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Theresa May received a glowing endorsement for a no deal Brexit from London market trades who dismissed scaremongering claims of incoming trading Armageddon. Traders in London cited the long-standing trading relationship Britain has had with European countries as an indication an abrupt withdrawal from the European Union would not harshly impact their business. The British Government announced earlier this week ministerial departments would dial-up preparations for a no deal Brexit as March 29, 2019 draws nearer without an agreement in place.
A London flower market trader appeared optimistic about the future during an interview with LBC: "I’m not worried. I’m worried for the country but we got over worse.
"We got over worse and no one is going to shut the door on Europe, we’re just going to have a different approach to it. We’ll do fine.
"There’s been a bit of scaremongering going around which there always is with change but we’ll get over this."
British Chamber of Commerce (BCC) boss Adam Marshall claimed on Sunday a no deal Brexit scenario could drive business to "desperate measures.'
Brexit news: London market traders said they have
Mr Marshall suggested uncertainty about the future has driven British business to trigger their contingency plans for a no deal – which would ultimately take Britain out of the EU without a transition period to allow British entrepreneurs to ease their companies into the new relationship with the continent.
The BCC boss suggested some business have opted to move new warehouses in an EU member state, or are currently planning to do so.
But another London market trader dismissed the dire forecast for the future of Brexit Britain, insisting the country "will just continue to trade."
He said: "No fear whatsoever. No need to prepare because we have been buying from Europe and we’ve been changing money for centuries and decades and it’s not going to be a problem.
"There’s no problem, there’s no fear. We will just continue to trade."
As in the rest of Britain however there were dissenting voices among market traders in the Capital, with one man demanding a second Brexit referendum before the country leaves in March.
He said: "I’m old enough to remember before we were in the common market and it was a real problem getting the flowers in on time so I’m really dreading it. I hope it doesn’t come to that.
"And I’m hoping for another referendum because I think the result will be a lot different. We were told a lot of lies by people campaigning to leave and I really do think we need to have another referendum. Ans I hope it comes to that."
Another said: "It is the uncertainty that is making our trade very difficult and very hard to judge. What we think is going to sell at the moment is not.
"It’s because people are holding on to their money and flowers is a luxury. People don’t have to have a bunch of flowers but they do have to have food."
But economic experts warned against the scaremongering, suggesting the UK would actually thrive in a no deal scenario.
Economic analyst Chris Clarke dismantled claims suggesting Britain would suffer from a dramatic fall in the value of the pound should the Government end up quitting the European Union without an agreement. He instead insisted a currency drop could make British products more attractive to foreign investors and buyers.
Mr Clarke said: "I’m fed up of scaremongering and nonsense from a weak Government.
"I absolutely disagree that a no deal is bad for the UK. For me, it’s the greatest economic opportunity this country has had in 100 years.
"We go to WTO rules, we’re gonna get tariffs put on us but we run a trade deficit with Europe. There is no interest in Europe whatsoever to disrupt the process because they are the ones who are going to hurt.
"According to Mark Carney’s own projections, the pound is going to fall 25 percent which means our goods are going to be hugely cheaper and more attractive to export."
The director of international trade at the Institute of Economic Affairs, Shanker Singham, claimed economic projections are very difficult to predict on the impact of post-Brexit trade policies.
The trade expert dismissed gloomy economic forecast over a no-deal scenario in which the UK would start trading with the world under World Trade Organisation rules.
He said: “With these projections, first of all, it is incredibly difficult to predict in an economic model the impact of your independent trade and regulatory policy.
“Countries that have trying to do this have notoriously failed to do this.”


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If you'd like 1.3 billion customers, the state of Georgia is trying to line them up with a trade mission to China this week.
Or you could one day wind up working for a Chinese company with a factory here.
But Georgia Commissioner of Economic Development Craig Lesser said Wednesday by phone from Beijing that the goal of the eight-day trip was not to return with multiple contracts. Instead, he said, the goal is to lay the foundation that would lead to many ventures in the years ahead.
"This visit was really not about specific deals," he said.
One Chinese company, Lehui Enterprises, has already announced it will hire 200 people in Newnan for its Kingwasong LLC plant to make food sauces. And the state can also build on the trade that already flows through the ports of Savannah and Brunswick to or from China, which amounted to $12.1 billion last year.
"This is one of those seed-planting endeavors," said Lynn Pitts, senior vice president of the Savannah Economic Development Authority.
Both Pitts and Lesser were impressed with how much the Chinese officials already were aware of Georgia and its assets, largely because of the Olympics.
Pitts was on the trip as much to talk up Savannah as he was for his role with the 1996 Olympics and efforts to turn the event into lasting business relationships for Georgia. Since China is preparing to host the next Summer Olympics in 2008, the Chinese had many questions for Pitts, he said via telephone.
Georgia plans to open a trade office in Beijing by year's end. Lesser is trying to convince the Chinese to return the favor by opening a consulate in Georgia.
Another goal of the trip is for the state officials to put in a good word for Delta Air Lines' request for permission to fly to China.
Pitts said establishment of a trade office in Japan in the 1970s and direct flights helped spur significant trade with Georgia in the 1980s and beyond. "I think we're right on the beginning of the same thing from China," he said.
Walter Jones can be reached at email@example.com or (404) 589-8424.

domain: news


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Skylanders Trap Team the next game announced by Activision
Activision has announced on Wednesday that the next game under Skylanders franchise is Skulanders Trap Team.
Eric Hirschberg, CEO of Activision Publishing talked about the game at a launch event in New York City and said that: “For the last three years, we’ve allowed players to bring their toys to life inside a video game, now we’re letting them bring their video games to life in the real world.”
The game will release on October 5th and it will include more than 40 unique villains and 60 new playable Skylanders.
Below you can see the official trailer of the game and also a small galery with some screenshots of the game.


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iPhone 4 PDF Security Hole Already Patched by Apple
Apple seems to be on the ball for once as apparently the security hole in the iPhone 4 PDF that enables the likes of JailbreakMe to exploit the hole has now been patched by Apple and will be pushed out in an upcoming software update.
According to Gadget Venue and by way of an article over on Cnet, an Apple spokeswoman issues a statement which said…”We’re aware of this reported issue, we have already developed a fix and it will be available to customers in an upcoming software update.”
So it would seem that the PDF security hole will be closed when Apple releases iOS 4.1, which should be before the end of the month, and thus again close the avenue to jailbreaking the iPhone 4.
However no doubt once Apple has sealed this avenue hackers will again be working to exploit any other avenue to make the iPhone 4 with iOS 4.1 jailbroken, and probably will come not too long after Apple push out iOS 4.1.


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See Hong Kong Before Its Expiration Date
See it before it's too late. So think the hordes of tourists descending on Hong Kong before the British crown colony reverts to Chinese control on July 1, 1997. Not that the city will be visibly different on that date. It's just that people want to see the freewheeling territory--just in case China does something drastic to it. "There are lots of places in the world we want to visit," says Judith Asghar, a 33-year-old doctor from Glasgow, Scotland. "We felt this was the only place that couldn't wait."
Arrivals have jumped by double digits for the year, and hotel rooms are getting scarce. For the first eight months of 1996, 16% more tourists arrived than a year ago. Adding to the congestion, business people are also coming to cement deals. "There's definitely been a surge in businessmen," says Michael Horsburgh, general manager of the Holiday Inn Golden Mile in Kowloon.
HOTEL SHORTAGE. The biggest increase is in visitors from Japan, up 41%. "Many Japanese think Hong Kong will be different" after 1997, says Yasushi Yoneda, sales director at Orient Network Ltd., who expects to handle twice as many Japanese tourists this year. Emiko Kondo, a Japanese housewife visiting the colony, doesn't trust Beijing's pledges to keep Hong Kong the same. She thinks it will deteriorate into just another shabby city. "Maybe more poor people will come in from the mainland," she says.
Coinciding with the increase in arrivals is a shortage of hotel rooms. Occupancy rates are currently 87%, compared with 83% in 1995, with rates up 11%. Top-tier hotels report gross operating profits near 50%. Hong Kong has fewer rooms available than at any other time since 1992. The Hong Kong Hilton closed a year ago to make way for a huge downtown office tower, and several other hotels have closed or switched to short-term apartment rentals. The result is a 1,000-room decline in availability, to just over 33,000. The government has made zoning changes to boost hotel construction. But no significant increase is expected until 1998.
Hotel and tourism officials say visitors will still come to Chinese-ruled Hong Kong. They point to the scheduled opening of a large new airport to replace overcrowded Kai Tak, which will increase inbound flights. And the contracts being signed now will have to be executed later. "People will still have businesses to run," says Horsburgh.
Moreover, more people will come from China, now the biggest source of visitors. Arrivals are up 7.3% so far this year. "They want to take a look and see what they're taking over," quips Ian Perkin, Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce chief economist.
At attractions such as the Peak Tram, tour buses regularly unload groups from southern China's Guangdong province, where incomes are up and more people are traveling. A twentysomething Guangdong native, who gave her name as Miss Tang, traveled to the top of Victoria Peak in early November to view the city Beijing will rule in less than eight months. "Hong Kong is part of China," she says. "Chinese ought to come here." The question is how many from the rest of the world will come too, after July 1.


