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Editor’s note: Click here to listen to a recording of two hour meeting.
Last night, Larchmont 2021, a group made up of local business organizations and neighborhood representatives (including the Larchmont Buzz, the Larchmont Boulevard Association (LBA), the Larchmont Business Improvement District (BID), and the Windsor Square Association) held its second of three planned “community conversations” about the future of Larchmont Blvd. The first event, held two weeks ago, focused on retail trends…and last night’s topic was “placemaking” – how to enhance the street and make it a “people first” space for the future.
As with the first conversation, last night’s was introduced by Larchmont Buzz co-publisher Patty Lombard, Larchmont Business Improvement District representative Heather Boylston, and Windsor Square resident Gary Gilbert. The conversation was moderated by local architect and urban planner John Kaliski, who welcomed two guests – Howard Blackson, an urban designer from San Diego, who has specific expertise in neighborhood development and advocacy, and Lindsey Wallace, Director of Strategic Projects and Design Services for the Main Street America Institute, which originated with and still maintains close ties to the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
What is Placemaking?
Opening the session, Kaliski said the goal of the evening would be to learn about best practices and short-term improvement ideas that could enhance the retail segment of Larchmont Blvd. between 1st Street and Beverly Blvd., and help ensure its success in the future.
Kaliski also offered three different definitions of “placemaking,” for those new to the concept. The first was from a publication by MIT’s Department of Urban Studies and Planning:
The second definition came from the Project for Public Spaces:
And the third was from Danish Architect Jan Gehl:
Following those introductions and definitions, Kaliski introduced Blackson, asking him to address three questions:
- What factors affect neighborhood placemaking?
- What placemaking trends shape successful main streets for the future?
- What are your placemaking recommendations for Larchmont Blvd.?
On the first question, Blackson said there are several techniques that are being used to energize today’s streets. The first – akin to the idea of mixed-use (residential/office/retail) buildings that have been popular for the last decade or so – is the idea of “mixed-use streets,” where the street itself hosts a variety of users and uses, including things like vehicle traffic, parking, bus stops, passenger drop-off zones, parklets, food trucks and more…all located in the actual street space.
Next, said Blackson, the COVID-19 pandemic – during which people began walking more and needing more kinds of COVID-safe outdoor spaces – sparked a whole new trend in “curbside management,” including locating new kinds of business and social uses on sidewalks next to streets, and even in some cases in the edges of the actual street space. These include sidewalk dining (such as we’ve seen with LA’s Al Fresco dining program), small curbside parklets for dining or gathering, and even widening sidewalks to include some former street space.
Blackson said that Larchmont, in particular, might be able to use some of these techniques to create what he calls a more layered use of the street itself. For example, the first graphic below shows what a traditional street often looks like – with spaces only for vehicles, maybe some passenger drop-offs, and a few bikes.
But a more modern pattern, Blackson said, might add in various zones – or “layers” – for things like walkways and street furnishings…with more specialized speed zones that keep slower kinds of traffic nearer the curbs, and faster traffic in the center of the street, furthest from pedestrian uses.
Blackson provided several examples of this kind of layering from streets in Detroit, Tokyo, and other cities, which show new kinds of commercial and recreational spaces “creeping out into the street.”
Blackson also noted that buildings, too, can be created or remodeled to provide new kinds of uses – such as residential, office, and/or hotel space – both above existing retail spaces (at left in the image below) and even above the street space itself (lower right-hand image below).
And finally, Blackson said, there’s the Barcelona “superblock” model, in which several blocks are combined into a cohesive neighborhood with different kinds of uses and streetscapes arranged around one or more neighborhood main streets.
Meanwhile, Blackson noted that smart phones are already changing our mobility patterns, which will also contribute to the re-shaping of our streetscapes – by requiring more space for things like ride share pick-ups and drop-offs, and making less street parking necessary as more people use alternate kinds of transportation.
Overall, Blackson said people should keep three principles in mind when planning for the mixed-use streets of the future:
- Design/plan at the neighborhood scale, including thinking about potential loss of street parking space as an opportunity to gain other kinds of people-centered spaces.
- Design/plan for time, not speed – people will spend more money on the street if they’re encouraged to stay longer, instead of just dashing through.
- Change our “first come-first served” attitude about parking.
Building for social/cultural value will always translate into economic value, Blackson said, but the reverse – building for economic value first – does not always translate into social/cultural value.
Lindsey Wallace – who lives in Chicago, but was recently treated to a Facetime-based walking tour of Larchmont Blvd. with Kaliski and Lombard – also spoke about the more people-centered “pivot” the COVID-19 pandemic has brought to our thinking about public spaces. She quoted Matthew Wagner, chief program officer of Main Street America, who said “Get used to it – the pivot is not going away,” as the world recovers and re-opens.
In fact, Wallace said, we’re actually in a great “opportunity phase” at the moment, able to see what happens with new streetscape innovations – many of which have been discussed for years – as they’re finally tested in the real world.
Wallace also said that while much planning is done for “entrepreneurial ecosystems,” in our communities, those visions often don’t include planning for the physical space where the economic activity will take place. And yet there are many reasons to think about streets as “places.” And “people-first streets,” she said, have many benefits, including health, safety, equity, community, economic vitality, and environmental sustainability.
Next, Wallace focused on two kinds of streetscape tools that could be very useful in creating people-first spaces on Larchmont – “parklets” and “pedlets.”
A “parklet,” she said, is a small gathering space adjacent to or actually in the street space, which can contain street furniture, landscaping and other amenities, and can be used for dining, seating, or just gathering. (Like our new Al Fresco dining spaces on Larchmont and elsewhere in LA.)
Meanwhile, Wallace explained, a “pedlet” is an extension of pedestrian space into the street, allowing more space on the sidewalk to be used for dining, retail or other purposes.
According to Wallace, both parkets and pedlets can have great benefits for streets where they’re used.
In fact, Wallace said, cities that have studied the impact of parklets and pedlets have found that the economic benefits far outweigh the cost of the lost parking spaces they replace.
In summary, Wallace offered her own five tips for planning Larchmont’s future and enhancing its value to the community:
- Extend the life of new COVID-19 space design strategies
- Provide clean and safe parking options, including improved lighting at night
- Research ordinances that other cities, such as Seattle and San Francisco, have created to protect and support “legacy businesses” (those that have been on the street for many years and are often destinations that draw customers to the area)
- Do a building inventory and an accessibility audit for the street, to help think about how some of the more lackluster buildings could be improved, and how things like broken sidewalks could be impeding pedestrian traffic, especially for those with specific mobility considerations
- Consider establishing some formal or informal design guidelines and/or suggested best practices to help create a more specific look for the area
And finally, Wallace also suggested looking at certain kinds of both private and public financial support for these efforts, including rent relief and grant programs to support older businesses and encourage new ones, the use of short-term leases and/or pop-up businesses, and private foundation and non-profit grant opportunities…in addition to the afore-mentioned legacy business support ideas.
The following questions were raised by the moderators and attendees following the main presentations:
What kinds of organizations can help move these kinds of discussions forward – the BID, the LBA, others? And what kind of active management will this process require?
According to Wallace, the impetus for the kinds of changes being discussed can come from any kind of “main street” organization – the Business Improvement District (property owners), the LBA (business owners), or others that can create the kinds of partnerships and relationships that will be needed. You just need to decide what to do first, and then determine specific roles for participants, moving forward from that point.
Blackson agreed, saying it’s actually good to have multiple layers of oversight for projects like this, especially when there will need to be compromises between city and private priorities (e.g. safety vs. commerce). Blackson said that San Diego has been trying something called an “enhanced” or “public” BID, which focuses more on public, not just business, interests in a specific district.
Where do we start with re-imagining curbside areas? And what about the street medians (relics of our streetcar days) – should we be thinking about those, too?
Wallace said that, first, we should definitely keep the COVID-prompted street changes that have occurred so far. But she said she thinks another good place to start would be re-thinking our surface parking lots, and what might make those spaces more attractive for other uses. Also, ask people what they’d like those spaces to be.
Blackson said one good place to start would be reimagining the Beverly/Larchmont corner – which he referred to as the street’s one “100% corner” – the one that’s the busiest, most urban, and most lively. He also suggested looking at the alley behind the businesses on the west side of Larchmont, which could be a big asset for more parking, loading space, and other uses. Regarding the median, Blackson said the center lane on the street is currently used for loading/unloading, but it’s possible that some of that activity could be moved to the alley or the sides of the street, which would once again free up the center lane for traffic or other uses.
What are “hyperlocal amenities” and why are they so important?
Wallace defined these as singular businesses – such as Chevalier’s Books – that are unique to the street, give it its special feel, and serve as specific destinations that actually draw people to the area. She also said there are a variety of incentives (both public and private) that can help support these businesses and make sure they continue to thrive.
What happens if all our “parklets” just become new dining spaces – do we lose our broader mix of businesses?
Wallace reiterated that parklets don’t have to be used for dining – they can have many different purposes, support more than one business at a time, or just be a gathering spot for people on the street. And Blackson pointed out that part of the beauty of parklets and pedlets is that they can be removed or reconfigured if they’re not doing what you’d like for the street – unlike big new plazas or parking garages, which are both more expensive and much more permanent.
What kinds of improvements would you suggest for Larchmont north of Beverly Blvd.?
Blackson said he’d like to see more new mixed-use developments on that part of the street, containing both residential and retail space. Attendee Patricial Carroll noted that there is currently a new development planned for 500 N. Larchmont, but reported that instead of retail space, the architects have put parking on the first level, which does nothing to enhance the pedestrian experience. Blackson agreed, saying “That’s deadly,” but he suggested that if the project designers aren’t ready to commit to first-floor retail space, they could also make the building “retail ready” – with the first floor space used initially as housing or offices, but ready to convert to retail space later.
At the same time, however, Blackson said it would also be a mistake to mandate that there be retail space everywhere in the neighborhood — some streets, or segments of streets, he said, are “B” streets, with a quieter, more residential character, and that’s OK. And the northern part of Larchmont definitely does have a different character than the southern part.
Meanwhile, Wallace suggested that wayfinding systems, and other kinds of signage, could be used to help unify the two ends of the street. New signage could also help with parking issues, she said, by making sure people are aware of the big garage on Larchmont, and showing them where to enter. (If that garage were better used, several people suggested, there would be less need for street and other surface parking.)
Finally, Boylston suggested that perhaps the northern part of Larchmont might be a good place to put some additional vehicle parking space…although she agreed with Blackson that it might be best to just accept that the north end of Larchmont will always be quieter and more residential than the area south of Beverly.
What about people who don’t find parklets appealing because they don’t enjoy eating next to cars and traffic?
Wallace says she hears this complaint about street dining frequently, but noted that the flexibility of these features can help with that. For example, a dining parklet could be placed on the sidewalk, and a pedlet used to route foot traffic around it, while also providing a buffer between diners and car traffic.
Blackson added than traffic also tends to move a lot slower on streets where there are layers of uses like parklets and pedlets, which makes a big difference in noise and safety. He also suggested that we might consider closing the whole street – as we do with the Larchmont Family Fair once a year – several times a year or even more often…something other cities have done successfully to create a truly “shared street” that puts pedestrians first.
But what if the city wouldn’t allow that? (The city has always said “no” when this has been suggested in the past.)
Blackson said you probably don’t want to close the street permanently, because people do still use it to get to the local businesses, but you “just need to put the cars in their place” when planning for a more comprehensive mix of uses. And Wallace agreed, noting that other cities that have tried “open streets” projects, closing them temporarily to cars, have found people really love them.
How can we survey people who use the street to find out how many are local, how many come to us from other places, and what kinds of businesses and amenities each of them would like to see?
Wallace said an “intercept” survey, in which the people doing the survey (perhaps using iPads to collect survey responses) actually walk the street and catch people on the sidewalks, would be a good way to do this. And there are free or affordable tools such as SurveyMonkey that can be used to collect responses and tally, graph, and analyze the data.
Over the last 20 years or so, many neighborhood-serving businesses (such as the grocery store, hardware store, hair salons, post office, etc.) have left Larchmont and been replaced by more and more food-serving businesses, which tend to attract more non-local customers. How do we curate an optimal mix of businesses on the street?
Wallace said this is something Main Street America studies frequently. They start by looking for “gaps” in the local business mix – what kinds of businesses are needed, what kinds of businesses are over-represented, etc. – as well as the kinds of spaces currently available for new businesses. Then they try to define what the market wants and figure out ways to attract those kinds of tenants to the available spaces. But, she said, this is a lengthy process, and involves both data analysis and community engagement, as well as time to figure out how to recruit the kinds of businesses you want.
Meanwhile, Blackson added that the world has changed over time, so it’s reasonable to expect that the business mix on the street will change, too. For example, he said, since COVID hit, people work from home more, and retail has become more delivery-oriented than store-based…while dining and drinking coffee are now our major forms of socializing, in a way they never were before. “I’m a bit disappointed,” he said, “that our greatest retail innovation is the to-go drink.” But that’s our reality at the moment, he said, and in some sense, “the tenants you get are the ones you deserve.” Still, however, he said, “We can do better; we can do more.”
Can you expand on that? If you change the street, does it provide an opportunity to change what happens in the storefronts? Or does the changing storefronts dictate changes to the street? Is it a “chicken and egg” question?
Blackson said that allowing temporary testing of new uses (on the street with things like parklets, and in storefronts with things like short-term leases and pop-ups) is a good approach for today’s changing landscape. This helps us see how new concepts and ideas work, and whether we should bring back more old-fashioned service-style businesses, without investing lots of time, money and space (which building a new parking garage or grocery store would require).
Different generations or other different groups of neighbors may also have different ideas about what constitutes a “neighborhood serving business” and the kinds of businesses that would be best to see on the street – younger people might want more restaurants, while older people might want a post office or a salon.
Wallace said this is a great point, and that’s why community engagement is so important in planning for the future of the street.
Boylston added that everyone wants to protect Larchmont’s small-town feel in the big city, but we also don’t want to feel left behind – people today do also want high end dining and shopping on the street.
Finally, Backson noted that in its earliest days, 100 years ago, Larchmont was very modern, with its streetcar line and business district, but today we need to figure out the tradeoffs between hanging onto the charm of our historic past and adjacent historic neighborhoods while still keeping up with the modern world.
“We’re not here to slash and burn,” he said, “but we are here to stay alive, and maintain the ability to change.”
The third and final Larchmont 2021 community conversation – a community meeting to “share what we have learned and invite community stakeholders to ask questions and share ideas” – is planned for Monday, July 26, at 7 p.m. via Zoom. Register here if you’d like to attend.


