's case stream, such content is outrageous. More importantly, it has nothing in common with Netflix's current business model, which involves attracting and keeping customers.
That's the thing. It's not just about getting people to watch the reality show. For the expense to be worth it for Netflix, the program would need to either convince subscribers to stay or new subscribers to join. And since even the majority of reality television fans wouldn't list these shows as their absolute favorites, it's really tough to justify the expense, even if they're cheaper to produce than most shows.
- 90 Day Fiance's Kenneth And Armando Seem Perfect, Should We Be Concerned?
- Agents Of S.H.I.E.L.D. Season 7: What Is Simmons Hiding And 5 More Questions After Episode 5
- Did Labor Of Love's Latest Eliminations Give Away The Father Of Kristy's Baby?
- Did Agents Of S.H.I.E.L.D. Just Reveal Its Final Season MCU Endgame?
This article originally published at Cinema Blend here

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Google has been quite busy of late as the imminent release of its upcoming Android O is slowly getting nearer. While a typical large scale release is still a bit away, Google is pushing the Android O on certain smartphones for the beta users.
Apparently, it is the third developer preview version. The system label is OPP3.10518.006 and supports Nexus 5X, Nexus 6P, Pixel/Pixel XL/Pixel C and Nexus Player. Once the update is done, the software specifications clearly state the Android version to be Android 8.0.
The update on the target devices is expected to bring better speed and smoothness in the overall operation while also managing background applications more efficiently. This shall have a direct positive outcome on the battery life of all these devices.
What Does It Mean For Nougat?
What is interesting about this news is the effect it is going to have on the usability and acceptance of Android Nougat (which is still growing). Few days back we reported that the Nougat is still below the 10% mark as far as its market share is concerned even after one year of its release. And now, the inevitable arrival of Android O is only likely to slow things down further for Google’s presently latest mobile operating system.
Quite naturally, we expect the potential buyers of the upcoming Note 8 to get the Android O right out of the box while the current users Galaxy S7/S7+ and the recently released Galaxy S8 pair would like to upgrade to the next Android as and when it becomes available. We expect Google to strategize the distribution of its two latest mobile OSs across a different range of devices. We are curious to find out how many users stay with the Nougat in the coming months.
News source: tech.sina.com


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The CODE believes digital openness can be achieved through the implementation of the Digital Markets Act (DMA) and in future EU regulatory framework developments.
Alphabet’s Google, Meta Platforms, Qualcomm and seven other tech companies have collaborated to form the Coalition for Digital Ecosystem (CODE) to push for open digital ecosystems, on Wednesday. This came in response to new European Union tech rules that may also be the foundation for possible future legislation.
The Coalition’s goal is to open up digital ecosystems through cross-industry collaboration and promote seamless connectivity and interoperable systems. It aims to promote more open platforms and systems to boost growth and innovation in Europe.
The group intends to work with academics, policymakers and companies on digital openness and how this can be achieved in Europe. The CODE believes that this could be done through the implementation of the Digital Markets Act (DMA) and in future EU regulatory framework developments.
The Digital Markets Act (DMA) is a stringent piece of legislation that targets the dominance of top technology companies in the market. It establishes a set of clearly defined objective criteria to identify gatekeepers, which are large digital platforms providing core platform services, such as online search engines, app stores, messenger services. Gatekeepers will have to comply with the do’s and don’ts listed in the DMA.
The gatekeepers, controlling access to their platforms, must enable third-party services to inter-operate with their own. They are required to allow their business users the ability to advertise their products and finalise contracts with their customers independently of the gatekeeper’s platform. DMA complements the EU competition rules.
The EU Commission has designated 22 services offered by the gatekeepers of online services. This categorisation mandates for these companies, including Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, Meta, Microsoft and ByteDance (owner of TikTok), to ensure interoperability of their messaging apps with competitors.
Chinese smart devices maker Honor, China’s Lenovo French augmented reality start-up Lynx, U.S. telecoms equipment maker Motorola, UK electronics maker Nothing, Norwegian tech company Opera and German messaging services provider Wire are the other members of the coalition.
“We have had a number of conversations in the past few months about what ‘good’ looks like when it comes to digital ecosystems in Europe, what fosters innovation, and what will positively impact competitiveness. We think openness is the crucial element,” said Lynx founder Stan Larroque.


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With the endless flow of food media (guilty as charged) and food marketing that's showing no sign of losing steam, certain food words continue to suffer from overuse and in turn lose their meaning. A recent settlement between Perdue Farms and the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) has thrown one commonly used and misunderstood food term into the spotlight: "humanely raised." The HSUS claimed that Perdue's use of the label "humanely raised" was misleading. So what does this term really mean?
There is no legal definition for the term "humanely raised." The USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is responsible for upholding the accuracy of food labels, and while it defines (if incompletely in places) a host of food terms on its website, it does not explain what "humanely raised" means.
The government has a vague provision for "humane" slaughtering and handling, but it focuses on end-of-life treatment, not raising the animal. The Humane Methods of Livestock Slaughter Act deems that "the slaughtering of livestock and the handling of livestock in connection with slaughter shall be carried out only by humane methods." FSIS describes humane slaughtering and handling as "rapid and effective" by, among other methods that meet this requirement, "a single blow or gunshot or an electrical, chemical or other means." The agency addresses the act of slaughter here, but doesn't have a clear cut definition of handling -- of what it means to raise animals humanely. With no legal definition for "humanely raised" and an incomplete description of "humane slaughter and handling" that focuses on end-of-life treatment, not treatment during an animal's life, how are consumers to make informed decisions when buying meat and poultry?
Furthermore, the approval process for labels has been called into question. A report called "Label Confusion: How 'Humane' And 'Sustainable' Claims on Meat Packages Deceive Consumers" released last spring from the Animal Welfare Institute (AWI) found that in many label claims that the institute investigated, the USDA merely approved the label based on the given company's word. Consumers are left to wonder not only what "humanely raised" means, but if it appears on a label, if it was even properly verified.
This isn't to say that there's been no progress in humane treatment of livestock and poultry. Author and animal welfare activist Temple Grandin, whose Animal Welfare Audit is an industry standard, doesn't view handling as her gravest issue anymore. According to Modern Farmer, fast food giants like McDonald's and Burger King comply with her audit requirements, and 50 percent of livestock in the U.S. and Canada benefit from equipment invented by Grandin. Still, if FSIS is failing to thoroughly verify labels, the advances in handling and slaughtering the country has seen, thanks to activists like Grandin, will all be for naught.
The bottom line is that the term "humanely raised" is a complicated, multifaceted one. Different animals need different measures to lead safe and healthy lives. Moreover, different people have different opinions on what "humane" treatment looks like. Some people value the act of letting animals roam and feed on grass, for example, while others don't. Of course, PETA says "There is no such thing as humane meat," which only highlights how complicated the term is in the first place.
If companies continue to use vague terms like "humanely raised" on their labels, the USDA should not only define it but also commit to verifying it. The lawsuit HSUS filed against Perdue ended with the company removing "humanly raised" from Perdue chicken. While it's a great step toward eliminating confusing or misleading labels, it would be even better if consumers could choose between labels that they could understand and trust.


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The fuss over the federal dietary guidelines released last month tended to overlook one key thing: salt. Americans need to cut down on their sodium.
The recommendation is that people should eat less than 2,300 milligrams each day. That’s not that much. It’s about a teaspoon a day. Only about 10 percent of Americans actually adhere to that advice.
But just trying to get down to that level can work wonders for lowering your blood pressure, according to the Mayo Clinic. The main problem is the amount of sodium found in packaged foods.
Here are a few recommendations from clinic doctors:
- Try packing a lunch or meal more often instead of grabbing on the go.
- Limit yourself to one to two slices of pizza. Mix in a salad to make it a more rounded meal.
- Prepare pasta with fresh ingredients instead of canned sauce.
Read more suggestions here.
Read The Feel Good Report every Tuesday and Thursday online and every month in Gulfshore Life.


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TOKYO: Honda Motor Co. President Toshihiro Mibe hinted on Friday at the possibility of the major Japanese automaker moving up its plan for all of the automobiles it sells globally to be electrified vehicles by 2040.
“While examining the adequacy of the plan, we will modify it when necessary,” Mibe told Jiji Press and other media organizations, with environmental regulations set to be strengthened further in Europe and other markets.
In April, Honda said it will make all of its automobile lineup electrified vehicles, such as electric and fuel-cell vehicles.
On Wednesday, the European Union announced its policy of banning the sale of new combustion engine vehicles in 2035. Canada will also ban the sale of such vehicles.
Honda currently plans to raise the share of electric and fuel-cell vehicles sold in advanced countries to 80 pct of its overall vehicle sales there in 2035.
But the tightening of environmental regulations in Europe has been moving at a faster pace than Honda’s environment protection efforts.
The strengthening of regulations “has been moved up day by day,” Mibe said, adding that “we can’t do business unless we adopt international standards.”
Honda is slated to end production of its Clarity fuel-cell vehicle by the end of this year in line with the closure of a plant in Sayama in Saitama Prefecture, north of Tokyo.
“We have no choice but to end the production,” Mibe said.
The company faces delays in developing its next fuel-cell vehicle models, due partly to the fallout from the novel coronavirus crisis.
“We will definitely launch the next model, even after a hiatus,” the president said, underling the importance of beefing up the company’s lineup of fuel-cell vehicles, on top of electric vehicles.


