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According to the California Association of Realtors, California's pending home sales slowed down in November as seasonal factors kicked in and shrinking housing affordability remained an issue.
California pending home sales dropped in November, with the Pending Home Sales Index (PHSI) falling 13.4 percent from a revised 104.8 in October to 90.7 in November, based on signed contracts. The monthly decline was on par with the average October-to-November monthly change of -13.1 percent observed in the last six years.
Pending sales were down 1.2 percent from the revised 91.8 index recorded in November 2013. The yearly decrease was significantly lower than the six-month average of -5.8 percent from May 2014 to October 2014.
California equity and distressed housing market data:
The share of equity sales - or non-distressed property sales - dipped in November. Equity sales made up 90.5 percent of all sales in November, down from 91.1 percent recorded in October. Equity sales have been more than 80 percent of total sales since July 2013 and have risen to or above 90 percent for six straight months. Equity sales made up 86.5 percent of sales in November 2013.
Conversely, the combined share of all distressed property sales edged up in November, up from 8.9 percent in October to 9.5 percent in November. Distressed sales were down nearly 36 percent from a year ago, when the share was 13.5 percent.
Fourteen of the 41 reporting counties experienced a month-to-month decrease in the share of distressed sales, with 20 of the counties recording in the single-digits, including Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Orange, San Benito, San Mateo, Santa Clara, and Sonoma counties -- all of which registered a share of five percent or less.
Of the distressed properties, the share of short sales edged up to 4.8 percent in November from 4.6 percent in October, but remained at levels last seen in February 2008. November's figure was nearly half the 8.6 percent recorded in November 2013.
The share of REO sales also inched up in November to 4.3 percent from 3.9 percent in October but down from 4.5 percent in November 2013.
The supply of distressed and equity properties improved in November. The Unsold Inventory Index of REO sales increased from 3.2 months in October to 3.8 months in November. The supply of short sales rose from 5.7 months in October to 6.7 months in November, and the supply of equity sales improved from 3.8 months in October to 4.4 months in November.


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According to Consumer Reports’ 2022 Annual Vehicle Reliability Survey, gasoline-powered electric vehicles and pickup trucks are the least reliable vehicles sold in America, while gasoline-powered hybrids and sedans are the most reliable vehicles.
Consumer Reports has collected data on more than 300,000 vehicles from model years 2000 to 2022, including several new 2023 models. The results of the study showed that electric vehicles and hybrids are among the most desirable and in demand, but their reliability is very different.
The study found that Tesla vehicles still had issues with “bodywork, steering, suspension, paint and trim, and the climate system,” but there were no issues with electric powertrains. Model 3 has average reliability, while Model S, Y and X are below average. That being said, Tesla still moved up four spots this year to 19th in the overall rankings.
Owners of other electric vehicles have reported problems with charging, batteries, and electric motors. Of the 11 EV models for which Consumer Reports has data, only 4 (Kia EV6, Tesla Model 3, Nissan Leaf, Hyundai Ioniq 5) have average or better predicted reliability.
On the other hand, hybrids, mid-size and full-size sedans scored the highest. Among all vehicle types, plug-in hybrid vehicles and hybrid SUVs rank first and third respectively in predicted reliability, according to Consumer Reports.
“With today’s inflated car prices, people are keeping their cars longer than ever. A hybrid can provide years of uptime, and they are good protection against rising fuel prices, said Jake Fisher, Consumer Reports senior director of automotive testing. “With the top-rated hybrid, you get solid reliability, better fuel economy and lower maintenance costs without sacrificing acceleration, driving comfort or cabin quietness.”
Among the top-performing hybrids in Consumer Reports’ rankings were the Lexus NX, Ford Maverick and Toyota Corolla. Consumer Reports notes that 36% of potential buyers are considering buying a hybrid vehicle, up from 29% in 2019.
Toyota and Lexus lead the overall standings. BMW moved up ten places to third place. Mazda finished fourth this year, dropping two positions. Honda remained unchanged in fifth place. Subaru finished seventh and Acura eighth. Kia is in ninth place, up six positions from 2021. Lincoln rounded out the top ten.
Tesla cars have learned to detect devices that allow you not to keep your hands on the steering wheel when using autopilot
The Teslascope team, who understands Tesla software updates, found something interesting in the latest FSD beta update. Tesla vehicles can now detect devices designed to simulate hands on the steering wheel while the autopilot function is in operation. If such devices are detected, the system will disable the autopilot.
In order to use the beta Autopilot and Full Self-Driving (FSD) features, Tesla requires drivers to keep their hands on the wheel. That being said, the automaker regularly asks drivers to apply some torque to the wheel in order to continue using autopilot.
This prompted some people to use some tricks. Someone just put a water bottle under the steering wheel rim, and some companies even tried to mass-produce special steering wheel pads that fool the Tesla computer.
Because the technology is still in beta and undeniably dangerous if drivers aren’t in control, Tesla is trying to get drivers to take the wheel regularly to be ready to take over.
Tesla is also increasingly using a cab-facing camera for driver attention monitoring, which can detect when drivers are not looking at the road.
The well-known manufacturer of electric vehicles Nio will release its own smartphone. The head of the company is not satisfied with the limitations of the iPhone
The CEO and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the well-known Chinese electric car manufacturer Nio, William Li, has revealed that the company is going to introduce its own smartphone in 2023. He spoke about it at the opening of Nio’s office (called “Nio House” by the company) in Dongguan.
According to William Lee, the company does not intend to compete with traditional smartphone manufacturers, instead Nio will try to make a device with a unique design. Naturally, it will be integrated into the ecosystem – with its help it will be possible to drive the company’s cars. The new model will be released annually.
William Lee stated that one of the reasons for the release of his phone was that the iPhone is limited in millimeter wave (mmWave) support, but this technology is used in Nio cars. It is expected that the cost of “mobile Nio” will not exceed $ 1,000.
Tesla Semi truck weighing more than 36 tons traveled 800 km without recharging
According to Tesla CEO Elon Musk, the developers confirmed in a real experiment that the Semi electric truck can travel 800 km on a single charge in real conditions.
The Tesla team just drove 500 miles (804 km) in an 81,000 lb (36,741 kg) Tesla Semi.
In early October, it was reported that the company was finally manufacturing its Semi electric truck and plans to start shipping it to Pepsi as early as December 1, 2022. The soft drink company ordered 100 electric vehicles in December 2017, just a month after Tesla first introduced the world to its new brainchild.
Tesla promises that the Semi can accelerate from 0 to 96 km/h mph in 20 seconds even when “fully loaded” and maintain “the same speed as on the highway, even on steep climbs.” Elon Musk also promises that you can charge your battery up to 70% in just 30 minutes.
Tesla Semi was first introduced in 2017, and the release of the serial version was postponed several times. Tesla offered a slight update to the production version last summer, but the automaker is expected to release more details, including pricing and specification details.
Tesla has already confirmed that it is going to hold an event dedicated to deliveries of the first Tesla Semi on December 1st.
“The era of Samsung’s dominance in 10x zoom shots is over,” Galaxy S22 Ultra vs. Vivo X90 Pro+ compared
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Americans set an absolute record for spending on Black Friday. They bought smartphones, consoles, drones and games
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domain: news


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(ST. JOSEPH, Mo.) The holidays are just around the corner, and many small businesses in St. Joseph are gearing up for the busy season.
On Small Business Saturday, November 25, many locally owned shops in town opened their doors to hundreds of holiday shoppers.
Kris Koffman, co-owner of Nesting Goods, said she has owned her business for almost three years and is always excited for Small Business Saturday.
"We live here, and we work and live in the community. So, this is where you're keeping your money," Koffman said.
Local shoppers said they would rather support local businesses then purchase items from big retail stores on Black Friday.
"Most people that own businesses down here [St. Joseph] have a passion for what they do, and we like to support that," Michele Schultz, Small Business Saturday shopper, said.
Over the busy shopping weekend, local store owners said they usually see an increase in customers.
"You know, to just keep the money here in the community and to spread the word and show people that you can find awesome stuff in St. Joe," Casey Wallerstedt, owner of Mod Podge Boutique, said.
The National Retail Federation estimated that 71 million people planned on shopping local for Small Business Saturday.


