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Story in the Washington Business Journal
Future of Florida Avenue Market is up for grabs
Residents, customers and merchants of the bustlingAvenue Market in Northeast D.C. have long endured its gritty warehouses, barred windows and the missing letters on the sign bearing the name Union Market, its original label from the 1930s, when the city used the site for hundreds of retailers displaced by new government buildings.
The market's shabbiness has lingered undisturbed for years, stymied by the daunting task of bringing together the 24-acre market's 69 landowners, many of them immigrants, to decide on the best use of the property.
Now, two opposing factions are sparring over competing plans that will determine the future of the historic market.
New Town Development LLC of D.C., an entity of landlord-turned-developer Sang Oh Choi, won development rights to some parcels of the market from the D.C. Council and wants to create a dense residential neighborhood with more than 400 small ethnic and specialty shops, a la City's SoHo or TriBeCa.
But the market's existing businesses, landowners and stakeholders, galvanized by what they perceive as a threat to their livelihood, have created their own version of the market's future, with help from Mayor Adrian Fenty's Office of Planning.
They would retain the existing uses, while adding residential and office use. They also want to make the roads pedestrian friendly and spruce up the gritty, dimly lit stores to be more welcoming to shoppers.
Avenue Market, also known as Capitol City Market, opened in 1929 as a produce warehouse along Fourth and Fifth streets NE and Morse Street. Gradually, it spread to Avenue NE on the south side, Penn Street NE to the north, Sixth Street NE to the east and the railway tracks to the west. The property includes Union Market, D.C. Farmers Market, wholesale operations and specialty stores.
Over the decades, the area became the major produce and food distribution center for the District's restaurants and corner grocers. But with D.C. transforming its old neighborhoods and gentrifying its inner-city streets, like the redevelopment of the area north of Massachusetts Avenue to its south, the market is ripe for change.
That's where Choi, the operator of Sam Wang Produce Inc. in the market, comes in. Choi, who has some political clout with former Councilman Vincent Orange through lobbyist John Ray, got the council to endorse his master plan for the market as the model in the "New Town at Capital City Market Revitalization Development and Public/Private Partnership Emergency Act," passed last December.
The law gives Choi until Sept. 10 to purchase more than 50 percent of the land. If he hits that target, the District government will aid in acquiring the rest of the property through available options, including eminent domain, negotiations, tax relief and subsidies to nonsubscribing landowners.
The heart of the difference between the sketches of Choi and the Office of Planning is whether transit-oriented, mixed-use development should be the template the District uses for all land parcels near Metro stations.
In this case, theAvenue Metro station, about a block away, is one of the reasons the council has pegged the current market as "an underutilized resource" that could be rebuilt to create affordable housing, said Councilman Harry "Tommy" Thomas, D-Ward 5.
On the other hand, the Office of Planning sees the market as an exception to the rule.
Dismantling it would have too huge an impact on area grocers and restaurants, which may be forced to bring in specialty foods from other cities. Further, putting residences next to warehouses that receive delivery trucks at all hours makes little sense, said Harriet Tregoning, the District's planning director.
"The New Town development plan is what someone hopes for a large piece of property, most of which they don't own or control," Tregoning said. "A lot of developers have aspirations for many sites in the city. But having an aspiration doesn't mean that is the vision that is developed."
The conflict was not publicized last week when Thomas' office touted Choi's coup in signing New York-based Apollo Real Estate Advisors as the financial backer of the New Town project.
Thomas said New Town is working to win over merchants and owners, including Gallaudet University, which holds 3.9 acres in the market.
"We have heard the message from the stakeholders," said Jim Simmons, partner at Apollo Real Estate Advisors. "As is often the case when there is development, there sometimes is fear, misinformation and lack of communication. The process that has been put in place now will hopefully alleviate many of the concerns people have. This development is meant to be inclusive of the present owners, tenants and community."
Planning officials acknowledge their efforts may be in vain. Because the conceptual plan for the market is done, as a result of the law passed last year, the council has authority to use or ignore their work.
"We are waiting to figure where to go and who to give our conceptual plan to," said Jeff Davis, a Ward 6 neighborhood planner who is part of the study.Sidebar
Fears of being driven out of 'New Town'
Jenny and Ho Kim are resigned to shutting down their wholesale and retail business in one of D.C.'s oldest markets, certain that a proposed mixed-use development threatens its existence.
The Kims, who bought half of the 20-year-old MS Food Service at 350 Morse St. NE in the Avenue Market a year ago, have a busy store that generates $3 million in monthly revenue by supplying retail and restaurant clients with everything from noodles to soy sauce.
But the Kims are on a month-to-month lease, and their landlord could kick them out at any time, especially if he decides to join forces with Sang Oh Choi of Sang Oh Development LLC, who is leading a charge to redevelop 24 acres near theAvenue Metro station into a project Choi has dubbed New Town.
The landlord, Min Kang, wants to "make as much money as possible" in the market's development, said his property manager, Nick Deoudes of Bethesda-based Deoudes-Magafan Realty Inc. But the Kims could have more time than they may believe, Deoudes added, because zoning changes can take three to four years.
If the proposal proceeds as is -- and Choi gets half the landowners to agree to sell -- dozens of retailers and wholesalers who have operated businesses in the market for decades may have the option to move into the warehouse by buying retail condominiums. However, the real estate will most likely be much costlier than they pay now, and some fear there will not be enough space for many retailers to operate, including areas to load and unload trucks.
To make way for his plan, Choi would have to demolish the 28,000-square-foot warehouse where the Kims do business.
"If [Choi] develops the area, we have no place to go," Jenny Kim said. "There's no place like this where we can do business."
Businesses and landowners have formed theAvenue Property Owners and Merchants Association to fight the evolving development.
The retailers "have been slow to fight this because they're immigrants," said Elise Bernard, an Advisory Neighborhood Commission member who spoke against the New Town plan at a D.C. Office of Planning meeting in April. "They come from places where it doesn't matter, where the government is going to do what it's going to do."
Giving them a voice is attorney Paul Pascal, who represents 70 landowners and retailers, including MS Food Service.
Although the association is against the New Town plan, if the project goes forward it should at least include improvements like cleaner buildings and more signs to gain greater visibility, Pascal said.
"Our goal is to see that the market is preserved," he said. "Everybody wants to keep the merchants intact. There is no other land in the region that can build a market like that."


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Deals season is well and truly upon us – Black Friday may be sitting over the horizon, but rather than putting all its eggs (deals) in one box (sale) Amazon's Black Friday deals period is expanding with a new 'Hidden Gems' sale (opens in new tab).
Running form November 8 to 12, the idea is that it's an opportunity for Amazon to highlight great products from smaller, innovative brands – but there's still some well-known names in there too.
Our top pick? The eufy RoboVac 15C, which is usually £269.99, now down to £189.99:
eufy RoboVac 15C £188.99 | Was £269.99 | Save £81 at Amazon (opens in new tab)
Ready to take on hardwood floors or high-shag carpets and rugs, the Wi-Fi connected eufy RoboVac 15C takes care of the dirty work so you don't have to. Set it up, head on out, and come back to an expertly vacuumed home, courtesy of your new robot buddy.
Rising brands like Happy Socks (opens in new tab), Levoit (opens in new tab), Anker (opens in new tab) and Sand and Sky (opens in new tab) will all be selling their wares at discounted prices, while the Amazon Basics range (great for affordable homeware) is also part of the sale.
As for more tech-oriented items, Amazon is highlighting the XP-PEN Artists12 Graphics Drawing tablet (was £199.99, now £169.99) (opens in new tab), and a saving of £6 on a set of smart Bluetooth scales (opens in new tab). Not the biggest savings in the world – and we expect Amazon will do more on this front down the line – but if you're after these kinds of products, why not check them out?
- Amazon Black Friday deals: all the best offers in one place

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The battery-powered 9-3 will not wear a Saab emblem.
National Electric Vehicles Sweden (NEVS), the company that bought the remains of Saab, will begin building an electric version of the 9-3 in China in the coming months.
The Chinese government recently gave NEVS permission to build the electric 9-3 in Tianjin, according to Motor Authority. Assembly will take place in a new factory that's still under construction. The plant will have an annual capacity of 200,000 cars when it's completed by the end of the year.
NEVS has agreed to provide 150,000 examples of the battery-powered 9-3 to a Chinese company named Panda New Energy that specializes in leasing electric cars. The model will look like the 9-3 that was sold on our shores until 2011 (pictured), though technical specifications remain unconfirmed.
The yet-unnamed EV will not be badged as a Saab, however. NEVS couldn't purchase the griffin logo with the rest of Saab's intellectual property, and it lost the right to use the Saab name in 2014. NEVS flags flying outside of the company's forlorn factory in Trollhättan, Sweden, suggest the Saab name has been sent to the pantheon of automotive history.
NEVS wants to focus on the Chinese market. There are no signs that the company plans on re-introducing the aging 9-3 in Europe, let alone in the United States. However, those plans could change if the company manages to build up a full lineup of electric cars in the coming years.


