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RYSE has gone strength from strength over the last couple of years, massively expanding its selection of supplements with the likes of more premium and cost-effective competitors in the pre-workout category in the powerhouse Godzilla and Element Series Pre-Workout. Another move by the brand was the introduction of its hugely popular and authentically flavored RYSE Fuel energy drink, which just won our Clash Of The Cans contest.
The consistently rising RYSE has now found its way into another major retailer, one of the most prominent in the world of sports nutrition, with GNC, which has just started stocking the young and only one-year-old RYSE Fuel. While we definitely expect more products from the brand to make their way into the supplement store, currently, the energy drink is all you can see at gnc.com, although there is a bit of a surprise with the launch.
GNC’s online store is listing the RYSE Fuel energy drink in the previously released Baja Cooler flavor, originally named Baja Burst, and a completely new sweet and refreshing strawberry experience called Pink Splash. This is the first availability of the Pink Splash RYSE Fuel, so if you’re a fan of the RYSE energy drink or just energy drinks in general, head to gnc.com to get your hands on it at $29.99 for a case of 12, working out to $2.50 each.


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NEW HAVEN — Executives from some of the largest corporations in the country will visit Yale University next week to discuss consumer habits and business marketing strategies amid a recession.
The executives will participate in the conference, “Finding the Upside in the Downturn: The Changing Role of Marketing,” from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Nov. 6 at 55 Hillhouse Ave.
The event is open to the public, and is $150 for general admission, $75 for Yale alumni and $25 for students.
Keynote speakers will be Michael Polk, president of Unilever Americas; John Hayes, chief marketing officer at American Express Co.; Rishad Tobaccowala, CEO of Denuo, Publicis Groupe; and Steven Sturm, group vice president at Toyota Motor North America Inc.
They will discuss how their companies are re-examining their marketing, innovation, pricing, product and communications strategies. They will also discuss the changing role of new media and technologies, as well as consumer behavior challenges and opportunities.
The program is presented by the Center for Customers Insights and the Marketing Club at the Yale School of Management and is sponsored by Unilever.
“We have assembled the leaders of several world-class companies that are not just waiting for an upturn, but are proactively finding new opportunities in the downturn to discuss what they are learning about the new consumer mindset and how they are innovating and revising their business strategies,” Ravi Dhar, a professor and director of the Yale Center for Customer Insights, said in a statement.
“The easy stuff like cutting costs has been done, but focusing solely on costs is not going to position the companies for the future,” he said.

domain: news


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Zapty Workplace Inc., a US-headquartered project management platform, has raised $500,000 in seed funding from early-stage venture capital firm Ideaspring Capital, the company said in its statement.
The startup, which also has an office in Bangalore, was founded in February 2014 by serial entrepreneurs Arvind Agarwal and Sanjay Shah. The founders previously co-founded Skelta Software Pvt. Ltd, a business process management company, which was sold to engineering and IT multinational Invensys Ltd in 2010.
Manav Garg, co-founder and chief executive officer at Eka Software Solutions, a trade and risk management software services firm, is an early investor in Zapty.
Zapty's software-as-a-solution (SaaS) platform for cloud-based work management enables business users to discover, manage and automate processes using artificial intelligence.
Over the next one year, the team plans to enhance its product including integrating several popular SaaS products and opening its micro-workflow technology to create departmental and verticalised solutions. These are among the first of the firm’s solutions aimed at digital marketing teams and creative agencies, Agarwal, chief executive at Zapty said.
“Traditional workflow solutions make it increasingly difficult to adapt to ever-changing business needs. Ultimately, businesses end up adapting to the tool, rather than tool adapting to businesses,” Agarwal added.
The early-stage venture firm was launched in April 2016 by angel investors Naganand Doraswamy and Prashant Deshpande. They launched the fund along with the scions of Patni Computers, Arihant and Amit Patni, among others. The fund invests in tech startups focused on machine learning, computer vision and image processing, big data analytics, Internet of Things, virtual and augmented reality, internet security, health-tech and fin-tech, among others.
Besides Zapty, Ideaspring has invested between $500,000 and $600,000 in packaging artwork startup Karomi Technology, enterprise networking firm Lavelle Networks, and augmented reality platform Whodat.
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When he was 19, Mr. Carney and his brother Dan borrowed $600 from their mother to start their business in Wichita, Kan. Before long, it became the world’s largest pizza chain.
Frank Carney, who founded Pizza Hut with his brother Dan and helped build it into the world’s largest pizza chain, died on Wednesday at an assisted living facility in Wichita, Kan. He was 82.
The cause was pneumonia, his brother said. For the last decade, Mr. Carney, who had struggled with Alzheimer’s disease, had recently recovered from Covid-19.
With $600 borrowed from their mother, the two Carney brothers opened the first Pizza Hut on South Bluff Street in downtown Wichita in 1958. Frank was 19, a student at Wichita University (now Wichita State University) looking to pay his way through college. Dan was 26, studying for a master’s degree in business and seeking a promising opportunity.
They rented a 600-square-foot building that inspired Dan’s wife to suggest the name Pizza Hut. They purchased secondhand equipment for the kitchen. On opening night, they offered free pizza to attract customers. The restaurant was an immediate hit.
The brothers incorporated the company the next year and began to sell franchises. With aggressive marketing and a focus on quality ingredients and service, Pizza Hut took off.
Frank became president of the company and joined the Young Presidents Association to get an intensive primer in executive management to build a strategic plan. He ultimately created a standardized system for all franchises while allowing room for local customers’ tastes and preferences.
The original Pizza Hut pizza, created by John Bender, a one-time partner with the brothers, was thin and crispy. A few years later, Frank developed the restaurant’s signature “original pan pizza,” a recipe that endured for four decades.
By 1966, there were 145 Pizza Hut franchises in the United States. By 1971, Pizza Hut had emerged as the world’s largest pizza chain, with strong sales and 1,000 global outlets. In 1972, the company was listed on the New York Stock Exchange. By 1977, as sales reached $436 million (equivalent to about $1.9 billion today), more than 3,400 domestic and international outlets were present. That year the brothers sold the company to PepsiCo for $300 million.
Frank Carney left the company in 1980 and embarked on several different business ventures as an investor and mentor, including real estate, oil and gas, and other food enterprises, most of which failed. “Frank was a very driven person,” Dan Carney said. “He would pick up an idea and run with it. You just don’t win every time.”
Frank Lawrence Carney was born on April 26, 1938, in Wichita, one of seven children of Michael and Mary Frances Carney. His father worked in a meatpacking plant and later opened a corner grocery, where all the members of the family eventually worked. When his father died at 46, his mother took over the store.
Mr. Carney attended Wichita University from 1956 to 1961, but his full-time job at Pizza Hut precluded him from finishing his degree. Citing a promise his mother had made to his father before he died, that all seven children would graduate from college, Mr. Carney returned in 1999 and received a bachelor’s degree in general studies in 2000. (The original Pizza Hut building was moved onto the campus in 1986 as a tribute to the company and the Carney brothers.)
Mr. Carney, a runner and an exercise buff, was married three times. In addition to his brother Dan, survivors include his wife, Janie Carney; their daughter, Megan Metcalf; six children from his first marriage, Darri, Brian, Sheila, Pete, and Kier Carney and Mara Bruce; two children from his second marriage, Trevor Carney and Tressa Diebes; two other brothers, Jerry and Peter; three sisters, Mary Ann Skolaut, Sally Jonas and Eileen Never; 18 grandchildren; and a great-granddaughter.
By 1993, the millions Frank Carney had made from Pizza Hut were lost to his failed ventures. “I never thought it would turn out as disastrous as it did,” he said in a 2002 interview with Pizza Marketplace, an industry news website. “It’s very stressful when you find out that you’re not as smart as you thought you were.”
He then sought a position at Pizza Hut but was unhappy with the offer he received. Instead, in 1994, he became a franchise owner of Papa John’s, a major pizza chain competitor. His embrace of a rival displeased his brother — but, as Dan Carney said, he “did what he wanted.”
In 1997, Frank Carney starred in a television commercial for Papa John’s. Speaking to a group of actors portraying Pizza Hut franchisees at a convention, he said, “Sorry, guys; I found a better pizza.” The ad triggered a long-term feud and lawsuits between the chains, the website Mental Floss wrote in 2015.
By 2001, Mr. Carney had grown his Papa John’s franchise operation to 133 locations around the United States, including several in Wichita.
“I’m just a regular guy who worked smart and made some L.U.C.K. — L.U.C.K. means Laboring Under Correct Knowledge,” Frank Carney once said, according to the website Franchisopedia.com. “When you work hard and smart, you get lucky. To build a successful, growing business, you need all the luck you can get.”