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The latest firmware for the iPhone and iPod Touch and a new, more powerful iPhone both hit this week.
Gameloft CEO Michel Guillemot says that the two are the most significant changes to hit the still emerging gaming platform to date, but points out that Apple still has a ways to go before working out all of the kinks in iTunes gaming.
"I think these are very significant," he said. "Firmware 3.0 is really important because it opens the iPhone apps to the Internet world. It gives a lot of choice to users, the possibility to purchase levels, to contact your friends, to be open to the Internet."
For Gameloft the new firmware, due out today, means creating games that are more open, more customizable to users.
"You can purchase the levels you like, you can race in the cities you like, all of that is something that will make a sort of revolution," he said. "It is amazing what Apple is doing with 3GS, you are really reaching a kind of console power now. With this new model you will be able to create games that are perfect console games, give an experience to users that are second to none."
"For the first time gamers can choose to play on a dedicated console or choose to play on an iPhone, but have no compromise in the experience."
While Gameloft doesn't yet have plans to make games specifically for the 3GS iPhone, due out on June 19, Guillemot says that one day they likely will. Until then, Gameloft games will be scalable.
"I think the games will take advantage automatically of the new iPhone, to a certain extent. For the specific features in an iPhone 3Gs we will have to wait a bit. It's a little early to give you exactly which games will have what. "
While the new firmware brings with it plenty of new game-centric features and the iPhone 3GS is more capable of handling games, there are still plenty of kinks to work out in the App Store.
Prices range from free to $10 and developers regularly complain that their titles get lost in the constant stream of games adding daily to the more than 50,000 apps in the store.
Some have pointed to Gameloft as a culprit in the pricing problems on the system. Several of their games hit the store for $10, much higher than the typical iPhone price. Guillemot defended their pricing model, saying that games on the device should sell for $5 to $10.
"We feel at that price there is still a lot of value for consumers," he said. "It is the right price point in terms of value for money."
But pricing and visibility are a constant source of concern even for big developers like Gameloft.
"There are two trends right now in the App Store," he said. "One is to say we should remain in what is the logical price for a game of that quality on a device of that quality. But there is an attraction in saying that you can reach millions of people, so price isn't important.
"I think the App Store is something that has never been done before. It's a new experiment for everyone including Apple and developers. I think everyone is adapting in real time to what this eco system is."
"Gameloft is looking at all of this as well and adapting also when we can."
Pricing, though, will become less of a concern with the iPhone's latest firmware, Guillemot thinks. That's because more games will likely rely on the ability to sell content within their title to make money.
"It will open a completely new way of monetizing games," he said.
While visibility is a struggle for everyone in the increasingly crowded App Store, Guillemot has faith in Apple solving the problem and doing so without needing to create a stand alone store for games.
"I think everyone is surprised by the level of success of the App Store, getting from zero to 50,000 apps in one year is a challenge for everyone," he said. "It's a challenge for everyone to get visible when you have that many appsl, but I think Apple is working regularly to fine tune the store so the best games get the best visibility."
Guillemot doesn't want a gaming store because he thinks the open nature of the App Store is one of its greatest strengths.
"The logic of it is to be wide-open like the Internet, but to also be promoting people who make a premium experience for users," he said. "If they were to create a specific App Store for games we may lose the Internet effect of it, the openness of what the App Store has today.
"It's a delicate balance to handle," he said. "To keep the richness of apps and to still promote or put forward the apps that are really bringing a significant value or experience to users."
While Gameloft and other developers struggle with the issues inherent in a blossoming gaming platform, there is one thing that most will agree on. The iPhone and iPod Touch, with more than 40 million users, is a viable and very real platform for gaming.
"It is a real gaming device," he said. "It may have even grown the market, instead of cannibalizing it."


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Several Shelbys Going to Auction in May
If you just have to have a Shelby in your garage, you have options. You can wait to get your hands on one of the new models or bid on one of the old-school cars next month.
In the annals of motorsport, two names go together better than anything anyone could have imagined. Ford and Shelby.
Imagine yourself opening up a barn door, and finding the long lost automotive relic of your dreams. It’s a fantasy that strikes most of us at some time or the other, but we never think that it will actually happen to us.
While many already know what the Mad Max hero car is going to be, a Ford Falcon, not a lot of light has been shed on the villain’s cars throughout the movie.
Since Ford isn’t going to build a new Bronco any time soon, if you want one, you have to buy one of the originals. If you want to get a truly original Bronco, you have to pick up one of the first-generation models. Luckily, two of them will be for sale at Dana Mecum’s 28th Original Spring Classic 2015 in Indianapolis, Indiana.


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Attention everyone, this is not a drill, Twitter thinks they have discovered the video which clearly proves that none of the Kardashian / Jenner family can cook. It involves Kendall Jenner. And a cucumber.
• Read also: The Kardashians piss everyone off at Disneyland so they can be alone on the rides
• Read also: Khloé Kardashian has a huge pantry that’s way too tidy
After Khloé Kardashian’s huge, well-organized pantry that sparked passions a few months ago, another video involving a member of the Kardashian/Jenner clan and something to do with cooking has just exploded the Internet.
Yes, Khloé’s huge cupboard that makes us feel like we’re walking into an IGA, filled with everything you can dream of snacking on and whatever ingredients you can imagine cooking with Khloé had made us dream (or laugh ). But like just about everything else in the life of a reality TV star, it’s all about looks.
Kendall Jenner comes to prove beyond any doubt that the Jenners have clearly never cooked in their lives. The poor 26-year-old model got picked up on Twitter after a video of her cutting a cucumber surfaced. We still can’t believe our eyes.
See for yourself.
Here are some reactions from people who really can’t believe it on Twitter:
It’s all well and good to be rich and famous, but you can look a little silly pretty much anytime.
See also on the Bag of Chips:


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The “barbell” menu strategy McDonald’s Corp. has touted in the weeks since announcing disappointing October same-store sales looks out of balance to the Oak Brook, Ill.-based chain’s critics, with the Dollar Menu seen as dead weight preventing other initiatives from gaining traction. As chief executive Don Thompson noted in discussions with investors in November, the chain of more than 34,000 worldwide locations would pursue traffic andmarket-share gains by ...
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No additional hybrid-engine vehicles will be marketed until next year, when the Ford Escape and Mazda Tribute SUVs will be introduced, to be followed in 2005 by GM’s Saturn Vue SUV and the Silverado and Sierra in a complete hybrid-engine configuration. The new Prius is projected to deliver about 55 mpg, and the Vue 40 mpg. Toyota said over the weekend that its U.S. dealers have received 17,000 sold orders for the 2004-model Prius. January-September sales of the Toyota hybrid-powertrain sedan rose 33.5 percent from the 2002 nine-month period to 14,598 in the U.S. —Mac Gordon
2004 Toyota Prius by John Pearley Huffman (8/25/2003)
As close as Toyota comes to making a Ferrari.
FROM THE SOURCE headlines from the latest press releases
Since the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) announced this past spring that highway fatalities had increased from 2001 to 2002, and that the increase in vehicle occupant deaths was “mostly attributable to SUVs,” the public has been led to wrong conclusions about SUV safety. SUVs and other light trucks were named as the main culprits for the increase in deaths, with rollovers being a major factor in the higher number of fatalities. But the data was incomplete, as the increase in number of deaths does not take into consideration the parallel increase in vehicle miles traveled or the number of vehicles on the road. In fact, there were an estimated three million more SUVs on the road in 2002 over 2001, and more of a particular type of vehicle on the road translates to a higher frequency of everything related to that vehicle — from vehicle miles traveled to fatalities to the number of cup holders.
Ralph V. Gilles and Michael F. Milad, two Chrysler Group executives, will be honored by the Automotive Hall of Fame 2003 with the Young Leadership and Excellence Awards. They will be inducted to the Automotive Hall of Fame as two of four Young Leadership and Excellence recipients tonight during the annual Automotive Fame Induction and Awards Celebration at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Dearborn, Michigan.
|AMER AXLE & MANU||AXL||31.10||-0.08|
|BALLARD PWR SYS||BLDP||14.83||+0.21|
|FORD MOTOR CO||F||11.42||+0.03|
|HONDA MOTOR CO||HMC||21.09||+0.25|
|UNIT AUTO GRP||UAG||27.15||+0.37|
Brought to you by TheCarConnection.com and WJR-AM 760


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DALLAS, TX--(Marketwired - Oct 6, 2016) - Parks Associates today announced new OTT research showing nearly 35% of U.S. broadband households watch user-generated video online, on sites such as YouTube, Vimeo, and Dailymotion, more than ten days per month. Three-fourths of U.S. broadband households access this content at least once per month.
The research comes from one of three recently released research deliverables by Parks Associates that examine consumer demand for personalized services, entertainment and app strategies, and the impact of OTT and user-generated content on video production and distribution.
"Today's home entertainment is all about personalization. Consumers now expect video, music, and gaming experiences to adapt to their needs, including anywhere, anytime, and any device access. Successful services are extending personalization into all aspects of the service experience and features," said Brett Sappington, Senior Director of Research, Parks Associates. "Competition for customers and revenues will become even more intense in the future. New personalization technologies are driving simplified authentication, increased consumption, greater viewer engagement, and enhanced revenue generation."
According to Parks Associates' IoT research:
- Men watch user-generated online video more frequently than women, with men watching 11 days per month compared to less than nine days for women.
- Among viewers of user-generated online video, 22% indicate they are very likely to use an ad blocker to circumvent online video advertising.
- While virtually all U.S. broadband households are active online and visit sites with online advertising, only 17% believe that their online activity is tracked for marketing purposes.
The Parks Associates report Disruption in Video Sourcing and Production also examines the emergence of live streaming through apps like Facebook Live and Periscope and analyzes its impact on the OTT video space.
"Live streaming via mobile apps is in its early days -- only 11% of U.S. broadband consumers indicate they have live streamed video using a live streaming app, while 13% of consumers have watched live streamed video on a mobile app," said Glenn Hower, Senior Analyst, Parks Associates. "However, this developing market has already had its first big casualty, as Meerkat, which brought live streaming apps to the consumer market in 2015, exited this space following the success of Twitter's Periscope and Facebook Live and YouTube's announcement of its upcoming live mobile streaming technology. Meerkat's demise came in part because of the app's lack of primary social media interaction for creators, which underscores the importance of built-in personalization and interactive capabilities in this new media world."
Newly released industry research available for purchase includes:
Disruption in Video Sourcing and Production explores the key factors driving audience growth in Internet video. It identifies areas of convergence between traditional media and Internet video, including user-generated videos on YouTube and Vine, and assesses the future of video consumption in a digital future. The report also examines the impact of new streaming technologies, including live streaming through mobile apps such as Facebook Live and Periscope.
Personalization in Entertainment Services looks into trends in personalization of content services, technologies related to personalization, and the impact of personalization on monetization. It also examines consumer use of personalization and its impact on the use and perception of entertainment services.
360 View Update: Use of Multichannel Networks and Alternative Video looks at consumer usage of multichannel networks, which have emerged to aggregate creators and help monetize their videos. While the online video world is increasingly focused on revenue, the content creator community is fiercely passionate about maintaining individual creativity. This research examines ways online video can be simultaneously a monetizable medium and artistic endeavor.
For more information on Parks Associates research or events, visit www.parksassociates.com, or contact firstname.lastname@example.org, 972-490-1113. Parks Associates will host the 11th-annual CONNECTIONS™ Europe: Smart Home, IoT, and the Connected Consumer, 2-3 November, 2016, in Amsterdam.
To schedule an interview with an analyst or to request specific research data, please contact Holly Sprague at email@example.com.
About Parks Associates
Parks Associates is an internationally recognized market research and consulting company specializing in emerging consumer technology products and services. Founded in 1986, Parks Associates creates research capital for companies ranging from Fortune 500 to small start-ups through market reports, primary studies, consumer research, custom research, workshops, executive conferences, and annual service subscriptions.
The company's expertise includes the Internet of Things (IoT), digital media and platforms, entertainment and gaming, home networks, Internet and television services, digital health, mobile applications and services, support services, consumer apps, advanced advertising, consumer electronics, energy management, and home control systems and security.
Each year, Parks Associates hosts industry webcasts, the CONNECTIONS™ Conference Series, Smart Energy Summit: Engaging the Consumer, and Connected Health Summit: Engaging Consumers.