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Staples has launched its first ever new mobile site, developed with mobile first design as part of a new rollout of ecommerce for Staples.co.uk
Staples new mobile site is a real step forward for the business and marks entry into the fast-growing mobile audience that has struggled to interact with the brand
Using mobile and tablet interfaces previously.
The redesign comes as the Staples completes the transition into evo Group and is the first step in a major redesign of the online footprint since its launch in 1996.
As part of the changes, the new mobile design features an enhanced product range for furniture and tech products alongside a new search interface to quicken the response times
The new site has also adopted the trademark colour palette in the original Staples.com branding as part of this new change.
The aim of the design process was to “move quickly”, mobile audience continues to grow at a rapid rate, the redesign is launching on mobile initially as the ultimate reflection of our belief that mobile is the future, and the future is happening now.
Analytics, continues to play an important element of e-commerce across the organisation, gathering data from sources that impact the e-commerce store and analyzing it to understand the trends and shifts – both positive and negative – in consumer behaviour. This helps the e-commerce division to make data-driven decisions aimed at giving a push to online sales. Analytics helps the company to craft precise marketing campaigns and keep customers from shifting loyalties. Going forward, this trend will gather pace.
The redesign is now set to roll out to the Staples.co.uk other platforms, including desktop with a stronger focus on search, user interface and on page content to aid the speed of the site overall.
What is next for Staples ? well as users continue to change their interaction habits with services of virtual assistants such as Google Voice Search, Amazon Alexa, Cortana, Viv, Google Home, and Siri. Going forward, voice search will become a big driver of e-commerce. According to Google, more than 20 percent of mobile device queries are based on voice, and over 40 percent of millennials do their searches via a voice assistant this will now become a focus development area for the business.


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Cargill’s animal nutrition and health group will consist of three units: Cargill Animal Nutrition, combining feed, nutrition and pre-mix businesses; Cargill Aqua Nutrition; and the new Cargill Health Technologies.
The White House announced after the markets closed Thursday that Trump had instructed the Office of the United States Trade Representative to consider whether $100 billion of additional tariffs would be appropriate.
ADM’s acquisition of Neovia makes their combined animal nutrition business one of the largest in the world, with estimated sales of $3.5 billion, and a full range of animal nutrition products for customers globally.
Hot and dry cornfield conditions are breeding grounds for dangerous aspergillus ear and kernel mold that produces aflatoxins. This toxin is a carcinogen, can harm livestock and can lead to rejection at the elevator.
President Donald Trump orders USTR to consider imposing tariffs on an additional $100 billion in Chinese imports, raising concern the world’s two largest economies were hurtling toward a full-blown trade war.
Sukup Manufacturing Co. has signed an agreement to acquire the assets of SBC Building Systems, located in Ambridge, Pennsylvania.
Since its inception in 2011, Sukup's steel building product line has sold more than


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Toyota confirmed the sad news about the Land Cruiser in an email to Road & Track. “The Toyota Land Cruiser has been a legendary name for more than 60 years,” Toyota stated. “While it will be discontinued in the United States after the 2021 model year, we remain committed to the large SUV segment and will continue to explore future products that celebrate the Land Cruiser’s rich off-road history. We encourage loyal enthusiasts and intrepid adventurers to stay tuned for future developments.”
The current generation Land Cruiser has been around since 2007 and since its introduction it has received two facelifts, but it’s hard to ignore how old the Land Cruiser looks and feels.
Is the Land Cruiser gone forever? We will have to wait and see, but an unnamed source did reveal to Car and Driver that a new Land Cruiser will eventually return to the US that is “way more modern and luxurious.” Toyota has yet to confirm that report.


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Indian Bank has revised rates in foreign currency non-resident (banking) deposits with immediate effect. For FCNR (B) deposits in dollar terms, the new rates remains unchanged at 2.58% for deposits of one year and above but less than two years. For deposits of two years and above, the interest rates has been revised to 2.50% from the 2.39%, said the bank.
IOB targets youth, starts connect card
Targetting young individuals, public sector Indian Overseas Bank launched Connect Card, a new ATM-cum-Debit card in association with VISA that can be used for e-commerce across five lakh merchant outlets. Though all IOB customers have been provided ATM cum Debit card, Connect Card is targeted at the younth between 10 and 28 years, the bank said.


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Sad news reaching our front desk confirms that the Chairman of Melcom Group of companies, Mr. Bhagwan has d!ed. Reports have it that he passed on Monday, January 25, 2021 at age 84.
He d!ed in the capital city of Ghana, Accra after battling a short illness. The news of his demise was made known by the India Association of Ghana.
He was born on October 30, 1937 and spent a larger part of his life in Ghana.
Melcom was started as a family business in September 1989 by Bhagwan Khubchandani and his sons-in-law Ramesh Sadhwani and Mahesh Melwani.
A leading retail department outlet with about 48 retail centres, Melcom has over the years progressed into six separate companies under a parent company Melcom Group of Companies.
Melcom Group of Companies have branches all over Ghana. It has branches in all the regional capitals. The passing away of the owner is a big blow to the country.
May his soul rest in peace!!
Below is a screenshot of the announcement of his sad demise


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LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga is finally out after years of active development. The latest brick-based jaunt in the galaxy far, far away collects all nine of the mainline Star Wars movies for gamers to make their way through. Having been announced nearly three years ago, fans were eagerly awaiting the title, as it aims to reinvent what a LEGO game is.
Developer TT Games has gone back to the drawing board for The Skywalker Saga, creating an experience that is wholly new to their LEGO franchise. Instead of being a simple platformer, this game goes more over the shoulder, offering an experience more akin to God of War or Uncharted.
Reviews for the title are mainly positive, with The Direct's own Sam Hargrave calling it one of the "greatest gaming adventures in the galaxy far, far away" ever. But not everything has been smooth sailing since launch, as a myriad of bugs has begun to make themselves known.
Bugs and Glitches in The Skywalker Saga
Since the launch of LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga fans have uncovered a number of bugs and glitches across the different SKUs of the game.
Steam players are seeing massive frame rate drops and dips in performance when on higher graphics settings. This seems to be tied in with highly-populated and denser areas like Mos Eisley or the Swamps of Naboo.
Other people are getting stuck in one of the early levels of Episode I, as they transition from the Naboo to the underwater city of Otoh Gunga. Upon triggering the cutscene, players have been greeted by a black screen, with no way to progress without turning off the game and rebooting. For gamers facing this issue the only way around it is to avoid The Phantom Menace and start with a different trilogy.
Reddit user u/genethegreat noted a similar bug in Attack of the Clones where the "Hunt for Jango" mission does not trigger as they progress the story.
And on a lighter note, a group of players has discovered that under certain circumstances, when playing as The Mandalorian, they can duplicate characters on-screen seemingly infinitely.
The glitch is achieved by switching to Grogu while playing as Mando, changing to any other character in the roster, before rinsing and repeating. All of the additional characters will disappear when entering an interior area though.
TT Games Goes Bug Squashing
For a game as massive as LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga there were sure to be bugs when the game was finally released. Yes, the TT Games team has had years at this point to avoid instances like those listed above, but no matter how much testing a studio does, there is no way to test for the wild.
And at least these seem to be mainly minor. The most alarming of the noted bugs so far have to be the select few that impede gamers from progressing in the story. Yes, they can go into another trilogy and pick up from there, but that still means they are stuck when they go back to the prequels.
Surely the development team is already hard at work on a fix for those, so gamers will just have to wait patiently until those bugs are squashed.
LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga is out now on PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PC.


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May 07, 2020 · The Walking Dead has partnered up with the streaming service Pluto TV to deliver the first 5 seasons of the hit horror series to fans for free. As of May 1st, the beginnings of all our favorite tragic romances, brutal battles, and struggles for survival are one click away.
2020-7-18 · Is The Walking Dead On Hulu? We encounter this query too frequently. We all know, “The Walking Dead” is an exciting scripted TV series aired on AMC(also available on Hulu Network) that has made millions of people keep their eyes glued to the television set for years.The Zombie theme can’t go out of fashion no matter what era it is and The Walking Dead series justifies this fact. AMC announces dates for 'Walking Dead' franchise debuts 1 day ago · July 25 (UPI) --AMC said The Walking Dead: World Beyond, the third installment in its Walking Dead franchise, is set to premiere Oct. 4. The show … The Walking Dead en streaming - film … Regarder The Walking Dead en streaming VF complet Diffusion AMC. Production AMC Networks, Circle of Confusion, Darkwoods Productions, Valhalla Motion Pictures. Année de sortie 2010. Premiére diffusion 2010-10-31. Derniére diffusion 2019-03-31. Durée de Episode 42,60,45 min. Popularit Serie The Walking Dead Streaming Saison-10 …
Oct 31, 2019 · As the streaming wars heat up, AMC Networks is keeping one of its big guns--the upcoming third series in the Walking Dead franchise--for itself and its own direct-to-consumer platforms.
Jun 10, 2020 · In addition to offering ad-free current seasons of hits like Killing Eve, NOS4A2 and The Walking Dead, AMC Plus will include bonus footage, sneak peeks of future episodes and exclusive behind-the
AMC Offers Free Streaming TV Shows Including The Walking
The Walking Dead _ Season 10, Episode 10 - Photo Credit: Jackson Lee Davis/AMC Applications available to host on AMC’s live streaming channel to discuss The Walking Dead. Are you a huge fan of Jan 16, 2020 · AMC Networks President Sarah Barnett on "The Walking Dead," "Killing Eve" and the new slate she's bringing to AMC, BBC America, Sundance and IFC. Cable TV can survive the streaming wars. AMC Apr 30, 2020 · Pluto TV is about to be hit by an invasion of The Walking Dead zombies. Thanks to a new licensing deal between ViacomCBS’s streaming platform and AMC Networks, Pluto TV is launching a suite of


