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Three are two kinds of taste in the appreciation of creative work: the taste for emotions of surprise and the taste for emotions of recognition. Both feelings were all what proponent brand pusher, Paul Inyang, the dude behind the fledgling multiple award-wining brand company, Megaplux Global Access, enjoyed recently when his company was awarded with the best Point Of Sales Materials Production Companyaward at the just concluded Nigeria Media Nite-Out Award (NMNA) in Lagos.
Held at Timesquare Event Centre in Ikeja, Lagos, the award ceremonyattracted who is who in the media profession, outstanding co-operate organisations, media friendly personalities and celebrities, who have done tremendously well in their various fields.
Recipients of the award also include Gov. Aregbesola of Osun State, Kogi State First Lady, Mrs. Yahaya Bello,Mrs. Folake Ani-Mumuney, the Group Head, Marketing and Corporate Communications of First Bank, Abdul Imoyo, the head, Corporate Affairs of Access Bank, Rapper Eedris Abdulkareem, Artquake and many others.
According to the organizers, Megaplux won the award based on its immense contributions to the outdoor branding business.
While accepting the award, the company chairman, Paul said: “this is a reward for audacious pursuit of made-in-Nigeria products. We thank the organizers for this award and truly it’s really deserving and encouraging. My team and I have over the years worked hard to ensuring that we add value to the outdoor branding industry. Our primary focus is to provide ideas that can impact positively on lives and brands. How a product can perform and translate into values to the producer. That is what we stand for and we shall continue in the same spirit.”
Meanwhile, it should be added that just last year, the company also won the same award category at the African Governance and Corporate Leadership Award, which was held in Abuja.


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Destinations International and Longwoods International Reveal Research on American and Canadian Attitudes Towards the Tourism Industry
Washington, D.C. (February 16, 2022) – Destinations International and Longwoods International today released the “National Resident Sentiment Towards Tourism” benchmark study for both Canada and the United States. The report examines how Americans and Canadians assess the tourism industry’s growth—both its benefits to their lives as well as the potential pitfalls. The study results can be viewed here.
In 2021 Longwoods International fielded a national resident sentiment study utilizing a national online consumer research panel of 4,000 adults. The scale and scope of this study make insights available on the regional and generational level, allowing for both a national benchmark evaluation, as well as evaluations of nuances across the country. In partnership with Destinations International, the results of this National Resident Sentiment Study Towards Tourism are being made available to the tourism industry.
The trials and tribulations of travel and tourism worldwide during the coronavirus pandemic have shined a spotlight on the visitor industry and its importance to economies globally. Even before the pandemic, the industry was increasingly in the spotlight for a variety of reasons. Communities debated the pros and cons of hosting visitors, weighing the jobs and revenues provided by tourism against potential overcrowding and even environmental concerns. With a growing membership in Canada and the formation of the Canadian Alliance, Destinations International sought to expand the work done around resident sentiment in the U.S. to the Canadian market.
“This research is vitally important to our members and the entire Canadian and U.S. tourism industries,” said Don Welsh, President and CEO of Destinations International. “Especially during times of crisis with the global pandemic, the way Canadians and Americans view the travel and tourism industry is vital information to our destination organization members as they continue to work with their community stakeholders to plan for continued recovery.”
“This research confirms that there is broad public support for the tourism industry in communities across the country,” said Amir Eylon, President and CEO of Longwoods International. “But the study also makes clear that the industry would benefit if it did a better job keeping local residents informed on upcoming tourism-related projects and initiatives.”
Canadian Sentiment Study Highlights:
- Canadians generally believe that travel and tourism is a positive force for their province and community, improving the quality of life for residents, and they favor programs to attract even more visitors. The industry should be able to harness that public support as it seeks creative ways to survive and recover from coronavirus downturn.
- Canadians support attracting even more visitors, with 60% supporting an increase in tourists, and only 15% opposing such an increase.
- Support for the visitor industry is premised on the belief that the industry is a catalyst for economic growth. A majority of residents, ranging from 50% to 66%, believe that tourism encourages local investment, attracts new businesses, helps recruit workers and attracts new residents to their communities.
United States Sentiment Study Highlights:
- Support for the industry and its employees remains strong, with about two thirds of respondents believing that tourism is good for their state and local community, and less than 20% disagreeing with that statement.
- The major takeaways from this research are that first, there is broad support for the travel and tourism industry across the country. However, there exist areas for attention by the industry: • The need for better resident engagement around topics of public concern – The industry should pay attention to public concerns about specific issues, including opinions on the public use of lodging tax revenues and disruptions to neighborhoods by lodging sharing services. • Residents feel largely left out of the conversation on tourism development.
- When it comes to tourism promotion, support for the industry continues, with broad approval of state and local campaigns to attract visitors through such efforts. By a ratio of about two to one, Americans favor state and local tourism promotion efforts.
In partnership with Destinations International, Longwoods is providing custom resident sentiment research for Destinations International members. These studies will allow cities, regions and states to understand local support for the tourism industry and how that support compares to the national norm. This type of information can be critical when developing a community outreach and advocacy effort.
Destination organizations who wish to learn more about participating in a resident sentiment study may click here for more information.
About Destinations International:
Destinations International is the world’s largest resource for official destination organizations, convention and visitors bureaus (CVBs) and tourism boards. Destinations International is about serving destination marketing professionals first and foremost. For more information, visit www.destinationsinternational.org.
About Longwoods International:
Longwoods International is a leading travel and tourism research company with offices in Toronto; Columbus, OH; Orlando, FL; Atlanta, GA; and Lake Geneva, WI. It conducts Longwoods Travel USA®, the largest ongoing survey of American travelers, as well as image, advertising effectiveness, advertising return on investment and other custom research in 12 countries around the globe.

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The following is part of a series of key highlights from the 82nd Annual Report of the Grocery Industry, which appears in PG’s April 2015 issue. The full report can be found here.
It may be down in generating sales, but organic tops other categories in customer buzz, at 31.1 percent, rising from No. 7 in 2014 to supplant last year’s deli/prepared foods, which shares second place with ethnic, at 28.8 percent. Other most talked-about categories are gourmet/specialty, at 27.5 percent; meat, at 18.8 percent; and floral and fresh bakery, with 17.5 percent apiece.
In the realm of customer interaction, checklanes and deli/prepared foods have switched places, with checklanes now out in front by a wide margin, 54.4 percent to deli/prepared foods’ 32.4 percent. Floral makes an impressive leap from 12th last year to third this year, at 26.5 percent, pushing meat down one spot, with 19.1 percent, where it ties with pharmacy. Despite the opportunities opened up by its showing on the customer buzz chart, organic comes in ninth, three spots up from last year but still fairly low down on the list.
Given the buzz it engenders, grocers should ensure their associates know the benefits of organic and how products receive organic certification, thereby enabling consumers with questions to understand what they’re purchasing, and increasing customer interaction that will inspire more shoppers to buy organic.
Most influential in driving stores’ overall brand, image or point of differentiation is once more the meat section, with 45.8 percent, while produce, which was No. 2 last year, is a distant second, at 28.1 percent. Center store/grocery is third, with 9.4 percent, followed by fresh bakery and organic (which didn’t even chart last year), at 7.3 percent and 3.1 percent, respectively.
Finally, when asked to name the tools they use to engage with consumers, a whopping 73.2 percent of PG’s survey respondents choose social media, up from 69.8 percent last year. Next in popularity are electronic communications/digital surveys, at 36.5 percent, down slightly from last year; customer service hotlines, at 36.3 percent, an increase of nearly eight percentage points; loyalty card data, at 33.3 percent, down from 37.2 percent in 2014; and associate feedback, at 29.2 percent, a small uptick from last year. As grocers continue to embrace digital marketing, we can expect the use of social media and e-communications to keep growing.


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At first we thought it had to be a mistake. General Motors is already paying customers to take the 2008 Buick Enclave off their hands? It’s not even on dealer lots yet, but Automotive News reports Buick is offering $1,000 “Conquest Bonus Cash” and 4.9% financing available on the $32k+ CUV.
Though the “Conquest Cash” is intended to draw non-GM-driving customers away from the competition, no matter the name, rebates on brand new vehicles are obvious admissions of overpricing that only enforce car shoppers’ addiction to cash-back offers. If the Enclave performs as well and is as reliable as it is gorgeous, it shouldn’t need any incentives.
On the other hand, a drop-dead body and cash back could be irresistable to all but the most diehard import buyer.
[Source: Automotive News (Sub. Req.)]


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TORONTO/NEW YORK (Reuters) - Performance Sports Group Ltd PSG.TO, the maker of Bauer hockey gear, is preparing to file for bankruptcy in the United States and Canada as early as Sunday evening, according to people familiar with the matter.
The company, which also makes baseball bats and other sports equipment, intends to file with a buyer in hand, and seek out higher bids through a bankruptcy auction, the people said, requesting anonymity because the matter is confidential.
Canadian alternative asset manager Brookfield Asset Management (BAMa.TO) and investor Sagard Capital Partners LP, a unit of Power Corp of Canada (POW.TO), said this week they were exploring a deal with Performance Sports. In a separate filing, Sagard said that it was also working with Canadian investment firm Fairfax Financial Holdings Ltd (FFH.TO) on a deal for the manufacturer.
Performance Sports and Sagard Capital declined to comment. Brookfield and Fairfax did not immediately respond to requests made outside office hours for comment.
Brookfield and Sagard are among the biggest shareholders in Performance Sports.
The plans are not yet finalized, with Performance Sports alternatively seeking another break from its lenders, the people said.
Performance Sports Group faces a Friday deadline to turn in its annual financial statements to its lenders after receiving a 60-day extension this summer. If the company does not file its report, or receive another extension from its lenders, it will default and the lenders can call in all their debt.
Performance Sports has said it was delayed in filing its financial statements by an internal investigation into its accounting.
The former chairman of Performance Sports, Graeme Roustan, told Reuters in August that he is working with investment banks to explore a bid for the company.
The company’s troubles highlight the challenges North American manufacturers face in the highly competitive market. The sporting goods sector also faces tumult, with U.S. retailer Sports Authority filing for bankruptcy earlier this year.
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission is also investigating Performance Sports Group, the company has said.
Performance Sports has two loans, a term loan for $450 million, of which $330.5 million was drawn in February, and an asset-based revolving credit line of $200 million, which had $119.2 million drawn at the same time.
Performance Sports Group said in August that it hired investment bank Centerview Partners to help review options for the company and negotiate with lenders.
Founded in the 1920s, Performance Sports was owned for about a decade by sporting goods maker Nike Inc (NKE.N) and then sold to Graeme Roustan and private equity firm Kohlberg & Co in 2008.
This summer, Performance Sports said that it was consolidating baseball and softball operations and scaling back some of its offerings to improve its financial performance.
Additional reporting by Matt Scuffham; Editing by Sandra Maler, Bernard Orr


