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Innovators in the eCommerce space are borrowing from the past to reinvent old pocket watches by converting them into wristwatches. When Vortic Watch Company Co-Founder and CEO RT Custer was looking for watch components after coming up with the idea with a friend on the golf course to manufacture a watch that is made in the United States, he came across old pocket watch companies. There were 10 firms, Custer says, that made 100 million pocket watches in the U.S. from around 1850 to 1950. Today, most pocket watches are sitting forgotten in drawers, or in pawn shops as well as jewelry stores.
Most pocket watches get scrapped for the gold or silver of the case. The inside — the dial, the face of the watch, the hands and movement — are trash for the scrappers. Custer sought to change that by taking these pocket watches and converting them to wristwatches. The aim, then, was to take pieces of American history and turn them into conversation pieces. And that was the idea for the company’s artisan series, which the industry calls a pocket watch conversion.
Today, Vortic “is a manufacturing company specializing in micro manufacturing and vintage restoration,” Custer told PYMNTS in an interview. “We restore the old timepieces to their original quality.” He said the company “just kind of lucked out” in that all the things it wanted were inherently popular, from bigger watch faces to upcycling (the “process of converting old or discarded materials into something useful and often beautiful,” according to hipcycle) and that American made has never been more popular.
The Customer Experience
To help consumers order a custom watch, the company has an online watch builder. Customers can choose the movement, which is the vintage pocket watch, and can have different options for cases, crowns and kinds of leather — all made to order. The system is “basically an integrated web app,” Custer said, and is quite literally a photo layering system that a developer built. He added that the company is working on new features as well as options for the system. In another case, customers can shop pre-built watches from the company for a more traditional way to buy a watch.
If consumers have a family heirloom or buy a pocket watch at a pawn store, Vortic Watch Company has a service that converts the piece into a wristwatch. The offering comes as Custer noted that a massive number of Americans have a pocket watch in a drawer somewhere and don’t even know it. With the service, customers send the company the pocket watch. Custer then takes a photo of the front and back of the timepiece, which he uploads into a private watch builder. Customers can then design the rest of the piece around, say, their granddad’s pocket watch. They can then later pay for the timepiece through an integrated web app.
For payments, the company takes PayPal and Amazon Pay as well as credit and debit cards. It also accepts Affirm as a financing option, which was inspired by the company’s payments evolution. When the company first started, it had a payment structure that had the customer put 50 percent down and pay the remaining 50 percent when the watch was done. The company would take then have to send two invoices and that became difficult and annoying to keep track of who paid and who hadn’t paid. It was also hard from a bookkeeping standpoint. About a year and a half ago, the company started taking full upfront payment. It decreased its lead time, so Custer says people were willing to do that. Even so, the price of the watch can be high for some people. The company then added Affirm as a financing option, which Custer said has been a very significant part of the company’s business.
When it comes to geography, Custer said Vortic Watch Company has a lot of business in the Boston area. It has received press in the region, and there was also a watch firm called the Waltham Watch Company in the Boston suburbs (named after the town). That firm made over 40 percent of the pocket watches in the United States, Custer said, and was the second largest watch company in the world. (And that is why Waltham is called “Watch City.”) Custer noted that many people who live in the Boston area, are from Boston or love the city enjoy that brand and purchase it for its historical connection.
With the help of eCommerce and modern manufacturing technology, then, digital brands are helping vintage watches come alive again — suggesting that what’s old can be new again in the world of retail.


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Waterford-based pharmaceutical company EirGen Pharma is expected to announce the creation of 30 jobs today, while the Wexford manufacturing plant of Danone Baby Nutrition is also expected to announce the creation of 45 new jobs, according to reports.
The Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Richard Bruton, TD, is set to make the announcements at Danone’s plant in Rocklands, Wexford, this morning, before travelling to EirGen, which is based off the Old Kilmeadan Road in Waterford City.
Bruton will then attend a South East Forum in Waterford at 3pm.
Also this morning, the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Brendan Howlin, TD, is chairing an Action Plan for Jobs Forum in Wexford.
EirGen in Waterford
In relation to EirGen, Tom Brennan and Patsy Carney co-founded the company in 2005. It currently employs 45 people at its plant in Waterford, which focuses on the development and supply of niche highly potent drugs typically used in cancer treatment.
Just in March the Saudi Arabian company Saudi Pharmaceutical Industries & Medical Appliances Corporation (Spimaco) acquired a 48pc stake in EirGen, to the value of €19m. And, last November, EirGen entered into a partnership agreement with South African pharmaceuticals company Equity Pharmaceuticals to develop and commercially supply five oncology products from its Waterford facility.
At the time, Enterprise Ireland said that the deal between EirGen and Equity Pharmaceuticals would be worth €3m per annum, based on an anticipated 20pc market share of the €15m market for this portfolio of oncology products.
Back in October 2009, EirGen announced that it was to invest €3.3m in an expansion programme, with Enterprise Ireland support.
Danone Baby Nutrition Wexford. Image credit: Malone O’Regan, which had been involved in the planning for the site and the design of an upgrade to the facility
Meanwhile Danone Baby Nutrition, a subsidiary of Danone Groupe, has a manufacturing plant in Wexford as well as in Macroom in Co Cork. Both facilities produce products such as Nutrilon and Almiron.
Main Jobs image via Shutterstock

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Informal sector vital part of SA’s economy
By Lyse Comins - Feb 26th, 08:41
South Africa’s informal business sector serves a burgeoning consumer market worth more than R100billion in the country’s rural areas, townships and cities, presenting opportunities for corporates and traditional small businesses.
GG Alcock, a marketer, author and entrepreneur, who focuses on helping corporates understand the informal sector and on empowering informal businesses to grow and improve their strategies, believes informal traders are overlooked as an integral part of the economy.
Alcock, who grew up immersed in Zulu culture in a mud hut with his human rights activist parents in Msinga, has captured the sophistication and size of the informal sector in his latest book KasiNomic Revolution.
Alcock has years of experience in marketing and founded the successful marketing agency Minanawe, which helped Parmalat introduce the sale of cheese in townships where it has achieved R1.5bn in sales. He has sold the business.
Instead of viewing informal traders as a nuisance and chasing them off the pavements, Alcock says the informal sector should be understood as job creators and providers of many basic goods and services to local communities.
“Very few people realise or understand the size of the informal market because it is invisible to most people and because it is a multitude of small businesses, people don’t realise the size when you put it all together,” Alcock says.
“The informal ‘muti’ market is worth R3bn a year which is 6% of the national health budget and township fast food is R80bn in size. There are about 120000 informal spaza stores with sales estimated at between R100bn and R200bn,” Alcock says.
The success of these informal traders lies in their understanding of their markets - they produce food and flavours that consumers want to buy and they are selling what people need close to where they live.
“About 10% of people’s budget is spent on transport so even if they see something cheaper in a Shoprite, they have to pay R7 or R8 to get into a taxi and they have to pay the penalty of an extra seat to bring the bags home. Informal sector businesses are designed to be completely fitted to people’s needs based on lifestyle and it solves ‘pain points’,” Alcock says.
“The informal sector is increasingly disrupting the formal sector. The informal spazas are disrupting and taking business from the Pick * Pays and Shoprites of the world. Municipalities, governments and financial institutions have to adapt their regulations, laws and products to suit the market, instead of knocking the hawker off the pavement. If we didn’t have the informal sector we would have a revolution on our hands,” Alcock said.
He highlights the earning potential of informal traders, citing the case of a couple he interviewed for a chapter in his book. “The couple sells 2000 vetkoek a day for R1 each and take home R30000 a month,” Alcock said.
However, he said the couple classified themselves as “unemployed”.
Alcock estimates real unemployment is probably close to 10% to 15%, rather than the official 27%, because of the huge numbers of people who are employed and self-employed in the informal sector.
Alcock will be in Durban for the KZN launch of his book at Phansi Museum in Glenwood on Tuesday, March 5.IOL
AB InBev to float Asian business in 2019’s second biggest IPO
22/09/2019 - 10:14
AB InBev will kick off a second attempt to spin off its Asian business in Hong Kong with the launch of an initial public offering (IPO) worth up to $6.6bn that could be the world’s second-largest flotation in 2019.
Samsung and KOO win big at the 21st Sunday Times Top Brands Awards
20/09/2019 - 15:12
Samsung and KOO have been announced as South Africa’s Overall Favourite Brands, winning the Grand Prix Awards in the respective Business and Consumer sectors of the 21st Sunday Times Top Brands Survey.
Retail sales remain muted with consumers under pressure
20/09/2019 - 14:31
Retail sales for July marginally declined to 2 percent year on year as sales growth continued to reflect a muted demand in South Africa, with consumers’ discretionary income under strain.
Embracing workforce transformation in a digital world
20/09/2019 - 13:53
Workforce transformation affects all aspects of business and companies must plan for the impact it is having and will continue to have on operations. Nicol Myburgh, Head of the HR Business Unit at CRS Technologies, says the evolving business landscape means companies must start thinking now about the skills they need for the future.
Digital marketing: multi-touch attribution
19/09/2019 - 13:43
The effective tracking of digital marketing campaigns is not as easy as initially thought. One question that often pops up is: at what point did consumer conversion take place? During a campaign, it’s difficult to attribute this correctly, especially with multiple touchpoints such as display and native advertising, sponsored social posts, video ads on mobile or paid-for search results all running consecutively.


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Local Talent: Chicago's Fashion Incubator Designers
The annual Chicago Fashion Incubator program, a city initiative to support emerging designers, has revealed this year's designers in residence. They've chosen six new lines, including these four women's collections.
more on luckymag.com
Reese Witherspoon's recent Paris tour left us with a chic-but-toasty outfit we plan to copy in the upcoming months.
Huge props must be given to Pantene Philippines for this Sheryl Sandberg-approved ad!
Yep, you can now sleep while wrapped in the brand's signature wild patterns.
Holiday shindigs should be about champagne, sugar cookies and merriment—not limping.
We’re kind of head-over-heels in love with Fendi's new furry handbag critters.