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Written by Scott Thompson
Is the omnichannel revolution all that it’s cracked up to be? Scott Thompson wades through the hype and asks: how are banks faring when it comes to 24/7 access to accounts and services across multiple channels?
There can be few FS sector concepts more divisive than that of omnichannel banking. For some, it’s an all-encompassing mantra to which organisations must adapt or run the risk of becoming obsolete. For others, it’s a meaningless buzzword, dreamt up by consultants and analysts with agendas to push and fuelled by tech vendors with shiny new solutions to sell. It doesn’t help that there’s still some confusion surrounding the definition of omnichannel and how it differs to multi-channel and/or cross channel. For the sake of this feature, let’s say it’s about not operating in silos and instead bringing a joined-up approach to multiple channels; the ability to seamlessly carry out conversations and transactions while all the time maintaining a single view point of the (in an ideal world, joyously happy) customer.
One thing that everyone (well, hopefully everyone) can agree on is that, thanks to the online and mobile revolutions, customers are increasingly demanding 24/7 access to accounts and services. But how are banks faring in the face of the rise and rise of the smartphone-owning, tech savvy omnichannel consumer? Matt Simester, director of cards & payments, Piran Consulting believes that they don’t do the 24/7 approach well as they are driven by technology and cost-cutting considerations. In what is a challenging environment for them, the context is actually one of consumer need and expectation. “Banks are highly safe institutions and are trusted to hold money.
Every decision is made against a safety and security backdrop and a mitigation of risk. That means increased costs and, for new methods and new products, is a barrier to market. There is an inherent sense of conservatism within banking, based on looking after people and retaining trust,” he says.
While many customers are requesting a full 24/7 service, actually the demand is not as much as some might have us believe, he argues. He cites usage patterns showing that in fact people are rarely doing their banking between the more unsociable hours of midnight and 6am, although there remains an expectation that this will be provided. That means a lot of resource is expended on what is actually a small number of customers. The expectation for an omnichannel service is that you will have a comparable experience however you access it: face-to-face, online or picking up a telephone.
But what if, outside of “normal” working hours, a customer cannot get what they want? What if they lock themselves out of their online account; how long before they can get back in? How quickly can things be fixed when things aren’t working and they want to speak to someone? “Omnichannel is important but a fundamental area is the confidence and belief that if something goes wrong or there is an enquiry, can a customer actually contact their bank to have their problem solved? I would argue that a lot of money is being spent on technology investment but there is actually ample opportunity to improve employee experience with old fashioned methods, for example telephone banking.
Remove IVRs – the poorest elements of customer experience – and get the basics right,” says Simester, who adds that first direct and Amex consistently score the best in terms of customer experience and brand reputation, with the former enabling people to switch across channels easily. “I will be fascinated to see the Metro Bank founder launch his virtual bank (Atom); building the proposition around the service and whether or not they will they build market share quickly,” he adds.
For Professor Merlin Stone, head of research at The Customer Framework, the question ‘how are banks faring when it comes to their customers’ requirements across a range of channels?’ splits into two areas: a.) access to accounts, ability to transfer between accounts, set up new accounts, and in general manage accounts; and b.) payment approaches. Where a) is concerned, most banks do pretty well, he believes. “There were a few laggards until recently, but now most have launched secure apps to do it. And in the word ‘app’ is a little secret, which is that the smartphone and tablet have simplified the task for banks. That’s because the smartphone and tablet have between them become the dominant channel for many customers. For these customers contact centre and branch are not the preferred option. Some customers do like the contact centre and branch for most purposes, and other customers like the contact centre or branch only for complex discussions and transactions. Where the split between app and conventional web is concerned, what seems to be happening is that customers have clear views about which they prefer for which task, just as they do for many other tasks e.g. web for complex browsing, investigation of alternatives, benchmarking against other products, app for simpler “within bank” tasks. This depends very much on the customers, and it is worth remembering that many of the new generation of younger customers have full access to apps and limited access to full web pages via laptops.”
As far as b) is concerned, the big area of uncertainty is still mobile payments, where different forms of contactless payment (whether NFC, Bluetooth low energy or the more comprehensive but still early-stage innovative approaches of PayPal, Square and the like) are competing. “However, the question posed refers to customer requirements, and here research shows that to some extent final consumers are not really too demanding of innovations; the issue is more what merchants would like to increase speed and reduce cost. The jury is out.”
The emergence of the omnichannel customer is creating various opportunities for new challenger banks and various issues and challenges for the status quo, encumbered as they are by legacy IT systems. Whilst we haven’t seen the retail banking revolution that some predicted a few years back, there is nonetheless some interesting stuff happening in this area. The aforementioned Atom, for instance, is set to be launched in the UK market next year. Pitched as the UK’s first truly digital bank, there will be no branches or telephone services, but personal and business customers will be offered a full range of products through the internet and mobile apps. The venture will be led by Anthony Thomson, founder and former chairman, Metro Bank, and Mark Mullen, who was CEO at first direct. The products on offer will include mortgages, current accounts, savings accounts, loans and credit cards.
The temptation here is to paint a picture of nimble startups vs archaic organisations. Are legacy issues, in fact, holding back the traditional players, creating an advantage for newcomers? David Tryon, director of client management, business process solutions at DST, thinks so: “New challenger banks are being designed with the current technology landscape in mind, which means they can facilitate transactions via any channel, at any time, from any location, in the manner in which the customer wants to do business. This is an important advantage over many of the established High Street banks that are still struggling with the issue of incumbent legacy issues."
Professor Stone, however, believes that legacy issues aren’t a real constraint, though they do confer a slight advantage on challenger banks. “But there are enormous economies of scale in banking, and very high customer inertia. In my view, the big changes will come when big commercial or government organisations decide to put lots of business through these newer banks (like the Santander bill payment service used by HMRC). This is not really a multi-channel issue, though it has some influence. The challenger banks are often targeting segments which are poorly served with credit, but in order to avoid massive exposure to risk caused by this targeting may need to use more conventional channels. Estimating and managing risk remotely is a dangerous game.”
“I suspect legacy issues are holding back the established players,” comments Piran Consulting’s Simester. “Fraud protection, risk management and payments from ‘A to B’ are the basic principles of banking. In terms of front end, the ‘customer experience’ and the ‘value proposition’, banks should continue to partner with someone who does that part of the value chain really well, e.g Marks and Spencer working with HSBC. Legacy issues and mandatory regulation make it hard for banks to be innovative, for example executing new products. Technology provides that increased speed to market. But it’s almost a schizophrenic problem – looking after traditional, legacy, customers makes it difficult to invest. You can either explore leading edge technology and appeal to one to two per cent and try and attract and build customer numbers in a short space of time, or look after the 90-odd-per cent of customers that are happy and require a simple service.”
There are a number of other issues and barriers that are holding things back. Process and regulation delay progress, argues Simester, who cites the fact that “banks are more regulated in the payments space, especially when compared to something such as PayPal. Is that fair and reasonable?”
He adds: “Online authentication leads to a 35 per cent drop out rate at point of transaction. In theory, consumers view this added layer of authentication as a penalty for transacting online. Why should they be treated differently? Similarly, contactless payment. Why can I only make a £20 transaction? Where is the incentive? There is still a balance between risk and the customer value proposition that has not been thought through and there are too many layers of authentication. Paym is a great example of a payment service with a frictionless customer experience with strong but undemanding authentication. These types of interbank mobile payments services have immediate customer benefit and are easy to take to the mass market and Paym is set to change the shape of UK payments with a true value proposition that can be easily understood by the consumer.”
Professor Stone observes that the big question facing all banks is how the behaviour of the new generation of customers may challenge the status quo, specifically the Facebook and Google generation. “So far, the impact has been limited, but this is partly because these big new digital players have shied away from full involvement in financial services.”
Whilst Tryon also flags up security issues. “The most recent scare being the Heartbleed bug. Many consumers are experiencing serious frustrations when accessing multiple online banking accounts with multiple unique passwords. In order to solve this problem, many banks now issue algorithm-based key fobs, but they are often complex and not hugely user-friendly, and also require the consumer to have the key fob on them at all times. Transacting business in a mobile/internet/tablet environment obviously must be secure and confidential for all parties, but the issue has yet to be fully ‘cracked’.”
When all is said and done, omnichannel is more than a buzzword; it can deliver tangible business benefits. There are many issues that need to be addressed and many things that the traditional players in particular should be doing better. This is also an area moving at a rapid pace and one that will be hugely influenced by the aforementioned Facebook and Google generation and their children and who can say which way they will fly in terms of financial services providers? In a world of mobile wallets and digital currencies, will they even want bank accounts? Speaking recently about Metro Bank, Atom founder Thomson noted that the focus when it launched was on service and convenience and the High Street branch was an obvious manifest of that. The world, however, has moved on. The rate of change in mobile in particular has just been so fast that opening a bank with branches would be like BT putting telephone kiosks back on the High Street, he declared.
So, Metro Bank launched in 2010 and its business model already seems quaintly old fashioned. What will the omnichannel banking landscape look like four years from now? Truth be told, no one has all the answers. A successful omnichannel strategy will see banks strengthen their relationships with existing customers, capture new ones and gain better customer intelligence. Easy, eh? The problem, as Simester puts it, is that you can’t re-invent a bank. “The question is, how do you maintain the same level of security but at the same time become stronger across all channels? Now, that could be working with start-ups and addressing how to use some start-up technology more effectively, looking at the people and process.”
Or as Professor Stone puts it: “I think there is a lot to be learnt from Direct Line, first direct and Swiftcover, for example, if you are going to do things a new way, set up a fighting brand with news way of doing things but with the old disciplines. These were not start-ups but new propositions, a very different matter.”
In short, believe the hype but know that the race for omnichannel excellence is far from run.