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Viber is one of the popular instant messaging apps today with over 1 billion users worldwide.
People love this chat service because it’s completely free and it’s one of the most secure messaging and calling app.
Last Month, Viber announces 2 new features for Viber users that will be released to Viber 10 version.
Viber Dark Mode
Viber posted in their official Twitter account that teases its users with a Dark Mode.
Coming soon ? pic.twitter.com/64u93R4H9q
— Viber (@Viber) February 7, 2019
The chat service didn’t share the exact date but based on the replies and comments, the Viber confirms that it will release its Dark Mode in the next version of the app.
They also said that the Messenger application gets to choose different theme apart from the Dark Mode.
Viber Group Calls
Currently, Viber only supports group chats up to 250 members. Last month, when they release Viber 10, they also announced on their blog that group calls of up to 5 people at the same time will arrive soon.
Viber didn’t share any other details about it. Users are now craving for Dark Mode since Facebook Messenger Dark Mode is now the craze in social media.
The last update of Viber was on February 13, 2019. It’s been a month now since they announced this and anytime they will release these 2 new features.
What are you waiting for, download Viber now.


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Toyota was busy introducing all flavors of the 2012 Toyota Camry to the media earlier this week, but since all that stuff's embargoed, there's not much to tell. Yet. But what isn't under embargo is this collection of spy photos showing the 2012 Camry Hybrid in its birthday suit while shooting a television commercial.
The new Camry's familiar roofline communicates practicality overall, but the updated sheetmetal has more crisp lines, with new fascias fore and aft. The hybrid's grille treatment apes that of the facelifted Highlander Hybrid, and yes, those headlights are indeed the ones Akio Toyoda teased a few weeks ago.
In a nutshell, it's still a conservative look, but decidedly less frumpy than before. Now, let's see what changes Toyota's made below the surface to bring the Camry in line with the current midsize family-sedan competition.


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A recent study conducted by WebSideStory Inc. implies that in terms of generating conversion rates at e-commerce Web sites, paid and organic search are pretty much even.
Paid search has only a slight 9 percent edge in conversion rates over organic search. The findings of the study were surprising, as many thought paid conversion rates would be much higher.
“[Marketers place great emphasis on] paid search through pay-per-click outlets such as Google, MSN and Yahoo,” said Erik Bratt, director of corporate communications at WebSideStory. “But organic search is not to be overlooked and is equally valuable in generating conversions.”
The study analyzed about 57 million search engine visits during the period beginning January, ending August.
“There are arguments to be made on both sides – organic search has editorial integrity, which consumers seem to value,” “But with paid search, marketers control the message and have the opportunity to eliminate under-performing keywords.”


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Even before the smartphone screens screamed high-definition, phones for over $700 came with at least a double dose of the cores, to provide more power for apps and games. Now, handset maker Huawei is looking at delivering true bang for your buck, with a well-spec’d phone that comes in at a just under half a grand.
“The Ascend D1 quad is Huawei’s most powerful smartphone ever released in Australia, delivering the most advanced quad-core processor technology while actually increasing energy efficiency,” said Huawei’s Australian Marketing Manager, Poh-Lee Koh. “This device utilises Huawei’s own in-house chipset integrated with Huawei’s own power management technology, leading to significant improvements in media consumption, multi-tasking and productivity.”
Outside of the processor, expect parts that normally make up high-end smartphones, including a high definition 720p IPS+ screen sitting at 4.5 inches, 8 megapixel camera with backside illuminated sensor and dual LED flash, Android 4.0 “Ice Cream Sandwich,” and a thickness of 8.9mm.
Huawei is also hoping for good things in the battery performance area, with a 1800mAh battery being assisted by Huawei’s own proprietary power management systems that look to assist in battery life.
Price is one area where Huawei plans to compete, offering the unlocked quad-core phone for $499 RRP at JB HiFi stores across the country, well under what competing quad-core smartphones cost outright.
We’ll be getting one in for review shortly, but keen customers will find it on shelves form November 23.


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Motorcross bikes worth £39k taken from Exeter shop
Seven new motorcross bikes worth nearly £39,000 have been taken from a Devon shop, police have said.
The orange and white KTM bikes were taken from Albion Motorcycles, Hennock Road Central, in Exeter, at about 01:45 BST on Tuesday.
The force said it was believed the bikes were pushed from the shop to Clapperbrook Lane in Alphington.
The bikes range from 85cc to 350cc models. Anyone with any information is urged to contact the police.
The Devon and Cornwall force said a member of the public reported seeing three new ATM bikes in a hedge near Shillingford St George at about 07:30 BST.
But they added the bikes had been loaded into a two-tonne grey transit-style van before police arrived.


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Retinol has long been a popular antiaging ingredient, but TikTok propelled it to new heights and now the social media site is seeing another skin care contender hot on retinol’s heels.
According to data from Hey Discount, while retinol has preserved its longstanding position as the leading skin care trend, a plateau could be on the horizon for the wrinkle-fighting ingredient. Hyaluronic acid has overtaken retinol in terms of year-over-year growth in TikTok views, increasing by 1,023 percent in 2022, while retinol has witnessed 275 percent growth over the same period.
However, mounting economic uncertainty may be preventing TikTok views from translating to actual purchases, with many of TikTok’s top skin care trends encountering recent decreases in Google searches.
Despite its swelling TikTok popularity, hyaluronic acid has experienced a 1.8 percent decline in Google searches. Searches for niacinamide, which has grown by 231 percent in TikTok views in 2022, have decreased by 6.5 percent over the same period. Similarly, TikTok views for “glass skin” have increased by 90 percent, while Google searches for the trend have decreased by 15 percent, by comparison.
Here, the biggest skin care trends of 2022, based on the cumulative TikTok views each has garnered, per Hey Discount.
You May Also Like
- Retinol — 1.5 billion
- Gua sha — 1.1 billion
- SPF — 1.3 billion
- DIY skin care — 550.1 million
- Glass skin — 448.8 million
- Hyaluronic acid — 448.8 million
- Niacinamide — 434.4 million
- Salicylic acid — 218.4 million
- Cleansing balm — 158.1 million
- Ceramides — 174.7 million


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Meal kit companies and grocers could form an unlikely alliance to battle back against Amazon.
While meal kits have long struggled to prove their worth and convenience to customers, Amazon's recent acquisition of Whole Foods has weighed heavily on grocery stocks.
In an attempt to maintain their share in the sector, grocers could be gearing up to acquire meal kit services, according to a report by The Information, a subscription-based technology news website.
Albertsons Companies, which owns grocery chain Safeway, reportedly discussed purchasing the meal kit start-up Plated, The Information said, citing two people familiar with the matter. There is no word on whether the companies will agree to a merger. The companies did not immediately respond to CNBC requests for comment.
Some meal kit companies seem receptive to the idea.
The chief executive of Green Chef said he was open to accepting offers for the company, and Home Chef hired bankers to explore a possible sale.
"There [is] a frenetic market out there," Green Chef CEO Michael Joseph told The Information, "but we're talking to strategics and we wouldn't be shocked if we got an offer. We had companies asked if we're for sale. As a responsible CEO I said, 'Perhaps.'"
About 12 percent of U.S. grocery shoppers bought their groceries online at some point in 2016, according to Cowen and Company. As that number grows, those onsumers may adopt meal kit services as well.
Amazon has already been testing food delivery through AmazonFresh and selling meal kits in metropolitan areas, but having the largest organic retailer in its pocket could help the tech company spread quicker to areas outside of major cities.
Not to mention, the tech giant has about 31 million households with access to an Amazon Prime membership and more than half of them are already purchase groceries online via the website.
Amazon's growing presence in the grocery industry could prompt grocers to look into purchasing meal kit companies that can be integrated into their operations.
"You're seeing incredible changes in the landscape of how people buy food and the migration online," Kyle Ransford, CEO of Chef'd, told The Information. "But brick and mortar is going to be significant. A lot of major retailers are interested in adding meal kits."
Last month, Kroger began testing its own kits of premeasured ingredients in four of its Cincinnati stores.