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Critique of Elon Musk
Dissatisfaction at the Tesla plant in Grünheide: employees leave the company
At the Tesla plant in Grünheide, dissatisfaction is spreading among employees. The mood is changing mainly due to the wage inequality. Trade unionist Birgit Dietze reports that the employees would then leave the company.
Tesla is repeatedly criticized for her working conditions. Now this is having a negative effect on the situation in the Grünheide Gigafactory. “We feel that more and more people are leaving Tesla and some are returning to their old employers,” unionist Birgit Dietze said in an interview with “Spiegel”.
Because new hires would be paid better than other employees. While hiring, pay or working conditions are also improved. “It’s not funny when others suddenly make more money than you with the same job and qualifications,” Dietze told the news magazine.
However, the unionist does not believe that the job cuts of ten percent of the workforce announced by CEO Elon Musk will also affect the Grünheide plant. Why this should be further expanded. Especially since there is a shortage of skilled workers in the region. “We are receiving more and more feedback from the workforce that hiring skilled workers is not meeting their goals. This increases the pressure on the existing workforce and the atmosphere.”
Elon Musk has no choice but to raise salaries at Tesla
Tesla is “a special employer”, for example in his innovations, the image of wanting to save the climate and his financial power. But there is another important point for employees: “What does my employer ask me, how much will I be charged?” It’s all about performance and consideration, “and this is where Tesla’s gnashing is getting a little louder,” says Dietze.
Therefore, the works council must now find “a form of joint collaboration” with the company. The trade unionist is certain: “The question of different wages will be a real challenge. Now there is inflation and then the increases in our next round of collective bargaining, which also includes the auto industry. There is so much pressure on of it that Musk can’t do anything, there will be no choice but to drastically increase salaries soon. ”
Finally, Dietze says, “Without a collective agreement, Tesla’s workforce will always remain below the pay level of other auto companies.”


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Following an apparent five-week hibernation, telephone scam artists posing as Cleveland Utilities representatives re-emerged from their holes Wednesday and targeted at least eight more of the local utility’s business customers.
A day earlier, a similar ensnarement attempt using an almost identical ploy — but utilizing Publisher’s Clearing House as its guise — tried to lure an 81-year-old Cleveland man into its web.
The latter call ended in a decided “click” from the culprit’s end of the line when retiree Dale Rose accused his caller of being a scammer and refused to purchase a reloadable debit card — also known as MoneyPaks — on which the con artist instructed him to load $500. Once this had been done, Rose was instructed to return the call in order to claim $2.5 million in prize money and a new 2013 Mercedes.
“Somebody’s gonna get took, I guarantee you, because it sounds good, especially if you have $500 that you don’t want,” Rose told the Cleveland Daily Banner late Tuesday.
Rose said the caller identified himself as “David Moore,” although caller ID tagged him as “J.M. Kingston” and listed a phone number. The Cleveland resident said he received the phone call at his home at 2:53 p.m. and the conversation ended at 3:12 p.m.
“... It sounded like a foreign accent, maybe Jamaican,” Rose noted. “This kind of thing goes on all the time, I guess.”
While still trying to coax Rose into taking action, the voice told the elderly man he was currently in Georgetown and was prepared to personally deliver the prize money and the automobile to his front door. The caller even said he would be accompanied by four patrol cars — two from the Cleveland Police Department and two from the Bradley County Sheriff’s Office.
“He even gave me a confirmation number,” Rose cited.
Rose explained he was instructed to go to Walmart or Walgreen’s, buy the MoneyPak, load it with the sum of money, call back and provide the information needed to claim his prize — such as the card’s ID number. This would then be followed by the promise of a Bank of America check in the amount of $2.5 million and the car.
“It sure makes you believe you won a lot of money for nothing,” Rose said. “It was all very efficient. They’re good.”
Informed of a similar scheme that targeted at least three Cleveland Utilities business customers in mid-December, Rose said the ploys sounded identical.
Less than 24 hours after Rose fielded his call Tuesday, eight of CU’s business customers notified the public utility of phone calls from persons claiming to be company representatives. In each case, the caller was notifying them of an alleged unpaid utility bill. Failure to comply with the caller’s instructions — which included the purchase and loading of a MoneyPak — would result in the customer’s electric power being disconnected immediately.
It was the same scam attempted in mid-December on three of the utility’s business customers, according to Ken Webb, CU president and CEO, and Paula Wills, customer service and billing manager.
“[In each case] the customers were told they had unpaid bills and that they were going to (have their electric power) shut off immediately if they didn’t go get a ‘Green Dot’ card and call back,” Webb explained.
The “Green Dot” is a reference to the Green Dot MoneyPak, a legitimate reloadable debit card that is sold on retail floors across the country — in major department stores, pharmacies and other locations. This type of debit card is often used by consumers who don’t have a bank account, or who don’t want one. Once the MoneyPak cards have been loaded, they can be used to pay telephone, cable and credit card bills, as well as for other purposes. Some use the reloadable cards to make online purchases in order not to expose their personal account numbers to potential cyberspace hackers.
Since the scam attempts in mid-December against CU business customers, no others had been reported to the utility until Wednesday.
“Since that last [newspaper] story, things had died down,” Wills said. “But now they’ve picked up.”
Webb agreed and suggested the scammers “... have been busy.”
All eight business customers notified CU Wednesday of the phone calls and one even visited the utility’s offices in person. That customer was prepared to pay the alleged delinquent account once it had been verified, Webb and Wills pointed out.
The CU leaders stressed each customer took the correct action by contacting the utility to verify their account balances.
Webb urged others to do the same if they receive this type of call.
“If our customers get a call, if this is the subject of the call, we ask that they call us and let us verify it,” Webb said. “Our customer service representatives would never ask anyone to go buy a reloadable debit card to pay their bill.”
Wills pointed out CU does not routinely call customers anyway about overdue payments. This is done by a second notification in the mail, she said.
The wording on these reminder notices plainly states, “According to our records, we have not received a payment from you as of the date of this notice. In order to avoid an interruption of service and additional charges, please make payment at our office before the above stated disconnect date. Please note we may no longer send a service crew to collect, and service could be interrupted from our office any time after the above stated disconnect date.”
The notice adds, “If you have paid your bill this notice may have been sent before your payment was received in our office. Please disregard this notice if your bill has been paid and accept our thanks.”
In addition to the notification by mail reminders, Webb pointed to CU’s more humanitarian practices.
On Wednesday when the scam calls were made, Cleveland’s midwinter temperatures hovered in the 20s. For this reason alone, CU would not disconnect electric power to customers’ homes, he said.
“We wouldn’t cut off power today to a customer ... it’s too cold,” Webb stressed.
The CU president said he is most alarmed by the fact that utility customers who receive these scam calls are reporting their caller IDs are showing “Cleveland Utilities” by name. Webb refered to similar incidents in Georgia where public utilities are reporting the same concern — that scammer technology is now able to manipulate caller ID devices.
This is another reason he wants CU customers to notify the local utility of such scam activity.
“If you get a call, and you have a suspicion that it’s not legitimate, please call us and we will talk with you about it and we will verify if there is an issue with the account,” Webb pointed out.
The longtime utility administrator, who began his duties as president and CEO in late 2013 following the retirement of Tom Wheeler, admonished those behind this kind of criminal activity.
“It’s unfortunate,” Webb said. “It’s just not a very good comment about the world we live in. I really believe that. It’s just sad that we’ve come to this.”
Utility companies across Tennessee, and the nation, continue to report the spread of scam shenanigans.
When Cleveland Utilities issued its first telephone scam alert last month, the action followed similar alerts by major utility companies in Memphis, Nashville and Knoxville. In each of the cities, culprits were targeting utility customers. Some were commercial accounts. Others were residential.
On their websites, companies that offer MoneyPaks traditionally warn users not to share their account numbers with strangers — as would be the same type of advice given for more conventional types of payment like standard credit or debit cards. Recent news accounts of these types of scams have agreed the cards are not the problem. The issue is the scammers who have discovered a new tool for robbing consumers.
Like the scammers who devise them, scams continue to evolve.
On May 28, 2013, the Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance issued a “Scam Advisory” that warned of a new scam “... that has the appearance of being legitimate but is simply another way to steal your credit card information.”
The state alert was broadcast locally by the Bradley County Sheriff’s Office.
According to the advisory, the scam targeted victims through a text message that stated, “Your credit card number 4355xx has been deactivated.” Instructions are then included to call this number, 615-301-8561, to resolve the issue. When consumers call the number, they hear a recording that states, “Hello, this is Regions Bank, please enter your 16-digit card number at this time.”
The Division of Consumer Affairs encouraged those who received this text not to respond. Instead, they were encouraged to contact the telephone number listed on the back of their credit or debit card to report the incident. Additional information about current scams and identity theft is available at www.tn.gov/consumer.