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Wema Bank Plc is a resilient company, with evidence in the digitally driven financial institution’s financial results. Wema has been capping the year with strong growth in key financial indices, especially as the bank crossed the N1trillion mark in total assets in 2021.
The Managing Director/CEO of Wema Bank Plc, Moruf Oseni, once explained the facts behind the bank’s growing numbers during the half year ended. Wema Bank is the pioneer of Africa’s first fully digital bank, ALAT, and one of Nigeria’s most resilient banks. With decades of experience in the business of banking, the Bank has remained innovative in delivering value to its stakeholders. The publicly quoted Nigerian company has successfully built a legacy of trust and resilience that has won it the loyalty of its customers. The Bank is constantly introducing products and services tailored to the needs of its customers at every stage of their lives. It is a proud partner to more than one million individuals, families and businesses across Nigeria, helping them achieve their personal and financial goals.
Wema Bank’s digital channels remain a priority in meeting customer needs and closing the financial inclusion gap. With a transaction value of N131.5 billion, USSD recorded over 58.6 million in transaction count (+55 per cent), reaffirming its focus to grow channel usage.
Mobile banking users completed over 42.8 million transactions last year, further driving the financial inclusion initiative of Wema Bank.
Wema Bank’s prepaid card allows customers to spend whatever amount of money is stored on the card. Once the balance is used up, you can reload the card online, or at any of our branch offices closest to you. Prepaid cards are issued by banks and branded by major payment companies, including Visa, MasterCard, and Verve.
A prepaid card is as good as cash and sometimes even better. It is a safe way to carry money around unlike, say, a wad of paper money. Prepaid cards also come with certain consumer protections, while cash does not.
Under Moruf Oseni’s leadership, Wema Bank’s prepaid card can be used for online purchases. It can make a more attractive gift than cash.
Wema Bank’s technological platform is a smart and convenient way to manage bills and daily expenses through the use of the Wema Utility Prepaid ATM Card.
Customers can get a card for their teenage children, nannies, chefs, drivers, or those under their pay list.
Besides convenience, Wema Utility Prepaid Card, is a sure primary bank account that is not exposed to the risk of internet fraud or physical theft.
The Wema Bank Utility Prepaid card is a pre-loadable card with an independent electronic wallet account. It can be loaded or reloaded via any electronic banking platform in Nigeria. The Wema Bank Prepaid Card is safe and secure so you can worry less about your card being hacked while shopping anywhere in Nigeria or through any channel.
Wema Utility Prepaid Cards are a wallet-based naira denominated Verve Card. As a prepaid card, one is expected to preload the value he anticipates to spend. Wema Utility Prepaid Cards present the most convenient loading and reloading functionality, as it could be loaded by fund transfer through any e-banking channel.
To get a prepaid card, customers can visit any Wema Bank Branch to get one Instantly or request through the self-service request portal.
Wema Bank takes care of its customers. The bank has proven to be thoughtful of its customers’ well being, while it welcomes contributions from diverse perspectives and experiences.
Olamide Adeniji is a member of the editorial team of TheScript Newspaper


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Energy commodity prices increased nearly 5 percent in February, led by oil (+8 percent), the World Bank’s Pink Sheet reported.
Non-energy prices gained 2 percent, in response to large price increases in metals and minerals.
Agricultural prices changed little, as increases in food and raw material prices (+0.5 percent each) were balanced by declines in beverages (-1.3 percent).
Fertilizer prices declined more than 2 percent, led by an 8 percent slide in DAP.
Metals prices surged nearly 6 percent, led by iron ore (+16 percent), nickel (+10 percent), and copper (+6 percent).
Precious metals prices rose 2 percent in response to a 2 percent jump in gold.
The Pink Sheet is a monthly report that monitors commodity price movements.
Nominal prices, percent changes, February over January


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Some Long Island library directors are concerned that rising pension costs will lead to cuts in hours, materials and programming.
Newsday (http://bit.ly/vz6k8e ) says Long Island’s libraries will pay more than $53 million into the state pension system over the next two years,
That’s more than twice the amount of the previous two years.
More breaking news
- How to choose a college or university
- Southampton Hospital joins Stony Brook system
- Jersey Mike’s opens in Bellmore
- Misonix widens loss
- Lakeland raises $9 million
- Priciest home sales in Deer Park
- Whole Foods shareholders say yes to Amazon deal
- $11.5M refinance for LI retail center
- Court: Day laborers have 1st Amendment right to solicit jobs
- Walmart dives into voice-activated shopping with Google


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Adventures In Tech uses the hottest topics in tech as a jumping off point for bitesize, informative
What do you get when you cross point-and-click adventure gaming with pulp sci-fi and stop-motion animation? The answer is Jack Houston and the Necronauts, a Kickstarter-funded masterpiece.
Josh Goldman gives you the skinny on the Canon PowerShot Elph 520 HS.
Crave's Eric Mack threw cold water on the iPhone 6 back in January 2013. While many of his predictions came true, he's a little shocked at how much he got wrong at the same time.
The glamour of science without the work! It's your chance to control a Mars rover, but on an alien world and for a possibly shady scientific organization. Season 1 is completed (and free).
CEO Tim Cook has promised for more than a year that Apple will bring out new products and step into new categories. At this week's event to talk up larger-screen iPhones, fans are hoping he'll finally deliver the next big thing -- a wearable device.
There was some hope in China that the account, which had several updates reflecting positively on Facebook, could be the real thing, but the social network has confirmed it's not.
An auction on September 13 will see the sale of 104 pieces of memorabilia from the Soviet space program, including a cognac bottle signed by Yuri Gagarin.
Starved for a little social contact? The face of a robot or doll will seem more alive to you than to someone with a brimming social life.
A credit card hack allegedly uncovered at Home Depot reportedly used a variant of the same malware that affected Target customers last year, says security researcher Brian Krebs.
A new app lets you send short voice messages to your friends that are deleted once heard.


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TweakTown NewsRefine News by Category:
We knew it was coming, but the retail packaging for Intel's upcoming Skylake processors have leaked online. We now have a legitimate look at the Core i7-6700K, and Core i5-6600K processors.
The Core i7-6700K will feature 4 physical cores and 4 HT cores to make up an 8-threaded CPU, while boasting a 4GHz clock speed, support for dual-channel DDR4 and DDR3L memory, as well as Intel HD Graphics 530. The Core i5-6600K on the other hand, features just four physical cores at 3.5GHz, without Hyper-Threading the same dual-channel DDR4/DDR3L RAM support, and Intel HD Graphics 530.
When we heard about AMD's upcoming Zen architecture, we were excited, but with the latest news on this new APU, the excitement level has increased ten fold.
According to WCCFTech, AMD's upcoming APU is being dubbed an "Exascale Heterogeneous Processor", or EHP. AMD's new EHP will pack 32 x86 Zen cores, a massive Greenland-powered graphics die, and up to 32GB of HBM2 on its 2.5D interposer. That's not a mistake, we're looking at a 32-core processor, with enough graphics grunt to play games at 4K, and with up to 32GB of next-gen HBM2.
AMD's EHP can pack up to 32GB of HBM2, but it can be expanded through a DDR4 channel that is baked onto the package. As for the GPU side of this new APU, we don't know how many Greenland GPU cores will be used, but we're sure that AMD will use a smaller node for it, so we should expect it to pack quite the performance punch.
AMD is expected to roll out the EHP somewhere in the next couple of years, so expect it somewhere in 2016-2017. This is the type of APU that AMD needs to get into the next generation of consoles and VR headsets.
The release of Intel's new Skylake-based processors is right around the corner, alongside the release of the new Z170 range of motherboards. But news has broken that the upcoming flagship Core i7-6700K has been overclocked to a huge 5.2GHz... on air cooling.
The achievement happened with an early BIOS, with the CPU hitting 5198.75MHz - an overclock of 1200MHz above its 4GHz stock clock. Better yet, just 1.35V was required to reach this, which is a damn good achievement considering you need more voltage, and watercooling to get anywhere near that on a current Core i7-4790K.
While it was sitting at 1.35V and 5.2GHz, we don't know what temperatures the overclocked Core i7-6700K was sitting at under load. We should expect many more details to arrive on the Core i7-6700K as we get closer to its launch next month.
A few months ago AMD launched their 'Kaveri' refresh, the A10-7870K, and today they are launching another refresh, the A8-7670K. The A8-7670K will feature 10 compute cores which consists of 4 CPU cores and 6 GPU cores.
Compared to its predecessor, the 7670K will have boosts in both CPU (100MHz turbo/300MHz base) and integrated GPU (37MHz) clock speeds. The 7670K is aimed at users who want strong performing integrated graphics at an affordable price, such as a family PC where games consist of online titles such as League of Legends.
Compared to a similarly priced Intel i3, AMD promises increased CPU and integrated GPU performance, especially when the program utilizes combined CPU and integrated GPU workloads.
In a recent press release, Intel Corporation CEO Brian Krzanich announced some leadership changes within his company, ranging from Presidents to operational management.
First off is Intel President Renée James, said to be stepping down in order to "pursue an external CEO role" after January 2016. Intel's President of Capital, Arvind Sodhani, will retire in January after 35 years in the technology giant and Wendell Brooks, President of Mergers and Acquisitions, will also manage Intel Capital.
Further to this, Aicha Evans formerly from Intel Communication and Devices Group has been promoted into the Management Committee and Josh Walden will lead all product and research teams involved in creation and deployment of new technology categories. In addition, executives Hermann Eul and Mike Bell will leave after a transition period.
According to the latest reports, Qualcomm will be getting Samsung to produce its upcoming Snapdragon 820 processor on its 14nm FinFET process.
Additional reports state that Qualcomm will be pushing its Krait cores to the site, using the more efficient and faster Kyro cores instead. The Snapdragon 820 processor should see 8 cores clocked at 3GHz, which will make it one of, if not the fastest mobile processor in the world. When will we see the Snapdragon 820 architecture powering devices?
We should see Qualcomm pushing the new Snapdragon 820 processors into devices in Q4 2015.
With Intel all set to unveil their new Skylake-S series of processors at Gamescom 2015 in August, we're hearing that the new 'K-series' enthusiast processors will not ship with a stock cooler.
Intel is set to release its Core i7-6700K processor a week after Windows 10 is released, with Intel aiming at enthusiasts buying their own high-performance air, or liquid cooling system for their new CPU. The chipmaker will be offering a new PCG 2015D high performance air and liquid cooling solutions, but the processor itself will ship without a HSF.
The next question is, will Intel drop the price to counter that the processor doesn't include a stock cooler, or will Intel make more profit per K-series CPU it ships, thanks to not giving consumers a cooler.
Intel had planned to jump into the 10nm processor game as early as next year, but it looks like its 10nm-based Cannonlake processor has been pushed back, indefinitely.
The chip giant planned on releasing its 10nm processor in 2016, delaying it into 2017 shortly after. But now the company has experienced serious issues with its 10nm process, deciding to intro the Kaby Lake platform instead. There's not much known on the Kaby Lake platform, other than it being a 14nm process, and the usual dual- and quad-core processors that Intel will surely offer. We should expect the same LGA1151 socket to be used, with power to sit somewhere between 4.5W and 91W.
We should take a lesson from this: while AMD isn't sitting in the best position when it comes to combating Intel in the CPU game, Intel is now at a stalemate when it comes to ushering in a next-generation processor. With 10nm off the table for the next few years, we're looking at nearly rehashed CPUs from Intel until a new technology can be released to market from the company.
Things have heated up in the AMD space hours before the launch of the Radeon R9 Fury X, with rumors circling that Qualcomm is interested in acquiring AMD, according to a report by Seeking Alpha.
Without a large amount of success in recent times there has been many claims by public and media alike of AMD beginning a struggle, without any reports pointing out a direction or solution that AMD might undergo in order to fix its 'issues'. However, in a report by investor company Seeking Alpha, Qualcomm CEO Steve Mollenkopf mentioned that he is interested in taking over a larger portion of the server scene and adjacent markets - this saw AMD pointed out as the most realistic financial possibility.
There's a few assumptions made here that Qualcomm will either buy out the AMD server business solely or the complete company itself - however, it's one of the best theories put forward yet. AMD recently denied spin-off talk, which helps solidify the idea that it may sell up completely to Qualcomm, rather than pushing away parts of its business.
If Qualcomm is to take over, we can expect to see the Snapdragon processor come out in full force, something that is already included in many mobile applications and the chip that this company is most well known for in the public scene.
The AMD versus Intel debate is one that will seemingly run until the end of time. The latest update in this slew of arguments is the unfolding information that AMD's E3-announced Project Quantum will be powered by an Intel Core i7-4790K processor instead of an AMD-made addition.
Sitting atop an ASRock mini-ITX motherboard, the internals will be topped off with two 'Fiji' video cards in crossfire, half-height Crucial Ballistix RAM and an AMD labeled SSD.
As for cooling, the Project Quantum will feature a custom Asetek watercooling system that hooks up to the video cards, the processor and the PCG.