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Adobe set to buy Macromedia
Combined software firms on 'collision course' with Microsoft
Updated 10:00 pm, Monday, April 18, 2005
The $3.4 billion acquisition agreement, announced yesterday, would combine two leaders in tools for making, protecting and distributing digital content. Macromedia, based in San Francisco, is the company behind the popular Flash technology for creating and viewing digital animations, as well as programs for creating Web sites and collaborating with colleagues.
Adobe, based in San Jose, Calif., has a large operation in Seattle's Fremont area.
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The company is known for the portable document format, or PDF, and programs including Acrobat, Photoshop and Illustrator. The companies said there would be cost savings out of the deal but did not mention layoffs specifically.
"If I were Microsoft, I would start worrying more about Adobe than about Google," said Joe Wilcox, a Jupiter Research analyst, referring to the Redmond company's competition with the Internet search leader.
The reason, Wilcox said, is that Adobe and Microsoft are both headed in similar directions in areas considered key to Microsoft's growth -- such as worker collaboration, document sharing and digital-rights management technologies. The Macromedia deal promises to strengthen Adobe in some of those areas.
"I had thought that both companies were on a collision course before," Wilcox said of Adobe and Microsoft. Now, he said, "it's almost certain."
The acquisition announcement surprised many of the people who use Flash and other Macromedia tools. While acknowledging some initial nostalgia and sadness, one independent Macromedia author in Seattle said he understands the reasons for the deal and believes Adobe will be a good custodian of the acquired technologies.
"If they leverage all the best parts of their new, combined tool set and they kill off some of their weaker ones, then they will have a very impressive offering," said Patrick Keating, owner of Kythe Inc., a Seattle-based multimedia and game-development firm. "Any company, even Microsoft, would be hard-pressed to come up with competition."
During a conference call with analysts, Adobe Chief Executive Bruce Chizen pointed out that Microsoft's plans for the next version of Windows, code-named Longhorn, include elements similar to what Macromedia and Adobe have been doing and plan to do.
"It's hard to really say what Microsoft will do going forward, but they are a $40 billion software company, and we will always keep an eye out for them," Chizen said.
The burgeoning competition goes beyond personal computers to the growing market for software on mobile phones and other hand-held devices.
Macromedia has had success in persuading makers of cell phones and other non-PC devices to embed its Flash technology in their devices, Chizen said.
Since the start of the year, Macromedia has signed deals with Nokia and Samsung Electronics.
Adobe has had less success in that regard, Chizen said.
"Clearly, Macromedia has done a great job both in understanding and gaining value from the non-PC market," he said. That, he added, "is what is very attractive to us."
Besides boosting revenues from software sales and licensing, the combined companies will profit as more developers buy the specialized tools required to create content. They'll also have a greater say in creating standards for new mobile devices.
But Microsoft also has ambitions beyond the PC market it dominates with its Windows operating system, Web browser and other content-playing technology. It offers a simplified version of Windows for cell phones and hand-helds -- as well as "light" versions of its Web browser and media player.
In addition, Microsoft is expected to include technology in its next-generation Windows that could threaten Adobe's dominance with its Acrobat software and the portable document format it invented. Microsoft also has been introducing programs to help improve collaboration within the workplace.
With Macromedia's Breeze real-time collaboration software, Adobe will be have more of an all-encompassing suite of offerings than it had before the merger.
"At its simplest level, Adobe wants to get into a new content type," said Connie Moore, an analyst at Forrester Research. "At a more strategic level, this puts Adobe in a very different place in terms of competing against Microsoft or Oracle or IBM."
Still, Adobe's acquisition of Macromedia is most likely a pre-emptive move against Microsoft, said Steven Ashley, an analyst at Robert W. Baird & Co.
"It makes it harder for Microsoft to challenge Adobe," he said. "As it stands today, they don't compete very much against one another."
Adobe employs 3,700 people in offices around the world. It reported revenue of $1.67 billion for fiscal 2004. Macromedia reported sales of $370 million in fiscal 2004.
Under the deal, Macromedia stockholders will receive 0.69 Adobe share for each of their shares, Adobe said in a statement today. That values Macromedia at $41.86, a 25 percent premium to the closing price April 15.
Adobe is paying 43.8 times operating profit and 7.5 times sales for Macromedia, according to data compiled by Bloomberg News. Adobe shares tumbled yesterday, signaling investors are concerned the price may be too high.
Symantec Corp.'s planned purchase of Veritas Software Corp. is 26 times operating profit and seven times revenue.
The transaction, contingent upon the approval of regulators as well as the shareholders of both companies, is expected to be completed by the fall.
The combined company will keep Adobe's name and San Jose headquarters.
Adobe stock dropped $5.89, or 9.7 percent, to close at $54.77 yesterday.
Macromedia gained $3.27, or 9.8 percent, to $36.72.


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The Street is expecting Exxon’s earnings to plummet by more than 50% from a year ago. For Chevron, it’s a more modest 29% decline.
Exxon is expected to report third-quarter earnings of 67 cents per share, according to estimates from FactSet, and $60.9 billion in revenue.
The EPS number is 54% below the $1.46 the company reported in the same quarter a year earlier, while revenue forecasts are 20% lower than the $75.68 billion the company earned in the third quarter of 2018.
Analysts were more or less warned ahead of…


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Russia Bans Crypto: What Does This Mean for the Future of Digital Currency?
Russia recently made headlines with its decision to ban cryptocurrency transactions, sending shockwaves throughout the global digital currency market. This move by the Russian government has raised many questions about the future of cryptocurrencies and their widespread adoption. In this article, we will explore the implications of Russia's crypto ban and its potential impact on the world of digital currency.
The Russian Crypto Ban: A Major Setback for Crypto Enthusiasts
Russia's decision to ban cryptocurrency is a significant blow to the crypto community and enthusiasts who have been actively trading and investing in digital assets. The ban prohibits individuals and entities from conducting any crypto-related transactions, including buying, selling, and exchanging cryptocurrencies.
The Global Impact of Russia's Crypto Ban
Russia's ban on cryptocurrencies has raised concerns about the global impact it may have on the digital currency market. With Russia being one of the largest economies in the world, its decision to ban crypto could potentially influence other countries to implement similar regulations. This can lead to a significant slowdown in the growth and adoption of cryptocurrencies worldwide.
Challenges for Crypto Businesses and Investors
The ban on cryptocurrency in Russia also presents significant challenges for crypto businesses and investors. Crypto exchanges and related platforms that were operating in the country will now have to cease their operations or find alternative solutions to comply with the regulations. This can result in financial losses and uncertainties for businesses and individual investors.
Twitch and Its Losses in the Crypto Market
The recent ban on crypto in Russia has also raised questions about the involvement of various companies and organizations in the digital currency market. One such example is the popular streaming platform, Twitch. Rumors have circulated regarding Twitch's potential losses in the crypto market, leading to speculations about the impact on their overall financial stability.
The Need for Regulatory Clarity
The ban on cryptocurrencies in Russia highlights the urgent need for regulatory clarity in the digital currency space. As the crypto market continues to evolve and attract more investors, it becomes crucial for governments worldwide to establish clear guidelines and regulations to ensure the safe and secure operation of cryptocurrency transactions.
The Future of Digital Currency
While Russia's ban on cryptocurrencies may be seen as a setback for digital currency enthusiasts, it is essential to note that the global acceptance and adoption of cryptocurrencies continue to grow. Countries like the United States, Germany, and Japan have embraced cryptocurrencies, recognizing their potential benefits for economic growth and innovation. As the world becomes more digitally connected, the future of digital currency remains promising.
Russia's ban on cryptocurrencies has undoubtedly sparked a significant debate about the future of digital currency. While this move presents challenges for crypto businesses and investors, it also highlights the importance of clear regulations and guidelines in the crypto market. As the world navigates through this evolving landscape, it is crucial to monitor the progress and decisions made by governments worldwide to understand the future trajectory of cryptocurrencies.


