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|By Business Wire||
|December 14, 2012 08:32 AM EST||
Big data is no longer the exclusive domain of big business.
A new 10-year forecast commissioned by Intuit Inc. (Nasdaq: INTU) envisions a “new data democracy” where small business owners and consumers make smarter, more informed decisions by gaining access to a wealth of new information. “The New Data Democracy: How Big Data Will Revolutionize the Lives of Small Business and Consumers,” was prepared by Emergent Research and is the latest in Intuit’s 2020 research series.
“Big data has long been seen as a big opportunity for big business,” said Brad Smith, Intuit president and chief executive officer. “We actually think that the biggest opportunity is giving consumers and small businesses the power of data. We look forward to a new era where big data benefits the little guy.”
Three Findings on the Future of Data
The new report reveals three important trends for consumers and small businesses as big data continues to grow and proliferate:
- The New Data Democracy – Data will become a new vital raw material for consumers and small businesses. As access to and the ability to refine this massive volume of information into powerful analytical tools grows, data will become a new type of resource, on par with capital and labor.
- Data Empowers Consumers – Data will help people navigate the maze of modern life. With people connected through the global grid and mobile devices, data will shape decisions both large and small, inform purchasing decisions and create communities and relationships.
- Data Drives Main Street Digital – Big data will move from Wall Street to Main Street. Armed with insights and capabilities once only available to corporate giants, small businesses will create new ways to operate more efficiently, finding new customers, improving their bottom-line results and driving economic growth.
“This research details how consumers and small businesses will benefit from the growth of big data,” said Steve King, partner at Emergent Research, a research and consulting firm focused on the small business sector of the global economy. “We are at the onset of a data revolution that will provide new and meaningful ways for data-empowered consumers and small businesses to connect and engage with their communities, make decisions and simplify their lives.”
Intuit’s Focus – Giving Customers the Power of Data
Intuit is entrusted with the collective data of 60 million customers – a unique pool of data that covers the financial spectrum – ranging from individual purchase history to business inventories. Of the company’s 60 million end users, 45 million use connected services – cloud, mobile and digital services – creating a valuable source of data and insights.
Intuit’s unique focus on delivering “Big Data for the Little Guy” empowers individuals and small businesses by allowing them to benefit from the power of their own data as well as the collective wisdom of millions of fellow Intuit customers. This means that small businesses now have access to insights that were once only available to big, multi-million dollar companies, and enables consumers to put their own data back to work for them.
“Data is the catalyst that is powering new innovative products that will improve the lives of our customers and help us grow our business,” said Smith.
The New Data Democracy in Action
Connected through the global grid and mobile devices, the data revolution will shape how individuals make decisions, change the rules of commerce and level the playing field for small businesses and consumers. Intuit is already bringing powerful data-driven insights to its customers. Examples include:
- QuickBooks Online's Trends feature, which anonymously aggregates customer data, allows small businesses to see how their income and expenses stack up against similar businesses. For example, a roofer in Philadelphia grossing $250,000 a year can compare results with other roofers in the area or across the country.
- Demandforce, which provides the leading consumer demand creation solution for small businesses that empowers them to tap into their own data to grow revenue, keep clients coming back, and manage operations more effectively. Demandforce has delivered more than $1 billion in incremental revenue for its 35,000 small business customers.
- Intuit Loan Finder, a new service that helps small businesses obtain capital faster and at lower rates from lenders. The service also helps lenders make more informed risk decisions, increasing the potential for small businesses to obtain a loan quickly.
- Mint, which customers rely on to interpret their unique data to help them save money on everything from lower credit card fees to better mortgage rates. Through its Ways to Save engine, Mint has identified more than $2.4 billion in savings for its 10 million users.
- Mobile Purchase Rewards, which allows consumers to receive customized discounts based on personal buying habits, which they can redeem with the swipe of a debit card, no coupons required. The savings are then automatically deposited back in their checking account at the end of each month.
Looking ahead, Intuit is exploring new and meaningful ways to create connections between its 60 million customers. For example, in the past year, more than 1.2 million Mint users did business with nearly 70,000 QuickBooks Online customers, resulting in 3.3 million transactions. By empowering these connections, Intuit can provide data that delivers new and meaningful insights to help customers thrive.
“All of Intuit's data-driven innovations are built on a strong foundation of privacy, security and customer choice,” said Barb Lawler, Intuit’s chief privacy officer. “We have a 30-year legacy of handling financial data with the utmost responsibility and care. We will continually work to safeguard our customers as we develop innovative new data-driven benefits for them.”
- Report: The New Data Democracy and Perspective from CEO Brad Smith
- Intuit CEO Brad Smith Presentation on Big Data for the Little Guy
- Omnibus Survey of Small Business Attitudes on Big Data
- Video: Big Data for the Little Guy
- Emergent Research
About Intuit Inc.
Intuit Inc. is a leading provider of business and financial management solutions for small and mid-sized businesses; financial institutions, including banks and credit unions; consumers and accounting professionals. Its flagship products and services, including QuickBooks®, Quicken® and TurboTax®, simplify small business management and payroll processing, personal finance, and tax preparation and filing. ProSeries® and Lacerte® are Intuit's leading tax preparation offerings for professional accountants. Intuit Financial Services helps banks and credit unions grow by offering innovative online and mobile banking solutions that make it easier for consumers and businesses to manage their money.
Founded in 1983, Intuit had annual revenue of $4.15 billion in its fiscal year 2012. The company has approximately 8,500 employees with major offices in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, India and other locations. More information can be found at www.intuit.com.
Intuit and the Intuit logo, are registered trademarks and/or registered service marks of Intuit Inc. in the United States and other countries.
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STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- The Brass Tap -- a 3,300 square foot beer bar with an outdoor patio that opened last month at the Whitehall Ferry Terminal -- is already becoming a popular hot spot for Staten Island commuters.
The new Brass Tap franchise operation -- brought to Manhattan by the Himanis, a family of restaurateurs -- has been open from noon to midnight since opening on Dec. 22.
"Business is going great. We just opened so it's picking up day by day. We had a real big rush on New Years," said Sal Himani, owner of the Whitehall Ferry Terminal New York Brass Tap, noting the bar features a live DJ on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights.
"We are getting a lot of locals. A lot of people who use the ferry are stopping in," he added.
The Brass Tap is famous for the "Brew Crew" which is a loyalty program.
"We're getting a tremendous response from the local crowd," said Himani of the loyalty program.
"We're going to start working with some beer tasting clubs in the Staten Island area. ... We have 58 beers on draft," he added.
The bar also serves food.
"We are doing a limited menu now, but we are launching the full menu next week. It's a great menu with high quality items that pair well with the beers," said Himani.
The Himani clan owns 40 restaurants in the New York and New Jersey area, including River Dock Cafe and ZZ's Pizza & Grill.
Founded by Jeff Martin in 2008, The Brass Tap was launched in Tampa, Fla. as an upscale craft beer and wine bar. With 30 open bars and 50 upcoming openings, The Brass Tap is positioned to quadruple in size in the Southeast and beyond.
FOLLOW Tracey Porpora on

domain: news


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RwandAir has begun to operate weekly commercial flights officially to the Chinese city of Guangzhou.
Because of this, there is an expectation that the new flight destination will significantly spur trade and tourism. Apart from that, it will also encourage both Chinese and Rwandan investors to make business trips.
A Rwandan businessman, Benjamin Gasamagera, who trades in goods from China, said that the connecting flights between two cities will make it easier for people to travel and do the business.
“This is exciting for us because some of the biggest problems we have been facing recently are delays and cancellation of flights. There was no predictability of our travels and this was hurting business,” he said.
“With RwandAir, it will be easier to be certain about when to travel and when to reach to the final destination. Even if there are delays and cancellation, it is easier to find out than using a foreign airline,” he added.
As per the former Chairman of the Private Sector Federation (PSF), it sometimes took over 20 hours to travel from Kigali to Guangzhou.
The reason behind this is one has to make many stopovers. Like with Kenya Airways, one has to travel through Nairobi and Hong Kong before they could reach the final destination.
According to officials, the route of Kigali-Guangzhou will be served three times, and this will become the airline’s third Asian route after Dubai and Mumbai.
Not only this, this would be the carrier’s longest flight, a whopping 16 hours.
China has been acting as the producer of the world for more than two decades. It has built production systems that have allowed the country to be competitive globally.
But as the cost of labor increases, Chinese investors are also shifting their businesses to other regions, comprises in Africa. Ethiopia is one of the countries that are already taking advantage of that.
“Why can’t Rwanda, too, take advantage of that to attract more Chinese investors to set up base in Rwanda. And that starts with having good connectivity like reliable flights,” Gasamagera said.
Apart from that he added that he was looking forward to see RwandAir introducing cargo services as most “business people don’t travel alone but with their goods.”
Rwanda is importing goods from China, raw materials for agriculture and other industries, and building and construction equipment, among others.
The Director of the Political section at the Chinese Embassy in Rwanda, Zhang Wenping, said that the RwandAir flights has made the things easier for Chinese and Rwandan businesses and tourists to travel either direction. This will boost the economic activity between the two countries.
“I think this will be a catalyst for stronger tourism relations between China and Rwanda,” she noted. “We have noted that more and more Chinese are coming to Rwanda and can only expect more to come in the future especially now the new route makes travel easier.”
Apart from that, they are planning in the pipeline to fly to the United States.