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Bitcoin in 2021 was not a moon launch. Yet, we see the con rising to its zenith, reaching 70K USD. Well, it’s back again in the 40K USD. Again as per experts, it is expected to rise by 200K USD by the end of 2025. They also claim that it will rise in the Fintech world. The digital currency space is undoubtedly ample when coming along in a big way. One can find the market now growing better than before for Bitcoin.
The investment in the digital coin is going to remain high in the new stock market, and everyone knows about it. You can find this year to be interesting for digital coins. Many trends are seen in the coming times at a faster pace. The coins are influenced a lot by celebs like Elon Musk, and it has given Dogecoin to lift further in a shorter duration of time, and it came running back with dud coin. You can check these coins in detail by visiting the site 1kdailyprofit.app.
Much to come this year.
When we talk about digital coins claims experts, many pumps are installed in the market. 2022 is a year that will witness a good amount of relaxed downtime in the market. Also, one can find too many more substantial projects that can help us survive in the market. For example, meme coins are coming up with some shady venture.
It can turn thin with time, and he claims that regulation can impact the Defi-based digital coins with many positives and negatives. We will see a good growth of DeFi this year and what we see today is just the tip of the iceberg of claims experts. There are many more new products to follow this year. There are many more trends surrounding the token, and it is expected to come in a big way.
Several trends are coming up in the market, and it talks about the groups like DAO, and it remains unregulated and decentralized finance that can be at one go. You can even call a few elements under Defo that are added. However, it would help hold your hands and put the regulators across the financial market. It can help boost the kind of Defi in the market until we see the money going behind.
According to experts, it is expected to rise in 2022, and it will enter different domains, including the games fiction space, in a big way. Experts feel that DeFi will rise with the total value in the ecosystem and remain like a Blockchain-based gaming world, further introducing many more groups in a big way.
DeFi is expected to have a good time in 2022
We see the gaming growth go in a big way. DeFi activity will outperform in the coming times, and it will allow many of the key developers and studios to remain engaged in the right way claims experts. Games domain will rise with Defi, and thus, there will be a huge demand for professionals working in the Blockchain industry and development world. It will help develop the ecosystem in a big way, and it is expected to link the virtual world the best. NFT will remain over the offshoot area, and it will make every diehard game fan invest money in things like digital art. It will emerge as hotcakes to prosper in the coming times.
Open Market for ETH
Many experts predict that 2022 remains the best choice for the ETH coin. They claim that even if you invest a meager amount, you will gain higher results. Smaller amounts like 200USD can give you higher returns every month, allowing more and more people to come close to this coin. This year, it is expected to come along with something signal for digital coins.
The experts feel that even some old-school lessons and platforms like E-Trade are expected to return. It will allow people to work with it as an investment platform. The coins like ETH and BTC will blend with them and help people prosper without any worry or risk like volatility. If you see any resilience found within the digital coin industry, it is expected to showcase more in the coming years. We have seen a good role in investment, and it is expected to rise with a good amount of loss that can reach from 10 to 20 percent a year.


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The best known and most representative drink in Mexico, already has its day. The National Tequila Day is celebrated the third Saturday of March.
The decision was taken back in April 2018, at the Mexican Congress and it was endorsed by the then President of the Republic, Enrique Peña Nieto. The official announcement was published by the Secretariat of the Interior on the Official Gazette of the Federation (Diario Oficial de la Federación: DOF).
The National Chamber of the Tequila Industry organizes every third week of March the Tequila Festival, with the purpose of promoting and exposing the vast culture and tradition surrounding the national drink.
Given the strength of the tequila industry, it is expected that by 2021, tequila will become the second category with the greatest growth projection in the world.
The United States is the key market for the commercialization of Mexican Tequila, as well as Canada. However, countries in South America, Europe and Asia are consuming more and more tequila.
Source: The Yucatan Times


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Doutzen Kroes looks effortlessly elegant on WSJ. Magazine June/July 2020’s cover. Posing against a rustic backdrop, photographer Annemarieke van Drimmelen captures the Dutch top model in a sheer Chanel dress.
The cover story, titled ‘’The Quiet Grace of a Summer at Home’’, shows Doutzen wearing a wardrobe of dark ensembles from the Pre-Fall 2020 collections. Stylist Tonne Goodman focuses on sophisticated looks with a mix of tailored suiting, chic outerwear, and lace designs.
Hair: Odile Gilbert
Make-up: Adrien Pinault
- Miriam Sanchez covers Harper’s Bazaar Spain November 2023 by Javier Biosca
- Alessandro Vigilante appointed Creative director at Rochas
- Etro to launch first menswear line and adopt coed format for next show at Milan Fashion Week


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US online video platform Brightcove has opened an office in London.
Brightcove provides a platform for media companies to launch their own internet video channels. It publishes and syndicates video content for CBS, Fox and others.
The company said it had come to the UK because online video usage, as well as online ad spend, is proportionally higher than in the US. It plans to use the UK as a base to expand into the European market.
Brightcove has so far received a sizeable amount in funding, raising $60m (£29.5m) in January from a range of investors that included the New York Times and The Hearst Corporation.


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Mumbai, July 7, 2008: Depot, the 'books, music and gifts' store from the Future Group, in association with UTV Motion Pictures, today launched the DVD & VCD of the seasons latest hit thriller, 'Aamir', which marked the debut of Rajeev Khandelwal
, on the big screen. Rajeev visited the Depot store at Milan Mall, Santacruz (W) today, for the home video launch of 'Aamir', where he interacted with his fans and gave autographs. The DVD of the film are priced at Rs.299 and the VCD at Rs. 149. These will be available across all stand alone Depot stores and also in Depot shop-in-shop outlets at Big Bazaar, Pantaloons, Central, eZone, HomeTown, etc.
Said Preeti Vyas, Business Head, and Depot, "We are delighted to host the home video launch of UTV Spotboy motion picture's hit film - 'Aamir'. Depot takes pride in providing a platform to promote talent in the field of publishing and performing arts, and we are happy to promote the home video of Aamir, which is the debut film of teen sensation Rajeev Khandelwal
. Depot with its 112 outlets across over 60 cities, provides an unparalleled reach to connect with consumers across the country. 'Aamir' is already a box office success; we wish the producers all the best to now capture the home video market for the movie."
After a successful debut, Rajeev Khandelwal
is very upbeat about his bollywood career. Sharing his experiences about the movie at the launch, he said, "Shooting for 'Aamir' was definitely an enthralling experience. Director Raj Kumar Gupta refrained from resorting to the regular formula of a romance angle, song-n-dance track, item numbers, et al and has created a distinctive path for me in Bollywood." He added, "I am delighted to be showered with encouragement and support from corporates like Depot and UTV and I would like to thank them for it. They have shown tremendous faith in the work of debutants, and this further validates the quality work that has gone behind the movie. This movie is unlike mainstream cinema and I am sure every movie buff, who wants to see something offbeat, would like to own this DVD/VCD.
The response to the movie from the fans has been wonderful and I am already looking forward to my next movie."
On the occasion of the launch Prakash Nathan, Head of UTV Home Entertainment expressed "We at UTV share a wonderful relationship with Rajeev Khandelwal
and are excited to tie up with Depot for the launch of the home video of our critically acclaimed film 'Aamir'. It is indeed a proud moment for us to get the pack unveiled by the star, himself."


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Since Apple made wireless chargers to go with its latest iPhones, it's safe to say that it already has a team working on the technology. It sounds like the tech titan wants to expand its presence in the space, though, because it has just purchased New Zealand company PowerbyProxi. The Auckland firm is best known for creating the Proxi-Module platform, a modular wireless power and data system that can be adapted and incorporated into various types of devices to give them wireless capabilities. A few years ago, Samsung also invested $4 million into the firm but clearly didn't snap it up completely.
Apple senior vice president of hardware engineering Dan Riccio has confirmed the acquisition to Stuff New Zealand, saying that the company wants "to bring truly effortless charging to more places and more customers around the world." He didn't say how much money changed hands, but according on the investor info Stuff gathered, it could be in the upper tens of millions of dollars. PowerbyProxi chief Fady Mishriki revealed, however, that his team is joining Apple but will continue working from their native country.
Cupertino added Qi compatibility to the iPhone 8, the iPhone 8 Plus and the iPhone X, so future phones will definitely inherit the feature. It's unclear what Apple is planning to do with PowerbyProxi's team and technology, but we'll likely see the results in future hardware reveals.