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A Race Against Time... https://t.co/hq25HJhhb2
Ian Somerhalder at National Geographic's 'Years Of Living Dangerously' New Season World Premiere held at The American Museum of Natural History - New York, United States - Wednesday 21st September 2016
For the 14th year in a row Gisele Bündchen is the world’s highest earning model, but she's got new competition.
Brazilian supermodel Gisele Bundchen has once again topped Forbes' list of the world’s highest earning models. It’s the 14th year in a row that Gisele has come out on top of the list, but this year she faced some new competition as Kendall Jenner and Gigi Hadid both saw their earnings increase dramatically.
Kendall Jenner is catching up with Gisele on the Forbes highest earning models list
Gisele made $30.5 million in the last year to keep her on top of the list, despite the fact her earnings have dropped by 30 per cent from last year. At number two is fellow Brazilian Adriana Lima who took home $10.5 million in the last year.
The NFL player was noticeably absent during his wife’s appearance at the Opening Ceremony on Friday.
Supermodel Gisele Bündchen stole the show during the Opening Ceremony of the 2016 Olympics in Brazil on Friday, when she walked down the world’s biggest runway. While the world watched at home, Gisele’s husband, New England Patriots Star Tom Brady, was also forced to miss seeing the spectacle live, thanks to his busy NFL training schedule.
Tom Brady and wife Gisele Bündchen
Fans had wondered why Brady wasn't in Rio supporting his wife and the reason is that he just couldn't get the time off work. Speaking to People a few weeks prior to the Rio Games, Brady had warned that he might have to miss the big night.
Sometimes happiness is important too.
That January diet is always a struggle for everyone, but count your blessings that you're not living in the Tom Brady and Gisele Bündchen household. These guys are strictly organic, natural foods only - and that goes for their children as well. True, Bündchen and Brady do have incredible figures, but is all this really worth it?
It's not easy to look this good
In a word, 'no'. However, if you're desperate to eat as clean as a supermodel, look no further than this svelte power couple.
Only 1,000 copies of ‘Gisele’ were printed.
Supermodel Gisele Bundchen’s photograph book Gisele completely sold out on Thursday (November 5th) a day before it even hit bookshelves, according to the publisher. Only 1,000 copies of the limited edition book were printed and sold at $700 each.
Gisele’s $700 book has sold out.
Writing on Instagram, Gisele thanked fans for making the book such a huge success. “I’m feeling gratitude for the love and affection I received from everyone today at the launch of my book, thank you for being present at this very special moment for me,” the retired model wrote.
Continue reading: Gisele Bundchen's $700 Book Sells Out A Day Before Release
Gisele Bündchen is celebrating her 20 years working in the fashion industry with the creation of an exorbitantly expensive coffee table book.
Gisele Bündchen has created a coffee table book, simply entitled Gisele, to celebrate her 20 years working in the fashion industry. This is no ordinary book and, if you have plans on buying it, you’ll be forking out a hefty fee for the privilege of gaining an exclusive insight into the career of the 35-year-old Brazilian-born model. The book is retailing at the bargain price of $700.
Gisele Bundchen at the screening of No. 5 The Film in New York, October 2014.
The list also ties Cara Delevingne and Adriana Lima in joint second, and features Kendall Jenner for the first time.
For the ninth year in a row, Gisele Bundchen is world’s highest paid model, raking in $44 million in the last 12 months – and more than $35 million ahead of her nearest rivals. That figure is even more impressive when you consider that she announced her retirement from modelling back in April!
The 35 year old Brazilian supermodel made these astronomical pre-tax earnings through a number of high-profile campaigns for the likes of Under Armour, Isabel Marant, Balenciaga and Stuart Weiztman, according to the annual list published by Forbes. It calculates each model’s earnings from June 2014 through June 2015, and takes into account endorsements from advertising and cosmetics as well as from modelling.
Gisele Bundchen is the top-earning model in the world yet again
Over the last few months we’ve seen a host of celebrity divorces and rumours of marital discord. In case you’ve missed any, here’s a rundown of the most shocking splits of Summer 2015.
For those living in the Western hemisphere, summer is drawing to a close. Unfortunately, this summer has been filled with news of celebrity divorces and separation rumours concerning some of the most beloved stars on the planet. In case you’ve missed any – let’s face it, there’s been a lot to keep up with – here’s a recap.
Reports claim the Brazilian supermodel is ready to hang up the high heels for good, in order to spend more time with her family.
She’s strutted her stuff on the catwalk for some of the world’s biggest designers, but Brazilian supermodel Gisele Bundchen is reportedly calling it quits on her runway career and will retire next month during São Paulo Fashion Week.
Gisele is reportedly ready to leave the runway
According to Brazilian news website Estadao the 34-year-old will end her catwalk career on April 20th when she model’s for Brazilian brand Colcci during their São Paulo Fashion Week show. The website reports the model had always planned to end her catwalk career in her native Brazil, which is where she began her modelling career aged 14.
Continue reading: Is Supermodel Gisele Bundchen Ready To Catwalk Off The Runway Forever?
The model and NFL star, who are happily married and share two children together, first met on a blind date in 2006.
When Brazilian supermodel Gisele Bundchen first laid eyes on NFL superstar Tom Brady during a blind date set up by a mutual friend in 2006, it was definitely love at first sight. So how did the stunning 34-year-old beauty know her husband was the one "straightaway"?
Bundchen and Brady have been married since 2009
Just after Brady's huge win at yesterday evening's NFL Super Bowl XLIX, in which he was awarded the MVP, Bundchen opened up to Vogue UK in its March 2015 issue about the early days of their well-publicised marriage.
Gisele Bündchen - A Celebratory dinner and screening of 'No.5 The Film' was held in New York City and stars were photographed as they arrived at the event in New York City, New York, United States - Monday 13th October 2014
Gisele tops the list again, but which other models catwalked for big cash last year?
It's no surprise that Gisele Bundchen has topped Forbes' list of the world’s highest paid models for the eighth year running. Earning an astonishing $47 million last year alone, the Brazilian beauty stands head and shoulders above the rest of her fellow catwalkers. But which other models made the list of 2013's highest earners?
Gisele Bundchen, unlikely to be strapped for cash anytime soon
1. Gisele Bundchen ($47million)
Continue reading: Gisele, Doutzen, Adriana, Kate And The World’s 10 Highest Earning Models
Date of birth
20th July, 1980
A Race Against Time... https://t.co/hq25HJhhb2
. @YearsofLiving premiere here we come!! Mark your calendars! Season 2 of Years of Living… https://t.co/p5iQQRk3Rn
We know it’s real. Around the world, we’re mobilizing. Kick off #CWNYC by watching A Race Against Time: https://t.co/hq25HJyS2A #climate
What an inspiring woman. Thank you Jane @janegoodallinst for all that you are and for all that… https://t.co/dohPA5x3IT
All I can say 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 https://t.co/sftk0j1FRv
RT @UNEP: Reducing demand is one of the most innovative & creative areas of conservation: https://t.co/SRWkQEBndC #WildForLife https://t.co…
30,000 elephants are killed every year. Visit https://t.co/5bqDgiHJk0 to learn how to support the Elephant Crisis Fund #knotonmyplanet
Don't worry guys. I will keep him ready. #Brady'scamp #IwillwhatIwant 😂😂😂 Não se preocupem. Ele… https://t.co/tlgAQ3W8ba
É ouro Brasiiiiil!!! Parabéns @DanielDias88 🇧🇷👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 #TimeBrasil
RT @gugakuerten: Saiu nossa primeira medalha nas Paralimpíadas! É prata!!! Valeu, Odair Santos!!! #rio2016… https://t.co/Mff5yHhZZ4
What a beautiful opening! The Paralympics are off to a great start. https://t.co/yR3sHNsaMF https://t.co/NEItjcmn3S
Que abertura linda! Esses jogos Paralímpicos já começaram muito bem. Que emoção! Estes atletas… https://t.co/Cdj8Pe0rxN
Arrepiada!!! Muito emocionante! #JogosParalimpicos 💚💙💛 #CerimoniadeAbertura
@ViniciusRio2016 @TomRio2016 ❤
RT @Rio2016: .@AaronWheelz deu início a #CerimoniaDeAbertura #JogosParalimpicos descendo numa MEGARAMPA (📷: Simon Bruty OIS/IOC) https://t…
É hoje a abertura dos #JogosParalímpicos às 18h15!! 💛💚💙
RT @Rio2016: Os #JogosParalimpicos são demais, @giseleofficial! A #CerimoniaDeAbertura é amanhã às 18h15 e não dá para perder🎉 https://t.co…
Amanhã começam os jogos Paralímpicos. Muita superação e inspiração! https://t.co/NkJfvD76nI #JogosParalímpicos
Hoje é o dia de um dos patrimônios naturais mais valiosos para a humanidade. #DiadaAmazônia #Desmatamentozero 🙏🏼🌳🍃☀ https://t.co/WbCd5li3aQ


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No sector is safe.
The fashion industry is already bracing itself to be hit by higher levies on Chinese imports in September and now it seems likely that more would follow soon after.
In an interview aired on CNBC Friday morning, President Trump doubled down on his threat to raise levies on all Chinese imports to the U.S. if China further provokes the White House.
He said he was “ready to go to 500” — referring to the $505.5 billion worth of Chinese imports that the U.S. accepted in 2017 — and insisted he was doing “the right thing” for the country after having “been ripped off by China for a long time.”
The S&P 500 closed down 0.09 percent at 2,801.83, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average was 0.03 percent lower at 25,058.12 as the escalating tit-for-tat trade war rattled investors.
To date, the Trump administration has only slapped higher levies on $34 billion worth of Chinese imports, but another $16 billion have been earmarked for an unspecified later date and an additional $200 billion worth will also likely be implemented in September after China retaliated to the first round of tariffs.
The fashion sector emerged unscathed after the first round, but was not so lucky the second time, with multiple items — from textiles to handbags to footwear and suitcases appearing on the list of $200 billion worth of items that are next in the firing line for additional 10 percent levies.
A move to raise levies on virtually every single Chinese import would hit the fashion sector hard as it is heavily dependent on China, with government data showing the U.S. imported $27 billion worth of apparel from the country last year, accounting for 34 percent of all apparel imports. That is more apparel than was imported from any other country, dwarfing second-place Vietnam at $12 billion.
Rick Helfenbein, president and ceo of American Apparel & Footwear Association, said: “It is time to stop using the American consumer as a pawn in this conflict. Tariffs are taxes. Period. This is a short-sighted approach that will hit low-income Americans the hardest, imposing new hidden taxes on everything they must buy for themselves and their families.”
China was not the only one that Trump took a swipe at Friday. Soon after his interview, he moved to Twitter to accuse China and the European Union of manipulating their currencies, while voicing concerns over the Federal Reserve’s succession of interest-rate rises.
After years of crisis-induced near-zero levels, the central bank has lifted rates seven times since 2017 and has indicated several more are to come over the next couple of years.
“China, the European Union and others have been manipulating their currencies and interest rates lower, while the U.S. is raising rates while the dollars gets stronger and stronger with each passing day — taking away our big competitive edge. As usual, not a level playing field,” Trump wrote.
“The United States should not be penalized because we are doing so well. Tightening now hurts all that we have done. The U.S. should be allowed to recapture what was lost due to illegal currency manipulation and BAD Trade Deals. Debt coming due & we are raising rates – Really?”
This is the first time he has publicly criticized the U.S. central bank and goes against the White House tradition of not commenting on Fed decisions as it is an independent institution.
Average current effective duty rates
Hats – 5.5%
Travel goods – 12.3%
Footwear – 11.3%
Knit apparel – 14.2%
Woven apparel – 13.2%
Average overall tariff rate is only 1.4%