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Six Foods wants to change your perception on eating insects. Inspired by their travels abroad, and a 2013 U.N. report, which advocates for increased insect consumption, Laura D’Asaro, Rose Wang, and Meryl Natow began exploring ways to take the “ick”-factor out of alternative sources of protein. On April 22, their six-legged snack food crusade goes public as they officially launch a Kickstartercampaign to raise $30,000 for their burgeoning business.
“As an African Studies major in college (at Harvard), I went to Tanzania and I ate fried caterpillars. For me it was love at first taste,” says D’Asaro.
READ THE FULL ARTICLE ON BOSTON MAGAZINE


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Canadian exporters are being kept busy by strong world growth, new trade agreements – and unfortunately by the uncertainty of protectionism. I’m a week into my Let’s Talk Exports cross-Canada forecast tour, sharing thoughts on the global economy, and finding out how exporters are doing. Here’s a very quick hit of the key regional messages I am giving as I cross the country.
Newfoundland and Labrador will be the lone province to experience double-digit export growth in 2018. While commodity prices will play a role, the biggest growth contributor comes from a full year of production from the Hebron offshore oil platform and the ramp up of Vale’s Long Harbour nickel processing plant. The multi-year nature of these ramp-ups will continue to boost the province’s exports into 2019. We look for 11 per cent export growth this year, and 7 per cent in 2019.
Quebec claims second spot this year. While exports are highly diversified by industry, the significant increase in production of C Series aircraft by Bombardier, the expansion of key mining projects and expansion of electricity export capacity will help propel export growth of 8% in 2018.
In Alberta, the echo of investments made before the collapse in global oil prices will see exports expand in 2018 as the Fort Hills oil sands project and the Sturgeon Refinery start production. Additional export capacity growth from the energy sector and the startup of a $360-million Cavendish Farms potato processing plant in Lethbridge will support growth in 2019.
Higher global growth will ensure bustling activity at British Columbia ports this year and next. In addition, a stable currency and forestry prices are offsetting the negative impacts of U.S. countervailing duties on softwood lumber, supporting near-term growth. Mining exports will benefit from rising production at the Highland Valley and Mount Milligan copper mines.
Nova Scotia is well-positioned to benefit from trade diversification. Higher global growth together with the CETA agreement have increased opportunities for the Port of Halifax. Seafood is selling well in Asian markets, Finally, expanded mining production, notably the opening of the Touquoy gold mine, will help exports hit 6 per cent growth this year.
In 2018 Prince Edward Island will see 4 per cent growth, as the trade deal with the EU is expected to support diversification for agricultural and aquaculture products. Export gains will accelerate to 5 per cent in 2019, spurred by gains in the food and aerospace industries.
New Brunswick is highly exposed to the flourishing US market; however, growth will be constrained as higher wood product prices are largely offset by impacts from US softwood lumber and groundwood pulp duties. The province hopes to capitalize on the CETA agreement and robust Asian demand.
A booming North American auto sector is keeping Ontario exports at a high level, although growth will be modest, as the US market has peaked. Machinery and equipment exports should accelerate on higher US demand. However, investment in new export capacity will be constrained by NAFTA uncertainty.
Saskatchewan, Canada’s most internationally diversified province, will see limited growth as weak commodity prices and transportation bottlenecks crimp overall performance.
Manitoba will also be constrained by weaker commodity prices while lower mining sector output will further dampen exports. This comes in spite of brighter prospects for exports of manufactured goods, boosted by higher US and global growth.
Key competing forces are tugging at the forecast from both sides this year and next. On balance, rising global growth, modest increases in commodity prices, shifting winds of protectionism from the United States and expansion of Canadian free trade agreements are together expected to produce more subdued export growth among the provinces for 2018 and 2019.


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The Sri Lankan rubber industry consists of three main sectors namely the plantation industry that grows and harvest latex, the rubber products manufacturing industry and the rubber wood based industry. The value-added rubber products manufacturing sector has recently emerged as the key driving force in the industrial based development of the economy.
According to the Rubber Research Institute (RRI), the rubber production would increase substantially if the producers use modern technology. The rubber industry is going through a major breakthrough with the booming prices in the world market due to heavy Chinese consumption. Today most of the rubber smallholders, regional plantation companies tap rubber in a big way even in abandoned lands while some of them use rain guards to tap rubber during the rainy season due to these price increases.
RRI developed rain guards for tapping are being widely used by companies in Sri Lanka. With the increase of world market prices most of the abandoned rubber lands and high yielding zones are in commercial operations. Out of the total rubber production, 70 per cent is used for value added products while the balance 30 per cent is exports as foam or crepe rubber. Further, Sri Lanka also imports substantial amount of rubber from India, Thailand and Vietnam to feed the value added rubber industry.
The government has taken many initiatives to increase the production by extending the rubber subsidy for plantation companies, which was only offered to smallholders in the country for below five acres. It is estimated that by 2010 there would be a huge demand for rubber in the world market. It is predicted that a three million-tonne shortfall in the world market would occur and no country is in a position to meet the demand. The reason being that the Chinese rubber consumption has increased due to the increase in usage by the vehicle industry.
At present, rubber re-plantation programmes are underway in both traditional and non-traditional areas in the country. If all rubber lands used the new technology and rain guards for tapping, it would increase the production immensely.
Last Updated on: 17-05-2010


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Hold My Beer – while I weaponize this drone with Roman candles! This short video clip is going viral yet again. The original footage was uploaded to YouTube in March of 2015. Today, somebody posted a gif version of the clip on Reddit where it sparked a whole new thread within hours with over 400 comments.
The video shows how a few guys rig a drone with Roman candles and light them up. Two of them run away on to a frozen lake wearing nothing but bathing suits, while the drone pilot chases them and tries to shoot them with the fireworks attached to the drone. Quite accurately, I might add. At one point the drone seems to hit one of the guys while running through the snow. All in all, it is just a bunch of friends having a laugh. Not everybody agreed though, however.
Weaponized drone investigated by Transport Canada
After posting it on YouTube, the video clip went viral and Transport Canada started an investigation. They said in an email to CTVNews.ca that attaching explosives or pyrotechnics to a drone is “extremely dangerous.” Unmanned aerial vehicles are not allowed to carry “hazardous payloads” with a Special Flight Operating Certificate. However, drones weighing less than 35 kg and being used recreationally do not require the certificate. Transport Canada, however, said that flying drones:
“in a reckless and negligent manner could potentially cause damage, injuries, or fatalities, which can result in lawsuits, fines, and jail time.”
The video was originally uploaded to Andy Stewart’s YouTube channel. Stewart’s other videos have only received a very limited number of views but “Roman Candle Attack Drone 2.0” went viral instantly. By now, almost three years later, the video has garnered over 2.4 million views.
During an interview with CTV Ottawa, Jason Stewart explained that it was surprising how accurate the drone was. He was the one who actually got hit by the fireworks from the drone. He said:
“It’s just duct-taped onto it, you know? It’s not like we practiced trying to shoot Roman candles with drones.”
Transport Canada still didn’t think it was funny at all. Their spokesperson Mélany Gauvin said:
“They are also subject to the Criminal Code as well as provincial, territorial and municipal laws governing areas such as privacy and trespassing, noise levels, and setting off fireworks,”
What do you think about shenanigans like these? Should they be allowed since it is all fun and games or should we take this more seriously and reprimand or even punish people who use a drone in ways for which they were not designed? Let us know in the comments below.
The original “Roman Candle Attack Drone 2.0” video
Note: To improve our website DroneDJ and bring you the latest news, we rely on income from our ads as well as affiliate programs. We would greatly appreciate it, if you would consider the offers of our advertisers or would buy your next drone or drone accessories through one of our partners such as DJI, Parrot, Yuneec or retailers such as Amazon, B&H, BestBuy or eBay. Thank you!


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ARTIFICIAL intelligence (AI) company GoMicro is rolling out its new grain-assessment technology in Australia, paving the way for more consistent quality controls and stable grain and pulse prices.
Its multi-grain assessor can accurately test more than 1200 grains in one sample.
This compares with the existing scanner-based method which assesses about 200 well-separated grains at a time.
GoMicro is based in Singapore and also at Flinders University’s New Venture Institute (NVI) at Tonsley Innovation District in Adelaide.
GoMicro CEO Sivam Krish said the multi-grain assessor provides growers and those in domestic and export markets a faster and more accurate means of grading grain and pulses.
“GoMicro relies on the excellent quality of phone cameras and Amazon web services to deliver low-cost, high-precision quality grain and other produce assessments to farmers worldwide,” Dr Krish said.
GoMicro’s grain-assessment technology is also being trialled on wheat grown in India, and corn grown in Ghana.
Negotiations are well advanced to expand the assessor rollout with a large Indian ag-tech company for use in grain, corn and soy procurement.
“Accurate verifiable assessment will greatly reduce quality-related assessment risks for all parties in the supply chain.”
The new system reduces the risk of wasted production and trade disputes which often involve more subjective human quality assessment.
The technology is already being trialed by one Australian company.
“This direct digital manufacturing facility…is working with Queensland grain, seed and pulse trader PB Agrifood to assess the quality of soybeans sold by local farmers.”
PB Agrifood field officer Kate McIntyre said the Toowoomba-based company hoped the GoMicro Assessor will be used in day-to-day operations, making digitisation solutions accessible to the company as well as growers to produce fair pricing based on objective assessment.
“When PB Agrifood heard about Go Micro and the use of AI technology to classify grain and pulses, we thought about how this technology could improve efficiency and accuracy in our intake of soybeans,” Ms McIntyre said.
“We believe that the implementation of the technology developed by GoMicro will allow us to establish the quality of the soybeans at intake more quickly and accurately.”
PB Agrifood has several uses for soybeans including whole beans, flour, kibble and meal, and each requires different standards of soybeans.
Currently, PB Agrifood staff manually categorise these soybeans based on the relevant standards.
The GoMicro technology assesses the soybeans into five categories and creates a table of results for each defect, including the percentage of defective beans in each category.
“It will enable us to match these percentages to our intake standards and categorise the beans.”
“We are still implementing the technology into our intake process with a few changes to be made.
“For example, our current standards work off a weight sample whereas with the GoMicro app, the sample will be based on the number of individual beans.
“We hope that the technology will result in growers getting a fairer and faster categorisation of their soybeans.”
Dr Krish said the GoMicro technology has potential for farmers to capitalise on low-cost, high-quality grain assessments to transform entire harvests into digital assets that can be traded online.
“We are looking at yet more design and AI features to achieve optimal imaging conditions rapidly, even in the field,” Dr Krish said.
“We look forward to making our phone-based AI assessment technology affordable and available to the entire grain industry.”
GoMicro has developed a range of phone-camera techniques and flexible web-based and artificial intelligence (AI) technologies to via pest and food-product surveillance and now the new grain, pulses, coffee and tea assessment method for farmers and consumers around the world.
GoMicro is one of around 30 small businesses and entrepreneurs incubated at the NVI which have access to various experts, resources and networks at Flinders University to help deliver effective solutions to clients.
Companies range from traditional and advanced manufacturing to AI, big data analytics, web development and product design and healthcare, aged care, marketing and brand development.
Source: Flinders University