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Despite the euro zone debt crisis, European markets might be a bright spot in the coming year, according to Richard Bernstein, chief investment strategist at Richard Bernstein Advisors.
“Corporate Europe is reasonably healthy,” said Bernstein during an interview on CNBC.
“In fact, if you look at the percent of positive revenue surprises and positive earnings surprises, you’re getting more of them in Europe than any other region around the world.”
“There is something positive happing on the corporate front in Europe, even though perhaps the sovereign side is still kind of a mess,” he said.
“If you’re looking for where there could be a surprise next year, the European markets are probably a place you may want to look.”
As for the US, Bernstein said that the economy is moving out of a recession, adding that things have been getting better slowly and the market has been responding “accordingly.”
“This has been more normal of a recovery than most people think,” Bernstein said.
CNBC Data Pages:
CNBC's Companies in the News:
- Pepsi to Buy Russian Juice Maker for $5.4 Billion
- Toll Brothers Swings to Profit on Tax Benefit


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Harry Potter e-books are now available in French, German, Italian and Spanish, per the Pottermore website (Français? Italiano? Deutsch? Español?):
The Harry Potter eBooks are now available in French, Italian, German and Spanish from the Pottermore Shop. For the first time ever, you can download the Harry Potter eBooks in these languages, wherever you are in the world, and read them on any device.
Read the announcement at Pottermore.


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According to Frank Brown, a long-time cat breeder, some cat owners feel the need for an alternative source of petfood in the wake of recent recalls on petfood.
"This latest safety scare, involving Salmonella poisoning, has inspired cat lovers â€¦ to seek a safe alternative," said Brown in an article released by PRWeb .
Brown has developed a Web site called www.CatFoodRecipiesOnline.com , which contains hundreds of homemade recipes cat owners can make as alternative petfood.
By Lindsay Beaton
As work continues on creating a new nutrition label that focuses on simplifying information for consumers, challenges remain.
By Tang Yu


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Nearly everyone is familiar with Loot Crate, a company that very well may be responsible for striking up the popularity of monthly subscription boxes. Essentially, these subscription boxes are themed and catered around fans.
Each month, the subscriber will receive a box filled with goodies and swag that is centered around the theme such as a Funko Pop!, clothing, toys, bobble heads, replicas, and more.
Over the years, Loot Crate has spawned out a number of divisions with themed subscription boxes and today we’re learning that the company has a new Fallout themed subscription box. According to a press release that was sent over, it will contain collectible items that will be valued at $65+ in each subscription box.
A total of four to six exclusive licensed items which may include apparel and gear will be included in the subscription box along with an exclusive figure line which will be based on the companions from each game. The first figure line is stated to be Fawkes from Fallout 3.
As mentioned, this is a bi-monthly subscription service offered from Loot Crate, though it has been stated that for those who pre-order a full year of the Fallout Loot Crate will receive an exclusive bonus item, the mini-nuke USB hub.
This particular Loot Crate will start shipping every other month in December 2017 though you can pre-order your Fallout Loot Crate right now through the official Loot Crate website.
For now, take a look at the official Fallout Loot Crate reveal trailer posted above.


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by Dr. Sunni Patel, medeuronet clinical scientist
There is no denying that crowdfunding is a ‘buzz-word’ with increasing popularity in the investment world. It offers individuals with sufficient capital the chance to diversify their portfolio across companies; a luxury previously reserved for high-net worth individuals.
Following the 2008 global recession, the medtech industry has been slow to recover, coupled with ongoing sluggish economic growth in certain EU countries, the competition for securing VC and angel-investor funding has never been more fierce.
With financial constraints and discerning funders, the climate has created opportunities for crowdfunding to offer funding pots not previously available in the medical innovation arena.
Crowdfunding has now evolved as a viable opportunity, moving beyond a passing phase of funding artists to what is now a multi-billion dollar industry. It has even been suggested in several financial circles that crowdfunding could transform the way new and growing companies access finance worldwide.
Crowdfunding has gained enough traction to transform the way we approach and view new-business finance. Whether it is through a peer-to-peer lending model, a rewards-based model or an equity finance model, the general public – a cooperative as it were, are fast becoming the port of call in answer to a lack of appetite for risk among traditional finance institutions and VCs.
Quite simply, many inventors and entrepreneurs struggle to secure funding through traditional means, as their ideas just don’t match up with what a VC is looking to fund. Many VC portfolios are diversified to realize higher returns with higher probability and risk projects than many of these small devices can offer. This usually drives VCs to focus on projects and devices that require a greater need for cash with a stronger likelihood for a quicker and profitable exit.
Crowdfunding may appear to be novel but is not actually a foreign concept to healthcare companies. Since its approval in April 2012, the JOBS (Jumpstart Our Business Startups) Act was the first step toward letting the general public receive company equity in exchange for funding, though it won’t be allowed for non-accredited investors until the SEC publishes the final rules. Crowdfunding now provides the chance to aggregate public funds to provide a vehicle for medtech development.
What is unique about this aspect of funding is that it now provides an opportunity to leverage and secure funds for medical device inventors. This is key when it comes to ideas that do not fit within portfolios of larger companies.
As a relatively new concept though, there are very few crowdfunding sources solely focused on healthcare, although this is changing. Thanks to the successful rise of crowdfunding, innovative medtech inventors and entrepreneurs are now able to approach various healthcare and medtech sites such as MedFundr, MedStartr, HealthFundr, and B-a-MedFounder.
Whether this funding alternative can prove to be a success in the industry will depend on whether it can deal with dilution and can produce successful exits.
To understand crowdfunding better, Jared Iverson, one of the co-founders of Healthfundr discusses how crowdfunding is providing a valuable financing tool for medtech innovation.
About Jared and Healthfundr
Jared started his early career in clinical research with a start-up pharmaceutical company looking at trans-dermal drug delivery. Following that he worked with a CRO and pursued a degree and career as a securities attorney.
Jared notes that “it was actually during my time as an attorney that I recognized a large opportunity arising for early start-ups in the healthcare space to acquire capital in a more efficient way”.
The legal climate has fast been changing over the last several years and consequently paved the way for people to become easily aware and invest in start-ups. The market is now becoming readily accessible and Jared saw an acute need for health start-ups to find a medium to help them venture past the “valley of death” trying to secure second round funding following seed funding.
His personal passion for the health space and where he believes there is a greater impact of innovation have been driving factors behind the creation and development of Healthfundr.
The company has essentially been developed as a platform to connect investors with high quality, promising start-ups. “What makes us unique is that we only help companies raise capital that have existing fundraising traction with good lead investors”.
Although it is a misconception that crowdfunding sites offer capital to anyone, Healthfundr shows that this type of financing is sophisticated. It isn’t a place for second-tier companies to get “dumb” money from uninformed investors. Jared illustrates that they aim to highlight and showcase “cream of the crop” health startups that world-wide investors can get access to.
Recent changes in the economic and legal landscape have brought and raised a lot of attention to this type of funding, but crowdfunding as known, is not a new concept.
Interestingly, Jared feels that worldwide cultural shifts have created and driven an increased demand for crowdfinancing. It appears to him to be much bigger driving forces than economic alone. With the evolution of online marketplaces becoming commonplace (Airbnb, Uber, Amazon, and e-Trade to name a few), there is a huge cultural trend toward transacting online. Jared highlights an important one currently in the US for instance, on the strong Main Street vs. Wall Street argument that is suggesting that investing is not just for the ultra-wealthy and –connected.
What has been the initial response of the medtech industry to crowdfunding?
It is important to note that the term crowdfunding can be considered very polarising, as it suggests an inferior alternative as opposed to a supplement to VC funding. Instead crowdfunding should be viewed as leveraging technology and internet scale to make allocating private capital funds more efficient. Essentially it is not an either/or proposition.
medeuronet has garnered that Healthfundr allows entrepreneurs, that have already acquired smart, sophisticated funding from angel investor networks, to use the site to supplement their existing funds and use it as a ‘signal amplifier’ to reach a greater audience.
It appears that entrepreneurs love this concept. Jared feels this is because of the ‘empathetic’ nature to this field; all entrepreneurs can relate to and also acutely feel the pain behind the time and energy taken to raise capital, as it is such a difficult and varied process. It seems that crowdfunding can eliminate some, but not all, of that frustration, making it generally very well received.
The trend is such that inventors are becoming very good at discerning the value that crowdfunding sites can bring. Jared points out an important trend, that money is now more accessible compared to a time when traditional VCs were the only major sources and thus dictated terms. Therefore, crowdfunding now allows inventors to assess the value (mentorship or marketplace value for example) that the capital brings.
Healthfundr offers what it suggests to be the best angel networks, great VCs and serial investors from the health focused market place. This allows them to offer the most valuable last 25% of funds raised; by essentially aggregating the top minds in health innovation, entrepreneurs can connect with a strong network of strategic partners, employees and consultants.
Jared talks of a recent example where they recently worked with a company that designed a diagnostic at-home device for sperm analysis. With the huge market and interest in fertility management, the company had incredible lead investors (Life Science Angels) but needed to acquire the last 20% of funding. “Using our marketplace of experts and our strong investor network, the company was able to acquire the final portion of its round”.
Crowdfunding works by investing into a single purpose entity (usually a LLC) which acts as the sole new shareholder on the entrepreneurs table. In the case of Healthfundr, they aggregate the funds and manage it by getting a carried interest. “Essentially, we are not a broker dealer so as to take a percentage of the capital raised. Instead we get 15% from the dollar gain following a successful exit” notes Jared describing how his platform operates.
Without fear of stating the obvious, the device; Jared explains has to “illustrate a good concept that addresses a need and can appear to be viable in an ever-changing healthcare space”.
From how the process is described, crowdfunding is a virtual boardroom as it were, becoming a marketing exercise in itself. There has to be curb appeal for small online investors to make them reach into their funds. Jared notes a growing interest within the consumer marketplace on digital health companies that have resonance with one’s personal life and impact.
The product pipeline can be key too, whether there is clinical data and ready for 510K approval or if it is prototype stage will determine its success. Other factors that many crowdfunding sites may consider are the strength of the team and company, if they have relevant domain experience and whether they have had previous start-up and exit experience.
“Some key advice I give to entrepreneurs is that you should take the time and effort to find reputable lead investors that have negotiated their terms.” Jared feels this is important so that online investors can look to the initial investors and be reassured that due diligence was carried out. Also, as online equity investing is so new the model relies good offline validation that should be carried out beforehand.
Advice for inventors or entrepreneurs considering crowdfunding
Other than some things discussed above, it is vital to be thoughtful, well prepared and make sure your proposals look good aesthetically with decent pitch deck and videos. It involves good story telling; be prepared to sell your vision and present it well.
Jared also advises on considering an online profile of your company when using platforms like HealthFundr. This will allow inventors to utilize the power of the internet and take advantage of the scope of the audience it can potentially reach.
What is the future of crowdfunding?
It is not hard to realize through the media and talking to people like Jared Iverson, that it is still very much early days for crowdfunding. However, with the traditional investment market maturing there is a big boom expected in people participating and investing too.
Under a bigger umbrella, private markets will be more efficient and transparent (VC firms, angel firms) will have an online component. Fundraising will have a stronger online component, which Jared strongly feels will allow for “efficient and objective investment decisions to be made”.
Online platforms could have strong staying power and will play a major role, if their successes are evident and consistent. This, of course, doesn’t displace offline investment opportunities, but their efforts could well be supplemented, complemented and enhanced through online marketplaces.
This has several advantages, for instance funding rounds will close much quicker, due diligence will be done efficiently and promptly with a worldwide database and panel of leading experts that will allow for a common framework.
Jared ends on an important conclusion: If private capital formation continues to become more efficient then there has to be an online platform in order to reach the scale and capacity of existing public markets.
It seems, that with current economic, legal and cultural factors enhanced by innovations in the health space to meet growing populations and health needs, that crowdfunding could last a long time. Founders like Jared, could therefore help to make crowdfunding more available, standardized and regulated in the financial investment sphere.
Medtech Crowdfunding Sites
- Healthfundr: Healthfundr is an online platform for investors, startups and experts. It focuses on making investing in and building health startups more efficient, transparent and accessible.
- Medstartr: Healthcare innovation funding for patients, doctors, and companies. Also offers innovation partnering services and a mentoring service.
- B-a-med-founder: Crowdfunding platform specializing in medical devices. They welcome medical device ideas in all stages of development.
- AngelMD: Funding platform for medical startups, physicians and life science investors. Features biotech, medical device and digital health companies.
- Poliwogg: A financial services firm with an online investment platform, enabling accredited investors to access and directly invest in innovative healthcare and life sciences companies. You can acquire equity in these companies through the Poliwogg Platform.
- Makerstaker: a web portal allowing investors to make equity and non-equity investments in medical device and Health start-up businesses. MakerStaker focuses on medical and technical innovations to bring more than just fiscal resources to an entrepreneur.