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On September 22, 2021, the Advertising Standards Council of India (“ASCI”) has launched an ‘Advertising Advice’ service for aiding the self-regulation of objectionable advertisements. The service is intended to provide a means to all relevant stakeholders (including marketers, brands, and advertisers) to determine from the pre-production stage of their advertisement campaign that no deceptive or inflated claim is made with respect to the product or service sought to be advertised; to ensure that proposed advertisements are un-objectionable, and to avoid violation of ASCI codes or guidelines. This paid service will be offered to both members and non-members of ASCI.
As part of this service, an Advertising Advice panel will be constituted to offer advisories to advertisers. The panel shall include a team of technical experts specialising in different fields and would examine the claims made in advertisements vis a vis evidence provided in support of the claim, to determine if the claim is objectionable. If found to be objectionable, the panel will provide further assistance and examine the objectionable claim and evidence and offer technical claim support.
Importantly, ASCI has clarified that its new service must not be perceived as any form of pre-clearance by ASCI or a guarantee against complaints in the future. The essence of the advisory is limited to the mitigation of the risk of misleading, offensive, unsafe, or unfair advertising. Advertisers who avail of the service may use the advice provided to them in the manner they deem fit. ASCI will continue to process complaints through the normal process. The Advisory Panel shall have no overlap with the ASCI complaints mechanism to avoid any probable conflicts.
ASCI’s Secretary-General, Ms. Manisha Kapoor stated that strong claims may continue to be made in advertisements without compromising boundaries of honesty, decency, fairness, and safety. She added that the advisory panel will help brands in better planning of advertisement campaigns, whilst maintaining their competitive edge. It is important that scrutiny be conducted by the experts at the pre-production stage only, as post the release of the campaign, stoppages to the same may severely cause economic disruption to an advertiser. However, if such measures are taken by advertisers whilst at the formulation stage of advertisement campaigns, the risks associated with the campaign are mitigated and this is beneficial for both the advertisers and the consumers, as consumers are exposed to less problematic advertisements.
Further, ASCI’s Chairman, Mr. Subhash Kamath similarly stated that promotion of self-regulation will take centre stage for ASCI moving forwards and that the advisory will help ensure that brands take the requisite steps to ensure that regulatory norms are not flouted while consumer interests are protected as far as possible.
Compliance with ASCI’s advisory clearly has benefits for all stakeholders involved. Early determination and self-regulation not only promote adherence to the ASCI codes or guidelines but effectively aids advertisers to save on campaign costs, time, efforts and to avoid a potential loss of reputation once the advertisement is out in the commercial market. On the other hand, as regards the public at large, consumers are also shielded (to some extent) against objectionable or misleading advertisements.


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September 22nd, 2015 | Edited by Zoran Stosic | software
Play Music gets gapless playback for streaming over a Chromecast, while Gmail includes hints of rich text formatting and deeper calendar integration.
Both Google Play Music and Gmail got a couple of nice updates this week that will have you listening with ease to your tunes and soon crafting better formatted Gmail messages.
With Google Play Music, version 6.0.1995S now supports gapless playback when streaming over a Chromecast. The changelog also indicates no more stoppage of playback between songs and if your phone turns off or you leave while casting.
Your phone will now send the playlist information to the Chromecast, which knows to pull it down from Play Music, according to an APK teardown by Android Police.
With Gmail, version 5.6 is mostly under-the-hood changes, though there are hints of more to come. The code reveals rich text formatting may be in the future, so you’d be able to add bold, italics, strikethrough, colors, and other changes.
The other code strings indicate some type of interaction with Google Calendar. Google can already add events automatically into your Calendar with services like Google Now, but perhaps more collaborative or more connected capabilities are coming.
Why this matters: The playback updates are pretty nice, as it’s pretty annoying when someone takes their phone with them to grab more drinks and the music stops. Music streaming is quite the competitive landscape right now, so Google needs to throw all it can at Play Music to get people to tune in.
September 15th, 2015 | Edited by Zoran Stosic | software
Microsoft confirms auto-download of massive Windows 10 files, even for users who don’t opt into the upgrade.
Whether you want Windows 10 or not, Microsoft says it may download the files to your PC regardless.
In a statement to the Inquirer, Microsoft confirmed that it automatically downloads Windows 10 installation files on eligible PCs, provided automatic updates are enabled through Windows Update. The download occurs even if users haven’t opted in through the Windows 10 reservation dialog.
“For individuals who have chosen to receive automatic updates through Windows Update, we help upgradable devices get ready for Windows 10 by downloading the files they’ll need if they decide to upgrade,” Microsoft told the Inquirer. “When the upgrade is ready, the customer will be prompted to install Windows 10 on the device.”
When reached for comment, Microsoft told PCWorld that the downloads occurred around the time of Windows 10’s July 29 launch.
Why this matters: Microsoft appears to have crossed a line in its zeal to move people onto its latest operating system. Several reports indicate that the Windows 10 files take up as much as 6GB of storage in a hidden folder, potentially hamstringing machines that don’t have much free space left. Even worse, users who have strict data caps could face hefty overage charges for a massive download that they didn’t even ask for.
PCWorld has also heard from several readers on this issue, including one whose data plan has been affected by the automatic download. The reader, who runs a small computer repair shop, did not reserve Windows 10, yet recently noticed 6GB missing from his main desktop.
Upon further investigation, the reader’s daughter—who lives in an area without wired Internet and relies on Verizon Wireless for connectivity—had also automatically downloaded the installation files. “They do not wish to upgrade at this time, as they prefer to stay with Windows 7,” the reader said. “But they’re four days into their wireless plan, and have used more than half of their allowance because of the Windows 10 download.”
The Inquirer also spoke to a reader who said Windows 10 tries to install itself every time the machine is booted. It’s unclear if this is typical behavior for those who haven’t opted into the upgrade.
This isn’t the only instance where Windows 10 has gotten users into trouble with data caps. By default, the system also uses peer-to-peer networking to distribute Windows 10 updates, potentially eating up bandwidth without users’ knowledge.
What you can do
It’s worth noting that Windows Update provides users with a few auto-install options. Enabling “Important” updates provides security and stability fixes, while “Recommended” updates are meant to improve non-critical issues. There’s also a “Microsoft Update” option for other software such as Office. We’ve reached out to Microsoft to see which of these tiers enables the auto-download of Windows 10 files.In the meantime, some users have reported success at removing the files and Windows 10 update prompts by entering the following into command prompt as an administrator:
WUSA /UNINSTALL /KB:3035583code>
This should at least remove Windows 10’s update notifications, but we haven’t confirmed whether it removes the installation files and prevents further downloads.
September 12th, 2015 | Edited by Zoran Stosic | software
“We did our best to explain the intent behind the changes in the Policy and our commitment to our users’ privacy,” Ek said. “We took note of many people’s comments that they appreciated the clear commitments in the blog post that were easier to understand than some of the details in the Policy itself.”
To that end, Spotify said it has introduced a plain language introduction to the policy. The revision is meant to clarify what the company’s “approach and principles” are regarding privacy.
“We still need to provide greater detail in the body of the policy,” Ek said. “But those details are, and will always be, in keeping with the fundamental privacy principles we outline in the Introduction.”
Spotify says it would only access photos that you explicitly choose, for example. The company also categorically states the company “will never scan or import your photo library or camera roll.”
If you want to give it a read, Ek posted the new introduction in full in his blog post.
September 3rd, 2015 | Edited by Zoran Stosic | software
Apple is demanding that over $548 million in damages be paid.
It may take some time for Apple to see any damages from its patent infringement dispute with Samsung Electronics.
Apple is asking a district court to order Samsung to pay over $548 million in damages, in a long-drawn patent dispute between the two companies that dates back to 2011.
But Samsung has fired back asking the court to declare invalid the claim of an Apple patent also known as the pinch-to-zoom patent, which figured in the lawsuit, or to stay proceedings.
The Patent Trial and Appeal Board of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office decided in December that claims of an Apple patent had been found invalid, according to Samsung’s filing. The South Korean company also wants a vacation of damages awarded to Apple in connection with the patent.
The iPhone maker asked the court this week to order the payment after an appeals court denied Samsung a review of the damages and also refused to stay its mandate to the district court to go ahead with a final judgment on the damages.
For Apple, the $548 million in damages is just a part of what was originally awarded by the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California. The court awarded Apple damages of $930 million after a jury found that Samsung infringed Apple’s design and utility patents and diluted its trade dresses, which relate to the overall look and packaging of a product.
On appeal, a three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit went along with the jury’s verdict on the design patent infringements, the validity of two utility patent claims, and the damages awarded for the design and utility patent infringements appealed by Samsung.
But the appeals court reversed the jury’s findings that the asserted trade dresses are protectable, and vacated the damages relating to trade dress dilution. That order shaved off $382 million in damages but $548 million still remained.
In a request for review by a full-bench of the Federal Circuit, which was denied, Samsung challenged $399 million of the balance, which is an award of its entire profits from products found to infringe Apple’s design patents. Samsung contests the basis for the award of the damages, and has said it will appeal to the Supreme Court.
After failing on Tuesday in its bid to get the Federal Circuit to stay its mandate to the district court, Samsung has now filed a motion in the California court, asking it to enter a judgment of invalidity on claim 8 of U.S. Patent No. 7,844,915, after a final decision by the PTAB that such a claim is invalid. Samsung has asked the court alternately for an order staying all proceedings, including any entry of judgment.
District Court Judge Lucy H. Koh has on Thursday ordered a stay on more filings by either side, without the court’s permission, as the court has not yet received the mandate from the Federal Circuit.
Apple can appeal the PTAB’s invalidity decision in the Federal Circuit. Its petition for rehearing before the PTAB is also pending, according to court records.
August 27th, 2015 | Edited by Zoran Stosic | software
New tools should help developers bring their extensions over from Chrome or Opera, but existing extensions may have trouble surviving the shift.
Mozilla is pushing ahead with a plan to block unsigned Firefox browser extensions, though it’s offering better developer tools as consolation.
As Mozilla has previously indicated, it will soon require a security check for all third-party Firefox extensions. Starting with Firefox 41, which launches on September 22, Mozilla will block all unsigned extensions, though users will be able to override this protection if they want. However, that override won’t be available for all beta and release versions of Firefox 42 and higher, as they’re released. (Nightly and Developer additions will still allow unsigned extensions with the user’s override permission, ostensibly for testing.)
Mozilla has said that the new signing procedure is necessary to stop ad injections and malicious scripts. Add-on guidelines and a blocklist are no longer enough, Mozilla argues, as it’s become too difficult to track and discover malware before the damage is done. The move is not without controversy, as some users rely on extensions that are no longer officially supported by their developers.
To help mitigate these concerns, Mozilla is introducing a WebExtensions API, which it says will allow for low-effort porting of extensions from other browsers, such as Chrome, Opera, and eventually Microsoft Edge . Mozilla says it can review these extensions faster, and they also support a new multi-process version of Firefox that will go stable in December. Multi-process effectively separates rendering and UI chrome from page content, preventing full browser crashes if just one page experiences problems.
As part of these changes, Mozilla also plans to deprecate Firefox add-ons that use XPCOM, XUL, and XBL, possibly in the next 12 to 18 months. While these add-ons allow Firefox to be deeply customizable, they’re also prone to breaking when Mozilla rolls out browser updates, and the switch to multi-process will only exacerbate those problems. The challenge, then, is for Mozilla to build out its WebExtensions and other tools so that developers can offer suitable replacements for existing add-ons.
The impact on you: Make no mistake, these changes will cause some ugliness for Firefox users who rely on add-ons—especially those that don’t exist in other browsers. Even Mozilla is admitting that without considerable development, Firefox-only add-ons will not survive the transition. It’s a huge trade-off as Mozilla pursues a more secure and stable browser, and while it may pay off in the long run, for some users it could diminish what makes Firefox unique in the first place.