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So is now the time to buy Admiral?
2012 was Admiral’s 20th anniversary and the company’s most successful year to date. Indeed, within the company’s full-year results released only last week, Admiral announced group profits were up 15% to 345 million pounds. However, the company did report a full-year loss of 24 million poundsfor its international operations.
Nonetheless, the majority of Admiral Group plc (LON:ADM)’s divisions performed strongly and profits from the company’s comparison website, confused.com, expanded by 13% during 2012.
Furthermore, Admiral Group plc (LON:ADM) is seeking to expand its international operations and diversify into new markets. For example, the company recently started offering home insurance to its U.K. customers as well as launch a new online comparison website focused on customers within the United States.
Unfortunately, despite Admiral’s special divided and solid growth last year, the firm currently looks expensive compared to its peers and near-term earnings growth. So overall, I believe now does not look to be a good time to buy Admiral at 1,357 pence.
The article Is Now the Time to Buy Admiral Group? originally appeared on Fool.com and is written by Rupert Hargreaves.
Rupert does not own any share mentioned in this article.
Copyright © 1995 – 2013 The Motley Fool, LLC. All rights reserved. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.


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Fortnite has an extraordinarily large user base around the world. To maintain and increase interest, developers have been regular in using storyline twists and other organic methods to introduce new equipment, skins and map changes into the game.
This has reaped handsome results, as Fortnite has made around 2 billion USD every year since its inception. While the rate of increase might have stagnated a bit since 2018, it is only because it has reached the optimum gamer base, and there is no denying that Fortnite is the biggest game in the world, as of now.
The slight stagnation, and the often elaborate ways in which developers have introduced changes in the past, have led to rumors about shutdown at different points of times. In this article, we look at the latest ‘Fortnite shutdown’ rumors, the first wave of which emerged in 2018!
Will Fortnite be cancelled in 2020?
The first major controversy that hit the game was in 2018, when Korean company Bluehole announced plans to file a lawsuit against Epic Games due to copyright infringements with respect to PUBG. This caused a great deal of distress among the games fans, while some fake Epic Games Twitter accounts posted that Fortnite will be shutting down, owing to the lawsuit and demanding development.
Then, in October 2019, rumors were spread on social media as a result of the ‘black hole’ event. Here, the manner in which the entire map was sucked into a black hole made people think that the game was done for, once and for all.
Further, similar Twitter accounts came out and posted claims about Fortnite shutting down, which led to another bout of mass hysteria among fans. In both these situations, the rumors were sparked due to social media and its tendency to exaggerate, and this seems to be the case this time around as well!
Users on Twitter had speculated that the game would come to an end in June 2020, and Fortnite became the latest casualty in an already-bludgeoning list of games that were apparently ending, this year. This includes Minecraft, Roblox and some other apps, like Tik Tok.
However, Epic Games has said nothing to this effect, instead speaking a lot on the contrary! The 13.20 update has brought forth a variety of skins, map changes and new equipment that should keep gamers busy for months together. Further, the reason cited for the supposed shutdown of the game is the stagnation in revenue, but as already explained, Fortnite is still the biggest game in the world, and that might continue for years to come!


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- Tram Ho
Samsung has been the main sponsor of the Olympics since 1998 and has signed an official contract with the International Olympic Committee for long-term sponsorship until 2028. Each year, the company usually releases a special edition of its flagship models. with a theme related to the Olympics and this year is no exception.
Recently, the Korean manufacturer has just launched the Olympic version for the Galaxy S21 5G. The phone comes in a new color called Phantom Blue, which looks quite similar to dark purple and is sold exclusively by carrier Docomo. On the back, the device has the Olympic logo with 5 circles (no year printed) and the carrier’s logo.
Galaxy S21 5G Olympic Edition comes with a specially designed carrying case, as well as a customizable Olympic theme interface – including wallpapers, lock screens, app icons, and on/off display effects machine.
Currently, users can pre-order the Olympic version of the Galaxy S21 5G right on Docomo’s website, which is expected to ship in early June. Most likely, Samsung will give away this special version for free to all phones. Olympic athletes, just like the company has done before.
Apart from the design differences, the Galaxy S21 5G Olympic Edition still has the same specifications as the standard version. The device is equipped with a 6.2-inch AMOLED screen with Full HD + resolution, 120Hz refresh rate and protected by Corning’s Gorilla Glass Victus.
Inside, this phone brings hardware power from Snapdragon 888 processor, 8GB RAM and 128GB / 256GB internal memory. It has a 12MP (main) + 64MP (telephoto) + 12MP (wide-angle) camera cluster on the back, as well as a 10MP selfie camera on the front. The device comes with a 4000mAh battery, supports 25W fast charging and comes pre-installed with One UI 3.1 interface based on Android 11 operating system when sold.
Source : Genk


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COACH Inc. has been awarded an $8 million (£5.2 million), court payout, after winning a counterfeit trial against a customs brokerage firm. The case is believed to be the first of its kind against a customs broker - a company responsible for clearing goods for import or export through customs barriers.
The leather goods label first filed the lawsuit after US Customs and Border Patrol seized a large shipment of fake Coach goods destined for a Los Angeles port, reports WWD. Upon further investigation, it was discovered that fraudulent customs entry documents had been forged to allow the counterfeit products to be shipped to the US.
The three-day trial of Coach Inc. vs Celco Customs Services Company and Shen Huei Feng Wang found in favour of Coach - with the jury deciding that the "customs brokers knowingly and willingly participated in this scheme." It's the first time that a verdict has been given against a custom brokerage firm - which rarely get taken to court.
The case is the latest victory in Coach's Operation Turnlock campaign - a commitment to "follow every lead and identify everyone who helps to facilitate the counterfeit trade", explained Nancy Axilrod, Coach's vice president and deputy general counsel. The brand has filed more than 650 lawsuits since May 2009.
The court win also follows the recent news that purchasing counterfeit goods could soon be made illegal in New York, if a proposed bill is passed. If caught, shoppers could be punished with a fine of $1,000 (£652), or in extreme cases, a jail sentence.


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Renault under investigation for cheating on diesel emissions tests
16 January 2017 - Autoblog
This hasn't been a great week for diesel enthusiasts. Yesterday, the EPA said that FCA installed auxiliary emissions control devices in some of its its diesel vehicles.
Now Renault is under fire from French authorities who allege that the automaker purposely cheated on emissions testing in a similar way to Volkswagen, with early investigations showing vehicles putting out 10 times the legal limit of NOx.
According to the French outlet Le Figaro, Renault has "noted" the probe but stated that its vehicles comply with all emissions regulations. Three French judges will look into whether the matter is due to cheating by Renault. Unlike with Volkswagen, it appears Renault's alleged cheat device is hardware and not software related.
It's unclear why Renault specifically has been singled out, as a French commission previously performed emissions testing on 52 vehicles from Citroen, Peugeot, Renault, Toyota, Ford, and others. The group found that most vehicles exceeded the legal limit, though the severity of the violation varies. French laws allow for a tolerance of 2.1 times the limit, far lower than what some but not all of the vehicles put out.
This isn't the first news of a possible Renault violation. Last fall, an independent lobbying group claimed the Renault Espace was polluting up to 25 times the legal limit. The claim was released in partnership with the University of Applied Sciences in Bern, Switzerland, and the International Council on Clear Transportation. Renault responded by say that the university's tests weren't the same as the government's and that all of its vehicles comply with regulations.


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Capcom has confirmed the details of a rather large data breach, revealing today that it’s been targeted in a “customized ransomware attack.” We’re already seeing numerous leaks concerning Capcom’s upcoming games, with that information seemingly coming from this leak, but it’s also possible that information for about 350,000 customers, shareholders, and former employees was leaked in this breach as well.
Unfortunately, Capcom can’t say whether that happened for sure at this point. In a press release published to its website today, Capcom did confirm that information for 9 employees – five former and four current – was leaked, but counts that customer information as “potentially compromised data.” In the event that customer data was leaked, the company expects a maximum of around 350,000 affected customers, but thankfully, Capcom has confirmed that none of the potentially at-risk information includes credit card data.
So, what could the leak include? That depends on where you are in the world and how you’ve used Capcom’s products. For instance, here in North America, there are 14,000 Capcom Store customers who have potentially had their names, birthdates, and email addresses leaked, while there are approximately 134,000 customer service customers in Japan who have had their names, addresses, phone numbers, and email addresses leaked. A further 4,000 “esports operations website members” in North America have potentially had their names, emails, and gender information leaked as well.
That’s where the investigation stands as of today, with Capcom still investigating the matter. Capcom says that it will be contacting users whose information has been compromised as it verifies who was affected, though notes that its investigation and analysis of this breach has taken longer than usual because it was a ransomware attack. As the investigation continues to play out, Capcom says that it’s safe to play its games online and access its websites.
So, for now, the extent of this data breach is still unknown, with the BBC pointing out that Capcom’s statements on the matter suggest that it hasn’t paid the ransom demanded by these hackers. We’ll see what happens from here, so stay tuned for more information.