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Avnet has bought UK-headquartered distributor and system builder Premier Farnell for £691m (€818.4m) in a move an analyst says has "great potential". Leeds-based distributor Premier Farnell was previously...
CEO Ginni Rometty announces two-year pledge alongside French president Emmanuel Macron
CEO talks up RedPixie acquisition and indicates DRAM crisis is over on Q2 results call
CEO claims deals are in the pipeline with investor Waterland Private Equity
Deal marks Bechtle's second buyout around Microsoft this year


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Singaporeans appear to be obsessed with finding a solution to a non-existent problem (Three MPs renew call to charge for use of plastic bags; Impose charges from 3rd plastic bag, by Ms Khong Sow Cheng, Aug 13).
The Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources has explained on several occasions that plastic bags are not an immediate environmental problem in Singapore, given the way we dispose of waste.
Plastic bags play an important role in high-rise living. Bagging household refuse before throwing it in the rubbish chute reduces pest infestation. And plastic bags can be and are used as bin liners.
Attention should be diverted to plastic bottles instead.
Given the huge sums that Singapore spends to ensure that tap water is potable, why do we still need so many single-use plastic bottles?
Discarded bottles can be found everywhere, in forests, parks, beaches, roads and drains, endangering our wildlife among other problems.
They are a greater pollutant.
Let us ban single-use water bottles instead.


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Project Runaway 2014 is Friday
Project Runaway 2014, an annual wearable art show in its seventh year, is happening from 6 to 10 p.m. Friday at Wichita State University’s McKnight Art Center. It’s put on by WSU’s ShiftSpace Gallery, the off-campus student gallery at 416 S. Commerce, and features an always outrageous wearable art competition with entries from WSU students and alumni and area high school students. The event also will include food and prizes from local restaurants and businesses as well as music by acts such as Dreamcrusher. This year’s event will double as a masquerade ball, and attendees are asked to bring masks or purchase handmade masks on site. Tickets are $20, $30 for a couple or $15 for students, faculty and staff. They’re available at www.shiftspacegallery.com. For more information, call 316-978-7706.
Porter Street Artists event on Saturday
The Porter Street Artists & Friends are having another sale in Riverside, this one from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday. It’s put on by a collection of 24 Riverside artists and nearby friends who display and sell their art at neighboring houses: 932 Porter, 941 Porter, 945 Porter and 957 Porter. Items available will include paintings, drawings, re-purposed furniture, stained-glass items, garden sculptures, clothing, shoes and jewelry. The artists also will be serving pies, baked goods and coffee.
New exhibit at African American Museum
The Kansas African American Museum at 601 N. Water has just opened a new photo exhibit called “Vantage Point: Photographs From the Permanent Collection.” The exhibit features more than 25 original photographs by African-American photographers such as Gordon Parks, Chandra McCormick and Carl Sidle. The exhibition will remain on display in the main gallery through June 14. Museum hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays and noon to 4 p.m. Saturdays. Admission is $5.50 for adults, $4.50 for students with ID and seniors, $2.50 for children ages 5 to 17 and free for children 4 and under.