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The Second Circuit Court of Appeals today overturned the class-action settlement in the case In Re Payment Card Interchange Fee and Merchant Discount Antitrust Litigation. That case led to a proposed settlement valued at $7.25 billion in 2012. Today’s ruling called the settlement “unreasonable and inadequate.”
NACS led efforts to oppose the $7.25 billion proposed settlement, which when it was announced in July 2012 was the largest antitrust settlement in U.S. history, because the relief it offered was inadequate and the release was overly broad.
The proposed settlement required class members to release Visa and MasterCard from liability, forever, for any anticompetitive rules currently in place (including the interchange or swipe fee rules) and/or any “substantially similar rules” instituted at any time in the future.
In addition to opposition from NACS, the proposed settlement was opposed by the majority of named plaintiffs and approximately 1,200 additional merchants and retailer groups filed papers objecting to preliminary approval of the proposed settlement.
The convenience store industry has credit card fees of $10.0 billion, according to the recently released NACS State of the Industry Report of 2015 Data.
“We are pleased that the Second Circuit Court of Appeals has thoughtfully addressed the problems we have long identified with this proposed settlement. We will work to help ensure that this moves forward in a way that recognizes the best interests of merchants and the consumers they serve,” said NACS President and CEO Henry Armour.
NACS published answers to common questions related to the proposed settlement in May 2016 and will update the resource as more facts become known in the case. Look for future updates in NACS Daily.


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HOW A RENOWNED SEATTLE MARIJUANA SHOP IS TACKLING LABORATORY TESTING
- November 3, 2018
Currently, Uncle Ike’s, one of the busiest marijuana retailers in Seattle, Washington, is tackling a major step toward private experimentation. Recently, store representatives announced Ike’s would be launching a program that will randomly test shelf products for toxins (e.g. pesticides and heavy metals) and removed these items from shelves if they are found to be unhealthy. Labeled “Ike’s OK,” the project aims to serve as another barrier in Washington State’s testing regimen, which does not include an inspection for pesticides in marijuana. On a monthly, basis Uncle Ike’s will take five products and pay for laboratory testing. So what are the ultimate outcomes of this program? Let’s take a closer look and find out how this Seattle-based store is tackling this major problem.
According to journalist Tobias Coughlin-Bogue, a recent study conducted by the Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) from March 2017 to July 2018 found that 43% of tested marijuana contained shockingly unhealthy levels of pesticides. Given the fact that test rates fail at 30 to 40%, consumers are most likely ingesting cannabis laced with illegal pesticides. According to Coughlin-Bogue, one large solution to the problem is randomized testing by small retailers, something Uncle Ike’s is hoping to achieve.
At this time, the Seattle store is only testing cannabis products that can be inhaled (like flower rolls and vape cartridges), and the entire process will only cost $2,000. As part of the program, the store plans to post the final test results on its website to establish transparency with customers. Ike’s will only carry products if they have demonstrated compliance with pesticide testing.
Ethics and Standards
Although this program is starting at Uncle Ike’s, the team in control of the project is hopeful that this process will gain popularity in the near-future. Ultimately, the goal is to set high standards in the budding marijuana industry and encourage big name companies to conduct independent testing, as well, to ensure the safety and well-being of consumers.
Always remember that marijuana does not have control over your life. You do. Are you suffering from a substance use disorder or a severe form of addiction? Do you have a friend or family member suffering from one or more of these debilitating illnesses? If you do, get in touch with Asana Recovery today. Our counselors and healthcare experts are ready to walk you through every step of the detox and withdrawal process and rehabilitation and guide you towards living a happier, healthier, and freer lifestyle. While the road to recovery might not be an easy road to travel, we promise to help you every step of the way. Take the first step to stay fit, healthy, and safe.
The time for you to take back control of your life is now. If you are interested in one of our residential treatment or supervised detoxification/withdrawal programs, we are ready and waiting to speak with you at your disclosure. Call Asana now at (949) 438-4504 to learn how to overcome your drug abuse or addiction troubles today.


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SBI-led Banks To Sell Vijay Mallya’s Shares Worth Rs 6,200 Crore Next Week To Recover Kingfisher Airlines Loan The share sale of fugitive businessman’s shares in United Breweries, United Spirits and McDowell Holding is due on June 23 through a bulk deal.
SBI-led banks to sell Vijay Mallya's shares worth Rs 6,200 crore next week to recover Kingfisher Airlines loan
NSE-BSE bulk deals: DRT sells more stake in McDowell Holdings In another transaction, ValueQuest India Moat Fund sold 348,251 shares of Wonderla Holidays at Rs. 238.11 apiece through a bulk deal on the NSE.
In a first, USL pips Pernod Ricard in premium segment United Spirits (USL) has outpaced Pernod Ricard in the premium segment of Indias alcohol beverages market for the first time ever in the last fiscal.Diageo-owned USL grew 13.


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Over the past year, fast-shrinking retail icon Sears Holdings (NASDAQ: SHLD) has launched a number of flashy partnerships with e-commerce juggernaut Amazon.com (NASDAQ: AMZN). Amazon now sells products from two of Sears' three most powerful private brands (Kenmore and DieHard).
On Wednesday, Sears announced the latest expansion of this partnership. It will soon team up with Amazon to sell tires, with installations being handled at Sears Auto Center locations. News of this deal caused Sears Holdings stock to spike 16% on Wednesday, recovering the deep losses of the previous two days.
However, Sears' partnerships with Amazon aren't likely to have a meaningful impact on its near-term financial results. And with Sears Holdings burning cash at a phenomenal rate, the company isn't likely to be around to capture any future upside from working with Amazon.
Ties between Sears and Amazon have been growing
Last July, Sears and Amazon announced their first collaboration, which covered the appliance market. Amazon became one of the first third-party retailers to carry Kenmore appliances, with Sears Home Services handling delivery and installation. Sears also agreed to incorporate Amazon's Alexa virtual assistant into all of its Kenmore smart appliances.
In December, Sears decided to make its DieHard brand available through Amazon as well. Amazon started by selling DieHard jump starters and vehicle battery chargers and maintainers. More recently, Amazon has added DieHard batteries and tires to its merchandise selection.
Under the partnership announced on Wednesday, Amazon customers will be able to buy tires from any brand and have them shipped directly to Sears Auto Center locations. Installation scheduling will be integrated into the Amazon checkout process. This service will initially be available for 47 Sears Auto Centers in eight of the top U.S. metropolitan areas, but it will soon be expanded to more than 400 locations across the country.
Sears Holdings' management describes this as a "game-changing partnership" that will provide growth opportunities for Sears and allow it to reach new customers.
None of these deals will move the needle
The few remaining Sears Holdings bulls have tried to make the company's partnerships with Amazon seem more significant than they really are. It's important to remember that Amazon allows hundreds of thousands of small businesses to hawk their wares on its e-commerce site, so Amazon's willingness to work with Sears doesn't mean all that much.
Selling Kenmore products on Amazon.com didn't allow Sears to slow its sales declines in the second half of fiscal 2017. That isn't very surprising, given that brick-and-mortar retailers still rule the appliance market.
Of course, neither company has offered any data about the popularity of Kenmore appliances on Amazon. However, it's notable that the number of reviews for each of the Kenmore appliances sold by Amazon ranges from a handful to a few dozen. For comparison, most of the top Samsung TVs have hundreds of reviews -- and some have more than 1,000. The lack of reviews for Kenmore appliances on Amazon probably indicates that sales have been modest.
There's no reason to believe that the new tire sales and installation partnership will be any more popular. While the ship-to-store option will make it somewhat more convenient to buy tires from Amazon, it's still not as convenient as going straight to a tire shop to buy the tires.
Bankruptcy is still virtually inevitable
For the past several years, Sears Holdings has burned an average of nearly $2 billion of cash annually. The only reason the company is still in business is that it has received huge cash infusions from selling real estate and other assets (such as the Craftsman brand).
Sears is readying more asset sales for 2018, which could even include Kenmore and parts of its home services unit. This may be enough to keep the company afloat through the end of the year, but it will leave Sears Holdings with hardly any further assets to offset future losses.
Meanwhile, it will take years (at best) for Sears Holdings' partnerships with Amazon to pay off. If Kenmore, DieHard, and the Sears Auto Center chain are sold to raise cash, the new owners may eventually profit from working with Amazon -- but it won't do Sears Holdings shareholders any good. By then, they will almost certainly have been wiped out in bankruptcy court.
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Rent increases have become a significant issue in the real estate industry.
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The promising future shown by the cryptocurrency market is one reason why everyone wants to invest in the trending digital currencies. By November ..Read more
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Advancements in technology and electronic-platform-based business models have allowed many governments to increase the efficiency and scope of their electronic payments (e-payments) infrastructure. In many countries, governments are already using e-payment services to collect tax payments from citizens and businesses, to purchase goods and services from businesses, and to disburse social benefits to citizens.
The Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) conducted the 2011 Government E-Payments Adoption Ranking (GEAR) study to understand advancements in adoption of e-payments by governments around the world. Sponsored by Visa, the study tracks the prevalence of e-payments and the factors that influence government adoption.
- Government E-Payments Adoption Improves Globally According to Visa-sponsored Economist Intelligence Unit Study
- 2011 GEAR Study Overview
- Comprehensive GEAR Report