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Digital Dakshina could and should become a trend this festive season for the right reasons. COVID-19 threats have not faded and online fund transfer has become mainstream. In this, we believe many at the Tika ceremony could integrate the idea of digital Dakshina for this Dashain and following celebrations.
Ever since COVID-19 struck our lives, we have resorted to alternatives that exclude physical contact. Work from home has flourished, online teaching has become a new normal, and virtual business meeting is more prominent. However, there is one thing we Nepalese can add to it during our festivities, and that is digital Dakshina.
With festive times on us, Dakshina will be a key factor for all the celebrators. Traditionally, we offer Dakshina, (a form of monetary payment out of love, joy, and respect) hand to hand or in an envelope. But with the nonnegligible COVID-19 scare, we can resort to the power of the electronic medium that could be beneficial to most of us.
Last year during Dashain and Tihar, social media witnessed something unique, trivial, and still logical. Some Nepalese posted videos and pictures of them receiving a virtual tika on their laptops.
Check out: How to celebrate Dashain festival online?
The lockdown forced relatives distant, however, they found a most immediate hack of turning to technology. on Zoom, Messenger, or any video calling platforms, relatives observed the festival with a shiny giggle. Obviously, the experiment did work for them. On the surface, the idea of a virtual Tika ceremony sounded trivial but it works as an alternative. The idea is to keep ourselves joyful during the festivities; be it physical or virtual.
Dashain’s 10th day is Tika and with it comes a popular part and here we are talking about Dakshina. Since it lacks a straight English translation, we will stick with the Nepali word. Whether it’s Dashain or Tihar, receiving Dakshina forms a core part of those celebrating it with a year’s anticipation. However, COVID-19 threats have not thawed although dissipating. This is why the idea of electronic transfer of Dakshina can be a necessity as well as a new cultural experiment.
Check out: How to get a Virtual number in Nepal?
On the other hand, it is also imperative to learn that virtual Dakshina is not only tied to the preventive measure from COVID-19. There is a whole set of merits to not using paper bills. Let’s rephrase, digital money has many advantages over physical paper money. Let’s enumerate some reasons to establish why digital Dakshina will have the upper hand over their real-life counterparts.
Here are the advantages of Digital Dakshina over the cash Dakshina in the Dashain festival.
It is already stated but let’s elaborate. One of the key mediums the deadly Coronavirus spreads is through physical contact. Paper bills incur touches from many in a single day which may carry the culprits on them. Not using them would be rational thoughts. That applies even with the freshly produced paper notes.
The major advantage of digital Dakshina will be convenience. No need to carry cash in the pockets. You don’t have to worry about keeping cash in your pockets, dropping them, or possible theft. Just wire the amount over the air and you are good. Similarly, you can transfer the money via scanning QR codes, is not that pretty easy!!
Sparing the blushes:
The Dakshina thing can be super awkward at times in regards to how much one is paying as many also kept it a secret and it could lead to a temporary scuffle. It’s a sweet sibling rivalry thing.
Transferring the blessed money over the air would spare the blushes for the giver and the receiver both. It also helps avoid awkward stares everyone gives while you open start counting the paper bills or draw it out of your pockets.
Sustain paper bills’ life:
Paper bills also have their life span because they are made of materials. The cool thing is by not using them, you will be helping expand their life span. Time and again, Nepal Rastra Bank issues requests to people to be careful with paper bills and not cover them in red tika and puja materials. To no avail, those poor notes get drown in tika during the celebratory days. This deteriorates the physical condition of those notes and their validity gets shortened.
If you don’t use them during the Tika ceremony, it will help them stay from those “adverse situations” and help prolong their survival saving the federal bank huge sums of money.
A New Experiment:
Going digital is fun and cool. Digital payment is mainstream these days and having some loads in our mobile apps does help. Some of the best digital payment platforms like eSewa, Khalti, Fonepay are helping many of us pay online. Receiving Dakshina over such mediums will add some value as via digital cash we could redeem while shopping, top-up, or for other purposes. Let’s just say that we could do it just to break away from the convention and bring noble fun to it.
These are some of the reasons we believe digital Dakshina could become a trend this festive season. Of course, there could be more, and depending upon your choice of the transaction, you could adopt any form.
Feel free to add more to this opinion piece in the comments below.
Comments are closed.


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Lovehoney’s first key product of 2016 has sold out instantly. The Sqweel XT for Men was launched at the ANME Founders Show in January where it sold over 2,000 units and orders have continued ever since. Lovehoney’s General Sales Manager Jim Primrose said: “We’re unable to keep the Sqweel XT on shelves, such is the level of orders at the moment. Our trade customers are having to pre-order more stock, which will be arriving very soon.”
The Sqweel XT has received a mainstream media blitz in the weeks following its launch. Europe’s biggest free newspaper, Metro, told its four million daily readers that it was ‘just the job’ for male pleasure while the UK’s most popular newspaper, The Sun, raved to readers with the jokey headline ‘Who needs a girlfriend?’. The Daily Star called it ‘a game-changing pleasure device’ in an article that was shared over 250 times online. The Daily Express, also featured the Sqweel XT.
Primrose added: “Last year, we predicted that 2016 would be the Year of the Male Sex Toy and this just goes to show that that was correct. The momentum for male sex toys is gathering pace and we’re seeing huge demand for the Sqweel XT and other male toys across our brands.” The Sqweel XT features two sets of Turbo Tongues – soft and extra firm, which rotate in three speeds and three pulsating patterns to simulate oral sex action. USB rechargeable, the toy offers the ultimate joy for men on tap.


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Singapore: Mumbai-based Ipca Laboratories Ltd plans to acquire a pharmaceutical company in Indonesia with a view to enter the largest South-East Asian market.
“We are scouting for an Indonesian company, especially with a generic product marketing licence,” Ipca regional manager S Sugumaran said here on Wednesday.
The company has put together a $20 million war-chest for the acquisition, to be made within the next few months, said Kuala Lumpur-based Sugumaran, adding that a number of companies have been shortlisted, though he kept the names confidential.
“We need good access to the Indonesian market and an established pharmaceutical company would be good vehicle to market Indian pharma products in Indonesia,” said Sugumaran on the sidelines of a seminar on the Indian pharmaceutical sector in Singapore.
The seminar was addressed by several pharmaceutical companies and officials from India and Singapore, including Deputy Drug Controller of India A K Pradhan.
Eleven Indian companies participated in the seminar, where elaborate discussions were held on India-Singapore pharmaceutical trade under the Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement.
“We expect Indian pharmaceutical companies to expand into the South-East Asian markets through Singapore, leveraging on the bilateral benefits under the CECA,” said Dr Manju Kalra Prakash, the assistant secretary general of the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry, which organised the seminar in conjunction with the Indian High Commission to Singapore.
Over 100 delegates attended the seminar, which was also addressed by Singapore’s Economic Development Board and the Health Sciences Authority.


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'Value PCs' costing less than $500 made up more than half of new PC sales in June for the first time, according to data from Current Analysis.
The analyst firm based its findings on sales in retail stores in North America.
"The fact that a majority of consumers are paying less than $500 for a retail desktop computer is an onerous outlook for the industry in general," senior analyst Toni Duboise warned in a report.
The average selling price of PCs in US retail stores dropped to $550 last June from $743 in July 2004 and $644 in July 2005.
Duboise cited a lack of new technologies that usually drive customers towards higher end systems as another major cause for the rise of the value PC.
The best-selling units in June 2005 and June 2006 were nearly identical in their configurations, although the latter was 23 per cent cheaper.
Back-to-school sales and the move to mobile systems also contributed to the drop in the average selling price of desktop computers, as did recent price cuts by Intel as part of its efforts to regain market share from AMD.
Software-defined networking can centralise management of your global network, improving security and helping to optimise applications
Electronics and computer chain the latest high street retailer to fall into difficulties
Incisive Media and Investec Asset Management supported fundraiser crosses Atlantic in 40 days
Alphabet's health sciences division Verily have been messing with AI algorithms


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May 6, 2020 12:36 PM
Small butcher plant worker ( David Sommerstein/NPR )
The opinions expressed in the following commentary are those of Joaquin Contente, president of California Farmers Union, Hanford, CA.
In her April 27th commentary “We Need More Small Plants,” Kate Miller tells a “campfire story about a guy who buys a beef plant,” blaming the failure of independent plants on ineptitude.
But she has it all wrong.
The closure of 90 percent of American meat plants over the last 50 years isn’t due to a lack of knowledge or a failure to reinvest in facilities – it’s due to decades of lax antitrust enforcement.
This isn’t the first time the meat industry has had a problem with consolidation. When just five major meat packers controlled the market 100 years ago, Congress passed the Packers and Stockyards Act to “assure fair competition and fair trade practices, to safeguard farmers and ranchers…to protect consumers…and to protect members of the livestock, meat, and poultry industries from unfair, deceptive, unjustly discriminatory and monopolistic practices.”
Joaquin Contente, president of California Farmers Union
For a while, the Packers and Stockyards Act worked, establishing competition in the meat industry. But when the government eased up on enforcement, corporate raiders bought up smaller plants, made their money, and then closed them. The consequences have been significant – when so few companies, many foreign owned, control 85 percent of the beef market, they have the market power to pay farmers less and charge consumers more.
The pandemic has underscored why this is such a big problem. Because there are so few meatpacking plants left – just 50 process 98 percent of America’s meat supply – the closure of more than a dozen following outbreaks among workers has rattled the whole food chain. Consumers are already seeing higher prices and meat shortages. Without a market to sell livestock into, farmers are hemorrhaging money. If this continues, many might not be able to survive through the end of the year.
The solution to all of these problems? More small- and medium-sized meat plants. A more diverse, competitive food system is safer and more resilient, now and in the future.
We can work together to make that happen by demanding that antitrust laws are enforced, which would enable a greater number of smaller plants to compete in the marketplace.
We can demand the reinstatement of mandatory Country-of-Origin Labeling of meat, something that both farmers and consumer overwhelmingly support. Years ago, farmers and consumers came together to pass mandatory labeling of meat and it was in effect until a kangaroo court at the World Trade Organization (WTO), which included at least one trade lawyer representing the beef industry, ruled against it. The multinational meat packers are the only ones who benefit from the confusion about where meat comes from at the grocery store.
We can call for reform of our campaign finance system so that donations from large meat plants no longer influence government oversight of our country’s food supply.
Every campfire story has an ending. For this story, we have the power to write an ending that ensures our food system works better for farmers and consumers.