text: All Things Digital reports that Apple has scheduled a media event for Wednesday, September 9th in San Francisco. The event will presumably take place at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts where similar Apple events have been held in the past, and will be focused on iPod and iTunes updates. The sources claim that no mention will be made of Apple's much-anticipated tablet computer. There is no word yet on whether Apple CEO Steve Jobs will be presenting for the first time since his return from a medical leave of absence for a liver transplant. Reports last week at pointed to a media event scheduled for sometime during the week of September 7th, and other sources have also claimed that there will be no tablet introduction at the event. Article Link: Apple Media Event Scheduled for September 9th? No Tablet Announcement?

domain: news


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Postpaid and prepaid Zain customers can now subscribe to Prime Video
without the need for a credit card or additional payment methods.
M2 EQUITYBITES-August 3, 2018-Comcast and Amazon partner to launch Amazon Prime Video
on Comcast's Xfinity X1
Amazon will stream the first round of midweek games in December and all 10 games on Boxing Day via its Amazon Prime Video
service, which currently costs PS7.99 a month or PS79 for an annual subscription.
TELECOMWORLDWIRE-April 18, 2018-Partner Communications collaborating with Amazon Prime Video
On the work front, Irrfan will be seen in the Amazon Prime Video
series"The Ministry", and then start shooting for his next film with Vishal Bhardwaj.
LINE Of Duty's Daniel Mays and Sherlock actress Sian Brooke have been added to the star-studded cast of Amazon Prime Video
's forthcoming series Good Omens.
STM strives to keep readers up to date with the latest streaming listings on Netflix, Hulu, Tubi TV, Crackle, Prime Video
, Popcornflix, HBO Now, Shout Factory TV, Vudu Movies On Us, and more.
2) What's the name of the new series that's launched on Amazon Prime Video
starring Ian McShane?
THE debut of Jeremy Clarkson's new motoring programme The Grand Tour has set a new streaming record for Amazon Prime Video
The first episode of the former Top Gear host's new TV effort became available to stream on Amazon Prime Video
on Friday, and the programme received rave reviews.
Purchased separately, Prime Video
will cost $8.99 per month--one dollar less than Netflix's most popular plan.
"Amazon is doing to Audible what it's done to Prime Video
-- investing in original programming," Nick Quah, an executive at the Graham Holdings Co.'s Panoply podcast network who also writes a newsletter about the industry, tells Bloomberg News.


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3 Blockchain Stocks To Add To Your Watchlist
The global blockchain market is anticipated to grow at a CAGR of 79.6% to $7.68 billion by 2022. As an investor, you may be asking yourself, what or who is responsible for this rapid growth? The answer to that is simple. Blockchain technology has gained more popularity and interest as these large financial institutions as well as tech giants back the tech.
We are seeing more companies around the globe are incorporate blockchain technology into their business models from the significant increase of filed blockchain patents. According to the Bitcoin Patent Report, more than 1,250 cryptocurrency-related patents were filed in 2017, an increase of over 110% from just under 600 patents the year prior. The increase in patent filings demonstrates an exceptional level of interest in blockchain technology and the forecast for its future is what is really luring investors into the space.
Here are a few traditional blockchain companies to consider that have a focus in the financial services industry.
Block One Capital (BKPPF) (BLOK.V)
Market Cap: $30.49M
Block One is an investment company which is focused on high growth opportunities in the blockchain sector. Block One’s investments include 40% interest in Finzat, which is developing a blockchain system to streamline and digitize the U.S residential mortgage process, a real opportunity. Recent discussions with a Housing Government Sponsored Enterprise (GSE) have highlighted opportunities for Finzat to design blockchain application prototypes within the next few months.
Block One’s other investments include Cuipo, through a patented virtual grid and tokenization method is creating technology to protect endangered land in both Central and South America, a $750,000 investment into the private presale in the Shopin ICO which received a 66% bonus, and most recently the sale of 90% of its position of its mining operation, TG12 Ventures, in exchange for 8.9 million shares of HashChain Technology (HSSHF).
For More Information: http://valueinvestor.com/2018/05/11/block-one-capital-bkppf-blok-v-conference-call/
Seven Stars Cloud Group, Inc. (SSC)
Market Cap: $179.738M
Seven Stars goal is to become the next generation AI and blockchain-powered Fintech company and is developing the first AI+Blockchain Asset-Backed Securitization & Tokenization (ABST) Exchange Platform. The Platform focuses on real asset-backed securitization from commodity, currency and credit markets with the goal of providing a seamless method and platform for digital asset securitization, tokenization, and trading.
Seven Stars announced that private and pre-sales of its Digital Oil Asset Index (DOAI) tokens began on May 18, 2018 and will continue until the end of June with public sales enduring through September.
For more information: http://www.sevenstarscloud.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=176144&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=2350470
Marathon Patent Group (MARA)
Market Cap: 24.45M
Marathon’s name is pretty to the point, the company acquires patents. This is not the purest blockchain stock on the list but deserves to be in the space. Marathon’s acquisition of GBV in November 2017 led it into the blockchain/crypto space and the company began new business involving the blockchain ecosystem and generation of digital assets or mining. Also, back in January, the company announced that it has entered into a purchase agreement to acquire four patents related to the transmission and exchange of cryptocurrencies between buyers and sellers. As of March, the company’s Quebec facility has begun mining bitcoin with the capability to mine other digital assets as well.
Top U.S Blockchain Patent Owners:
1. Bank of America (BAC) 43
2. Microsoft (MSFT) 40
3. IBM (IBM) 27
4. Mastercard (MA) 27
5. Fidelity (FFIDX) 14
6. TD Bank (TD) 11
7. Google (GOOG) 9
8. Accenture (CAN) 9
9. Hewlett-Packard (HPE) 8
10. Dell (DVMT) 8
11. Visa (V) 7
12. American Express (AXP) 6
The financial services industry holds the second largest percentage, only behind blockchain specific companies, of blockchain patents at 20 percent, ahead of technology firms at 13 percent. Even the Nasdaq and the Chicago Mercantile Exchange own patents in the space, which speaks for itself. The companies listed above could be a good investment for those looking to get into the space, yet keep in mind that they are not considered pure plays in the space.
Focus for Investors
With the increasing demand for simplified business processes throughout different industries, blockchain technology is at the forefront of the upcoming tech revolution. Well-known businesses are incorporating this technology, with the majority being in the financial sector and tech sectors.
All three of the companies mentioned above have stock prices that are inexpensive compared to some of the other household names, and with the industry expected to take off soon, it leaves more room for potential upside.
Disclaimer: JSG Communications expects to be compensated up to $500,000.00 by Block One Capital Inc. for a period beginning March 3, 2018 and ending September 5, 2018, to publicly disseminate information about (BKPPF) / (BLOK.V). We may buy or sell additional shares of (BKPPF) / (BLOK.V) in the open market at any time, including before, during or after the Website and Information, provide public dissemination of favorable Information. JSG Communications owns zero shares