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Hatboro, Pa-based PerformTex Products LLC recently announced it has signed BML Basic as a distributor of the PerformTex line of products. PerformTex Products is the company behind a line of twin-grooved, adhesive technology kinesiology tapes.
John Jarvis, PT, marketing director of PerformTex, says the firm is proud to welcome BMLbasic to PerformTex’s distribution network. Jarvis also notes that BMLbasic exemplifies PerformTex’s values and beliefs regarding customer service, support, and value.
“In the short time since our working relationship began,” Jarvis says, “I can honestly say that they are a team that PerformTex will stand behind fully because of their business philosophy and principles.”
“BMLbasic has been distributing kinesiology tape for over 5 years, and after seeing PerformTex’s ad in the most recent issue of Chiropractic Economics, it was obvious that we had to offer PerformTex Tape,” states Josh Stroud, BMLbasic purchasing manager. “With the advancements in technology, a modern eye-catching product, and not to mention the best pricing in the market, just like six out of 10 of practitioners, we also had to make a switch,” continues Stroud.
PerformTex reports that BMLbasic was established in 1968, and specializes in the manufacturing of foot orthotics. BMLbasic has become a wholesale distributor not only to the chiropractic market, but also to the massage, spa, and physical therapy industries for the entire United States.
[Source: PerformTex Products LLC]


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Sabyasachi recently collaborated with Swedish fashion brand H&M for the launch of its new collection of women’s attire. Sabyasachi is one of the most reputed Indian fashion brands. Wearing its piece is a dream for many, which mostly remains unfulfilled given its high prices.
H&M, on the other hand, is much more affordable. However, it has been criticized of late for its exploitative and unsustainable practices. The workers are underpaid and forced to work for longer hours. Clean Clothes Campaign published a report in July 2021 which showed that H&M was one of the brands that cut its workers’ wages during the pandemic.
Sabyasachi is the complete opposite, or so it says. Though the dresses are expensive, they are handmade by Indian artisans. It keeps the Indian tradition alive and supports the local craft.
So, working with H&M did not seem to make much sense for people. This is why many are calling out Sabyasachi for its collaboration with H&M.
People Disappointed By The Unusual Collaboration
“Sabyasachi banks on slow fashion and built his brand using handlooms that can be passed down generations. But this collection seems like a greenwashing [attempt], and is hypocritical because it’s not sustainable or empowering artisans in India in any way,” said Aikum Bhatti, an entrepreneur who runs a sustainable fashion platform.
Indian-American Entrepreneur and content creator Sanjana Rishi posted a story on her Instagram penning down everything that is wrong with the collaboration. She wrote,
“Sabyasachi has always been about craftsmanship and empowering authentic Indian textiles through karigars (artisans). So it’s disappointing when he collaborates with a brand like H&M, which is known to have so much mismanagement in its supply chain.”
She also took a dig at fashion influencers who were posting about this collaboration but otherwise claim to promote sustainable and ethical fashion practices.
Overpriced Saree Mocked By Netizens
The whole point of this collaboration was that people would be able to afford Sabyasachi designs since they would now be mass-produced by H&M. However, a saree, which is found in almost every Indian woman’s closet, was priced at INR 9,999 in the collection.
But, the admirers of the brand bought it all nevertheless. It all got out of stock in mere minutes. The brand name can truly sell anything!
Image Sources: Twitter, Google Images
Find The Blogger: @TinaGarg18
This post is tagged under: Sabyasachi, h&m, Sabyasachi and h&m collaboration, saree, fast fashion, exploitation in fashion, Sabyasachi Mukherjee, lehenga, wanderlust, affordable fashion, sustainable fashion, social media influencers, wedding attire, bridal wear, Indian fashion, culture, tradition


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Over the past few years, technology has been advancing at a rapid pace. While developments continue to exceed our expectations, predicting what’s next, and when it’ll arrive is becoming increasingly difficult. Looking into the future, there are several exciting emerging tech trends for 2019. Here’s a quick look at a bit of what’s (possibly) to come.
Emerging Tech Trends for 2019
What’s most exciting about blockchain technology is its vast potential. Originally developed for cryptocurrency, blockchain is projected to expand into numerous industries to serve a number of tasks. With the increasing prevalence of data breaches and cyber attacks, the need for improved privacy protection is greater than ever. Blockchain is a natural solution to this threat due to its ability to provide incorruptible, encrypted recordkeeping. Records can be easily verified, and transactions can be traced without the need for a third party. As the ball has already started rolling, we can expect to see blockchain expand into government, healthcare, manufacturing, real estate, and more. This expansion will contribute to Garter’s prediction of blockchain creating $3.1T in business value by 2030. Blockchain is predicted to also play a big role in HR, which you can read more about here: Blockchain’s Role in HR and the Future of Work.
Machine Learning and Automation
By 2022, the machine learning market is expected to grow to $8.81 billion. The high demand for automation and machine learning capabilities across industries is influencing the rapid pace at which this technology is growing. Forecasts for these technologies include 10 percent of new vehicles having autonomous level four driving capabilities by 2021, a giant jump from just one percent in 2017.
If you’re interested in more on that front, here’s a great read from TechEmergence: The Self-Driving Car Timeline, Predictions from the Top 11 Global Automakers, For reference, when speaking about true “self-driving” cars, most references are to level 3 and level 4 capabilities, which are outlined in the graphic below:
Possibilities for applications of machine learning and autonomous technology appear limitless at this point, and it’s no surprise machine learning jobs are ranking among the top emerging jobs, with nearly 2,000 job listings posted on LinkedIn. 2019 and beyond can certainly expect a lot more automation and much smarter devices.
The number of IoT devices is predicted to reach 30 billion by 2020. Connected homes, offices, and shopping centers known as smart spaces are the future of physical and digital environments. As technology continues to further integrate itself into our daily lives, connected, intelligent and autonomous ecosystems will likely become a societal expectation. Looking further into the future, the idea of smart cities, where businesses and residences are designed using the IoT is the optimal example of a smart space. These smart cities are defined by Garter as communities designed using intelligent urban ecosystem frameworks, with all sectors linking to social and community collaboration.
Augmented and virtual reality continue to rank high on the list of emerging tech trends for 2019 and that’s because they are used to create immersive experiences, which are an important part of customer experience overall. B2C interactions are going to be experiencing big change as a result, as, no doubt, will B2B interactions. The concept is based on the mixing of human capabilities with augmented and virtual realities to alter how people perceive their surroundings in the digital world. While there are many examples of this, two easy ones are the fact that this technology will enable shoppers to experience an offering before making a purchase and in the workplace, employers will be able to use it to better engage remote employees.
These developments among others are leading the way to a bright and innovative future. While there is still a long way to go in deploying much of this technology, the potential is certainly there. Emerging tech trends for 2019 will likely show great momentum in technological advancement as there is surely more to come.