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Union leaders who represent 62,000 supermarket workers in Southern California say they will recommend members authorize a strike when they vote on the stores' latest contract proposal.
Members of the United Food & Commercial Workers will meet today and Saturday to discuss the proposal, which came after three days of meetings this week with Albertsons, Vons and Ralphs. But presidents of two locals say they won't recommend the workers accept the latest offer.
"The talks did not go as well as we had needed or expected," said Greg Conger, president of Local 324, which represents Orange County workers. "Their position did not change enough to change our recommendation."
Union leaders say their members would be asked to pay a much larger share of medical costs under the chains' proposals, which call for them to pay between $9 and $23 per week.
A vote to authorize a strike does not assure that will happen but it demonstrates the union's frustration over the lack of progress. The two sides have been negotiating since February, and the vote this week will be the second time this year members have been asked to authorize a strike.
The three chains have about 300 locations between them in Southern California. Stater Bros., with the largest concentration of locations in Riverside and San Bernardino counties, is negotiating separately and is not part of this vote.
Conger said union officials will discuss strategies next week and also will meet with representatives of the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service. John Arnold, a spokesman for the mediators, declined to comment on the talks.
"We're not anxious to strike but we know this thing has to come to an end," Conger said.
Both sides remember the acrimonious 141-day strike and lockout in 2003 and 2004 that cost workers millions in wages. The stores lost $2 billion in sales during that period, according to estimates, and many shoppers did not come back to their usual markets after the settlement.
The two sides agreed on a pension plan in June but remain deadlocked on health care issues, said Connie Leyva, president of Local 1428, which represents workers in western San Bernardino County and eastern Los Angeles County. The chains have a plan that asks workers to make co-payments of between $9 and $23 a week depending on the size of the family.
Leyva said that's fine, but the stores are shifting large amounts of the overall costs on the workers. She said the companies' contributions to the union's medical insurance fund would be cut back so sharply the pool would be empty long before the contract expires.
"The biggest problem is they're not putting enough money on the table," Leyva said. "Our members are grateful to have jobs. I just wish the employers were as grateful for the profits they make off the backs of our workers."
Leyva also criticized the slow pace of the talks. But Kendra Doyel, Ralphs' vice president for public affairs, said it's sometimes difficult to coordinate a schedule that includes three chains, seven UFCW locals and the federal mediator.
"The latest proposal has some really great stuff in it," Doyel said. "We remain hopeful that once they run through the next step in their playbook they'll come back to the table."
Most of the voting will happen today, but workers in remote areas such as Blythe and El Centro will vote Saturday. If the union does call a strike it must give 72 hours of advance notice, a provision in food industry labor deals that covers perishables.
Both sides are taking measures in the event of a strike. Union locals are training picket line captains and distributing picket signs.
Signs posted on the doors of Inland Albertsons stores advertised for replacement clerks and cashiers as a contingency.
Inland Southern California shoppers generally supported the strike in 2003 and 2004, and many said they would do the same if it happened again.
"I'd go to Stater Bros. That's what I did last time," said Lisa Foggo, 45, who was shopping at a Moreno Valley Albertsons. Foggo said a close friend is an Albertsons employee. "I would never cross a picket line."
Others said they would go somewhere else, but some said it would be just to avoid the inconvenience or the emotional atmosphere.
Len Fairior, a 57-year-old contractor from Reche Canyon, said he used to be in a union and grew tired of it, calling the demands asked by union leaders "a morale killer."
"They picked the job, we didn't pick it for them," Fairior said of the supermarket workers.
Both sides are trying to forge a deal in the midst of a bad economy. Jackie Fernandez, retail partner with Deloitte Retail Consulting, said the three chains are all part of large national corporations with stores all over the country.
"That gives them a little leverage," Fernandez said. "They'll probably be able to work through it."
Also, consumers with less spending money who face rising prices would also help the stores keep their customer bases. "If it's convenient, I think people would come back," she said.
But the union could feel cornered and left with no other choice, said Kent Wong, director of the UCLA Center for Labor Research and Education.
"In many ways, the supermarket workers feel boxed in," Wong said. "Unless there's a new proposal, there's a good chance there could be a strike."
One of the main sticking points in negotiations concerns paying for health care.
A union-administered health plan typically is paid out of a union fund bolstered with money from the employer. UFCW claims the latest proposal would leave much of the workers' costs unfunded.
The chains claim the payroll deductions for workers -- which range from $9 per week for a single person to $23 for family coverage -- are as good or better than what most retail workers pay.


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Fintech Innovation Remains a Startup’s Game09.22.2017
It is almost every fintech vendors nightmare that the “Big Five” internet companies- Google, Facebook, Amazon, Microsoft, and Apple- would one day leverage their respective technology footprints and move into the financial services space.
The consensus of a few major venture capital firms is that the fear is unfounded mostly.
“In many cases, when you do the analysis and look at your core business and the margins of financial services, it is not a compelling adjacency to enter,” said Matt Harris, a managing partner at Bain Capital Ventures who participated in the Montgomery Summit hosted at Nasdaq’s MarketSite in Manhattan.
Harris cited Google’s 2015 plan to launch its Google Compare for US Auto Insurance offering.
“It hired a full team, did a small acquisition and announced that it would help consumers find the right auto insurance for them,” he said. “And nine months later, it backed out of it entirely. Google realized that it was paid much more money from the insurance brokers and that it was not worth the squeeze to have the channel conflict of competing with them.”
However, when it comes to payments, Apple and Amazon break from the pack.
Harris viewed Apple’s Apple Pay business as more of a tool the iPhone maker uses to enrich the economy on its devices.
“Very few of us use it in a store, but many of us use it in an app,” he said. “Even if you do not use it, your 13-year old nephew who is buying digital swords on his gaming apps does since entering your credit card information to buy that digital sword would not daunt your nephew but it is a hassle.”
Amazon, on the other hand, is more of a wild card, according to Harris.
Given that the company is evolving from a retail-only business to an infrastructure provider to every company in the world, Harris said that a move by the company into payments would be “wildly strategic.”
Amazon would not need to onboard many clients since it already has more than 200 million American credit cards already on file, he noted.
“You could pay with Amazon at any merchant, but merchants have mixed feelings about Amazon, where ‘mixed’ is ‘hatred,’” said Harris. “There is a reason why you do not see a ‘pay with Amazon’ button on every website.”
Another reason for the Big Five not to jump into online payments is that the overall market is too small, according to fellow panelist Brendan Carroll, senior partner and co-founder Victory Park Capital.
“Depending on which data you use, the online lending market was $15 to $20 billion last year,” he said. “It is not big enough for the credit card companies or Amazon. As it continues to grow, maybe, but I think the regulatory environment will keep many companies away from it because they do not want to deal with the hassle until it becomes so big that they have to enter it.”
Where the panelist saw the greatest amount of effort to leapfrog current payment offerings are from, not surprisingly, startups.
“You see moves happening outside of the US,” said Alex Ferrara, a partner at Bessemer Venture Partners. “Some of the Asian players also are moving into payments and, potentially, more aggressively into banking.”
There has been much experimentation with some strategies show some signs of flowering, but it is early, according to Ferrara.
“We have not seen any company crack the code on it at this point, but expect in the next several years that these internet-based startups companies will take little pieces away from the financial services landscape,” he said.
Technologists can accelerate delivering software to power trading, risk management, and compliance.
A CBDC network may offer operational efficiencies, enhanced transparency and reporting capabilities.
Saphyre’s AI platform allows data to be entered once for simultaneous access.
This acquisition will enhance Symphony’s data and business insights use cases, including ESG capabilities.
They will explore building a digital carbon exchange.


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Joe's Crab Shack tests no-tipping policy. Will more restaurant chains follow?
Joe's Crab Shack has announced that it will eliminate tipping at 18 of its 131 restaurants and give workers higher base wages. The policy adoption makes it the first national restaurant chain in the US to seriously test a no-tipping model.
At Joe’s Crab Shack, the next time a server delivers great service, they might not be doing it for a tip.
Joe’s Crab Shack has become the first national chain to seriously test a no-tipping business model that has gained traction in the fine dining world over the past few months. CEO Ray Blachette told analysts last week that the restaurant chain has been testing a model that gets rid of tipping and pays staff higher wages at a few locations for several months. Over the past 30 days, Joe's Crab Shack has expanded the trial to include 18 of its 131 US locations, according to Nation’s Restaurant News.
In October, restauranteur and Union Square Hospitality Group CEO Danny Meyer announced tipping would be eliminated at all of the company’s restaurants by the end of this year. Joe’s Crab Shack's status as a national chain has the potential to push the wage model into the mainstream. The expansion of the no-tipping test for Joe’s Crab Shack is due to positive performance reviews from trial locations.
“What makes us optimistic is the restaurant that has been in test the longest is gaining the most traction,” Mr. Blanchette told analysts.
Joe's Crab Shack parent company Ignite Restaurants says the wages for servers will start at $14 an hour and may vary from server to server depending on performance, according to Restaurant Business. Kitchen and wait staff will also receive pay boosts. Blanchette hopes the wage model will solve many issues that stem from a tip-based model, including competition among workers and a separation between server and kitchen staff.
"Servers, hosts, bartenders are paid now higher, fixed, hourly wages," Blanchette told CNBC, "and it's expected to result in an improved team atmosphere, a significant reduction in turnover and greater financial security for the employees."
Previously, private restaurants and fine dining institutions have largely championed the wage model for restaurants. An increasingly visible movement for a $15 minimum wage has added pressure. However, for many of these restaurants a change from tipping to higher wages has been accompanied by higher base prices for diners. In Seattle, where a $15-an-hour minimum wage took effect this past April, Ivar’s Seafood Bars increased prices by 21 percent in response.
There is also major pushback against the no-tipping policy from industry groups like the National Restaurant Association. The association estimates the “median hourly earnings for servers range from $16 to $22, depending on experience.” By those estimates, removing tipping in favor of higher wages would actually result in a pay cut for many servers, which could cause many to leave the industry, the group argues.
“The tipped culture is still what draws many people into our industry,” Christin Fernandez, a spokeswoman for the National Restaurant Association, told The New York Times.
Joe’s Crab Shack’s no-tipping experiment could provide a clearer example of the impact higher wages and no tipping has on a national scale.


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One of the most requested food bank items from families in need, according to Feeding America, is milk. The nonprofit gives only a gallon per person per year to the 37 million people it serves. Now through an online and mobile campaign, Feeding America, in conjunction with local dairy farmers, is looking to increase that amount by making giving to Phoenix families easier than ever.
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Beginning today, the Great American Milk Drive will accept donations both online and via text to get much-needed nutrient-rich milk to Phoenix families. Simply go online to the Great American Milk Drive's website or text "Milk" to 27722 to donate. Entering your ZIP code ensures that the milk goes from a Phoenix farm to a local family, although we're sure it'd go to good use anywhere nationally, too.
The event kicked off locally at 8:30 a.m. with speakers from the St. Mary's Food Bank Alliance, Shamrock Farms, and even Derrick Hall, president and CEO of the Arizona Diamondbacks, explaining the importance of giving to these families at the food bank in Phoenix.