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WFO Secretary General brings the farmers’ voice into the WTO debate on agricultural trade.
Last Thursday, April 1, the Secretary General of the World Farmers’ Organisation (WFO), Arianna Giuliodori, addressed a special edition of the WTO Trade Dialogues on Food, entitled “Enabling Agricultural Trade”.
Conceived and run by the World Trade Organisation (WTO) as a United Nations Food Systems Summit Independent Dialogue, the session explored the issue of agricultural trade within the wider framework of transition towards more sustainable and inclusive food systems.
Here are some key messages from the WFO Secretary General.
- Farmers are economic actors. Therefore, they cannot be against trade: if they cannot sell their product, they cannot feed they children!
- WFO adopted a Policy on Trade in 2013, only two years after its foundation, testifying how important and crucial “trade” for farmers worldwide has always been (CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT WFO POLICY ON TRADE).
- To be enabled to trade, farmers need 1) proper physical and digital infrastructures; 2) fair, inclusive, transparent value chains; 3) Policies that include trade in the wider transition towards more sustainable food systems.
- “One size fits all” won’t ever be the right answer. Let’s start considering farmers as partners sitting at the table with other actors of the value chain and policy makers in order to develop to develop an inclusive trading system that contributes to a more sustainable world and enables farmers to make their choices as entrepreneurs.


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ablokhin/iStock(SEATTLE) — Amazon, which bought Whole Foods in 2017 for about $13.7 billion, is planning to open a separate grocery chain, beginning in Los Angeles, according to The Wall Street Journal.Sources familiar with the project told The Journal the first new store could open at the end of 2019 and that talks are underway to add locations in Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, Chicago, San Francisco and Seattle, where the company is based. Amazon, which at the end of January reported a quarterly profit in excess of $3 billion as revenue surged 20 percent to almost $72.4 billion, also is considering acquiring regional grocery chains.The new grocery stores are expected to offer a variety of products at lower price points than many of those carried by Whole Foods, which, according to the company’s website, has 497 locations — 476 in the U.S., 14 in Canada, seven in the U.K. — and employs 89,000 people.Amazon recently abandoned plans to open a massive office in New York City that, the company said, would have created tens of thousands of jobs.Politicians and business leaders this week composed an open letter to CEO Jeff Bezos begging him to reconsider.When trading concluded on Friday, Amazon’s market cap was more than $821.1 billion.Copyright © 2019, ABC Radio. All rights reserved.
If you have questions about Bald Eagle Month, call Division of Wildlife Resources offices in Ogden, Springville, Vernal or Cedar City. FacebookTwitterLinkedInEmail More information Bald eagles fly to Utah in the winter to find food and escape colder conditions farther north. By the time February arrives, hundreds of eagles are in the state. You can see the eagles, and learn more about them, during Bald Eagle Month. Matt Bartley, Wildlife Recreation coordinator for the Division of Wildlife Resources, says spotting scopes will be available at each viewing site so you can get a good look at the eagles. “If you have any challenges spotting the eagles,” he says, “our biologists and volunteers will help you find them. We’d also be happy to answer any questions you have.” If you’re coming from the north, you can reach the hatchery by taking Interstate 15 and exiting the freeway at the second Nephi exit (Exit 225). After exiting the freeway, turn east on state Route 132 and travel about 10 miles. About one mile before the city of Fountain Green, a Bald Eagle Day sign will point you to an access road that leads to the hatchery. Tags: Bald Eagle Month/Bald Eagles/DWR Get a close look Fountain Green State Fish Hatchery, located east of Nephi February is the best time of the year to see one of the country’s most iconic birds. Once you reach the hatchery, you’ll receive a driving map of the Sanpete Valley that highlights the best areas in the valley to view eagles. Literature, displays and bathroom facilities will also be available at the hatchery. Spotting scopes will be set-up at a nearby location where eagles often gather in a large tree. The viewing site is about one mile from the hatchery. Seeing the eagles is free. Spotting scopes will be available at the various locations, but if you have your own scope, or a pair of binoculars, please bring them with you. You can see eagles during the following days and times in central and south central Utah:F Rush Lake Ranch, 9600 North on the Minersville highway (SR-130). The ranch is about 12 miles north of Cedar City. “You need a telephoto lens to get good, close-up shots of the eagles,” Bartley says. “The eagles will be fairly close to the viewing sites, but you still need a telephoto lens to get good photos of them.” Viewing on Feb. 9 takes place from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Free tours of the Fountain Green State Fish Hatchery will also be offered. If you attend any of the events, dress in warm clothes and bring waterproof boots. Also, if you want to take photos of the eagles, bring a telephoto lens. Items to bring Written by Viewing on Feb. 2 takes place from 8 a.m. to noon.C You can also pick up a free Bald Eagle Month button. Robert Lovell February 1, 2019 /Sports News – Local February is Bald Eagle Month in Utah


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German online betting operator Mybet has reached an out-of-court settlement in its decade-long legal fight with a rival operator over alleged cartel infringement.
On Monday, Mybet announced that it had reached an €11.8m settlement with Westdeutsche Lotterie GmbH & Co. OHG (Westlotto) over what Mybet insisted was the “illegal boycott of its business by the German Lottery and Pools Organization, in breach of competition law.”
In 2014, a Düsseldorf court awarded Mybet subsidiary SWS Service GmbH damages of €11.5m plus interest. Westlotto appealed the ruling, but the German Federal Supreme Court recently referred the case back to the Düsseldorf court. The settlement calls for Mybet to retract its claim, thereby ending the matter.
Mybet said it expects the €11.8m payment to be made sometime this quarter but Mybet will only receive around €4.9m of this sum, due to the requirements of the interim financing with profit participation deal the company entered into with an undisclosed third party last autumn.
Under the terms of that deal, Mybet is required to repay the original €4m it drew from the credit facility at a rate of 150%, plus a further 15% of the remaining damage award, as well as a 3% annual ‘commitment fee’ on the undrawn portion of the credit facility. All told, this calls for €6.9m in total payments to the unknown creditor, of which €2.9m represents the profit participation, not a bad return for a six-month investment.
When all is said and done, Mybet will net €4.9m from the settlement, and CEO Markus Peuler said the company will revise its operational plans for the current financial year accordingly.
In April, Mybet forecast its 2017 revenue coming in between €44.5m and €47m, resulting in an expected net loss of between €2.7m and €3.2m. Peuler said the company didn’t expect 2017 to feature “a leap in growth,” and that the main goal was “stopping the negative trend in revenues while parallely [sic] reducing the negative cashflows from operations step by step.”
Mybet launched its new online platform in March, nearly one year after its originally scheduled timeline. The delays caused a drag on the company’s 2016 performance, pushing annual revenue down 16.2% to €45m. While retail betting reported modest growth, online sports betting was down 10.7% to €28.4m and online casino fell 27.3% to €14.4m.
Despite the revenue shortfall, Mybet’s earnings and profits posted year-on-year gains, although this was largely due to special write-downs in 2015 and last year’s sale of both the Pfederwetten race betting business and the C4U-Malta Ltd payment services division.
Mybet will hold its annual general meeting in Berlin on August 31, two days after the company releases its H1 earnings report. The company will attempt to mollify investors with a new strategy program for 2017 that Mybet calls ‘Attract. Engage. Retain.’ The strategy includes new market entries, new mobile apps, an expansion of its retail betting network and increased marketing.


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Martins has announced plans to open a supermarket in the northern suburbs of Melbourne.
The supermarket, located in the north of the city, will be the first of its kind in the country.
It will be opened at the end of 2019, with a second location in Melbourne next year.
The Melbourne area has long been home to a thriving retail sector, and the supermarket will be part of a major expansion of Martins’ operations in the area.
More to come.


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BMW board member inducted into the Auto Express Hall of Fame
This year’s entrant into the Auto Express Hall of Fame not only topped the 2013 Auto Express Brit List, he’s also the only Brit to sit on the main board of one of the most famous and successful car companies in the world – BMW.
Like so many top Brits, Ian Robertson began his career at Longbridge with Rover, taking in Land Rover before the company was bought by BMW.
His first overseas posting was to run the German marque’s operation in South Africa, until he was called back to Europe, initially to head up Rolls-Royce as chairman and chief exec, then joining the BMW main board with responsibility for sales and marketing.
The UK plays a big part in BMW’s world, no doubt with a gentle nudge from Robertson. As well as keeping a watchful eye on manufacturing at BMW’s Hams Hall engine plant and the MINI factory in Oxford, he played a key role in BMW’s successful sponsorship of the London 2012 Olympics.
And 2013 is set to be an even bigger year for Robertson and BMW with the launch of BMW i – the brand’s future mobility programme. It includes two stunning new electric cars: the i3 hatch and i8 supercar.
BMW i is about more than just the cars – it’s about mobile solutions that include bikes, charging points and apps. And Robertson has been championing a new way of selling them, too, through bespoke BMW i showrooms. The first one is already open in, yes, you guessed it, London.
At 55 years of age, Robertson’s career is still on the up – he’s set to influence the cars we drive for many years to come yet.
- 1Introduction18 class winners, 36 commended cars, 8 Special Awards and the 2013 Auto Express Car of the Year – it's all here
- 2Car of the YearThe most coveted accolade in the world of motoring goes to the SEAT Leon
- 3Best City CarThe Skoda Citigo retains its Best City Car crown thanks to a combination of comfort, low running costs and superb on-road ability
- 4Best SuperminiThe Ford Fiesta wrestles its way back onto the top of the podium after last year's loss to the 208
- 5Best Compact Family CarThe SEAT Leon fights off its fellow VW Group rivals to take the gold medal in one of the most competitive classes around
- 6Best Family CarThe new Mazda 6 sees of all-comers to take family car class honours
- 7Best Estate CarOffering peerless practicality, huge value for money and attractive lines, the Skoda Octavia is the best Estate on the market
- 8Best Five-Seat MPVFord's innovative small MPV pips its big brother – the C-MAX – to the Best Five-seat MPV award
- 9Best MPVFor the third year in a row, the SEAT Alhambra wins the Auto Express Best MPV award
- 10Best CrossoverThe Mazda CX-5 is a talented all-rounder that offers everything you could want from a crossover
- 11Best Compact SUVThe Range Rover Evoque is one of the most striking cars on the road – but it's also more than just a pretty face
- 12Best Large SUVThe talented Santa Fe is one of the best models Hyundai has ever produced
- 13Best Hot HatchThe Ford Fiesta ST is in a class of its own – and better value for money than its key rivals
- 14Best CoupeThe brilliant Porsche Cayman pips its big brother - the 911 – and three-time winner the Peugeot RCZ to the Best Coupe prize
- 15Best RoadsterThe new Porsche Boxster is so good it makes you question why anyone would every buy a 911