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A reader tipped us off about a zoning notice in front of a warehouse at 19 E. Oregon Ave., just to the east of I-95.
Thomas Colace Co. is a company that processes and distributes fruits and vegetables to food service businesses. They moved from this huge warehouse to Jersey a few years back, and the building was most recently on the market for $1.725M. According to the representative we spoke with at CBRE, the property is currently under contract, though we don’t know the identity of the buyer.
What we do know is that the buyer is proposing a unique new use for the building, according to the zoning application that was granted over the summer. The new concept will include a bowling alley, a bar/restaurant, live music, a pool room, an amusement arcade, and outdoor…


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The busiest shopping day of the year is right around the corner and retailers across the UK are planning to discount thousands of items.
This year, Black Friday falls on November 29 and with just one week to go, bargains are already being announced on laptops, watches, mobile phones and televisions.
We've scoured the internet for the best deals to help you maximise savings this Christmas.
Here's what we've found:
The Amazon Black Friday deal has been revealed for the first time and day one of sales has discounts on everything from the Echo Dot device to the Amazon Fire TV Stick.
Those who have signed up for Amazon Prime, the retailer's premium delivery and subscription service, will get access to flash sales throughout the week.
You can find the deals here.
£29.99 (Save £20)
(3rd Generation) Smart Speaker with Alexa
£22 (Save £27.99)
£109.99 (Save £69.01)
Many of the deals Argos have announced have been placed on electronic items.
There are savings of £100 and more on Dyson Vacuum Cleaners, Lenovo and Acer Laptops and a 50" Hitachi 4K Smart TV.
You can view the full sale here.
£199.99 (Save £100)
£249.99 (Save £120)
£169.99 (Save £50)
Following a three-year gap, Asda has once again decided to take part in Black Friday.
And it has launched a series of offers which certainly won't disappoint shoppers.
The supermarket has slashed prices on some of the most in demand items this Christmas, including Nintendo Switch Lite, Fitbit, Polaroid TVs and Now TV sticks.
However, there's just one catch - most of the offers aren't available online, so you'll have to head to a store near you to find them.
Nintendo Switch Lite (turquoise, grey and yellow)
£169.99 (Save £30)
Polaroid Smart Tv 49"
£229 (Save £70)
RCA Gemini 2 in 1 10" Tablet
£89 (Save £40)
Original Crock Pot
£20 (Save £20)
The electronics specialist has revealed a sneak peek at its Black Friday deals and the biggest savings can be found on the Dyson V7 Motorhead vacuum cleaner, which has been reduced from £299 to just £199 in the sale.
Currys PC World is calling the sale its 'Black Tag' event and discounts include Nespresso coffee machines reduced by £104, up to £150 off Hauwei, Samsung and Google Pixel mobile phones, and an eye-catching discount on HP and Lenovo laptops.
Currys has also launched a big deal on the Nintendo Switch. The gaming console is likely to be at the top of plenty of Christmas lists this year and the price tag is £279.99.
You can see the full Currys sale here.
£199 (Save £100)
512 GB SSD, Silver
£649 (Save £300)
£59 (Save £60)
Microsoft Surface Pro 7 Tablet Intel Core i7 Processor, 16GB RAM 256 GB
£1,304.10 (Save £144)
Samsung Galaxy Tab A 10.5" Tablet
£209 (Save £40)
Huawei P30 Pro 8+ with Reverse Wireless Charge
Android, 8GB RAM, 6.47", 46 LTE, SIM Free 128 GB
£649.95 (Save £150)
Samsung UE65RU7400 (2019) HDR 4k Ultra HD Smart TV 65"
£699 (Save £100)


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The community-driven review site continues to move into new territory in the U.S.
This week, voters in three U.S. states decided that marijuana is a good thing. As marijuana continues to reach more consumers, the infrastructure supporting the industry has to increase, as well. MassRoots is one of these, offering a platform that helps ensure consumers can source the best marijuana options.
MassRoots offers a community-led review portal that allows users to see what other consumers say about different businesses. As Michigan, Missouri and Utah voters have now approved marijuana use in their states, the company said in a press release that it is ready to offer its services to consumers in the new regions.
According to MassRoots CEO Isaac Dietrich, “Yesterday, voters in three states voted to establish regulated cannabis markets, enabling further growth of the industry and expanding our addressable market. We believe that once regulated dispensaries begin operating in Missouri, Utah and Michigan – in addition to more than two dozen other states across the country – MassRoots could generate additional revenue from its consumer and business offerings.”
MassRoots also offers a loyalty reward program, WeedPass. The program was launched in beta testing this past August, and already has garnered the support of over 100 regulated dispensaries in Colorado and California. Once the beta testing period has ended, MassRoots anticipates rolling the platform out to all states that offer legalized marijuana.
MassRoots offers a mobile platform that allows consumers to “make educated cannabis purchasing decisions through community-driven reviews.” It now has over a million registered users, and counting.


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TechSpot means tech analysis and advice you can trust. Read our ethics statement.
Back in late August, the algorithmically-driven process that had taken the place of Facebook's Trending Topics editorial team pushed a fake story about Fox News anchor Megyn Kelly to the top of the trending list. It was though to be a one-off, but not according to a new report from the Washington Post.
The publication logged every trending story from August 31 through to September 22 using four different Facebook accounts during workday hours. It found five trending stories that were fake and three that were "profoundly inaccurate." Given the times it logged the trending stories, and the fact that Facebook personalizes them for each user, there may have been more fake items that the Post missed.
One of the news stories arrived the day after the Apple iPhone 7 event. It claimed that Tim Cook had said one of the new features of next year's iPhone 8 would see "Siri physically coming out of the phone and doing all the household chores," which would be pretty fantastic, admittedly. Readers' suspicions may have been aroused by the name of the site where the story appeared: "Faking News."
It was also found that press releases, blog posts from sites such as Medium, and links to online stores such as iTunes regularly trended - items that hardly fall into the category of news.
Facebook laid off its entire Trending Topics editorial staff following accusations it was routinely suppressing conservative news stories from appearing in the section. It continues to be monitored by a small team of people to make sure the topics remain "high-quality." Seems they let a few slip by.


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(Reuters) – General Motors Carbon monoxide defined on Friday it had actually truly enhanced the manufacturing at its Detroit Hamtramck plant till January 2020, versus an earlier method to finish manufacturing in June this year.
The No. 1 U.S. car provider is overhauling its therapies, that include plant closures in addition to also a lot of work cuts, as it plans to enhance success sticking to lowering U.S. vehicle sales.
The Hamtramck plant will absolutely remain to create the Chevrolet Impala together with Cadillac CT6 cars and trucks as well as vehicles till very early listed here year, the business pointed out.
“We are preserving manufacturing timing while proceeding the regimen of Cadillac progressed modern technology runs presently consisted of in the CT6-V – the Blackwing Twin-Turbo V-8 (engine) along with Super Cruise (vehicle driver help system),” GM proclaimed.
The plant has truly currently give up manufacturing of the Buick LaCrosse vehicle along with Chevrolet Volt electrical crossbreed lorries in addition to lorry.
Detroit-based union United Auto Workers’ President Gary Jones discussed GM’s choice to proceed manufacturing at the plant was a decrease for the employee along with their homes.
“We commend GM for today’s choice along with we state the well worth of a cumulative negotiating therapy in times like these,” Jones stated.


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Person-to-person payments provider Dwolla Corp. responded late Tuesday to a lawsuit filed by the Bitcoin exchange TradeHill, saying allegations that it put TradeHill out of business were "specious" and that the suit is little more than an attempt to generate publicity.
TradeHill filed its suit Monday in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, claiming that Dwolla fraudulently advertised a no-charge back policy, and precipitated the shutdown of the exchange by reversing $100,000 in credited transactions and blocking TradeHill from transferring $70,000 of its funds from Dwolla.
TradeHill, of San Francisco, ceased operating in mid-February.
Dwolla, of Des Moines, said in a statement released Tuesday that it had received no formal notice of a potential lawsuit and that it would defend itself vigorously against any allegations of wrongdoing.
"What we will not do is provide specific comment on specious allegations made by those who have a self-serving interest in seeking publicity," Dwolla said in the statement.
Without responding directly to the allegations, Dwolla said that chargebacks are a serious issue and it needs to respond quickly to people who are claiming to be victims of fraud.
"Predators can use stolen identities to create fraudulent accounts without a victim's knowledge… A necessary byproduct of this kind of fraud is bank-level reversals, 'chargebacks' issued by the institutions on behalf of the victim, not Dwolla," the statement said.
Chargebacks are a thorny problem for Bitcoin transactions because they closely resemble cash, and unlike credit card chargebacks, which are well-regulated, they are new territory for payment processors.
Bitcoin is a digital currency that has no central issuing authority.
"We will not play accomplice to sources of ongoing fraud. In such cases, we move quickly and act appropriately to facilitate restitution on behalf of the financial institution and its members (the victims). This is required by federal and state consumer protection laws, but more importantly it's the right thing to do," Dwolla's statement said.
TradeHill's attorney, Pierre G. Basmaji, said the plaintiff is seeking $2 million in damages.


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Felicity Emmett, senior economist at ANZ, are expecting Australia’s Q4 GDP to have risen a soft 0.2% q/q, following the 0.3% q/q rise in Q3, which would see annual growth decline to 2.4%.
“GDP growth, at +0.2% q/q and +2.4% y/y, looks to be lower than the 2.8% annual growth the RBA forecast in its February Statement on Monetary Policy.”
“The main new pieces of information since our preliminary forecast last week are weaker wages, profits and inventories but stronger net exports and government finances. The surprises in these partial data have largely offset each other. Government spending looks to have risen a very strong 1.3% q/q and will contribute 0.4ppt to growth in the quarter.”
“In tomorrow’s report, the focus will be on the household indicators – consumption and income. Weak retail sales volumes (+0.1%) point to relatively modest growth in consumer spending. While retail spending accounts for only around 30% of consumption, ongoing weakness in car sales, falling house prices and tighter credit conditions will all weigh on consumer spending. We will be watching the GDP measure of average wages. Preliminary data suggest this is likely to continue to be lacklustre”