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Federal Reserve chair vows to bring inflation under control
“Mortgage rates will go up, car loan rates – all those rates that affect consumers’ buying decisions,” Mr. Powell said of the way higher rates would work. “Housing prices won’t rise as much, and equity prices won’t rise as much, so people will spend less.”
The goal is to allow factories and businesses to hold on so that buyers no longer compete for the limited stock of goods and services available, creating shortages that enable companies to raise prices without scaring away vengeful buyers.
What is inflation? Inflation is a loss of purchasing power over time, which means that your dollar will not go as far yesterday as it was today. It is usually expressed as the annual change in prices for everyday goods and services such as food, furniture, apparel, transportation and toys.
“What we hope to achieve is bringing the economy to a level where supply and demand are in sync,” Mr. Powell said.
Asked whether the country could be on the cusp of a wage price spiral, in which wages and inflation feed off each other, Mr. Powell said in a cautious tone.
“This is a serious concern, and one that we are monitoring carefully,” Mr. Powell said, noting that wage increases are very rapid – especially for low-wage workers – and that whether they would become problematic It will depend on how frequent they prove to be.
“The big thing we don’t want is for the roots of inflation to become more self-perpetuating,” he said. “So we are moving forward with our program to raise interest rates and bring inflation under control.”
Mr Powell underlined that the Fed’s plan for policy would be “agile” in response to the uncertainty coming from Ukraine. Economists have said the conflict is likely to raise the prices of gas and other commodities, leading to further inflation – already, oil prices have gone up. But at the same time, the combination of high fuel costs and fluctuating consumer sentiment could be a drag on economic growth.
But he clarified repeatedly that it was important to put price gains back on the line.
“We need to provide price stability; We are not currently doing that,” Mr. Powell later called the central bank “very motivated to get the economy back to a place where we have inflation under control, but also a stronger economy and a stronger labor market.” Is. ,
#Federal #Reserve #chair #vows #bring #inflation #control


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Governor Rick Snyder of Michigan
By Lieutenant Governor Brian Calley
August 10, 2012
If there's one question I get asked a lot these days, it's this one: Why do we need to build a new bridge to Canada?
It's not surprising people are thinking about it. Millions are being spent on TV ads to tear the bridge down before it's even been built, but the arguments against it are about as sturdy as a suspension bridge built with toothpicks.
So let's set the record straight. Here's why a new bridge is so important to the people of Michigan -- and here's why it won't cost us a penny.
We make things here in Michigan. We grow fruits and vegetables, build automobiles, construct furniture and harvest lumber -- and we make money by selling our products across the country and around the world. If we want to create more and better jobs in our state, those industries have to grow. They can only grow if we're able to produce more and sell more. And we can only sell more if we can put our products in the hands of our customers.
The problem is, there are limits to what we can sell because we only have one bridge to reach Canada, our biggest and best customer, at the place where we need it most -- the Detroit-Windsor crossing. Today, the Ambassador Bridge is crowded, and it routinely suffers backups and delays. As we all know, time is money, and our factories and farmers lose out the longer it takes for them to ship goods to market.
If we want more jobs, that means we want more businesses to come to Michigan. But new businesses won't come to Michigan if they're going to waste time and money trying to get their trucks across a bridge that doesn't meet their needs. They will look elsewhere. Thankfully, there's a solution -- the New International Trade Crossing.
Under an agreement signed by Governor Rick Snyder and the Canadian government, a new bridge will be built from Windsor to Detroit, opening the door for more trade between our two countries. The best part of this deal is that under the iron-clad agreement, Canada agrees to foot the bill for Michigan's portion of the bridge. I'll say it again. That bridge won't cost Michigan a thing.
Why would Canada agree to such a deal? They see how incredibly important the bridge is to their economy and their future. The same is true for us in Michigan and the United States. About 8,000 trucks cross the bridge into Canada each day, and all of that trade supports 237,000 jobs across Michigan. In fact, in 2011, $597 billion passed between the U.S. and Canada.
This bridge is a great deal for Michigan. Right off the bat, the project will create thousands of new jobs - including 10,000 Michigan jobs related to the project. And we'll be looking to the private sector to do the work as they make bids to compete for the project. Have more questions about the bridge? Check out BuildthisBridge.com. You'll find an FAQ, the agreement, video, and a list of more than 160 companies and leaders that support the project, including Ford, GM, Chrysler and politicians from both sides of the aisle.


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According to an RBI survey, consumer confidence, as measured by the current situation index, in early March 2020 remained broadly close to the all-time low.
Two latest surveys on industrial outlook conducted by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) give us a sense of what COVID-19 could do to the Indian economy.
The RBI released the results of the 89th round of the Industrial Outlook Survey (IOS) conducted during January-March, 2020 and the result of another quick survey with a smaller sample in the wake of the virus outbreak.
After the virus outbreak gained momentum, industries have assessed that they are walking into a highly pessimistic phase in terms of demand and overall financial situation. This wasn’t what they said in the first survey.
In the first survey, conducted in Jan-March, about 860 companies participated.
Outcome? In Q4, all the respondents polled, expected positive sentiments on external demand and their assessment of the overall financial situation was improved.
Manufacturing companies assessed some improvement in production and order books from the weak sentiments exhibited in the previous quarter; the sentiments on employment conditions became mildly optimistic. They also said pressures stemming from interest payments on borrowings and salary expenses were bound to soften.
Then came the second survey. This was after the surveyors realised things are going haywire as COVID-19 began showing its real impact. This survey was conducted during March 18-20, 2020 among 860 respondents again, of which, only 48 companies responded.
What was the outcome? Respondents assessed said demand conditions will deteriorate for the manufacturing sector, which also translated into pessimism on the overall business situation for Q4 of fiscal year 2020. Even the outlook for Q1 of FY21 also indicated negative sentiment.
Basically, the responses between the regular industrial outlook survey and the quick survey reflected sharply different views. The latter confirming sudden deterioration in sentiments across all sectors for Q4 and a stark pessimism for Q1 when compared to their assessment given in the regular round of the survey.
So one can say that the COVID-19 outbreak has caused panic among industries as the RBI surveys show. Even then these predictions may be premature. The final impact of the virus outbreak both in India and abroad remains uncertain even at this point.
For example, take a look at the GDP forecasts for India. On Friday, Fitch Ratings said it has slashed India's growth forecast to a 30-year low of 2 percent, from 5.1 percent projected earlier for the fiscal year ending March 2021.
On the other hand, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) projects India’s growth to slow down to 4 percent in FY21. That’s quite a difference between the two GDP estimates. Surveys can be sometimes misleading since the small sample chosen may not be reflective of the actual trend.
But the pessimistic scenario painted by the RBI quick surveys is shared by one other key primary data indicator — bad loans in the banking sector.
Most banks are indicating a sharp deterioration in the asset quality scenario. For instance, in an interview given to Moneycontrol this week , Punjab National Bank’s Managing Director and CEO, SS Mallikarjuna Rao had said the bank estimates about Rs 5,000 crore fresh slippages in the fourth quarter.
This included Rs 1,800 crore slippages that the bank identifies as a direct fall out of COVID-19 impact. PNB isn’t alone. On Friday, global rating agency, Moody’s placed IndusInd Bank's domestic and foreign currency issuer ratings of Baa3/P-3 under review for a downgrade.
This reflects likely deterioration in asset quality in a worsening economy, the agency said. Most banks which reported the third quarter numbers have shown a notable increase in the level of bad loans.
Of them, the most worrying numbers came from Yes Bank. Out of its total Rs 40,000 crore bad loans, Rs 39,000 crore were corporate NPAs. And possibly, there is more to come.
Falling consumer confidence
Along with the worsening business scenario, one should see the trend in consumer sentiments as well. According to the latest RBI Consumer Confidence survey, consumer confidence, as measured by the current situation index (CSI), in early March 2020 remained broadly close to the all-time low, which was recorded in the previous survey.
Sentiments on the general economic situation, employment scenario, and household income remained pessimistic.
Economists and banking analysts this writer spoke to are of the opinion that the bad assets in the banking sector could be spike significantly on account of the prolonged lockdown which could particularly hurt small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and microfinance loans.This is because these are the segments in the economy which get immediately affected by the economic standstill. RBI industrial outlook surveys confirm what bank NPA charts have been telling us for long. For the economy and the banking sector, bad days are ahead.


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Top business trends and issues affecting technology companies in 2019
From tariffs to 5G and IPO opportunities, what’s in store for tech?
INSIGHT ARTICLE |
What are the top trends and issues affecting middle market technology businesses in 2019? RSM’s Steve Ingram, national technology industry leader, shares his insights on the important things to watch.
Tariffs and inflation
Inflationary pressures appear to be affecting supply chains at a time when tariffs imposed on steel, aluminum and a host of consumer goods have come into play. According to RSM’s 2018 Q4 Middle Market Business Index, 68 percent of executives across industries report that they paid higher prices for goods and services, excluding labor, and 71 percent expect to pay higher prices in the next six months into 2019. A strong majority of respondents indicated they are experiencing inflationary pressures and expect those concerns to continue over the next year-and-a-half. As operating margins become tighter, nearly 60 percent of middle market businesses are currently passing price increases through to their customers, and that includes those businesses in the technology sector. Middle market tech companies will need to assess current production efforts and gain efficiencies where gaps are identified, review raw materials and production contracts, shore up supply chains, and evaluate margins to counter tariff affects and keep pricing competitive in the marketplace. In addition, companies may need to look at domestic manufacturing alternatives to create their technology products in the United States, as opposed to abroad, as an option to avoid tariffs.
Private equity activity will continue to rise in 2019 in the technology sector as there seems to be a never-ending source of capital for innovative tech companies. In addition, the year will also likely see more technology companies going public than previously as established unicorns reach maturity and are truly ready for becoming next-level enterprises. Lyft, Uber, Pinterest and Airbnb have all indicated likely early 2019 public launches. To prepare for investment or initial public offering (IPO), companies should ready their business operations by completing early due diligence or if going public, consider IPO readiness measures, including assessments of processes, people and risks related to regulatory compliance or tax concerns, to set the organization up for success.
We live in a time when consumers are king and their particular buying preferences are driving change in the marketplace. That’s certainly evident in the technology sector as flexible consumption habits or pay-as-you-go buying behaviors will continue to affect some sector areas, particular concerning software as a service business models, such as Salesforce. Consumers, and businesses, demand flexibility and customization in their usage of technology offerings and refuse to be locked into specific, one-size-fits-all contracts. Technology companies would be wise to continue to monitor the needs of their consumers in 2019 to anticipate current demands and anticipate future wishes.
Technology’s impact on industries
Technology will continue its pervasive presence in our lives in 2019 and we’ll see this play out in an explosion of digital innovation efforts in various industry sectors from education and health care to retail and financial services. For instance, fintech offerings in the financial services space will continue to disrupt that industry to meet online banking and mobility needs, in some cases driving traditional financial institutions to be more innovative in their own services. Likewise, the education sector will see advances via technology through online learning, virtual classrooms and digital books. And healthtech will grow, leveraging artificial intelligence, machine learning and wearables to provide improved wellness and health care to consumers. Opportunities abound across industries for many middle market technology companies.
Data security and increased regulatory challenges
The vast amount of data collection will continue into 2019 and technology companies will have greater opportunities to use and understand their buyers further via this key information. However, with this treasure trove of data comes risk, too, in ensuring information is secured and kept private. Middle market technology companies will need to implement rigorous cybersecurity measures to ward off breaches and cyberattacks. Likewise, companies will need to be mindful of regulations like the General Data Protection Regulation which requires all organizations that hold, transmit or process European Union (EU) resident data to comply with the law—regardless of whether they actually operate in the EU. Failure to comply can result in significant financial penalties. Also, with the increased scrutiny from policymakers on companies like Facebook and others to ward off misinformation and data misuse, the technology industry as a whole must be prepared for further regulatory measures to protect against privacy risks and other nefarious abuses.
5G wireless network technology
While 4G helped fuel the tech companies of today, 5G is the wireless technology opportunity of the upcoming decade, stitching together technologies of the past and enabling new technology uses. It’s expected that 5G will provide download speeds that are 10 to 100 times faster. 5G is already available in some cities across the United States, with broader rollout across other cities in the next year and beyond. Edge computing, autonomous cars, augmented reality, virtual reality and other technologies will greatly benefit from the deployment of 5G. Additionally, middle market entrepreneurs will be focused on new technology use cases that they can bring to market as a result of the faster download speeds and improved battery life afforded by 5G. The United States finds itself in a race with countries like China, South Korea and Japan to deploy 5G on a widespread basis for the benefit of their respective technology ecosystems.
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Some middle market technology companies may need to absorb margin pressure by adjusting their pricing structure or shifting supply chains.
The Wayfair decision doesn’t just affect online retailers. Technology businesses must address resulting state sales taxes, too. Learn more.
Finance structuring in technology companies was the topic of discussion at RSM’s Boston Tech Connection. Get key takeaways from panelists.