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THQ will not have a booth at this year's Electronic Entertainment Expo, according to what a spokesperson has told GamesIndustry International. While the company won't have a massive display on the show floor as it has in past E3's, a company spokesperson said that it will be at E3 taking appointments and showing off its new titles for 2012 and beyond.
"We're not producing a booth, but we will be participating in E3," the spokesperson said. "We will be showing games to the E3 judges at their event coming up [E3 Judges' Week occurs in the lead-up to the show where gaming outlets are given advance access to games for scoring], and we'll be hosting a press and business center at the show for meetings (as well as participating with first party activities)."
"When we needed to make the decision on the booth (many months ago), we were in a MUCH different place than today," the spokesperson added. "But we will be there to support our portfolio and the show itself."
A subsequent report from Polygon reveals that THQ will have others ways of promoting its slate of upcoming games during E3 including local media events where the press can interview developers, get hands-on time with THQ's games, and more.
The financially-challenged publisher is doing all that it can to cut cost and save money, and E3 booths can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars to rent, stage properly, and produce.


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Grammy Award-winning, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Inductees, Metallica, have announced a special Los Angeles fan club concert at The Fonda Theatre (6126 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood, CA 90028) on December 15th.
Fans who would like join Metallica and are a Fifth Member can enter to win an opportunity to purchase up to two tickets per member in a special presale that begins on Friday, December 9th at 9:00 AM for one hour only. Fifth Member tickets will be specially priced at $25 each and all proceeds from the sale of tickets to this show will be donated to Los Angeles Regional Food Bank. Winners will be e-mailed a personal code by 5PM PST on Thursday, December 8th, along with more details about how to purchase tickets to the exclusive one-of-a-kind show. You must be chosen as a winner in the contest to participate in the presale.
If you're not a Fifth Member, you'll still have a chance to purchase up to two tickets per person on Friday, December 9th at 11:00 AM PST at AXS.com for a price of $100 each, again with all proceeds donated to Los Angeles Regional Food Bank. Collection bins will be also available at the door for guests to support those less fortunate by bringing canned goods or other non-perishable food items to the show.
For more information, visit https://metallica.com/.


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Market prices in cannabis have been crashing in more mature markets due to massive oversupplies of cannabis products:
…product oversupply led to price drops of more than 50 per cent...
To compete, illicit growers have also slashed their prices by about 30 per cent.
… wholesale market, with prices said to be dropping by up to 60% since at least mid- June for outdoor-farmed flower.
… many indoor growers appear to be on better footing, for instance, with wholesale prices reportedly down 10%-20% compared to outdoor farmers.
Colorado and Oregon:
In Colorado, the average price per pound has declined 51% since the fourth quarter of 2020. In Oregon, it’s down 36%.
Retail adult use cannabis prices in Michigan are half of what they were a year ago and newly reported data from state regulators suggest they have even further to drop this year [see Figure 1].
… prices have dropped by 50% this year.
“Wholesale flower prices that we are seeing right now around the state are closer to $450 to $600 for freshly harvested, high quality sun grown … Last year at this point in the season, we were looking at prices around $1,100 to $1,200.”
Similar to Colorado’s marijuana market, Washington is in a race to the bottom. Their prices are already drastically lower than Colorado’s and seem to keep dropping.
Sources claim that legal market cultivators in California are growing two to three times the amount of cannabis sold in legal dispensaries. Similar such excesses are no-doubt causing the price crashes in other markets as well. What’s going on in these markets? How can there be such drastic surpluses in supply, contributing to so much red ink for businesses? These are the questions this analysis seeks to answer.
- Created on .


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The surge of e-retailing is presenting parcel carriers with a conundrum: how do carriers profit from the rapid surge in B2C volumes, while ensuring their networks are able to cope with capacity demands? Hayley Pink reports Peak period capacity is at breaking point, City Link MD David Smith warned an industry conference in June, with the 2012 Christmas period posing a record challenge for carriers and retailers alike. Smith says there has been no new capacity in the industry since […]
Parcels delivery giant Hermes has completed the installation of a third sortation tier at its Rugby super hub, which at 270,000sq ft is claimed to be Europe’s largest automated parcels sortation centre.
DPD research has revealed that three-quarters (73%) of Brits have ditched their online shop at checkout stage due to restrictive or expensive delivery options. Around 40% of shoppers complained that they are not generally offered a free delivery option, despite the fact this is the preferred choice for three-quarters of consumers. However, a quarter (26%) of shoppers would opt for timed delivery slots above a free service. Dwain McDonald, DPD chief executive, says: “Online cart abandonment costs e-tailers millions of […]
DPD’s ‘NHS Thursday’ initiative has gathered momentum, with the parcel firm gearing up to deliver more than 60,000 donated items to hospitals thanks to the generosity of its staff.


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Take Two (NASDAQ:TTWO) has had a rather rough time after releasing GTAV. GTAV beat all expectations, but the stock fell victim to the "sell the news" phenomenon. And now, given the prospects for Electronic Arts (NASDAQ:EA) and Activision (NASDAQ:ATVI), as well as the bad numbers from GameStop (NYSE:GME) and Best Buy (NYSE:BBY), the stock is suffering again. Still, that might be about to change.
Short term risk
The main short-term risk facing Take Two is the fact that Electronic Arts might lay an egg. This is so because of how badly EA's Battlefield 4 franchise is performing.
At the same time, we know for a fact that the transition from old generation gaming consoles to the new generation (XBox One, PS4) is leading to lower software sales. The installed bases on the new consoles are still small, whereas people are no longer investing in games for the old consoles, except for the most powerful franchises - which include Grand Turismo 6 on the PS3, as well as GTAV - thankfully, Take Two's - on the XBox 360 and PS3.
While Take Two is not the main victim of these developments, investors can always generalize to the sector and punish Take Two.
In spite of these short term risks, I believe there's a massive catalyst emerging for Take Two. The catalyst is the launch of GTAV on the PC. There are already rumors surfacing about this near-term launch, including:
- A video on YouTube depicting a GTAV developer edition running on a PC, including video options which you'd only find in a PC version;
- The fact that Take Two asked to take down the video;
- And a rumored date for the launch: March 12.
The date is important, as it would still fall in the March quarter. As we will see, there is a high likelihood that the present numbers for the March quarter don't include this launch.
Not in the numbers
TTWO's March quarter consensus calls for $223.13 million in revenues. When TTWO launched GTAV for the console market, it booked adjusted revenue of $1.27 billion in the quarter, even though the game was launched on September 17 and the quarter ended on September 30.
This time, obviously many gamers already have the console version and so turnout to buy the PC version ought not to be as massive. But remember, expectations stand at just $223 million and it turns out that the PC gaming market is actually quite a bit larger than the console gaming market. A Digital River report puts the PC gaming market at 50% of the total with consoles controlling 30%. This works to mitigate the fact that console gamers have already gotten GTAV and thus makes it likely that this launch will be significant as well, leading to Take Two easily exceeding revenue and earnings estimates for the March quarter.
It is apparent that the rumored launch of GTAV for the PC is not yet in the numbers for TTWO's March quarter. With estimates pretty low and a rumored March 12 launch window, GTAV for the PC will allow Take Two to again unexpectedly smash the revenue and earnings estimates.
As the launch date gets closer, one would expect a new "buy the rumor" movement to emerge for TTWO, to be followed by a "sell the news" on the actual launch date. Either way, the prospect of TTWO easily beating estimates should provide a strong positive push for the stock.
Take Two reports the December quarter on February 3. To minimize risk it might be optimal to buy after TTWO reports the December quarter, as at that point EA will also have reported and one won't have the risk of TTWO somehow missing the December quarter given the weak software numbers out of the gaming retailers.
Disclosure: I have no positions in any stocks mentioned, but may initiate a long position in TTWO over the next 72 hours. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article.