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Founders’ Stories: Backupify, BzzAgent, and Pixability CEOs Bare It All
OK, not literally. But some good stories were told.
Last Thursday’s XSITE conference at Babson College, our fourth annual full-day innovation conference (see photos here), had plenty of highlights that didn’t make it into my previous recap. One of them was a session on “founders’ stories” in tech companies. Of particular note: mistakes made, how to fail fast, how to choose a founding team, hiring and firing, and work-family balance (or lack thereof).
On the panel were Dave Balter, founder and CEO of marketing firm BzzAgent (acquired by Dunnhumby/Tesco); Bettina Hein, founder and CEO of video startup Pixability; and Rob May, founder and CEO of online data startup Backupify. All have experience leading previous businesses as well. Noam Wasserman, a Harvard Business School professor who studies the dynamics of company founders, was the moderator.
You can check out a short video of the session, courtesy of Pixability, below.
A few highlights:
Rob May, on taking the entrepreneur plunge: “Once you realize that this thing of failure isn’t that bad, it becomes really easy to take the next jump again.” (Heck, what’s $50K in credit card debt?)
Dave Balter, on one of his previous ventures: “It was a 50-50 partnership, which you should never ever do.” And on recruiting: “People come into your lives for lots of reasons. You’ve got to find the path that they’re going to work with you on. It may change over time, but hiring is as much an art as it is a science.”
For me, probably the highlight of the session was the “Parenting 101” portion at the end. Bettina Hein said having a baby has made her a much better CEO. “Having a child does something to a woman,” she said. “It changes your brain. It strengthens your frontal cortex.”
Interestingly, both men on the panel had the opposite reaction. “If you can start a company when you’re single or without kids, I think it’s definitely better,” May said. Balter agreed. Somehow, I’m not surprised—men may do less, but we suffer more (or at least complain more).
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During this current global economic crisis many people are asking the question, “Is sustainable fashion here for the long run?” Fortunately the business world is saying “Yes”.
As quoted from Fashion United online publication:
Interstoff Asia Essential Spring 2009 is scheduled to open on 18th March at the Hong Kong Exhibition and Convention Centre for 3 days, showcasing the latest fabrics from around the globe. The event has confirmed an informative discussion led by a panel of international industry experts. Hosted by Germany’s largest trade fair organizer Messe Frankfurt, Levi Strauss, Hennes & Mauritz and BASF, among other leading brands confirmed to speak at this season’s panel discussion. As well as sourcing top quality textiles, exhibitors and visitors will have an opportunity to take part in educational platforms that explore relevant issues facing today’s textile industry. Most notably, the Eco Textile Asia Panel Discussion will explore the topic: “Can sustainability survive the global credit crunch?” organised in cooperation with Ecotextile News, and will offer new business ideas to textile and garment manufacturers, focusing on strategies in dealing with the current market challenges.
Mr John Mowbray, Editor and Publisher for Ecotextile News and moderator for this year’s panel discussion, believes that the forum will offer relevant information that reflect industry trends. “As textile and clothing producers start to implement the environmentally responsible changes demanded by retailers and consumers, they will see that being more sustainable can also improve their profit margins.” Mr. Mowbray further noted, “being greener and cleaner also means manufacturers can differentiate their product offer and help them to move the discussion away from increasingly lower prices.”


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Atlanta, GA – Today Governor Brian P. Kemp announced that YKK AP America Inc. (YKK AP), a technology-oriented manufacturer of commercial façade systems and residential windows and doors, will invest up to $125 million in an expansion that will include a new manufacturing facility and additional machinery and equipment in Bibb County. The new facility will create 100 new jobs in addition to the 250 jobs YKK AP currently supports in Macon, Georgia.
"Being the No. 1 state for business doesn't just mean attracting new investments. It is also our priority to ensure companies already operating in Georgia can grow and thrive," said Governor Kemp. "We're excited YKK AP recognizes the advantages of doing business in middle Georgia and has chosen to expand their relationship with the Macon community through 100 new jobs."
Specializing in architectural products for commercial and residential buildings, YKK AP entered the U.S. market in 1991 with a vertically integrated, commercial products factory in Dublin, Georgia. With its headquarters in Atlanta, YKK AP and its Ontario-based subsidiary Erie Architectural Products employ over 1,200 employees in North America, including nearly 900 within the State of Georgia.
"We're excited to be able to increase our investment in the hometown of our residential products business, the city of Macon. The new facility will expand our workforce, introduce further vertical integration of vinyl extrusion, glass, and window production, and allow us to create enhanced efficiencies to manufacture the highest quality windows and doors for homebuilders and homeowners," said Oliver Stepe, President of YKK AP America Inc. "This investment builds toward our long-term vision to be the leader in the residential window and door market and positions us to expand our business in and beyond the Southeast region."
YKK AP’s new state-of-the-art facility will be located at the Macon-Bibb I-75 Industrial Park, a Georgia Ready for Accelerated Development (GRAD) certified site. After completion, the company will relocate its operations and employees from its current site on Ocmulgee Boulevard to the new facility.
The Macon facility will become home to the company’s residential division, which manufactures vinyl windows and doors for builders and homeowners. It will serve as a model plant for future North American manufacturing facilities, featuring new technologies, advanced sustainable manufacturing processes, and enhanced work environments for employees. Operations are expected to begin in early 2024. The company is currently hiring for numerous positions; interested individuals can learn more and apply at careers.ykkap.com.
"It's an especially great day in Macon-Bibb County when one of our longest running business partners decides to make another investment in our community and bring an additional 100 jobs to the area," says Macon-Bibb County Mayor Lester M. Miller. "And to know that this new state-of-the-art facility will be used as a blueprint for future facilities illustrates their trust in us and in Georgia as the best place to do business."
Senior Project Manager Candice Scott represented the Georgia Department of Economic Development’s (GDEcD) Global Commerce team on this competitive project in partnership with the Macon-Bibb County Industrial Authority and Georgia Power.
"YKK AP has a strong history of growth and success in Georgia. In 1986, YKK AP opened its first branch in Atlanta, and YKK AP America chose middle Georgia to establish its manufacturing presence in the U.S. just five years later," said GDEcD Commissioner Pat Wilson. "The company has since expanded its presence in Georgia and built valuable relationships with our local communities. Companies in our advanced manufacturing industry, like YKK AP, have played a key role in bringing jobs and opportunities to Georgia, creating the second most new jobs in the state last year."
To earn GRAD certification, a property must undergo due diligence and complete specific certification requirements prior to a visit by a prospective business. Completing GRAD certification with GDEcD is a proactive way both community planners and landowners can help catalyze economic growth and industrial development for the regions they serve. Through this program, Georgia has more than 60 industrial certified sites that are ready for fast-track industrial projects.
About YKK AP America
YKK AP America Inc. is a leading manufacturer of award-winning commercial facade systems and residential windows and doors. Headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, all building products are manufactured in the company’s world-class production facilities located in Dublin, Ga., Macon, Ga., and Lakeshore, Ontario. Together with its subsidiary brand, Erie Architectural Products (Erie AP), the company serves architects, glazing contractors, homebuilders and resellers across the country. YKK AP America Inc. is a subsidiary of YKK AP Inc., a global architectural products company based in Tokyo, Japan. For more information, visit ykkap.com.


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We have been officially aware of the existence of the Resident Evil 4 Remake. In fact, Capcom already confirmed months ago that its launch is scheduled for March 2023. However, now, within the framework of the Tokyo Game Show 2022, the Japanese company has confirmed that Resident Evil 4 Remake is also in development for the old-gen. Specifically, it has been made known that this new version of one of the most influential horror and action games in history will come to PlayStation 4, contrary to what was initially indicated.
The announcement surprises for several reasons. The first one is that from the beginning it was announced as a new generation exclusive video game of consoles, with launch planned for Xbox Series X | S, PlayStation 5 and PC. The second reason is that Capcom has only now expanded that Resident Evil 4 Remake is also in development for PlayStation 4, leaving out of the equation to Xbox One, the previous generation console from Microsoft. Be that as it may, this is already a reality and no other plans seem to have changed regarding this project.
Resident Evil 4 Remake would have three demos before its release
Although this decision opens the door to the game to a greater number of players, it is also true that development now faces technical limitations that imposes hardware from the year 2013, as has happened with so many other recent intergenerational games. There are still few companies that dare to create exclusive next-gen video games despite the fact that the new machines have been with us for almost two years. Remember that Resident Evil 4 Remake is planned for the March 24, 2023 and that now we know that it will also come to PlayStation 4.