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WASHINGTON – The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) last week announced the launch of a statutory review of the operation of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) with respect to trade in automotive goods. As part of its review, USTR seeks public comments and will convene a public hearing to receive input from interested stakeholders. This is the second of five biennial reviews USTR will conduct, as required under the USMCA Implementation Act (P.L. 116-113).
As explained in a formal notice, USTR and the Interagency Committee on Trade in Automotive Goods are seeking public input on the actions automotive companies are taking to comply with the automotive rules of origin under the USMCA. Interested parties may also comment on the enforcement of the USMCA’s automotive rules of origin and other relevant matters. Finally, the public is invited to provide views on whether the USMCA automotive rules of origin remain effective in light of new vehicle technologies, such a clean-energy vehicles, as well as changes to the character of automotive goods and processes by which autos and auto parts are produced.
The public is invited to submit comments via the Regulations.gov online portal through January 17, 2024. The public is also invited to participate in a virtual hearing that will take place on February 7, 2024.
No later than July 1, 2024, USTR will submit the results of its review to Congress and will publish its report on https://www.ustr.gov/.
The results of USTR’s first review was published in 2022 and can be viewed on the USTR website.


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MILAN — Two years into the Mariella Burani Fashion Group’s fraudulent bankruptcy trial, prosecutor Luigi Orsi has asked a Milan court to sentence founder Walter Burani and his son Giovanni, former chief executive officer, to nine years in jail.
A legal source said Orsi described the Burani management as “a systematic fraud marked by a very significant criminal attitude.” It is widely believed Giovanni Burani masterminded the expansion of the firm into an apparel and accessories conglomerate in the early years of the Naughts, piling up debt and dabbling too freely and creatively with finances, according to sources.
Hermès is launching a Laundromat pop-up shop in NYC - dubbed Hermèsmatic - where customers can bring their old scarves to be dip-dyed by an expert. Get all the details on WWD.com. #wwdnews (📷: @donstahl)


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Uber Eats, the online food delivery platform, joins the bandwagon as it starts accepting the dog-themed altcoin Shiba Inu as a form of payment after launching nationwide delivery in the U.S.
Acceptance of Shiba Inu as payment continues to grow, with Uber Eats as the latest company to embrace the popular altcoin. SHIB holders can now pay for their food orders using the dog-themed crypto asset through BitPay, according to the Bitcoin payment service provider’s announcement on Twitter over the weekend.
At the moment, Uber Eats does not accept direct crypto payments, but the payment service provider offers several alternatives that allow crypto holders to use SHIB as payment. This includes using BitPay gift cards, BitPay Cards and Menufy.
BitPay described prepaid gift cards as “fast and easy” ways for users to convert their crypto into prepaid gift cards that allow them to spend it “just like cash” at a wide list of “merchants across a variety of categories.” Another way of paying Uber Eats using crypto is by purchasing gift cards for restaurants that accept cryptocurrency.
But, perhaps the most convenient way is to use the BitPay Card since it enables users to spend their crypto “anywhere that Mastercard is accepted.” According to BitPay, the card allows users to pay in Shiba Inu and other accepted cryptocurrencies to “DoorDash, Uber Eats, GrubHub and any other with any food delivery service,” including food deliveries from local restaurants with their “own delivery service.”
BitPay also collaborated with the restaurant online ordering system Menufy to make it easy for users to pay for delivery and takeout to local restaurants and other fast-food chains directly from their crypto wallet.
The latest announcement came at the heels of Uber Eats launching a nationwide delivery all over the U.S. “We’re committed to being a platform that allows consumers to get anything (like their favorite foods from across the country) and finding new and diverse ways to help merchants grow their business,” an Uber spokesperson said in a recent interview.
SHIB is one of the casualties of the latest crypto meltdown, but unlike other crypto assets, it did not wallow during the tumble but immediately bounced back. As of 11:52 p.m. ET on Sunday, Shiba Inu was trading 0.73% at $0.000009985 with a 24-hour volume of $210,944,320, based on the latest data from CoinMarketCap.


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What would the festive season be without splurging on gifts, and spoiling yourself? And it would appear that shoppers in the province are doing a lot of both this month.
The managers and spokesmen- and women for the big shopping malls in KwaZulu-Natal said they had seen a rise in their foot count this month despite the harsh economic challenges facing the country.
Tessa Apostolides, marketing manager for the Shelly Centre, near Shelly Beach on the South Coast, said there had been a noticeable increase in turnover since the beginning of December. She said shoppers were, however, “shopping differently”, and buying necessities rather than luxuries.
“While the recent trends and analyses ...view middle of the document...
We have a lot of tourists who frequent the mall. Game and Checkers have been very busy, especially on sale days. Security is on high alert to prevent any incidents,” she said.
Crisis, what economic crisis?
Navsha Naicker, the manager at Jay Jays at Durban’s Mugrave Centre, said it had seen an encouraging increase in sales. “Our most popular items are dresses, kimonos and vests for ladies, and for men it’s chinos, shorts and caps. Our gift cards are out of stock.”
Courtney Kok, the manager of Earthchild at The Pavilion, in Westville, said there had been an increase in sales compared with last year.
With the festive season in full swing, malls in the province are pulling out all the stops to attract shoppers.
The Shelly Centre is filled with all things festive, from its gift-wrapping service to a photographer who will take your child’s, or your own, picture with Santa Claus.
The Candy Cane Craft Corner for children is a must-see. In keeping with this year’s theme of candy, the activity area on the Centre Court boasts crafts like necklace making, biscuit decorating, sugar tray art and giant twister making.
Shoppers who spend more than R300 can enjoy a free coffee and muffin.
Additional security has been brought in and management is in communication with the police, who have a satellite station on site.
Chrisna Stoltz, 32, of Centurion, Pretoria, who is on holiday for a week with her 4-year-old daughter, Christi, said she loved the mall and seeing the excitement of her child in the candy corner made her happy. “There’s a great atmosphere and sense of festivity and I think the overall shopping experience is awesome.”
Until December 31, trading hours are 8.30am to 6pm on weekdays, weekends and public holidays 8.30am to 5pm.
eManzimtoti’s Galleria Mall’s decorations...