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Memphis shop owners hopeful for Small Business Saturday
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (WMC) - The holiday shopping season is officially underway.
Big crowds crammed into stores for Black Friday, which is traditionally the busiest shopping day of the year.
Small businesses in the Mid-South are trying to get in on some of the action as part of Small Business Saturday.
When Rachel Mullen and Angelique Sloan decided to join forces and open Primas Bakery + Boutique, the cousins knew it would be quite the adventure.
But they never imagined a once-in-a-century pandemic.
“When the pandemic hit and lockdown hit, we were still very young as a business,” said Mullen. “Our business has been growing and rebuilding throughout the last year.”
The holiday season provides them a perfect opportunity to continue rebuilding thanks to shopping holidays like Small Business Saturday.
According to a Lending Tree survey, 49% of Americans plan to “shop small” this holiday season.
The whole idea behind Small Business Saturday is to provide small businesses with a much-needed boost.
After nearly two years of the pandemic, many of them could certainly use one.
Jenean Morrison, the co-owner of Cooper-Young Gallery + Gift Shop, was eager to greet customers in person for Small Business Saturday this year, after only offering online sales last year.
“It’s been really great to be able to see people in person, have them come in the shop, experience the shop, walk around,” said Morrison. “It’s a different experience than it is online.”
Although some may take small businesses for granted, a recent report from the Sycamore Institute, a nonpartisan public policy research center, showed why that’s not a good idea.
It found the number of small businesses operating in Tennessee has fallen 40 percent since the pandemic began.
With concerns growing over rising inflation, supply chain issues and a new COVID-19 variant, it makes Small Business Saturday even more important for small business owners.
“It’s really important because the money goes back into the community and we can keep getting stronger,” said Mullen.
Copyright 2021 WMC. All rights reserved.
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While sales are essential to business, Essers has other concerns. She said that South Africa has seen a 60 percent rise in unemployment, and the value of its currency has dropped by one-third. This means that feeding programs and support for the huge number of people with underlying conditions such as HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis are at the forefront of her mind.
“It is at the essence of the gallery to focus on social projects, and I think a lot of galleries in Europe are not focused on this in the way that we have to be and want to be,” Essers said.
Sales are still happening in the contemporary African art market. And although things will undoubtedly be hampered by the pandemic, the sector appears to have a strong foundation. Affordable prices, value, and commercial agility have undoubtedly helped. Accustomed to operating internationally online and with a collaborative, adaptive spirit, the market seems to be surviving well enough for now.


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US President George Bush signed legislation making it legal for Americans to transport prescription drugs from Canada, providing they do not import more than a 90-day supply, and end the practice of seizing packages posted from Canadian pharmacies.
The relaxation of the laws on drug imports came with the passage of the 2007 Homeland Security Appropriations bill, although some believe the concession does not go far enough and that the Food and Drug Administration should drop its opposition to allowing US consumers access to the global marketplace for prescription medicines.
The move comes at a time when public support of drug importation is high, at least according to a poll conducted by the Wall Street Journal on September 15. This showed that 80% of Americans support allowing people to import prescription drugs, and four out of five agree that the law banning pharmaceutical imports is intended to protect drug companies' profits.
Opponents of drug importation have argued that the practice creates a weak link in the medicines supply chain, potentially allowing counterfeit drugs to enter the USA. And the new law has raised fears in Canada of a ‘drug drain’, that could lead to shortages in some medicines.
The President’s move was swiftly criticised by the pharmaceutical industry, with the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) saying that the measure was a “first step down a dark and dangerous road,” according to a report on the FDAnews service.
But Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich, who was behind a state programme allowing Illinoisians access to drugs made in Europe and Canada, said the move was a first step in preventing American citizens from bankrolling the pharmaceutical industry through the payment of inflated prices.
The I-Save Rx programme allows savings of 25% to 80% on common prescription drugs, he said, but around 1% of packages imported into the USA have been seized at the border – with no evidence that any unsafe medicines have been shipped, according to Blagojevich.
However, critics of the programme said the plan had not been a success, supplying drugs to less than 4,000 people at a cost of $1 million to set up.
“For decades, pharmaceutical companies have put the squeeze on consumers across the USA by making them pay the highest prices in the world for prescription drugs. There is no excuse for putting people’s health at risk just to protect drug companies’ profit margin,” wrote Blagojevich in a letter to Pres Bush.


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|Day Low/High||251.40 / 254.24|
|52 Wk Low/High||150.80 / 267.06|
With constrained trade routes between the U.S. and China, I want to own a piece of whomever is steering or parking those big ships off the port of Los Angeles and elsewhere.
Market volatility could spike in late November/early December just as liquidity walks away. Keep that in mind.
The big retailer's chart indicates a possible low could be coming this week, though there is reason for caution.
Costco Wholesale will report the firm's fiscal fourth quarter and full year financial performance Thursday evening.
Here's how financial talking heads got this retailer completely wrong.
The U.S. evacuation of Kabul is not really a market story, but it is deeply embarrassing, and an obvious weight upon sentiment.
To the melody of the Byrds' famed song, I want you to know: There's a time to buy the industrials, a time to sell the banks; a time to bid for health cares, a time to dump the techs. ...
The shares of the big retailer have continued to grind higher since our last look at the company three months ago.
There are favorable charts among companies that could be impacted by a resurgence in COVID-19 and there is one that isn't so great.
Is the truth in the jobs report or GM's earnings? Or is it in the cruise lines or the real estate firms? Let me show you the 'REIT' way to look at it.
The Delta virus has more power to control both fiscal and monetary policy than does the data or do any of our leaders individually.
Here are the stocks to watch as the pandemic throws us a curve-ball.
Doesn't the Fed now have to taper asset purchases simply to avoid becoming an even greater force in these markets?
"According to the third annual U.S. Back-to-School Consumer Sentiment Survey from Sensormatic Solutions, part of Johnson Controls, three-quarters (76%) of consumers plan to shop in-store this year. The survey reveals a return to pre-pandemic shoppin...
How these money managers get away with this duplicity is incredible. They skate by criticism as if having your cake and eating it too is second nature.
Human behavior regarding vaccinations is bedeviling stock-picking right now.
The new Amazon CEO could choose to invest more in AWS and grocery delivery, and could also break with Jeff Bezos' historical aversion to stock buybacks.
This is the chart investors love to see, but let's probe the three pullbacks during the run up to $240.
This market is moving in so many areas that you have to marvel at how it's even possible -- even if the Russell Rebalancing could change all that on Friday.
* Always look under the surface and question consensus * Amazon's competitors are effectively drafting behind Amazon's "Prime Day" promotions * Be mindful of increased delivery delays at Amazon which could increasingly guide consumers towards "Buy o...
I keep hearing from complainers, who typically have a imperious tone, that these so-called meme stocks are wildly overvalued. How the heck do we know?
Let's look at the many positive story lines out there -- which having nothing to do with the Fed -- and what they mean for investors.
We've been caught with our pants down, largely because we had no faith in the smartest people in the country.
TGT and DRI are two examples of companies that offloaded major divisions to make things better.


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Canadian card and spend management fintech Float raises $30m in Series A
Corporate card and spend management platform Float has raised $30 million (CAD 37 million) in a Series A funding round.
US-based investor Tiger Global led the round, which also saw participation from Float’s existing investors including Golden Ventures, Susa Ventures, Michael Hyatt, Tiny Capital, Garage Capital, A-Star and Global Founders Capital.
Float has also attracted angel investors from notable firms such as Uber, Shopify, Wealthsimple, Properly and Clutch.
Founded by Griffin Keglevich and Ruslan Nikolaev in 2019, the company now has thousands of employees using cards on its platform.
This latest financing round brings Float’s total funding to date to around $34 million (CAD 42 million).
Float provides Visa-issued cards that integrate directly with a company’s bank account, allowing employees access to both virtual and physical corporate cards as well as a spend management platform.
The company says its platform solves a pain point for Canadian SMEs, doing away with the need for personal guarantees from company leaders.
CEO Rob Khazzam told BetaKit that since March, Float has grown at a faster pace than it “could have ever imagined”.


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As a spinoff feature from the Miss Michigan pageantry discussions this week, Lisha Arino of the Muskegon Chronicle interviewed some business and professional women in west Michigan about how beauty and appearances go well beyond one’s physical attributes.
. ..how individuals carry themselves also matters, said Cindy Larsen, president of the Muskegon Lakeshore Chamber of Commerce.
She said employers today are not just looking for workers who dress appropriately but who also have “soft skills” – things like looking someone straight in the eye, speaking clearly in a strong voice and standing up straight.
By the way, most people know me in the digital world as the Monroe on a Budget blogger. I have extensive archives on the frugal blog about fashion on a budget that include discussions on business suits and pageant dresses.
– Paula Wethington


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Update 12/20/17 – Thank you to everyone who helped to make our holiday benefit on December 7 a huge success! We had over 250 attendees and were able to help raise $7,500 for Blessons!
Join us Thursday, December 7 for our 2017 Holiday Benefit! This year’s event will be held at the Hard Rock Cafe, 63 W Ontario, and is a benefit for Blessons’ efforts to empower women through education.
The event will kick off at 6:30 and will feature live music by Dina Bach, Pia Easley & Allied Forces. There will be a fashion show with clothing and style by Belmont Army and hair and makeup by the XEX team. Hannah Stanley from WGN Radio will emcee the event!
Tickets are available at XEX for $10. They will also be available at the event for $15. Looking forward to seeing you!
Learn more about Blessons at blessons.org