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Craft beer combined with film? Sounds like a Hipster’s dream!
That’s exactly what Dogfish Head brewery set out to do after CEO and founder, Sam Calagione found out if a beer’s pH is low enough, it can be used to develop film.
This new Fruity, Gose-type beer, called SuperEIGHT, features eight ingredients including pricky pear, boysenberry, elderberry and toasted quinoa.
The beer, according to a press release from KODAK and Dogfish Head, will work on KODAK Super-8 Tri-x film, but none others are listed!
Here is a promotional film shot on KODAK film and processed with SuperEIGHT that will be available to the public in April.


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January 19, 2023
Netflix is full of surprises. In addition to beating subscriber forecasts in the fourth quarter of 2022, the company also announced big changes in its executive lineup.
Ted Sarandos and Greg Peters are now Netflix's co-CEOs, with Reed Hastings taking the role of executive chairman. Netflix co-founder Hastings previously served as a co-CEO with Sarandos. Netflix said the move completes its succession process, noting that the announcement formalizes how things have been operating at the company.
Among other moves, Bela Bajaria, formerly Netflix's head of global TV, is now the company's chief content officer, and Scott Stuber has been named chairman of Netflix Film.
Figure 1: (Source: Netflix)
Netflix added 7.66 million subs worldwide, extending its total to 231 million. While it added fewer subscribers than a year ago, the result beat guidance that Netflix would add 4.5 million subs in Q4 2022. Netflix shares were up $13.18 (4.17%) to $328.96 in after-hours trading on Thursday.
Netflix saw subscriber growth across all regions: US and Canada (+910,000, up 10%), Europe Middle East and Africa (+3.2 million, up 2%), Latin America (+1.76 million, up 2%) and Asia Pacific (+1.8 million, up 17%).
Ad plan performance
The company didn't offer much commentary on its new ad-supported tier. It said the new offering isn't cannibalizing its customer base and the plan is expected to have only a "modest" impact on incremental revenue and profit in 2023.
"While it's still early days for ads, and we have lots to do (in particular, better targeting and measurement), we are pleased with our progress to date across every dimension: member experience, value to advertisers, and incremental contribution to our business," Netflix said in its Q4 2022 investor letter (PDF). "Also, as expected, we've seen very little switching from other plans. Overall the reaction to this launch from both consumers and advertisers has confirmed our belief that our ad-supported plan has strong unit economics (at minimum, in-line with or better than the comparable ad-free plan) and will generate incremental revenue and profit, though the impact on 2023 will be modest given that this will build slowly over time."
Netflix launched that plan, called Basic with Ads, in a dozen countries last November. The ad-supported tier sells for $6.99 per month in the US but doesn't initially support Netflix's entire library or downloads.
Netflix said quarterly revenues rose 1.9% to $7.85 billion, just ahead of an expected $7.77 billion. Netflix expects Q1 2023 revenues of $8.17 billion.
Paid sharing set to expand
Netflix no longer forecasts paid subscriber numbers as revenue becomes its "primary top-line metric" as it develops new revenue streams tied to advertising and a relatively new paid sharing initiative.
"As we roll out paid sharing, members in many countries will also have the option to pay extra if they want to share Netflix with people they don't live with. As is the case today, all members will be able to watch while traveling, whether on a TV or mobile device," Netflix said.
Though Netflix did not provide any specific subscriber guidance, it expects that expanding paid sharing will alter paid subscriber patterns in 2023. The company says it's "likely" that paid net adds will be greater in Q2 2023 than in Q1 2023.
That notion is drawn from the company's experience with paid sharing in test markets such as Latin America, where it saw some "cancel reaction" early on but later saw "borrower households" start to activate their standalone accounts and extra member accounts.
— Jeff Baumgartner, Senior Editor, Light Reading
About the Author(s)
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Crypto adoption to increase in three years – Ripple’s report
Ripple, a leading crypto solutions provider, has published a comprehensive report suggesting a potential increase in the adoption of cryptos. The crypto solutions provider conducted the survey to examine the future of crypto adoption across the globe. The survey birthed the report, which shed more light on the practices of business organizations and financial institutions in adopting and using cryptos and blockchain.
The report submitted that awareness about crypto is growing among institutions and businesses across the globe. As observed in the report, about 76% of the sampled respondents revealed their plan to adopt crypto in the next three years. More so, the report asserts that 42% of the financial firms and 42% of other businesses sampled in the study see crypto as an essential instrument in ensuring financial services.
Over 70% of the respondents believe adopting crypto and blockchain provides security and efficiency to payments. They also see virtual assets as a veritable hedge against inflation. However, the respondents cited poor awareness as the architect of the slow adoption of the trends. Similarly, they see the inconsistencies in the regulations of cryptos as another factor hindering wider crypto adoption.
The report hinted that the respondents accused regulators of going beyond their shores to pounce on numerous crypto projects. The report says the US SEC, for instance, views the crypto industry as a threat to the national economy if deregulated.
Furthermore, in the report, Ripple maintained that several apex banks across the globe had shown an absolute desire to launch the central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) in their respective countries. However, just 34% of the respondents in the survey believed such a move could aid the embracement of digital finance and grant better access to credit for retail and institutional users.
The report critically assessed the prevailing interest in NFTs. It reportedly premised the assessment on emotional versus practical benefits from a global perspective. As surveyed, Asia-Pacific respondents appear more interested in buying or subscribing to NFTs for personal reasons than other respondents. More so, about 55% of the respondents showed interest in music-based NFTs rather than different NFT categories.
Meanwhile, this report is coming amidst the ongoing legal tussle between the protocol and the U.S regulator. The case started two years ago after the regulator indicated the protocol of amassing over $1 billion through the sale of unregistered securities. However, Ripple responded by challenging the regulator’s powers to monitor its activities. To date, the legal battle is still lingering.
According to coinmarketcap, the current value of XRP, the native token of Ripple, stands at $0.3726476. It currently enjoys a 24-hour trading volume of $975.98 million.
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- Devin Nunes’ lawsuit with Twitter over parody accounts inspires more parody accounts Tuesday 7:53 PM
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- ‘Queer Eye’ season 3 serves more frothy fun and cathartic realness Tuesday 4:30 PM
- Everyone is roasting this photo of Kourtney Kardashian in a bubble bath Tuesday 4:15 PM
- White House report has a lot of superheroes listed as interns Tuesday 4:06 PM
- Google to launch ‘Stadia’ cloud gaming service this year Tuesday 3:55 PM
- Amy Schumer addresses her ‘Growing’ pains in new Netflix special Tuesday 2:04 PM
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Apparent Amazon breach yields login credentials of over 80,000 Kindle users
Time to change your password (again).
A hacker claiming to have breached an Amazon server has released more than 80,000 usernames and passwords belonging to Amazon users after the online retail giant failed to heed his warnings about vulnerabilities in its servers.
The hacker, who goes by 0x2Taylor on Twitter, told the Daily Dot he had attempted to contact Amazon three days ago to bring to the company’s attention a significant security risk that he spotted in ones of its servers.
Contained on the server were the usernames and passwords of over 80,000 Amazon Kindle users, along with a considerable amount of information linked to each account including: city, state, ZIP code, phone number, and the IP address from the user’s last login.
Ox2Taylor said he tested a selection of passwords and confirmed they were valid.
Amazon responded in an email to Mic in the days following the alleged hack. “We have confirmed that this information did not come from Amazon’s servers, and that the accounts in question are not legitimate Amazon customer accounts,” the company states.
Ox2Taylor, however, maintains that he hacked the online purveyor of goods. According to Mic, the hacker stated that “the server was owned by Amazon and the funny thing is those logins did work but they quickly disabled all the accounts.”
If Ox2Taylor’s name sounds familiar, it’s because he was just in the news regarding another high-profile hack. Following the fatal shooting of Alton Sterling by the Baton Rouge police department, the department’s servers were breached thanks to some shoddy login credentials. Ox2Taylor took credit for that act as well, though it still isn’t clear if he is working alone or as part of a larger unit, and simply acts as the public face of the attacks.
Regarding this most recent apparent breach, the self-proclaimed hacker and security researcher said he was seeking a payment of $700 from Amazon to reveal the vulnerability and how to fix it. “They’re a big company and they should have enough money to have the proper security defenses,” he explained.
Amazon does not currently offer a public bug bounty program—a common practice for major sites and services to provide compensation to those who report vulnerabilities. Amazon does maintain contact information for reporting any potential vulnerabilities, but the dedicated page for vulnerability reporting makes no mention of payment.
Security researchers hoping to contact Amazon to notify the company of security flaws have previously observed the company’s suspicious lack of bug bounty program. According to Fire Bounty, a database that maintains information about different bug reporting programs, Amazon offers “thanks” and “gifts” to those who report vulnerabilities but doesn’t offer cash rewards.
When Amazon failed to initially acknowledge 0x2Taylor’s attempts to contact the company, he decided to simply release the information he’d allegedly obtained. He posted a screenshot of the information on Twitter before eventually uploading the full database to the cloud storage service Mega.
0x2Taylor acknowledged the potential harm the information could have to those who appear in the database, stating, “the data in there could be classed as sensitive” and suggesting users update their passwords—a practice that he advises all people do regularly.
Despite the concerns the information housed in database may present for users, 0x2Taylor decided to leak it as a means of getting Amazon’s attention. “I was trying to prove them privately but they were ignoring my warnings,” he said.
With the information now available publicly, 0x2Taylor said he’s no longer seeking any contact with Amazon. “At this point I don’t really want to help them,” he said. “I think I’ve done enough damage as it is.”
Amazon did not respond to request for comment at the time of publication.
Update 5:49pm CT, July 17: This piece has been updated to reflect Amazon’s statement refuting the hack’s legitimacy as well as ox2Taylor’s response.
AJ Dellinger is a seasoned technology writer whose work has appeared in Digital Trends, International Business Times, and Newsweek. In 2018, he joined Gizmodo as the nights and weekend editor.


