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Console Connect’s software-defined interconnection platform is now available through a newly deployed Point-of-Presence (PoP) at Cologix’s MTL7 data center in Montréal, Canada. This interconnection platform, Console Connect by PCCW Global, allows users to self-provision private, high-performance connections.
Console Connect is expanding its connectivity footprint across Canada as a result of its partnership with Cologix, with the automated platform now available to Cologix clients across all 20 Canadian data center sites. Cologix’s Canadian clients may now connect directly to Console Connect’s Network-as-a-Service (NaaS) platform, which provides on-demand access to worldwide connectivity throughout the Console Connect fabric, which spans more than 650 data centers in more than 50 countries.
Cologix’s Canadian customers may use Console Connect to automate connectivity at the network edge to their clients, partners, and workers all around the world. Cologix’s customers may also take advantage of the convenience and speed of on-demand, private connectivity through the Console Connect self-service interface, which would provide fast and direct access to key cloud platforms as well as direct links to 20 data center sites across Canada.
“We are delighted to collaborate with Console Connect to extend its reach across Canada and welcome Console Connect as a new platform to our MTL7 facility,” said Laura Ortman, Cologix’s President & Chief Revenue Officer. “We look forward to working together to enable our customers to connect to the cloud globally and support international business growth in Canada with greater access to carriers and customers.”
Cologix Data Centers
Cologix has 11 colocation data centers in Montréal that provide direct access to cloud services such as Amazon Web Services Direct Connect, Google Cloud Interconnect, Microsoft Azure ExpressRoute, IBM Cloud, and Oracle FastConnect. With cutting-edge technologies like hot aisle containment and flexible in-row cooling, MTL7’s efficient architecture would support quick power installations. It’s also a renewable green energy colocation facility.
Customers may access the Cologix’s North American ecosystem via the Cologix platform, which has four cloud gateways in Ashburn, VA, Columbus, OH, Montréal, QC, and Silicon Valley, CA. The Cologix platform has 1600+ clients and 29 direct onramps to all major public clouds.
The software-defined interconnection platform from Console Connect would help businesses in Canada meet their expanding cloud connection needs. Cologix’s Canadian customers can quote, order, deliver, and manage their network connections to leading cloud platforms such as Amazon Web Services (AWS), Alibaba Cloud, Google Cloud Interconnect, IBM Cloud, Microsoft Azure ExpressRoute, and many others using the secure Console Connect web portal or API.
“Console Connect is expanding its presence and reach across North America, enabling more businesses in the region to access and experience our on-demand networking services,” said Michael Glynn, Vice President of Digital Automated Innovation, Console Connect. “I am pleased to welcome Cologix to the Console Connect ecosystem, while growing the availability of our platform in Canada with our first PoP in Montréal.”


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Some new reports have been popping up about the appearance, or rather disappearance, of Deep Silver's Dead Island 2. Why did I name the publisher and not the developer? Well, that's because there has yet to be a stable developer at the helm and the game seems to be in some sort of limbo.
If Minecraft was any indication of how successful an open-world game is, then you know the upcoming Worlds Adrift’s user-created content is no different. And in the most recent trailer, you can see what kinds of things users can create in the vast world of the game.
The one thing most people probably don't think about when going into a GameStop is having to fend for their lives against armed robbers, almost taken right out of some of the action games they play. Well, that's exactly what happened with one seven-year-old who was attending a GameStop with his family.
An ex-employee of Valve is suing the company for a number of reasons, including misclassification of their employment, discrimination and creating a hostile work environment. The plaintiff is suing Valve for $3.15 million in damages, and hopes to bring the case to trial.
Using the PS4 to play PC games seems like a backward dream come true, given that a lot of PC gamers would probably love to play PS4 games on their PCs. Nevertheless, one enterprising gamer managed to get Sony's system to run Linux, and from Linux they were able to boot into Steam's Big Picture Mode.
When I was first introduced to Gang Beasts, I didn’t know what to think when I heard the name. It sounded like some lame beat-em-up from the 80’s—or at least that’s what I pictured. But I was so wrong. And the online multiplayer is better than I ever thought it could be.
It appears to have become tradition lately for someone to leak the start date for the Steam Summer Sale. This has happened for the last few Steam sales over the past couple of years. Based on the information leaked this time around, the Summer Sale will commence on June 23 and run through July 4.
It feels like just yesterday that we jumped from the year 2015 to 2016, and video game releases have already begun to pour out. Thankfully, Gaming Blend has taken the opportunity to compile a list of some of gaming’s more major releases for the year 2016 so you can stay up to date with what’s coming.
Featuring narration by famed actor Sean Bean and music from John Murphy called “The Sun”, which went to the highly underrated sci-fi flick, Sunshine, the announcement trailer for Civilization VI is one of those awe-inspiring testaments to human progress.
The Mushroom Kingdom is coming to Minecraft in a big way next week as Mojang announces content themed after Super Mario Bros will be coming to the Wii U version of the game.
CD Projekt Red has been keeping a tight lid on the release of the upcoming expansion pack for The Witcher 3, entitled Blood & Wine. However, the release date for the expansion may have leaked ahead of the official announcement, thanks to the Steam page accidentally being updated by the developers ahead of time.
Since I was first introduced to Team Fortress 2 back in college, it was a game I clung to as a means of escape, something I played in my downtime to destress or get together with friends. But when I played the Overwatch Beta on Friday, I was immediately taken back to a time I thought I had lost.
Killing Floor’s latest Perk equips players to join the ranks of the Sharpshooter class. So rather than fight hectically through the hordes of baddies, this newest addition to the roster will instead reward careful aim and killing from a distance.
Fans of Star Wars will likely spend the rest of the week trying to control their wallet and the money that will spill out of it thanks to a massive week long sale taking place on Steam that contains some of the most memorable Star Wars games to date.
Back when I was in college, I got myself an Xbox 360 and occasionally spent weekends playing drunk Halo with my friends in our dorm rooms. But that was before someone introduced me to Steam and all of the wonders of online multiplayer gameplay in Team Fortress 2. After that, I never looked back to the Xbox.

domain: news


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This ruling will lead to further investigations that may lead to imposing import tariffs on Chinese-made televisions.
issue: October 2003 APPLIANCE Magazine
Trade Commission Says Chinese TVs Hurt U.S. Makers
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The U.S. International Trade Commission has issued a preliminary ruling stating that imports of Chinese televisions are hurting American television manufacturers.
A television manufacturer in the U.S. - Five Rivers Electronic Innovations - who produces televisions for Samsung Electronics and Royal Philips Electronics NV, brought the unfair trade practices complaint before the U.S. International Trade Commission last May. Joining Five Rivers in the complaint was labor unions representing workers from Toshiba, Sanyo, and Sharp U.S. manufacturing facilities. All are requesting antidumping duties of 84 percent on Chinese TVs and 46 percent on Malaysian TVs. The complaint claims that Chinese and Malaysian television imports have increased from 210,000 units in 2000 to 2.7 million units last year, forcing line shutdowns and layoffs at U.S. manufacturing facilities.
China is the largest producer of televisions in the world, with an output of 39.67 million sets last year, which is equal to about 24.6 percent of the world's total production. Of that figure, China exported almost 20 million units.
China's television makers deny selling below production costs and claim that a protracted domestic price war has forced them to continuously cut costs and greatly improve cost competitiveness. Since the late 1990s, Chinese television producers have raged a domestic price war that has decimated profit margins. The profit margin on low- and mid-level sets is less than 2 percent, but the margin is still more than 10 percent for high-end models, such as projection and plasma display TVs, according to an official with Shanghai Yongle Household Electrical Appliances Co. An official from the China Chamber of Commerce for Import and Export of Machinery and Electronic Products (CCCME), which represents major Chinese TV exporters, said it is preparing its defense in the next stage of investigation. The U.S. investigation comes just months after Chinese manufacturers successfully settled a similar anti-dumping dispute with the European Union that eliminates the 44-percent import duties in those markets.
Sichuan Changhong is the largest manufacturer of televisions in the world. After an aggressive expansion, production capacity is now more than 15 million units annually. Almost 80 percent of China's TV exports to the U.S. comes from Changhong. But there are other large Chinese manufacturers: Konka, Haier, HiSense, TCL, and Skyworth all have multi-million unit production capacities. China has the capacity to manufacture 87-percent more televisions than its domestic market can absorb.
Chinese makers are undaunted by the complaint and are confident they will defend it successfully, just as they did the European Union dispute. Beginning this month, the U.S. Commerce Department continues its investigation.
This report is filed by Clint Stevens, China correspondent, APPLIANCE magazine.