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Like many a corporate rejuvenation plan, CEO Paul Hudson’s blueprint for Sanofi includes some hefty cost cutting.
The French drugmaker’s aiming for €2 billion in annual savings by 2022, executives said Tuesday at an investor event where Hudson unveiled his strategy. And the company has already made progress, projecting €600 million in savings this year.
The cost-cutting details aren’t all fleshed out yet. But in short? Sanofi is shedding jobs in support functions, ratcheting back manufacturing budgets, tightening up purchasing, cutting down on travel and more.
In one big move, Sanofi is revamping its marketing deal with Regeneron to emphasize fast-growing Dupixent and “deprioritize” cholesterol med Praluent and rheumatoid arthritis treatment Kevzara. “[R]ight-sizing” the commercial teams for those two drugs will save some cash, though Sanofi didn’t say how many sales and marketing jobs face the ax.
Together with discontinuing R&D in diabetes and cardiovascular diseases—in many ways the headline announcement Tuesday—those cuts can save €500 million by 2022, Sanofi says.
The French drugmaker aims to realize a bigger chunk of savings—€1 billion by 2022—through “smart spending” in purchasing by negotiating better prices and better managing its demand. On top of those two goals, Sanofi is targeting €500 million in savings from “operational excellence,” or improving manufacturing efficiency and employee productivity.
Sanofi estimates it’ll cut 8% of its support staff this year and plans to take that to 20%, Chief Financial Officer Jean-Baptiste de Chatillon said Tuesday. In a call with reporters, Hudson said that effort has been in place since before he started at the drugmaker. The company has kicked off voluntary departure programs in countries including Japan, U.S., Germany and France.
At the end of 2018, Sanofi employed more than 21,000 people in marketing and support functions globally, although it wasn’t clear exactly how many of those jobs would be affected.
To show the company is serious about saving, execs said Tuesday that operating costs for the drugmaker are down 0.7% in 2019 through September compared with an average increase of 4.8% in recent years. Sanofi expects that belt-tightening to save €600 million this year.
De Chatillon got into some granular detail about the company’s penny-pinching. By using video conferencing to replace in-person meetings, Sanofi has saved 18% on travel costs through September this year, he said. It’s saving money on consultants—those fees are down 36% this year—by giving employees more power to make their own decisions. And an e-learning platform has helped cut training costs by 15% this year.
Further, Sanofi plans to streamline its established medicines portfolio, which currently features about 300 products. Some of those meds have limited sales and cost more money to maintain than they bring in, so Sanofi aims to reduce the portfolio to about 100 drugs by 2025.
Asked about potential R&D layoffs in fields that Sanofi is deprioritizing, Hudson said on the call it’s “too soon” to work through those details. Sanofi has a “proud history” in those areas, but the company had to make “hard choices” and recognize that within its existing R&D group for diabetes and CV, there weren’t any pipeline programs that would change medical practice and secure favorable reimbursement.
At least some of the savings from that R&D shift will likely be redeployed into programs Sanofi is ramping up, namely rare diseases and oncology. And on Sanofi’s overall headcount plans, Hudson said the drugmaker will add positions in some businesses where it can succeed and reduce them elsewhere.
Sanofi doesn’t yet know how that balance will shake out and will work on the details over the coming weeks and months, he added.
The new strategy isn’t all about saving money, though. The company plans to invest in fields where it can succeed, plus spend on M&A and business development, among other spending priorities.


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Bill Gates Sides With FBI, Mark Zuckerberg With Apple, In iPhone Encryption Case
A number of high profile names from the business world have already come out in support of Apple as the company fights against a federal court order to assist law enforcement in unlocking an iPhone involved in the San Bernardino shootings in California. Notably, current Google CEO Sundar Pichai offered his support to Apple, calling the move a “troubling precedent” if allowed to continue. Now, a couple of additional figure heads from the technology community have chimed in with an opinion, one in favor of Apple’s stance on the case, and one supporting the FBI’s position.
Microsoft co-founder, American business magnate, and world famous philanthropist, Bill Gates, has spoken up about the situation, offering his opinion and support in favor of what the FBI is trying to achieve with the demand.
It seems that Gates isn’t particularly swayed by Apple’s argument that cooperating with the FBI would ultimately compromise the security of users and their data going forward:
This is a specific case where the government is asking for access to information. They are not asking for some general thing, they are asking for a particular case. It is no different than should anybody ever have been able to tell the phone company to get information, should anybody be able to get at bank records.
Gates also goes as far as calling for a debate on the situation that would hopefully result in a best practice of safeguards being built to prevent any kind of backdoor from being abused. In contrast to the option of Microsoft co-founder Gates, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg has also added his option to the growing debate. Zuckerberg has joined Google CEO Sundar Pichai and WhatsApp founder Jan Koum in support of Apple, stating that Facebook as a company is “sympathetic with Apple on this one”. Speaking at this year’s Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Zuckerberg took the opportunity to address the situation:
We’re sympathetic with Apple on this one. We believe in encryption. I expect it’s not the right thing to try to block that from the mainstream products people want to use, and I think it’s not going to be the right regulatory or economic policy to put in place.
We have a feeling that the majority of the debate is just getting started on this situation as Apple looks to fight a court order that essentially asks them to create an entirely new version of iOS that would allow security measures to be circumvented from the device. Meanwhile Tim Cook has explained the company’s stance to all its employees by issuing an email, and has also posted a FAQ page and a public letter to Apple customers.
Update x1: In a new interview, Bill Gates has now told Bloomberg that he is disappointed the way his view on the subject have been presented. He further clarified that he does not side with FBI in this particular case and believes that the issue should be decided by court.


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According to a study done by Duke University in North Carolina, higher exposure of lead in childhood may affect brain health and disrupt cognitive development.
UK's food safety agency today said it has decided to test a few samples of Maggi noodles. After a number of reports, it said the popular instant snack sold in India was found to have ...
(FSSAI) justified the ban on Maggi noodles before the Bombay High Court, saying that the popular instant snack contained lead beyond permissible limit.
Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration has given a clean chit to the samples of Haldiram snacks after testing them for possible excess lead levels.
Domestic giant ITC Ltd clarified that it has not received any communication from the UP government regarding the presence of excess lead in its instant noodle brand Sunfeast Yippee.
Lead can be found in many products and locations including some candies, toys, and traditional medicines.
Lead and other heavy metals like Cadmium and Chromium have been found in the samples of five different soft drinks manufactured by two major multinational companies in India.
FSA announces that Nestle India's Maggi noodles were safe to consume and contained lead well within permissible levels.
According FDCA commissioner Mr. H G Koshia, out of 23 samples of Sunfeast Yippee, one sample failed the safety test as it showed higher lead content while some samples showed presence of MSG.
The ongoing ban on Maggi instant noodles will not result in job cuts, Nestle India's newly appointed Managing Director Suresh Narayanan has said.


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Warburtons announces plans to close Oldham bakery
Warburtons has announced plans to close its bakery in Oldham.
The company said it had entered into a 90-day consultation period over closing the site in Shaw, Greater Manchester.
It said its 174 employees had been told of the decision, which it said was made to help it to produce and distribute its products more efficiently.
It added that if the closure went ahead it would try to minimise redundancies and find people alternative jobs within the business where possible.
A spokeswoman for the company said the Shaw site makes a wide range of products, the production of those will be transferred within the Warburtons bakery network.
Robert Higginson, managing director of Warburtons, said: "To close a bakery is the most difficult decision a family firm like Warburtons can take.
"We appreciate how tough a period this is for our employees in Shaw and we will work closely with them and their representatives to discuss our proposal and explore all available options."
He added: "The proposed changes are designed to improve our manufacturing and distribution operations which will help us better meet the demands of our customers and consumers across the UK."
Warburtons is based in Bolton, Greater Manchester, and has several sites across England.


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| Jun 22, 2012
| 5:41 PM
Baltimore residential real estate broker Bonnie Fleck is no stranger to luxury.
"I think it might be because my very first car was an Audi," Fleck said when asked why she chooses luxury cars instead of more utilitarian models. She also wants to give...
| Mar 3, 2011
| 11:16 AM
You might expect winter on the Eastern Shore to be slow. I know I did. So even though it was Presidents Day weekend, I told my husband that the holiday wouldn't be a hindrance to a quick two-day trip to the Hyatt Regency Chesapeake Bay, a resort I've been...
| Feb 25, 2011
| 12:56 PM
Rita St. Clair and her staff turned to an ancient classic when the Baltimore interior designer was asked to decorate a room upon her induction into the Washington Design Center Hall of Fame. The group wanted a fabric to accent a number of pieces in the...
| Jun 24, 2011
| 7:39 AM
It was a night of eating, drinking, shopping and fundraising at Towson Town Center's Sip Savor Shop event Thursday night, benefiting the United Way of Central Maryland.
Wineries, restaurants and big name retailers teamed up to provide guests with an...
| Sep 20, 2011
| 6:26 AM
Luxury designer Michael Kors will be opening a new store in the Mall in Columbia in December, mall officials have announced.
The store will be on the second floor near J. Crew.
| Nov 18, 2011
| 6:39 AM
• In this week's "Bet On It" feature, SI.com says the Bengals will have a hard time scoring before halftime.
The Ravens have seen first-hand what the after-effects of playing Pittsburgh can be -- twice, Baltimore has beaten the Steelers this year;...
| Jul 19, 2013
| 2:18 PM
"Teen Beach Movie" -- the television film Disney hopes will be the next "High School Musical" -- is set to premiere Friday night, and if nothing else it's going to give us a blast from the fashion past.
The movie is about a pair of modern day teens...
| Jul 10, 2013
| 11:39 AM
Anthropologie, the retailer known for its twee and often vintage-inspired fashions and home goods, opened its first BHLDN "shop within a shop" store in Beverly Hills on Wednesday.
The sister label, pronounced “beholden,” launched as an...
| Apr 28, 2013
— Within 30 seconds in her airy, orchid-filled office three floors above Central Park, Betty Halbreich had zeroed in on one of my chief torments as a professional woman.
"I know why you have a problem with pants," Halbreich said dryly, patting...
| Mar 23, 2013
The early years of Andy Spade's influence on the fashion world are well-documented: In 1993, he helped launch the Kate Spade handbag line with his future wife (the eponymous Kate). That was followed in 1996 by the Jack Spade line of utilitarian men's...
| Mar 27, 2013
| 6:57 PM
Stephanie Sack owns Vive La Femme, a snappy Bucktown boutique for plus-size fashionistas. While her store tends to be more flattering focused than trend conscious, she says that accessories play a major role in pulling a complete look together.
| May 31, 2013
| 2:13 PM
If there's anything that can make khaki cool -- and possibly inspire the next viral video dance craze along the way -- it's the NSJ Crew's "Khaki Pants," a humorous riff on the plight of the school uniform that's currently making the media rounds.