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To get yourself a roundup of TechCrunch’s biggest & most crucial tales brought to your inbox each day at 3 p.m. PDT, subscribe right here.
Hello! Also it’s Thursday! We all have been waiting with bated breathing the latest installment of “Will Elon purchase Twitter or Will He Squirrel from it” — the miniseries of indeterminate size and way too many twists and turns to enumerate. Supposedly we’ll discover more the next day, but that knows. Additionally, what’s time? If most of us leave Twitter in droves, in which will we talk about this drama?
Our fave small tale today had been Romain’s, addressing these adorable houseplants you can use as electronic home air cleaners.
The TechCrunch Top 3
- Ixnay on self-drivay: Darrell has had it with the conjecture and calls it: “Truly autonomous cars simply aren’t likely to take place. The data pointing for this was mounting for decades now, if you don’t years, nonetheless it’s now tipped the total amount to in which it is difficult to ignore for reasoned observer — also one like myself who may have formerly been extremely positive about self-driving leads,” he writes. Darrell, we love you, so we wish you’ve never ever been more incorrect.
- Closing the barn following the horse has bolted: We have the most recent on Elon Musk after their now-famous Twitter workplace sink video clip: Amanda states on their available page to Twitter advertisers that individuals contain it all incorrect about why he’s purchasing the social media marketing giant, but additionally that Twitter cannot be “a free-for-all hellscape.” Rebecca writes that Musk now claims he won’t fire 75per cent of Twitter’s staff.
- Avoiding that seller’s income tax: Jagmeet writes that vendors on Amazon must satisfy particular demands to offer on platform, however a startup called Mason has gone out to improve that. The Asia- and California-based startup guaranteed $7.5 million in fresh capital, led by Accel and Ideaspring Capital, available an Amazon-like attempting to sell experience but without needing that “Amazon income tax.”
Startups and VC
There’s a huge amount of brand new funds occurring all at one time, apparently. Christine states that Streamlined Ventures, led by Ullas Naik, guaranteed $140 million in brand new money commitments for the two latest funds. Haje states that Human influence Capital is just a brand new $50 million investment buying social effect startups, and Mike notes that Paris-based VC Satgana completes 1st close of its €30 million investment to straight back environment technology startups.
Meanwhile, there have been a lot of mega-rounds that place the real investment funds to shame; it is a strange globe once you can’t skim the headline figures to determine whether it is a business increasing a round or even a brand new investment closing. We’re gathering a few ’em below.
5 strategies for establishing in a crowded web3 video gaming market
Every on the web item calls for some system impact, but video gaming is exclusive: Without big, dedicated and enthusiastic clients, there’s no chance to construct items that may be monetized.
Play-to-earn games (P2E) are specially prone to this dilemma, which explains why “building a casino game that succeeds in the long run means developing monetization techniques that will weather market ebbs and flows,” claims Corey Wilton, co-founder and CEO of Mirai laboratories, the video gaming studio behind Pegaxy.
In this primer for P2E founders, Wilton stocks recommendations for how to overcome investors, describes why tokens aren’t a dependable fundraising car and covers the present “shift toward internet 2.0 monetization.”
Three more through the TC+ group:
TechCrunch+ is our account system that can help founders and startup groups have prior to the pack. You’ll subscribe right here. Utilize rule “DC” for 15per cent discount for an yearly registration!
Big Tech Inc.
The nyc Post must do a little deleting today after it absolutely was found that some body hacked into the newspaper’s web site as well as its Twitter account, Zack reports. The content headlines involved had been racist and intimately violent in nature, as well as the magazine told TechCrunch an worker would be to blame the event but couldn’t get into further precisely exactly how it found that summary.
Also, all of us taken notice of profits and that means you didn’t must. Rebecca possesses explore Ford’s third-quarter profits, which she states took a $2.7 billion hit linked to Argo AI, which we reported yesterday had been power down. At the same time, at Meta, Amanda writes that Meta had another decrease in its third-quarter income.
And we have now three more for you personally:
- Googling: Google Cloud has entered web3 territory by having a managed blockchain node solution by firmly taking on heavy-lifting here to ensure designers may do their thing, Ron reports. At the same time, Manish has precisely a $100 million purchase the major search engines giant built in change, an AI avatar startup.
- On an purchase roll: Ron additionally reported on another Thoma Bravo purchase. Now, it and Sunstone Partners announced the proposed purchase of UserTesting for $1.3 billion. The business intends to combine it having its UserZoom, another business Thoma Bravo acquired in 2021.
- Get your wellbeing advice right here: YouTube claims it’s going to start certifying stations for licensed health care professionals, like health practitioners, nurses or practitioners, whom create health-related content, Ivan writes.


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I've seen various smart litter boxes advertised on crownfunding sites over the years, but this is the first one I've seen in action, and with the Wi-Fi enabled, health monitoring app-controlled smarts that work with Alexa and Google voice controls, Leo's Loo Too looks great for humans and cats, young and old, while elegantly solving an age old problem.
Obviously, heydoor doesn't as yet have a magic COVID cure that would truly let us all live life without restrictions, but we're told its new mobile app and SaaS back-end "supports people living with physical and psychological disabilities to live life without restrictions, with access to their favourite retailers, product and service providers throughout Australia."
Data61, the digital specialist arm of Australia's national science agency CSIRO, is developing the prototype of a smart collar for pets in collaboration with agtech company Ceres Tag.
It's International Pet Day tomorrow (on 11 April) and with Aussies loving their pets more than ever, Netflix's new survey talks a walk on the wild side and shows pets and TV go together in weird and wonderful ways.
Online discount retailer Kogan is going into the pet insurance business in a partnership with PetSure in a move which follows its announcement just one week ago it is branching out into the health insurance market in a new partnership with Medibank.
Orange Business Services has signed an IoT connectivity services agreement with Tractive, the global developer of apps and gadgets for pet owners, in a move which the European-based global telco says helps businesses embraces the worldwide IoT trend and creates enhanced services.
Security vendor Bitdefender is warning of a wave of scams relating to the purported sale or relocation of pets.
Thanks Sam! Best article I've read in a little while :)
NetComm was given an early Mac by Apple in 1984. I set about developing a NetComm program for it, and[…]
A partial victory indeed. Meanwhile Julian Assange is still stuck in gaol while lawyers and activists feast on his discomfort.[…]
Yes indeed, unwelcome scam calls are on the rise!add trojan and phishing links in unsolicited SMS to that list :)Interesting,[…]
the G-sync compatible TV is great but I wanted to read more on the LG Rolling Bot to see if[…]


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The social media large’s crypto publicity particulars have been revealed in its initial public offering (IPO) prospectus, which was filed with the SEC on Feb. 22. The submitting comes after months of hypothesis in regards to the firm’s plans to go public.
The corporate didn’t disclose what number of shares it plans to promote or the value vary for the providing. Nonetheless, it’s anticipated to be one of many largest tech IPOs of the 12 months.
The submitting clarifies that Reddit’s crypto holdings are confined to Bitcoin and Ethereum, each established gamers within the crypto house. The revelation was considerably of a shock, contemplating the corporate’s cautious approach towards crypto lately.
Based on the doc, Reddit’s board of administrators has accepted the funding coverage, which focuses on “risk mitigation” by solely investing in cryptocurrencies deemed “not likely to be a security” by regulatory our bodies.
The submitting didn’t disclose the quantity of Bitcoin and Ethereum held within the treasury or how lengthy the corporate has been shopping for them.
Whereas the disclosed crypto holdings are restricted to treasury functions, the submitting additionally talked about that Reddit had acquired Ether and Matic for digital items gross sales. It added that the quantities have been “immaterial” lately.
The submitting acknowledges the inherent dangers related to cryptocurrencies, together with volatility, cybersecurity threats, and potential regulatory modifications. It additionally highlights the accounting challenges posed by treating cryptocurrencies as indefinite-lived intangible property and the upcoming modifications in accounting requirements.
Reddit’s IPO submitting hinted at broader ambitions to integrate blockchain technology into its expansive community of boards and discussions. It described the platform’s ongoing efforts to diversify its income streams and improve its digital infrastructure, with cryptocurrencies taking part in a vital function on this technique.
The submitting additionally talked about exploring decentralized functions (dApps) and the potential for blockchain to supply new types of content material creation, sharing, and possession. It additionally emphasised the potential of blockchain to boost person expertise and create new avenues for group engagement and monetization.
Reddit’s IPO submitting presents a glimpse right into a social media large cautiously embracing the world of cryptocurrencies. Whereas the corporate’s present publicity is proscribed, its openness to experimentation and deal with regulatory compliance suggests a possible for future development and innovation on this house.