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Global hospitality and entertainment company Delaware North today announced the appointment of Dana Pellicano, an industry executive with more than 20 years of experience, as president of Patina Restaurant Group.
As a wholly owned division of Delaware North, Patina Restaurant Group operates premium street-side restaurants and catering services in locations such as New York City, Los Angeles, Boston. It also operates signature restaurants at Walt Disney World in Florida, both at EPCOT and Disney Springs, and at Downtown Disney in California.
In her role, Pellicano will report to Group President Bob Wilson and lead Patina Restaurant Group’s global business, including strategy and implementation, exploration of new opportunities, and development of talent throughout the organization. Among other responsibilities, she will focus on major revenue and profit streams, client and consumer requirements, and product and concept innovations.
“We are thrilled to have someone with Dana’s expertise and leadership ability to lead Patina Restaurant Group,” says Wilson, group president of Patina Restaurant Group, Delaware North Travel and United Kingdom operations. “With our restaurant and event catering business positioned for continued growth at world-class destinations, this is an exciting time for Patina Restaurant Group, and we’re looking forward to Dana leading us to new heights.”
Pellicano joins Delaware North with more than 15 years with Marriott International – most recently serving as vice president of global food and beverage operations. While in that role, she oversaw foodservice operations across the organization’s more than 12,000 total outlets – a mix that includes fine-dining, casual, quick service, concierge lounges, and meeting and event catering spaces.
Pellicano first joined Marriott International in 2006 as a restaurant manager at The Ritz-Carlton New York, Battery Park. Within a year, she was promoted to director of restaurants at the Ritz- Carlton Washington, D.C., where she oversaw the opening of the hotel’s signature restaurant by Chef Eric Ripert and the renovation of the iconic lobby bar. She was promoted again, to assistant director of food and beverage, before leaving to join Marriott’s global corporate food and beverage team. There, she created and implemented global food and beverage programs across several brands.
In 2011, Pellicano left Marriott briefly for a role with Loews Hotels as senior regional director of operations and corporate director of beverage, tasked with responsibility for 13 hotels on the East Coast. Within eight months, she was recruited back to Marriott to assume the role of director of restaurant and bar development for the Americas. In the subsequent three years, she implemented on-strategy restaurant concepts for more than 100 renovations in five brands across 15 countries.
In 2015, Pellicano was promoted to senior director of restaurant and bar design and beverage development for the Americas. She developed and opened more than 20 restaurants and bars in the role before being promoted in 2017 to vice president of food and beverage experience for the Americas.
Pellicano launched her career with the Batali & Bastianich Hospitality Group in New York City after earning a bachelor’s degree in international studies from Fordham University.
News and information presented in this release has not been corroborated by WTWH Media LLC.


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Shaquille O’Neal’s ‘Big Chicken’ Restaurant to Open First Louisiana Location in Baton Rouge
Shaq was a force at LSU under Head Basketball Coach Dale Brown. Over his 90-game college career, he averaged 21.6 points per game and 13.5 rebounds per game, according to sports-reference.com. Shaq has also been a force in the business world. According to vettedbiz.com, he owns a total of 50 brands. One of those brands is "Big Chicken," which gains high praise from the website:
Big Chicken has the potential to be his most successful business to date. Chicken Sandwich restaurants have been a cultural awakening and Shaq has the fast casual experience and celebrity endorsement power to make it a major brand. JRS Hospitality and ABG will also be major players to help ensure its success.
Started in 2018, "Big Chicken" just recently opened its first Texas location in Houston as part of its quick expansion across the country with locations in Arizona, California, Florida, Illinois, Maryland, Missouri, New York, Nevada, Tennessee and Washington.
What is on the Menu at 'Big Chicken?'
The menu at "Big Chicken" features several chicken sandwiches such as the "Big & Sloppy" (featuring mac n' cheese), the "Big Aristotle" (featuring bacon), and the Crispy Chicken Grilled Cheese. There's also chicken tenders, sliders, salads, and other sides to choose.
Where in Louisiana Will 'Big Chicken' be Located?
The business is set to open in Baton Rouge’s “The Hollywood Casino” on 1717 River Road in the Summer of 2023, according to KLFY.com!
Looks like I'm going to have to make a trip to Baton Rouge very soon!


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Feb 28, 2023
Bitcoin Depot Converts 7,000 Crypto ATMs to Software
Crypto ATMs have seen a steady decrease in installations around the world in recent months. This has been due to numerous factors, from geopolitical tensions to a decrease in revenue. However, providers like Bitcoin Depot have been able to turn this trend around by converting their physical Bitcoin (BTC) ATMs to software.
In November 2022, Bitcoin Depot acquired majority equity in BitAccess, a software-based offering. This move allowed them to vertically integrate their hardware and software, and ultimately eliminate annual software licensing fees. These fees had previously cost the company $3 million in operational costs per year.
The conversion of Bitcoin Depot’s 7,000 crypto ATMs and kiosks to software was completed in 10 weeks. This was made possible by swapping out the existing hard drive with one preloaded with BitAccess software.
The increase in crypto ATMs is an indication of the growing exposure of crypto to the general public. For example, El Salvador recently announced plans to build a supporting infrastructure of 200 ATMs and 50 branches after adopting Bitcoin as a legal tender.
The U.K.’s financial regulator, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), recently announced that all crypto ATMs operating in the country are unregistered and illegal. The FCA’s executive director of enforcement, Mark Steward, has made it clear that they intend to disrupt unregistered crypto businesses in the U.K.
As the crypto industry continues to grow, so too does the need for effective NFT marketing and promotion. NFTs are digital assets that are unique and immutable, meaning they cannot be replicated or counterfeited. As such, they are becoming increasingly popular as a way to trade digital assets, and many companies are looking for ways to promote and market their NFTs.
One of the most popular ways to promote and market NFTs is through Twitter. Twitter is one of the most widely used social media platforms, and it can be an effective way to reach a large audience. Companies can use Twitter to promote their NFTs and create buzz around them, as well as to engage with their target audience.
There are also a number of NFT marketing agencies that specialize in helping companies promote and market their NFTs. These agencies can help companies create and implement effective NFT marketing campaigns, as well as provide guidance on how to sell NFTs.
As the crypto industry continues to grow, more and more companies are turning to NFTs as a way to trade digital assets. With the right NFT marketing and promotion strategies, companies can reach a wide audience and maximize their chances of selling NFTs.Disclaimer: All investment or financial opinions expressed by MoonLanding Media are not recommendations and are intended for entertainment purposes only. Do your own research prior to making any kind of investment. This article has been generated based on trending topics, has not been fact checked and may contain incorrect information. Please verify all information before relying on it.


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The Etch a Sketch manufacturer reported an increase of five per cent in its six monthly net sales to almost $9.5 million. Its quarterly results were also up by 12 per cent to more than $6.2 million.
The firm reported its shipments of Etch A Sketch and the new fashion doll line Betty Spaghetty were up, however other categories lagged behind. The firm believed retailer delays in releasing domestic toy orders could hamper the company’s ability to satisfy product demand in the next half of the financial year.
The reduction in domestic toy shipments also caused the firm’s net loss after taxes to increase significantly. Along with an increase in promotional expenses and costs from the correction of a product quality issue, the firm’s net loss after taxes was $1,200,000, more than double than 2006.
For Q2 Ohio Art experienced a net loss of $93,000 after taxes compared to a net income of $26,000.


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Does Xiaomi steal data?
Xiaomi has been accused of collecting browsing data from its users, according to a new sensational report by Forbes.
Cybersecurity researcher Andrew Tierney reportedly found that the Mi Browser Pro and the Mint Browser — which have more than 15 million downloads through Google’s Play Store — collected the same data..
Is xiaomi spying on users?
Chinese smartphone manufacturer Xiaomi has been called out for spying on personal user data using their smartphones. According to a new report online, the Xiaomi Redmi Note has been found to be sending photos and texts to a server in Beijing.
Are xiaomi products safe?
So Xiaomi phones are definitely safe to use without any hitch. If you also have a smartphone of Chinese smartphone maker Xiaomi, you need to be very careful, because there is a concern about the security of customers regarding an app in Xiaomi’s phone.
Will xiaomi get banned?
It’s safe to buy a Xiaomi phone.. and no one ever said Xiaomi will be banned from using Android.. … it uses a modified android system called MiUI, which is based on the open source verison of google’s android OS. all updates are released by Xiaomi.
Are Xiaomi phones dangerous?
Not only is it safe to use Xiaomi’s phones but it is safer than using other phones. For example when StageFright happened millions and millions of Android phones were infected. Xiaomi’s MIUI OS was unaffected.
Should I trust xiaomi?
In short, yes Xiaomi phones are reliable and you’d never regret your decision of buying a Redmi, or Mi 😉 Yes. Xiaomi phones are reliable. … MIUI is somewhat a copycat of Apple’s iOS but still they’re able to provide amazing devices at such a price that people will be drawn towards Xiaomi and they’ll buy them.
Is xiaomi a trusted brand?
Yes Xiaomi is a trusted brand not only in China, but also in a variety of different places in the world. According to Forbes “Chinese company Xiaomi was the largest smartphone vendor in China based on shipments with a 15.9 percent market share in the second quarter of 2015, according to Canalys.
Is xiaomi cloud safe?
The personal data of Mi Cloud users is strictly encrypted before it is stored on the Mi Cloud server. Even if the developer or maintainer gets the disk directly, he or she cannot decrypt the data, so there is no need to worry about the leakage of the user’s personal data.