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Elon Musk Surpasses Jeff Bezos To Become The Richest Person In The World
With a net worth of more than 185 billion dollars, Elon Musk has been called the richest person in the world.
This comes after a rise in the share price of Telsa that helped Musk surpass Amazon boss Jeff Bezos, who has been the wealthiest individual since 2017 and is now worth around $184 billion.
Over the past year, Musk’s wealth rose and has been marked as the fastest increase in history to the top of the rich list.
In 2020, Musk was worth about $27 billion, and was barely in the top 50 richest people in the world.
Tesla’s rocketing share price which has increased more than nine-fold over the past year — along with his generous pay package have added more than $150 billion to his net worth.
Meanwhile, because of the potential for increased regulation from Washington, Jeff Bezos’ Amazon share price has reportedly remained more subdued.
Elon Musk passed Warren Buffet in July to become the seventh richest individual, while Musk passed Bill Gates in November to become the second richest person.
Tesla’s shares have recently been trading at about $790, up more than 4% on Thursday.


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INCPEN – the Industry Council for research on Packaging & the Environment – is launching an initiative to try to counter many of the “myths” that have arisen around packaging and its effect on the environment.
The organisation says that misunderstandings and misinformation about packaging can have a negative impact on its ability to deliver valuable sustainability benefits.
“Too many people are still of the opinion that packaging is a major environmental problem,” says INCPEN director Jane Bickerstaffe.
“Because of this, there is a real danger that its valuable contribution in delivering a more sustainable way of life is being overlooked.”
“Packaging can help to ensure that food products are effectively protected and preserved throughout the supply chain so that they arrive at the consumer’s home in the best possible condition”
Bickerstaffe cites the current focus on the need to reduce food waste as an excellent example.
“People often regard the pre-packaging of items that can be sold loose, such as apples and tomatoes, as a demonstration of unnecessary packaging,” she explains. “The reality however, is that a far higher proportion of foods sold loose are damaged and end up being wasted. There is 27% more waste, for example, from apples sold loose than those sold in trays and wrapping.”
The problem of food waste, says INCPEN, can therefore be more effectively tackled if a greater focus is placed on trying to prevent it happening in the first place rather than finding ways to deal with it after it has occurred, and this is where packaging has a vital role to play.
“Packaging can help to ensure that food products are effectively protected and preserved throughout the supply chain so that they arrive at the consumer’s home in the best possible condition,” she points out. “Just as important, it can help ensure the product lasts as long as possible in the home.”
For this reason, INCPEN believes that calls to ban or restrict certain types of packaging or to avoid packaged goods are misplaced, for example the recent call by leading London chefs to ban the use of expanded polystyrene, EPS, containers.
The reality is that EPS is the ideal material to maintain the freshness of fish and keep it in perfect condition during its journey from sea to restaurant. It also has the lowest carbon footprint of any plastic type and although not easy to recycle, in London 21% of waste is recovered as energy.
“Food manufacturers need to be able to select from the widest choice of packaging materials and formats to enable them to find the right solution for their particular product,” says Bickerstaffe. “Over-packaging in itself is something of a myth since no right-minded manufacturer is going to spend more than is absolutely necessary on its packaging, particularly in today’s highly competitive markets.”
The benefits of packaging are well demonstrated by comparing the impact it has had on preventing waste in developed countries with what is happening in developing nations. There, food waste can be as high as 50% whereas in the UK less than 3% of food is wasted between farm or factory and retail depot.
As Jane Bickerstaffe concludes: “With an ever-increasing focus on the problem of food waste, it is vital that packaging’s ability to provide solutions is properly recognised.”


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Google to debut Jelly Bean in Asus Nexus 7?
Will Google's first Nexus tablet featuring the latest flavor of its Android operating system be an Asus Nexus 7?
An article posted Wednesday night on tech site T3 said Google may provide the answer at its I/O conference next week.
"Tipped to launch the device as an Android-optimized piece of hardware, the reportedly titled Asus Nexus 7 has long been a thing of rumor and speculation with previous reports suggesting the Amazon Kindle Fire competitor will boast a 7-inch form factor and the company’s upcoming Android 5.0 Jelly Bean operating system," it said.
It added the Nexus 7 is rumored to be sporting a price tag below $200.
Also, it said other rumors suggested Google’s upcoming I/O conference will see the tech giant enter the tablet fray for the first time.
The Nexus 7 is expected to boast a 1280 x 960p resolution display, and may mark Google's first partnership for a Nexus-themed device.
Google's previous Nexus-branded handsets been launched in partnership with Samsung and LG, T3 noted.
It added the Asus Nexus 7 is expected to be unveiled between June 27th and 29th.
T3 also cited a Digitimes report saying the device will land as a Wi-Fi only tablet with a front-facing camera, and maybe priced at $199. — TJD, GMA News


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After last year’s big yields, 2010 fall potato production has fallen about 8% from 2009 levels.
A U.S. Department of Agriculture report in early November put fall U.S. potato production at about 361 million cwt.
“Acreage is off because of the bloodbath we had last year,” said Kevin Stanger, senior vice president of sales at Wada Farms Marketing Group, Idaho Falls, Idaho.
“Prices were so terrible that a lot of guys went into other crops,” Stanger said. “And yields are off because of the growing summer.”
Lee Frankel, president and chief executive officer of United Potato Growers of America, Salt Lake City, urges shippers to get out of last year’s deflationary mindset, where they had to take any offer that covered the cost of packaging.
“If they can price the crop at a more historic or normal level, we should have a balanced supply for the year, and there should be ample supply for promotions throughout the season,” Frankel said.
Frank Muir, chief executive officer of the Idaho Potato Commission, Eagle, said yields on Idaho’s 295,000 harvested acres were average compared to the past five years.
“Quality looks really good,” he said. “I see this as a right-size, right-profile crop. Prices are up from last year and we’d like to see them even out without so many ups and downs. I think customers appreciate more stability.”
Potatoes as a category have done well during the recession because consumers are looking for the best value, said Seth Pemsler, the commission’s vice president for retail and international.
“Potatoes are the least costly per-pound item in the produce section,” said Pemsler. “If you’re looking to feed your family, what’s cheaper than a bag of potatoes?”
Jim Ehrlich, executive director of the Colorado Potato Administrative Committee, Monte Vista, reports better sizes and quality than last year, with yields down slightly.
Ted Kreis, marketing director for Northern Plains Potato Growers Association, East Grand Forks, Minn., said he’s seen a good demand for the region’s reds, and prices are holding steady.
“We’re not seeing lot of competition or low prices, which can be a detriment to reds,” he said. “And the Red River is picking up more business than normal because of smaller crops in Washington and Wisconsin.”
Tom Campbell, co-owner of Campbell Farms, Grafton, N.D., said the market is decent, “not gangbusters and not slowing. It’s exactly where we want it so we can stretch our inventory until late spring.”
Campbell’s 600-acre Florida farm is a week or two ahead of schedule, he said, a promising start after losses of 30% to 40% in last winter’s two hard freezes.


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Words by ALICE DAWKINS. Peruse the internet for Myanmar-China news and the space is awash with insights about the two states’ participation in the trade […]
SARAH LONGO details Australia’s response to refugee protection claims from children born outside the one-child policy. A consequence of China’s one-child policy was the creation […]
Chinese companies are increasingly taking note of the country’s LGBT consumer base, while NGOs have their eyes set on the prize of corporate advocacy. But in China’s constrained media space, visibility and censorship remain key constraints keeping big business from fully ‘coming out’.


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Audi has unleashed its latest LMP1 racer, the R18. After winning the Le Mans 24 Hours nine times since 1999 with the R8, R10 TDI and R15 TDI, the Ingolstadt-based automaker aims for the top spot with a closed coupe again.
“In the future, aerodynamic efficiency will be even more important at Le Mans than it was in the past”, says Head of Audi Motorsport Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich. “A closed car has clear advantages in this respect. Our computer simulations have been confirmed in the wind tunnel and during initial track tests”.
Unlike its predecessor, which had a 5.5-liter V10 diesel engine, the new model uses a much smaller, 3.7-liter V6 TDI, mated to a modified six-speed transmission.
The R18 features a one-piece carbon fiber monocoque, which saves weight and increases stiffness. Audi says that the chassis and aerodynamics were developed with a lot of know-how borrowed from the previous R models.
The headlights are the most eye-catching parts of the R18. Boasting “optimized” LED technology, they incorporate Audi light designers’ personal touch: daytime running lights shaped like a “1”. According to the press release, this was intended to inspire associations with the brand’s historic logo.
The Audi R18 was given the green light in mid 2009, while engine testing began in summer 2010. The first track test took place at the end of November, with Allan McNish at the wheel.
The Ingolstadt-based maker plans to enter three cars in next year’s Le Mans, run by Audi Sport Team Joest.
By Csaba Daradics