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The price of ethereum classic, the cryptocurrency that was hard forked off the ethereum blockchain in July 2016, surged for 25 percent on Tuesday, following the news that it is being added to crypto exchange Coinbase for trading.
The U.S. exchange announced on Tuesday morning in a blog post that it is now starting the engineering work to integrate ethereum classic with its platform. A further date for formally launching the trading of ethereum classic on Coinbase will be announced on Sept. 5, the company said.
Data from CoinMarketCap shows that the price of ethereum classic started to jump around 01:30 UTC on Tuesday, after Coinbase first tweeted out the announcement at 01:18. It has further surged from $12.88 to as high as $16.15 at around 2:00 UTC, reflecting a 25 percent gain in just half an hour.
The move also comes just months after Coinbase reiterated in March that it had not made any decisions for adding new assets, following a similar note made in January.
"The internal asset selection committee has been assessing assets using our Digital Asset Framework, but no assets have been recommended to the Coinbase executive team," the company said at the time. Yet Coinbase has not explained what has made a difference in the past three months that led to the change of the thinking of its asset selection committee.
Also notably, the decision to add ethereum classic arrives after some in the industry had questioned Coinbase's asset selection process to be "random, if not altogether dubious."
As previously reported by CoinDesk, the reason for such question partially stemmed from that Coinbase added support for bitcoin cash, just months after the cryptocurrency was created out of a hard fork from the bitcoin blockchain. Yet at that time, the firm had not embraced ethereum classic after a year since the cryptocurrency was hard forked off the ethereum network.
Coinbase image via Shutterstock
The leader in blockchain news, CoinDesk is a media outlet that strives for the highest journalistic standards and abides by a strict set of editorial policies. CoinDesk is an independent operating subsidiary of Digital Currency Group, which invests in cryptocurrencies and blockchain startups.
Analysis: What 2019 Could Bring for Bitcoin
Trading in altcoins was a big part of what made Bitcoin price spike towards the end of 2017. A section of the crypto space argues that while altcoins helped Bitcoin’s market cap swell, they also bro
Bitcoin Cash Going Down as Stellar Warms up
Bitcoin Cash’s market cap has been cut in half since the Nov. 15 hardfork which birthed the Bitcoin ABC and Bitcoin SV chains. Now at a mere $3.5 bln and a unit price of ~$201 as at the time of writ
300k User Data from Chinese Auto Finance Platform Sold For One Bitcoin on Dark Web
It is revealed that 300,000 pieces of user data from a Chinese auto finance platform Jiurong were compromised and priced at one bitcoin on the dark web.
According to the leaked data posted, persona
Heyday of Bitcoin Mining Rigs Business at China’s Huaqiangbei is Over Amid Crypto Market Carnage
Bitcoin price slumped to a 13-month low of about $4,300 on Wednesday, making mining the world’s leading digital currency an unprofitable business. A lot of mall miners, mining rigs dealers and minin
Dialogue with Bitcoin Evangelist in Latin America: RSK Labs CEO Diego on Crypto Industry
Diego Gutierrez is the CEO at Koibanx and president of Bitcoin Argentina NGO. In addition, Diego also serves as the CEO of Rootstock/RSK Labs, a smart contract platform built on top of bitcoin.
China’s Bitcoin Billionaire Zhao Dong : Bitcoin Price to Hit $50,000 in Three Years—Now Is the Time to Buy the Dip
Despite Bitcoin’s latest crash and a real chance that its price will go much lower, Zhao Dong, prominent Chinese OTC trader and founder of Dfund, remains bullish on the the world’s biggest cryptoc
Bitcoin Miners Sold by Kilo in China Amid Cryptocurrency Crash
The leading cryptocurrency bitcoin once fell below $4,300 on the afternoon of November 20 – down more than 17% on a 24-hour basis and hitting a 13-month low since October 2017. Great losses are seen
Xiao Lei: 3 Main Reasons of the “Unreasonable” Bitcoin Price Crash
Cryptocurrency markets experienced a havoc in the past few days. Bitcoin, the uncrowned king in the crypto world, has fell as much as 30% over the past two weeks, while other major tokens are all suff


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The TUAW Talkcast returns to the airwaves tonight for a brand new era: show number 101 will have us chatting about the biggest Apple stories of the past week, including some international iPhone shenanigans, those extremely persistent netbook/tablet rumors (and why we are so enamored with the idea...
Pandora's app was one of the iPhone's best of 2008 on iTunes, and while I've only recently started using it, I have to agree: even over EDGE, it's a great way to get some music you've never heard on the iPhone. And they aren't sitting on their laurels, either -- they've just updated the app to versi...
The nominations are out and voting has begun for the "Best App Ever" awards for 2008, recognizing the best iPhone and iPod touch apps of the year. Nominations have already happened -- the public submitted almost 18,000 nominations, and a panel of developers and experts was assembled to finalize the ...
Software Updatesmore updates
- Apple Remote Desktop updated with Yosemite support
- OS X Yosemite 10.10.2, iOS 8.1.3 updates now available
- Sports Illustrated 120 SPORTS channel comes to Apple TV
- Logic Pro X update brings AirDrop support, new effects, tools, and more
- Parallels Access 2.5 released, adds file manager, computer-to-computer remote access
- The Google Translate iOS app is about to get a lot smarter


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Inspirations, Luxury Cars, Beautiful landscape, Fashions, Music, Entertainment
2014 Mercedes S63 AMG
Mercedes finally pulled the wraps off the new S63 AMG today. The car will be officially launched at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September. “Following the successful launch of the A45 AMG and the CLA45 AMG, the new S63 AMG 4MATIC highlights our expertise in the automotive high-end segment,” AMG CEO Ola Kallenius said. Check out the Photos
[ #inspiration #Creative ]In Milan Design Week 2014, Japanese designer Nao Tamura has created a floating installation influenced by the earthquake that struck Japan in 2011 for Lexus Design Amazing exhibition. "We lost a lot of people and I thought life is so fragile, people are so fragile," said Tamura. "But also because of the tragedy, we learned to accept the nature and live in harmony with it."


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Platforms, not regulators, are driving data privacy enforcement
Unlike GDPR or CCPA, the moves Google and Apple are about to make will cause immediate shockwaves the day they are implemented.
The intent of GDPR — to give users back more control over their personal data and ensure it’s not misused by hidden players in the digital advertising ecosystem — has resulted in a horribly confusing, annoying user experience in Europe.
Privacy activists believe regulators have failed to properly enforce the law at scale. In the U.S. the lack of federal privacy law has left the door wide open for Google and Apple to call the shots.
The privacy-led changes driven by platforms Apple and Google are all bite. Plus, they are binary — not open to interpretation. Naturally, that results in people questioning whether this biting behavior is fair and the underlying reasons are honest or have a double agenda
Full article: Platforms, not regulators, are driving data privacy enforcement


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Coca-Cola's planned purchase of Cadbury Schweppes' soft drinks brands could face further difficulties next week when the German competition watchdog rules on the deal.
The federal cartel office is concerned about the $1.75bn purchase, a spokesman said. He declined to confirm a report that Germany is planning to reject the acquisition, but his comments indicate that it is unlikely Coca-Cola and Cadbury will receive wholehearted approval from the cartel office.
Cadbury Schweppes shares slipped 13p to 864p.
The competition authority has until next Friday to reach a decision but is expected to rule early in the week.
A rejection would be a serious blow to the companies, given the size of the German market and the weight decisions made by the cartel office carry with regulators elsewhere in Europe.
The two companies have already had their plans rejected by competition authorities in Belgium, Mexico and Australia. The European Union's acting competition commissioner, Karel Van Miert, has threatened heavy fines if Coca-Cola and Cadbury do not submit the deal to the European Commission for approval.
Opponents of the transaction, most notably Coca-Cola's arch rival PepsiCo, argue it will strengthen the American drink group's hold on world markets. The deal affects 120 countries and involves the transfer of Cadbury brands such as 7-Up, Canada Dry and Dr Pepper to Coca-Cola.
Bottling operations are not included in the transaction, leading the companies to argue that the combined turnover is not high enough to trigger an EU review. Mr Van Miert disputes this.
Coca-Cola's share of the German market in 1997 was 56.6%, while Cadbury had a market share of 0.9%, according to trade publications.