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HAMILTON, Ohio, Nov. 20 -- Owners of digital printing presses can now quickly expand into fast-growing consumer and business-to-business photo printing markets with new Kromekote(R) True-Photo papers from SMART Papers.
The ultra-glossy, recycled-content digital papers are unmatched in the global marketplace. They combine the quality and feel of traditional photo paper with the unsurpassed printability of triple cast-coated Kromekote.
Kromekote True-Photo delivers outstanding photo and image reproduction, creating visuals that pop off the page. A brilliant 92-bright white shade also produces intense colors and maximum image resolution.
"When it comes to digital photography, businesses and consumers increasingly want the quality and feel of traditional photo paper," said Gwen Dillingham, Digital Product Manager for SMART Papers. "Kromekote True-Photo is the closest thing to that quality and tactile experience on the market today."
The new archival and acid-free papers enable digital press owners to profitably meet the growing demand for custom short-run photos and photo applications like greeting cards, direct mail, personalized calendars and much more. The papers are guaranteed on HP Indigo, Xerox iGen, Kodak NexPress, Canon, Konica-Minolta and all production-rated laser printers. The papers are FSC certified and feature 30% post-consumer fiber.
The respected research group InfoTrends recently estimated that 19.7 billion photos will be digitally printed in 2008. The group also noted that innovation in photo printing today will make printed images even more appealing to consumers.
SMART Papers is the only North American premium papermaker now in the process of becoming 100% fossil-fuel free, converting all of its energy production to 100% carbon-neutral waste wood biomass.
Details on distinctive Kromekote True-Photo digital papers
The new Kromekote True-Photo is the latest in the company's continued expansion of its ultra-glossy Kromekote Digital papers lineup. SMART Papers recently announced FSC certification for its full Kromekote line.
Kromekote True-Photo has a mirror-smooth, triple cast-coated surface on one side for sharp photo reproduction on digital presses-and a newly engineered soft matte surface on the other side. The new surface treatment emulates the quality and appearance of traditional photo paper used by generations of businesses and consumers worldwide.
The papers are RIT-certified and available in 8- and 10-point caliper, 18x12 size and are sealed in 250 sheet packs, 1000 sheets per carton. All Kromekote True-Photo sheets are acid free, archival, process and elemental chlorine free.
Other applications include photo books, advertising materials, brochures and business cards.
For samples and more information on Kromekote True-Photo, contact Gwen Dillingham at 513-869-5149.
WhatTheyThink is the global printing industry's leading independent media organization with both print and digital offerings, including WhatTheyThink.com, PrintingNews.com and WhatTheyThink magazine versioned with a Printing News and Wide-Format & Signage edition. Our mission is to provide cogent news and analysis about trends, technologies, operations, and events in all the markets that comprise today’s printing and sign industries including commercial, in-plant, mailing, finishing, sign, display, textile, industrial, finishing, labels, packaging, marketing technology, software and workflow.


text: Halo was originally not going to be exclusively released for Xbox. Halo was originally supposed to be released on Mac, PS2, and Dreamcast, before Microsoft bought 20% share of Bungie. The game was developed by Bungie but was going to be produced by Rockstar at the time. The game started as a real-time strategy for the Apple Macintosh, but quickly changed to a first-person shooter and was to be cross platform. Just think maybe if it went though as planed maybe the Dreamcast wouldn’t have died off.


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CHICAGO, March 2, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Nearly all American shoppers (99%) say they feel safer shopping at stores that provide sanitizing stations at their entrances and that they plan to keep using wipes from kiosks even after the COVID vaccine becomes available to them, according to a new survey conducted by IRI Research.
The independent research was sponsored by Terraboost Media, a "Purpose-Driven" Out-of-Home (OOH) media company and manufacturer of disinfectant wipes. Over the past 15 years, Terraboost has created a network of more than 100,000 hand sanitizing billboards nationwide at supermarkets, drugstores, malls, airports, and other transportation hubs.
"While our team inherently believed consumer behavior regarding sanitizing & disinfecting has changed forever, we were still surprised to see that 99% of Americans intend to use our kiosks to sanitize their hands and carts even after being vaccinated," said Terraboost CEO Brian Morrison, whose wellness kiosks are installed at top tier retailers such as CVS, Albertsons and Walgreens nationwide.
The survey found high shopper engagement (77%) with the wellness kiosks leading to 47% recall and 34% claiming an influence on purchase behavior. Additionally, the study reported that 70% of shoppers took two or more wipes.
"More than one-third of respondents said that seeing the ads on the kiosks influenced shopping behavior. This kind of interaction between consumers and advertisers is incredibly valuable as our hand-sanitizing billboards are an opportunity for our advertisers to literally sponsor health, wellness and the safety of their community when its needed the most," Morrison said. "Further, this type of high impact out-of-home advertising is incredibly cost-effective as compared to other types of advertising."
These results come at a time when much of the broader OOH advertising industry experienced a downturn because of the coronavirus pandemic. According to a report by Billboard Insider, out-of-home advertising revenue decreased 45% in the second quarter of 2020 compared to the previous year, accounting for $1.48 billion, based on figures released by the Out of Home Advertising Association of America (OAAA).
Terraboost has seen a more than 400% spike in the past year as its billboard network is located inside essential businesses that are getting increased traffic, impressions and approximately five times more engagement vs. pre-pandemic. The 5-foot, full color messaging is positioned on wellness kiosks that dispense a complimentary sanitizing wipe or sanitizer to all shoppers, while reminding them they have options at checkout time.
About Terraboost Media
Terraboost Media provides hand-sanitizing products and purpose-driven advertising solutions to its clients. During the past 15 years, the company has built a network of more than 100,000 hand-sanitizing kiosks across the U.S. Terraboost is proud to collaborate with some of the country's most admired retailers, to deliver comprehensive health & wellness solutions addressing the safety and well-being of the public. To learn more, email [email protected] or visit www.shop.terraboost.com.
IRI provides integrated big data, predictive analytics, and forward-looking insights on a single technology platform, IRI Liquid Data®, to help CPG, over-the-counter health care, retail and media companies personalize their marketing and grow their businesses. IRI has developed a portfolio of rapid-response COVID-19 business solutions to help CPG manufacturers and retailers quickly understand consumers' shopping and media consumption behaviors.
SOURCE Terraboost Media


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Octavo Designs has created a beautiful look for The Urban Winery's new drink VIDALPA.
Established created the perfect branding, packaging and art direction design for S.Oil luxury hair oil. Combining oil illustrations in black and white, and gold, the design is sure to stand out.
Akashi-Tai, a range of five artisan sakes, launches its new identity and packaging design by Cowan London.
Creative branding and communications agency Our Design Agency (ODA) reveals strategy, identity and design for digitally enabled building supplies start-up BUILT/.
Historic, family owned distillery WH Palmer, has released its Palmers 44 gin with newly rejuvenated packaging, courtesy of Nude Brand Creation, to celebrate 200 years of distilling.
The Surrey Copper Distillery launches with the release of the naming and brand identity developed by Nude Brand Creation.
Maverick brewers BrewDog are taking on the craft spirits category with LoneWolf. They sought out brand creation, identity, and packaging design services from B&B Studio.
Design agency Ohmybrand worked on creating the perfect look for Konoplyanka vegetable oils. With a traditional design, a clear purpose, and a luxurious style - the project was a success and worth looking into further.
Subscription-based recipe kit service Simply Cook has unveiled a new range of in-store recipe kits with a unique design created in collaboration by B&B studio and Path.
Fish Club Wine wanted to stand out on the shelf, and got the perfect design that will make the bottle impossible to miss, courtesy of Backbone Branding.


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Tulsa testing online venue for property auction
TULSA, Okla. (AP) - The city of Tulsa is trying a new way to get rid of extra property it's accumulated.
Tulsa's first online surplus property auction begins Friday and runs through July 12.
City officials say the process will be a quicker way for Oklahoma's second-largest city to unload the vehicles, office furniture, heavy equipment and outdated computer gear it no longer needs.
Customers can register online at www.purplewave.com and make payment arrangements when the bidding's done.
The city's finance department says it will work with other online auction companies in coming months to see which produces the best results.
The department will compare results with those of its traditional auctions it usually holds held twice a year.
(Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)


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One thing Apple isn’t known for is video games, often playing second fiddle to its Microsoft counterparts. In March, the company announced its foray into the video game subscription service with Apple Arcade, promising around 100 exclusive titles to its devices. This isn’t a cheap investment, as reports are suggesting that Apple is already sinking $500 million into the endeavour.
Sources speaking with the Financial Times revealed that many of the games are set to have budgets in the millions, but a keen-eyed industry insider might notice that budgets for larger triple-A titles can range as high as $200 million alone. Apple isn’t aiming for 100 games right off the bat however, and many of its offerings will be indie-style games seen on iPhone, iPad, Mac and Apple TV devices; truly worthy of the Arcade moniker.
These games are made using much smaller teams and it looks as though Apple has brought on board some established talent to handle the task. Annapurna Interactive, Bossa Studios, Cartoon Network, Finji, Giant Squid, Klei Entertainment, Konami, Lego, Mistwalker, Sega, Snowman and Ustwo are all said to have thrown their hat into the ring, although it remains a mystery as to what each are currently working on for Apple.
Apple isn’t exactly going to have it easy when it comes to competition in the video game subscription market, with Google currently cooking up Stadia, Microsoft working on Project xCloud, and other efforts from EA’s Project Atlas and Nvidia’s GeForce NOW. $500 million might be no small amount, but when Apple is playing in the big leagues it does beg the question whether it’s enough.
KitGuru Says: It’ll be interesting to see how this will shape up for Apple, particularly when exclusivity is something that’s regularly been shunned as seen with the Epic Games Store. I also remain sceptical that the growing number of potential subscription services remains cost effective for the general user. Are you looking forward to Apple Arcade and the other cloud gaming platforms?


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Apple shares a behind-the-scenes look at how it used the iPhone 15 Max to capture footage used at an Apple event Event October 30.
Apple used its newly released iPhone 15 Pro Max with the new USB-C connector as the main camera to film the “scarily fast” Apple event. The event was filmed under the cover of darkness at the iconic Apple Park, showcasing the device's capabilities, especially in low-light conditions.
As the company notes, the iPhone 15 Pro Max's USB-C connector delivers data transfer speeds of up to 10 Gbps when using a compatible USB 3 cable. This opens up new workflows, such as recording ProRes video directly to an external SSD -storage device. The production team can quickly adjust footage and improve efficiency. Apple Log's dynamic range provides greater flexibility in post-production.
iPhone 15 Pro Max supports ProRes video capture at up to 4K60 fps with Apple Log encoding for better post-production color grading. Additionally, both iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max support the global standard for color workflows, the Academy Color Encoding System (ACES).
Apple also released a short video about how this feat was achieved.
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Apple used SpaceCam setup to integrate iPhone 15 Pro Max as the primary camera for effortless capture of complex shots.
Using the Blackmagic Camera app, designed specifically for iOS users, gave the crew a familiar interface and the same powerful tools found on Blackmagic Design digital film cameras This allowed the team to retain traditional filmmaking techniques, including using cranes, dollies and even drones to film scenes and showcase the new M3 MacBook Pro line.
Released in September, Blackmagic Camera is available for free on the App Store and supports encoding Apple Log on iPhone 15 Pro Max.