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A few days ago, Jensen Huang hosted Nvidia’s CES 2019 event, and during the event, there were multiple announcements. The GeForce RTX 2060 cards were officially revealed (although let’s be honest, we knew everything by that point anyway), Mobile RTX series was officially revealed and Nvidia was keen to tell us they were embracing Adaptive-Sync via DisplayPort.
But there certainly wasn’t any mention of the so-called “GTX 11” series of cards, and that’s not necessarily a surprise. These cards are (supposedly) without Ray Tracing technology, but also considerably cheaper. Their simultaneous launch with the GeForce RTX 2060 and the RTX 20 mobile parts would take some of the wind out of those products sails.
But, another day and another alleged leak, this time from GFXBench, where there’s an entry showing up as a GTX 1180. Examing the performance numbers then, and it’s pretty much on par with that of an RTX 2080 card.
This almost certainly rules out the GPU being a Pascal Refresh. as we’d otherwise see the performance numbers have a larger discrepancy – despite them being conducted with two different operating systems.
There are then a few questions – firstly, is this a legit leak, or has someone just messed around with the card (either with the drivers, Bios or whatever) to add in a false entry? It is certainly possible, and frankly, until we see ‘real’ evidence of the card there should be some level of skepticism.
But then, if it is real, and the GTX 11 series of cards is really still based on the Turing cores we all know and errr, love? How have the RT cores been disabled? Have they been laser cut as some of them were defective, are they not cut, but locked out in BIOS. but some of them are defective and therefore can’t function properly?
This is hardly the first time we’ve seen rumors and info regarding the GeForce GTX 11 series, EXPreview (a Chinese website) has reported that the GeForce GTX 1160 is indeed a ‘thing‘, but it was reported to launch in January, so it’s possible it was delayed or their sources are wrong as there’s been nothing else since then.
We have certainly heard a lot of rumors concerning Nvidia’s competition – namely AMD and what they’re planning for CES. As of writing this, there are less than 24 hours remaining before AMD reveal what they’ve been working on.
Logically, and internet rumors tell us that AMD isn’t going to hard launch anything at CES, and instead, we’ll be seeing Vega 2 launch in the second quarter of this year (2019). Is it possible then, that Nvidia is going to gobble up the most sales they can now and then counter to the more budget (if you can call a several hundred dollar graphics cards a budget) markets later on with the GTX series?
Who really knows at this point, other than Nvidia themselves. Logically speaking, Vega 7nm would be aimed at the prosumer market, and there are fewer rumors concerning the presence of Navi at CES than Vega, which is curious. This possibly means that either AMD are keeping a tighter lid on the Navi rumors, or Navi will not debut until later in the year for whatever reason.
The rumors I’ve been told (and closely matched by a few other industry whispers) is that Vega 7nm will be faster than a GTX 1080 Ti, but cost considerably less than the RTX 2080 Ti.
In regards to Nvidia, Samsung is being tasked by the company to produce 7nm GeForce cards in 2020, and indeed will be one of Samsung’s 7nm launch partners (along with IBM).
This possibly means that Nvidia’s strategy would be to launch RTX now, capture the high-end market, launch GTX in the second quarter, then launch the GeForce 30 (or whatever its called) in 2020 with a 7nm process and numerous architecture improvements.


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Norden Adds MR Product Tanker
Danish shipping company Dampskibsselskabet Norden A/S (Norden) has purchased a 2009-built MR product tanker with a cargo capacity of 50,000 tonnes, taking advantage of low asset prices on the back of weakening tanker markets.
The South Korean-built vessel is expected to be delivered in July 2017 and will be renamed Nord Pearl.
The purchase marks Norden’s first tanker acquisition since it sold 3 Handysize product tankers last year.
In addition to the purchase of Nord Pearl, Norden has entered into long term charter agreements for a further 2 MR product tanker newbuildings and has thus concluded 4 MR product tanker newbuilding charters so far this year. The vessels are scheduled to be delivered to the company in the years 2018-2020. All agreements are with purchase options.
“Norden used the strong tanker market in 2015 and first half of 2016 to take cover. The increase in cover led to a decrease in capacity for 2017 and onwards, but in the wake of the weakening market, Norden has taken advantage of the reduced tonnage prices to increase our capacity and exposure at attractive cost levels. We can do this in the comfort of having an excellent product tanker operating arm in form of Norient Product Pool, and benefit of the premium earnings that they generate,” Jan Rindbo, the company’s CEO, said in a comment.
At the end of first quarter of 2017, Norden’s tanker fleet consisted of 36 vessels – 25 MRs with a cargo capacity of 45,000-50,000 tonnes and 11 Handysize vessels with a cargo capacity of 35,000-37,000 tonnes. 19 tankers are owned by Norden while the rest are chartered vessels.


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The Acer Iconia W3 has been officially announced at Computex in Taipei, which added a stamp of officialdom to internet rumour. The 8.1-inch tablet is 11.3mm thick, with a dual-core Intel Atom Z2760 clocked at 1.8GHz inside.
The display runs at 1280×800 resolution, with Acer sticking in dual front and rear 2-Megapixel cameras, plus, to help swing it as a legitimate work expense for the self-employed tech enthusiast, the W3 comes pre-loaded with Microsoft Office Home & Student 2013.
Overseas, the smaller Windows tablet will be ready for launch later this month, with prices starting at around $450 for a model with 32GB of onboard storage and £320 odd for a 64GB machine. Stay tuned for Australian details.
Meanwhile, for those who can’t find an ultrabook they like in the sea of options that are clogging up the aisles of electrical retailers right now, Acer has also announced plans to refresh its S7 and S3 portables to include Intel’s new Haswell chipset range, with the 13.3″ S7 also upgraded to feature a 2560 x 1440 resolution touchscreen display.
Our newest offspring Gizmodo UK is gobbling up the news in a different timezone, so check them out if you need another Giz fix. [clear]


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Facebook has acquired The Find, a nine-year-old company with a search engine that indexes products across thousands of e-commerce sites.
Twitter has amended its policies to ban the posting of intimate photos and videos taken without the person's permission.
Facebook will have to defend itself in a class action lawsuit seeking to force it to provide refunds when children make purchases on its site without their parents' permission, a judge has ruled.
Next time you start a conversation on Facebook about that new shirt or watch you bought, you might be unwittingly delivering juicy feedback to the retailer.
Supporters of the Islamic extremist group known as ISIS operated at least 46,000 Twitter accounts at the end of last year, a new study says, underscoring the challenge facing social networks as they become powerful tools for propaganda and recruitmen...
Google has launched a new auto insurance site in the U.S. designed to simplify for consumers the process of shopping for policies.
Etsy, the online marketplace for buying and selling handmade goods and crafts, disclosed some interesting tidbits about the company's business when it filed to go public Wednesday.
Facebook is taking steps to improve how it detects fake profiles, particularly those created by people claiming to be someone else.
Here's an idea for the next version of Twitter that might crystallize the service's value: The Twitter Daily Favorite.
PayPal is purchasing startup Paydiant to strength its mobile wallet offerings as competition in the space grows.
Tinder, the popular dating app, wants to offer a second chance at love for users who may passed on a potential mate.
Ride-hailing apps like Uber and Lyft looking to promote the "sharing" aspect of their service have scored a victory of sorts.
Twitter has added new reporting tools to help it fight abuse and protect users on its site.
Facebook is adding new features to its site to provide better information and support to people at risk of suicide.
Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg is likely to reveal more of the company's plans to bring underserved parts of the world online when he holds Facebook's fourth public Q&A next Wednesday in Barcelona.
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What you need to know
- Apple is continuing to expands its Transit Directions in Apple Maps.
- The feature is now live in Iceland.
- Specifically, in and around the capital, Reykjavik.
Apple Maps Transit Directions has rolled out to Iceland's capital Reykjavik.
According to MacRumors:
Apple first brought Transit Directions to the U.S., before promising that it would roll out further improvements across Europe. Back in February, Apple started rolling out improved Transit Directions to some cities in Europe. It marks a continuing investment in Apple's own Maps software.
Apple completed its mammoth overhaul of Apple Maps in the U.S. at the end of last year.
With the announcement of iOS 14 at WWDC last week, Apple further solidified its commitment to the continued improvement of Maps. From that report:
Apple has also added features such as EV routing, so you can travel along routes with charging stations for your vehicle. It also marks new Congestion and Green Zones. Apple also announced that it would roll out its improved Maps to Canada, Ireland, and the UK.
Master your iPhone in minutes
iMore offers spot-on advice and guidance from our team of experts, with decades of Apple device experience to lean on. Learn more with iMore!
Stephen Warwick has written about Apple for five years at iMore and previously elsewhere. He covers all of iMore's latest breaking news regarding all of Apple's products and services, both hardware and software. Stephen has interviewed industry experts in a range of fields including finance, litigation, security, and more. He also specializes in curating and reviewing audio hardware and has experience beyond journalism in sound engineering, production, and design.
Before becoming a writer Stephen studied Ancient History at University and also worked at Apple for more than two years. Stephen is also a host on the iMore show, a weekly podcast recorded live that discusses the latest in breaking Apple news, as well as featuring fun trivia about all things Apple. Follow him on Twitter @stephenwarwick9