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NewsLanka-AsiaNews | Colombo December 5 | By Claude Gunasekera The Joint Apparel Association Forum (JAAF) launched its new Logo and the corporate website on November 30, at the Jaic Hilton Colombo. It was officially unvailed by Sharad Amalean Chairman of JAAF and Co-Founder/Deputy Chairman of MAS Holdings in attendance of a distinguished gathering of the apparal sector in Sri Lanka.
Amalean noted that JAAF seeks to steer the industry towards it’s target of USD 8 Billion in exports by 2022. He pointed out that “JAAF as the apex body representing the Apparel industry in Sri Lanka, the association has a road map of how this is to be achieved in conjunction with the partnering associations which would assist the industry itself. Over the years Sri Lanka has established itself as a high quality, ethical & sustainable manufacturing destination. However, given the change in customer priorities as well as recent developments in global business the association is focusing more on improving the image of the industry as a total solutions provider. Sri Lanka has a great opportunity of moving forward through enhancing the current offerings of design, product development, manufacturing whilst developing usage of technology, automation, agility & logistics in order to service the end consumer. Coupled with strategic placement of Sri Lanka in relation to global trade lines and shipping routes, it is imperative that we leverage on our strengths to drive towards the future. Amalean also noted that apparel is one of the largest and most diverse industries at present, although the fundamentals of the industry continue to remain unchanged across millennia, the processes and service offerings have evolved rapidly. The industry has provided employment to over 560,000 and a contribution of USD 4.8 billion to GDP. Apparel is among the largest single industries contributing to the growth of Sri Lanka.
The keynote address was presented by Standard Chartered Bank, CEO Jim McCabe. He said a middle income country like Sri Lanka is seen an ambitious future in terms of their productivity & efficiency, investment & technology and the changeability & flexibility along with the knowledgeable labour force keep partnerships steady. McCable said the most importance here is the lovable investment rather than the numbers of people. This country can continue to grow with persistent participation with global industry.
JAAF Secretary General Tully Cooray while delivering the vote of thanks appreciated the hard work done by Arun Hidramani in the coordination of designing and preparation of the newly launched logo and website.
Ashroff Omar, Founder Chairman of JAAF / Chief Executive Officer of Brandix and Arun Hidramani Director of Hidramani Group also spoke at the occasion. Chairman of MAS Holdings Mahesh Amalean and a number of other distinguished guests from the apparel industry and Indira Malwatta Chairperson, Export Development Board participated and few others like Ramya Weerakoon, Chairperson of Ramya Holdings / Trendywear (Pvt) Ltd.The event was organised by CH17.
The Executive Committee of JAAF consists; Saifudeen Jafferjee, Managing Director Lanka Garments Manufacturing Co. Pvt. Ltd / JB Rubber Products & Group Director Jafferjee Brothers and Yohan Lawrence Country Manager, Quantum Clothing Lanka (Pvt) Ltd as Deputy Chairmen and M.P.Tully Cooray as Secretary General. Noel Priyatilleke, MD Facinations (Pvt) Ltd, Azeem Ismail, MD Maliban Textiles (Pvt) Ltd, A. Sukumaran, MD Star Garments Ltd, Ajith Dias Former Chairman Brandix have been past Chairmen whileAshrof Omar has been the Founder Chair man.
The Joint Apparal Association Forum Accelerate Sri Lanka’s Apparel sector to a US $ 8 Billion by 2022. Transform the industry from a “manufacturer driven business mindset” to an ‘End-to-End Fully Integrated Apparel Solutions Provider’. Intensify market penetration and presence in premium market segments of the Global Apparel Industry. Position Sri Lanka’s Apparel Industry as a ‘Preferred Ethical Apparel Sourcing Destination’ on the global sourcing map


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If GM lowers inventory from pre-pandemic bloated levels once the chip crisis subsides, “I want to be prepared for that scenario,” Martin-Clark said.
“If you’ve got someone lined up the day it gets there, your turn is one day,” she said.
The new process also has broadened the skill sets of the sales team, Salazar said. It helps sales associates learn “how to work the customers to their needs or wants as opposed to just selling them something that’s here,” he said. They can “help the customer find what they’re really looking for.”
Many dealerships have accepted preorders while inventory has been tight, but the easy access to Martin Chevrolet-Buick-GMC’s spreadsheet sets it apart.
“Since I’ve been here at the store for nearly seven years, Janet has always built this transparency with customers,” Salazar said. “Why not empower our customers and give them that information so they feel more comfortable with the process and actually know we’re trying to help them as opposed to just selling the car?”


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ABC circulation figures for September show tumbling circulations, with only the Financial Times (FT) successful in bucking the trend.
Year-on-year falls were exacerbated by the sales boost delivered by the death of Queen Elizabeth II this time last year, but overall circulation of weekday titles also fell by 2.2% month on month from August to September.
Saturday circulation fell by 1.9%, and Sunday by 2%. This continues the trend of Saturdays outperforming other days of the week, but represents a significant increase in the rate of decline since August, which saw weekday sales falling by 0.7%, Saturdays 0.3% and Sundays 1%.
“With sales usually declining, you think it’s business as usual, but it’s been really steep lately,” said Prinal Patel, of Raj’s Premier Store on the Isle of Wight. “The Sun’s gone down dramatically the past couple of months. The only titles I’ve sold out of at all are The Guardian and The Times.”
The FT was the only title to avoid declining sales, with a boost of 15.5% on weekdays and 7.3% on weekends from August to September.
The i continued its impressive performance year on year, with iWeekend the only title on any day to drop in circulation by less than 10%.
Janet White, FT global print director, told Better Retailing: “Strong retail sales and a number of subscribers resuming their subscription deliveries after the summer period contributed to our latest month-onmonth circulation growth.
“Year on year, we’re seeing stability across core sales in all markets.”
Read more news and advice about the newspaper and magazines category and click here for the latest ABC circulation figures


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German gold dealer ProAurum has erected Europe's most expensive Christmas tree in Munich. It's made out of 2,018 1-ounce-coins gold coins worth EUR2.3 million ($2.6 million).The tree will be on display until December 15.
December 05, 2018
SC issues notice to Centre on oxygen crisis, vaccination
Exclusive: Adar Poonawalla on Covishield's efficacy, double mutant variant, more
Number of children testing Covid-19 positive rise in India


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A pack of shoppers swarm supermarket shelves, cheerfully snapping up packages of prepared lasagna, ravioli and paella as they sing the products## praises. Sounds just like a normal evening TV ad. And it is, only this one features ethnic-Arab actors in a commercial for halal food in France. A first in its own right, the ad is already a remarkable sight on French TV. But even more surprising is the reaction it##s gotten — or, rather, hasn##t gotten. In a country that##s usually quick to burst into outrage over the spread of Islam into secular society, these halal-food ads have been playing without a peep from the public.
The ad campaign by Panzani-owned, Lyon-based food brand Zakia Halal is the first ever mass-market promotion of halal food to France##s estimated 5 million Muslims. The TV spots kicked off on Aug. 17 to coincide with the start of the holy month of Ramadan and have been running on most of France##s largest television channels since. The $430,000 campaign was put on pause Sept. 2, then resumed as Ramadan comes to an end later this month and the feast of Eid el-Fitr approaches. Thus far, the spots have gotten a mostly supportive reaction from Muslim shoppers and the French media, with the daily Le Parisien trumpeting “Halal Takes a Spot on TV.”
What##s astounding is how long it took for any of France##s numerous makers of halal food products to embrace this kind of mass marketing. Studies done by ethnic-marketing consultancy Solis Conseil in Paris estimate that French Muslims currently purchase about $5.7 billion worth of specialized foodstuffs and related products — a market that##s been increasing nearly 15% annually for almost a decade. Solis has also found that nearly 94% of all Muslims in France with North African roots — by far the largest group of Muslims in the country — buy exclusively halal food. A recent poll by the Ifop agency found that 70% of Muslims in France are observing Ramadan this year — leaving little doubt as to the thinking behind the timing of Zakia Halal##s groundbreaking ad campaign.
“Even though people have to fast during the day, Muslims tend to eat more — and better — when they can eat during Ramadan, which is why it is traditionally a period of peak consumer activity,” explains Abbas Bendali, director of Solis Conseil. “Zakia##s timing makes good sense because people tend to be short on time during Ramadan and will use prepared dishes along with fresh food for meals. And when you consider the size and value of this demographic, using mass-market methods to promote halal products becomes logical too.”
But it##s also potentially inflammatory, given the tendency of the French to view overt manifestations of Islamic faith as a threat to the nation##s tradition of secularity. After all, France is the nation that felt obliged to protect itself against the supposed spread of Islam by passing a 2004 law prohibiting students from wearing religious symbols in public schools — a measure primarily aimed at Islamic headscarves. Earlier this year, a form of apparel that President Nicolas Sarkozy damned as “not welcome on French territory.” That legal prohibition was regarded as overkill, however, when a police intelligence study estimated that fewer than 370 women in the nation of 65 million people actually wear the complete head, face and body covering.
Even so, the French media worked themselves into a lather in July when one woman demanded the right to swim in a burqini — a one-piece that resembles a wet suit — in a public pool that denied her entrance. Given that, it##s little wonder that the approval — or disinterest — that the French public has shown the Zakia Halal ads has been a source of contentment and relief to many French Muslims. “So much negativity has recently been attached to so-called Muslim topics that there##s a certain satisfaction that ads for halal products are being greeted as normal,” Bendali says. “After so many years of being ordered to integrate into French society and culture, Muslims are interpreting the reaction to these ads as a sign that integration may finally be working in both directions. It appears the rest of France is starting to regard things like halal food as part of the new mix.”
In fact, it has been for quite a while — though marketers and distributors have tended to keep quiet about it. For most of the past decade, France##s main supermarket chains have carried halal food to keep up with demand from consumers. That has increased so much that those supermarkets have recently launched their own halal brands to rival those of food groups — and are beginning to display them in dedicated halal sections as they have kosher food for years.
Still, don##t expect to see the shelves stocked with Western versions of traditional North African fare, like microwaveable couscous or ready-made tagine. Those are things French Muslims still prefer to make themselves. Instead, what they##re snapping up are more exotic dishes like lasagna, beef Bourguignonne and hachis Parmentier — à la halal bien sûr.