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Ausmetics, an ODM / OEM enterprise of China’s mom and child skin care products, together with Vitargent FishQC, established a “scientific and technological health innovation research center” and set up a special testing laboratory. Through the latter’s “transgenic mackerel medaka embryo chronic toxicity test”, the estrogens toxicity in cosmetics was detected and potential safety risks were found.
On May 13, Beijing time, Ausmetics and Vitargent FishQC, established a “scientific and technological health innovation research center” and set up a special testing laboratory, bringing in “transgenic mackerel medaka embryo chronic toxicity test”, to test the estrogens toxicity in cosmetics and find the potential safety risks of cosmetics in time.
So what exactly are estrogens? What’s the harm?
Estrogens, which is an estrogen-like substance that acts like estrogen when it enters the body. Estrogen in the normal body can keep the human body healthy, but the extra intake of excessive estrogen will upset this balance, resulting in endocrine imbalance and harm.
Estrogen compounds have been proven to cause various diseases, such as cancer, decreased reproductive capacity, nervous system disorders, precocious puberty in children, diabetes, etc; Among them, pregnant women and children are particularly high-risk groups of estrogen-like chronic toxic substances.
In cosmetics, such as Paraben preservatives and bisphenol A, which is used to prolong the fragrance in perfume, is similar to estrogen. In addition, some sunscreens, preservatives, essence, fragrances and some “efficacy” raw materials are also estrogen-like, which will disturb the endocrine system and increase the risk of cancer, cardiovascular disease, infertility and other health risks.
Earlier, the baby cream “big head doll ” incident officially reported by the health commission of Zhangzhou City, Fujian Province, China was suspected of illegal hormone addition.
In 2021, a blogger revealed that a parent used the “Yifuling multi-effect special care bacteriostatic cream” produced by Fujian Ouai baby health care products Co., Ltd. for her child, and the baby girl who was only 5 months old turned into a “big head doll” weighing 22 kg, and had symptoms such as growth retardation, hairiness and swollen face. Parents took the baby to China’s authoritative hospital for examination and learned that the baby is most likely due to the use of hormone ointment. At this time, parents suspect that there is a problem with the “yifuling multi-effect special care bacteriostatic cream” used by their daughter.
It was revealed that the blogger sent “Yifuling multi-effect special care bacteriostatic cream” and another baby cream “Happy Forest” from the same manufacturer to Chinese professional institutions for testing. The test results contained more than 30 (mg / kg) hormones (clobetasopronate).
According to the National Medical Products Administration of China, clobetasopronate belongs to glucocorticoids. Long-term use of products containing glucocorticoids may lead to problems such as facial skin black spots, atrophy and thinning, and hormone-dependent dermatitis.
With the occurrence of the “big head doll” and other events, the Chinese and local relevant departments have strictly controlled and severely punished children’s cosmetics, and the market has been able to get out of chaos. Today, the implementation of China’s “Regulations on the supervision and administration of children’s cosmetics” and “Little Golden Shield” has further standardized the market and put a tight spell on the brand.
However, it is undeniable that consumers lag behind manufacturers and brands in obtaining, recognizing and understanding information, whether it is new regulations or exclusive marks. Once the wrong cognition is used and magnified by intentional enterprises, it will do harm to the benign development of the market.
Therefore, starting from the enterprise itself, only by giving play to the leading role of the brand, doing legal and compliance publicity, and doing a good job in the correct consumer education of new regulations and new things, can we further improve the recognition of the brand in the hearts of consumers and realize the improvement of brand strength.
Ausmetics：Founded in 1998, is now an ODM / OEM enterprise of China’s mom and child skin care product.Four major production bases have been established in Australia and China, and cooperative relations have been established with many well-known beauty brands such as ALF, Sangu, etc.
Vitargent (International) Biotechnology Limited：Hong Kong Biotechnology testing platform, which was established in 2010, has the world’s largest biological toxicity database of daily consumer goods. In 2017, the company launched the world’s first consumer product safety and efficacy information platform with biotechnology as the core–” FishQC”.


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Panacea Biotec signs seven drugs deal with Bionpharma Inc
7 drugs represent a total estimated market potential of more than $800 million
Panacea Biotec will be responsible for development, filing, registration, manufacturing & supply of these ANDAs
Bionpharma Inc. will be responsible for importation, warehousing, sales and distribution of these ANDAs in the United States and its territories.
Panacea Biotec on Friday said that the company is entering into a joint collboration with Bionpharma Inc of the USA for development, licence, manufacturing, supply and sales of seven complex generic pharmaceutical products.
Panacea Biotec said, "Under a previous arrangement, Bionpharma is also the exclusive distributor for 2 ANDAs of Panacea Biotec for the US market. These ANDAs have already been commercialised under a separate exclusive license and supply agreement."
Rajesh Jain, Joint Managing Director, Panacea Biotec said “This joint collaboration reflects the shared belief between Bionpharma and Panacea Biotec that the development and commercialization of high barrier to entry & complex generics needs significant innovation, technical expertise, infrastructure and investment to achieve the edge in market place”.
Get Latest Business News, Stock Market Updates and Videos; Check your tax outgo through Income Tax Calculator and save money through our Personal Finance coverage. Check Business Breaking News Live on Zee Business Twitter and Facebook. Subscribe on YouTube.


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The serious riots in Ferguson, Missouri should be viewed as more than just a local problem. While many luxury and lifestyle brands may not think that this issue will impact them directly. However, the problem in Ferguson is a diversity crisis issue. So, this is a problem that impacts every luxury and lifestyle brand directly.
Ferguson is a city in St. Louis County, Missouri, United States. The population was 21,203 at the 2010 census. Michael Brown, an unarmed 18-year-old African American man, was fatally shot by an unnamed Ferguson police officer on August 9, 2014. The incident sparked protests and acts of vandalism in the St. Louis suburb as well as national calls for an investigation into the incident.
On August 10, after a day of vigils local police stations assembled approximately 150 officers in riot gear. The crowd then began looting businesses, vandalizing vehicles and confronting police who sought to block off access to several areas of the city. The following day, police fired tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse a crowd at a QuikTrip convenience store that had been burnt out the night before. According to reports, gunshots were fired in Ferguson and five were arrested.
On August 11, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) opened a parallel civil rights investigation into the incident and Attorney General Eric Holder instructed the Justice Department staff to monitor the developments.
The population of Ferguson grew rapidly during the first six decades of the twentieth century, from 1,015 people in 1900 to 22,149 people in 1960, an average growth rate of 5% per year. Since 1960 the population has remained nearly constant.
The racial composition of Ferguson has shifted since 1990, however. In 1990, residents of Ferguson who were identified in the U.S. Census as White comprised 73.8% of the total, while those identified as Black made up 25.1%. (The remainder, 1.1%, identified with other racial categories.) In the 2000 census, 44.7% were White and 52.4% were African American. In the 2010 census, 29.3% were White and 67.4% were African American.
Lesson In Diversity
It is very important that luxury and lifestyle brands make sure that diversity training is also a top priority. Ferguson, Missouri is a wonderful city that can recover with community and world support. When riots happen like the one in Ferguson, Missouri we must first stop to “ask ourselves” how did we get here?
Luxury and lifestyle brands should make sure that their public relations PR messages also deliver diversity communications. Luxury and lifestyle brands should send positive messages of engagement to the amazing city of Ferguson, Missouri.
We are truly deeply sadden by the death of Michael Brown and send our prayers to his family.
Tell us what do you think about this situation in Ferguson?


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The Regional Court of Dusseldorf granted Apple a temporary injunction against the sale and marketing of the Galaxy Tab 10.1 in EU counties, bar the Netherlands, forcing the Korean manufacturer to stop advertising the tablet and pull all units from the shelves.
The ruling was passed after the judge sided with the Californian company, upholding Apple’s claim that Samsung had copied the design of the iPad 2 for its latest slate.
While Samsung can appeal against the decision made by the court, it will be at least four weeks until they meet with the judge again. In the meantime, Apple’s injunction will remain in effect.
Apple spokeswoman Kristin Huguet confirmed the preliminary injunction, while Samsung said it would challenge the decision: “The request for an injunction was filed with no notice to Samsung, and the order was issued without any hearing or presentation of evidence from Samsung,” said the Korean manufacturer.
Samsung’s Galaxy Tab 10.1 was released in the UK only last week and in terms of competition, the injunction couldn’t have come at a better time for Apple, as the Samsung product was reported to be the fastest selling tablet since the iPad 2.
The ruling in Europe comes shortly after Apple was also granted a temporary injunction in Australia against the sale and marketing of the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 in that territory. Judges are expected to meet in Sydney at the end of this month to make a final decision in that case.


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Neiman Marcus Union Square recently transformed their penthouse space to give it the feeling of a 1930s nightclub in honor of Libertine founder and creative director, Johnson Hartig.
Adeeni Design Galerie brings European decor to downtown San Francisco with its elegant new salon at 664 Post Street.
The National Domestic Violence Hotline turns 20 this year and the anniversary will be marked by ‘A Masked Ball to Unmask Domestic Violence’.
Christian Louboutin recently celebrated the opening of the brand’s beautiful new boutique at 29 Maiden Lane in San Francisco, with host Sloan Barnett. Barnett was joined by guests such as Jacqueline Sacks, Heather Ive, Juliet de Baubigny, Katie Traina, Carol Bonnie, Dr. Carolyn Chang, Mary Beth Shimmon, Jessica Moment, Sobia Shaikh, Barbara Brown, Jenna Hunt, Gail Glasser, Sonya Molodetskaya, Emily Holt, Nina Stanford, and others eager to celebrate San Francisco’s entree to Louboutin World.
Dress for Success San Francisco supporters recently gathered to celebrate the 7th Annual “Success: You Wear it Well” Fashion Celebration Gala at the iconic Sir Francis Drake.
Dress for Success supporters recently gathered at Bloomingdale’s San Francisco to celebrate the upcoming “Success: You Wear it Well Annual Fashion Celebration” taking place July 26, 2012.