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Oprah steps up hurricane relief with three state purchase.
CHICAGO, IL - Oprah Winfrey signed a purchase agreement this week with the US Government giving her complete ownership of the three state region including Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama. The popular Talk Show Host sought ownership of the storm torn area as a means of directly managing all Hurricane Katrina relief efforts.
Dubbed by the media as the Harpo Gulf, the area has already benefited at the mere prospect of an association with the beloved celebrity. Much of the water receded and electrical power has returned this week simply from the announcement of the completed purchase. Also, crime has subsided and looting has ceased in response to Oprah's presence.
George W. Bush has expressed confidence in Oprah's abilities and has promised to check on her progress while on a five week vacation at his Texas ranch beginning next week
- New Kids on the Block denied reservations at Lachey’s Bar
- Nancy Grace pleads with psychopaths to make this an interesting summer
- Oprah gives away almost entire personal house staff of over 200 illegal immigrant domestic servants.
- Jay-Z to purchase retailer J.C. Penney
- Halloween costume store changes name to ‘Ye Olde Slut Shoppe’
- Olsen twin identity stolen by other Olsen twin


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Remember GM's promise they'd make Saturns through 2011 while it looked for a buyer or other options? Nevermind.GM said today that 2009 models will be the last, i.e. it will stop building Saturns in a matter of weeks.
Theoretically GM's still looking at offers, including one backed by Saturn dealers, but the short time frame makes that unlikely. If you bought in the past few months,sorry. And people who were buying may walk away now.
How could a brand that built such goodwill and brand recognition after its launch have been made such an orphan? Feel free to click Comment and vent.
Photo of Saturn Sky by GM
Chris Woodyard is an auto writer for USA TODAY who covers all aspects of motoring. He revels in the exhaust note of a Maserati and the sharp creases of a Cadillac CTS. Chris strives to live a Porsche life on a Scion budget. More about Chris


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One in three households are expected to spend over Rs 10,000 this festival season, with footfall in stores rising 20 per cent, according to a survey by LocalCircles. The spending this year is likely to exceed $32 billion,
“Generally, these are households from upper middle-class or upper-class families along with a middle-class families making a major purchase during the festival season,” said the LocalCircles survey. “It is common for families to plan their major purchases during the festival season as many consider it to be auspicious.”
LocalCircles said attention must also be paid to the 35 per cent respondents in the survey who said that they do not plan to spend anything this festiveal season. “It is likely that many of the respondents in this category are experiencing a squeeze with high inflation, loss of livelihood or employment and are just getting by month to month,” said LocalCircles.
The results of this poll are indicative of the fact that the divide may be rising with a third spending robustly (Rs 10,000 or more), a third planning limited spending (up to Rs 10,000) and the rest not spending at all.
LocalCircles report said the Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy (CMIE) had reported that the consumer sentiments decreased in August after rising in July.
LocalCircles said many households have been feeling the squeeze from high fuel prices, price of essentials, and commodities most of this year.
At the same time, there are other affluent households with high disposable incomes.
To understand from household consumers how they are likely to spend during this season, beyond their regular monthly household spending, LocalCircles conducted an extensive national survey. It received over 58,000 responses from household consumers located in 362 districts of India. 64 per cent respondents were men while 36 per cent were women. 44 per cent were from tier-1, 33 per cent from tier-2 and 23 per cent respondents were from tier-3,-4 and rural districts.


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Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has vowed to halve inflation during his first significant speech this new year – inflation has been rising continuously during the last year and has previously been blamed on post-COVID-19 impacts and the Ukrainian war.
The PM stated that he has plans to cut the UK’s rate of inflation from its current alarming rate of 10.7% to 5%, in hopes to regain some economic stability.
Inflation has been a growing concern for business owners and potential business buyers – some small businesses struggling to stay afloat when it comes to matching the exponentially increasing rate of inflation. Sunak’s plans to slash inflation will come as a comfort to some business owners, and will appear as a light at the end of the tunnel for many that have been recently struggling.
Rishi Sunak’s claims align with The Bank of England’s recent predictions that inflation would drop sharply in the second half of 2023 – paving the way for economic growth this new year.
Get quick and easy insight into the real value of your business, without any obligations.
At Intelligent, all our experts use a specific formula that will give you a free and highly accurate baseline valuation so that you've got a figure to work with that most realistically resembles the value of your business.


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AOL on Monday issued an update to its AOL Video service that it says will make it easier for users to find, watch, and share web videos.
The company’s video site is one of the fastest growing on the Internet. Its unique visitors have tripled over the past nine months, while the number of page views has grown by 12 times, AOL said.
“Consumers want just one place where they can go to find and watch all of the videos they’re looking for and our new AOL Video portal gives them just that: a single website that brings together millions of videos from across the Web,” video chief Fred McIntyre said.
The front page and search technology has been revamped to allow for easier discovery of content, and AOL has added playback functionality that allows the consumer to watch content from other popular sites directly within the page.
In addition to the enhancements to its service, AOL also released a Vista gadget that would allow users to watch videos from the Windows Sidebar. The gadget features content from five categories including news, music, movies, comedy and business.
Currently in beta, the gadget is now available for download from the AOL Developer Network.
AOL, Video Portal, Redesign


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Super Retail GroupFollow
Super Retail Group reports record sales to drive strong profit
Super Retail Group expects to report profits after record first-half sales from all core brands, according to preliminary results. For the 26 weeks to December 31, the business says sales grew 15 per cent t...
Super Retail Group Archives
Ex-Aldi exec joins Super Retail Group
Benjamin Ward will take over as managing director of Supercheap Auto in July.
Super Retail Group posts encouraging results
New CEO reports on areas of focus in first 100 days.
Peter Birtles to leave early after widespread underpayment is revealed
Super Retail Group has set aside $43 million for underpaid workers.
Super Retail Group names Anthony Heraghty as new CEO
New CEO to step up as of 31 March 2019.
Birtles to retire as CEO of Super Retail Group
Peter Birtles will retire after 13 years at the helm of the company.
Super Retail Group sees $128.3 million NPAT
Total sales increased by 7 per cent from the prior year, reaching $2.57 billion.
The week that was
Looking back at what made headlines this week.
Super Retail Group adds $135m Kiwi brand to portfolio
Specialty retailer to consolidate outdoors division, as group's H1 profit declines.
Ex-Seek, Yahoo exec joins Super Retail Group
Rebel Sport and Supercheap Auto's parent nabs experienced exec.
Birtles details spending plans
Rays look to the big smoke for foot traffic.
SRG books profit, signals big investment
Owner of Rebel Sports, Rays and Supercheap Auto to bolster offer in FY18.
What does “customer first” really mean?
Customers demand more than just price to consider that they are being placed as number one.
Super Retail board changes
New chairman for owner of Rebel Sports and Supercheap Auto.
The agony and ecstasy of half-yearly results
First half sales results from ASX-listed retailers confirm continuing difficult retail conditions.
It is seldom that something totally new and significant happens in retail.


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A cheap version of the next gen Xbox will be a serious competitor for the Sony PlayStation 5
It has been on the web for some time now that Microsoft is preparing a more affordable version of its Xbox Series X console, announced earlier this year. So far, the company has only presented it, but there is already evidence that the younger version exists on the Web.
If the older version is code-named Anaconda, the younger version is named Lockhart, and should be cheaper than the older version. It is expected to be called Series S (similar to the previous generation where Xbox One X and Xbox One S were). Rumor has it that this console should be available by the end of this month.
At the moment there is a lot of evidence of the existence of the above-mentioned console, including photos of the box from the gamepad of the console. The Xbox Series S controller, which is in white, was noticed a month earlier, but now, thanks to its packaging, we have learned what platforms it will support. In addition to the expected mobile platforms and Windows 10, it will also support the Xbox One, Series X and Series S, which confirms the existence of this available console.
The color in which this controller is made is called “Robot White”. According to insider information currently available, more details about this console should be available in the next three weeks.


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Uber has unveiled a new logo and branding, and has updated its app with a brand new icon to reflect this. While the Uber app works just as it has, the company hopes that this new branding will reflect how the company has evolved over the years, celebrating the cities in which the company operates.
Uber has broken down its new branding into three areas: the logotype, the "bit", and the "atom". The new logotype is meant to help you identify the Uber brand from a distance, and is meant to reflect a more mature company. The "bit" is a small square that is becoming a central part of Uber's branding. It's at the center of the new logo, and appears throught Uber's website for buttons, menus, and more.
The "atom" is Uber's way of using colors and patterns to celebrate the different countries in which it operates. From Uber:
The old Uber was black and white, somewhat distant and cold. This belied what Uber actually is—a transportation network, woven into the fabric of cities and how they move. To bring out this human side—the atoms—we've added color and patterns. The team has spent months researching architecture, textiles, scenery, art, fashion, people and more to come up with authentic identities for the countries where Uber operates.
This framework is meant to make it easier for Uber to develop branding and logos for new products in the future. It will also broaden on existing products over time, with elements like "atoms" being redefined not just for countries, but individual cities as well. You can see this new branding and icon when you download the latest Uber app update, which should roll out soon on the Google Play Store.
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The Galaxy S20 will be more expensive than you think
Some new insider information has revealed the expected prices of the Galaxy S20 series, at least in Europe, with the 5G models beginning at approximately EUR 900.
Xbox basically just buried Google Stadia with latest Project xCloud update
Heating up, the streaming wars are. Today, a slew of Project xCloud additions threaten to rip Google Stadia of its, well, reason to exist.
POCO F2 has been confirmed by the company's Twitter account
POCO has confirmed on its Twitter account that the F2 is coming and brace for impact.
These are the best Xiaomi phones you can buy in 2020
Xiaomi has carved out a niche for itself over the last five years for offering phones that redefine value for money. From $100 entry-level phones to true flagships with innovative features, these are the best Xiaomi phones you can buy in 2020.