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After running flat last year, the midsize pickup truck market has suddenly become one of the hottest segments of the auto industry.
Sales of the smaller pickups rose 21 percent during the first quarter of this year compared with the same period a year ago.
Overall, U.S. auto sales rose 2 percent during the first quarter to 4.1 million vehicles, according to industry research firm Autodata Corp.
The Nissan Frontier, a model that hasn’t changed substantially since the current generation first went on sale in late 2004, spearheaded the gain in midsize pickup sales. Frontier sales rose nearly 47 percent to 22,825 in the first quarter.
The truck is doing well because it is smaller – easier to park and fit into a garage – and less expensive than its rivals, said Wendy Orthman, a Nissan spokeswoman.
The Frontier starts at $18,990. The Toyota Tacoma starts at $25,200 and the Chevrolet Colorado at $20,200.
But sales of newer models such as the Tacoma, the top-seller, and the Colorado, No. 2, also rose by double-digit percentages. Tacoma sales jumped 34 percent to 53,779. Colorado sales grew 29 percent to 28,859. Both the GMC Canyon and Honda Ridgeline experienced sales declines.
Toyota has made changes in its production footprint to ensure better supply of Tacomas and that has contributed to rising sales, said Stephanie Brinley, an analyst at IHS Markit.
Growth in the segment could also be a reaction to climbing prices for full-size pickups. Consumers are opting for smaller trucks, Brinley said.
Full-size pickup truck sales dipped 1 percent to 533,354 in the first quarter. Ford’s F-Series, Chevrolet Silverado, Toyota Tundra and Nissan Titan are all seeing gains of 4 percent to 13 percent. But sales of Ram pickup trucks and GMC’s Sierra — a sibling to the Silverado — are down by 13 percent and 19 percent respectively.
Torrid sales of smaller pickups from Toyota and Nissan also could be partially related to financial incentives from manufacturers, according to Dave Sullivan, an analyst with AutoPacific, an industry consulting firm.
“March is the last month of the fiscal year for the Japanese automakers,” Sullivan said. “There is plenty of cash out there to move the metal in March.”
Nissan’s truck is old and the tooling was paid off long ago, allowing the automaker to position its truck as the price leader in the segment, he said.
Honda’s Ridgeline generally gets favorable reviews, but with its front-wheel drive, unibody construction, it has a challenge attracting hard-core truck buyers. Most buyers lean to the traditional body-on-frame architecture of pickup trucks, Sullivan said.
Ridgeline sales plunged 28 percent to 7,005 vehicles so far this year.
“It’s time for them to fix the front styling so it doesn’t look like a minivan,” Sullivan said.
The hot market for smaller pickups is a turnaround from last year. Sales for the segment for all of 2017 rose just 1 percent to 452,335 trucks.
The rising tide could bode well for two pending midsize truck programs. Ford plans to bring back its Ranger pickup late this year after an eight-year absence from the U.S. market.
It will need a rising market to carve out space in the segment.
“It’s too early to make a call on the Ranger,” Sullivan said. “We’ll see some pent-up demand from Ford loyalists, but it remains to be seen how dealers handle the pressure to sell F-Series with Ranger’s new threat.”
Ford’s F-Series pickup line dominates the market. Sales of the big truck are up 4 percent from a year ago to 214,191 vehicles. The automaker is ahead of last year’s pace when it sold nearly 900,000 F-Series trucks for all of 2017. It is the best seller of any model vehicle in the U.S.
Volkswagen also will be looking closely at the midsize pickup truck numbers this year.
The German automaker’s U.S. unit unveiled its Atlas Tanoak Concept at the 2018 New York International Auto Show on Wednesday.
The vehicle is not currently slated for production, however Volkswagen said it will monitor public reaction as it ponders entering the U.S. pickup market. It would be built at the VW factory in Chattanooga, Tenn.
The Atlas Tanoak Concept is designed as a dual cab, five-seat configuration with a short bed. Its dimensions and unibody platform positions the Atlas Tanoak Concept as a midsize pickup akin to the Honda Ridgeline.
“VW would see sales a bit behind Honda on this front,” Brinley said.
Honda has a head start in the U.S. truck market with more dealerships and better recognition for the Ridgeline, Brinley said.
“The Atlas pickup, if it happens, will still be a niche product for the brand,” Sullivan said. “VW is tasked with filling capacity at their plant. I think the Atlas pickup is attractive, but Toyota owns the lifestyle pickup segment with the Tacoma.”


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Monster Hunter World, Grand Theft Auto V, Rust and Sekiro chart due to Summer Sale
But overall digital spending down four per cent globally
Creative Assembly chief product officer Rob Bartholomew and game director Janos Gaspar tell us all
Big sales bring back a few big names, but medieval tactics and slashers remain untouchable
Follows a launch that broke a lot of records for the strategy franchise
"We knew we had something special with Three Kingdoms but the response from players has exceeded all expectations"
Creative Assembly’s latest strategy is bolstered by massive popularity China
Chief product officer Rob Bartholomew says the franchise has finally broken Korea and China
Senior gameplay designer Starr and narrative designer Stewart insist this isn't a cynical ploy to capitalise on the growing Chinese market
Set to release in autumn 2018, one of four projects developer Creative Assembly has in the works
Star Citizen (MMO) got in December 3.8 patch, Squadron 42 (solo) do have a planned Beta for Q3 2020…
Quote:<i>"it was revealed that America's Federal Trade Commission had received 129 complaints about…
"Ease of reproduction"? "Stop piracy"?!? This sounds like that guy has no idea what he's talking…
Her joy and enthusiasm when presenting at E3 were infectious and a lovely reminder of what gaming…
Yeah, very true…


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If there was a line for the elliptical at your gym last week or re-dedicated fitness fans crowded elbow-to-elbow in your Zumba class, be patient: many of them will likely disappear by February.
In 2017, about 60.87 million people were members of the approximately 36,000 membership-based exercise facilities in the United States, but a whopping 80 percent of Americans who have a gym membership don’t actually use it, studies show.
Maintaining an active lifestyle can be challenging, and where you live might be a factor in whether it’s easier or more difficult, a new WalletHub study found. So while you look at improving your fitness habits, you might want to consider your surroundings, too.
WalletHub compared the 100 biggest U.S. cities based on 38 key indicators of an active lifestyle, such as the average monthly fitness-club membership fee and how many adults in the city are physically inactive. See the interactive map below.
The study also took into consideration factors like how many pools, basketball and tennis courts and golf courses each area had.
The best city for maintaining an active lifestyle according to the WalletHub criteria is Honolulu, Hawaii. Last on the list was Hialeah, Florida.
Rounding out the top five best cities were Chicago, San Francisco, Portland, Oregon and Seattle.
At the bottom of the list with Hialeah were North Las Vegas, Bakersfield, California, Irving, Texas, and Fresno, California.
The study showed that New York has the most sporting-goods stores and playgrounds and ranks 11th on the list, while Gilbert, Arizona (No. 87) has the most public golf courses and Lincoln, Nebraska (No. 14) has the most fitness trainers and aerobics instructors.
Posted by Bizwomen