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Coronavirus and Compliance With California Privacy Law
The COVID-19 pandemic has led to the widespread interruption of operations for businesses around the world. A large proportion of these businesses not only have a significant internet presence, but many have increased their online activities due to the need to conduct business remotely in order to comply with shelter-in-place orders. Over the past several months, many of these businesses have also been scrambling to comply with the data privacy requirements set forth under the new California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), which went into effect on January 1, 2020. Despite the large-scale business disruptions that have occurred in relation to the coronavirus emergency, CCPA enforcement went into effect on July 1, 2020. However, some of the CCPA’s built-in extensions of time may provide businesses with some relief if they are having compliance difficulties due to the pandemic.CCPA Requirements
The CCPA was passed by the California Legislature in 2018, and many view it as being somewhat akin to the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) with regard to the broad scope of data privacy reform it seeks to enact. A number of other US states are in the process of crafting similar statutes, and are looking to some of the CCPA’s provisions in determining how to expand their data privacy and protection laws.
In general terms, the CCPA implements new data privacy and disclosure rules for any for-profit entity (in any location) that collects the data of California residents and has at least $25 million in annual gross revenues, collects the data of at least 50,000 California consumers, households, or devices per year, and/or makes 50% or more of their annual revenue from selling Californians’ personal information. Even if you are unsure as to whether your business is subject to the CCPA, it may be wise to comply with its mandates given that consumer data privacy laws are likely to become more prevalent and even more stringent in the future.
The CCPA requires covered businesses to be transparent with consumers about the types of personal data it collects from them, where they get this information, why they collect it, and who they share it with. The kinds of personal identifying information that is subject to these rules includes people’s names, addresses, employment information, biometric data, products or services purchased, email addresses, and official numbers such as passport numbers. An exception to this requirement exists for personal information that is publicly available.
Under CCPA requirements, California residents have a right to know that your business is collecting their personal data, a right to access the data you have collected on them in a “readily usable format,” the right to have you delete their personal data from your systems, the right to opt out of having their personal data sold or shared, and the right to not be discriminated against for exercising their rights under this law.Privacy Policies
Since the onset of the coronavirus emergency, members of the tech advertising industry had asked to delay the enforcement date, but with no success. Conversely, privacy advocates have pointed out that, especially with the surge in remote work and other online activities occurring in response to the coronavirus outbreak, consumer data privacy is now even more important. The CCPA may be enforced retroactively back to January 1, 2020. (The law also has a 12-month look-back period related to access to personal data.)
Businesses struggling to keep their basic operations going in light of the COVID-19 pandemic may be understandably concerned about their ability to be responsive to CCPA requests from consumers during this time. This is especially so given that there has been confusion surrounding the implementing regulations, that non-compliance carries penalties of up to $7,500 per incident, and that consumers can also sue for violations.
Until clearer guidance becomes available, the compliance and enforcement waiting periods built into the CCPA may offer businesses some relief. For instance, companies have 45 days to respond to consumer requests to exercise their rights to know and be deleted under the CCPA, and they can have another 45 days provided that they give notice to the consumer. Further, in the enforcement context, businesses have a 30-day period to cure any violations that state officials notify them of before punitive action occurs. These timeframes may provide companies with at least the opportunity to determine how to respond to right to know and right to be deleted requests from consumers (who are limited to two requests per year as to any given company), and bring their procedures into statutory compliance if necessary.
COVID-19 Legal Center Contents


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Wise: Revolutionizing travel and finance in Malaysia
Apple slapped with €1.8b fine for App Store music rules
Apple adds PQ3 protocol into iMessage
Brussels slaps Apple with historic fine for EU law violation
This is how much ByteDance and Shein spent on US lobbying in 2023
Here’s how Meta plans to take on the AI chips market
India’s Paytm is in a crisis. What do we know about the fintech giant’s turmoil?
HarmonyOS set to overtake iOS in China this year
TikTok to revive its e-commerce in Indonesia with Tokopedia takeover
Did Shein finally make the bold move and file for a US IPO?
While the US gathers allies, China silently achieved semiconductor breakthrough
1 August, 2022
TikTok dethrones Google as the new search engine?
2 August, 2022
Chip shortage: The lack of “chips to make chips” is exacerbating the shortage by another 2 years
27 June, 2022


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Jeffree Star Cosmetics Gets Dropped By Morphie After Racism Allegations
Morphe has announced that it is cutting all ties with YouTube star and makeup wannabe mogul Jeffree Star.
Morphe announced in a Twitter statement on Friday, July 10 that the company cut ties with Jeffree and his products without detailed explanation.
Today we’ve made the decision to cease all commercial activity related to Jeffree Star and affiliated products. We expect this to conclude within the coming weeks. As we look to the future, we will continue to share updates on what lies ahead for the Morphe brand.Morphe
While Starr himself has yet to comment, Jeffree Star Cosmetics issued the following statement:
“We are shocked and extremely saddened by the decision of our former retail partner Morphe Brushes on parting ways with our brand and Jeffree.”
“Over the past 5 years we’ve accomplished amazing things together and released iconic products. We are proud of everything we’ve accomplished with them,” the statement continued. “What’s next? We have an incredible remainder of 2020 planned and are excited to share our new products with you and our partners around the world. We know our customers will continue to create, insoire, and push the boundaries of our art. Love you all so much.”
The major decision comes following Tati Westbrook‘s claim that Jeffree held stakes in Morphe (a claim that the brand has since denied), which she detailed in her recent video, titled “BREAKING MY SILENCE….” In the 40-minute video (watch below) released on June 30, Tati alleged that Jeffree and Shane Dawson manipulated her into publishing her now-infamous “BYE SISTER” video about James Charles back in May 2019.
The drama goes on and on and on and on like most drama involving YouTube stars. You can read more about the history behind this mess, here.


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No Change in Interest Rate:
The Bank of Canada decided not to make any changes to its key interest rate during the recent announcement. This means that the rate remains at 5.0%, which is relatively high compared to the past two decades.
This decision aligns with market expectations.
Reasons for No Change:
The Bank of Canada cited two main reasons for keeping the interest rate steady:
Eroding Consumer Spending: Consumer spending has been declining, which could be a sign of economic slowdown.
Slow Economy: The overall economic activity in Canada has been sluggish.
Despite not changing the interest rate, the Bank of Canada did increase its outlook on inflation. This suggests that they are anticipating further increases in interest rates in the future.
BoC Governor's Explanation:
BoC Governor Macklem explained that they decided to maintain the current rate because they believe that the existing monetary policy is already working to cool down the economy and reduce price pressures. They want to allow more time for these policies to have their full effect.
Time Frame for Monetary Policy Impact:
It's mentioned that monetary policy adjustments typically take between 18 to 24 months to fully affect the market. Since it has only been 18 months since the first rate hike, the previous hikes are still in the process of influencing the economy.
Impact of Rate Hikes:
One of the major banks believes that almost half of the impact from the previous rate hikes is yet to be felt in the economy. This implies that the full effects of the rate hikes have not materialized yet.
Concerns and Outlook for the Economy:
Canada's economy has been slowing down despite a growing population. Factors like household consumption, borrowing, and housing are contributing to this slowdown.
The Bank of Canada predicts only 1% annual growth for real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) over the next year. This is slower than the population growth rate, indicating a relatively sluggish economy.
The Bank of Canada raised its forecast for inflation. They now expect inflation to be 3.9% in 2023, which is an increase of 0.2 points from the previous forecast. For 2024, the forecast has been raised even more, to 3.0%.
This is a significant increase and suggests that inflationary pressures are a growing concern.
Market Reaction and Speculation:
Despite the hawkish tone of the Bank of Canada, it's noted that currently, no major forecasts predict another rate hike. This is likely due to concerns about overall economic weakness.
However, the passage suggests that today's data could potentially change these forecasts, especially in light of the revised inflation outlook.
In summary, the Bank of Canada has decided not to change its key interest rate, but there are indications that they may consider further rate hikes in the future due to concerns about inflation and the need to manage the economy. The current economic situation in Canada is characterized by slowing growth and concerns about inflation.
Canada, Bank of Canada, Interest Rates, Monetary Policy, Economy, Inflation Outlook, Consumer Spending, Economic Slowdown, BoC Governor, Rate Announcement, Variable Rate Mortgages, Population Growth, Global Financial Crisis, Real GDP, Household Consumption, Housing Market, Economic Forecast, Policy Rate, Central Bank, Financial Markets, Economic Indicators, Monetary Policy Impact, Interest Rate Hikes, Economic Policy, Core CPI, Wage Growth, Market Expectations, Economic Outlook, Financial Stability, Fiscal Policy, Economic Trends, Price Pressures, Macroeconomics, Canadian Economy, Economic Analysis, Economic Data, Economic Indicators
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Leading Indian wearables brand, Fireboltt, has unveiled a new smartwatch. The new Fireboltt AI watch comes with a wide number of features, including Bluetooth calling, support for Google and Siri voice assistants, a heart rate sensor and a blood oxygen level tracker.
Fireboltt is one of the most popular smartwatch companies in the country. Fireboltt has been listed as the fastest-growing smartwatch brand in the country, according to the latest Counterpoint Research report. Fireboltt, which holds 17 per cent of the total market share, has a growth rate of 394 per cent. The company has already introduced a number of budget smartwatches in the round and square shapes with different screen sizes.
Fireboltt co-founders Ayushi and Arnav Kishore said that the new watch will be a complete Bluetooth calling smartwatch with AI support. In addition to calling, the watch itself allows users to access the Quick Dial Pad, view call history and save all their contacts. An in-built microphone and speaker with special technology are included to ensure break free communication during a call. Apart from this, the watch has many smart features like climate updates and menstrual reminders along with other health-related monitors to track heart rate, blood oxygen levels, and blood pressure. The Fireboltt AI smartwatch is priced at Rs 4,499 and will be exclusively available on Flipkart.