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Smuggled beer worth more than £84,000 (€100,000) was seized by Irish revenue officers after searching a truck that travelled from Holyhead to Dublin.
A staggering 25,400 litres of Perla beer was found in a Romanian registered truck and trailer that had disembarked a ferry from North Wales, DublinLive reports.
The beer is worth an estimated €101,300 and represents a potential loss of over €47,400 to the Exchequer.
An Irish Revenue spokeswoman said the beer was seized "following routine profiling aimed at identifying alcohol products that may be diverted onto the market without payment of the tax and duties due".
Do you think security checks at ports need to be tightened? Let us know in the comments section.
She said: "Investigations are ongoing. This seizure is part of Revenue’s ongoing operations targeting the supply and sale of illicit alcohol products in the shadow economy."
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It’s not uncommon for banks and financial institutions to catch flak for poor customer service, but that is still no excuse not to seek an improvement. The country’s largest bank – Bank of America – has seemingly taken its own poor customer service ratings to heart, and may consider changes to its culture to address these shortcomings.
Reuters reported that it obtained a letter from BoA CEO Brian Moynihan to his 270,000 employees, instructing them that they need to start focusing on improving the customer experience at every level.
A number of the company’s new policies and strategies have played a role in its poor customer perception, including a controversial $5 monthly debit card fee that was abandoned after public outcry. However, Moynihan’s letter seems to suggest that he believes even a simple change in company culture could result in a better customer service experience.
Sometimes, that’s easier said than done. For established companies with a long-established way of doing business ingrained in the company culture, it may make more sense to outsource some customer service tasks to an answering service that can offer the courteous support organizations need to improve reputation.
Bank of America held a company-wide event yesterday that was meant to signify its new customer service direction. While sagging profits may have spurred this decision, going forward, the company – and any others that wish to re-prioritize customer service – will need to keep their clients at the forefront of their minds when making any critical decisions.
Ultimately, call center answering services can help businesses in transition find their footing while still ensuring that customers get the support they need.


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Australia’s High Court has upheld new government legislation on cigarette plain packaging after rejecting a legal challenge from tobacco companies.
Tobacco companies including British American Tobacco and Phillip Morris had claimed the legislation was unconstitutional because it would damage the companies’ intellectual property rights.
But the court found that the laws were legal, meaning cigarettes will be sold in olive green packs devoid of branding from December 1.
Meanwhile, in the UK retailers must wait at least three months before finding out whether their efforts to convince government of the harmful impact that plain tobacco packaging would have on their businesses have succeeded.
Thousands of tobacco retailers responded to the consultation via the internet, letter, or postcard campaigns led by trade associations.
Association of Convenience Stores public affairs director Shane Brennan said he was happy that the trade association had put forward a robust case for the burden that plain packaging would have on retailers.
New Tobacco Retailers’ Alliance national spokeswoman Debbie Corris submitted its response. In it she said that in addition to a rise in the illicit trade, plain packaging would increase transaction and stock-taking times for retailers. “It would also increase the amount of red tape that retailers have to deal with when the display ban isn’t even introduced in our stores yet, let alone its effects evaluated,” she said.


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The University of Nebraska–Lincoln’s newest academic hub will also be home to a Dunkin’ Donuts location.
The coffee and baked goods café is part of the Learning Commons at Love Library, a $10 million, 30,000-square-foot redesign of the first floor of Love North. The Learning Commons is a technology-rich space that will offer a 24-hour study space while encouraging cross-discipline collaborations between students and faculty. The redesigned space opens Jan. 11 with the start of UNL’s spring semester.
“This new space allows us to finally accommodate a long-standing student request to add a food vendor within the libraries,” said Nancy Busch, dean of university libraries. “It’s a necessary feature of an environment designed to allow people to come in and study or work on projects for long periods of time.”
The Dunkin’ Donuts location will be the fourth store opened by QSR Services in Lincoln.
“We’ve been a sponsor of Husker Athletics for two years and were chomping at the bit to open a location on campus,” said Bryce Bares, a partner in QSR Services. “This project within Love Library really piqued our interest because it creates a dynamic student study space that pairs well with our products.”
Dunkin’ Donuts is scheduled to open Jan. 11 with the Learning Commons. Bares said the location will offer the entire Dunkin’ Donuts beverage line with a limited bakery menu, including donuts, bagels and muffins. The shop’s planned hours of operation in the 24-hour space mirror Love Library’s regular hours – 7:30 a.m. to 1:30 a.m. Mondays through Thursdays; 7:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Fridays; 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays, and noon to 1 a.m. Sundays.
“We have a little kitchen space and will be making the bakery goods on site,” Bares said. “Hours will mirror staffing within the library at first and may be updated as we determine demand.”
The Dunkin’ Donuts in the Learning Commons will also be the first in Nebraska to use paper cups rather than those made of Styrofoam. The move aligns with the student-led initiative that resulted in UNL eliminating the use of polystyrene — also known as Styrofoam — for food packaging in 2016.
“Green initiatives are really important to me personally and I’m excited that we are the first location in Nebraska to go this route,” Bares said. “Unfortunately, due to demand for the paper cups nationwide, we may not be able to offer them immediately. We are working to secure a steady supply and will be using them as soon as possible.”
Along with Dunkin’ Donuts, the Learning Commons in Love Library includes 18 private study rooms, access to an ASKus service desk, a Huskertech help station for information technology, and a One Button Studio where users can record presentations. The Learning Commons can accommodate about 500 people and also offers an outdoor plaza with additional seating.
For more information on the Learning Commons at Love Library, click here.


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The year 2020 was an interesting year for the Pakistani car market. Many new models were launched, and the year has been a combination of upside and downs for both the buyers and sellers.
An interesting development in the year 2020 was the introduction of new brands and their cars in addition to the “Big Three” brands that people usually complain about.
The introduction of new brands has increased the number of choices available for the local buyers to choose from. The same trend is expected to continue as we step into 2021.
In this article, we’ll take a look at some of the most anticipated car models that are set to be introduced in Pakistan in 2021.
Kia has emerged as one of the most popular brands in Pakistan in 2020. Kia has launched models like Sportage, which has allowed the company to set its foot in the SUV segment.
New car models are planned to be launched by Kia in 2021.
Kia has already teased its new Cerato sedan in November 2020, and is planning to introduce the car in the country in 2021. The car model is expected to have a 1600cc engine, and 6-speed manual and auto transmission options.
You can find more details and specifications of the car on Kia’s official website. The company hasn’t revealed the price of this particular model yet.
Without any doubt, this car is one of the most awaited models to be released in 2021. This is because Honda Atlas will release the new model of Honda City after 2010.
The current generation of City in Pakistan is its 5th generation, which was discontinued in the international market after 2014.
Japan has released the 7th generation of this car in India, with a 1500cc engine, 6 speed-manual, and 7 speed CVT transmission. However, there’s mixed news about the company releasing the 6th or 7th generation in Pakistan.
Keep in mind that the 6th generation of Honda City has also been discontinued in the international market.
Proton has recently released some car models in Pakistan, and after analyzing the market trend, the company is all set to launch its sedan in Pakistan in 2021. At first, companies might sell CBU units in the country as their local production is set to start in the second quarter of 2021.
The car reportedly has a 1298cc engine combined with 4-speed auto and 5-speed manual transmission.
The car will have other features as well, which you can check out on their official website.
Consumers should stay ready to pay around 2.2 to 2.4 million for this car.
BAIC BJ40 Plus
The BJ40 is an interesting Jeep-cum-SUV set to be launched in Pakistan in 2021. Keep in mind that there’s no official announcement about the release of this car in Pakistan, but it will hopefully arrive in the Pakistani market in 2021.
The car, according to its manufacturer, will have a 2000cc engine.
One of the best features of this car is that it can be converted into an off-road jeep.
Its price will probably be around 6 million.
This model is also being awaited by the Pakistani consumer market. The company has announced the arrival of this car in Pakistan in the first quarter of 2021. This car will hit the segment which is currently dominated by models like Civic and Corolla.
This model is known to have engines of different ratings according to the needs of different regions. However, the 1600cc engine model is the most common one. This engine is paired with 6 speed auto and 6 speed manual transmission.
You can read the full specs and features of this car model on the official website of Hyundai. The price of this car will be around 3.6 to 4 million Pakistani rupees.
These were some of the most anticipated cars which are to hit the Pakistani market in 2021.


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BENNINGTON, Vt. (NEWS10) — Garlic Town, USA, will return to downtown Bennington, Vermont, on Saturday, September 2. The event, formerly known as Garlic Fest, celebrates all things garlic, Vermont, and community.
Producers plan to have over 120 vendors, food trucks, craft producers, bands, kid activities, and more available at the event. Over 7,500 people took part around downtown Bennington with garlic, food vendors, sidewalk sales, tractor rides, and more in last year’s event.
Bennington’s garlic events have become recognized among the top 10 garlic festivals in the world by Reuters, have been featured in Yankee Magazine, and more.
“We are excited to bring this regional event to downtown once again,” remarked Matt Harrington, the Southwestern Vermont Chamber of Commerce. “We will have all the elements that the crowds have come to love with a few tricks and surprises up our sleeves we think the attendees are going to love this year. As the Garlic Committee begins to plan the event and details get solidified we will inform the public.”


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In a recent study, Printed Pet Memories revealed that pet parents in Massachusetts and really all of New England are at the top of the list for spoiling their pets. And they figured this out based on what people were Googling online, as well as how many searches they were doing per month.
In terms of the result of this study, it was interesting to see Massachusetts in the top 10 for states where pet owners are really looking to spoil their dogs, cats, and more. But what exactly were they searching for?
What do pet parents in Massachusetts Google when it comes to spoiling their pup? Luckily we have the answer as Printed Pet Memories has put together a top 10 list of the most searched for pet products that pet parents are searching for in the state. (Now this doesn’t mean they are always buying these items, but we love knowing that pet parents are on the lookout for these items either way.)
10 pet products Massachusetts pet parents are searching for when it comes to spoiling their pets
Here is what pet parents in Massachusetts are looking for when they are trying to spoil their pets:
- Dog Toys (Unsurprisingly, at least to us, dog toys are at the top of the list with a search volume of 1650.00 searches per 100,000 people every month)
- Cat Toys (It is also unsurprising to find cat toys in the second spot with a search volume of 1366.7)
- Cat Scratcher
- Dog Treats
- Cat Scratch Post (This was interesting as it seems pet parents do differentiate between the types of cat scratching items they are searching for, with posts getting an impressive 906.7 in terms of search volume every month.)
- Dog Birthday Cake
- Cake for Dog
- Raincoat for Dog
- Homemade Dog Treats
- Best Cat Toy (With a search volume of 577.5 it makes sense that cat owners would not just be searching for a cat toy, they want the best cat toys!)
Honestly, none of these searches are very surprising. However, it is surprising to see what the top searches in Massachusetts are. It is also surprising to see how much these individual terms are being searched for. All of that to say, we are not in any way surprised by the things that pet parents are looking for in order to spoil their pets.
What do you think of these search results? Are you a pet parent in Massachusetts? What are you searching for when it comes to spoiling your pet?