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After interrupted by the pandemic, Al Shaya Group opened a new Quest FEC in The Avenues shopping mall in Kuwait last week.
As a local company, Al Shaya seeks to expand across the region through its entertainment business. The essence of Quest is to combine... read more
Children’s park as one of the pan-entertainment industry. It has been loved by parents and children. To attract the investors to join and maintain good momentum, the children’s park should focus on the design, decoration, operation, management, publicity and even safety and other minutiae need.
First... read more
At present, there are many problems in the management of many children’s playground business members, such as:
1. Excessive attention to the development of new members, lacking of maintenance services for old members, and insensitive to the loss of old members.
2. Customers are not subdivided, the... read more
There are more details about many Zangebar’s local areas in Tanzania.
According to the tourist world, Jhil Enterprises, a developer in India, behind the 30 million construction complex. Found in Funba Shangcheng Development Zone.
According to Guardian, this is the first project in Africa, which includes... read more
It is reported that a new FEC at Pineville, North Carolina, US, named Spare Time will open next month.
The location will have bowling, laser tag, escape rooms and a large arcade with F&B facilities on-site.
The new location is operated by Spare Time Entertainment and will... read more
As a terminal venue operator, when you buy a game machine, the primary consideration may be the price of the machine. As a game machine manufacturer, when you buy the machine accessories, the primary consideration may be also the price of accessories. In other... read more
In recent years, with the gradual maturation of the amusement park development model, the profit model has become more and more diversified. There are fewer and fewer parks that rely solely on ticket revenue, but rather in the direction of a diversified profit model.
A variety... read more
The entertainment industry in the United Arab Emirates continues to show signs of recovery from the epidemic, said the president of one of the largest operating companies in the region.
Alain Bejjani, CEO of retail and entertainment firm Majid Al Futtaim Holding, reports that current... read more
Saudi FEC chain Funtura has signed a strategic sourcing partnership with International Entertainment Services in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
Funtura Managing Director, Mr. Omar Ebdah with Mr. Prakash Vivekanand of International Entertainment Services at the Southeast Asia Expo 2022
Funtura will soon open in multiple locations... read more
Except for the need to wear masks in family entertainment centers, all current restrictions on the entertainment industry in Jordan have been lifted.
Michel Koborsi, owner of the new Ryze High trampoline park in the center of the capital Amman, told InterGame this weekend: “We... read more


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Market research by Global Data explains that China is deciding whether or not to double crude oil imports by smaller, independent refineries.
GlobalData’s analyst who covers Downstream Oil & Gas said “China’s refining industry is tightly regulated, with its two largest national oil companies, China National Petroleum Corporation and Sinopec, owning approximately 70% of the country’s total refining capacity.”
The Chinese Government is deciding whether or not to double the current 200 thousand barrels per day (mbd) to 400 mbd. Impacts of this would include the opening up of so called “teapot” refineries to import their supply from wherever they wish.
Effective October 1, 2015, or as contracts permit, Air Products have increased product pricing and monthly service charges for merchant customers in North America – involving a range of gases.
Month on month the gasworld website continues to be the primary portal for information, on a global scale, about our industry - be it through the provision of news and features, or information in the expansive company directory section. Launched in 2004, it is the only independent online news provider and information portal for the global industrial gas community and the larger end-user markets. The website also now incorporates news for gasworld US and Specialty Gas Report.
To find out more about gasworld's advertising opportunities click here.


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There’s been little to go one since the surprise announcement of a Phantom Dust reboot at Microsoft’s E3 press conference last year. The rebirth of the original Xbox cult classic has been under development at an outsourced independent studio, with Microsoft keeping a close eye on one of its upcoming exclusives. But it seems like they weren’t pleased with what they saw, which has resulted in the closure of Darkside Games.
Microsoft has pulled development duty of the game from the studio, which in turn has forced the fifty strong workforce to close their doors for good. Microsoft stresses that they’re still going to work on the game, but instead look for a studio better sutited to the takes. Whether or not any of the current work will be used is unknown though. Chances are that this reboot will be completely rebooted when it finds a new home. A Microsoft spokesperson had this to say about Darkside Games.
“Microsoft partnered with Darkside Game Studios in the development of ‘Phantom Dust,’ but our working relationship has now ended. We have great respect for their studio and their work in the industry. While we do not have anything new to share on ‘Phantom Dust‘ at this time, we can confirm that development of the title continues.”
Darkside Games is a relatively small studio, and Phantom Dust was to be their first fully developed title. They’ve previously done contract work on games like Borderlands and Sunset Overdrive, but the removal of Phantom Dust seems to have been the final nail in the coffin. Around 50 people have lost their jobs as a result, with the studio ceasing to exist anymore. According to an anonymous former employee, the game was looking really great – only to be shut down by an executive who had probably not seen the title in months.
“The executives who saw it were impressed and as late as this morning gave our team every indication that the project was on solid ground. Yet we got the phone call today that someone up on high who in all likelihood wasn’t even aware of the game in detail shut it down.”
It’s heartbreaking for Darkside Games, but not entirely surprising considering Microsoft hasn’t been open to showing the game publically just year. With nearly a year of nothing to really show, it seems that the game wasn’t headed in the right direction – no matter how well Darkside believed it was going. The already niche card collection title is now sitting in limbo, as Microsoft figures out what to do next.
Last Updated: February 18, 2015


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Samsung have announced they are to stop producing plasma television sets – effectively spelling the end of the format.
The tech giant’s decision echoes that of Panasonic, who stopped their PDP (plasma display panels) production last December. Samsung will shut down their production on November 30, and gave a statement to CNET explaining their decision;
“We plan to continue our PDP TV business until the end of this year, due to changes in market demands. We remain committed to providing consumers with products that meet their needs, and will increase our focus on growth opportunities in UHD TV’s and Curved TV’s.”
Sales of plasma sets have declined in recent years, mainly thanks to reduced costs in the production of LED LCD displays and the advent and increased focus on 4K.
LG is now the last remaining major manufacturer of plasma TVs, th0ugh they too are expected to follow suit sooner rather than later.


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Along with many other winemakers across the state, Krutulis and Reilly were preparing to send their new wine labels to the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) for approval when the federal government closed Dec. 22. While President Trump and Congress spent 35 days arguing over how to fund the government, Washington state winemakers anxiously waited for the TTB to reopen so they could get new labels approved before bottling season began in February.
After wineries receive approval for their labels, they generally print them and wrap them around bottles in time for a bottling date scheduled with a third-party company. Because of the delays at the TTB, wineries have to decide whether to print labels that may not be approved (and which cost up to $1.50 apiece) or fill blank bottles and then endure the tedious task of labeling them by hand later on.
A three-week funding agreement reopened the government Jan. 25, but the TTB now faces a backlog of requests. (That backlog could grow if President Trump doesn't sign a reported handshake agreement between legislators by Friday.) Before the shutdown, Krutulis expected to wait four to five days for his labels to be approved. Now, the TTB’s website projects a 31-day processing period for new labels. With such a long wait time, he fears he won’t have the bottles ready in time for the May release date. “To have it threatened by something completely out of our control is definitely a bit frustrating,” he says.
Krutulis is weighing his options ahead of Prospice’s March 11 bottling date. Meanwhile, his debut wines — about a thousand gallons' worth of syrah, rosé, and viognier — remain trapped in barrels.
While the shutdown dragged on, federal employees without income struggled to pay for food, bills and mortgages. Other employees who were forced to work without pay began calling in sick, including TSA staff and air traffic controllers. The resulting delayed flights contributed to breaking the stalemate between legislators and the President.
Even though the government is now temporarily funded, the shutdown’s economic aftershocks continue to rattle many American businesses. The Congressional Budget office estimated that the shutdown will end up permanently costing the U.S. economy $3 billion.
“We saw that the shutdown did not just affect federal employees. Small business owners, farmers, and even brewers and vintners are feeling the ripple effects of what happens when the government is shut down,” says U.S. Rep. Kim Schrier, D-Sammamish.
In Washington, smaller wineries take the worst hits. Ste. Michelle Estates, the state’s largest winery, didn’t experience any label delays, according to senior director of communications Ryan Pennington. Even if it had, large wineries can rely on labels approved in previous years. But 94 percent of Washington’s 940-plus wineries are small, selling fewer than 5,000 cases of wine annually.
Chris Loeliger’s TruthTeller Winery of Woodinville and Walla Walla, produces about 1,800 cases a year. Eighteen days into the shutdown, Loeliger wrote a lengthy Facebook post describing the stress the shutdown was causing wineries like his.
“Let's start with the obvious. I am not a furloughed government worker,” it began. “I am, however, the very definition of the American worker as defined by conservative politicians.”
Loeliger projects that more than half of his wine sales this year will require new labels. If his new wines aren’t bottled, labelled and ready to sell before the end of February, he will lose money.
“I don't think we can afford the luxury of not opening to the public somehow on Spring Release Weekend,” Krutulis says. If his wine isn’t ready to sell by then, he may have to try selling futures — bottles that may not be ready for months.
The government remains open for now. But small winery owners like Krutulis know it could shut down again Feb. 15 if disagreements in Washington, D.C., persist. That means the TTB could close again before it even finishes working through its label backlog.
Krutulis has invested hundreds of thousands of dollars into his winery. Every month of delay is another month he has to pour money into supplies and storage without any return.
Delays also prevent him from planning for the future. Krutulis hopes to bottle the second round of wines during the summer, but that will require the government to stay open long enough for the TTB to catch up on spring labels.
“We’re just kind of hoping for the best,” he says.