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According to a new report, Intel could be about to introduce a substantial price increase on most of its catalogue. Unfortunately, this also includes consumer-grade processors. The company cites an increase in production and the cost of materials as the reason it decided to increase its prices.
For customers, it all boils down to one thing: PC hardware and pre-built desktops and laptops can be much more expensive. The two key questions are: How much worse will prices get, and how will Intel’s competitors respond to this decision?
The report comes from Asian Nikkei. According to the publication, Intel has already started informing its customers of the fact that it will raise the prices of most of its products. This change will affect microprocessors and peripheral chip devices, which boils down to consumer CPUs and enterprise-grade products such as high-performance server chips. Intel also produces a wide range of other items, including various Wi-Fi chips and controllers.
It’s unclear how much higher prices will be if this change goes into effect, and there’s no catch-all to refer to: percentages will differ by product. However, Nikkei Asia says we can expect to see a fairly wide range, from single-digit gains to a 20% higher price.
Assuming that the price of some of the best Intel processors will rise, this change will echo in more than just the PC hardware market. Intel processors are also found in all kinds of PCs, including pre-built desktops and laptops. Once the manufacturers of these devices pay more to use an Intel CPU, they may have to, in turn, increase the prices of the final product. They could also turn their eyes to AMD Ryzen as a viable alternative.
Intel’s choice will likely spread throughout the market. During the pandemic, the market boomed in favor of the manufacturer, although it was plagued by chip shortages. There weren’t enough PCs and laptops to go around, but now, the situation has apparently been reversed. Nikkei Asia quotes Acer chairman Jason Chen, who told reporters that the company is no longer suffering from chip shortages, saying: “Some of the CEOs of the chip suppliers even called me recently to buy more chips from them. The situation has changed.”
With inflation on the rise, demand for electronics has been steadily falling, making Intel’s move risky, but he’s not alone in his decision. TSMC has also reportedly told customers that it will raise its prices by a single-digit percentage, beginning in 2023. Several other chipmakers and chip material suppliers are also cited as about to raise their prices.
At the other end of the spectrum, Nvidia has apparently finally opted to lower the MSRP of some of its best graphics cards, all due to excess supply. There is more than enough hardware and not enough people who want to buy it. It will certainly be interesting to see if Intel’s main rival in the best CPU field, AMD, will respond by raising its prices, or stay the same and attract customers who don’t want to pay the Intel premium.
Nikkei Asia claims that it had been informed of the upcoming changes by Intel itself, but until confirmed by Intel itself, stay away from treating this as fact. While Intel may be planning to raise the prices of some, or all, of its products, we won’t know the full extent of it until the manufacturer makes it official. The next earnings call for Intel will take place on July 28, so it won’t be long before we hear directly from the source.


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Damian Lillard Unveils adidas Dame 9 Ahead of 2024 All-Star Game
Introducing the Dame 9's vibrant Red/Black colorway, a bold new addition to adidas Basketball.
In a special event in Indianapolis, Milwaukee Bucks guard Damian Lillard and adidas introduced the much-anticipated Dame 9, just in time for the All-Star Game weekend. This latest installment in Lillard’s signature shoe line dazzles with a dynamic Red/Black colorway, marking a vibrant addition to the adidas Basketball portfolio.
The Dame 9, notable for its eye-catching design, features Lillard’s “D” logo in neon on the tongue against the bold red and black backdrop, ensuring it stands out. The design is further distinguished by adidas’ Three Stripes on the sides and nine dots on the heel, representing the shoe’s edition in a creatively subtle manner.
Basketball fans and sneakerheads alike can look forward to the Dame 9 hitting select adidas Basketball retailers later this year, with availability in-store, online, and on adidas.com. While the exact retail price has yet to be announced, the anticipation is already high for what promises to be a standout release both on the court and in the streets. Watch out this space for more details or follow us @SNKRDUNK on Instagram.
In other news, check out the GOLF WANG x Clarks 2024 Footwear Collaboration. Alternatively, you can also head to the SNKRDUNK App via the banner below and browse the latest and greatest in sneakers, streetwear, and TCG.


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- Sales of gaming hardware, including consoles, fell 19% last year to £2.16bn but software (games) revenue grew slightly by 0.4% (£4.57bn).
- The market was worth £7.05bn overall in 2022, which is still 17% above pre-pandemic levels.
The value of the UK video games market fell by 5.6% last year, according to trade body UKIE.
Sales of gaming hardware, including consoles, fell 19% last year to £2.16bn but software (games) revenue grew slightly by 0.4% (£4.57bn).
The market was worth £7.05bn overall in 2022, which is still 17% above pre-pandemic levels.
The games industry, like other entertainment industries, is bracing itself to fully realise how the recent cost of living crisis will impact consumer spending in the coming years.
This report suggests that price changes caused by the Ukraine war, rising inflation and higher energy costs have already impacted how much people are willing to spend on their video games.
UKIE CEO Dr Jo Twist said: "We're pleased to see the UK video games consumer market has maintained its growth trajectory."
She added: "Although we may have seen a natural levelling off following increased spending during the lockdown years, it's clear that the appetite for games and the surrounding culture in the UK is still strong."
Console revenue was down 27% but this isn't unexpected. Similar declines have been seen before, two to three years after new generation consoles are released into the market (PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S launched in 2020).
PS5 sales last year were also affected by stock issues, which Sony has said previously is partly because of the pandemic.
Streaming and game video content fell by 4.8% in 2022 but this decline was expected following the pandemic boom period.
Toys and merchandising saw a 7.7% increase year-on-year, bucking the trend of a 3% fall in the wider toy market.
Pokémon merchandise was the top performer.
According to the ERA Yearbook 2023, top performing titles in the UK in 2022 were Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga, PlayStation exclusives God of War Ragnarök and Horizon Forbidden West, Pokémon Legends: Arceus on Switch and Elden Ring.
With many big releases like Hogwarts: Legacy, Starfield and Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom slipping from 2022 to 2023, games companies will have cause for optimism that next year's figures will continue to be above the pre-pandemic benchmark.
Figures released earlier this year by the Electronic Retailers Association compared gaming's economic impact in the UK with that of the film and televisions industries. This latest report has a slightly broader remit, considering spending linked to the games industry - including things like merchandise, associated products like movies based on games, and PC hardware. This is why the overall figure of the games market's value to the UK economy is higher here than that reported by the ERA.
The British Film Institute is one of the bodies that helped collate the data for this report.
Its deputy chief executive Harriet Finney said: "Development spending on creating new video games fluctuates year-on-year and is influenced by when work starts on larger video games projects.
"However, the continued strength of the UK video games sector shows how it is contributing creatively to the creative industries as well as jobs and additional revenue to the UK economy."
Ukie is a not-for-profit trade body that represents the UK games and interactive entertainment industry. It represents over 600 businesses working across the UK, including game developers, publishers, platforms and service providers.


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Bakery chain Greggs has suffered its first annual loss since it was floated on the stock exchange 36 years ago – with the coronavirus pandemic blamed for hitting yet another high street stalwarts.
Bosses at the Newcastle-based company – famed for pies and sausage rolls – announced a pre-tax loss of £13.7 million in 2020 with sales dropping from £1.17 billion the previous year to £811.3 million.
And the first 10 weeks of 2021 have been equally difficult, the company confirmed.
Although its 2,078 outlets are considered essential retail and have been allowed to remain open during the current lockdown, custom been devastated by reduced footfall in town centres and at travel hubs: like-for-like sales are down 28.8 per cent on the same 10 week period last year.
Bosses previously said they did not expect to return to profit until 2022 but they remain confident about the future – with a commitment to opening 100 new stores this year.
Chief executive Roger Whiteside said the chain was”well placed to participate in the recovery from the pandemic”.
He added that the 2020 results are slightly better than expected, and say that the firm benefited from the furlough scheme and business rates holiday.
A new delivery service, meanwhile, has offset some losses with such sales accounting for 9.6 per cent of trade so far in 2021.
Greggs, which was founded more than 80 years ago in Newcastle, listed on the London Stock Exchange in 1984 and had never previously reported a loss since becoming a public company.


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DaimlerChrysler is in talks with Beijing Automotive Industry Corp. and other car makers to build Mercedes cars in China, according to Bloomberg News.
Mercedes-Benz China president Peter Honegg told the news agency his company plans to build the Mercedes C-and E-class models in China.
“Mercedes-Benz will look at production projects in China that will fit the company’s overall Asian strategy,” Honegg reportedly said, declining to say when an agreement would be completed.
Mercedes-Benz China spokeswoman Irene Lo told the news agency the company is holding talks with Beijing Jeep Corp., a unit of Beijing Automotive, and other Chinese car makers.
DaimlerChrysler owns 42% of Beijing Jeep, a two-decade old venture with state-owned Beijing Automotive, Bloomberg News added.


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>> Spotify is laying plans to finally make a profit and keep Apple at bay. The Swedish music streaming service is a household name. With 30 million paid subscribers it's also the dominant player in its market. But Spotify has never made a penny, and now has fast-growing Apple Music on its heels.
Reuters Stockholm correspondent Mia Shanley has been talking to the company.>> And they've been telling me a lot about their basic growth plans. And their focus right now is really mainly on their global domination and getting as many users as they possibly can. Making streaming as mainstream as they can.
So that they can have better leverage with the record labels>> Spotify earned over 2 billion dollars last year from subscription fees and advertising. But it pays more than 80% of that to record labels and artists in return for music rights.>> Analysts said that the company might get a better deal, if it could hit 50 million subscribers.
Spotify also wants to find other revenue sources.>> So, they're really moving into video. They're also looking at, possibly, other ways that they can make money, by, perhaps, selling concert tickets, perhaps, looking at merchandise. How they can get into the business of getting t-shirts and hats and gear to fans.
>> Spotify raised about $1 billion from investors earlier this year. So far its backers are keeping the faith. But history is littered with .com startups that were all promise and no profits. Soon realtors Spotify will have to show that it can actually make some money.