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Rare investment news from Greece, as Athens-based Warply has announced that it’s raised a $500,000 round of early-stage funding from a group of unnamed angel investors.
Warply is a fledgling company that offers a cloud-based toolbox that enables brands, agencies and publishers to directly send interactive, contextually-relevant mobile marketing campaigns to their customers.
Its platform essentially uses push notifications to deliver targeted campaigns and audio, video and other interactive content directly to users. The platform allows for geographical and behavioural targeting to enable Warply customers to better personalize marketing campaigns.
John Doxaras, co-founder and CEO of Warply, says the investment will serve to support the startup’s expansion to the United States, UK and Germany initially.
Warply says there’s also potential for growth in Latin America, and Brazil in particular.
In addition, the company will use the fresh cash to build out its executive team, starting with the hiring of Kartik Ram as head of business development. Sixto Arias, a serial entrepreneur, also recently joined Warply’s advisory board.
Image credit: Thinkstock


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First Bentley electric vehicle to be an SUV – report – paultan.org
The first fully electric model to emerge from Bentley’s plan in moving away from internal combustion will be an SUV, reports Car Magazine, and will make use of the SSP platform to be used in the Artemis project by Audi, earmarked for use across the wider Volkswagen group, and will stand to benefit from being part of the platform’s development from the beginning.
“With our current cars, we had to get into the engineering largely after the platforms had been done. The difference now is that with the Artemis, we’re right in there at the beginning, helping define it. We’re not leading it, but we’re going to be a beneficiary of it,” said Bentley CEO Adrian Hallmark.
Development of this platform will be spearheaded by Audi, and there will be ‘closer synergies’ between Audi and Bentley in terms of electrification, said Hallmark. “But we will continue to have strong relationships with both Audi and Porsche, and we see this as an opportunity, not a risk,” the Bentley CEO said, also confirming the bodystyle of the British marque’s first EV – “If you’re not in SUVs, you’re nowhere.”
This will emerge in 2025, and although weight remains a concern, Bentley is seeing rapid evolution in battery power density, says Hallmark, and the luxury carmaker is dedicated to “making things lighter and more aerodynamic.” The characteristics of battery-electric powertrains are a right fit for Bentley, too, because they are quiet, effortless, high in torque and offer refined performance, Hallmark said.
Building an electric vehicle will change the way Bentley makes cars, the CEO explained, as the manufacturer tend to start with a design that’s unfeasible, and then find ways to build it.
“With EVs, you have to do it the other way around. Look at the Jaguar I-Pace; it was designed around the battery. That gave the wheelbase, and the height to get the occupants in,” he said. Aerodynamics was the next deciding factor, and styling came in last, Hallmark noted. “As we move into EVs we’re not going to throw away our brand DNA, but we have to reinterpret it and be a bit more progressive.”
Hallmark is proud of Bentley’s first generation of its new era that was launched with the 6.0 litre W12 engine, which has led the Crew marque to selling more 12-cylinder cars than any other car company, the Bentley CEO said.
This demand is changing, however, and 39% of Bentley owners were noted as considering a battery-electric vehicle as their next car, he said. This shift in customer demand will add to the electric vehicle push by automakers such as Bentley, who will be rolling out the pure EV model after a plug-in hybrid Flying Spur later this year, as well as a possible PHEV Continental GT, according to Car Magazine.
GALLERY: Bentley Bentayga Hybrid by Mulliner
Source: Read Full Article


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The PlayStation Now game subscription service has just received a brand new sim racing title, as the really rather good WRC 10 has been added as of today, 5th April 2022.
We recently compiled every racing gamer on the service that currently costs £8.99/$9.99 per month, and noted that while there were several worthy releases included, contemporary racing games were notable only by their absence.
This now changes with the addition of WRC 10, which we said at the time of its launch in August 2021 was “one of the best virtual rallying experiences there is.”
WRC 10 now sits alongside WRC 5 eSports Edition and WRC 8 FIA World Rally Championship as rally games on the service.
It should be noted, however, that this is the PS4 version of the game, which lacks the visual finesse of the PS5 edition.
There’s a rising wave of interest in the rather forlorn PlayStation Now service of late, as just last week it was announced it would be merging into PlayStation Plus to provide a revised lineup of three subscription tiers.
PlayStation Plus Extra will offer a library of up to 400 PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 titles, while PlayStation Plus Premium will add a further set of original PlayStation, PlayStation 2 and PlayStation Portable titles alongside a streaming library of PlayStation 3 games.
With the addition of WRC 10 to Now, it could hint at its inclusion in the upcoming Plus Extra and Premium tiers, something we suggested recently.


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Skoda has dropped a teaser video of its upcoming performance SUV, the Kodiaq RS, ahead of its world debut at the 2018 Paris Auto Show next month.
Set to be the Czech brand’s first performance SUV, the video gives us a clear view of the Kodiaq RS’ front fascia, including its standard “crystalline-effect” LED headlights – a first for the brand.
Besides the fancy headlights, Skoda has also confirmed the RS will feature its version of Volkswagen Group’s Virtual Cockpit, which will be customised for the hot SUV with carbon optic and a fifth “Sport” display layout featuring the rev counter and speedometer in the centre.
Additionally, the SUV will be the first Skoda model to offer Dynamic Sound Boost that uses data from the car’s electronics to vary and intensify the engine sound, depending on the selected driving mode for “a captivating and emotive acoustic experience”. For purists however, it remains a fake sound, but then again, if you’re a purist, you wouldn’t be driving an SUV.
When it arrives sometime next year, the Kodiaq RS will be powered by a 2.0-litre TDI bi-turbo engine generating 177kW of power – the most powerful production diesel engine in a Skoda.
The model will also feature all-wheel drive and adaptive suspension as standard, along with an exclusive colour called Race Blue.


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These are some of the slogans used by the American and Canadian dairy industries – all designed to entice the consumer.
While dairy farmers tout the health benefits of milk (especially protein) and other dairy products, medical researchers and health care professionals sometimes stress the dark side of dairy production and consumption.
According to Neil Nedley, M.D., author of Proof Positive: How to Reliably Combat Disease and Achieve Optimal Health Through Nutrition and Lifestyle, “medical experts have known about health problems with milk for decades, but these concerns have not received much publicity.”
The reason for this, he argues, is that “powerful commercial interests are putting millions of dollars behind promulgating a message of half-truths.”
Way back in 1974, the Federal Trade Commission concluded that the slogan “Everybody Needs Milk” was “false, misleading and deceptive” advertising.
“The American Dairy Board has done a very effective job of marketing this product,” says osteopathic physician Dr. Joseph Mercola. “Most people believe they need to consume large, daily quantities of milk to achieve good health, [but] nothing could be further from the truth.”
In his article “Don’t Drink Your Milk,” Mercola argues that high-protein, soy-based feeds along with the antibiotics given to factory-farmed dairy cows transform “healthy milk products into allergens and carcinogens.”
Additionally, the pasteurization process destroys dozens of precious enzymes. “Without them, milk is very difficult to digest,” says Mercola. This is because “the human pancreas is not always able to produce these enzymes, [and] over stress of the pancreas can lead to diabetes and other diseases.”
A report published on CancerProject.org by Neal D. Barnard, M.D., cites studies linking dairy consumption to prostate cancer – the most common type of cancer in Canadian men.
Even the relationship between milk and healthy bones has come into question.
A “Case-Control Study of Risk Factors for Hip Fractures in the Elderly,” published in the American Journal of Epidemiology, concluded that the consumption of dairy products in one’s 20s was associated with an increased risk of hip fracture in old age.
Author Robert Cohen, founder of the Dairy Education Board and NOTMilk.com says, “American women have been consuming an average of two pounds of milk per day for their entire lives, yet thirty million American women have osteoporosis. Drinking milk does not prevent bone loss. Bone loss is accelerated by ingesting too much protein, and milk has been called ‘liquid meat.’”
There are some claims that cows’ milk is for calves, and not humans. In fact, writes Mercola, cows’ milk is the “number one allergic food in this country. It has been well documented as a cause in diarrhea, cramps, bloating, gas, gastrointestinal bleeding, iron-deficiency anemia, skin rashes, atherosclerosis, and acne.”
Additionally, “it is the primary cause of recurrent ear infections in children. It has also been linked to insulin-dependent diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, infertility, and leukemia.”
What’s In Your Milk?
In 2002, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals launched an anti-dairy campaign that drew attention to the use of Recombinant Bovine Growth Hormones (rBGH), which are given to cows to increase their milk production. The rBGH hormone can cause cows to develop mastitis –a condition that can contaminate the milk in their udders. Since pasteurizing does not kill all the pus cells, “acceptable” levels of pus (aka the somatic cell count) have been approved for human consumption by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
The Dairy Farmers of Canada, on the other hand, claim that Canadian-produced milk is safer than U.S.-produced milk because “growth hormones to stimulate milk production are not approved for sale in Canada.” Nevertheless, American dairy products are readily available at Canadian supermarkets.
Cows’ milk alternatives include soy, almond, rice, hemp, coconut and oat beverages.