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UK - TLS Lighting has welcomed Mark Bailey on board as sales and marketing manager. Mark has extensive experience in the lighting Industry having worked on projects in the UK. and Europe for over 30 years.
Recently, he has been working on special effects and pyrotechnics for TV and Films, but is looking forward to working with the team at TLS Lighting on the wide range of projects they have ready to roll out this year.
TLS, which specialises in LED lighting control and Pixel tape products, has recently moved to new premises in north Walsham in Norfolk.
UK - 22live has appointed two new recruits to its team, with Aaron Boothe and James Gebhard both joining the line up as hire consultant and technical supervisor, respectively.
Aaron Boothe first started working with 22live in 2022 as a hire consultant, bringing some of his projects to the team led by Paul Timmins, namely Central Cee, D-Block Europe, Beenie Man and Rema. Boothe wears many hats as a production manager, system engineer and sound engineer. He joins 22live as a hire consultant, meaning that he will be responsible for bringing clients to 22live. Boothe already works with many artists and is a well-known figure within the industry.
Spencer Beard comments: “We are very pleased to welcome Aaron to the 22live team. Aaron is a great guy that will push us in front of new clients, and we really value him as both a great personality and engineer as well as also being one of the hardest workers I know! Having previously worked with Aaron I know he’s a great fit to the team at 22live, sharing our vision as the next generation service provider.”
Boothe adds: “I’ve really enjoyed all of the work I’ve done with 22live so far and it’s great to take up a formal position with the new company. 22live really excites me, and has reinvigorated my enthusiasm to seriously get back in the game post-pandemic. Everything 22live is doing has really impressed me, and I am 100% confident that my clients present and future will be impressed also.”
James Gebhard has also taken on a full time role as technical supervisor at 22live, and joi
USA - Hall Technologies has appointed Steven Pedroza as western regional sales manager. Pedroza has a long AV career supporting projects across a wide range of applications on both the manufacturers and system integration side of the industry.
“The West Coast is a key territory for Hall, and we could not be more pleased to have Steven on our team,” says VP of sales and marketing, Hal Truax. “He came highly recommended and is known for being very customer-focused and thorough. Those are key traits we look for on our team.”
“I’m extremely excited to join the Hall Technologies team at such a pivotal time in the company’s history, as well as within the AV industry I love so very much. Hall is a perfect fit for me and where I want to be in the industry, working side-by-side with a talented like-minded team that truly wants to help others succeed via technology.”
Europe - Ahead of a string of major announcements in the region, PK Sound has appointed event industry veteran Tim Timmermans to the role of Central European partner support. Based in Limburg Province, Netherlands, Timmermans will work closely with PK’s David Roselló, Southern European partner support, and Canadian HQ staff in developing and serving the company’s growing European network.
“PK Sound’s robotic line source technology is a total gamechanger, and the PK Alliance model puts these advanced capabilities into the hands of the next generation of live sound providers with an unrivalled total cost of ownership,” offers Timmermans. “We’ve already deployed T10 and Trinity Black systems for high-profile applications in venues throughout Europe with incredible results, and the industry is taking notice. I look forward to empowering more users throughout the EU with these innovative solutions.”
In his new role, Timmermans is a direct point of contact for PK’s current and future partners in the region.
Timmermans brings over 15 years’ experience to the role. In addition to serving as a manager with Stagelight, Timmermans has become one of the most demanded technical producers and project managers in the region, collaborating with a myriad of top-level touring artists, music festivals, and other live events.
Timmermans began his European network development work with PK Sound in January, making significant inroads in several key markets ahead of the 2023 launch of PK Sound Europe and PK Alliance.eu.
Europe - Brompton Technology has recently appointed Oliver Dier as its new technical sales manager. Dier, who has a wealth of experience working with professional AV systems such as camera systems for live events, film, and television, made his first appearance for the company at the ISE Show in Barcelona. Based in Germany, he will be reporting to Dries Vermeulen, Brompton's business development manager for Europe.
"Given that Germany is our largest market in continental Europe, hiring someone in the region that speaks the same language seemed the most natural thing to do," says Vermeulen. "As technical sales manager, Oliver will be instrumental in developing and nurturing robust relationships with our customers in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, plus other key areas, while also ensuring they are kept informed of the most recent advancements and developments in Brompton's innovative product portfolio."
"More than 10 years ago, I was a part of the team which supplied the screen for the Gravity Lightbox. It was a real game changer in the film industry,” says Dier. “I have collaborated with members of the Brompton team before and witnessed first-hand the dynamic innovations and advancements the company has introduced to the market in recent years. Today is another milestone for me and I am thrilled to be joining such a highly regarded team, and an organisation that is considered a benchmark within the industry for LED video processing."
Europe - Paul Johnson (PJ), has joined Ayrton in the newly created position of global install director with immediate effect. His role will be to open up a new area of activity for the company, expanding the use of stage lighting to architectural and large-scale, long-term installations.
Johnson has long been fascinated by ways of bringing the creativity of stage lighting into the architectural and built environment in ways that enhance and maximise the experience for both the client and user.
Having spent the past 15 years forging this philosophy with architectural installation and creative companies, whilst also maintaining an ongoing involvement in stage lighting design, Johnson now brings his eclectic experience to Ayrton where he will focus on bringing together the best of both worlds.
“There is an increasing potential in architectural development to introduce an ‘experience’ into building design through creative lighting,” says Johnson, “and there’s a huge skill set in the world of entertainment lighting which can translate across to fulfil this need.
“I’ve always enjoyed the process of moving my love of stage lighting and music to another location, and Ayrton fits into this perfectly due to the undeniable robustness and longevity of its products, and a willingness in the company to think outside the box. Their range of IP65/IP66 moving head fixtures especially opens up a world of possibilities for long-term projects and installations including the stadia and arena world, and the low maintenance and intelligent technolo
Europe - Absen has announced the appointment of Vegard Børresen and Dawid Laskowski business development managers for the Nordic region and Poland respectively.
Børresen brings extensive experience in sales and regional development to his role, most recently serving as business development director in the Nordic region for another LED brand.
Laskowski brings with him 17+ years of experience in sales, marketing and regional management across the digital print and AV markets.
“I am delighted to join Absen and be at the cutting edge of LED technology,” says Børresen, “Absen understand and respects that regional business development has cultural nuances. I am excited to bring my experience and market knowledge to Absen to help reach our goals in this territory.”
Ruben Rengel, vice President of global business development comments, “We are delighted to add Dawid and Vegard to our team; they are ideally placed to help support clients and drive new opportunities in their respective regions. Their deep understanding of their regions and vast background in the AV sector is a perfect fit for what we require in Europe. We are excited to see what new things lie ahead with these two appointments.”
Australia - Lightware Visual Engineering has announced two key roles, with a focus on growth in the Australian market. Gordon Anderson is the national manager for defence, intelligence and government, while John Garfi is the regional manager for Victoria and Tasmania. These announcements contribute to elevating the Australian Lightware office as a central hub for customers and partners across the Asia-Pacific region.
In his new role and working from Canberra, Gordon Anderson ‘will ensure that Lightware's hardware delivers the highest quality in AV & UC system security, with the reliability and performance demanded by these key sectors’. He has previously worked for Intravision, Crestron Electronics, Hills Limited, Sound Advice Australia and his own company Anderson Audiovisual.
John Garfiis a seasoned professional with over 20 years of experience in the live staging, hospitality, audio-visual/ICT integration, consulting, rental and production industries.
Based in Melbourne, John will be serving Lightware's diverse clientele, including higher education, specialist consultants, systems integrators, government, and commercial clients.
Lightware’s new Australian headquarters which includes a training theatre, experience centre, warehouse and technical development centre opened in May 2022 as a strategic step to expand the company’s presence in the region.
USA - The Behind the Scenes Foundation has added a number of new board members over the last six months intended to broaden industry representation and ensure continuity for future generations of entertainment technology professionals.
Chairperson Rick Rudolph states, “The Foundation has evolved and expanded its scope since forming in2005. Our mission now includes a Mental Health initiative along with the core of multiple needs grants. With increased programmes and the desire for more outreach and expertise, we have invited additional members to join the board of directors bringing fresh ideas and knowledge. I am extremely pleased to welcome them and grateful to our current and past members. The work we do is important, impacting our colleagues by providing help, hope and awareness.”
Joining the Board are Liz Campos, executive director of the IATSE Training Trust Fund; Caroline Chauvet, global brand manager for Chauvet; Kate Foster, marketing communication specialist for ETC; Paul Royalty, senior vice president of sales for LiteGear; Brad Schiller, lighting industry veteran; Jeff Siegel, director of Eastern region systems for Barbizon Lighting; Court Watson, USA 829 costume and scenic designer; and Pat White, president of IATSE Local 764 and director of education and training, IATSE.
Court Watson, whose design credits include theatre, opera and dance around the world, has created several popular BTS holiday cards over the years. It was his focus though, on making our workplaces safer and healthier for all that led the Board to invite him to join
USA - Meyer Sound has promoted Amy Luley to the position of director of global sales operations. In her new capacity, Luley will assume responsibility for overseeing and coordinating operational activities of the Meyer Sound sales teams both in the United States and internationally.
Luley was promoted to the new position based on the e sales success achieved in her prior position as director of U.S. sales operations. She will continue in that role, but now in addition to Meyer Sound’s team of sales managers in the United States, her responsibilities have been extended to include supporting the operational activities of director of international sales Scott Gledhill (Asia Pacific), Meyer Sound Europe managing director Wolfgang Leute (sales for Europe, Middle East, and Africa), and director, Latin America operations Jocelyn Moras. She will continue to report to senior vice president John McMahon.
“Amy played a major role in driving our sales team to set a new record for U.S. sales in 2022, and now we want to bring that same energy and skillset to the global stage,” says McMahon. “She has an ability to not only grasp the big picture of our global sales and marketing strategy but also to apply the focused mindset needed to manage the myriad of details and decisions that turn strategy into measurable results.”
Luley joined Meyer Sound in 2014 and was principally responsible for introducing the salesforce platform and leveraging its power to boost the efficiency and productivity of the company’s sales efforts.
“I’m looking forward to
UK/Singapore - Chauvet has expanded its international training and support team. The company has announced the appointment of Amy Kerr and Jeffrey Ong, two experienced industry members as product specialists.
Based in Manchester, Kerr will be responsible for the Europe, Middle East and Africa markets, while Ong, who works out of Singapore, will handle Asia.
“Everyone at our company, from our CEO Albert Chauvet on down, is committed to offering customers a complete package that includes not only quality products, but also the ability to support them with training and education,” said Stéphane Gressier, Chauvet’s international sales director. “We want our customers to know as much as possible about our products, so they get the maximum benefit out of them. With Amy and Jeffrey, we have two people who possess a deep understanding of lighting and lighting products.”
Kerr, who has served on PLASA panels, and been a lighting designer for artists, such the English singer/songwriter Dylan, was most recently a field sales support specialist for Robe, a position she held for over eight years, and through which she ran training programs throughout the UK.
Ong, a graduate of Singapore Polytec, likewise brings a wealth of experience to his new position, having served as the product and application manager at Harman Professional Singapore for almost 16 years. Prior to holding that position, he was the technical supervisor at The Ministry of Sound Singapore.
UK - Lightware Visual Engineering has announced the appointment of Christopher Chandler as vice president of global partnerships. In his new role, Chris will be responsible for driving business growth within integrator customers and alliance partners globally, and he will report to Szabolcs Turi, Lightware’s executive director, business development.
Chris is an experienced audio and technology industry professional with a track record spanning more than 25 years in sales and management. Prior to joining Lightware, he worked at Biamp where he held various roles including sales director.