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Moscow, April 5 (IANS/RIA Novosti) The number of alcoholic drink makers in Russia fell 32 percent last year as a result of government steps to re-license local manufacturers and sellers, according to an online business newspaper. Vodka production fell 9.5 percent to 86.3 million deciliters in 2011, while wine output edged down 10.5 percent to 40.4 million deciliters.
The RBC daily said the number of drink makers in Russia now stands at 341.
The number of wholesale alcohol sellers also fell 19 percent to 1,690 firms, according to documents obtained from the Federal Service for Alcohol Market Regulation.
The federal service started a large-scale re-licensing of alcohol market firms in 2011.
Market players claim the watchdog acted in the interests of large alcohol makers which could more easily meet the strict new requirements introduced by the service, while the state authorities argued the measure would help combat fake alcohol producers.
The regulator also granted 2,264 licenses last year, a 34.1 percent fall compared to 2010, while the number of market players slumped 22 percent to 2,041.
Counterfeit alcohol amounted to 36.5 percent of the market in 2011, according to the Federal State Statistics Service.
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CORPUS CHRISTI - World Wrestling Entertainment memorabilia, a NASCAR jacket and merchandise from a comic shop are among items displayed at Corpus Christi International Airport that will be auctioned to benefit the local Toys for Tots campaign.
The auction items, which include an hour of one-on-one flight instruction with a Navy jet pilot, will be displayed through 3 p.m. Friday in the airport terminal. Silent auction bids can be made in person from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily or on the airport's Facebook page.
Toys for Tots drop boxes will be available at the airport for toy donations. U.S. Marine Corps' Toys for Tots holiday campaign is significantly behind this year's goal of 60,000 toys.
Information: Contact Mary Johnson at 289-0171, Ext. 1290 or firstname.lastname@example.org.
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Blockbuster Creditors Question Studio Payments22 Oct, 2010 By: Erik Gruenwedel
A group of unsecured creditors Oct. 22 filed a motion questioning proposed payments of millions of dollars by Blockbuster Inc. to the major movie studios.
Dallas-based Blockbuster, which filed bankruptcy Sept. 23 citing more than $1.4 billion in liabilities, owed studios and related content holders about $120 million, according to the filing with U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York.
The court Sept. 27 authorized Blockbuster to pay pre-petition (early) claims to 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment, Warner Home Video and Sony Pictures Home Entertainment totaling $28 million — a little more than half the $53.8 million owed the studios. The interim order also authorized payment of more than $12 million to other unidentified “essential” content suppliers.
At the time of the Chapter 11 filing, Blockbuster owed secured creditors Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment $8.5 million and Universal Studios Home Entertainment $8.2 million.
Specifically, the creditors are concerned that Blockbuster is rushing millions of dollars in payments to select studios with little or no guarantees they will honor revenue-sharing agreements (which expire Dec. 31) or continue delivering content to Blockbuster under existing or favorable terms.
“The decision to pay substantial pre-petition claims of the studios must not be considered in a vacuum,” read the motion.
Attorney Jay Indyke, who represents the unsecured creditors and wrote the motion, said there are “heightened standards” that have to be met when pre-petitioned debt is paid ahead of other creditors.
Indyke said typical early payments to select creditors in a bankruptcy are done in exchange for concessions and vendors providing product, in this case DVD and Blu-ray Disc movies, under normal terms.
“You don’t just transfer money on pre-petitioned debt in exchange for a promise to negotiate [down the road] in good faith,” he said. “It’s not enough to send people money and hope they do business with you.”
Indyke said specific rev-share agreements and distribution terms were established early during Movie Gallery’s initial bankruptcy. He said the current pre-packaged Chapter 11 filing has Blockbuster converting its senior secured debt into equity and leaving little or nothing to unsecured creditors, which include some smaller studios.
“We just want to see standards met that are applicable in other critical types of vendor situations the courts have approved,” he said.
Indyke said the group he represents is looking to see actual agreements between Blockbuster and the major studios outlining distribution going forward. He said that without a concrete business plan in place and limited available cash, studio agreements are key to Blockbuster’s survival.
“If they have accommodations in place with studios for appropriate extensions of time, then we’re not going to have issue with respect to the payments,” he said. “If there are studios that have not done it, then we do have issues.”
A ruling on the pre-petition payments to the studios is scheduled for Oct. 27.


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Consumers increasingly believe companies have a responsibility to protect the planet but aren’t doing enough, and they’re willing to change their buying habits to reward companies that are. These concerns are deepest among millennials — the generation wineries have been courting to replace the retiring baby boomers that a recent UK study identified as being highly favorable to wine cork stoppers over artificial closures.
Cork plays a crucial role in maintaining the world’s ecological balance, fighting climate change and desertification, and sustaining biodiversity. Cork producers like Amorim help ensure that the seven million acres of cork oak forest, an integral part of one of the world’s 36 biodiversity hotspots, remain protected. For the many consumers who consciously consider sustainability metrics before buying products, these forests are crucial in delivering a negative carbon balance of -393grams CO2-equivalents to Amorim’s cork stoppers, in stark contrast to the CO2 emissions associated with non-natural closures.
Developing 21st-century technology
Amorim Cork set its sights on creating a 100% natural micro-granulated cork stopper and spent years researching and developing Xpür® with 21st-century CO2 supercritical technology which upgrades the decades-old existing supercritical systems used to eliminates cork taint. This breakthrough uses just 25% of the energy and 10% of the CO2 previously required to remove TCA and other sensory-deviation molecules in the granules, making it the greenest and most efficient process for micro-granulated corks. It also retains the cork’s intrinsic features and functions without adding any artiﬁcial components, ensuring the corks are 100% biodegradable.
Amorim Cork launched the Xpür® technology in 2021 with the introduction of its newest range of micro-granulated closures, Neutrocork Xpür® and Qork® (indeed, cork with a Q). Both products are at least 98% natural cork in volume and 80% cork in weight. Amorim goes a step further with Qork® by using 100% vegetable polyols from vegetable origins in its binding formula.
Partnering to bring 100% biodegradable micro-granular corks to all wineries
A critical part of that launch is the partnership with Scott Laboratories, known for bringing best-of-class products to its wine industry clients.
“Scott Labs president Alex Scott and I understood the demand for supercritical micro-granular cork, and Amorim’s $15 million investment in developing its breakthrough Xpür® anti-TCA technology was the newest and greatest.,” says Chris Holman, General Manager of Packaging at Scott Labs. “There are other micro-granular corks on the market, but with added artificial components. Amorim’s corks don’t need to add such components to bring back the elasticity of the cork lost when applying older, super critical technology to the granulates. The state-of-the-art Xpür® system keeps the natural physical- mechanic properties of cork intact, so there’s no need to add artificial elasticity back in.”
“We want the industry to know there’s another, more sustainable and cost-effective option that are 100% biodegradable and renewable.” adds Holman. “We share a common goal of providing the best products to our customers. We don’t believe a single cork can fulfill the needs of every single winemaker in every region. The wine industry often refers to TCA cork taint as the primary factor to transition to screw tops and synthetic stoppers,” says Holman. “Amorim enhanced range of micro-granulated closures has everything – performance, the best CO2 balance in the industry, cost-effectiveness, biodegradability and are 100% recyclable— allowing winemakers to use cork stoppers with complete confidence.“
For more information, go to www.scottlab.com.


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A leaked memo confirms that Apple will soon be releasing a fix for battery issues on watchOS 10.1.
Apple's latest Apple Watches have a new gesture thanks to the new watchOS 10.1 update.
Master your iPhone in minutes
iMore offers spot-on advice and guidance from our team of experts, with decades of Apple device experience to lean on. Learn more with iMore!


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NEW YORK: There are three people on the planet with fortunes greater than $100 billion. One is the world’s current richest tycoon, Jeff Bezos, founder and CEO of Amazon. Another is Bill Gates,...
NEW YORK: There are three people on the planet with fortunes greater than $100 billion. One is the world’s current richest tycoon, Jeff Bezos, founder and CEO of Amazon. Another is Bill Gates, co-founder of Microsoft, who was the world’s second-richest human—until now.
The newest claimant of the No 2 slot, according to Bloomberg’s Billionaires Index, is the final man in the $100 billion club: Bernard Arnault, chairman and CEO of LVMH, international media reported.
Arnault has supplanted Gates as the new No 2 on the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, which is updated at the end of trading each day. The trading of spots marks the first time that the Microsoft co-founder, who the financial news service says is worth $107 billion, has fallen out of the top two since the list’s advent in 2012. The American philanthropist still sits above the French businessman on Forbes’ famed billionaires’ list as of press time. The financial publication puts the men’s worth at $103.4 billion and $103.1 billion, respectively.
Arnault’s leapfrogging of Gates is largely due in part to his wealth growing by $39 billion in 2019, according to Bloomberg Businessweek, by far the biggest individual gain by any of the 500 people included in the Billionaire Index. This year also marks the first time Arnaut’s net worth has eclipsed $100 billion.
Under his stewardship, LVMH has grown into a global luxury powerhouse over the past thirty years, and counts venerable brands such as Christian Dior, Louis Vuitton and Givenchy among its holdings. The last two months have seen the company launch the fashion house Fenty with Rihanna and ink an unexpected deal with Stella McCartney, who left the company’s chief rival, Kering, last year. According to Bloomberg, Arnault’s jump up the Billionaire Index ranking coincided with shares in LVMH climbing to a record high on Tuesday.