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DaySequerra provides audio solutions for radio, TV and internet broadcasters.
Once the deal with Orban parent company Circuit Research Labs Inc. is finalized, DaySequerra plans rebrand its new subsidiary as �Orban Labs Inc,� according to the release. The acquisition is subject to approval by the shareholders of CRL Inc. at a meeting scheduled for later in July.
�We are really excited about DaySequerra�s acquisition of Orban and to work together with David and his team,� CRL Inc. President, CEO and Chairman C. Jayson �Jay� Brentlinger said in the release. �With a significant array of technologies, these combined companies will be a formidable force in the marketplace.�
Brentlinger is also the president and manager of Orban. He is shown at left in the photo, signing the paperwork with DaySequerra’s David Day, at the CRL headquarters in Tempe, Ariz.
Over the next 90 days, Orban will complete the process of moving current Orban administration, marketing, sales and product development from the company�s Scottsdale, Ariz., location to DaySequerra�s HQ in West Berlin, N.J.
�Our expert engineering and development team has deep knowledge of Orban�s intellectual property and some members of our team have been with Orban for more than 30 years,� said Orban founder, Vice President and Chief Engineer and legendary audio processing guru Bob Orban. �I personally look forward to working with DaySequerra; our team will continue to innovate under the new Orban Labs banner and will drive leading-edge product development in the years ahead.�
Orban has been in business since 1975.
The fit with DaySequerra is a natural,� DaySequerra President David Day said in the release. �The synergistic opportunity that this acquisition represents is just fantastic � opportunities like this don�t happen very often. We look forward to working with Bob�s team and Orban Europe to develop and bring to market the next-generation of intelligent audio processing in the broadcast, consumer and automotive spaces.�
(Photo by Mike Pappas)�


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“If a region has a lot of recycling options, organizations in that region are far more likely to engage in the online material exchanges. In short, regional norms play a big role.” —Kevin Linderman
Over the last decade, state- and county-run online waste exchanges have kept reusable goods in circulation and prevented several tons of waste from crowding landfills. The Internet seems like an ideal venue to connect companies looking to get rid of surplus materials—lumber, cement, and the like—with buyers in need of the items.
But the exchanges tend to function better in theory than in practice. And that prompted Professor Kevin Linderman and Associate Professor Karen Donohue, along with their PhD student Suvrat Dhanorkar, to explore the factors that cause them to fail—and how they could be improved.
According to Donohue, visibility emerged as a big factor. “The listings typically don’t have pictures, so buyers can be uncertain over what they’re getting,” she explains. “And even if there are detailed descriptions, buyers still might not be clear about the quality of the items.”
As Linderman explains, that leads to lack of buyer interest—and seller disengagement. “If there’s no interest, a seller might think: Why not just dump the items in a landfill?” he says. “You can see how that would be easier than holding onto excess inventory.”
Their research also turned this result: In counties with a wide range of reuse options, sellers had better luck on the exchanges. According to Donohue that was one of the most surprising findings. “You might see them as competition for the exchanges,” she notes. “But it appears that those competitors can create more of a market—and even a culture of wanting to reuse and recycle.”
And that can have policy implications for municipalities looking to kick start their exchanges. “If you can create a community in which buyers are used to buying recycled items, it can help sellers ride out their listing a little longer on an exchange,” she says.
Watch Linderman and Donohue further describe their findings:
“Repurposing Materials and Waste through Online Exchanges: Overcoming the Last Hurdle”
Dhanorkar, Suvrat; Donohue, Karen; Linderman, Kevin, Production and Operations Management (2015)


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‘The Last Of Us Part II’ Delayed Indefinitely Due To The Coronavirus Pandemic
The highly anticipated PlayStation game, The Last of Us Part II, has been delayed yet again due to the coronavirus pandemic. This time, the studio, Naughty Dog, is not sure when the game will be released. They made the official announcement on their Twitter account on Thursday, directly after the official Playstation account confirmed the indefinite delay. Additionally, Iron Man VR will also be delayed due to the viral outbreak.
In the statement from Naughty Dog, the game developers offered a little bit of good news amidst the bad. According to their post, the game designers are very close to completing the game. The developers wrote they were “in the midst of fixing our final bugs.”
Beyond that, the company offered why they decided to delay the game. The main reason is that the developers want to ensure that fans across the globe will gain access to the game “around the same time.” This is likely so fans can avoid being spoiled by people who get their hands on a copy much earlier than those in another area.
Due to the pandemic, many video game stores have been shut down and some have even closed permanently. Sales for the game would potentially be affected and Naughty Dog feels they would not be able to give fans the launch they deserve by releasing the game in May.
The company wrapped up their statement by wishing fans the best and promising to give them information about the new release date as soon as possible.
A message from us about the delay of The Last of Us Part II: pic.twitter.com/aGsSRfmJ8a
— Naughty Dog (@Naughty_Dog) April 2, 2020
PlayStation’s official tweet was similar, albeit brief. Aside from The Last of Us Part II and Iron Man VR, there are no other planned video game delays at the moment.
While most fans were understanding of the company’s reasoning behind the delay, many were upset by the news, or at least felt some mixture of the two. Some people even theorized that Sony and Naughty Dog have opted to delay the game so it can coincide with the PlayStation 5 release.
“This cut me deep, but I understand it. Health comes first! Thank you @Naughty_Dog for doing what is right! Take all the time that you need,” tweeted one user.
The Last of Us Part II was originally supposed to release on February 21. Unfortunately, in October 2019, the game was delayed until May 29. The most recent delay marks the second official postponement for the sequel.
Last month, The Inquisitr reported that HBO plans to produce a television adaptation of The Last of Us, along with other PlayStation properties.


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- A new vision for urban travel…
- This Instagram “influencer” doesn’t actually exist…
- These sneakers are also an NFT…
In the world of high tech, a name change is rarely ever a good sign.
It’s almost always the symptom of a need to reposition a company in an effort to wash away the failures and underperformance of the past. It rarely works.
After all, substance is what matters in the end. By definition, successful companies are producing a product or service that others value. Companies that aren’t able to do so don’t have happy endings… even if they change their name.
Which is what makes Facebook’s announcement within the last 24 hours so interesting. It has decided to change its own name. We’ll almost certainly find out what that new name is by next week.
This is a big deal. Facebook is one of the most iconic consumer brands in history, and it wants to throw that away?
On the surface, one might speculate that Facebook is doing this in an effort to wash off its troubles with regulators and politicians. Aside from the fact that a name change wouldn’t clean up Facebook’s litany of transgressions, the regular series of hearings on Capitol Hill are just for show. And Facebook knows this.
Certain factions in the government want Facebook to proliferate. After all, it is one of the world’s largest surveillance networks. And this network is one that can be used – and has been used – to influence elections.
Facebook certainly doesn’t need to reposition its brand due to financial troubles or product problems. Facebook is worth nearly $1 trillion, with almost $120 billion in revenue this year.
Its gross margins are almost 81%, and it will generate $36.5 billion in free cash flow this year. The company sits on $64 billion in cash and pays no dividend. This is one of the most successful companies in history.
It collects consumer data the world over, whether we use Facebook or not. And it mints a fortune by selling access to that data to advertisers.
And how much revenue does it share with its users who provide their valuable data? Zero. Not a dollar. Shareholders don’t even get a dividend check. So why the rebrand?
The real catalyst for the name change is nothing more than greed. After all, in the U.S. the average Facebook user spends two hours and 24 minutes a day using Facebook products (Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp). But what about the rest of the day? Facebook wants more.
And the way that it will try to get more is by going all in to create a metaverse where its users can spend even more time every day. This is an online world where consumers can game, be entertained, socialize, virtue signal, transact, and even work and be productive.
And Facebook wants to own that world. It wants to collect, own, and monetize the data created in that world. It wants to be the company that facilitates transactions and commerce in the world – and it will take its pound of flesh while doing so.
Whether consumers access the world through a mobile phone, an internet browser, a pair of augmented reality glasses, or virtual reality glasses, Facebook – or whatever it will call itself – wants us there.
The more immersive the experience, the better. That’s why Facebook bought Oculus so many years ago for its virtual reality technology, and why it has been investing so heavily in augmented reality tech.
Trillions of dollars are at stake. Facebook doesn’t just want to be a $1 trillion company… it wants to be a $10 trillion company. And its CEO wants to overtake Musk and Bezos as the world’s richest person.
Greed. Power. Control.
We should all be wary of Facebook’s motives. We have learned that the company cannot be trusted.
While Facebook will still be successful, the future for metaverses is far more distributed, open, accessible, and ideally a world in which its participants can share in the remarkable wealth creation that has already begun.
And my goal is to show my subscribers the way…
The future of urban transportation…
A French company called Citroën just revealed an incredibly creative autonomous vehicle concept. The goal is to unlock a vision of urban transportation that maximizes personal comfort and productivity.
Here’s a look at Citroën’s vision:
The Citroën Skate
Source: Electric Motor News
These are customizable autonomous vehicles.
Citroën’s core product is the base platform. It’s basically a “skate” with four wheels, electric vehicle (EV) batteries, and a drive motor. Customized modules can then be dropped on top of the autonomous platform. This is how consumers can get an individualized experience.
For example, one of the modules contains a rowing machine. This enables passengers to get a quick workout on the way to their destination.
Another module contains a red couch with a side table. Passengers can relax and have a drink as they enjoy the ride.
There is also a family friendly module that’s large enough to fit a baby stroller. It allows families to travel together in comfort.
And these are just a few possibilities. The beauty of Citroën’s platform is that all kinds of customized modules could be designed for it.
I envision a café module where consumers can order coffee and lattes on a tablet. Then a robotic arm would make and serve the drinks. No barista required.
This is such a neat concept. I can see this being adopted in urban settings, where vehicles rarely go more than 25 or 30 miles per hour. It’s a great use of EVs and autonomous driving technology.
And here’s the thing – it would only take a few minutes to swap one module out for another. That would just require a designated location and a small crane to lift one module off and plop another one down. Then it could be secured safely for the next ride.
This is an interesting take on the future of autonomous vehicles that makes a lot of sense. I’m excited to see this kind of modularity adopted as it brings strong benefits to both consumers and businesses.
The rise of decentralized autonomous organizations…
One of the hottest companies in the blockchain industry just made an interesting acquisition.
Dapper Labs – the company behind the successful NBA Topshot non-fungible token (NFT) platform – just acquired a company called Brud. This is a curious outfit.
For the sake of new readers, NFTs are digital collectibles. They allow us to cryptographically determine ownership and authenticate digital assets on a blockchain.
And the scope of NFTs is amazing. We are talking about digital art and images, videos, trading cards, and all kinds of interactive content and gear for metaverses. And since they are on a blockchain, these collectibles can be easily transferred from one owner to another in seconds.
As for Brud, it is a firm that develops brands around virtual influencers. Lil Miquela is a great example. Here she is:
This is Lil Miquela posing in front of a restaurant. And notice the product placement. She is eating a corndog and drinking from a branded cup. Obviously, this is for advertising. It’s the same model that has been used to produce television commercials for decades.
But there are two distinct differences here…
First, Lil Miquela has about three million followers on Instagram. She can advertise directly to them, at no cost, any time.
Second – and this is the kicker – Lil Miquela is not a real person. She is one of Brud’s “virtual” influencers created entirely by computer graphics.
Brud actually has a catalog of virtual humans that are very lifelike and have carefully constructed social media feeds that actually engage with followers. It may sound strange, but it is a powerful business model and very influential.
Clearly, Dapper Labs will work with Brud to develop NFTs around Lil Miquela and other popular virtual influencers. That’s one motivation behind this acquisition.
Yet I think there’s an even bigger story at work here…
Brud’s founder, Trevor McFedries, also founded one of the most popular decentralized autonomous organizations (DAOs) out there. And I think this is where Dapper Labs’ big interest lies.
DAOs are entities with no executives or management teams at all. They are leaderless entities where consensus is formed by votes using tokens that are recorded on a blockchain. That’s why I have referred to DAOs as a no-CEO structure.
For many of us, this concept feels unnatural. And we may think that there is no chance that DAOs will succeed.
However, some of the top blockchain projects in the industry have embraced the DAO structure. This includes ShapeShift and Maker. There’s a reason for this.
If set up correctly, a DAO could be an incredibly robust organization simply because there’s no single point of failure. DAOs encourage communities to come together to solve complex problems – each contributing what they can to drive the project forward.
And everyone is financially incentivized in the same way. The more successful the project, the greater the value of its digital asset.
And just like Dapper Labs streamlined the process of creating and commercializing NBA Topshot NFTs, I believe it can develop a process for setting up new DAOs – for both established companies and individual creators.
This will be one of the biggest trends in the blockchain space throughout 2022. I believe DAOs will experience the same explosive growth next year that we are seeing with NFTs right now.
That’s why I created a service focusing on all of these incredible developments surrounding the blockchain space. There’s a unique opportunity for investors as this space matures and evolves… and I want my readers to take advantage.
If you haven’t yet checked into Unchained Profits, I’d encourage readers to go right here to learn more about how to get started investing in the hottest blockchain projects.
Combining NFTs, the metaverse, and physical products…
We will wrap up today with another big development in the NFT space.
NFT brand RTFKT (pronounced “artifact”) just announced that it is collaborating with celebrities like Janet Jackson and Jeff Staples to develop physical products that will double as NFTs in a metaverse. This is a trend that I think we’ll see pick up in the months to come.
It’s going to start with a pair of sneakers. Here are the RTFKT RTX3080 sneakers:
This sneaker will be developed as an NFT in two different metaverses: Decentraland and Sandbox. And anyone who purchases the NFT will also get a physical pair of the same sneaker shipped to them.
So it’s both a digital collectible and a real item. That certainly increases the appeal.
And the fact that we are seeing big celebrity names coming into the space shows us that this trend has legs. It just makes too much sense.
After all, if we are shopping for a pair of shoes, why not buy a pair that comes with a digital asset as well? Conversely, if we are researching digital assets to invest in, why not buy the ones that send us physical products as well?
We are going to see designers and influencers jump all over this NFT/physical product concept. There’s a ton of value here. And it’s just a fun way to shop and invest.
So this is just more proof that we are still in the early days of the NFT trend. This will remain a key area of focus for us here at Brownstone Research.
And if you’d like to learn how to get started with NFTs, then go right here to see my recent presentation on the growing “tokenization” trend.
Editor, The Bleeding Edge
Like what you’re reading? Send your thoughts to [email protected].