"Lightware is committed to providing the best integrated systems solutions to our customers, and we are excited to have Chris join the business to lead our global partnerships strategy," said Szabolcs Turi, "His extensive experience across the industry will make him an invaluable asset, and we’re confident that he will help us to continue to grow and provide exceptional service to our partners and customers alike."
"I am thrilled to be joining the Lightware team and look forward to helping the company elevate its already impressive offering to the AV community," said Chris.
UK - Doughty Engineering has announced the appointment of two new directors. Dan Phillips and Mark Chorley will join the board with immediate effect. Julian Chiverton will serve as CEO, with Stephen Wright taking on the role of managing director. The new directors are current employees at Doughty and will, in time assume specific leadership roles within the company.
Dan Phillips has been a member of the Doughty team for more than 15 years, originally joining the company as a sub-contractor in assembly. In his most recent role as special projects manager, Dan has built strong client relationships as well as working within R&D to bring new and innovative products to market. “I feel very privileged to take on this role. After the past few turbulent years brought about by COVID and Brexit, the future is looking bright and I’m delighted to be joining the board at such an exciting time for our industry.”
Mark joined Doughty three decades ago and has been responsible for the design and release of some of Doughty’s best-known pieces of kit over the years. He said: “I’m thrilled to be joining the Doughty board and working with a great team of people. I’m looking forward to leveraging my experience and using it to continue Doughty’s tradition of developing quality, reputable solutions for the entertainment technology industry. We take great pride in asking our customers what they want, rather than second guessing what we think they want and that’s something I’m keen to see continuing.”
Julian commented: “We needed to regenerate th
USA - RatPac Controls has announced that founder and chief innovation officer Craig Brink is stepping down after 12 years with the company.
Since its inception in 2011, RatPac Controls has experienced tremendous success with its innovative approach to lighting controls. RatPac Controls has expanded its portfolio to over 25 products, including silent dimming, data distribution, and wireless DMX control products. Craig Brink's contributions helped change how gaffers rig and control lights on film and TV sets and earned RatPac Controls its reputation as an industry leader.
Before founding RatPac Controls, Craig Brink worked as a rigging gaffer, with credits including The Big Lebowski, The Fast, and the Furious: Tokyo Drift, and Fracture.
Craig Brink stated, "RatPac Controls has grown tremendously over the last 12 years. We've built a deep and talented team focused on innovation, new product development, and customer satisfaction. It's time for me to move on and let our team continue their great work. I will miss the RatPac Controls family, but I know the company is in great hands as it moves forward."
RatPac Controls' EVP of sales and marketing, Nick Stabile, stated, "It was an honor to build this company with Craig. We will miss Craig's passion for lighting controls, and we wish him all the best."
UK - Ahead of International Women’s Day (8 March 2023), full-service technical production partner, JLL, wants to shine a spotlight on the gender gap within the production and events industry.
Currently only 31% of credited crew roles off screen are filled by women and just 5% of sound leads in the industry are female (Kindred Magazine, The Gender Gap Issue) and in JLL’s opinion this needs to change.
Addressing the issue, JLL is actioning change by paving the way for more female talent and a diverse workplace industry wide. Since 2015, JLL has increased female representation in the company by 300% and is continuing to encourage more women into the industry by opening new roles.
Going the extra mile, JLL offers employees access to a 24-hour, employee assistance programme which supports women, men and parents in all aspects of working life. Notably, this programme includes stress and anxiety counselling, as well as childcare and family support – an initiative which is available company-wide.
Jack Linaker, managing director at JLL, noted: “We are keen to support a drive for increased diversity within the tv production, lighting and events industry. We are passionate about equal opportunities and are continually creating new positions, bringing greater talent to the industry.”
Georgia Ward, digital content creator at JLL, first joined the company in 2021 in a newly created role. "Joining JLL was a huge opportunity in which they put their full trust in me. It was a new role they created and we’ve navigated it together. Digi
USA - Powersoft has announced the appointment of Thomas Howie as a business development manager in the US, to further support the company’s exponential growth in the region. Howie, a pro-AV industry veteran, will be responsible for new and existing clients, as well as global key accounts.
Howie brings a combined 40 years of experience in the AV industry to his new role. In his most recent position as vice president of sales and marketing at Glidecam Industries, he successfully led the department that developed, coordinated and conducted live and remote training programmes. Prior to Glidecam, Howie spent 15 years at CBS Broadcasting.
“I believe that my diverse experience in AV, broadcast, manufacturing and technical fields will be highly advantageous for our customers,” states Howie. “I am thrilled to join Powersoft’s innovative team and I am particularly excited about the growth prospects that lie ahead in the US marketplace. Powersoft is positioned for tremendous growth and I am eager to play a role in this.”
“Thomas’s direct experience in key verticals makes him an excellent addition to our senior team at Powersoft US. Bringing depth of experience, he will help us deliver the highest level of service that our customers have come to expect. I look forward to working closely with Thomas,” says Tom Knesel.
USA - Chase M. Strickland has worked in and around Bandit since a very young age. Armed now with a degree in business management from the University of Tennessee, Strickland has assumed the role of business manager at Bandit’s headquarters in Knoxville. He is tasked with a wide variety of business functions as he expands his role, working closely with VP of operations Roth Edwards, CFO Sharon Draper, media relations coordinator Sharon Gross, VP of business and innovation Jake Tickle and chair Michael T. Strickland.
“I am incredibly excited to begin my full-time career at Bandit Lites,” said Chase M. Strickland. “I hope to build on past successes that have played a role in solidifying Bandit’s position as an industry leader, as well as provide a fresh outlook on opportunities going forward. I have grown up around this business and I am eager to see what lies ahead.”
UK - Long serving director of operations at the Birmingham Hippodrome, Mike Bradford, has joined Push The Button (PTB) as chief operating officer. Mike has been at the Birmingham Hippodrome for 21 Years and before that worked at Alton Towers as technical manager.
PTB managing director, Nick Ewins, says, “Looking ahead into 2023 and beyond, I am keen to ensure that we have the best possible standards in our business systems and operations which Mike will deliver. Mike’s arrival will also allow me to continue working with our customers, designing and delivering projects as PTB continues to grow.”
Mike adds, “I’ve worked with Nick and the team at PTB for more than two decades now, so I understand the business and I am delighted to be able to bring my experience to the company.”
USA - ESTA has announced that Katie Jang is the new Protocol editor, taking over the role when Beverly Inglesby retires in April.
Jang (née McCulloh) has over two decades of marketing, communications, and advertising experience in the live entertainment industry working with Broadway venues, touring productions, traveling exhibitions, regional theatres, and more. Additionally, she worked for both ESTA as a marketing executive and Lighting&Sound America as a media executive.
“I am thrilled to re-join the ESTA team in this capacity and look forward to new opportunities within the publication while maintaining the core of Protocol for our dedicated members and subscribers,” says Jang. “And I am honoured to carry on Beverly’s undeniably enormous legacy.”
Erin Grabe, Executive Director of ESTA, notes, “I am very excited to work with Katie again; her background and talent set her up for success. Beverly’s footprint on ESTA and Protocol is incalculable. Taking the publication from its humble beginnings to the technical powerhouse journal it is today, is largely owed to Beverly’s unmatched enthusiasm for this association and industry.”
USA - Richard Cadena, technical editor of Lighting&Sound America and Light and Sound International has joined the 3LR Design team as senior consultant. His focused discipline is lighting design, control systems, and electrical design and implementation, with a knowledge of multiple technical systems. His career has covered a variety of industry segments including concert/touring, television/film, theatre, architectural, and corporate events.
"As we continue to grow our global reach, we are absolutely thrilled to have Richard join the team," says 3LR Design global director of design, Joshua Allen. "His extensive experience and passion for design -- and guiding others through the design process - will be extremely valuable assets to our company and our clients."
In his role as senior consultant, Cadena will be collaborating in the design of architectural, marine, and performance/technical systems, and management of projects for clients, as well as serving as a mentor for new associate consultants and designers who are coming on board with 3LR.
"I am excited to join the 3LR Design team to contribute my skills and experience to the company," says Cadena. "I look forward to working with the team and with our clients to continue to bring to life some amazing new projects."
World - UK based A.C. Worldwide Group has announced a number of senior appointments as part of its strategy for continual growth.
In the UK, Phill Capstick, who has been with the business for 37 years, will step up to the role of CEO in UK based A.C. Entertainment Technologies and, following 25 years of success, Jonathan Walters becomes the company’s managing director.
In other UK news, Andy Dodd will be retiring from his executive role on the Board of Flashlight Ltd, but the Company says he has accepted a non-executive directorship so will still be helping the Flashlight team and their customers.
Across the Atlantic, the sales and distribution businesses operating as A.C. Americas (incorporating A.C. Lighting and A.C. Promedia) will be led by long-serving board member Phill Capstick who is appointed as CEO. Joining him on the board as president, after six years as vice president of business development, is Jean-Louis Blanchard, and following sales success for the company over the last 18 years, Fred Mikeska joins the board as executive vice president of sales.
The Group’s manufacturing operations in Canada, Spectrum Manufacturing is continuing to develop the successful Chroma-Q range of premium LED lighting products, and the company has announced that Gary Aird, who joined the business less than two years ago as vice-president of finance & administration, has been appointed to the board. All appointments are effective from 1 February.
USA - Elation Professional has announced the promotions of Eric Loader to global vice president of sales & marketing and John Dunn to director of sales – U.S.
ADJ Group President, Toby Velazquez, has worked closely with both Eric and John over many years in building the Elation brand. He comments, “Eric and I have a successful history spanning over three decades and John's contribution to Elation's ascent as a premier brand in the industry over the past decade has been extraordinary. We couldn’t ask for a stronger team to drive the company's growth and keep Elation at the forefront as an innovative, reputable, and leading brand in the industry.”
Eric Loader, with 17 years of dedicated service to Elation, has been instrumental in driving the company's growth and expansion. In his new role, he will continue to lead the company's strategy and growth vision through its subsidiaries and partners worldwide. He will also focus on strengthening distribution partner relationships and increasing brand awareness, key factors in ensuring continued growth for the company. Additionally, Eric will work to expand the availability of Elation's products to lighting designers, ensuring that customers around the globe have access to the innovative solutions they have come to expect from Elation.
Eric comments, "I am honoured to lead the global sales & marketing team at Elation. The success we have achieved is a testament to the incredible team we have built, as well as the support of our customers and designers who have helped elevate Elation to perfor
USA - Bandit Lites has announced the promotion of Mark Scherer to client representative. Scherer is the latest addition to the leadership team at Bandit where his recent adventures on the road will ‘offer a fresh perspective to clients as well as practical applications of the latest in lighting technology’.
Scherer joined Bandit Lites fresh out of college and quicklyestablished himself as a vital team member, working as a lighting tech on Chris Young, the dimmer tech for Carrie Underwood’s Cry Pretty Tour, crew chief on Alanis Morrisette’s Jagged Little Pill Tour, dimmer tech on Shinedown’s Revolution Live Tour, and most recently as the lighting director on Maren Morris’s Humble Quest Tour, as well as many other roles over time.
“I am excited to step into the role of Client Representative at a company that has taken care of me from the beginning,” said Scherer.
“Mark is an amazing person,” says Bandit chair Michael T. Strickland. “We all know that Mark will go a long way in his new role, helping propel Bandit even further into an already bright future. Thank you Mark and enjoy.”
USA - Pixellot has announced the appointment of Connor Thinnes as the vice president of sales in North America.
Connor brings considerable sales and marketing experience to Pixellot, with over 20 years of accumulated knowledge in these fields. He has worked in sales for 10 years and marketing for an additional 10 years. Prior to joining Pixellot, Thinnes held the position of VP of marketing at HomeTown Ticketing, a provider of digital ticketing services primarily for the high school market. In his new role, Connor will be responsible for leading both the club sales team and the Vidswap analytics sales team in the US.
"We are thrilled to welcome Connor to the Pixellot team," said David Shapiro, president of North America, Pixellot. "Connor's background in both sales and marketing, combined with his deep understanding of the High School and club sports market, make him a valuable asset to Pixellot's team.”