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TBCASoft, IBM (NYSE: IBM) and SoftBank Corp. (TSE:9434) has announced that they are entering into a strategic collaboration to support the transformation of the telecommunications industry that is intended to use cross-carrier blockchain technology designed to enable new synergies throughout the industry, provide new services to telecom carriers and their subscribers, and foster innovative business models, the company said.
Based on the planned agreement, TBCASoft will bring technology and solutions, IBM will bring its blockchain technology, experience in integrating and scaling blockchain networks, and software solutions, and SoftBank will bring its telecommunications expertise to the collaboration.
Together, the companies will aim to enable carriers to leverage blockchain technology through the Carrier Blockchain Study Group (CBSG) Consortium, a global carrier blockchain consortium co-founded by TBCASoft and SoftBank.
The three companies share a common vision and believe that carriers are well-positioned to harness the benefits of blockchain technology. TBCASoft has created a cross-carrier blockchain network that already includes 18 participants. This network is designed to support several industry-specific use cases including cross-border payments, digital identity, and telecom supply chain, to substantial opportunities for industry members.
TBCASoft is a US-based company developing innovative blockchain technology specifically for telecommunication carriers. Its consortium-based blockchain platform enables telecommunication carriers to create innovative services for their subscribers under a more secure, robust, and efficient environment. TBCASoft is located in Sunnyvale, California, the center of Silicon Valley. To learn more, visit TBCASoft at www.tbcasoft.com.


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DUSSELDORF – Grey Advertising and its subsidiary, Gramm, have to defend part of their $20-million Melitta business. The pitch, initiated by the client, includes Melitta coffee and coffee filter paper bags, as well as coffee machines. At the end of last year Melitta shifted all of its household products into the German Grey network.
Copyright Adweek L.P. (1993)
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LONDON (CBS.MW) -- AOL UK said Wednesday it's signed up 1 million Britons as customers, ending speculation the service was falling behind in the subscribership stakes.
The company, which is part of AOL Europe AOL also said it's introducing an existing but limited flat-rate unmetered access plan to all U.K. customers. The service will cost 14.99 pounds ($21.30) a month and will include all subscription and telephone costs, thanks to new deals with telecommunications operators.
This "U.S.-style unmetered Internet access plan has demonstrated its sustainability within our current member base," said AOL UK managing director Karen Thomson. "Having built out our network, we are ready to launch our next phase of growth as we make AOL flat rate available to every household in the country."
As part of the roll-out, AOL UK will distribute flat-rate CDs in 240 Walmart-owned ASDA supermarkets as part of the companies' alliance announced in August.
AOL Europe is nothing if not busy these days. The European unit of the American Internet giant is also in talks with Japanese electronics giant NEC Corp. NIPNY over a possible alliance that could include NEC taking an equity stake in the operation, NEC said in Tokyo Wednesday.
But the Japanese company is also talking to France Telecom's FTE, +0.24% ( 013330) Wanadoo subsidiary ( 012415) about a possible deal.
"AOL Europe and Wanadoo are just two possible partners," said NEC spokesman Yasuhito Jochi. "We are also in talks with other worldwide ISP firms."
AOL Europe is a 50-50 joint venture with Germany's Bertelsmann, but Bertelsmann has said it plans to sell its half to AOL.
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The Polestar 2 is all set to debut online on February 27 ahead of its public debut at the 2019 Geneva Motor Show.
The car will go into production shortly after the long-range hybrid Polestar 1, which will enter production later this year. The company has plans to reveal the Polestar 2 in the coming weeks and the only bit we get to see in this teaser image is the rear of the car.
What we can notice though by the rear design of the car is the fact that a coupe-like design cannot be ruled out. The company has however stated that it will be a four door fastback body type and that’s good news.
The company says that the Polestar 2 will come with a range in access of 480 km to a single charge. Power will be approximately 400 bhp and it will be sold at a price range similar to the Tesla Model 3.
The Polestar 2 will also see the world debut of the new Google Android HMI. Which in turn is also the debut of the in-car version of Google Assistant. The car will be available on subscription, which will be a slightly more premium version of Volvo’s ‘Care by Volvo’ package.


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U.S. Faces Free-Trade Quandary
By CLYDE H. FARNSWORTH,
Published: April 15, 1991
WASHINGTON, April 14— Even as the Bush Administration is pressing Japan to allow imports of rice, the United States still has what amounts to a virtual ban on imported peanuts. The Administration now faces a tough decision on whether to allow more peanuts into the country.
Wholesale peanut prices doubled in the fall after a severe drought in the Southeast. That has led manufacturers of peanut butter and other peanut products, consumer groups and the International Trade Commission, a Federal trade advisory body, to ask the Bush Administration to end the import ban.
The protections for American peanut growers hark back to the New Deal and are fiercely guarded by the nation's 30,000 peanut farmers and their supporters in Congress. Weeks of Deliberations
The President's inter-agency Trade Policy Group, which has been deliberating for nearly a month on the issue, met Friday but could not agree on a recommendation.
"We will decide just as soon as we can," Julius L. Katz, the deputy United States trade representative, said in an interview.
The trade commission has recommended that at least 300 million pounds of peanuts be imported, which would be about 20 percent of last year's consumption. Currently quotas restrict imports to 1.7 million pounds, or less than two-tenths of 1 percent of consumption.
When wholesale prices of peanuts jumped last fall, the Agriculture Department stopped buying peanut butter for the lunch program that feeds 24 million schoolchildren. High-cholesterol cheese was substituted for the no-cholesterol peanut butter. 'The Best Prices'
"We're consumers like everyone else and have to look for the best prices," said Susan C. Acker, an official at the Agriculture Department's Food and Nutrition Service.
A 28-ounce jar of peanut butter, which had been selling for around $3 six months ago, costs more than $4 today in many stores.
The skirmish has put the Administration in a corner. Philosophically, the Administration strongly favors free trade and is seeking Congressional approval to negotiate an international trade agreement that would try to dismantle foreign farm subsidies. That, in turn, could lead to elmination of United States restrictions on some imports.
"How can we complain about Japan's refusal to import rice, when we refuse to import peanuts?" asked Bart Fisher, a Washington lawyer who represents some peanut manufacturers.
Washington has frequently been critical of Japan's ban on rice imports, saying it forces Japanese consumers to pay high prices while depriving American growers of a significant potential market. The conflict reached a peak last month when Japanese officials threatened to arrest American rice millers if they did not remove samples of rice on display at a Tokyo trade show.
Consumers and processors are not calling for termination of the Government's support program. Rather, they seek a temporary easing of the import ban, similar to that ordered by the Carter Administration after a drought in 1980.
President Jimmy Carter made the decision even though he himself was a peanut farmer from Georgia, which grows 48 percent of the nation's crop. Letter From 14 Senators
As they did a decade ago, the farmers are fighting efforts to breach the import barriers. A recent letter from 14 Senators to President Bush denied there was any shortage and warned that "an influx of foreign peanuts could possibly result in significant financial losses to farmers and the Treasury."
While declining to speculate about the coming decision, Mr. Katz, the deputy trade representative, noted that "the situation has been complicated" by aflatoxin, a mold that afflicts some homegrown peanuts, further curbing domestic supplies.
While supply cuts from aflatoxin could strengthen the case for more imports, farmers' representatives say they have increased their early plantings, which could improve conditions.
"We are going to have peanuts in July for the first time in history," said J. Tyron Spearman, marketing director for the Georgia Peanut Producers Association in a telephone interview. Normally, the crop is not harvested until late summer.
The political elements have been heightened by the President's campaign for authority to negotiate a free-trade agreement with Mexico and a new global trade accord. Opposition to Trade Agreement
Many lawmakers from the peanut growing states, mainly in the Southeast, are likely to oppose the President's request for authority to negotiate an agreement that Congress cannot amend. Peanut farmers, who are among the most prosperous farmers in the country, have little interest in a global accord that would reduce peanut protection.
The same Southeastern states also are heavily engaged in textiles, which could also lose their protection in a global trade agreement.
The peanut program, which goes back to the post-Depression days when farmers were clawing their way out of poverty, limits both imports and the number of farmers who can sell peanuts in the United States.
Moreover, the Government sets a support price at 60 to 80 percent above production costs, assuring a profit for those with production quotas. With the market price today running nearly twice as high as the support price, many farmers are looking at windfall profits.
One consumer group, Consumer Alert Advocate, has calculated that the peanut program costs shoppers an additional $553 million a year.
Some Administration officials have suggested that a decision be delayed until after the vote on the President's negotiating authority, which is due in the last half of May. Appeal to Consumers
Others are pressing for an early determination to open the markets temorarily to ease the shortage. They believe such an appeal to consumers and manufacturers could even help win votes in the negotiating debate.
The Secretary of Agriculture, Edward R. Madigan, who will play a key advisory role, is a former Congressman from Illinois, the largest peanut processing state. Processors in his state are said to be in desperate need of additional supplies.
James E. Mack, general counsel of the Peanut Butter and Nut Processors Association, representing 62 medium-sized processing companies, said the price increases "badly burned" many members of his group. "We're interested in getting peanuts that we can process and market," he said.
Should the decision be in favor of imports, not only would processors and consumers benefit. Debt-burdened countries like Argentina, Ghana, Senegal and Sierra Leone, which export peanuts, would receive foreign exchange payments.