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updated 09:20 am EST, Thu February 1, 2007
Interarchy changes hands
Nolobe has acquired Stairways Software's Interarchy file transfer software. Described as an "employee buyout," lead developer Matthew Drayton has formed Nolobe Pty Ltd and acquired all rights to Interarchy. According to Stairways, Drayton has been "leading the development of Interarchy for some years now, so customers can expect the same level of quality software development and innovative features as Nolobe continues to develop and enhance Interarchy going forward." Nolobe will honor all existing licenses, and expects to release a new free upgrade (8.5) soon before continuing work on the next major release (9.0) due out later this year. "In general, users should not see any immediate change and can expect Interarchy to continue to lead the way in Internet clients. Price and availability remain the same," the company said in a statement. New customers can purchase Interarchy from Nolobe Store for $60.


text: OnePlus Two Specs Leaked in Benchmark Dylan Duarte May 21, 2015 News As I write this, a huge torrent of rain just hit my northern California home (it won’t last more than ten minutes) and I’ve had to set a bowl next to the front door to catch the water leaking in through the roof. It’s a damp reminder that leaks are usually bad. Usually. While the OnePlus Two has yet to be officially unveiled, a recent benchmark has possibly leaked the phone’s specs. The phone was being disguised as the OnePlus One, but the serial number used was A2001, while the OnePlus One’s serial number was A0001. If this is indeed the OnePlus Two – and it more than likely is – we now know that it’s rocking a Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 processor and 3GM of RAM, while running Android 5.1 Lollipop. That puts it right up there with the best that Android has to offer, and at a decent price, too – likely $400. And it’s likely to hit in the third quarter of this year. All of this is likely, as nothing has been officially announced yet. Share This With The World!


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September 18, 2010 |
BOSTON: Mobile phone giant Motorola is looking at launching its tablet computer early next year, as the firm hopes to expand its product line beyond cell phones . "We want to make sure that any tablet that we deliver is competitive in the marketplace, and I think all of us will make sure that we will only deliver (computer) that when that occurs," Motorola's India-born co-chief executive Sanjay Jha said. "Hopefully, that's early next year. The tablet would be Motorola's answer to Apple's iPad, which has dominated the market since its launch in April this year," added Jha. Apple said in June that it has sold three million of its iPad tablets.
May 26, 2010 |
WASHINGTON: US computer giant Dell said Tuesday it will begin selling a tablet computer in Britain in June called the "Streak" which is powered by Google's Android operating system. With a five-inch (12.5-centimeter) screen, the Streak is smaller than the Apple iPad, which goes on sale in Britain and eight other countries on Friday following its debut in the United States last month. "The Dell Streak hits the sweet spot between traditional smartphones and larger-screen tablets," Ron Garriques, the president of Dell Communication Solutions Group, said in a statement.
October 11, 2011 |
BANGALORE: Wipro Technologies has identified education and health care as the next big business opportunities as it prepares to launch a host of low-cost products such as an electro-cardiogram necklace , tablet computer and cameras for use in hospitals and in mining and retail. India's third-largest IT services company is one of the largest outsourced R&D services providers and is leveraging these capabilities in bringing out these products. An ECG necklace is a device worn by the patient around the neck.
May 9, 2014 |
Rohan Shravan was 24 years old when he founded Notion Ink, a startup that designed India's first tablet computer Adam. The device was launched five months before Apple placed the first version of the iPad on store shelves. At its international debut in the Consumer Electronics Show at Las Vegas in January 2010, one of the first to place an order for Adam was an employee at Apple headquarters in Cupertino. However, in the ensuing months as the iPad gained iconic status, Adam dropped by the wayside, felled by the lack of risk capital to grow the business.
July 2, 2014 |
NEW DELHI: Samsung will shortly launch a premium-priced tablet computer that supports fourth-generation telecom technology, as well as a number of smartphones as the South Korean major strives to maintain its dominant position in both categories in the Indian market. Tablet sales are growing at a quick pace in India, not just for Samsung but for the overall market as well, its India vice president, Mohammad Asim Warsi, told ET. His comment is in sharp contrast to an International Data Corporation (IDC)
May 23, 2013 |
A tablet is a tablet and not a phone even if it allows for phone calls and shall face higher rate of import duty levied on computing devices, says the finance ministry . The Central Board of Excise and Customs, the apex indirect taxes body, has clarified that tablets that have calling function would be treated as a computing device and not a phone since the main function of the product is more akin to a computer. Computers and laptops face import duty (countervailing duty)
August 14, 2014 |
BEIJING: Lenovo Group , the world's biggest personal computer maker, said Thursday its latest quarterly profit rose 23 per cent on strong growth in sales of smartphones and other mobile devices. The company said it earned $214 million, or $2.06 per share, in the three months ended June 30. Global revenue rose 18 per cent to $10.4 billion. Sales of mobile devices rose 32 per cent over a year earlier to $1.6 billion. The company is investing heavily in smartphones, tablet computers and other wireless devices, and has said it expects mobile sales to be the bulk of its future revenue.
June 3, 2014 |
BANGALORE: Microsoft and Intel are providing technology inputs for a Bangalore-based startup that is building touch-enabled computing devices or ultra-books that will be launched later this year. Notion Ink, which designed India's first tablet computer Adam is banking on this strategic partnership with two of the world's largest technology corporations to chart its return to the market for personal computing devices. "It is a big inflection point for us," said Rohan Shravan , 28, founder of Notion Ink, who launched Adam five months before Apple placed the first version of the iPad on store shelves in April 2010.However, in the ensuing months as the iPad gained iconic status, Adam dropped by the wayside, felled by the lack of risk capital to grow the business.
April 30, 2010 |
SAN FRANCISCO: Microsoft has sidelined a "Courier" project said to be focused on building a twin-screen tablet computer that could be used for entertainment and work. "At any given time, across any of our business groups, there are new ideas being investigated, tested, and incubated," Microsoft spokesman Frank Shaw said in a message posted Thursday on the US software giant's blog. "The 'Courier' project is an example of this type of effort and its technologies will be evaluated for use in future Microsoft offerings.
October 5, 2011 |
BANGALORE: A Bangalore company plans to launch an ultra-cheap tablet computer meant for businesses, schools and organisations with mobile workforces. Called Stamp, the tablet will cost around 5,000 and go on sale around the same time that another tablet billed as the cheapest in the world is made available to the Indian consumers. AllGo Embedded Systems' Stamp, which will be launched in December, is the latest cut-price tablet to enter in the Indian market after Apple popularised the device with its iPad line.


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Users of the Android Gmail App will experience a nice little addition.
If you utilize the Gmail Android app you may have already noticed that a change has taken place. Google announced that their G Suite applications will now convert addresses, phone numbers, and email addresses into live links which will take the user to the actions they would utilize the information for.
Clicking on an address link will open maps. Clicking on an email address will open a new email to that address. Finally, clicking on a phone number will open the device’s phone app ready to dial the number.
This is surely a time saver for those that utilize the Gmail app. Personally, I do not, but I did test to see if this was available and working on my BlackBerry KEYone and indeed it is, although it may not be working for everyone yet. Google has stated it may take up to three days for the ability to roll out to all users.


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The boutique manufacturer's first car, the Zonda, died many a time, only to be resurrected many more times as a limited run special or as one of several one-offs built for well-heeled clients. In fact, if you ask nicely and flash enough cash, you could probably still get a brand new one today.
With the Huayra, Pagani has so far built 99 examples, with the 100th and alleged final one coming in two months time. Pagani initially signed a deal with Mercedes-AMG for just 100 engines, hence the century of production examples, but what's stopping the company from extending that?
The final car, called 'Il Ultimo', has been commissioned by Prestige Imports' CEO Brett David. The paint scheme of the car will bear resemblance to Lewis Hamilton's Mercedes Formula 1 car, in tribute the the car's AMG-sourced engine.
That engine, a 6-litre twin-turbo V12 putting out around 800bhp and 811ft lb of torque in the car's latest trim, helping it get to 62mph in less than three seconds and on to a top speed of 230mph.
Once 'Il Ultimo' is completed, Pagani's attention will turn to the Huayra's successor. That too is expected to be powered by a 12-pot AMG engine, but it won't have any of that modern hybrid or electric nonsense onboard, with that sort of stuff being reserved for Pagani's first all-electric car.
The new V12-powered Pagani will be a 'toy' that embodies pure driving pleasure, according to company founder Hoarcio Pagani, and that sounds just perfect. We can't wait to take a look – and that's all we'll be doing, there's not enough coins down the back of our sofa to cover the probable seven-figure pricetag.


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Studio Trigger and Ado created a commercial to promote Lotte’s 60th anniversary of the chocolate business in Japan. The commercial also features a special song by Ado titled “Chocolat Cadabra.” Genki Kawamura served as the producer of the commercial.
The commercial video is set in a chocolate factory late at night and depicts a girl who wanders into the factory from the real world, meets a girl who lives in a magical world, and another girl who lives in a scientific world. Together in the commercial they make chocolate. Aside from the 30-second commercial, a 60-second version will air on terrestrial television starting January 23. Ado’s “Chocolat Cadabra” song is set to be released on January 31.
This is not the first time Ado made an appearance in a commercial. In January 2023, she was featured in a McDonald’s commercial alongside fellow singer asmi. The advertisement comes in the form of a 3D animated music video, and it includes a song by the two. The song is called “‘Tirori Mix” and is a mashup of Ado’s “Odo” and asmi’s “PAKU”, accompanied by the beeping sound of the fast food chain’s fryer machines. Japanese music producers Giga and TeddyLoid aided in the music mixing process.
Studio Trigger has a history of animating several commercials in the past few years, the most recent one being for the Omega Strikers game. It has animated several anime titles such as Kill la Kill, Little Witch Academia, Darling in the Franxx (co-produced with A-1 Pictures), Brand New Animal, the Promare movie, SSSS.Gridman and SSSS.Dynazenon. They also recently produced one of the Star Wars Vision anthology episodes (The Twins, which was directed by Hiroyuki Imaishi), CYBERPUNK: EDGERUNNERS, and the ongoing Delicious in Dungeon (Dungeon Meshi) anime.
Lotte is a Korean company known in fields such of candy manufacturing, beverages, hotels, fast food, retail, financial services, industrial chemicals, electronics, IT, construction, publishing, and entertainment.
Source: Comic Natalie
© 2024 LOTTE CO., LTD.