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Back to indicators, 2017 at $20,000 bitcoin will be able not earlier than 10-11 years. However, this cryptocurrency should start taking millions of people. This was stated by the founder of Cardano, Charles Hoskinson, writes Cointelegraph.
According to the businessman, to give impetus to the development of the bitcoin ecosystem will the arrival of her institutional investors who are interested in complex trading strategies and instruments.
“Designers of digital money should represent the major players, an elaborate road map, as wall street has long been looking for a new derivatives, options, short sales for investment,” said Hoskinson.
He also added that serious players will allow to forget about stock market volatility.
According to Satoshi Capital Research, in 2018, the bitcoin network processed transactions totaling $3.2 trillion. It is only $0.3 trillion less than in 2017, which is considered to be extremely successful for captainvalor.
Discuss current news and events on the Forum


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The US economy is unlikely to experience an inflation regime shift. But after a decade of glacial price rises in the wake of the financial crisis, it will experience a prolonged period of warm inflation above the Fed’s 2% target. That stickiness will initially reflect post-Covid supply and demand imbalances, but from 2022 onward, it’ll reflect sustained economic and labor market strength.
What you will learn:
- As of mid-2021, we see only a 10-15% chance of the US economy shifting into a high-inflation regime (persistently above 5%), and we find that such a shift generally requires a combination of factors and takes multiple years to occur.
- While business pricing power is near record-highs, we believe an inflationary psychology is unlikely to settle in. Instead, we see a negative demand response, which should lower price pressures, in sectors with the highest inflation.
- Similarly, while lower-paying jobs are getting unprecedented wage growth, we believe this reflects a one-time releveling of low wages rather than a permanent shift in workers’ bargaining power.
Growth & secular trends,


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Anyone in Ontario can call themselves a financial planner or financial advisor, but now under new rules those titles will come with added protections for consumers.
“We doing this now because there has been uncertainty about who can be a financial advisor and a financial planner,” Ontario’s Finance Minister Peter Bethlenfalvy said. “This will give consumers confidence that the person giving them advice has the appropriate credentials.”
When it comes to your mortgage, investments, and planning for your retirement, it can be helpful to deal with a financial professional, as long as you know they have taken the appropriate courses and have the financial background to give you sound advice.
“The two titles will be financial advisor and financial planner. A financial advisor focuses more on day-to-day money management, and a financial planner helps families and individuals develop long term financial plans,” Bethlenfalvy said.
The Financial Services Regulatory Authority of Ontario (FSRA) said the new rules will clear up confusion for consumers when they’re looking for advice with money matters.
“This is a tremendous change that consumers can now rely on those titles and know that those titles really mean something,” said CEO of FSRA Mark White.
“The vast majority of financial planners and advisors are well qualified, good competent professionals and they have been very supportive of this because they realize that this will only affect the people who are operating at the margins.”
To be able to use both titles, financial advisors and planners will have to have a minimum standard of education and be actively supervised by a credentialing body.
They will also be subject to a complaints and discipline process and will have to abide by a code of conduct.
Advocis, an association of financial advisors and planners, feels the changes will benefit the public.
“I think this is a very, very good thing for Ontarians and it will really assist them in knowing who they should be choosing to be their financial advisor, or their financial planner. It leads to professionalism and consumer confidence,” said Greg Pollock, president of Advocis.
This initiative is to be phased in overtime with a transition period of four years for financial planners and two years for financial advisors.
Many people operating in the financial sector may already qualify for the positions of financial advisor or planner, but if they don’t they will need to upgrade their credentials or they won’t be allowed to use those titles in the future.


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ABC/Richard HarbaughNe-Yo has been awarded $6.4 million, and Brian McKnight will receive $150,000, in a judgement against their former manager, Kevin Foster, who was found guilty of fraud and other charges.
The amounts were determined in court in Columbus, Ohio after Foster was recently convicted, according to HotHipHop.com.
Foster was sentenced to 89 months in prison on May 16 and ordered to pay nearly $8 million in restitution to Ne-Yo, McKnight, and the IRS. As previously reported, Foster was convicted in August 2018 of 16 charges, including wire fraud, money laundering, bankruptcy fraud, tax evasion and filing false tax returns.
Prosecutors say that addition to working with Ne-Yo and McKnight, Foster also served as a controller for the Imperial Integrative Health Research and Development company. He convinced Ne-Yo, born Shaffer Smith, and McKnight, to invest in the firm’s sports drink, OXYwater, under false pretenses.
Court documents also show that Foster took more money out of Ne-Yo and McKnight’s accounts than they agreed to invest.
“Unbeknownst to Smith, Foster invested an additional $1.5 million of Smith’s money into the product without his consent and fraudulently took out $1.4 million in lines of credit under Smith’s name by forging his signature,” prosecutors said.
They added that Ne-Yo and McKnight didn’t know that Foster was receiving a large commission from the company, based on their investments.
Foster used the millions he stole from the singers to purchase several luxury vehicles, designer watches, and season tickets to see the New York Giants and New York Knicks.
Copyright © 2019, ABC Radio. All rights reserved.


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AMC Networks ended the second quarter of 2023 with 11 million streaming subscribers. Although this represents an increase on the second quarter of last year, it is a decrease when compared to the first quarter of 2023.
While AMC Plus is probably the service most people associate with AMC Networks, the company does also operate a number of other streaming services, including Acorn TV, ALLBLK, and Shudder.
Taking all of those streaming services into account, AMC finished Q2 2023 with approximately 11 million subscribers. According to its latest earnings report, this represented an increase of 6% when compared to the 10.3 million subscribers reported at the end of the second quarter of 2022.
When compared to the first quarter of this year, however, it did represent a decrease. In total, AMC reported 11.5 million subscribers at the end of Q1 2023, resulting in a loss of around 500,000 during the most recent quarter.
According to AMC, the quarterly loss was not quite as large as 500,000. To explain, AMC says that it no longer includes estimated subscriber conversions as part of its subscriber definition. As a result of this change, 300,000 subscribers were removed from its subscriber count.
Still, and even taking into consideration the subscriber definition change, Q2 subscribers were down 200,000 when compared to Q1. In explaining this drop, AMC said the decline reflected “our continued focus on higher value subscribers and promotional roll-off.”
In spite of the decline in subscribers, AMC reported a 1% increase in subscription revenue for the second quarter of 2023.
That revenue is likely to increase further during the third quarter, following the confirmation that the price of a Shudder subscription will increase at the end of this month.
In the meantime, Sling TV subscribers currently have access to a free preview of AMC Plus, allowing them to watch additional content from AMC, IFC, Shudder, and Sundance Now for free through Sunday.


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22 Cans founder says wacky things
We all know Peter Molyneux lives in a gumdrop world of magic and make-believe, but perhaps none of us realized he was so far gone as to live in a world where Nintendo and Sony apparently don’t exist. According to the 22 Cans founder, Xbox 360 won this current generation, destroyed its rivals, and now stands alone to face Apple.
Yeah … he’s gone totally mental now.
“2013 is proving to be the year of the console hardware refresh,” the maniac told the BBC. “Although it’s exciting, it’s not nearly as exciting as when the Xbox 360 exploded onto the gaming scene just over seven years ago.
“Back then, the 360 represented a huge leap forward in gaming, with a tangible increase in performance and fantastic multiplayer support. Gamers and game-makers were justifiably super-excited. Now it is that time again, but the world has changed.”
Molyneux points to the rise of competing smartphone machines and Valve’s Steam Box, and seems to argue it entirely from the point of view that Microsoft is the only company left in the console industry.
“Tablet, mobile PC and smartphone makers are refreshing their hardware on what feels like almost a weekly basis. And on the horizon looms Valve with its PC-based Steam Box. Thereby hangs the problem for Microsoft: how to justify its new console, how to get us all excited.
“Its competition is no longer Sony and Nintendo, but rather Apple, Google and Samsung. Rightfully, Microsoft can claim it won the last console generation. However, it has always targeted the living room as the big prize.
“That’s why it packed the 360 with an array of ‘living room’ features to try to persuade us that the machine could be a mix of set-top box, internet music streamer and Facebook browser.”
I won’t deny that it’s smart for any console manufacturer to consider Apple, Google and Samsung with a degree of seriousness, but for Molyneux to totally discount Sony and Nintendo seems rather blinkered and myopic, especially when a new generation typically leaves everything to play for. It doesn’t matter who “won” last generation (it was Nintendo anyway), the dynamics always change, and last gen’s winners don’t automatically get a free pass in the next one.
Molyneux spent a lot of time with the Xbox brand this past generation. One wonders if he ever rose his head up from his desk and looked at anything else while he was there.


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Ford fined a record $10 million by consumer watchdog
Ford has been fined a record $10 million by the consumer watchdog for failing to fix dodgy transmissions in nearly 11,000 cars.
The ACCC has ordered Ford fix, buy back or replace the cars made between 2011 and 2015.
The models affected include the Fiesta, Focus and EcoSport SUVs equipped with the six-speed “Powershift” transmission.
Graeme Whickman, Ford Motors CEO, apologised to customers today.
“As we said from the outset of this action, we took too long to identify the issues and we acknowledge that PowerShift customers did not have complaints handled appropriately,” Mr Whickman said.
“We were overwhelmed with the volume of complaints and, while it was not intended, over a ten-month period our processes were inadequate and information provided was either inaccurate or incomplete.
“We let our customers down and for that we are sorry.”