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It’s been quite a week for Drake. The actor-turned-rapper set the internet ablaze Saturday with the release of his anticipated “More Life” playlist, but he didn’t stop there. The Toronto native also shared on Instagram an early look at what appears to be a new footwear collaboration with Clarks.
Drake captioned the post with a lone emoji, leaving fans to connect the dots regarding the collaboration’s details. Pictured in the image are Clarks Desert Boots in beige and purple suede makeups, each of which feature the branding of Drake’s October’s Very Own imprint. The shoes are embossed with a repeating OVO graphic, while their hangtag includes the label’s owl logo.
If the Clarks collaboration ends up seeing release, it wouldn’t be Drake’s first foray into footwear. His October’s Very Own x Air Jordan collabs have produced a number of near-instant sellouts and often end up reselling for as much as five times their original retail price.


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Akorn Pharmaceuticals (Akorn Operating Company LLC) has filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy, layed off its entire workforce without severance pay, and closed all its U.S. sites, according to a company letter issued by President and CEO Douglas S. Boothe and posted in the Herald & Review on February 22, 2023.
The company listed over $100 million in debt.
Where did this come from?
In 2018, Fresenius Kabi AG, a German drugmaker, backed out of a $4.3 billion buyout of the company (which led to a court battle that ended in the judge siding with Fresenius).
In 2019, Akorn received warning letters from the FDA over violations of current good manufacturing practice (CGMP) regulations and a lack of thorough investigation into various problems with its drug product quality.
In 2020, the company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. It later completed a sale to lenders.
What happened in 2022?
Despite initiating a process to sell the company, Akorn failed to receive an appropriate bid to cover outstanding liabilities—including debt.
In March 2022, seven of its branded ophthalmic products were acquired by Théa Pharma, Inc.
Later in July, the company closed its Somerset, New Jersey, manufacturing plant—laying off 240 employees.
In September, the company agreed to pay $7.9 million to resolve allegations that it had falsely claimed three of its generic drugs were covered by Medicare Part D—a violation of the False Claims Act.
And most recently?
According to Boothe, the company’s owners notified Akorn’s shareholders, creditors, and other interested parties that it would not provide the necessary funding needed to allow the business to continue to run while seeking additional funding options.
How many sites/employees are affected?
The company employed 400 employees at its U.S. locations, which included corporate headquarters in Gurnee, Illinois, as well as manufacturing plants located near Decatur, Illinois; Somerset, New Jersey; and Amityville, New York.
Research and development facilities were based in Vernon Hills, Illinois, and Cranbury, New Jersey.
The company is currently under investigation by the Illinois Department of Labor (IDOL) due to not filing a required 60-day notice (when there is over 75 employees) with employees, local and state governments of these mass layoffs or plant closures until February 21, 2023—two days before employees’ terminations were effective.
What could happen?
If IDOL finds violations with Akorn’s handling of U.S. site closures and layoffs, the company is likely to be subject to civil penalties.
The Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) Act under federal and Illinois law outlines these financial penalties along with a potential scenario where employers would have to give back pay and benefits for the period of violation—up to 60 days.


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Last week the Sneak ADtackniks posted a trifecta of online-privacy cautionary tales, including concerns about thenym wars – the argument over pseudonyms on the Internet – and a panel discussion conducted by the Wall Street Journal.
In the course of the latter, Public Parts author Jeff (I Hate Newspapers) Jarvis said this:
If we over-regulate privacy, managing only to the worst case, we could lose sight of the benefits of publicness, the value of sharing.
Our new sharing industry—led by Facebook, Twitter, Google+, YouTube, Foursquare, blogs and new services launched every day—is premised on an innate human desire to connect. These aren’t privacy services. They are social services.
(Check out The New Republic’s knee-capping of Jarvis here.)
Other panelists, not surprisingly, disagreed. From Christopher Soghoian, a fellow at the Open Society Institute, who created the first browser software—called TACO—that blocked online tracking.
Although consumers knowingly share information via Facebook, the privacy issues associated with that company are not related to the way consumers use it, but rather the other things the company does. These include the tricks the company has pulled to expose users’ private data to third-party app developers, the changing privacy defaults for profile data, as well as Facebook’s covert surveillance of your browsing activities on non-Facebook websites, as long as a “Like” button is present (even if you don’t click on it).
The dirty secret of the Web is that the “free” content and services that consumers enjoy come with a hidden price: their own private data. Many of the major online advertising companies are not interested in the data that we knowingly and willingly share. Instead, these parasitic firms covertly track our web-browsing activities, search behavior and geolocation information. Once collected, this mountain of data is analyzed to build digital dossiers on millions of consumers, in some cases identifying us by name, gender, age as well as the medical conditions and political issues we have researched online.
It’s worth reading the entire Journal piece, especially in light of this email from Consumer Reports (via The Missus):
Dear [The Missus]:
Someone is following you around. At least, online they are.
When you go online, you unwittingly give companies lots of information about yourself based on the sites you visit, the searches you run, the movies you watch and more.
Trackers say that online tracking is good because it helps deliver ads that will interest you. That’s fine, if that’s what you choose. But right now, you can’t say “No.”
Tracking software has become so sophisticated that you sometimes can’t even delete the tracking code using the tools built into your browser. Meanwhile, the tools that let you surf the net privately are often hard to use and ineffective.
Although polls show that most of us would prefer more privacy and less tracking, companies that rely on advertising have no incentive to give us the tools we need. And even if they did, no law requires them to abide by our wishes.
That’s why Congress is now considering “Do Not Track” legislation to let us all choose not to be tracked and then enforce our preferences. A bill in the Senate would require companies to abide by your Do Not Track choices, while bi-partisan legislation in the House gives parents control over the tracking of kids’ activities online.
Do-Not-Track is the simple way for you to say ‘no thanks’ to being monitored while you surf the web.
Do you know others who may be concerned about their privacy when they go online? Please forward this e-mail to them so they can show their support too.
101 Truman Avenue
Yonkers, NY 10703-1057
Forewarned, as they say, is forearmed.
Originally posted on the New! Improved! Sneak ADtack!