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International trade at EL’s port favours imports
More than R7 billion in international trade went in and out of East London’s harbour in March, according to statistics compiled by the Eastern Cape Government’s Department of Economic Development, Environmental Affairs and Tourism.
The trade was slightly balanced in favour of imports, accounting for 50.4%.
The figures are published in a fact sheet launched by the department this year, International Trade Tracker, which tracks all trade activities within the province on a quarterly basis.
This first edition focused on activities at the Port of East London during March this year based on data from the South African Revenue Services.
Future editions will include other provincial ports and a more detailed breakdown of the commodities exported and imported through them.
The fact sheet shows that in March imports worth R3 538.1 million and exports valued at R3 476.2 million moved in and out of East London harbour.
More than half were to and from Europe, mostly Germany and Belgium.
Exports worth R1 993.9 million went to Europe, accounting for 57% of all exports for the month. Only 1%, or R26.7 million, went to African countries.
The second biggest destination for exports was Asia, accounting for R649 million (19%). The smallest was North America with only R5.2 million in exports.
South America (R533.4 million or 15%) and Australia and Oceania (R268 million or 8%) were the other major export destinations.
Imports into East London were even more heavily weighted in favour of Europe, with a 76% share of imports worth a total of R2 679.8 million coming into the harbour.
North America was from where the second biggest value of imports came at R601.3 million, or 17%. Imports from Asia amounted to R209.8 million (6%) and Africa R46.6 million (1%).
Of African imports, almost all – R33.8 million - came from Mozambique.
Although total imports exceeded total exports by R69.1 million, the greatest trade imbalance was with Europe where the value of imports exceeded value of exports by approximately R686 million.
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M&T snags JPMorgan exec as head of customer experience
M&T Bank Corp., in Buffalo, N.Y., has plucked away a longtime banker from JPMorgan Chase to serve as its chief customer experience officer.
Aarthi Murali will be the first M&T official to hold that title, the $119.9 billion-asset bank said Monday. She will report to Christopher Kay, executive vice president and head of consumer banking, business banking and marketing.
"We are thrilled to welcome Aarthi to our team. Under her leadership we will keep our customers at the center of all that we do by supplementing new technologies with personalized, localized service that is uniquely identifiable as an M&T experience,” Kay said in a press release.
Murali worked at JPMorgan Chase for 17 years, most recently as head of client experience in its commercial bank; she was previously executive director for customer experience. She worked at Motorola Solutions before she joined JPMorgan and has a master’s degree in computer science from Loyola University in Chicago.
M&T said that her mission will be to “create a distinctive and seamless customer experience across the enterprise.”


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“The festive period ended up being the best we’ve ever had,” says Harvey. Good enough to carry her with confidence through the typically leaner months of January and February. But then, come March, Hoos, like most shops, had to shut – duration unknown.
Harvey furloughed her staff, but decided to continue working herself, running the online side of the business. It proved a wise move and enabled her to catch a wave of goodwill among shoppers who wanted to support the indies they love. “Because Glasgow and the wider country have got behind us, our online sales have been up by more than 200%,” she says. “Every day I’ve been going in and packing up orders, and bringing them back to my house where they’re collected by UPS. My front hall has started to look like a small warehouse.”
Helping to drive business has been Hoos’s upbeat and intuitive use of social media, whether it’s been platforming new products and spotlighting favourite brands on Instagram or sharing Spotify playlists of music that would have been playing in the shop. “It’s been like running a virtual Hoos,” Harvey laughs.
As someone who is passionate about fostering solidarity among independent traders, Harvey – who received an MBE for her work running charities for young people in a previous chapter of her career – has been keen to support other businesses as best she can during lockdown.
“Throughout this time, I’ve continued to order with independent makers, which has been a real pleasure,” she says. “That includes Love and Squalor, who had a shop on Great Western Road and now have a studio making clothes. I’m their only stockist in Glasgow, so that’s been a lovely collaboration. I think I’ve re-ordered three times in the last three months.”


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Earlier this week Vox gave welcome attention to whether CEO pay would benefit workers, but it didn’t go far enough in examining the company's wage inequality. In response to recent news of a college president giving up part of his compensation to give lower-wage workers a raise, Danielle Kurtzleben pivoted to Walmart, asking "what if Walmart's CEO took a pay cut for his workers?"
She crunches the numbers and concludes that if you redistributed all of its executive compensation and “limit it to the 525,000 people who earn $25,000 or less per year, and you get around $147 per person — helpful to someone with a small paycheck and a stack of bills, but still not that big.”
While Kurtzleben admits that redirecting CEO pay across the economy could give workers significant wage increases, she misses the mark by dismissing Walmart’s annual stock buybacks, their other form of compensation inequality. In focusing solely on executives, she misses where Walmart's profits have been going—shareholders.
While Walmart may have spent *only* $77 million on executive pay in 2014, the company spent $6.6 billion buying back shares of their own stock the year before. And evidence shows such buybacks do little to increase productivity: Demos’ report A Higher Wage Is Possible found that Walmart’s share buybacks consolidate ownership “did nothing to boost Walmart’s productivity of bottom line and has no direct benefit from Walmart’s customers or frontline employees."
What do stock buybacks do for Walmart? They consolidate the influence of the richest family in the country. The six heirs of Sam Walton, already worth an obscene $144.7 billion, made $2.66 billion in dividend payments off of Walmart shares in 2012, bumping up their share of Walmart stock above 50%.
But those unproductive profits could be much better spent.
The same report found that that redirecting what Walmart spent on stock buybacks in 2012 alone would be enough to give every low-wage worker over $5 more an hour that year. With Walmart as the country’s largest private employer, such a big raise could put a dent in the low-wage economy.
Some large low-wage employers appear to be coming on board with the idea of redirecting stock buybacks. In May, shareholders at Chipotle voted against an executive compensation package, particularly focusing on their excessive shareholder package. Policy Analyst Catherine Ruetschlin wrote at the time:
The recent, synergetic, shareholder and worker activism reveals a new alliance of material interests between stakeholders in disparate companies, as lopsided human capital management generates volatility that starts in the sectors with greatest inequality but ripples economy-wide.
The common interest in corporate governance will only strengthen over the next decade, as industries like fast food and retail add a large share of the new jobs in the labor market, intensifying the broader effects of income inequality like instability and slow growth.
Workers would benefit greatly from a growing shareholder awareness of low pay. Focusing on CEO pay, which has exploded in recent years, is important, and a basic fairness issue, but that focus should also be expanded to include stock buybacks.


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Qualcomm has introduced their flagship Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 Mobile Platform, at the Snapdragon Tech Summit Digital 2021 in USA. The leading smartphone brand Realme has announced that their upcoming flagship smartphone called realme GT 2 Pro will be powered by Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 Mobile Platform.
The Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 mobile processor is packed with various advanced features such as 10 Gigabit built-in 5G Qualcomm Snapdragon X65 5G modem-RF system, Qualcomm Fast Connect 6900 Mobile Connectivity System for Wi-Fi speeds of up to 3.6 Gbps over Wi-Fi 6 and Wi-Fi 6E standards. This processor supports Bluetooth v5.2. The new platform claims to provide 20 percent faster performance and 30 percent power efficiency currently available on the Snapdragon 888. It also comes with advanced features for mobile photography and gaming.
Commenting on the development, Madhav Sheth, CEO -realme India, President – realme International Business Group and Vice President – realme, said, “As a technology pioneer and 5G leader, it is our motto to equip consumers with avant-garde technologies and make them future-ready. Our collaboration with Qualcomm Technologies on realme GT 2 Pro will create an unparalleled 5G experience across all aspects – be it gaming, camera, daily usage or 5G network. We believe that users deserve nothing but the very best and have dedicated significant resources to etch out a powerful and holistic flagship portfolio. As we expedite our leadership in the premium smartphone segment this year, realme will continue to collaborate with OEMs and chipset manufacturers to introduce state-of-the-art products and re-define the premium smartphone experience”.