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IFA 2010 is the platform where Samsung will introduce their much leaked tablet device which runs on the Android 2.2 operating system. This means we will find out for good whether it is the Galaxy Tab, or the Tape, as the 7″ tablet will be equipped with a Super AMOLED display that aims to go up head to head against the Apple iPad when released. Of course, those who are interested in the hardware will be pleased to know that this tablet sports two cameras, 3G connectivity, GPS navigation capability and Wi-Fi connectivity among others. Let’s just hope that the price is right, and that the Android Market will pick up the pace in order to keep up with Apple’s App Store if the Galaxy Tab were to have a fighting chance as good hardware alone isn’t enough these days to mount a good challenge.
Next Story: Buffalo offers three more Wireless-N devices


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9:00am - 5:00pm
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New York City
There’s always something new and exciting going on at INTERPHEX. Check out our announcements for the very latest news.
Offering Access to the Latest Industry Topics and Trends
NEW YORK, NY, June 4, 2014 –International Pharmaceutical Expo (INTERPHEX) sponsored by PDA, the leading annual industry event dedicated to showcasing innovation, technology and knowledge of biopharmaceutical development and...
- Leading Pharmaceutical & Biopharmaceutical Manufacturing Event -
NEW YORK CITY, NY, March 21, 2014 – The 2014 edition of the International Pharmaceutical Expo (INTERPHEX), the leading annual trade event dedicated to the pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical manufacturing industry concluded on Thursday, March 20. The event, sponsored by the PDA (Parenteral Drug...
- Positive Reactions at Leading Pharmaceutical & Biopharmaceutical Manufacturing Event -
NEW YORK CITY, NY, March 19, 2014 – INTERPHEX (International Pharmaceutical Expo)
the leading annual trade event dedicated to the pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical
manufacturing industry is being held this week at the Jacob K. Javits Center in New York
This year, INTERPHEX along with premier sponsor PDA (Parenteral Drug...
- Leading Pharmaceutical & Biopharmaceutical Event and Prominent Non-Profit Sign Three-Year Partnership -
NORWALK, CT, Aug. 19, 2013 – International Pharmaceutical Expo (INTERPHEX), the leading annual trade event dedicated to the pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical ...
NORWALK, CT, May 3, 2013 – INTERPHEX 2013, the premier trade event and conference program dedicated to the pharmaceutical manufacturing industry, was held April 23-25, 2013 at the Javits Center in New York City. With over 12,000 industry professionals present, ...
Click Here to View
--Keynote Congressman Bill Cassidy, M.D. to address concerns on prescription drug shortages--
NORWALK, CT, February 26, 2013 – The INTERPHEX Conference Program, to be held April 23-25, 2013 at The Javits Center, New York City, has been developed to span the ...
The Facility of the Year Awards Judging Panel has named six Category Award Winners in the 2013 Facility of the Year Awards (FOYA) program. The winning projects for 2013 were selected from 27 well-qualified entries and are located in Ireland, Switzerland, the United Kingdom...
Companies cite this year as “one of the best” and “productive”
(NORWALK, Conn., May 11, 2012) – INTERPHEX strode into its 2012 New York event with a roster of fresh approaches that sat well with exhibitors and attendees and added to the positive “market vibe”...
(NORWALK, Conn., May 1, 2012) - The month of May has opened energetically with INTERPHEX 2012, which has kicked off its three-day May 1-3 run at New York's Javits Center.
The event is the world's largest forum for pharma/biopharma manufacturers and opened this year with a re-engineered conference program that focuses on drug-to-market delivery processes,...


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"Happy Halloween from the Google Doodle, which uses mammoth pumpkins and some pretty sophisticated pumpkin carving to send its holiday message. It's no trick and all treat. The Google Doodle often uses a static image when it temporarily revamps its home page. But Monday, users are treated to a time-lapse video showing huge pumpkins being sliced and diced and, as the sun goes down, emitting a flickering, ghostly glow -- and the name of the search engine, of course."
Copyright 2016 © Godem Online Inc. | Web and server solutions by NewTech Solutions.


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NGA President and CEO Greg Ferrara (left) presented AWG President and CEO David Smith with the Clarence G. Adamy Great American Award during AWG’s Excellence Awards event.
David Smith, the president and CEO of Associated Wholesale Grocers (AWG) received the Clarence G. Adamy Great American Award from the National Grocers Association (NGA) on March 21 during AWG’s Excellence Awards.
Initiated in 1982, the Clarence G. Adamy Great American Award is NGA’s most distinguished government relations award. It’s presented to an individual or company whose leadership in the food industry best exemplifies active and effective participation in government relations as a citizen and industry representative.
“Over the years, David has always been one of the first to host an elected official at an AWG facility, and he’s always willing to come to Washington to meet with policymakers on issues impacting independent community grocers,” said Greg Ferrara, NGA president and CEO. “For many years, he has been a leader in helping to advance critical public policy issues that impact independent supermarkets.”
Before becoming the president and CEO of AWG in 2015, Smith started his career in the food industry as an independent store owner. He quickly rose through the ranks at wholesaler Fleming Cos. Inc. before joining AWG in 2003, and as the company’s SVP and general manager, he opened the company’s Gulf Coast division in Louisiana in 2013.
Throughout the years, Smith would regularly appear before lawmakers in Washington, D.C., to testify about issues that affect independent grocers. In July 2021, Smith testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee, explaining to senators how power buyers use their dominance to take greater control of the market, demanding special treatment from suppliers without economic justification, and described the toll on suppliers, agriculture producers and consumers.
He recently argued in support for the enforcement of the Robinson-Patman Act, a federal law passed in 1936 to outlaw price discrimination. An amendment to the 1914 Clayton Antitrust Act, the legislation is supposed to prevent "unfair" competition.
“Explaining antitrust issues isn’t something that easily rolls off the tongue for most, which is why it was so important to have people like David participate in countless meetings with elected officials, federal regulators and administration officials, helping them understand how inequities in the marketplace, driven by the explosive growth of power buyers, directly impacts communities across America,” Ferrara said.
AWG’s Excellence Awards ceremony, in conjunction with its Innovation Showcase and Annual Meeting, was held at the Overland Park Convention Center, in Overland Park, Kan.
Smith was also recently appointed secretary of the NGA’s 2022 executive committee.
Washington, D.C.-based NGA is the national trade association representing the retail and wholesale community grocers that comprise the independent sector of the food distribution industry. The independent grocery sector is accountable for about 1.2% of the nation’s overall economy and responsible for generating more than $250 billion in sales, 1.1 million jobs, $39 billion in wages and $36 billion in taxes. NGA members include retail and wholesale grocers across the country, as well as state grocers’ associations, manufacturers and service suppliers.
Kansas City, Kan.-based AWG is the nation's largest cooperative food wholesaler to independently owned supermarkets, serving more than 1,100 member companies and 3,000 locations in 28 states from eight full-line wholesale divisions.


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1. The Federal Reserve are particularly interested in the inflation expectation because they use it as a monetary indicator. Economists are able to predict the inflation rate and depending on the result, along with other indicators, the Feds will adjust their monetary policies. Workers, lenders, savors, pensioners, businesses and interest rate- sensitive industries such as mortgage companies may also be interested as there could be a change in inflation.
Workers would be affected by inflation as their incomes do not shift with inflation immediately. This means that if the inflation increased, a worker's income would not be able to buy as much as his salary has not been adjusted to inflation.
Lenders would be interested in inflation as the interest they collect will not be worth as much as before.
Savors would feel that the dollars they saved today will not be worth the same in the future.
Pensioners would be affected if their savings do not increase as rapidly as prices do because they are living on a fixed income.
Businesses will not invest as they cannot plan for the future if inflation fluctuates.
2. Economists are able to predict the inflation expectation by looking at long-term bond yields and how investors are pricing inflation indexed bonds. Alternatively, consumer confidence can be measured by surveys such as the Reuters/ University of Michigan consumer sentiment index.
3. According to the Financial Times, "Short View: Inflation expectations", by John Authers; published on March 23rd 2010; http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/b1d8d96a-36a6-11df-b810-00144feabdc0.html; they currently expect 2.2% inflation using the Financial Times, 10 year breakeven rates. The inflation expectations for 2009 was 0.9% and in 2008 was 2.3%.


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Reports have circulated that Apple’s (News - Alert) complaint filed with the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) over an outside source’s ownership of the “iphone5.com” domain, and has ended in Apple’s favor.
Nobody seems to know who the previous owners were, but because the site has been running since 2008 and is just now dispelled, some speculate we’re close to the release of Apple’s latest model.
Below is the published status of WIPO case number D2012-0951:
WIPO Case Number: D2012-0951
Domain name(s): iphone5.com
Complainant: Apple Computer, Inc.
CNET points out that the “terminated” status does not indicate how it was resolved or in whose favor, but if we consider how Apple successfully put in an end to iphone4.com and iphone4s.com and even iphonesex4s.com, Apple probably won this one too.
The previous owners of the iphone5.com domain have publicly expressed that they have “not endorsed, sponsored nor otherwise affiliated with Apple…[it was] for the sole purpose of entertainment and knowledge.”
This situation shows how seriously Apple is about maintaining its brand’s reputation. Although Apple has every right to object to others profiting from their trademark, their WIPO filing probably has more to do with maintaining control of the chaotic rumor mill.
It’s doubtful their future iPhone (News - Alert) will even be titled, “iPhone 5.” The latest iPad, after all, was not titled, “iPad 3” but “The Next-Generation iPad.” Apple probably avoided the title “iPad 3” for similar reasons.
As far as rumors about the release date of the iPhone 5, some predict it will launch during Apple’s Worldwide Developer Event, which takes place annually in June, alongside the launch of the latest version of OS X Mountain Lion.
But since 2011, people have been wrong about those dates, too.
Edited by Braden Becker


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If you want tickets for this year’s STARS Lottery you better act quick – the cut-off is midnight tonight.
Just a week ago they were only 81 percent sold out. They are now 92 percent sold out, and hoping to sellout completely.
“The lottery fully funds one-third of Alberta’s STARS bases,” said Fatima Khawaja, STARS spokesperson. “The lottery brings in a little over $10 million dollars, which is the cost of running a STARS base. Essentially it is our largest fundraiser of the year.”
Individual tickets are $25 each. You can also purchase packages for three for $60, six for $100 or 18 for $250.
Get yours at www.starslotteryalberta.ca.


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Polis Intern and LSE MSc student Wei He reports on the latest Polis Media Agenda Talk featuring Zaki Cooper, Group Public Affairs at Standard Chartered Bank
“It takes many good deeds to build a reputation and only one bad one to lose it.”
While Benjamin Franklin cannot stress more the importance of fame, his sentiments were echoed by Warren Buffet, who could stand “losing money by bad decisions” but would act “ruthless” for losing company reputation.
Perhaps in this time of intense scrutiny, one great concern for CEOs is how to increase public and investor confidence in the company and enhance self-image.
As technological leaps help accelerate the commodification of media and communications, public relations have come on to the radar of mainstream media.
While many cast PR as a profession of “spinners” seeking to foist “propaganda” that are at odds with authenticity and transparency, Zaki Cooper, a veteran communications officer who works in Group Public Affairs at Standard Chartered Bank, believed it to be critical to the corporate image and even share prices.
Having worked in the Buckingham Palace press office with a focus on the Diamond Jubilee ceremony, Cooper is well positioned to summarize the overarching goal for public relations as “promoting and protecting images”, and forming sound relationships for “effective communication”.
There are many players that companies deal with on a daily basis: investors, trade groups, government organs, consumers, etc. But it’s a bit premature to overdo all the marketing while neglecting a traditionally savvy media relationship. After all, media is still a high watermark for public relations.
Having worked as a business reporter in China for four years, I got in touch with many corporate communication officers who chased me for question lists in the hope that they hand in a fully-prepared answer sheet to their CEOs. But more often than not, reporters come up with ad-hoc follow-up questions that do not fall in the terrain of any of those prepared. That’s what distresses them the most.
It’s not at all surprising that many CEOs can articulate sophisticated capital acquisitions but fail to deliver the right message in front of the media. Just as Cooper put it, ” Not all great leaders are great orators”.
He offers a string of winning recipes as communication commandments: be clear about the message, identify target audience, stay repetitive and consistent, apologize for mistakes, etc.
To be frank, the most effective recipe is perhaps to think like a reporter and identify the fact that “news” and “promptness” are always their desire. Hence the job would become understanding your business in a way that you can communicate news to the media.
For instance, it helped restore investors confidence when Shell China CEO Huibert Vigeveno reaffirmed in the interview the continued commitment of shale gas exploration in Sichuan Basin, especially amid concerns that concerns that oil majors in the United States are spinning off shale assets after struggling to profit from the prolific sector and that a similar retreat might occur in China.
Never say “no comment” as if you are avoiding an issue. It is a test of wisdom for the PR team to come up with something that quench the thirst of reporters while circumvent disclosure restrictions for listed firms.
And always act in a positive manner in the face of a crisis. When certain batches of Lipton teabags were found to contain tainted chemicals in China, Unilever China’s PR team took a proactive stance. Not only have they sent out announcements and answered media inquiries in a timely fashion, they conducted a Q-A online on the official micro blog to dispel customer concerns. To this day, the Lipton Tea bags have always been a favourite for China’s white collar workers.
China’s Internet giant Alibaba Group is revolutionizing the communicative mechanism with the media by positioning itself as a “trend setter”. Leveraging on its big data that tracks online consumer behaviours on Alibaba’s two virtual shopping venues, Alibaba releases various consumer reports on a weekly basis that many media regards it as a “must-have”. Besides, it runs a company news site that applies journalistic standards and practices to coverage of company news and the e-commerce industry as a whole. This seemingly balanced, all inclusive reports that may occasionally casts Alibaba Group in an unfavourable light, would in turn encourage more media to quote, without realizing it is in essence a huge marketing campaign for the company.
Finally, you don’t necessarily have to act proactive to deliver the right message. Ren Zhengfei, CEO of Huawei Technologies, one of the world’s largest telecom equipment maker, choose to stay behind the scenes by not taking a single interview for reporters flocking from all over the world. Such discreetness perfectly accords with the militarized corporate culture Huawei has always fostered, and, unexpectedly, captures more public attention. After all, it’s all about making an impression, whatever your path is.
This article by Polis intern, Wei He
Polis Media Agenda Talks are every Tuesday at 5pm and are free and open to the public – details here


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Jeff Banks and Debenhams launch The Prince's Trust polo shirt
Designer and chairman of The Prince's Trust Retail Leadership Group, Jeff Banks, has designed four exclusive polo shirts, on sale for Â£35 at Debenhams from Monday, March 28, with all proceeds donated to The Prince's Trust, which gives practical and financial support to young people between the ages of 14 and 30.
He said: "Many of us didn't start off with the best of luck but the retail trade has served us well.Ours is a fun, creative, vibrant industry which has many opportunities that can lead to a wonderful future.
"All the money we raise from sales of the polo shirts will directly go to improving the lives of young people. Everyone involved with the charity is passionate about supporting the disadvantaged youth of this country. The money raised goes towards funding a national network of 600 mentors who give long term assistance and support for anyone who needs help. It's my privilege to be able to use design to assist with this worthy cause."
Julian Barrell, director of fund-raising at The Prince's Trust, added: "Both Jeff and The Retail Leadership Group have worked hard to identify new and innovative ways to raise funds to help disadvantaged young people and we're delighted that Debenhams is able to support this initiative.
"The proceeds of The Prince's Trust polo shirts will enable us to offer more young people the opportunities needed to get into work, further education or training."


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The UPS Store officially opened for business on Tuesday. The opening in Fort Morgan offers both individuals and businesses a new resource for shipping, freight, office supplies, notary services, mailboxes, printing and much more.
Harry and Kelly Ewing are a father and son that started the process last March when they were approved for the UPS Store franchise. The Ewings decided that Fort Morgan would be the perfect location for their store.
Their timing and could not have been better in selecting Fort Morgan as their base of operations. "The UPS Store franchise was looking a year ago at putting a store here," said Harry.
Harry still lives in Keensburg, CO and commutes to Fort Morgan. Kelly moved his family here from Greeley two days after Christmas. "Fort Morgan is the perfect place to raise my children," said Kelly.
The process has been a long one for the Ewings who looked at three different buildings before deciding on the final location at 411 West Platte Ave., Unit A. The address is one that many locals remember as O Video & Games. Once the location was selected the space needed to be completely remodeled to meet their needs.
Both Ewings also had to take five weeks of training which included one week of on-line classes, two weeks of in-store experience in Fort Collins and culminating with two weeks in San Diego, CA taking the UPS University Business course.
All of their hard work has finally paid off as their dream of opening their store here is finally official. "We are really excited to be here," said Harry. "We have already joined the Fort Morgan Area Chamber of Commerce."
"Even before we opened we've had so many people come by to let us know how glad they are that we are here," said Kelly.
The Fort Morgan UPS Store is the newest one to open in Colorado. James Dorsett represents the corporate office for UPS Stores in Colorado as the operational support specialist. He oversees 37 of them. According to Dorsett, there are 108 stores in Colorado.
The Fort Morgan store is larger than many of the UPS Stores. "We have 1,600 square feet while most of the stores have 1,200 square feet or less," said Harry. The larger space allows for a larger packing and shipping area.
The UPS Store offers customers a convenient place to drop off packages or to take advantage of their packing service. "We can ship internationally from here," said Kelly. "We can ship just about anything from flat envelopes to a car."
Store hours are from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday. Saturday hours are from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Daily drop-offs need to at the store by 4 p.m. on weekdays in order to go out the same day. There are no pick-ups on Saturday. Customers dropping off packages after the 4 p.m. deadline will ship on the following business day. For packages dropped-off on Saturday they will be shipped out on Monday.
More information can be obtained in person at 411 W. Platte Ave., Unit A, or by calling 970-867-0828.
Jon A. Yamamoto: 970-441-5103, firstname.lastname@example.org


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Penguin settles DOJ e-book price-fixing suit
Apple and Macmillan will continue to fight charges that five vendors conspired to raise e-book prices
IDG News Service - Penguin Group has become the latest book publisher to reach a settlement with the U.S. Department of Justice in a lawsuit that alleges that Apple and five publishers had conspired to raise e-book prices.
Under the proposed settlement agreement filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, Penguin will terminate its agreements with Apple and other e-books retailers and will be prohibited for two years from entering into new agreements that constrain retailers' ability to offer discounts or other promotions to consumers to encourage the sale of Penguin's e-books, the DOJ said on Tuesday.
The DOJ filed in April an antitrust lawsuit against Apple and five large publishers, accusing the companies of working together to raise prices of e-books, in retaliation for competitor Amazon.com pricing most e-books at $9.99 beginning in late 2007.((
The publishers allegedly teamed up with Apple to counter Amazon's strategy to lower substantially the prices of newly released and best-selling e-books to $9.99, a price that the defendant publishers saw as a challenge to their traditional business model, the DOJ said in its complaint in April. In early 2010, the defendant publishers agreed to shift to a new pricing model called the agency model, where they set the prices for e-books, instead of retailers, the DOJ alleged.
The DOJ's antitrust division previously settled its claims against Hachette Book Group, HarperCollins Publishers, and Simon & Schuster. Apple and Holtzbrinck Publishers, which does business as Macmillan, will continue to litigate, the DOJ said. It claimed that the settlements led to lower prices of e-book versions of many new releases and bestsellers from the publishers.
The department is currently reviewing a proposal by Penguin and Random House to combine their businesses in a joint venture to be named Penguin Random House. Should the proposed joint venture proceed to consummation, the terms of Penguin's settlement will apply to it, the DOJ said.
Under the terms of the settlement, Penguin is also required to provide advance notification to DOJ of any e-book ventures it plans jointly with other publishers, and regularly report to the department on any communications it has with other publishers. It is also forbidden for five years from offering preferential terms in a "most favored nation" kind of agreement that could undermine the effectiveness of the settlement, DOJ said.
Penguin could not be immediately reached for comment. Under the settlement the publisher will also cooperate in the ongoing prosecution of the case, including making Penguin employees available for testimony at trial.
A trial against Macmillan and Apple is scheduled to begin in June next year.
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- Preparing Your Infrastructure for the Hyperconvergence Era From cloud computing and virtualization to mobility and unified communications, an array of innovative technologies is transforming today's data centers.
- How WAN Optimization Helps Enterprises Reduce Costs If you wanted to break down innovation into a tidy equation, it might go something like this: Technology + Connectivity = Productivity. Productivity...
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- LIVE EVENT: 5/7, The End of Data Protection As We Know It. Introducing a Next Generation Data Protection Architecture. Traditional backup is going away, but where does this leave end-users? All E-business White Papers | Webcasts


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Apple sold over 300,000 iPads on Saturday, the first day the multimedia tablet device was available. The company also said that iPad users downloaded over a million apps from the App Store and over 250,000 ebooks.
“It feels great to have the iPad launched into the world — it’s going to be a game changer,” commented Apple CEO Steve Jobs.
According to Apple, iPad owners averaged about three app downloads and one ebook download within the first few hours of unwrapping their iPad boxes.
Apple unveiled the iPad at a special media event in January, and began taking pre-orders and reservations on March 12. The company began selling the iPad on April 3rd.
The iPad is a multimedia tablet device that runs a version of the iPhone OS. It includes a 9.7-inch multi-touch display, supports most iPhone apps, includes Bluetooth keyboard support, Wi-Fi network connectivity, and and the end of April models with 3G wireless data access will be available, too.


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Feb 10, 2017 10:06 PM EST
The Internet of Things And The Security Challenge
With the ever-growing number of the Internet of Things devices, we are getting more and more connected everyday. On the other hand, we are also becoming more vulnerable to attacks, such as the Mirai attack last year. The challenge, therefore, is creating new methods of security to fend off possible attacks and risks in the future.
According to experts, the cost of damage due to data breaches will rise up to $2.1 trillion by 2019. A research also added that each data breach will cost more than $150 million. What's more shocking, however, is that 85 percent of IoT developers said that most of the IoT devices in the market do not have adequate security because of the pressure to put it out before comprehensive security tests are made.
This information might be worrisome but on a positive note, it is not a hopeless scenario. As much as technology is important, the human factor also plays a critical role in creating the IoT more secured.
Generally, the cybersecurity industry is moving forward with their efforts to strengthen security and provide solutions for some cybersecurity problems. So far, software-defined technology is emerging w hich makes it easier to implement tight encryptions and security protocols at a cheaper cost.
However, this alone is not enough to tighten security. Manufacturers of these devices must also stop thinking of their products as mere commodities but begin to offer security features. These security features, however, should provide real and practical benefits to the consumer. If this happens, then consumers are willing to pay the high price tag that comes with these features.
The government must also begin to put premium on cybersecurity and include them in their security agenda. Aside from that, they have to be aware of the rising threat of cybercrimes and take appropriate actions against it.
Finally, the public should also educate themselves how to protect themselves against such threats and risks. People have to be aware of the implications of their actions and give careful thought to every online activity they make as well as what kind of data they put in their IoT devices.
See Now: Facebook will use AI to detect users with suicidal thoughts and prevent suicide© 2017 University Herald, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Join the Conversation


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PartMaker Inc., a division of Delcam Plc, will be demonstrating the latest version of its PartMaker suite of CAM software at the facility of its customer MK Precision in support of MK Precision’s participation in MFG DAY. MK Precision is a cutting edge, precision machine shop located a few miles from PartMaker Inc’s headquarters outside Philadelphia.
The idea behind MFG DAY is to address the common misperceptions about manufacturing by giving manufacturers an opportunity to open their doors and show, in a coordinated effort, what manufacturing is – and what it isn’t. By working together during and after MFG DAY, manufacturers will begin to address the skilled labor shortage they face, connect with future generations, take charge of the public image of manufacturing, and ensure the ongoing prosperity of the whole industry. Supported by a group of industry sponsors and co-producers,
MFG DAY is designed to amplify the voice of individual manufacturers and coordinate a collective chorus of manufacturers with common concerns and challenges. The rallying point for a growing mass movement, MFG DAY empowers manufacturers to come together to address their collective challenges so they can help their communities and future generations thrive. You can learn more about MFG DAY here. You can learn more about MK Precision here.


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Stop being tsundere, Kerrigan-chan.
Geez, leave some talent for the rest of us.
According to Gamemeca (via tipster Sang), during the Nintendo Switch’s first three days on sale in South Korea, over 55,000 units were sold.
The unique format of the battle royale genre is forcing esport venues to get pretty creative with seating arrangements.
If reports are true, we could see it officially announced next month.
The man behind the wheel admitted that his addiction to the company's games led to the drunk-driving attack.
There’s apparently only one place to play Pokémon Go in South Korea.
For years, League of Legends has been the most played game at South Korea net cafes. That has finally changed.
Meet Geguri. She’s 17 and very, very talented at Overwatch, despite being a newcomer to the scene.
The two games are running neck and neck in the rankings for the most played at internet cafes.
Nexon is making a mobile version of Final Fantasy XI with Square Enix. Today, we get our first peek.
The Nintendo outpost is down to just 10 staff from a peak of 100.
Wanna B want to be the next big thing on the League Of Legends scene.
Two lucky winners of a competition in South Korea are the proud owners of the specially engraved and mother-of-pearl-inlaid machines.
Today, leaked photos of Tekken 7: Fated Retribution, the upcoming arcade update, circulated online in South Korea as well as online in the west.
Bald caps rear their highly useful shiny head.


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Luis Sierra | The Panama Post
Cuba buys Panamanian textiles, footwear, and home appliances, while Panama imports clinker (an intermediate form of cement) and steel bars, among other products.
On March 16, the governments of Panama and Cuba signed a partial trade agreement in Havana, after completing negotiations there in January. Representatives of both governments stated that this agreement is different from usual accords of its type.
Topics covered in the negotiations included an exchange of services and knowledge, as well as issues such as biotechnology. The talks, which took six months, covered a wide range of subjects.
The agreement was reached following a favorable environment for trade agreements in 2008. It was signed by Panama’s First Vice-president and Chancellor, Samuel Lewis Navarro, and Cuba’s vice.president of the Council of Ministers, Ricardo Cabrisas.
Cuban officials present at the signing included Esteban Lasso, Vice-president of the Council of State, Rodrigo Malmierca Díaz, Minister of Foreign Trade and Foreign Investment, and Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla, Foreign Minister. Panamanian officials included the Vice-minister of Foreign Trade, Severo Sousa, and Panama’s Ambassador to Cuba, Luis Gómez.
Lewis Navarro also met with the President of Cuba’s National Assembly, Ricardo Alarcón de Quesada, at the Assembly’s headquarters in the Miramar district in western Havana.
Panama’s Chancellor Navarro said the two countries have found ways to cooperate and work together. These include fighting illiteracy with the “Yo sí puedo” (“Yes, I Can”) program and “Operación Milagro” (“Operation Miracle”) attending to problems of vision.
He said that this year Panama hopes to reach its goal of zero illiteracy. He also stated that “with Operation Miracle, thousands of Panamanians have recovered hope and a better quality of life” after undergoing operations for various vision-related illnesses, with Cuban medical help.
He added, “In the name of the government of President Martin Torrijos and the people of Panama, we have signed an agreement that represents a positive step in building a relationship that has been very solid and advantageous for both countries.”
Vice-minister Sousa added that, “This agreement provides for an exchange of goods, including a certification of origin that recognizes certificates of re-exportation from the Colon Free Trade Zone” (ZLC). This will be valid for any product for which 35 percent to 40 percent of its manufacture took place in Panama, regardless of the origin of its raw materials.”
Sousa stated that this validated the agreement on promoting and protecting investment that was signed by the two countries in 1999.
“It will be easier for Panamanian businesses to sell to and do business with Cuba. This will make entering the Cuban market easier,” he explained.
Many Panamanian products will have 100% preferential access in Cuba. These include products such as pork, cardboard boxes, corrugated cardboard, chicken and beef byproducts, flowers, sausages, toilet paper, vertical freezers, wheelbarrows, construction materials, roofing beams, steel structures, cornstarch, grape juice, sauces, condiments and paper towels.
Products having a Customs preference of 50 percent to 75 percent include fruits, processed cheese, evaporated milk, condensed milk, bananas, juices, nectars, and eggs for human consumption and incubation, said Sousa.
Relations between Panama and Cuba have taken a positive leap forward since the rupture that took place in August, 2004, when Cuba broke relations to protest the decision by Panamanian President Mireya Moscoso to pardon Luis Posada Carriles and three other Cubans accused of terrorism.
The situation returned to normal a year later, during the administration of Panama’s current president, Martin Torrijos.
“Bilateral trade has grown about 15 times, compared to what it was four years ago,” Cuba’s Ambassador to Panama, Carlos García Trápaga, told The Panama Post.
He noted that this is the first time that Cuba has negotiated a partial agreement on services, a chapter the two countries started to negotiate at Panama’s request.
Panama’s Minister of Trade and Industry, Gisela Alvarez de Porras, stated that it’s very significant that in this agreement with Panama, Cuba has included services for the first time. She said, “This gives priority to the Panamanian financial system and to all the services provided in Panama’s ZLC.” This zone, on Panama’s Atlantic coast, is the main Free Zone in the Western hemisphere.
Other areas the agreement may promote include tourism, transport, and telecommunications.
Porras also pointed out advances made opening up new opportunities to place Panamanian products in the international market, especially in times of crisis like the current global economic situation.
She noted that because of this agreement, Panamanian products from the ZLC would be re-exported, pending ratification by both countries’ legislatures, because they will be considered of Panamanian origin.
She pointed out that sectors in which Panama will benefit from this agreement include products such as boned meat, chicken, juices, and nectars, which will be fully protected and given preference.
“The Panamanian financial system has been recognized and accepted in Cuba,” she stated.
She was pleased that the agreement would promote cooperation among sectors from the two countries.
A new bilateral push
Cuba’s Ambassador Trápaga stated that it is significant that “in August, 2005, a new phase in relations between Panama and Cuba began. The two parties have started to explore all possible fields of cooperation in various areas.”
He noted that measures are being taken to boost trade. Because of this, he said, the countries have achieved a considerable level of trade in four years.
According to Trápaga, the purpose of the partial trade agreement is to create conditions fostering relations between the two countries, as well as to provide legal support for the stimulus they wish to give to commercial and economic relations.
He expects the agreement will be ratified in two or three months.


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Beginning on October 1, Toys “R” Us stores nationwide and toysrus.com will begin carrying playsets, vehicles, and more based on DreamWorks Animation‘s upcoming Netflix original series, Dinotrux. The initial line, from Mattel, will feature Ty Rux, Revvit, and other Dinotrux characters, and select items will be available for pre-order online beginning August 14.
On September 4, aka Force Friday, Toys “R” Us will celebrate the debut of toys based on the next chapter of the Star Wars saga, Star Wars: Episode VII—The Force Awakens. Toys “R” Us locations worldwide, as well as toysrus.com, will transform into Destination: Star Wars with hundreds of new products, including those available exclusively at Toys “R” Us. Toys “R” Us stores around the globe will be opening their doors at 12:01 a.m., providing customers with the opportunity to be the first to purchase the new Star Wars merchandise.
Toys “R” Us stores worldwide, as well as toysrus.com, are set for a year-long celebration in honor of the Star Wars saga. Beginning on May 3 in the U.S., Star Wars Day events will take place at all Toys “R” Us locations across the country. Young Jedis and their families are invited to visit their local store dressed in their Star Wars best, receive giveaways, and more.
Toys “R” Us’ recent campaign to benefit Special Olympics, hosted at its stores across the U.S. and online at toysrus.com, raised more than $2 million. Throughout the duration of the eight-week awareness and fundraising program, Toys “R” Us customers pledged their support to help children with intellectual and developmental disabilities learn how to hit balls, run bases, take jump shots, and other sports moments.
A new Sonic Boom toy line, from global master toy partner Tomy International, is now available at Toys “R” Us stores nationwide and at toysrus.com. The line will feature items across best-selling categories including plush, action figures, R/C, vehicles, and more, and will include a 12-inch talking plush and the Sonic Boom Launcher. Additional products will become available next year.
This past week saw the launch of Jake and Crew LLC’s The Original Loom Boom, which is designed to display, organize, and share loom bracelet creations. Invented by a five-year-old who wanted to show off his loom bracelet collection in a neat, portable way, the product is being retailed exclusively by Toys “R” Us through the end of this year.
Available in five color combinations at Toys “R” Us stores across the U.S. and at toysrus.com, the Original Loom Boom features a brightly-colored tube that can hold up to 40 rubber band loom bracelets. Once detached from the base, loomers have easy access to bracelets at the bottom, so they can show off their handiwork as well as trade and share bracelets. The base also contains ample storage for extra loom bands.
Currently, loom band bracelets are enjoying a high level of popularity in the U.S.
The Beatrix Girls, a collectible line of pop-star dolls with their own original music, has developed a digital music platform to coincide with the dolls’ Toys “R” Us launch this holiday season. Their five-track EP, Meet The Beatrix, will be available everywhere music is consumed, including iTunes, Spotify, Amazon MP3, Muve Music, iHeart Radio, and Pandora.
Additionally, fans can receive an exclusive CD on Cyber Monday, December 2, at ToysRUs.com with the purchase of a doll. The age-appropriate tracks have been engineered by a talented team that promotes girl empowerment through the songs, “Just Bein’ Beatrix,” “Bend the Rules,” “Go Extreme,” “Doin’ My Thing,” and “Nice Try.”
The line was conceived by Sherry Gunther Shugerman, a two-time Emmy Award-winning producer and studio executive who has experience in producing The Simpsons, Rugrats, and Family Guy.
Fans can sing and dance along with The Beatrix Girls on its branded Pandora station, launching through December 31 on Pandora Internet Radio.
The Whisper Ride Touring Wagon, from Step2, is being recalled. Step2 has received 29 reports of the seat back detaching, 28 of which resulted in children falling out of the wagon. Fourteen of these resulted in bumped heads and nine resulted in bruises, scratches, or lacerations.
The two-seat plastic wagon is 25 inches wide by 41.25 inches long by 20 inches high, with blue seats, a tan wagon base, and a red canopy. The Step2 logo appears on the canopy and on the side of the wagon base. This item was sold exclusively at Toys “R” Us stores nationwide and online at toysrus.com from February to August 2013.
Consumers should immediately stop using the wagon and inspect it to determine if the seat belt is attached to the removable blue seat back. If so, the wagon is included in this recall. Consumers with the recalled wagons should contact Step2 to obtain a free repair kit: Call toll-free at (866) 860-1887 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, or visit the firm’s website at www.step2.com and click on “Product Recall” for more information.


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Last week, we reported that Massachusetts' new Right to Repair law excludes medium- and heavy-duty trucks.
The new Right to Repair law requires big auto manufacturers to sell the diagnostic and safety information needed to repair customers' cars to the car owners and local car repair shops. Currently, only some information is shared, often limiting consumers to only the car dealerships and making it difficult for neighborhood shops to fully repair customers' vehicles.
When asked why the new law does not include larger vehicles, Art Kinsman, spokesman for the Massachusetts Right to Repair coalition, said it did not seem to be a large concern among the state's truck repair shops or truck owners.
The Commercial Vehicle Service Network and the Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association, which were involved in the negotiations, beg to differ, as they explained in a letter sent to HDT editors.
"The decision to take heavy-duty out of the bill was not easy," wrote Marc Karon, CVSN president, and Kathleen Schmatz, AAIA president and CEO. "Our groups are extremely concerned about the absence of information and tools to repair heavy-duty vehicles (those over 10,000 pounds). Limiting where these trucks can be serviced will lead to increased repair costs, higher shipping costs to businesses and ultimately higher prices for the products that consumers purchase."
"AAIA and CVSN had originally hoped that heavy-duty vehicles would be included in the Massachusetts legislation," says the letter. "However, as we moved closer to an agreement with the car companies, it became clear that the model of information and software sharing we were developing for light-duty vehicles would need to be different for heavy-duty vehicles due to the unique way these vehicles are assembled."
In addition, they said, while legislators had been well educated on issues involving the light-duty market, there was a resistance to delve into the heavy-duty industry.
"That resistance threatened to slow down, if not halt, the momentum that was growing behind right to repair in the state legislature," said Schmatz and Karon. "So the decision was made to remove heavy-duty vehicles from the scope of the right to repair bill."
However, the two want to make it clear that they are hardly giving up.
"Now that we have a law on the books regarding competition in the repair industry, it is AAIA and CVSN's goal to develop a strategy for ensuring that the requirements in the law extend to the heavy-duty industry," they said, either through an agreement with the engine manufacturers or through passage of a new law. "However, make no mistake, AAIA and CSVN, with the help of the industry, are committed to making it happen."
The letter also points out that in the late 1990s, AAIA successfully lobbied for passage of requirements that heavy-duty engine manufacturers share all emissions-related information and tools with independents. This mandate will take effect once on-board diagnostic requirements for heavy-duty vehicles kick in next year.


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SAN JOSE, USA: MobileAppWorks, a developer of applications for iPhones and Smart Phone platforms, has launched seven mobile applications for the iPhone/iPod touch.
The applications, which can be viewed on the company’'s website http://www.mobileappworks.com/, are available for sale in the Apple iTunes App store. The list of applications includes an e-book version of A Mini Course for Life; mobile eCard apps - Car Part Art, Cats Rule, and Photo eCards; trivia game Trivya Lite; and fishing and hunting videos from The American Outdoorsman. The company is also creating applications for the Blackberry, Palm, Windows and Android platforms.
“We continue to be very excited about the opportunities in the mobile apps space,” said CEO, Chris Stocker. “With over 85,000+ applications already available for the iPhone/iPod touch alone and 2 billion downloads, it takes a savvy group of professionals to help companies navigate this dynamic, new landscape.
“We'’ve assembled a veteran team of programmers, web developers, graphic designers, and advertising pros to do just that. From app creation, to targeting and marketing, our goal is to help companies and brands take full advantage of today’s mobile device capabilities to engage their target audiences.”
MobileAppWorks has a full pipeline of apps in development, which will be launched in the next few weeks, encompassing an assortment of categories – eBooks, games, travel, culinary arts, and entertainment.
“We'’ve hit the ground running and there’s more to come,” said Stocker. “Stay tuned…”


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HOTEC trade show attracts the best in the tourism industry
7 November, 2019, 3:34 pm
THE first day of the 2019 HOTEC Trade Show attracted the best of the tourism industry looking to learn more about new products and supplies in the tourism market.
The two day trade show boasts 34 companies and 52 booths showcasing some of the newest lines of hotel and resort equipment.
Minister for Tourism Premila Kumar said the trade show enhanced business relationships and found new innovative ways to increase investments to sustain growth in the industry.
She said industry partners should take advantage of the great opportunities provided by the two day event.
The trade show held at the Sheraton Fiji Resort Denarau Convention Centre ends tomorrow.


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These 3 Stocks Could be Huge Winners From Another Round of Stimulus Check The U.S. government is negotiating another multi-trillion dollar economic help package. These stocks are actually positioned to benefit from it. However do not forgot Western Union.
Over the past several months, political leadership in Washington, D.C., appears to have been trapped in a quagmire as speaks regarding a potential second round of stimulus cannot get beyond speaking. Nonetheless, there are indications that the present icy partisan bickering might be thawing.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin (who is actually representing President Donald Trump within the discussions) have reportedly produced some development on stimulus negotiations, as well as the economic comfort package being negotiated appears to be for somewhere between $1.8 trillion as well as $2.2 trillion. Whatever is actually agreed to will very likely include another issuance of $1,200 stimulus checks for qualifying Americans and will probably be the centerpiece of every offer.
If the 2 sides can hammer out an agreement, these checks could unleash a new trend of spending by U.S. consumers. Let’s look at three stocks that are actually well positioned to make use of an additional round of stimulus checks.
There’s little question that Walmart (NYSE:WMT) was a big beneficiary of the first round of stimulus inspections. Spending at the discount retailer surged in the weeks and weeks after signing of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, in addition to Economic Security (CARES) Act on the tail end of March. Many Americans were already looking at the discount retailer, thus it isn’t surprising that a chunk of those stimulus checks would end up in Walmart’s funds registers.
During the conference call inside May to talk about first quarter earnings benefits, the topic of stimulus came up on twelve separate events. CEO Doug McMillon said the company saw increases throughout a wide range of retail categories, such as apparel, televisions, online games, sports equipment, as well as toys, noting that discretionary shelling out “really popped to the conclusion of the quarter.” Also, he stated that gross sales reaccelerated in mid-April, “as government stimulus money hit consumers.”
In the six weeks ended July 31, Walmart’s net sales climbed much more than 7 % year over year, while comp sales in the U.S. in the course of the first and second quarters enhanced 10 % as well as 9.3 % respectively. This was pushed in part by e-commerce sales which soared seventy four % in the earliest quarter, followed by a 97 % year-over-year surge in the next quarter.
Given its incredible performance so considerably this season, it is not too difficult to discover that Walmart would once again be an enormous winner from another round of stimulus examinations.
Parents showing their young daughter the right way to paint a wall using a roller.
The collaboration of remote work and stay-at-home orders has kept people sequestered in their homes such as never previously. Many folks are forced to reimagine the living spaces of theirs as gyms, movie theaters, restaurants, and home offices , a phenomenon which was no uncertainty accelerated by the earliest round of stimulus payments.
Additionally, the volume of time as well as cash spent on entertainment, moving, and also dining out was seriously curtailed in recent weeks. This simple fact of life during the pandemic has caused a reallocation of the funds, with quite a few customers “nesting,” or even investing the funds to enhance life at home. Arguably not a lot of organizations are actually positioned with the intersection of those people two trends better than do retailer Lowe’s (NYSE:LOW).
As the pandemic dragged on, consumer behavior shifted, having an escalating concentration on home improvements, repairs, remodeling, renovations, and maintenance and away from the above mentioned parts of discretionary spending.
There’s little uncertainty customers have turned to Lowe’s to upgrade their living spaces, as evidenced by the company’s current results. For the quarter ended July thirty one, the company found net sales that grew 30 %, while comparable store sales jumped 35 %. Which translated into diluted earnings a share which increased by seventy five % season over year. The results were supplied with a substantial increase by e-commerce sales which soared 135 %.
The pandemic is actually ongoing, without any end in sight. With this as a backdrop, consumers will likely continue to spend greatly to enhance the quality of theirs of lifestyle at home, and if Washington unleashes another round of stimulus checks, Lowe’s will no doubt be a single of the clear winners.
Couple lying on floor in your own home shopping online with credit card.
While management at the world’s biggest online retailer was a lot more reticent to go over how the government stimulus influenced the business, Amazon (NASDAQ:AMZN) was certainly a beneficiary of the very first round of relief checks. however, additionally, it benefitted from the widespread stay-at-home orders that blanketed the nation. Shoppers frequently turned to e-commerce, mainly staying away from stores which are crowded for anxiety about contracting the virus.
Information produced by the U.S. Department of Commerce illustrates the magnitude of this change. Of the second quarter, internet sales increased by over forty four % season over year — perhaps as total retail sales declined by 3 % during the very same period. The spike in e commerce sales expanded to 16 % of complete retail, up from merely 10 % in the year ago period.
For the second quarter, Amazon’s net sales jumped forty % year over year, while the net income of its increased by an eye-popping 97 % — despite the business spent an incremental four dolars billion on COVID-related expenses.
Amazon accounts for about 40 % of all internet retail within the U.S., as reported by eMarketer, therefore it isn’t a stretch to think the organization will pick up a disproportionate share of the next round of stimulus examinations.
The chart tells the tale It’s essential to understand that while there could quickly be an additional economic relief package, the partisan gridlock that pervades Washington, D.C., might carry on for the foreseeable future, casting question on if an additional round of stimulus checks will ultimately materialize.
That said, provided the impressive fiscal results generated by each of these retailers and the overriding trends driving them, investors will more than likely benefit from these stocks whether there is another round of economic motivation payments or perhaps not.
Where to commit $1,000 right now Before you decide to consider Wal Mart Stores, Inc., you’ll be interested to pick up that.
Investing legends as well as Motley Fool Co-founders David and Tom Gardner merely revealed what they think are the 10 very best stock futures for investors to buy right now… and Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. wasn’t one of them.
The web based investing service they have run for about two years, Motley Fool Stock Advisor, has assaulted the stock market by more than 4X.* And today, they believe there are ten stocks which are much better buys.


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Big soda is buying off big health orgs to keep profits and Americans fat
EnlargeGetty | Scott Olson reader comments 0 Share this story Under the guise of sweet charitable giving, soda makers are handing out millions to big name health organizations so that the groups stay quiet about health issues that threaten to slim down drink profits—not to mention Americans themselves—a new study suggests. Between 2011 and 2015, Coca-Cola...
I regard the brain as a computer which will stop working when its component fail. There is no heaven or afterlife for broken-down computers. That is a fairy story for people afraid of the dark


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AOL News reports that KFC China ran an Obama-themed commercial in advance of Chinese President Hu Jintao's January visit to the United States.
"Change, not only for your mom, but for you, your stomach, for a better taste!" the sorta look-alike proclaims in the commercial, before being crushed by a giant sandwich.
The company has said the ad was "meant to be a spoof and no disrespect was intended," but "it is no longer airing and will not be reaired."
How do you think this one would go over in the U.S.? (And does it make a difference to your racial-stereotype detector that this appears to be a fish rather than a chicken sandwich?)
Read more at AOL News.
In other news: Cuban Woman Turns the Big 126.


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Today, on the blog of the crypto trading giant Binance, a message appeared that the exchange is limiting its trading services in the RF in connection with the entry into force of the fifth package of sanctions against the country due to its aggressive military campaign on the territory of Ukraine and the genocide of the Ukrainian people. The restrictions will affect the work with the accounts of russian citizens, officials and legal entities, on whose accounts more than €10,000 is kept. From now on, such users will only be able to withdraw funds, but trading and making deposits will no longer be available to them. “The limit also covers all spot, futures, custody wallets, and staked and earned deposits. In addition, all deposits to accounts for Russian nationals or natural persons residing in Russia, or legal entities established in Russia with over 10,000 EUR will be restricted.” — posted on the company blog. Recall that the fifth package of restrictive sanctions of the EU, the US, Britain and Japan against putins regime was adopted last week. It includes comprehensive measures designed to increase "economic pressure on the Kremlin and cripple its ability to finance its invasion of Ukraine." Financial pressure on RS will be provided by introducing a "full transaction ban and asset freeze on four Russian banks." In addition, the sanctions introduce “prohibition on providing high-value crypto-asset services to Russia.”
The Ministry of Justice of Belarus, in accordance with the decree of the self-proclaimed leader of the country Alexander Lukashenko, has established a legal procedure for the arrest of unregistered cryptocurrency funds as part of enforcement proceedings. Lukashenko also ordered the creation of a special registry of crypto wallet addresses used for illegal purposes. The Ministry of Justice has clarified that the public authorities conducting the criminal process will be liable for seized or confiscated crypto-currency funds from such crypto-addresses. In addition, this also applies to foreclosure of digital assets as part of the confiscation of property. However, crypto still cannot be used in the country as a means of payment. At the same time, according to blockchain analytics from Chainalysis, Belarus ranks third in the region in terms of cryptocurrency adoption. True, this figure was achieved mainly due to the high activity of peer-to-peer networks in the country.
Renowned British luxury department store Harvey Nichols announced the opening of an NFT trading space HN NFT Vault at its Chinese branch in Pacific Place, which is located in Hong Kong. In the HN NFT Vault it will be possible to purchase literally all lots from the sensational collections of the current and past years, including CryptoPunks, Bored Ape Yacht Club, CloneX x Takashi Murakami, Azuki and Doodles. Most off-the-shelf NFTs can be purchased with cryptocurrencies and credit cards. The store promises "a seamless purchasing journey." As for prices, they range from 5,000 Hong Kong dollars (now about $637) for the most budget lot, and up to a million Hong Kong dollars ($127,000) for the most expensive one. It’s also reported that NFT can also be purchased from a cold wallet, to which you can transfer the token upon purchase and store it there. “Through the new space, Harvey Nichols aims to make NFTs more accessible to a broader audience by featuring a range of NFTs from some of the most successful projects globally available for in-store exploration and purchase.” — according to a press release for the opening of the store.


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Rona, the Boucherville, Quebec-based big-box home improvement retailer, has opened a new $15 million, 80,000-square-foot store in Pierrefonds, Quebec, which features the singular name “Rona” with no additional signs, the first such store in a planned rebranding effort.
Many Rona stores carry the additional names of “Home & Garden” or “L’Entrepot.” The company said in a statement it plans to “gradually standardize the names of its stores” under the Rona banner.
“The company is planning to use this approach -- which is already being implemented for its proximity stores -- in naming new stores as they are built and renaming existing stores as they are renovated,” read a statement from Rona.
“The West Island [of Montreal] is enjoying healthy economic and demographic development and combines older, established neighborhoods and new residential sectors,” explained Pierre Dandoy, Rona executive vp of big-box stores. “These conditions are ideal for Rona's product and service offer.”
This is Rona’s 367th location in Quebec. In all, the company operates a network of 669 franchise, affiliate and corporate stores throughout Canada.