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Watching Steve Jobs‘ keynote presentation at the Macworld Expo this morning drove home two main points.
First, Jobs really knows how to make — and market — great-looking products.
Second, it probably doesn’t matter what Jobs is selling from that stage, his rabidly faithful audience is going to buy it.
Time will tell whether the iPhone that Jobs unveiled today is a world-changer, on the order of Apple’s pioneering Macintosh computer and its iPod music player — or whether it’s just another fancy phone in a marketplace that’s becoming increasingly crowded with them.
The early reviews are pretty good. Analysts interviewed immediately after the speech were gushing in their praise of the iPhone.
“It actually lives up to the hype, and there’s been a sick amount of hype,” said Avi Greengart, principal analyst for mobile devices with Current Analysis. “There’s a lot of real innovation and radical thinking here…. I want one desperately.”
Similarly, Michael Gartenberg, a senior vice president at Jupiter Research, said, “This has been the most anticipated telephone since Alexander Graham Bell, and Apple really delivered with what appears to be a groundbreaking product.”
Both Greengart and Gartenberg offered some more tempered analysis as well. Greengart said the phone is “not for everybody,” noting the high price and the limited appeal of smart phones, which can check e-mail and surf the Web.
And Gartenberg noted that Apple faces challenges, both in manufacturing the product and in competing against a plethora of souped-up cell phones.
But a look at the adoring crowd that gathered like moths to a flame around an iPhone displayed under glass in the Macworld exhibit hall revealed that the iPhone can certainly hit the ground with a running start.
“I’ll probably be getting an iPhone,” said Rory Bolzer, a pharmacist and part-time computer consultant from Occidental (Sonoma County), who has attended every Macworld Expo since its inception. “I need a new phone anyway, and having everything integrated in one device is a good idea.”


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O’Neal break new ground launching Fidlock helmet buckle technology into the motorcycle market
O’Neal are proud to still be pushing the market at the forefront of technical apparel and protection development some 45 years after the company was founded.
“We were keen to bring this technology to our MX, Enduro and Trail riders and in choosing to launch with the 3Series helmet we will offer a great-value product to consumers. Safety is of utmost importance and the new Fidlock closure exceeds all of the stringent safety standards as the traditional double-D closure. We are super excited to be showcasing samples at Eicma 2015 and already looking to take order for launch next year”.


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According to the announcement, Proletariat (Spellbreak, Asheron’s Call, Lord of the Rings Online) has been working with the World of Warcraft development team since May, and will see its reported
100-person team fully integrated into Blizzard over the coming months. With World of Warcraft: Dragonflight
coming this year, it's assumed that this massive acquisition is no doubt helping the next major expansion make it out on time.
The announcement comes as Proletariat plans to shutdown servers for its multiplayer action-spellcasting game Spellbreak in 2023. The acquisition, which follows on from Vicarious Visions joining Blizzard to support Diablo, looks to be very strategic in keeping a regular flow of content coming to WoW for the foreseeable future.
"We are putting players at the forefront of everything we do, and we are working hard to both meet and exceed their expectations," said Mike Ybarra, president of Blizzard Entertainment. "A critical part of taking care of players is taking care of our teams—making sure we have the resources to produce experiences our communities will love while giving our teams space to explore even more creative opportunities within their projects. Proletariat is a perfect fit for supporting Blizzard's mission in bringing high-quality content to our players more often."
"We are incredibly excited to be joining Blizzard Entertainment," said Proletariat co-founder and CEO, Seth Sivak. "Our team has always strived to put players first, and in working with the World of Warcraft team, we have learned that we are completely aligned in our commitments to innovation, quality, investing in our talent, authentic communication, and representation—both in and out of the games we make. World of Warcraft is one of the most influential games ever made and we can't wait to be a part of that legacy and to help build an even brighter future for Azeroth."
Interestingly the press release features a quote from Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick, a figure that has been at the centre of the troubling news to surface about Blizzard in recent years. Who states that the plan is to hire hundreds of new developers specifically to support World of Warcraft in the next couple of years. With Activision Blizzard itself being acquired by Microsoft, it'll be interesting to see how this all pans out in light of the company's very serious issues.


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For the first time since the National Retail Federation (NRF) launched its annual Holiday Top Toys Survey in 2003, Barbie is not the number-one item that parents plan to buy for their girls. This year, it’s all about Disney’s Frozen.
According to the survey, 20 percent of parents said they plan to buy Frozen merchandise for their girls this year, versus 16.8 percent who said they planned to buy Barbie items.
“Barbie has been the top girls’ toy for over a decade, but it is no surprise that Disney’s Frozen has taken the top seat as children have had it on the mind as far back as Halloween,” Pam Goodfellow, director of Prosper’s Consumer Insights, said in a statement. Prosper Insights & Analytic conducted the survey for NRF.
Frozen‘s victory does seem inevitable, given that the demand for products from the popular film hasn’t waned over the last year. Even so, Disney must be pretty happy to have more confirmation that the blockbuster is still at the top of consumers’ minds this season.
Following Frozen and Barbie on the list were generic dolls, Monster High dolls, American Girl products, and LEGO. For boys, LEGO was the number-one item parents planned to buy, followed by cars and trucks, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, video games, Hot Wheels, and Microsoft’s Xbox One.
The two lists, which differed widely at the top, reflected the impact of common marketing practices on parents’ gendered thinking about holiday gifts. Still, there were a few items on both lists, including LEGO sets, tablets, and the iPad, which stands at number 7 for girls and number 10 for boys.
The survey was conducted between Nov. 3 and Nov. 10, and polled 6,593 consumers. You can see the full top-ten lists and more survey data on NRF’s website. If you need help beating the upcoming holiday rush on Frozen merchandise, check out our Frozen shopping guide.


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Microsoft is set to drop Windows Media Centre as a seperate package instead they will bundle it into the next Windows Vista operating system which is expected to jump-start the software giant’s home entertainment software business.
System builders briefed in the US last night on Microsoft’s plans to put the software directly into consumer editions of Windows Vista later this year say the move will also spark their businesses.
The recent appointment of Windows Media Center Product Manager Justin Hutchinson to lead the channel charge could also drive more business for OEMs, ISVs and digital integrators. Hutchinson said that the deep resources and formidable marketing power ofWinTel to drive a mainstream Windows upgrade into the home will accelerate adoption of Media Center features significantly. “The fact that Microsoft and Intel are teaming on digital entertainment means nothing but great things for the channel,” he says.
Many partners that built their first Media Center Edition systems in 2005 exited the market soon after due to lackluster sales, which they blame in part on poor demand generation from Microsoft and inconsistent support for system builders. They also say Microsoft’s failure to appoint a channel leader for its Media Center efforts caused confusion and inertia. The appointment of Hutchinson will erase some of that frustration, partners say.
“This is a huge benefit for resellers,” says Kevin Hartin at Altech “It will not differentiate much from what we have now. What you will have is different flavours of Vista Consmer edition with Media Centre features. We are currently running aq beta version of the new software. It has better DRM features. One can RIP a DVD to the Media Centre hard disc butusers will not be able to copy it. They will be able to see it over an extender network”. he said
Hartin also admitted that Altech are looking to expand there Media Centre offerings and are currently considering talking to Nivius a Company that already has a dealer relationship with Pioneer Australia. “WE have made no decisions on this box but we are looking at the possibility of trying to distribute it in Australia as Pioneer do not have it exclusive. Harin also said that Altech was moving to new Zalman casings for its Media Centre Maestro range. Analysts agree. “Microsoft is long overdue in creating a consumer operating system that includes core features for media, entertainment, and family security, and Vista will include much of this ability,” says Ted Schadler, vice president of Consumer Technology at Forrester Research.
Intel’s Viiv is a big factor driving channel acceptance of the Vista plan. Many builders are in the process of designing next-gen Media Center systems based on the platform. Viiv, for example, requires use of Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 Update Rollup 2 or Windows Vista. “I don’t see where we wasted any time because the existing Media Center has run its course. It’s not a negative thing,” says Denzel Lane, manager of Digital Home PC, Witchita, Kansas. “The 2005 edition has been around long enough so it’s time for a change.”
And change is what partners will get. Partners who tested Community Technology Previews (CTP) of Windows Vista in late 2005 and early 2006 saw early incarnations of the expanded Media Center user interface and new functions for recorded programs. Vista Media Center UI, for example, allows users to navigate menus horizontally. Microsoft also plans to offer high-definition TV support over the air, native digital cable support and tight synergies with Windows Media Player 11 and Vista’s search and organize features. That will give users Tivo-like functionality and iTunes-like functionality.
Version 1.5 of Viiv, due in the middle of the year, will be optimized for Vista and include digital rights management features to allow sharing of content over Microsoft’s media extender technology. This alone makes Media Center more palatable to home users.
System builders also expect that the combination of Viiv and Vista will enable partners to create new form factors–and thus more powerful and consumer-friendly home entertainment appliances than in the past.
The Viiv platform is “really bringing Media Center into its own,” says Steve Bohman, vice president of operations for Columbus Micro, Ohio, adding that system builders are not going to be shocked because they must redesign and re-qualify their systems to make them Viivi-compliant. “Most system builders won’t be surprised that Vista is rolling in those media center capabilities. It’s reached the point where that’s what consumers expect.”