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Rural and Statewide Connectivity
The Texas Department of Transportation continues to work toward a better understanding of the importance of the transportation system. In just the past year, the Ports-to-Plains Corridor Interstate Feasibility Study, the Texas-Mexico Border Transportation Master Plan and the Permian Basin Freight and Energy Sector Transportation Plan gathered important data describing the importance of connectivity within the state of Texas and within the Ports-to-Plains region in Texas.
The results of that work were presented to the Texas Transportation Commission on January 27, 2021 by Caroline Mays, Director, Freight, Trade and Connectivity Section, TxDOT.
The Ports-to-Plains Corridor was highlighted in two slides during the presentation. The first provided a review of the economic findings from the Ports-to-Plains Interstate Feasibility Study.
The second was from the Texas-Mexico Border Transportation Master Plan showing the Ports-to-Plains Corridor as part of the Texas gateway for U.S. Mexico trade.
The next slide below shows the value of:
- Agriculture Production
- Generates approximately $34.9 billion a year in sales statewide and $12.6 billion in GSP.
- Energy Production
- In April 2020 Permian Basin accounted for 39% of U.S. crude oil production and $9 billion in state taxes in royalties
- In 2016, the Eagle Ford Shale contributed $3.1 billion in state and local taxes and revenues.
- Timber and Lumber Production
- In 2017, lumber industry contributed $33.6 billion to the Texas economy, including $8.6 billion in income to 166,071 workers.
- International Border Trade
- In 2019, supported 68% of U.S.-Mexico cross-border trade or $415 billion of total $615 billion U.S./Mexico trade.
- International Maritime Trade
- In 2019, Texas ports accounted for an average of 242.7 billion in trade value annually or $131.8 billion in exports and $110.9 billion in imports.
- National Defense and Security
Texas is made up of eleven Rural TxDOT Districts including Abilene, Amarillo, Odessa, and San Angelo; nine Urban TxDOT Districts including Laredo and Lubbock; and five TxDOT Metro Districts. The value of rural areas was summarized in the presentations.
Rural TxDOT Districts provided 71 percent of oil production (1.3 billion bbls), 57 percent of natural gas production (5.9 billion MCF), and 65% of wind energy production (19,113 megawatts). In terms of agriculture production rural districts provided 38 percent of crop sales ($2.5 billion), 56% of cattle sales (5.8 million head), and 60 percent of animal sales ($10.6 billion). Metro districts such as Lubbock and Laredo contributed even more value in energy and agriculture production.
The Key Takeaways summarized:
- The rural highways across the state provides critical transportation links for the state’s largest economic sectors: Agriculture; Energy; Timber, Border Trade; and Maritime Trade.
- These economic sectors cover the vast majority of the state’s geography and lane mileage.
- These economic sectors comprise the vast majority of the state’s economy – including jobs, GDP and tax revenue.
- The rural and statewide corridors serving these industries are the lifeline to their operation.
- Maintaining and upgrading rural and statewide corridors is critical for the continued success of these economic sectors and the state’s economic prosperity.
- Future Infrastructure investments should continue to consider these points as the rural and statewide roadway network serving these critical economic sectors.
Download Complete Rural and Statewide Connectivity Report (pdf-11.35 MB)
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The Importance of Highways to U.S. Agriculture
Report was published in December, 2020 by Agricultural Marketing Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture in conjunction with the U.S. Department of Transportation.
Download Full Report (pdf-16.3 MB)
Download Executive Summary (pdf-12.83 MB)
Agricultural commodities are among the nation’s largest and most important exports. The agriculture industry is the largest user of highway freight, and the industry relies on highway infrastructure for the safe and efficient transportation of goods. This report offers insights to inform the transportation planning and project selection processes that build and maintain highway infrastructure used by the agriculture industry.
Highlights of Research Findings:
- 80% of domestic agricultural highway freight volume moves on 17% of highway mileage.
- State-planned highway freight investments are estimated to produce $540 million per year in truck operating cost savings.
- Increased highway infrastructure investment, at a level 2-4 times current State Freight Plan investment levels, is modeled to be highly cost-effective (Benefit/Cost Ratio >2.0).
Trucks are an important part of almost every agricultural freight journey.
Trucks may move agricultural goods for an entire journey, through several intermediary steps, or as a part of a multimodal trip that includes rail or barge segments.
- $3.1 Trillion - Annual value of agricultural freight moved across all modes in the United States in 2018.
- 4.5 Billion - Annual tonnage of agricultural freight moved across all modes in the United States in 2018.
- 27 percent - Agriculture industry’s share of all freight ton-miles moved.
- 16 percent - Agriculture industry’s share of all freight by market value.
- 23 percent - Projected increase in total freight volumes over the next 20 years.
- 83 percent - Percentage of all agricultural freight tonnage moved via the highway system in 2018.
- 56 percent - Share of agricultural freight ton-miles moved by truck in 2018.
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From Lubbock Economic Development Alliance
Amazon Announces New Sortation Center and Delivery Station in Lubbock
Amazon plans to open a new sort center and delivery station in Lubbock, TX. The new facilities are expected to create hundreds of new full- and part-time jobs with industry leading pay and benefits starting on day one.
“We are excited to establish Amazon operations in Lubbock with a new sort center and delivery station that will provide fast and efficient delivery for customers, and provide hundreds of job opportunities for the talented local workforce,” said Jessica Breaux, Manager of Economic Development at Amazon. “We’re grateful for the strong partnerships we’ve made with state and local officials and we look forward to our future in this great city.”
The sort center will employ hundreds of associates who will sort packages before being transferred to a delivery station or last-mile delivery partner for final delivery for customers. It’s the company’s first sort center in Lubbock.
The delivery station will create more than 100 new full- and part-time jobs and will continue to power Amazon’s last-mile delivery capabilities to speed up deliveries for customers in Lubbock.
“Lubbock welcomes Amazon as our city’s newest corporate citizen,” said Lubbock City Mayor Dan Pope. “Amazon’s investment and these new jobs create tremendous economic benefits and employment opportunities for our citizens and for residents throughout the region. Amazon’s announcement is an acknowledgment of the quality of our workforce and it further underscores the strength of our economy.”
On top of Amazon’s industry-leading minimum $15 per hour wage, the company offers full-time employees comprehensive benefits including full medical, vision, and dental insurance as well as a 401(k) with 50 percent match starting on day one. Amazon prioritizes the safety and health of its employees and has invested millions of dollars to provide a safe workplace. The company also offers up to 20 weeks of maternal and parental paid leave and innovative benefits such as Leave Share and Ramp Back, which give new parents flexibility to support their growing families.
“Today’s announcement is a big win for the Lubbock community,” said John Osborne, president and CEO of the Lubbock Economic Development Alliance. “These new facilities will bring a significant number of high-paying jobs and needed employment to our citizens. With a skilled and diverse workforce as well as access to five major highways, Lubbock is well-positioned as a driving force for distribution throughout Texas and the central United States.”
Amazon leverages its scale to help support local communities. Amazon has also pledged to invest over $700 million to provide upskilling training for 100,000 U.S. employees for in-demand jobs. The programs will help Amazon team members from all backgrounds access training to move into highly skilled roles across the company’s corporate offices, tech hubs, fulfillment centers, retail stores, and transportation network, or pursue career paths outside of Amazon.
Amazon in Texas:
More than 116,000 independent authors and small and medium businesses in Texas are selling to customers in Amazon’s store, creating thousands of additional jobs across the state.
- Since 2010, Amazon has created more than 70,000 jobs in Texas and invested more than $16.9 billion across the state, including infrastructure and compensation to its employees.
- Amazon’s investments have contributed more than $18.8 billion in GDP to the Texas economy and have helped create over 49,000 indirect jobs on top of Amazon’s direct hires – from jobs in construction and logistics to professional services.
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Rural Infrastructure Coalition Sends Priorities to Biden Administration
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Rebuild Rural Coalition, which collectively represents U.S. agricultural producers, rural businesses, rural communities and rural families, sent a letter today urging President Joe Biden and his administration to address the unique needs of rural infrastructure in all related legislative proposals.
From the letter: “Your plan to Build Back Better in Rural America rightly notes the crumbling state of our country’s infrastructure. We have witnessed this deterioration first-hand – how it jeopardizes jobs, our agricultural competitiveness and the health of rural families. As you are aware, past infrastructure initiatives often focused on urban and suburban infrastructure, while not adequately addressing the unique needs of rural communities. We ask that you address this as part of your administration’s comprehensive infrastructure renewal efforts.
“American agriculture truly feeds the world and creates millions of jobs for U.S. workers. Our nation’s ability to produce food and fiber and transport it efficiently across the globe is a critical factor in U.S. competitiveness internationally. Infrastructure that supports rural communities and links them to global markets has helped make the U.S. the unquestioned leader in agricultural production. Our deteriorating infrastructure threatens that leadership position.
“Transportation infrastructure improvement is the most obvious need in rural communities, but not the only one. In particular, we appreciate your plan specifically includes roads and bridges, locks and dams, railroads, electrical and water systems, agricultural research at land grant universities, broadband, healthcare and housing.”
The #RebuildRural Coalition is comprised of more than 250 organizations representing U.S. agricultural producers, rural businesses, rural communities and rural families. The Ports-to-Plains Alliance is a member of RebuildRural Coalition.
Download the Letter to President Biden
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Check out the newest Ports-to-Plains Video!
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Actor Jude Law was seen leaving BBC Radio 1 studios in London., England. He was wearing a black Rick Owens shearling leather jacket (approx. $3,680), with dark blue jeans, and distressed brown boots.
Steve Aoki and Afrojack shared behind the scenes photos for their Afroki video. The American DJ /producer was rocking Rick Owens Sculpted Sole Adidas Edition sneakers ($795) and Dutch DJ/producer was wearing a pair of white Supreme x Nike Air Force 1 sneakers ($150).
Orlando Bloom Wears Rick Owens Burgundy Island Dunk Sneakers at “The Greasy Hands Preachers” Film Premiere
Actor Orlando Bloom attended the premiere of his executive produced documentary film “The Greasy Hands Preachers” at the 62nd San Sebastian International Film Festival in Spain. He was seen sitting on a BMW motorcycle wearing a black leather jacket and a pair of Rick Owens Burgundy Island Dunk Leather Platform Sneakers ($1,140).
Chris Brown wears Off-White C/O Virgil Abloh Check Shirt and Rick Owens Sculpted Sole Adidas Edition Sneakers
Chris Brown, who just put out his sixth studio album X shared a photo of himself out with friends wearing an Off-White C/O Virgil Abloh red plaid shirt ($588) and Rick Owens Sculpted Sole Adidas Edition sneakers ($795). What do you think of his look?
Actor Marlon Wayans attended the Serena Williams Signature Statement by HSN fashion show in New York City yesterday. The 42-year old entertainer was spotted wearing a pair of red and white leather Rick Owens Geobasket high-top sneakers ($1,300). What do yo think of his look?