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2014 BMW 328d Making Debut at New York Auto Show
Debuting at the 2013 New York International Auto Show is the new 2014 BMW 328d, a diesel variant of the 328i sedan. It will join the U.S. lineup, strengthening BMW's position as one of the most efficient automakers. Powered by a TwinPower Turbo four-cylinder engine, the new 328d delivers 180 horsepower, which BMW says will get it from 0 to 60 mph in 7.2 seconds. Not only is this car fast, it's fuel-efficient, with gas mileage possibly exceeding 40 mpg; official U.S. EPA estimates won't be available until it is closer to the debut. With the great performance seen in the 3 Series combined with the fuel efficiency of a diesel engine, the new 2014 BMW 328d has become a benchmark in its class. Read more about the 2014 BMW 328d.
Along with its bigger Buick LaCrosse counterpart, the 2014 Buick Regal gets a thorough workover this year.


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December 13, 2012 - 12:08 AMT
PanARMENIAN.Net - Samsung Display has filed another lawsuit against its cross-town rival LG Display for infringing on its liquid crystal display (LCD) patents, The Korea Times reported.
The company said Wednesday, Dec 12, that it filed the suit with the Seoul Central District Court to completely invalidate seven LG patents that allegedly copied Samsung-developed plane-to-line switching (PLS) technology without paying royalties.
“Samsung Display filed the lawsuit with the court last week,” a court spokesman said.
In a written complaint, Samsung said that without permission, LG modified the Samsung technology and named it “AH-IPS” technology for use in LG’s small- and medium-sized LCD screens.
“We patented the PLS technology in November 1997. But LG copied it. We are seeking a complete sales ban for consumer products manufactured by LG Display and LG Electronics that used those patents,” said Samsung.
Samsung is seeking 2 billion won in damages from LG and a permanent injunction on the sale of LG Electronics’ strategic digital devices including the Optimus G and Optimus Vu 2 smartphones. But chances are small that the court completely side with Samsung because LG will appeal.
“We’ve heard that Samsung Display filed its latest lawsuit with the court. After reviewing legal papers, we will prepare a counterattack,” the head of LG Display Sohn Young-june said.
This is the latest incident in the ongoing legal dispute between the two display-making giants.
In September, LG Display filed suit against Samsung, claiming violation of the seven OLED patents in question. The previous lawsuit alleges that Samsung copied the design of LG’s OLED panels, driver circuitry and device designs.
Earlier, 11 Samsung employees were arrested by local prosecutors on charges that they stole and leaked confidential information about OLED TVs to the rival company.
“The fight is a matter of pride. Damage compensation is not a real issue. I think both of us seek to be recognized as a leader in the global display-making industry through the legal battle,” said a senior Samsung executive.


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U.S. owners of select Hyundai and Kia models filed suit against the automakers in the U.S. trying to resolve a possible defected that may cause some engines to catch fire. The affected vehicles are already part of an ongoing investigation by U.S. regulators.
The more than 350 complaints filed by vehicle owners with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration constitutes “concealment of the defect,” according to the class action suit filed in U.S. District Court for the Central District Court of California by law firm Hagens Berman.
The fires have been occurring for some time, but have been difficult to separate from fires that occurred as a result of a crash and those that happened before or after a crash. In Florida, more than 400 fires were reported, but just 120 of those fit the description for the lawsuit.
Safety investigators began looking to the problem as a result of those fires, and discovered it could be a much bigger problem. NHTSA started probing the timeliness and scope of the carmakers’ recalls related to manufacturing errors in “Theta II” engines, while the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York opened a criminal investigation in to the matter, according to a Reuters report.
(Feds probe Hyundai, Kia fire concerns. Click Here for the story.)
Ultimately, Hyundai and Kia have recalled 1.6 million U.S.-made vehicles produced from 2011 and 2014 for engine problems. The customers’ lawsuit argues that a defect restricts oil flow to core engine parts, causing premature wear and failure and eventually resulting in engine seizure and fire.
Hyundai Motor issued a statement saying that “nothing is more important than the safety and security of Hyundai customers,” and that it is cooperating with the U.S. Department of Transportation and the NHTSA.
“Over the past three years, we have held numerous meetings with DOT and NHTSA representatives, and proactively discussed and identified possible safety items for NHTSA’s evaluation, including the engine recalls,” Hyundai Motor said in the statement. “NHTSA has been fully briefed and kept apprised of these recalls and low rates of associated non-collision fires.”
(Click Here for more about Hyundai’s recent management shake up.)
Non-profit consumer advocate group, the Center for Auto Safety, pushed for a much larger action, calling on the Korean companies recall 2.9 million vehicles of five models, arguing that almost one non-collision fire was reported every day over a period of four months.
However, the latest news involves the aforementioned 1.6 million vehicles that were covered by a separate NHTSA probe launched in May 2017 triggered by complaints of engine stalling.
The issue actually dates back to September 2015 when Hyundai recalled 470,000 vehicles because a manufacturing defect could cause bearings in some four-cylinder engines to fail. Hyundai and its sibling Korean brand Kia announced two other recalls affecting 1.2 million vehicles for the same engine problem in March 2017.
(To see more about Hyundai’s expanding line-up of SUVs, Click Here.)
The latest service action covered 2013 and 2014 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport SUVs and Sonata midsize cars, as well as Kia Optima midsize sedans from 2011 through 2014, Kia Sportage SUVs from 2011 through 2013 and Kia Sorento SUVs from 2012 through 2014.