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Update: Texas Man Dies From Vape Explosion
February 14, 2019 – An exploding e-cigarette caused a man from Fort Worth, Texas, to suffer brain injuries so catastrophic they resulted in his death from a severed carotid artery. The victim, 24-year-old William Brown, was at a vaporizer store in Keller, Texas, when the fatal accident occurred. His grandmother says he had just purchased the vape, and was using it for the first time in her car when it exploded in his mouth.
What are Electronic Cigarettes?
Electronic cigarettes (also called “e-cigarettes,” “e-cigs,” “vaporizers” or “vapes”) are battery-operated devices designed to deliver nicotine with flavorings and other chemicals in the form of vapor instead of smoke. They can be manufactured to resemble traditional tobacco cigarettes, cigars or pipes, and even everyday items like pens or USB memory sticks. More than 250 different e-cigarette brands are currently on the U.S. market, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA).
E-Cigarette Flavors Contain ‘Popcorn Lung’ Chemical, Study Finds
December 8, 2015 – For the study, Harvard researchers looked for the presence of diacetyl, acetoin and 2,3-pentanedione in 51 different e-cigarette flavors. To single out these harmful chemicals, the study’s authors put the e-cigs into a chamber and drew air out of them for 8 seconds at a time. The air stream was then examined for its chemical components. Of the 51 flavors tested, 47 contained at least 1 of the 3 chemicals the researchers were looking for.
What is Popcorn Lung?
In 2004, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported on several cases of bronchiolitis obliterans in workers at a microwave popcorn plant in Missouri. After an investigation by the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), it was determined that the workers had inhaled large amounts of diacetyl, a flavoring agent used to give the popcorn its buttery taste. As a result of these events, bronchiolitis obliterans began to be referred to in the popular media as “popcorn lung” or “popcorn workers lung.” It is also referred to as “flavorings-related lung disease.”
Popcorn lung is similar to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), causing symptoms which may include:
- Dry cough
- Shortness of breath
- Scarring / hardening of lung tissue
- Weight loss
- Night sweats
- Skin Peeling
E-Cigarette Side Effects
In addition to diacetyl, other harmful chemicals have previously been found in e-cigarette liquids, and it’s possible that their vapor could cause severe damage to the immune system. The new study adds to a growing body of evidence which suggests that electronic cigarettes may not be any safer than traditional tobacco products, and may actually be more dangerous. Because of these potential health issues, the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) has proposed to regulate e-cigarettes as it does other tobacco and nicotine-containing products.
E-cig side effects may include:
- Bronchiolitis Obliterans (aka Popcorn Lung)
- Fixed Airway Obstruction
- Chronic Bronchitis
- Diseases of the Small Airways
- Congestive heart failure (CHF)
- Additional health problems
Navy Bans E-Cigarettes Over Exploding Battery Concerns
April 18, 2017 – The U.S. Navy is banning e-cigarettes and portable vaporizers from its aircraft, ships and submarines after receiving multiple reports of the devices’ batteries exploding, catching fire and injuring sailors. Malfunctioning e-cigs have forced at least one aircraft to land, started fires on ships and left multiple sailors with severe burns. Vape injuries have occurred when the devices were being used, charged or replaced, or when they came into contact with other metal objects.
1 in 4 Children Exposed to Secondhand Smoke from E-Cigs, CDC Study Finds
April 3, 2017 – A new study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has found that nearly one-quarter of teens in the U.S. has been exposed to potentially dangerous secondhand vapors from electronic cigarettes over the past 30 days. Children who were exposed to secondhand tobacco smoke were also more likely to be exposed to secondhand vapor from e-cigarettes, CDC found.
E-Cigarettes a “Major Health Concern,” Surgeon General Says
January 16, 2017 – A new report from U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy is calling e-cigarette use a grave threat to the youth of America, adding to a heated debate over whether the practice is safer than traditional cigarette smoking. The report found that e-cigarette or “vape” use among U.S. high school students has jumped 900% since 2011, and described in scientific terms how young people with developing brains are sensitive to nicotine.
Lawsuits Allege Vapes Explode, Burn Florida Men
November 29, 2016 – Two Florida men who allegedly suffered severe burns from exploding e-cigarettes have filed lawsuits against manufacturers and retailers of the devices. A vape exploded in James Dardini’s pocket in December 2015, requiring emergency room treatment and surgery in a burn unit, according to a lawsuit filed in Volusia Circuit Court. Another complaint was filed in the same court on behalf of James Lauria, a 23-year-old man from Cobb County, Georgia, who suffered severe injuries after his e-cig blew up in his face while he was vaping on July 29, 2015.
Exploding E-Cigarette Burns Boston Man
July 6, 2016 – A 47-year-old man suffered burns last week after a vape exploded at a hotel in Chelmsford, Massachusetts, according to CBS Boston. Firefighters responded to the incident around 3 a.m. Saturday morning and found minor smoke and fire damage. The man was treated for second degree burns to his left hand after the device’s battery pack exploded.
FDA Enforces Strict New Guidelines for E-Cigarettes, Vapes
May 9, 2016 – The U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) has announced sweeping new rules (PDF) which extend regulatory authority to electronic cigarettes and associated devices, banning their sale to anyone under 18 and requiring adults under the age of 26 to show a photo ID to purchase them.
The rules subject manufacturers to federal regulation for the first time, requiring them to register with the FDA and provide it with a detailed account of their products’ ingredients and their manufacturing processes. Producers will also have to apply to the agency for permission to sell their products.
E-Cigarettes Could Damage Cells, Cause Cancer – Study Claims
December 29, 2015 – Adding to the growing health concerns over electronic cigarettes, a new study published in the journal Oral Oncology has warned that vapor emitted by the devices may cause cancer. The findings came after a lab team at the Veterans Affairs San Diego Healthcare System tested 2 popular brands of e-cigarettes and found their negative impact on human cells.
“Our study strongly suggests that electronic cigarettes are not as safe as their marketing makes them appear to the public,” said the researchers. Click here to learn more.
Do I Have an Electronic Cigarette Class Action Lawsuit?
The Product Liability Litigation Group at our law firm is an experienced team of trial lawyers that focus on the representation of plaintiffs in e-cig lawsuits. We are handling individual litigation nationwide and currently accepting new popcorn lung cases in all 50 states.
Free Confidential Case Evaluation: Again, if you or a loved one was injured by an e-cigarette, you should contact our law firm immediately. You may be entitled to compensation by filing a class action suit and our lawyers can help.


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The Rhode Island RV & Camping Show return to the RI Convention Center in Providence from Friday, February 10th through Sunday, February 12th, 2023.
The three-day show features the very latest makes and models of Recreational Vehicles from all of the nation’s top manufacturers. Special factory rebates, financing, and on the spot loan approval makes this show a cannot miss for the serious RV enthusiasts! There is something for everyone at THE Rhode Island, this is the only RV Show serving the entire state of Rhode Island… you don’t want to miss it.
Admission is $12.00 for adults with free admissions for kids under 16 years of age. The convention hours are Friday, Feb. 10th from 12:00pm – 7:00pm, Saturday, Saturday, Feb. 11th from 9:00am – 5:00pm and Sunday, Feb. 12th from 10:00am — 5:00pm. For tickets visit www.therhodeislandrvshow.com


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With the facilities in West Bengal and Bihar getting commissioned there will be increase in capacity utilisation, said Shekhar Swarup, ED, Globus Spirits.
It was a weak quarter for Globus Spirits with net profit down 40 percent at Rs 2.1 crore verus Rs 3.5 crore for the same quarter earlier fiscal. EBITDA too was down 12.8 percent at Rs 16.4 crore versus Rs 18.8 crore year on year (YoY). EBITDA margins came in at 7.4 percent versus 9.6 percent YoY.
Throwing more light on the third quarter performance Shekhar Swarup, ED, Globus Spirits said margins were impacted due to higher raw material prices, which is a large basket of agricultural commodities.
Giving an outlook for the future, he said with the facilities in West Bengal and Bihar getting commissioned there will be increase in capacity utilisation.
Below is the verbatim transcript of Shekhar Swarup's interview to Latha Venkatesh and Anuj Singhal on CNBC-TV18.
Anuj: Your topline is okay but there is quite a bit of fall in your margins EBITDA and net profit, what went wrong?
A: Last quarter as far as the consumption story goes, it has been alright for us. India made Indian liquor (IMIL) markets both in Rajasthan and Haryana has done well. Volumes in capacity utilisation is also up. So the margin differential is essentially there due to very strong raw material price.
We were expecting towards the end of Q3 around November and December, the prices to correct dramatically as it is the season but this year for reasons, which are difficult to pinpoint, the correction has not happened in our raw material prices. It holds true for a large basket of agricultural commodities.
Anuj: What is the outlook now because we have seen most of the companies have recovered from demonetisation impact? Going forward, what kind of revenue and profit number do you think you can report?
A: Going forward, business is going to be hugely changed due to the commissioning of our new facilities in Bengal and Bihar. So the capacity utilisation over here is coming in now and this is going to be add to large part of our business this year.
Latha: Can you tell us the state-wise market share that you have and as well the country liquor and the franchise bottling business split?
A: Our B2C business which is our own brands of IMIL is 55 percent in the last quarter of our total revenue. This translates to about 10 million cases for a month of IMIL sales in the state of Haryana and Rajasthan. In Rajasthan we have a market share of 30 percent and in Haryana it is around 15 percent.
In terms of franchise bottling where we have essentially contract manufacturers for Indian-made foreign liquor (IMFL) brands such as USL, we have an average of a million cases a month for these brand owners in the states of Rajasthan, Haryana and West Bengal.
Latha: What are the margins for the two businesses? The IMILs as well as the franchising bottling business?
A: The EBITDA level margin in the last quarter would have been around 5-7 percent mark and going up to 10-15 percent in case of IMIL.