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For years it was the stuff of legend -- a games console that incorporated both a CD drive and SNES cartridge slot made with the official backing of PlayStation and Nintendo? But back in 2015 we saw the magical prototype for ourselves and even had a play with it. Now, after years of touring the world to show off the system to classic gaming fans, the owner of what is believed to be the only remaining Nintendo PlayStation system is putting the console up for sale.
The console ended up in the hands of Terry Diebold after he discovered it among a bunch of items he'd won in an online bankruptcy auction (for which he paid the ridiculously low price of $75), but it wasn't until his son Dan happened upon a Reddit thread about the system that he realized just how important the console was. The product of a not-quite partnership between Nintendo and Sony back in the early '90s, some argue that the Nintendo PlayStation inadvertently led to the creation of Sony's own PlayStation, which of course has had a phenomenal impact on gaming itself.
For years, the Diebolds have toured the system around the globe, which, as you can imagine, doesn't come cheap. Speaking to Kotaku, Terry says that he's made "nothing" by taking the console on the road, and that continuing to do so is costing money he can't afford to lose. As such, the pair have decided to part with the console -- and it looks like there's going to be mega bucks involved, with the Diebolds already turning down $1.2 million from someone in Norway.
The console will be sold in an online auction run by Heritage Auctions, which has in the past sold gaming collectables for eye-watering prices -- a sealed copy of the original Mega Man made a whopping $75,000 earlier this year, for example. The sale will begin on February 27th, although no-one's really sure how much the legendary console will go for. Valarie McLeckie, Heritage's director of video games said that while it will definitely sell, the market will determine its value. "In the case of this particular item, since it's never been sold at public auction before, there's really no way to tell," she said. Chances are it'll be a bit out of your budget, though.


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Meta’s latest release, the Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses, has raised significant concerns regarding privacy. Priced at $300 and now available for pre-orders, these smart glasses are an upgraded version of the previous Ray-Ban Stories smart glasses, incorporating a more advanced 12-megapixel ultrawide front camera capable of recording videos at 1080p resolution and storing more photos and videos due to a faster chip.
While the design retains the iconic Ray-Ban style, the improvements in camera technology raise serious privacy questions. One major concern is the potential for unauthorized recording of individuals without their consent. Although a small white LED is intended to alert individuals within the camera’s field of view that they are being recorded, it may be easily mistaken for other reflections, making it ineffective in practice.
Previous iterations of the smart glasses saved photos and videos in a companion app on the user’s phone, allowing for some level of transparency and the ability to verify if suspicious recording activity was occurring. However, the latest glasses have the added ability to livestream directly to Instagram and Facebook, eliminating the need for a local digital trace. This implies that individuals could unwittingly have their activities livestreamed in real-time on major social media platforms without their knowledge or consent.
The integration with Instagram and Facebook, both owned by Meta, poses an additional concern. Given these platforms’ history of inadequate content moderation, there is a genuine risk that personal and private moments could be exposed to the public before appropriate action is taken to remove the live-stream.
The privacy implications of these new smart glasses highlight the urgent need for comprehensive regulations and guidelines surrounding wearable technology, especially when it involves recording and sharing content. Striking a balance between technological advancements and privacy rights is crucial to ensure that innovations are not at the expense of personal privacy and security.


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“According to proponents of this myth, Apple’s success with the iPod is about to be crushed by an onslaught of music playing cell phones, so Apple needs to desperately come up with an iPod + cell phone combination of their own to remain relevant. They’re wrong, here’s why,” Daniel Eran writes for RoughlyDrafted.
“This myth is based in part on ‘Microsoft is Invincible FUD,’ which carefully warns consumers that whatever strategy Microsoft choses will be both flawless and undeniable, and that rather than examine options, it’s best just to wait around and see what Microsoft eventually delivers, and then make the best of it,” Eran writes.
“However, Microsoft has repeatedly failed in their ongoing attempts to leverage their Windows monopoly to dominate the digital music and media market. Instead, consumers have chosen to buy iPods, leaving Microsoft’s WMA strategy soundly defeated by Apple’s device and the QuickTime technologies that power it,” Eran writes.
“Apple sold 35 million iPods in the last year. The entire cell phone market is estimated to have 850 million units ship in 2006. Of course, most of those phones can’t play music, but the numbers suggest a way to prove that Apple’s iPod product isn’t actually destroying the competition by competing fairly as a better product, but is rather just a strange niche product that represents a temporary statistical anomaly. As soon as consumers figure out that their cell phone is just as good at playing music, analysts hope to see Apple’s share of the market fall into the 5% or less range,” Eran writes.
“Once Apple goes back to being inconsequential, and Microsoft returns as the invincible decider of industry trends, lazy analysts can return to comfortably prattling off the same pro-Microsoft FUD that, in fulfilling its own prophesies, has served their own interests by making them look knowledgeable and smart over the last two decades. Of course, until that happens they continue look stupid, so they’re motivated to talk about iPod Killers. Mobile phones are just the last best hope for challenging Apple’s music player,” Eran writes.
Full article, highly recommended, here.
[Thanks to MacDailyNews Reader “Rainy Day” for the heads up.]
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Apple ‘iPhone’ inevitable, but not imminent – June 13, 2006
Patent application shows iPod capable of live wireless video conferencing – June 13, 2006
Bear Stearns comments on Apple: ‘true’ video iPod, iPhone, multiple OS plans – May 17, 2006
Report: Apple Computer may soon launch its own music ‘iPhone’ – March 31, 2006
RUMOR: Apple ‘iPhone’ put on hold – March 30, 2006
Visiongain: Apple ‘iPhone’ launch imminent – March 29, 2006
BenQ exec: Apple’s iPhone ‘definitely coming’ – March 23, 2006
European patent application shows Apple ‘iPhone’ info? – March 21, 2006
Analyst: Apple ‘iPhone’ could put a dent in Motorola – March 20, 2006
Anayst: 75-percent chance of Apple ‘iPhone’ in next 12 months – March 16, 2006
Citigroup tech analyst: Apple ‘iPhone’ is going to be a category killer – March 03, 2006
Motorola to make Windows Media phones, keep separate iTunes phone line – February 13, 2006
Review: Motorola SLVR Apple iTunes mobile phone ‘an incredibly slick gadget with some shortcomings’ – February 13, 2006
Motorola and Cingular launch new SLVR L7 iTunes phone – January 31, 2006
Analyst sees new Apple iBooks by April, ‘media hub’ product, 1GB iPod nano, iPhone within a year – January 31, 2006
Analysts tackle Apple’s ‘Mobile Me’ patent, iPhone rumors, MVNO possibilities – January 19, 2006
The San Francisco Chronicle: Apple may link cell phone, iPod – January 17, 2006
Apple Computer getting into the mobile phone market? – January 12, 2006
Apple applies for ‘Mobile Me’ trademark – January 11, 2006
Morgan Stanley predicts Apple shares surge, Apple ‘iPhone’ in 2006 – December 16, 2005
Analyst predicts Apple-branded ‘iPhone’ with iTunes and terabyte iPod within five years – November 11, 2005
How Apple’s Steve Jobs snookered the entire cell phone industry – October 03, 2005
Motorola CEO Zander: Apple to build a smart phone, it’s only a matter of time – September 29, 2005
Apple may eventually introduce its own ‘iPhone’ cell phone-iPod combo and create Apple MVNO – September 12, 2005
If Apple isn’t working on their own iPhone, they’re making a stupid mistake – September 12, 2005
Does Apple need a mobile phone of its own design? – September 09, 2005
Piper Jaffray: Apple should develop ‘iPhone’ by themselves – September 06, 2005
Forbes: Apple Computer planning to become a phone company? – July 08, 2005
Wendland: Bill Gates is right, iPod will be replaced by smartphones – by Apple – May 13, 2005
Apple Registers iPhone Trademark in Australia – December 02, 2002


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Turbine has released a new behind-the-scenes video showing off and explaining the benefits of Infinite Crisis' destructible environments.
Hoping to better acquaint players with the development of its DC Comics-based MOBA Infinite Crisis, Turbine has released a new video for its fans. The third in an ongoing series of behind-the-scenes looks at the game, the latest video is focused on the studio's attempts to give more consequence to the havoc wreaked by players.
"We want a world always feeling the impact of these superheroes," said creative director Cardell Kerr. In turn, Infinite Crisis will feature destructible environments that players will essentially be able to flatten with their powers. "The destructible environments really help to sell your role as hero or villain in the world," added Brent Schmidt, lead content designer.
Aside from helping to give a bit more definition to the heroes and villains players will be embodying, the destructible environments will also be implemented in a way that can give skilled players an edge in battle. "Catastrophic events are gameplay and they're things you can master because you can anticipate them," said game system designer Dan Parke. "They have a big impact on the map. They are things that cause you to rethink your strategy." Catastrophic events will do things like block off areas of the map, forcing players to compensate on the fly.
Overall, however, Turbine's biggest hope is that the destruction players are capable of will help give the game a greater sense of scope and keep the experience true to the epic roots of its source material. Champion designer Chris Clay believes "It gives [players] a feeling of being powerful."