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Industry insiders attribute steady growth of natural dog diets to
novel ingredients, brand differentiation and educated customers.
BY SANDY CHEBAT
With more pet owners becoming choosier about the foods they feed their pets, demand for natural dog food is on the rise. Industry insiders report that sales of natural dog
foods are climbing; however, the category has become more competitive, which is prompting manufacturers to get more creative
with the products they bring to market.
Ann Hudson, vice president of marketing for Tiki Pets, a brand
of St. Louis-based Whitebridge Pet Brands, said pet food companies
must work harder to differentiate themselves and their products.
“The natural category is over saturated, and you really have to
work hard to stand out from the crowd,” she said.
Natasha Davis, client service manager for the POS tracking
(pet) team at GfK, a German market research firm with U.S. headquarters in New York, agreed.
“More shelf brands are trying to find distinctive points of dif-
ferentiation because it’s not enough to just say you’re natural,”
she said. “First it was grain free; now [it’s] with specific functions
and superfood ingredients and how they help with longevity and
Human trends continue to significantly influence natural dog
foods, according to industry insiders.
“The single most important influence on the natural diet cat-
egory continues to be the human food market,” Hudson said.
“‘Natural’ means good, and good means eating whole ingredients,
fruits, vegetables, lean meats, etc. And many of the things we feel
good about eating will eventually end up in our pet’s food.”
Even if pet foods have more recognizable ingredients, pet own-
ers still expect more from natural food companies—this is partic-
ularly true of millennials, who Davis said have a unique mindset
when it comes to which products they support.
“Millennials can see through the fluff marketing and are look-
ing for more information from brands, such as ‘How is it more nat-
ural?’ and ‘What are your business practices?’” Davis said. “They
look for holistically natural products, from sourcing to production
to U.S. made—there is strong U.S. sentiment.”
In addition to seeking greater transparency from manufactur-
ers, Julie Washington, chief marketing officer for Champion Pet-
foods in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, said that pet owners desire
more ancestral feeding regimens.
“They seek foods pets once sought in nature, so a greater
presence of fresh and raw meat ingredients,” Washington said.
“They’re [also] looking at micronutrients in diets, and choice ro-
tation is a topic coming up more than before. Limited ingredient
has continued to grow because of dogs with sensitivities, allergies
Tracy Alford, owner of Animal Nutrition & Grooming Center
in Roseville, Calif., said she’s seeing more customers move away
from kibble to feeding canned, raw, dehydrated or freeze-dried
Barb Emmett, president and owner of Godfrey’s—Welcome to
Dogdom in Mohnton, Pa., reported similar trends in her store.
“Our growth is in raw,” she said.
The internet and social media largely influence what’s becoming popular with pet owners, according to insiders.
“These trends are coming from the internet blogs, Instagram
and Facebook posts, and warnings from the [U.S. Food and Drug
Administration],” Alford said.
Bryan Nieman, brand director at Fromm Family Pet Food in
Mequon, Wis., agreed.
“The ease in which pet parents can access information through
digital outlets and social media continues to drive awareness and
prompt demand,” he said.
Insiders concurred that dog owners increasingly want quality,
nutritional diets for their dogs and do not hesitate to educate themselves to make sure they are providing the very best.
“We have new customers every day who want to switch to
something healthier,” said Michelle McConnell, co-owner of A
Natural Pet Pantry in Osprey, Fla. “People are educating themselves and not necessarily taking their veterinarian’s recommendations without doing some research on their own.


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Popular bus-sharing service Swvl announced on Thursday that it would be “pausing” daily rides within Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad and Faisalabad from Friday (June 3) “in light of the global economic downturn”. The announcement comes as the government has increased the prices of petroleum products by Rs30 per litre in a move aimed at placating the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for an economic bailout.
In a notification sent to app users, the service said that Swvl Travel (city-to-city) and Swvl Business (business-to-business) would remain fully operational.
Swvl aims to cut its workforce by 32 per cent, according to the company’s official press release. Roles that have been automated as a result of investments in the Company’s engineering, product, and support operations will be targeted for reductions. Swvl intends to provide monetary, non-monetary, and job placement assistance to assist specific employees in transitioning to new responsibilities.
Airlift, which began as a bus-hailing service, had also suspended operations during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic. The company has since changed their business models to focus on grocery delivery operations in Pakistani cities.
The company’s big move comes just days after Airlift announced that it was reducing headcount by 31 per cent across all countries and limiting categories on the platform. Also, the company has withdrawn from several markets, including Faisalabad, Gujranwala, Sialkot, Peshawar, Hyderabad, Johannesburg, Cape Town, and Pretoria.
Inflics provides it readers the information that they need in concise and short articles, making information and news more accessible to everyone.


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If you listen to Jane Applegate -- and plenty of small-business owners do -- 2011 will be an excellent year of rebounding and rebuilding for the nation's mom and pop outfits.
Applegate delivered a message of economic recovery at "Revive and Thrive: Strategies for Growth and Success in 2011," hosted by the Greater Memphis Chamber's Small Business Council. And she offered tips to help local business professionals take advantage of the approaching upswing.
"We've been through the worst of the Great Recession and while many of us did suffer, this will really be the year of the comeback," Applegate said Tuesday. "There's been a pent-up demand for goods and services and I believe this is the year money will start flowing back into many small businesses."
A former syndicated columnist for the Los Angeles Times, Applegate is author of "201 Great Ideas for Your Small Business" and "The Entrepreneur's Desk Reference." She is Bloomberg Television's small-business expert and founder of consulting firm The Applegate Group.
"This sets the platform for what we want to offer our members and the local business community this year," said Lee Still, vice president at Trust One Bank and chairman of the Small Business Council. "We've been through some challenging times, but we're committed to moving forward and excited about the future."
Looking ahead, the federal stimulus package is likely to play a significant part in the recovery, Applegate said, by encouraging community banks to extend more credit to small businesses. And consumers are starting to buy more, which is benefiting energizing the economy.
U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen, D-Tenn., echoed Applegate's sentiments.
"This is definitely the year of the economic comeback," Cohen said. "Between increased bank lending and more consumer spending, I believe it's an encouraging time for small-business owners."
Capitalizing on that forward movement should be at the forefront of every small-business owner's agenda, Applegate advised. To start with, employers must surround themselves with quality workers.
And while that may sound expensive, the good news is that there's never been a better time to assemble such a crew because so many quality workers have been displaced in the last couple years.
"I've never met a really successful entrepreneur who deals daily with toxic people, so get them out of your life," Applegate said. "Once you've done that, focus on what people are supposed to be doing and where they're going."
Once people problems are addressed, Applegate said business owners must attend to finances. Translation: Stop carrying client debt.
"If you're not a charity or a bank, you should not be financing your customers," Applegate said. "Also, think about raising your prices. Small-business owners tend to be cautious and undercharge for goods and services."
Business leaders should increase marketing efforts to take advantage of customers ready to spend again, Applegate said. And even though online and social media campaigns may work for some companies, she encouraged entrepreneurs to explore the power of advertising through traditional venues such as broadcast and print.
Finally, small-business owners should take time out -- at least an hour each day -- for themselves. The result will be a better outlook and a sharper focus.
"Her message is practical and doable for all business owners, regardless of the size of their companies," said Otha Brandon, director of government affairs for Comcast Cable, the sponsor of Tuesday's program. "Bringing this type of business forum to Memphis is something we're proud to be a part of."
-- James Dowd: 529-2737
Greater Memphis Chamber event
What: In the Mix with Small Business from 5:30 to 7 p.m. on Feb. 9
Where: Holiday Inn Select, 5795 Poplar at I-240
Cost: Free for members, $20 for nonmembers
More info: Call 543-3518
Need Help? Call us at 1-888-789-0831.
Monday-Friday: 6am-5pm / Saturday: 6:30am-11:30am / Sunday: 6am-1pm


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At first glance it's a symbiotic relationship made in heaven: cash-strapped schools paired with cause-related marketing (CRM) schemes that feed them much-needed equipment, from computers to books, in return for parental customer loyalty.
But this fast-growing breed of school CRM initiative, pioneered by Tesco's Computers for Schools 13 years ago, is under greater scrutiny than ever before from consumer associations concerned about rising childhood obesity levels, teaching bodies disturbed by the 'commercialisation' of their schools, and a highly cynical media.
Scrutinise the guidelines
The first step towards avoiding controversy in this complex and sensitive area is to scrutinise the guidelines. Business in the Community (BITC) has drawn up guidelines for CRM campaigns that apply equally to school schemes, and are a good starting point.
These guidelines encompass a set of 'key principles' - from integrity ('behaving honestly and ethically and adhering to moral principles') to mutual benefit ('equal benefit must be shared between partners'). The six 'key elements' of a CRM partnership are also discussed, from finding a partner to evaluation.
The advertisers' body ISBA and the Consumers' Association, along with several other bodies including the Department for Education and Skills, have drawn up guidelines specific to school CRM programmes. They are designed to help school governors assess the commercial activity by running through a checklist of issues, such as 'Is the activity as free as possible from explicit sales messages?' But they mainly exist to ensure businesses supply material that has an educational value or are working in partnership with teachers.
Although the majority of these schemes have been successful - if success is measured by the number of schools to sign up - interested bodies, such as the National Union of Teachers (NUT) - are watching the sector closely, especially any involvement by the food industry.
At its 2003 annual conference the NUT 'resolved to campaign against commercialisation in schools'. It advised teachers to judge schemes on their educational content, whether they contradicted the promotion of healthy eating, their impact on teacher workload, and whether they pressurised parents to buy particular brands in certain shops.
Before embarking on a CRM programme with schools, it is vital to consult teachers in the research stage of any scheme to ensure that the campaign material has their support.
'Involving teachers and parents is key; get your educational material in front of them either in the form of focus groups or questionnaires,' says food issues consultant Allison Hill. 'If you are a food manufacturer, you must ensure you have clear messages about promoting a healthy lifestyle - emphasising variety, moderation and eating fruit and vegetables.'
Be aware of media cynicism
The next issue that PR departments tinkering with the idea of attempting a school campaign should be acutely aware of is the media's cynicism towards these schemes.
This heat will be turned up to twice the level if the company in question is a food manufacturer, warns BITC director of CRM Sue Adkins, as the sector is already under fierce scrutiny from government bodies and NGOs fearful of rising epidemics of childhood and teenage obesity.
Adkins, who is constantly approached by journalists who are against the whole concept, advises companies thinking of getting involved to 'put yourself in the mind of an investigative journalist who hates you' and attempt to explain the scheme in the simplest way possible.
'Get to the point and be very upfront,' she explains. 'Use the "KISS" acronym ("Keep it Simple Stupid"), and explain the programme to your granny or youngest nephew in a few minutes with no ifs and buts.'
A 2001 Which? magazine report was particularly damning about CRM school schemes, attacking the Walkers/News International Free Books for Schools promotion for encouraging children 'to engage in unhealthy activity' by eating crisps.
It was also critical of the generosity of schemes such as Tesco Computers for Schools, claiming parents would have to amass vouchers from nearly £250,000 of shopping to get a computer that costs £1,000 to buy.
Consumers value CRM schemes
The Which? report was debated on radio, press and TV but, according to Adkins, the transcripts from such programmes showed the public was still largely in favour of the schemes.
'Despite the media hype the public was unanimously in support of these programmes,' says Adkins, who insists that consumers accept there must be a business gain within these schemes for companies. 'Consumers do not expect something for nothing,' she explains. 'If a company is pretending to be philanthropic, consumers can be horribly cynical, and you can get yourself into a vicious media circus.'
This apparent disparity between the media's attitude towards CRM school schemes and the public's is illustrated by the story of Cadbury Get Active (see case study, p25). One typical headline stated: 'Cadbury wants children to eat two million kg of fat to get fit.'
'The headlines were a distraction to the overall programme,' admits Cadbury PR manager Tony Bilsborough.
'There was a fundamental misunderstanding within the media of how the scheme worked. We never targeted kids; the people collecting vouchers were families and members of the wider community.
'The campaign was borne from a genuine desire to help; if we had wanted to boost chocolate sales we'd have used something sexier like a text-and-win promotion.'
He warns that companies should be aware that everything you do can be taken out of context, 'particularly by interest groups that have a fundamental dislike of business in general'. Nevertheless Bilsborough says that while taking part in radio phone-ins during the media furore, 85 per cent of callers voiced their support for Get Active.
Hill is not convinced that in the current 'hostile climate' it's even worth considering such a scheme: 'If I was in the food industry I would think twice before entering into a campaign with schools. The whole sector is up for criticism.'
But get the CRM schools initiative right and you can forge a long-lasting relationship with local communities. 'We know 98 per cent of the population are aware of a CRM programme, and 83 per cent have participated in one.
This rises to 96 per cent in families with children,' says Adkins. 'Schools get books or computers but it must be done with integrity and transparency.' L
For access to the BITC, ISBA, Consumers' Association and Department of Education and Skills guidelines, access this feature online through www.prweek.com
CADBURY GET ACTIVE
The Get Active scheme comprised a number of elements revolving around increasing activity levels in children - ranging from training teachers in PE to a free activity day at the Birmingham NEC attended by 14,000 people, including runner Paula Radcliffe.
The main component was the collection of vouchers printed on 160 million chocolate bars that could be redeemed for sports equipment. Triangle Communications approached schools while Consolidated Communications handled consumer PR, which turned into a PR firefighting job as the scheme was vilified by the media for encouraging kids to buy chocolate.
In response, Cadbury is phasing out the wrapper-collection part of the initiative but will continue with other elements of the scheme. In total 6,000 schools signed up. It is estimated that £9m of sports equipment will be given away.
TESCO COMPUTERS FOR SCHOOLS
The 'mother' of all CRM school schemes, Tesco Computers for Schools, was launched in 1992 and has raised more than £82m-worth of computer equipment.
Nearly 30,000 schools are now registered with the programme - more than 86 per cent of UK schools.
The scheme is promoted in stores through leaflets. Schools register and a pack is sent to them containing a catalogue, order form and letter to send to parents.
PR is largely handled in-house, with assistance from agencies including Good Relations and Launch PR, and Tesco appears to have avoided most of the negative coverage suffered by food companies such as Cadbury and Walkers.
'While funding is an issue for schools, and while the scheme is popular with customers, we'll continue to run it,' says Tesco community investment manager Catherine Stewart.
The three year-old Schools Plus programme revolves around the sale of an A5 magazine that combines editorial with thousands of pounds-worth of discounts from firms such as WHSmith and Burger King. Schools register to receive a stack of magazines for which they are charged £1 each. They then sell them to parents for £10 but keep £5 for the school. PR agency Mission 21 secured coverage in the regional and educational press, liaised with teaching unions, and continues to work with Schools Plus's in-house team to recruit the brands that support the scheme. Additional schemes - Scouts Plus, Football Plus and Rugby Plus - run alongside Schools Plus.
PERSIL GET CREATIVE
Lever Faberge launched Get Creative around its Persil brand in autumn 2002 to fund the supply of arts and craft materials in primary schools and nurseries, after conducting a survey that found the average infant pupil receives £1.18 arts and crafts funding a year. Persil was also keen to be the brand that cleaned up children's paint-stained clothes.
Consumers collect on-pack tokens that their children hand into school to redeem brushes or face-painting kits. The PR campaign was handled by The RED Consultancy and kicked off with 'The Big Mummy' in which kids' pictures were used to create a single picture of a giant mum.
'So far, 40,000 schools have registered and the scheme has helped Persil reach its highest market share in two years,' says Persil corporate relations manager Ash Tailor.


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If you normally wait until you’re in South Carolina before you fill up, this article is for you!
The price tracking website and app company ‘GasBuddy’ recently released the results from their 3 year study of fuel price data showing which days of the week you should buy gas, and which days you should avoid.
According to the company, Mondays have consistently proven to be the cheapest, and Thursdays are usually the most expensive.
“The rise in average prices towards the weekend could be to blame on an influential report from the Energy Information Administration (EIA) issued weekly on Wednesdays, which could push prices higher the day after, depending on if data in its report is as expected or a surprise,” said Patrick DeHaan, senior petroleum analyst at GasBuddy. “Since commodities trading isn’t active over the weekend, it typically allows stations to ‘let it ride’ over the weekend, culminating in lower prices by the start of the work week.”
The company does note that the best day changes year-to-year and state-to-state, but if you were to switch from shopping on Thursdays to Mondays, you could end up saving an average of $325 every year.
When and where do you usually buy your gas?


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According to Verizon's request, the top-ranked US carrier wanted to temporarily lock handsets in order to combat two different types of fraud. Just what fraud does Verizon have in mind? The first kind of fraud refers to those who steal handsets from new users, then use them on any network.
Up until now, Verizon handsets have been unlocked from the outset, meaning that someone who steals a new smartphone purchased from the carrier could take out the SIM and use it right away. Additionally, the thief could take advantage of the owner's SIM card and the information there to conduct other fraudulent activity. Carrier unlock wasn't protecting smartphone owners, Verizon says.
There is a second type of fraud related to smartphone owners themselves, however. A number of smartphone owners purchase new smartphones such as the Samsung Galaxy S10 knowing that they're never going to pay for the handset. The purchase is solely for the sake of getting the phone in hand, then "running" with it without any financial obligation. Usually, those who purchase the handset with this mindset intend to sell the handset on sites such as eBay.
There are a few things to note about Verizon's request to the FCC and the carrier's partial waver. First, it is a "partial waiver," meaning that the FCC didn't grant a "Declaratory Ruling" because "the unlocking rule already permits such temporary locking," the FCC wrote in its partial waiver.
Next, the carrier phone lock timeframe is sixty days, or two months. This is important because it means that a thief cannot use the phone on other networks, which deters the theft in the first place. Secondly, the smartphone buyer who intends to defraud Verizon and not pay for the phone won't be rewarded for their buyer fraud, but will have to pay at least two months on the phone before using it elsewhere.
The thought of having to pay for the phone is what the fraudulent buyer doesn't want, so perhaps the idea of paying for the phone may deter a phone purchase in the first place (in this case, a fraudulent purchase; Verizon loves it when honest smartphone buyers pay for their phones, whether it be in the form of cash, check, or charge).
This new sixty-day carrier phone lock with Verizon for new handsets doesn't mean that handsets won't be ultimately unlocked; in fact, after the sixty days are up, by law, Verizon must unlock your handset, even if you haven't paid it all off or requested a phone unlock. Some Verizon customers may find this to be a bit annoying and frustrating, but the good news is that the carrier lock disappears after sixty days unless Verizon detects the purchase is designed with fraud in mind.
One may wonder why Verizon had to request such a waiver from the FCC in the first place. The reason pertains to its 700MHz C Block spectrum for its LTE network that was leased years ago, where Verizon promised to leave its handsets utilizing this spectrum open for use on other networks (in other words, LTE phones were not to be unlocked). Verizon's request fits in line with carrier locking rules but "violates" the 700MHz C Block spectrum agreement that is on the table; Verizon had to file a waiver in order to avoid violating the agreement.
Sixty days in carrier lock may be inconvenient, but Verizon says it's protecting you by doing so. Verizon is protecting its own financial interest with the phone, of course, but protecting both carrier and customer is a win-win for all, no?


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Students currently enrolled in chef schools in Texas may want to look to the 2014 Golden Chain Awards for an example of strong ambition and work ethic within the restaurant industry. The awards, which are put on annually by the Nation’s Restaurant News, aim at naming the best of the best establishments across a wide array of categories within the hospitality industry. This year, they turned their focus to Kent Taylor, the chief executive officer of the popular Texas Roadhouse restaurant chain, to recognize him for the incredible work he has put into creating and maintaining the franchise. If you’re hoping to one day be successful in the restaurant and hospitality scene, take a closer look at the story behind Taylor’s award to get an idea of the kind of determination success requires:
Taylor was among five different Golden Chain Honorees in 2014, according to the Nation’s Restaurant News. The other four individuals honored were Aylwin Lewis, president and CEO of Potbelly Sandwiches, Greg Creed, who serves as the chief executive at Taco Bell, Sandra Cochran of the popular Cracker Barrel Country Store chain, and Joseph DePinto of 7-Eleven. All of these individuals were named as recipients of the award for having phenomenal years from a revenue perspective while also maintaining their vision for the brand. In Taylor’s case, specifically, the 2013 fiscal year brought in more than $1.7 billion in sales, which represents more than a 12 percent increase since 2012. One of the keys to his lucrative success has been his continued expansion of the brand since first opening a Texas Roadhouse in 1993. At this point, the company manages 433 restaurants in 49 states, as well as several abroad.
Perhaps even more impressive than Taylor’s name appearing on the list of 2014 Golden Chain Award recipients is that he also was the winner of this year’s Operator of the Year Award at the 2014 Multi-Unit Foodservice Operators Conference in Dallas. The award, which is given each year to the individual who best represents the notions of progress, expansion and quality in the restaurant industry, is selected from the five Golden Chain Award winners. Taylor attended the awards ceremony with his executive team, offering a brief acceptance speech in which he and his coworkers praised the concepts of forward thought and creativity within their organization.
Taylor told Nation’s Restaurant News that he never had any idea, when starting out, that his concept would become so lucrative or ubiquitous. Apparently, he began the restaurant concept solely with the goal of making enough money to afford a house. In 1993, he opened the first establishment in Clarksville, Indiana, and has pushed through countless obstacles and hardships since then to maintain and expand the brand. His work serves as a prime example of the power of drive and commitment, and should be emulated by culinary students thinking of starting their own brand at some point.


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Blog: A Dinner for Diageo's Johnnie Walker Double Black
Chris Mercer | 20 May 2011
Last night, just to prove that three days at an international wine show is not enough, just-drinks popped along to a Diageo-hosted dinner at Marcus Wareing's restaurant at The Berkeley to mark one year since the launch of Johnnie Walker Double Black.
As you've probably summised already, Johnnie Walker Double Black has proved a serious hit in the travel retail sector, where it was officially launched around a year ago. Well, it was hardly going to be a slap-up dinner to celebrate the brand extension's glorious failure, was it?
Some of Diageo's jubilation probably translates from relief. After all, it's not easy to extend a flagship brand, as the innovation team on Guinness has found several times to its cost.
Before we tucked into some seriously good food, accompanied by Johnnie Walker Double Black-infused sauce (and jelly), we chewed some numbers and heard about Diageo's plans.
We'll have more information for you next week, but here's a snippet. In the fourth quarter of calendar 2010, Johnnie Walker Double Black achieved net sales of GBP3m (US$4.9m), making it the eighth best-selling spirits brand by value in the global travel retail sector during the period, Diageo said last night. It had a value share of 1.8% for the three months.
The group's head of travel retail for Europe, Paul Downing, expects that Double Black's recent launch in Russia will significantly boost his corner of the Diageo empire over the next year.
Stay tuned for more.
Knowledge is power, or so they claim. So, with that in mind, here's an infographic, courtesy of Australian company Hangover Revivol, that breaks down exactly what is behind the common hangover....
Here's a round-up of the top stories on just-drinks last week, featuring William Grant & Sons, the Southern hemisphere's winemakers, SABMiller and Heineken, and Coke Light....
How many beer mugs can one man carry? ...
Here's a round-up of the top stories on just-drinks last week, featuring Pernod Ricard, The Coca-Cola Co, SABMiller's new Scotch whisky and Santa Rita Estates....
- Comment - Heineken's 'No' Cuts SABMiller Options
- Irish whiskey eyes a slice of Scotch's global pie
- Scottish Independence and Scotch Whisky
- SABMiller spurned by Heineken: The start of the en
- Can the New World Learn a Lesson from the Old?
- Patron Spirits' Patron Citrónge Lime
- Heineken rejects SABMiller purchase proposal
- Wm Grant CMO to head Orangina Scweppes Int'l
- Diageo's Special Releases 2014
- SABMiller, Heineken silent on takeover offer talk


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When one of satellite television’s great visionaries says that over-the-top (OTT) Internet delivery is the future of video, it’s worth taking him at his word. Charlie Ergen is the chairman and CEO of DISH Network, and the founder of EchoStar, a pioneering satellite TV manufacturer and distributor during the big dish days of the 1980s. According to a story by Daniel Frankel in FierceCable, Ergen believes that traditional linear television, the kind that DISH, DirecTv and cable companies sell, needs an overhaul if it’s going to remain a viable product…
Speaking to investment analysts and reporters during Dish’s fourth-quarter earnings call…Ergen said Dish had been “dragged into” this brand positioning by competitors such as AT&T’s DirecTV Now and Sony PlayStation Vue.
“Obviously, the DirecTV Now product is a direct replacement for cable and satellite,” he said. “So is the Sony product. We’ve gotten dragged into that, and maybe that’s not my first preference”…
“The decline of linear TV will be driven by how programmers react,” Ergen said. “If programmers continue to raise prices, if they continue to put 16-18 minutes of advertising into a show, it’s going to continue to decline. … You’ve got to make linear TV look more like an OTT product.”
For the next few years though, cable companies will be more vulnerable than satellite broadcasters like Ergen. Although small dish satellite platforms were never intended to be a purely rural product, they have a large, natural constituency outside of the mostly urban and suburban areas where cable companies offer Internet service that’s usually quite capable of delivering OTT programming.
It’s different in rural areas, where Internet service is a patchwork of expensive and poorly performing fixed wireless systems and generally slow DSL from telcos. And where AT&T intends to rip out copper networks, limit its customers to its own brand of slow wireless Internet service, and force them to rely on DirecTv – which it owns – or Ergen’s DISH for television.
For the umpteenth time, AT&T is said to be in talks to buy a major U.S. direct broadband satellite (DBS) company, in this case DirecTv. The first time I heard this rumor was in 1995, when DirecTv and the company I was working for, U.S. Satellite Broadband (later merged together), did a joint marketing deal with what is now AT&T (but was SBC back then).
In fact, SBC’s later acquisition of the business and brand was partly due to the failed cable ambitions of the old AT&T. CEO Michael Armstrong – who had been the CEO of Hughes, DirecTv’s then-corporate parent – bought TCI, the original mega-MSO. The attempt to merge cultures and networks was a disaster. AT&T was a relentlessly politically correct organisation with exquisitely gold-plated engineering. TCI, on the other hand, embraced a Colorado cowboy ethic, in its dealings with staff, industry and consumers, and in its upkeep of a largely ad hoc and, even then, decaying coaxial cable plant.
Armstrong skated away, the cable systems went to Comcast and SBC got the name and the phone network. And like clockwork, every couple of years AT&T is said to be in hot pursuit of either DirecTv or DISH.
The original argument in favor of a DBS purchase was that AT&T had millions upon millions of existing subscriber relationships and limitless marketing resources. My counter argument back then was, yes, AT&T is huge, but that’s not enough. It would be like slotting a sumo wrestler into the San Francisco 49ers offensive line: big is good, but the sport demands different skills, endurance and attitudes.
Today’s AT&T is no longer a lumbering rikishi. Over the years, the PC sensitivity has dulled and its competitive appetite has gained a bit of an edge. So a DBS play seems less unlikely. If it happens, it’ll be a decisive step away from the traditional deference incumbents show towards each other’s territory. Both DirecTv and AT&T Wireless have a national footprint and together can start attacking Verizon’s and CenturyLink’s wireline revenue. That would make it a more competitive market in much of the U.S. Perhaps we can hope that Verizon and Century – or a now-small independent telco – will return the favor in California.


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Loose diamonds are both the most magical and versatile of Nature’s creations, and have fascinated mankind for over four thousand years. Today, an estimated 10 million people globally are directly or indirectly supported by the diamond industry, many in developing economies such as Botswana, Zimbabwe and India. An estimated 5 million people globally have access to appropriate healthcare thanks to revenues from diamonds.
In some countries, the diamond mining industry is the largest employer after the government. In spite of the contribution diamonds continue to make to the wellbeing of millions, their high value also makes them vulnerable to theft and abuse. This was highlighted in the 1990s when rebel organizations in Angola, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Sierra Leone expropriated diamonds and used the revenues to perpetrate civil war and carry out atrocities against innocent civilians. Having been made aware of the urgency to act by two non-governmental organizations, (Global Witness and Partnership Africa Canada), the diamond industry acted swiftly to co-operate with NGOs, governments and the United Nations. It established the World Diamond Council, representing the entire industry from mining to retail. The World Diamond Council contributed significantly to the development of the UN mandated Kimberley Process Certification Scheme, which ensures that today more than 99 percent of diamonds are from conflict-free sources. There are now 74 governments that are members of the Kimberley Process.
Diamond companies are talking about more than just carats and colors these days. As consumers demand more added value than ever, the industry is drawing attention to its commitment to improving the lives of the people who create diamonds. The growing awareness of their broader corporate social responsibility means this is increasingly becoming a factor when people are choosing their stones.
One American jeweler determined to address Africa’s continued suffering has introduced a conflict-free diamond pendant. Debi Wexler, CEO of one of the largest online diamond retailers, Whiteflash.com, is dedicating all proceeds from her $4,400 conflict-free Diamonds of Africa diamond pendant to supporting children who have suffered under blood diamond conflicts and to creating awareness to combat illicit diamond trade.
“Africa is earth’s most vivid mosaic of cultural and natural beauty. But for all her richness and life, this beautiful portrait is stained where unrest brings hunger and suffering to her children,” says Wexler, who holds these issues close to her heart.
“Whiteflash.com has some of the finest ethically produced designer bridal jewelry available,” said Debi Wexler, president of Whiteflash.com and conflict free diamond activist. “The site offers the conscious consumer a means to connect directly to diamond beneficiation projects, such as Whiteflash’s Dreams of Africa collection in which 100% of proceeds go to help those children who have suffered under blood diamond conflicts.”
“While other companies offer commercially produced ‘green rings’ and conflict free jewellery, what makes us different is that 100% of our profits go to those who really need out help,” said Debi.
Though dramatically reduced in recent years, hot spots of conflict and suffering remain in Africa. Whiteflash initiated the Dreams of Africa program as a way for shoppers to be proactive. You can visit the website at www.dreamsofafrica.org.


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HTC One is finally said to receive the required Android 4.3 update and a major UI improvement. If it was just the Android update, the Taiwanese owners of the HTC One have already got them back in September. Soon the update went taking rounds starting in Asia, Canada and US. However, many countries which had missed the update then will receive it soon on their international HTC One devices now.
As said earlier, along with the Android 4.3 update, the system update also installs the new HTC Sense 5.5 UI to the HTC One devices, which currently feature an older version of the UI (Sense 5.0).
Weighing 675MB, the update brings a couple of changes on HTC One and is quite different in comparison to the Android 4.3 version which was released in the US and Taiwan markets previously.
The new Sense 5.5 update introduces a number of new features including the ability to disable BlinkFeed. Further, the users can also have the option to save articles for offline reading. The update also brings some improvements in the camera.
It should be noted that the update will be first released to unlocked HTC One units in European and Asian countries, where no Android 4.3 update has been rolled-out. But for those countries which have already received it earlier, HTC will be rolling out a separate Sense 5.5 UI update for them soon.
Take a look at the changes brought about by the HTC One 3.62.401.1 update
After the updates get installed, users will see an improvements in video quality and will also feature an option to add soundtracks to videos, improved BlinkFeed, ability to save articles to read it offline later, create custom feeds from news media, Twitter and YouTube, embedded music channel with new scenes and more.


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Ulster Unionist MLA and Agriculture spokesperson Jo-Anne Dobson has said that closer working relations between supermarkets, processors and farmers are crucial to a sustainable and profitable future for farming.
The Upper Bann MLA made the call following meeting with Sainsbury's public affairs adviser Damien Drumm to discuss what the retailer does to support farmers across Northern Ireland, the challenges farmers are facing and the future of the local supply chain.
Commenting Mrs Dobson said: “I have previously raised my concerns that the current situation has squeezed farm profit margins, forcing many farming families into impossible financial positions.
“As we look towards a New Year and leave 2015 the year of farming crisis behind us the only way to improve the impossible situation faced by farmers is by all elements of the supply chain working closely together. This must be for the overall benefit of the entire agri-food industry in Northern Ireland so that farmers receive their fair share.
“I very much welcome the opportunity to meet with Damien and receive an update from him on the six farmer development groups Sainsbury’s has in Northern Ireland. I know that they will be placing a renewed focus on working through their Beef Development Group to continue to improve the quality of Sainsbury’s beef and improve efficiency within their supply chain.
“As a member of the Agriculture Committee I want to make sure that the Department of Agriculture do all that they can to encourage fair and best practice across all elements of the food supply chain. It cannot be the lions share for the processors and retailers and leftovers for farmers.”
Also commenting Damien Drumm, Sainsbury's public affairs adviser, said: “We know this has been a tough year for farmers across a number of sectors. Our Farmer Development Groups provide a model for us to work closely with the farmers in our supply chains.
"We’re currently working on a new integrated beef system which will provide our beef farmers with a bespoke platform to help track and manage animal performance in order to improve production efficiency and the quality of the product. We look forward to continuing to work with our farmers in 2016”


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The North American based automotive giant General Motors has decided to unveil its 2013 model year of the Chevrolet Spark, with the small hatchback being scheduled to go on sale in mid-2012, with some interesting new features on it, but before the vehicle will hit the showrooms, it will be officially presented at the Los Angeles Auto Show.
According to the car manufacturer, the 2013 model year Chevy Spark will be the only car which will offer a 7 inch color touchscreen radio which can also display smart phone-based navigation, personalized connectivity of Pandora and Stitcher Internet radio and contacts for hands free calling.
“Spark is for buyers who want much more than a cute small car – they want a car that can be personalized, is dynamic, fashionable, and delivers a lot of value for. Spark’s vibrant exterior and interior colors make a fashion statement, but it is also affordable, safe, maneuverable and very fuel-efficient”, said the vice president of global Chevrolet marketing and strategy, Chris Perry.
Chevrolet says that its 2013 model year Spark will be offered in two levels, the 1LT and 2LT, both of them being powered by a 1.2 liter dual-overhead cam four-cylinder petrol engine with variable valve timing, generating a total output of 85 horsepower, mated to a standard five-speed manual transmission with an optional four-speed automatic.
The 2013 Chevrolet Spark will be officially presented to the general public at the upcoming Los Angeles Auto Show and the small hatchback will hit the United States showrooms in mid-2012.


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The 2016/2017 International Woolmark Prize awards ceremony, held at the cavernous Palais de Tokyo in Paris' 16th arrondissement this past January, only lasted about 20 minutes. Strobes flashed, music blared and models emerged wearing a handful of looks crafted from wool by each of the 12 nominated designers — menswear and womenswear regional winners from the U.S., Europe, Asia, the British Isles, Australia and New Zealand, as well as India and throughout the Middle East. The panel of judges, which included Victoria Beckham, Hood by Air founder Shayne Oliver and singer Lou Doillon, handed the womenswear prize to Gabriela Hearst and the men's award to Ben Cottrell and Matthew Dainty of British label Cottweiler. Houselights on.
Perhaps to combat the notion that a ceremony designed to be the coming out party for the next generation of verified fashion talent felt a bit anticlimactic, guests were reminded that Hearst, Cottrell and Dainty would now find themselves on a list of previous Woolmark Prize recipients that includes Karl Lagerfeld and Yves Saint Laurent, notable names Woolmark tosses out frequently. They were also AUS$100,000 (about $75,000) richer.
"It will technically change the life of the designer who's won it," Doillon said of the Woolmark Prize in a promotional video captured at the event. "And that's extremely gratifying as a jury."
Winning a major fashion award, like the Woolmark Prize, the LVMH Prize, the Andam Fashion Award or any of the assorted accolades doled out by the CFDA each year, is extremely gratifying for the young winners, as well. It would be hard to imagine any designer taking on the time commitment of competing for a prize — not to mention the financial obligations some require — without wanting to emerge victorious. But the "technically" in Doillon's quote may be key; although many participants characterize the process as a net positive experience, the way in which winning a fashion award changes an emerging, inexperienced designer's life or business in any measurable capacity hinges on the same question that plagues designers who don't have any trophies under their belts: How can you flip limited resources and fleeting opportunities into long-term growth and viability?
The Woolmark Prize has a number of big names among their champions beyond Lagerfeld and Saint Laurent. Since the prize was relaunched in 2012, regional winners have included Joseph Altuzarra and Tanya Taylor, both of whom also participated in the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund competition; Altuzarra won that in 2011. Others, like Sibling and Sise, have since shut down their businesses.
The LVMH Young Fashion Designer Prize, launched in 2013 and arguably the most prestigious of its kind, awards €300,000 ($337,000) and a year of mentoring to designers under 40 who have produced at least two collections. Previous LVMH winners include Grace Wales Bonner, Marques'Almeida and Thomas Tait. They, too, have been a bit of a mixed bag. Wales Bonner is the toast of London Fashion Week: Men's, has been compared to Comme des Garcons' Rei Kawakubo and is sold at retailers like SSENSE, Matches, and Selfridges; Tait appears to be on an indefinite hiatus.
Many of these prizes aim to support promising, but unproven talent, often lacking in funding and industry contacts. The promise of solving both of those issues is part of the allure. While mentoring, as a concept, is always a bit of a gamble, winners may be more surprised at how short a distance prize money can stretch.
After winning the U.S. regional Woolmark Prize in 2015, Marcia Patmos of M.Patmos took home top honors at the international competition, as well, with a wool-based capsule collection she created at her own expense. "The Woolmark Prize was a great experience," Patmos says. "It was a good exercise in storytelling."
At the time, the prize money converted to roughly AUS$76,366, according to a Woolmark press release. The prize also guaranteed that prestigious retail partners like Saks Fifth Avenue, 10 Corso Como and Harvey Nichols would stock the winning collection. The Woolmark Company, an Australian-based wool authority that administers a quality assurance certification, required Patmos' samples to undergo testing to ensure they met those quality standards before they could be produced and delivered to the partner stores.
"You basically had to destroy a whole sample run, which is pretty expensive, in order to get it qualified for all the testing," Patmos says. "And it added an entire month to our production. That was not great." The stores also wanted to receive the collection at the same time they would be receiving the rest of their fall assortment, giving Patmos less time than she would normally have to produce the clothes, based on the traditional fashion calendar. "It was already running late, and then adding an extra month for all that testing — it was stressful," Patmos says.
"Our experience with previous winners is that the prize money has largely been spent in promoting their collection, rather than being used to create it," Stuart McCullough, managing director of the Woolmark Company, says. However, a company rep notes that regional prize money can also be used to cover sampling costs for the international final, and that guaranteed retail partners pay the winning designer to stock the winning collection, theoretically enabling them to recoup lost funds. Although Woolmark covers the cost of travel and accommodations to international finals for all participants and hosts a showroom where all finalists can present their lines to retailers, there is no guarantee that anyone will earn back their investment. Some participants claim the regional money is not sufficient to cover sample costs.
McCullough says they will be upping the prize money beginning this year. "Going forward, the global winners will now each receive AUS$200,000 [$150,000], helping these designers remain competitive," he explains. Either way, he believes the guaranteed retail partners are more valuable than prize money. "The most powerful benefit of International Woolmark Prize can be the opportunity to establish a global retail network of the most sought after stockists literally overnight," he says.
Patmos agrees. "For stores that already buy you, it's something new they can tell their customers about," she says, adding that she is sure she landed some new stockists, although she couldn't recall which offhand. "Stores that maybe were looking at you before — maybe it validates your line."
Bruce Pask, men's fashion director at Bergdorf Goodman, confirms that retail buyers take notice of prize winners, even if their employers aren't directly involved in the awards. "I certainly think that honors earned from prestigious competitions like those of the CFDA Awards, the LVMH prize and the Andam Fashion Award bring a great amount of recognition and brand awareness, especially to designers that are just out of school or may be embarking upon their careers and building their new businesses," he wrote via email.
After winning the Woolmark U.S. regional competition, Laurence Chandler and Joshua Cooper of New York's Rochambeau competed for the international title (that ultimately went to Cottweiler), while simultaneously participating in the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund competition. Though they didn't take home top honors at CVFF either, Chandler says that the industry-wide networking both platforms provide is immensely beneficial. "These awards enable you a level of access, but it's up to you as a business and as a designer what you do with that," he says. "Before the awards, those lines of dialogue weren't there." He says he is in regular contact with Vogue staffers he met at various CVFF events.
Outside of coverage in Vogue, Chandler and Patmos acknowledge press exposure as a secondary benefit. Patmos says she still fields press inquiries based on her participation in the CFDA/Lexus Eco-Fashion Challenge in 2012 and reports her social media followers spiked by several thousand after her Woolmark win. "It was great for my Instagram," she adds.
Unlike other prizes, the CVFF consists of a series of challenges underwritten by corporate sponsors. Chandler says competing in two programs at once was grueling and time-consuming. "In March, coming out of all these things, I was like, 'Oh my God, I haven't even been answering and opening mail,'" he remembers.
In retrospect, once they recovered and, presumably, slept, Chandler and Cooper say the experience strengthened their team. "When suddenly you have Anna Wintour asking you to develop your first dress in under 72 hours, the nature of what a deadline means dramatically changes," he says. "Our team got energized and excited and learned how to work faster. Now, when I'm going into developing a few simultaneous capsule collections, as well as our new spring [line], we've never been more on schedule, more ahead of where we've ever been in the past."
It's notable that Rochambeau even has a team to begin with. The label was founded in 2007, giving them more experience than younger nominees and affording them the perspective to know which opportunities associated with these awards don't come along very often and are worth pursuing. "Season one, year one, it wouldn't have been right," Chandler says.
Christian Wijnants, the Belgian womenswear designer, makes a compelling case for shifting awards attention to established, independent brands altogether. His eponymous collection had been in business for roughly 10 years when he won the Woolmark Prize. He used the prize money to bring in an office administrator to help his already-churning day-to-day operation run more smoothly, hiring the PR mega-agency KCD to handle press around his return to Paris Fashion Week a few weeks later. He credits the prize with giving him a reason to talk to press and retailers like Barneys and Harvey Nichols again. The money was used effectively to boost his business, rather than establish it from the ground up.
"I don't think I would be where I am now without the award," he says. "The most difficult period [for a brand] is between five and 10 years, when the brand has already established a certain level, and you have to maintain, and grow and grow. When you have a couple of employees, when you already have structure, then it's really hard. Brands between eight and 10, 12 years — those brands are the ones that have the most problems, and this type of award can be really helpful."
Are young designer awards wasted on the youth? There are too many names in the winners' columns of these competitions that have gone from nascent to noteworthy to come to that conclusion. But, rather than awarding money and press solely to emerging talent alone, perhaps, as retail strategy and fashion weeks are undergoing massive overhauls, the mindset behind fashion prizes is worth re-examining, as well.
"It's really important that these types of competitions exist," Wijnant says. "It really can help out some younger brands, but also established brands. It's really something very positive."
Homepage image: Sidney Toledano, Karl Lagerfeld, Nicolas Ghesquiere, Delphine Arnault, Emma Stone, Masayuki Ino, Rok Hwang, Maria Grazia Chiuri, Jean-Paul Claverie and Jaden Smith attend the LVMH Prize 2018 event in Paris. Photo: Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images


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As of Nov. 15, 2018, the price increase will be active for all Flint Group Packaging Inks products sold in the US and Canada. The progressively challenging trading environment is forcing Flint Group to look carefully at its cost base, ensuring the sustainability of supply for all its valued customers.
The recent trade tariffs imposed by the US government are soon to rise from 10% to 25%, a cost Flint Group cannot bear alone. Additionally, the market has seen significant cost increases in raw materials and freight across the North American region, which place further pressure on Flint Group’s cost base.
“As stated in December 2017, we continue to deploy significant capital to efficiency projects in order to mitigate as many headwinds as possible; however, the combined impact of the tariffs, raw material and freight inflation has become untenable,” Doug Aldred, president Packaging Inks & Resins, said. “We will continue to drive all cost mitigation initiatives with rigor and tenacity, protecting our valued customers from further increases as much as feasibly possible.”


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Mahindra expects global business losses to shrink with Ssangyong exit
Indian automaker Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd expects losses from international subsidiaries to plunge by 90% with the disposal of Ssangyong Motor as a year-long business review nears conclusion, a company executive said.
Mahindra reported a slump in quarterly profit earlier on Friday, booking a one-time loss of 12.1 billion rupees ($166 million) related to South Korean unit Ssangyong, which filed for a pre-packaged rehabilitation bankruptcy plan in December.
"Ssangyong will now become a discontinued operation as it filed for bankruptcy," said Mahindra's deputy managing director Anish Shah, who will take over as managing director from April.
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As part of a wider review to retain only those businesses with the potential to make money, Mahindra has been in talks to sell its stake in Ssangyong. It also ended its joint venture with Ford Motor Co and cut more than half of its North American workforce.
Losses from the international subsidiaries are expected to shrink to about $41 million in the fiscal year starting April 1 from an expected loss of $411 million in the current year.
"Our capital allocation actions are almost complete ... We're now really starting to focus on how can we drive significant growth," said Shah, adding the company plans to invest in electric vehicles and strengthening its portfolio of sport-utility vehicles (SUVs) in the domestic market.
Third-quarter profit after tax on a standalone basis slumped 90% to 309.3 million rupees for the Oct-Dec period, compared with 3.07 billion rupees a year earlier, Mahindra said, even as revenues rose 15%.
However, the results in combination with those of its manufacturing unit translate to a profit after tax of 5.31 billion rupees for the third quarter, a 40% jump from the same quarter a year earlier. The combined operating profit margin for the quarter was 17% versus 14.8% a year ago.


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Friday is National Donut Day! Here’s where you can score free donuts
(WSPA) – A little treat awaits you at the end of this work week, Friday is National Donut Day!
Did you know?
National Donut Day was created by the Salvation Army in Chicago in 1938 to honor the women who served donuts to soldiers during World War I, according to Duck Donuts. The day is traditionally celebrated on the first Friday in June.
Here are a few places offering donations – or donuts, depending on the store – freebies and deals:
Duck Donuts will be giving guests a free donut, cinnamon sugar or powdered sugar on June 4th. Offer can be used in store with no purchase necessary.
“National Donut Day is one of our favorite holidays of the year to celebrate with our loyal fans, and what better way to do it than with free donuts,” said Betsy Hamm, CEO of Duck Donuts. “We look forward to sprinkling happiness and smiles on the members of the communities we serve as they enjoy a free donut, cinnamon sugar or powdered sugar on June 4th!”
Krispy Kreme announced that all customers who visit a store in the United States on June 4 can redeem a free donut of their choice, with no purchase necessary. Customers who present their vaccination record will be allowed to redeem a second donut, as part of a separate ongoing program.
Krispy Kreme announced that all customers who visit a store in the United States on June 4 can redeem a free donut of their choice. Customers who present their vaccination card will be allowed to redeem a second donut, as part of a separate ongoing promotion announced earlier this year.
“On National Donut Day, stop by and enjoy any donut you want on us. And if you are helping us overcome this pandemic by getting your COVID-19 vaccine, then THANKS and have a second donut with us, ”said Dave Skena, Krispy Kreme Marketing Director, in a press release.
Dunkin ‘will be giving away a free classic donut of their choice with the purchase of any drink, while supplies last, the company said. Favorite classic donuts include Boston Kreme, Glazed, Glazed Chocolate, Jelly Filled, and more.
The delivery-free pizza company is running a Twitter contest in which ten people can win half a dozen boxes of Digiornuts – that’s right, a DiGiorno / donut mashup.
Fans can win by tweeting the hashtag #sweepstakes in response to Digiorno’s Donut Day Twitter Publish.


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The Academy of General Dentistry revealed that drinking large quantities of carbonated soda could be as damaging to your teeth as methamphetamine and crack cocaine use in their recent press release. According to a case study published in General Dentistry (the clinical journal of the AGD), the consumption of illegal drugs and abusive intake of soda can cause similar damage to your mouth through the process of tooth erosion.
Tooth erosion occurs when acid wears away tooth enamel, which is the glossy, protective outside layer of the tooth. Without, the protection of enamel, teeth are more susceptible to developing cavities, as well as becoming sensitive, cracked, and discolored.
The case study compared the damage in an admitted user of methamphetamine, a previous longtime user of cocaine, and an excessive diet soda drinker. Researchers found the same type and severity of damage from tooth erosion from each participant. It was noted that each individual admitted to having poor oral hygiene and not visiting a dentist on a regular basis.
Lead author of the study, Mohamed Bassiouny, DMD, MSc, PhD, comments, "Each person experienced severe tooth erosion caused by the high acid levels present in their 'drug' of choice - meth, crack, or soda." The soda drinker consumed 2 liters of diet soda for three to five years. Academy of General Dentistry recommends patients minimize their intake of soda and drink more water. "The striking similarities found in this study should be a wake-up call to consumers who think that soda, even diet soda, is not harmful to their oral health."


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Collis Roofing finds, tracks customers with Google+
Jessica Rayna knows how big a deal Google+ will be for businesses in the future.
Rayna, marketing director for Longwood-based Collis Roofing Inc., said though it’s a new social media platform and many local businesses still are learning about it, she’s able to track exactly how it’s helping her business.
For example, because Google intertwines its map, reviews and other services to Collis Roofing’s Google+ page, she is alerted when customers write a review or when they search online for roofers in the area.
In fact, the firm has a score of 26 out of 30 based on Google and Zagat reviews. And in one week, those reviews helped draw about five new customers.
“There’s not many in our Google+ circle, but I think that’s just because a lot haven’t adapted to circles yet,” said Rayna. “But you can read about us, see pictures, videos, maps and reviews. And I can look at the analytics of everything, like the times I post, how people are responding virally or socially, and see who’s talking about it.”
Though Rayna also uses Facebook and Twitter — currently the more popular platforms for businesses — she said Google+ serves her needs with online tools and training.
“Google+ is awkward, but be willing to look at it,” she said. “There’s no reason to pay a third-party company for analytics. Always go to the source because these tools are free right now.”
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Carton solutions provider Pace Printers earlier this year made a big investment when it bought its first brand new Bobst folder-gluer, the Expertfold 80 with 4 and 6 corners. This is Pace’s second Bobst product. The first was a second-hand Bobst punching machine it bought few years ago. The company is managed by two partners Harshad Chitale and Sandeep Chitale. Although Pace’s major business comes from the carton segment with 80% share, the company operates in the commercial printing segment as well which contributes the remaining 20%. The Navi Mumbai-based company operates from a factory spread over
a built-up area of over 15,000 square foot. The Navi Mumbai plant has two 5-color KBA presses taking care of the printing duties.
“Although it required a huge investment, our confidence in the Bobst brand was such that we felt it would be worthwhile. Before we got the Expertfold, we were employing two Indian made machines. The improvement in operations post Bobst installation is huge. It has lived up to our expectation,” says Harshad Chitale.
The biggest advantage the Expertfold offers is versatility. For Pace, the machine’s versatility comes in very handy as it has many customers from the FMCG sector who demand a variety of solutions. “The Expertfold does complex and complicated cartons with ease. The changeover is very easy. Its speed and accuracy are excellent. Once the setting is done we really do not have to bother,” says Sandeep Chitale.
The company has also managed to reduce its wastage by employing the Expertfold. Although wastage reduction varies depending on the job, on an average the reduction has been about 2-3%. “That is a significant number given the competitive environment we operate in,” he adds.
Both Harshad Chitale and Sandeep Chitale visited drupa this year and had some interesting takeaways from the event. Digital technology was the definite buzzword this year and according to Sandeep Chitale it is a technology which is gaining wider acceptance. “Digital technology is something we cannot ignore anymore. It is definitely a threat to commercial and variable printing segments. Maybe in a few years the label industry could see a threat as well. In the case of packaging, however, digital technology has still a long way to go in order to catch up,” he said.
Harshad Chitale says in the packaging industry, digital has to compete in terms of cost and then from the point of view of run lengths. Digital is still striving for a place in the 2,000-3,000 sheet market while packaging has volumes in excess of 10,000 sheets, he argues. Another observation made by Sandeep Chitale during the drupa visit, in the context of the Indian packaging and printing industry, was that converters and printers are now shedding the mentality of buying secondhand machines. “People are reluctant to buy second-hand machines there. They are more inclined towards brand new products as there are a variety of benefits such as after-sales, guarantee and productivity,” says Sandeep Chitale.


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Micromax seems to be in a launching spree. After announcing four new handsets recently that includes the A84, A90, A100 and A57, the Indian mobile phone manufacturer has now unveiled a new Android smartphone. Called as the Ninja 4.0 A87, the phone comes with a 4 inch screen.
Micromax Ninja 4.0 A87 is based on Android 2.3.5 operating system and runs on a 1 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon processor. However, the best part of this phone is its price which at around Rs 6,000 is unmatched by any other player.
However, users also have to say sacrifice some features like proximity sensor, which switches off the screen when placed near the ear while making a call.
Micromax Ninja 4 also has just a 2 megapixel camera but there is no front facing camera. The phone is a single SIM one and that is a bigger surprise given that Micromax has always been associated with Dual SIM. However, other features like 3G, WiFi, Gravity Sensor, and GPS is all there, making this product a great value for money.
The phone also gets a 1400 mAH battery with claimed talk-time of 5 hours. Ninja 4.0 A87 will be available in White, Black and Silver colour and is likely to hit the market today with Saholic.com being one of the seller.


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The Difference Between Cannabis CBD and THC
Cannabis CBD and THC have similar chemical structures and are both produced by the body. THC binds to specific receptors and causes a high sensation, while CBD does not. Experts are still not sure how these two compounds interact. They may increase the effects of other cannabinoids, or bind to receptors that aren’t known yet.
CBD, a component of cannabis, may have medicinal benefits for humans. It is not psychoactive and can help reduce inflammation, pain, and other symptoms in many different ailments. In June 2018, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved a purified form of CBD oil known as Epidiolex for the treatment of epilepsy. This news has been welcomed by the cannabinoid community, who have long recognized the medicinal benefits of CBD. However, the use of cannabis as a drug has been plagued by regulatory restrictions and skepticism.
Although more human studies are necessary to confirm these claims, some animal studies have shown that CBD can significantly reduce pain and inflammation. In addition, it can inhibit the release of certain molecules that trigger inflammation. In addition, it has shown promise as a replacement for opioids, which have a high risk of addiction and accidental overdose. In addition, studies conducted on mice show that CBD reduces the risk of skin disease and scarring by inhibiting the release of certain chemicals.
In addition, CBD may affect the liver and may interact with other prescription medications. As such, it is important to follow all relevant guidelines when using CBD for medical purposes. For instance, patients taking certain types of prescription medications, such as valproic acid, should not take Epidiolex if they have an elevated risk of liver damage.
Despite being relatively new, research involving the use of cannabis CBD for antinausea is promising. The compound was found to be more effective than placebo in preventing CINV in rats. In addition, it prevented a surge of serotonin in the interoceptive insular cortex, the part of the brain that triggers nausea in humans. This discovery has potential implications for the treatment of cancer and chemotherapy. Meanwhile, other researchers have hypothesized that CBD could help people suffering from substance use disorder.
Despite the potential benefits, the side effects of cannabis CBD can have a significant impact on a child’s health. One study, for example, found that in children with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome, CBD therapy reduced seizures and induced sleepiness. Other results suggest that CBD may cause fatigue and lethargy in children.
Although CBD is generally considered a safe substance, it is important to consult with your doctor if you experience any side effects. CBD should only be used in the amount recommended by a manufacturer. Excessive consumption can result in serious side effects. The correct dosage varies based on the product’s strength, concentration, and other ingredients. However, early studies have shown that most people tolerate CBD well. Common side effects include drowsiness, decreased appetite, dry mouth, and gastrointestinal disturbances. In addition, CBD can interact with other medications.
The legality of cannabis CBD and marijuana varies from state to state. Although the Federal Bureau of Narcotics Control and the National Conference of State Legislatures have both approved medicinal marijuana, CBD products are still illegal in many states. Fortunately, most CBD companies in the United States operate from states that allow the use of hemp-derived products. You can check the state law database to find out if cannabis-derived products are legal in your state.
There are a few factors that determine whether cannabis CBD products are legal or not. Currently, it is illegal to sell hemp-derived CBD products that contain more than 0.3 percent THC. Regardless of whether the product is legal or not, the government is attempting to protect consumers by enforcing these laws. In addition, businesses that do not abide by the law may face criminal charges.
Although Colorado and Missouri have passed laws allowing the use of CBD in food and alcohol, most other states have banned cannabis-derived products. Additionally, New York City, Georgia and California have passed laws prohibiting the sale of CBD-infused food products. In New York City, health inspectors have confiscated CBD-infused cookies, and officials have arrested people who have tried to sell products containing CBD.


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For boxing fans Anthony Joshua takes taking on Wladimir Klitschko is a must-see.
But some might be put off by pay-to-view price on Sky Box Office . Fortunately there's a way around it.
Sky are charging £19.95 to watch the fight, hyped by some as the biggest heavyweight showdown in British boxing history.
But there is a way to watch the fight at a lower cost, reports the mirror .
TalkTalk customers will be able to watch the fight from the comfort of their own home, via Sky Sports Box Office, as Joshua put his unbeaten record to the test against the former world champion.
From 6pm, TalkTalk TV customers can watch every punch, jab and knockout blow in what promises to be an eventful night of boxing on channel 416.
Fans can also relive all the drama with repeats at 9am and 4pm the next day, while TalkTalk’s Plus TV customers can record the fight and re-watch the former sparring partners battle it out until 11pm on April 30.


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Nintendo shocked the world today by unveiling its next iteration of the 3DS line: the 2DS. That’s right, Nintendo is launching a new model of its flagship product on October 12th without any 3D support. Even more bizarre, it isn’t even in the traditional clamshell design of other DS-branded devices.
Researchers at the University of California, Santa Cruz (UCSC) have developed a “3D+2D TV” that allows people with 3D glasses to see a 3D image while, at the same time, people without glasses can see a normal 2D image without ghosting. With 3D TV continuing its downward slide into obsolescent obscurity, and production companies and broadcasters scaling back on 3D content, is this the breakthrough that 3D TV needs?


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Fleet Mortgages’ products are mainly tailored towards experienced landlords and property investors.
Bob Young, chief executive officer of Fleet Mortgages, said: “Our intention has always been to open up our distribution throughout the year and we are extremely pleased to announce that DA members of L&G’s Mortgage Club now have access to our product range.
“It has been incredibly important for us to ensure we do this in a controlled manner as our service levels and standards need to be kept high as we make further moves towards engaging with the whole of the broker market.
“The relationship with L&G has worked incredibly well and therefore we felt it was the right time to make this next step. Our recently announced pricing changes and new products have certainly gone down well with our existing distributors and we are looking forward to working with those DA firms who will be able to access us for the first time.”
Jeremy Duncombe, director at Legal &General Mortgage Club, added: “We are delighted to open up access to Fleet Mortgages for our entire Mortgage Club distribution, following a successful launch with our tied distribution in January.
“Fleet Mortgages has been very well received so far, and its products have proved popular, so we’re excited to be able to allow all DA firms to have access and take advantage of the strength of Legal & General Mortgage Club’s lender relationships.”
Legal & General Mortgage Club is one of seven firms currently on Fleet Mortgages’ distributor panel. Distribution will be opened up to the whole of the broker market during the course of the first half of 2015.
Last month, following distributor feedback, Fleet Mortgages announced the launch of new lifetime tracker products and a number of price cuts across its range, particularly for limited company and houses in multiple occupation (HMO).


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It’s a wonder to think it took this long for New York to legalize marijuana. The state is home to one of the biggest economies in America, which would help pour billions and billions into the marijuana industry. The state did finally make the big move recently, and one of the most iconic legends from the city that never sleeps showed how proud he was.
Jay-Z released a statement to address the legalization of marijuana in his state. “The news of cannabis legalization in New York is incredibly exciting. It represents a long-overdue opportunity for New Yorkers, for the cannabis industry, and for social equity and social justice,” stated Jay. “I’ve seen first- hand the harm inflicted for generations against Black and minority communities by the war on drugs right here in New York. Today, I’m proud to see my home state join The Parent Company in paving the way for a thriving and equitable cannabis market.”
New Yorkers over 21 can now possess and use up to 3 ounces of pot. Of course, smoking pot is banned anywhere that smoking a cigarette is. It is also banned on beaches, boardwalks, pedestrian plazas, parks, playgrounds, and of course you can’t smoke it in your car.
Jay’s cannabis brand MONOGRAM has been pushing for cannabis reform, and it looks like paid off. Salute!


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A bag of carrots, a gallon of milk and a pound of chicken go a long way at Hillcrest Elementary School.
The groceries helped transform 10 classroom chalk boards at the school on Frederick Road into new, multi-use whiteboards.
At Catonsville High School, a similar bag of groceries helped pay for two new video projectors and retractable screens.
And at Relay Elementary School, groceries helped remodel the school library for the first time in 35 years.
These groceries — and the projects that resulted from them — are all part of shopping rewards programs, where customers can earn money for area schools by shopping at specific retailers.
Supporters say the programs provide a simple and easy benefit for schools, giving administrators extra money for equipment and activities ranging from computers and other equipment to low-tech yoga training and field trips.
"It's free money," said Amy Breznak, president of the Westchester Elementary School PTA in Catonsville. "They're already shopping there. It's just a benefit for us, and it's so helpful."
"We don't have to fund raise for it," said Krista Wallman, president of the Arbutus Elementary School PTA. "You spend money. You make money."
Still, many say motivating parents to participate can be a challenge. Parents often forget to register their cards or designate a specific school.
"We try to keep reminding them," said Emilie Underwood, a parent at Hillcrest Elementary School who coordinates the school's rewards programs.
How the programs work
Many area stores offer shopping rewards programs for education. Giant grocery stores offer A+ School Rewards, where shoppers designate recipient schools and then accrue points for the schools as they buy items with their Giant cards. Giant awards schools money based on the number of points. This year, the supermarket chain expects to donate $2 million to area schools.
At Safeway, shoppers can use their Safeway Club Cards to participate in eScrip, a fundraising program where families sign up and support specific schools. Similar to the Giant program, Safeway awards schools money based on the number of points. Schools can earn up to $25,000 annually, but the store asks schools to use 20 percent or more of the $20 million it donates to go toward fitness and nutrition programs.
Target's Take Charge of Education program allows Target RED Card holders to designate recipient schools. The store then donates up to 1 percent of card purchases.
Other programs by national food manufacturers, such as General Mills' Box Tops for Education and Campbell's Labels for Education, involve clipping coupons or product codes directly off of products.
Most schools remind parents of the shopping rewards programs in newsletters and on PTA Facebook pages.
Others have tried more direct approaches. At Catonsville Middle School, administrators offer $5 off gym uniforms if parents bring a completed enrollment form for an area rewards program, said Laurie Burinsky, a Catonsville Middle School parent who coordinates rewards programs for the school.
The efforts seemed to be working. Last year, the school received more than $6,400 from Giant, about $600 from Safeway and about $500 from Target.
"Anyone can designate their cards for a school," Burinsky said.
Schools that tend to raise the most money are ones who get the message out as much as possible, said Jamie Miller, a Giant spokesman. Last year's top earning school, Mater Dei School in Bethesda, received almost $20,000.
"Communication around it is key," Miller said.
Yet some parents still do not participate. For many programs, parents need to re-register their cards and school choices each year, Underwood said.
Parents also need to know their store card numbers to enroll, she said.
"So few people have that anymore," she said. "Most just enter their phone number for the discount and don't have their cards handy."
Store hotlines can usually provide card numbers if parents need them, she said.
Others are concerned participating in the program will take away from their regular shopping rewards, like food and gas discounts.
Not true, said Sara Toscano, PTA president at Relay Elementary School, which received $1,600 from Giant and $469 from Target last year.
"It all adds up in the end," Toscano said. "It's just a matter of taking five minutes to sign up their card."
Lansdowne Elementary School Principal Jane Lichter, said the school administration hasn't pushed the rewards programs.
The school participates in Box Tops collections and received some money from Safeway last year after a parent submitted the school's name.
But it doesn't have much involvement with the Giant program, she said.
According to Giant, the school received $93 last year through the store's rewards program.
"The potential is there," Lichter said. "We just have to collect on that."


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Become 'Facebook Fit' at newly announced bootcamps for SMBs
Small businesses are being targeting by Facebook in an upcoming series of bootcamps designed to provide advice and tips on how to maximize marketing on the social network.
This week, Facebook announced five 'Facebook Fit' events, or bootcamps, aimed at small businesses. The events will tie in nicely with National Small Business Week commencing 12 May.
"We hear from businesses all the time that Facebook is the place for them to reach their customers, but that they also want to learn about best practices in other key areas. That's why we created Facebook Fit," says Facebook.
For the small sum of $25, businesses will receive tips on business aspects such as finance management, legal services and payment solutions, among other topics. Small business leaders from firms such as Square, Intuit QuickBooks and LegalZoom will also be on hand to dispense valuable advice and local policymakers will be attending certain events. Attendees will receive $50 in Facebook Ad credits.
Facebook Fit will also feature small business experts as speakers including Rhonda Abrams, Dan Levy of Facebook's Global Small Business team and Mario Armstrong.
The Facebook Fit bootcamps will be held in New York City on June 3 followed by Miami on June 19, Chicago on July 10, Austin on July 24 and finally in Menlo Park on August 5. Interested parties can sign up here.
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NASCAR Race Car Features Taylor Swift
October 22, 2012 at 10:39 AM (PT)
NASCAR fans got a glimpse of BIG MACHINE RECORDS artist TAYLOR SWIFT at the HOLLYWOOD CASINO 400 in KANSAS on SUNDAY (10/21).
Driver JUAN PABLO MONTOYA’s #42 TARGET racecar was made over to commemorate SWIFT’s new album “Red” which was released TODAY (10/22). TARGET is selling an exclusive version of the album that includes three additional bonus tracks and remixes.
MONTOYA’s car featured TAYLOR SWIFT’s “Red” album cover on the hood. He went on to finish 16th in SUNDAY’s race, winning over $126,000.
To learn more, visit www.TaylorSwift.com.