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Bloomfield, NY – Velocity Outdoor is pleased to announce that Mike Weinkauf of Ravin Crossbows is now Vice President of Marketing Communications for Velocity Outdoor. Mike comes to Velocity Outdoor as part of the recent acquisition of Ravin Crossbows. In this role, he will be responsible for continuing to strengthen all the Velocity Outdoor Brands with his strong marketing background.
“Mike and his Ravin team introduced their first crossbow in January 2017 and up-ended the crossbow category with their groundbreaking HeliCoil technology,” said Steve Upham Vice President of Sales & Marketing for Velocity Outdoor. “Since then, the company’s crossbows have been lavished with praise from both the archery community and gun lovers.”
Mike is well known and respected in the outdoor hunting industry. His career includes 13 years with Babe Winkelman Productions where he was responsible for all facets of the company, which included: production, marketing, advertising sales, profit and loss, and television syndication. Mike moved on to join Field Logic where he was Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer. In 2015, he joined Ravin Crossbows and has been instrumental in promoting the brand as a leader in the archery industry and continues to do so today.
“It is a distinct pleasure to work with the Velocity Outdoor Team. I look forward to helping the Velocity Outdoor team achieve dynamic growth in years to come,” said Mike Weinkauf newly appointed Vice President of Marketing Communications. “I see continued achievement as Velocity Outdoor expands in the years to come.”
About Velocity Outdoor
Velocity Outdoor is a leader in the outdoor enthusiast market, featuring diverse product lineup in the outdoor sporting goods industry with Crosman and Benjamin Airguns, Ravin Crossbows, CenterPoint Archery and Optics, LaserMax laser aiming devices, and GameFace Airsoft. Velocity Outdoor is a subsidiary of Compass Group Diversified Holdings, LLC (NYSE: CODI). For more information contact Chris Moon firstname.lastname@example.org or Ellie Neigebauer email@example.com


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LG G5 has got a new update on th Spront network in USA. Recently the Korean LG G5 has also received the Android Nougat update.
The LG G5 is getting Google’s November security patches also along wih the Android Nougat update. The company is also releasing the UI of LG V20 in th LG G5. New features in the Android Nougat include Split screen multitasking – multi window support, enhanced doze mode. Revamped quick settings and notification pane . The update is of 1275.4MB in size.


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Pak Suzuki Motor Company (PSMC), which is Pakistan’s biggest automotive company by production and sales volume, hasn’t produced a single car in 2023 so far.
The company has been on a production hiatus since the beginning of this year due to insufficient inventory. Its non-production days (NPD) were to conclude on January 23, 2023.
A report from autojournal.pk claims that Toyota Indus Motor Company (IMC) has been working on a single-shift production schedule. Normally it produces over 250 vehicles a day, however, nowadays, it is producing just around 50 units.
Honda Atlas Cars Limited (HACL) and Master Changan Motors Limited (MCML) are also reportedly operating on a single shift while observing 1 NPD every week. Kia Lucky Motor Corporation (KLMC) is deliberately keeping the production volumes low due to abundant inventory and low demand.
Carmakers are also trying to lure in buyers by offering discounts and price locks for limited stock and time. Reports also suggest that a price hike wave is inbound, given the rising dollar rate and operational expenses, and declining revenues.
Toyota IMC and Sazgar Engineering Works Limited (SEWL) have already increased the prices of their cars. Given the ongoing economic situation, other carmakers will likely soon follow suit.
It’s becoz of IK, who has been launched as an economic weapon to default Pakistan
Apka dimagh khrab ho gya hay. USS Kay time pr TU economy grow kr Rahi thi.
Pata nahi dodh ki jaga Pani pi kar bare huye ho Imran Khan to Chala gaya ye sare chor mil kar ayashyan kar rahe hain en se mulk ka nizam Handel hi nhi ho Raha..
Allah Karey Bund He Ho Jaye Substandars Ml baichte Hain
At present cars are not the pressing problem of Pakistan. Even if these plants remain shut for next 6 months it will help Pakistan save FE. Biggest concern is food security and fuel imports.
But what about Joblessness and low tax returns


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Crossdock Development, Amazon to bring 1,000 new jobs to Southern Indiana
More than 1,000 new jobs are coming to southern Indiana, thanks to online retail giant Amazon and Louisville-based developer Crossdock Development.
In late March, Crossdock Development sold a 54-acre site in the River Ridge Commerce Center in Jeffersonville, Ind., to Amazon.com, Inc. Amazon plans to build a 1-million-square-foot distribution center on this site. The company also purchased an adjacent parcel of 16 acres to be used as a parking lot for its new facility.
“This is an enormous deal for this region,” said Lee Wilburn, president of Crossdock Development in a recent phone interview. “Just the jobs generated by the construction alone will be a great benefit to this area.”
The jobs are certainly a welcome addition to this slice of Southern Indiana. The new distribution center is expected to employ more than 1,000 people.
Before closing the sale, Crossdock completed all of the required infrastructure work at the 54-acre site. That, Wilburn said, played a key role in attracting Amazon to the River Ridge Commerce Center.
“We had the only site permitted and with all the infrastructure in place ready to go,” Wilburn said. “That is how we got the deal.”
Today, construction crews are busy at the site, pouring construction and tackling sitework jobs. Amazon’s goal is to wrap construction on the site by July. This will allow the retailer to have its distribution center operational for the 2012 Christmas shoppping season.
“The guys are working around the clock,” Wilburn said. “They are working seven days a week, including under the lights at night. They are operating under a very aggressive schedule.”
– Dan Rafter


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AAA’s “stamp of approval” will be on AutoNation’s auto service centers’ repairs.
Fort Lauderale-based AutoNation, the nation’s largest auto retailer, on Wednesday announced a new partnership with AAA on auto repair certification.
AutoNation is AAA's first national “Approved Auto Repair” program partner, with more than 220 service centers currently under the program.
The certification signals to consumers that AutoNation service centers meet AAA’s standards on customer satisfaction, technician training and community reputation.
“The AAA stamp of approval indicates that the work will be done right, for a fair price, while delivering a great customer experience,” said Margaret Pittelkow, vice president, AAA Automotive.
AutoNation owns and operates more than 325 locations across the country.
The company recently announced the acquisition of the southern California dealership Shelly BMW, as well as the signing of an agreement to acquire Trade Secret Auto Care, a collision center in Plano, Texas.
Additionally, the company has expanded its partnership with self-driving vehicle maker Waymo beyond long-term maintenance and repairs of Waymo’s fleet. AutoNation now has the exclusive ability to offer its customers in Phoenix, Ariz., the use of a Waymo to move around the city while their personal vehicles are being serviced at AutoNation dealerships.
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On August 1, 2013, the Food and Drug Administration (F.D.A.) issued a Class I recall notice regarding DePuy Orthopaedics’ Limb Preservation System (LPS) Lower Dovetail Intercalary Component. This device was implanted in patients as a replacement of portions of the femur affected by trauma, tumors or infections. The LPS device was marketed and distributed by DePuy Orthopaedics from February 2007 to March 2013.
The LPS device is being recalled due to the potential for fracture of the device while walking. Specifically, those patients who weigh more than 200 pounds and those who are highly active are at an increased risk of fracture. Fracture can subsequently lead to complications such as a need for revision surgery, loss of limb and loss of function.
DePuy Orthopaedics issued a recall of the LPS device on July 11, 2013 to hospitals, surgeons and distributors. The F.D.A. indicates that Class I recalls are the most serious kind of recall, involving products that can cause serious injury or death. Patients who have been implanted with this device should follow up with their doctor, particularly if they are experiencing any type of adverse symptom.
See the F.D.A. Medical Device Recall:
See the F.D.A. Safety Alert: