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Two Competitor Brands Team Up to Make Backcountry Skiing Safer
ORTOVOX and Arc’teryx have collaborated to build an avalanche airbag system meant to set a new standard in backcountry safety
Heading out the door? Read this article on the new Outside+ app available now on iOS devices for members! Download the app.
Every now and then, competitors in our industry join forces to do something important together.
The latest of these partnerships, announced today, involves Ortovox and Arc’teryx. The two brands have teamed up to create an avalanche airbag system they’re calling a “new benchmark for mountain safety.”
The new technology, LiTRIC, represents one of the lightest avalanche airbag systems on the market—just 2.4 pounds—powered by a lithium ion battery that holds 60 hours of charge and works for at least two inflations.
According to Ortovox and Arc’teryx, the technology will allow both brands to create new gear that will markedly improve both experience and safety for backcountry skiers and snowboarders.
“It’s been such a unique process to partner with a great brand and competitor like Arc’teryx to rethink avalanche airbag safety for a greater cause,” said Tom Mason, U.S. brand manager at Ortovox. “The LiTRIC airbag system is the product of two companies that are maniacally obsessed with building the highest-quality equipment.”
The heart of the system is a new two-layer airbag balloon that separates an air-holding inner bladder from an outer nylon outer shell—a design that results in a lighter, more packable balloon that doesn’t sacrifice durability.
Both Ortovox and Arc’teryx will release new pack lines this fall that incorporate the technology.
From Ortovox, we’ll see three models: the Avabag LiTRIC Tour ($1,300-$1,400), specifically designed for touring in 28-, 30-, 36-, and 40-liter sizes; the Freeride ($1,250-$1,350), slightly lighter and offered in 16-, 18-, 26-, and 28-liter sizes; and the Zero ($1,200), a minimalist 27-liter pack weighing just 4.3 pounds, designed for day tours.
Arc’teryx will incorporate the system into a new line of packs that will feature an avalanche-tool pocket, a helmet-carry system, a sternum strap with safety whistle, waist belt with stash pocket and ice-clipper slots, and a dog-bone tool attachment. LiTRIC packs from Arc’teryx will be available in 16-, 32- and 42-liter models, for $1,700, $1,800, and $1,850, respectively.
Upon announcing the release of the new system, Ortovox and Arc’teryx also announced that they’ve taken the steps to get LiTRIC bluesign certified. That certification, the companies say, ensures the product’s “manufacturing [is] performed with the lowest possible impact on people and the environment and with the most responsible use of resources.”


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Scottish cereals, horticulture and potato growers wanting to sell their produce overseas are being encouraged to make use of the newly established Scottish Agri Export Hub.
The hub, which is being delivered by farming union NFU Scotland and agri co-operatives body SAOS with funding from the Scotland Food & Drink Partnership’s Recovery Plan, aims to help farmers tap into export markets all over the world.
It is led by Patrick Hughes, who is the former head of potato export development at levy body, the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) and former head of Seafood Scotland.
Mr Hughes said while some growers are already cashing in on opportunities to sell their produce abroad, there is huge scope for others to follow suit and the hub was launched to help them do that.
“This type of support is more important now than ever,” said Mr Hughes, who took up his new role towards the end of last year.
He said he has spent the bulk of his time in the job so far looking at examples of Scottish farmers and growers who are already selling into export markets.
And while export markets for potatoes – in particular seed potatoes – are fairly well-established, Mr Hughes has discovered other examples of Scottish growers sending their produce abroad including shipments of berries to the Middle East, neeps to Germany and Brussels Sprouts to Brussels.
“There’s certainly opportunities,” said Mr Hughes.
“We have world-class produce and world-class agricultural products that we can sell; seed potatoes is a classic example.
“And if certain agricultural products are in demand there’s no reason why our other products would not necessarily have that demand as well.”
Mr Hughes said the hub would look to develop alternative markets for seed potatoes, which are currently not able to go to Europe due to post-Brexit trading restrictions, and create new markets for other growers’ produce.
He stressed the hub would not seek to improve export opportunities for grain commodities, but instead seek to open up and improve premium export markets for growers.
“I think we could certainly be a global player whilst realising that we are not producing tonnes of output, but we can be selective in the markets that we choose,” said Mr Hughes.
“We are not talking about boat-loads of stuff. It would be more bespoke and more targeted.
“It may well be that we have potential export markets that offer a better premium and martin that the domestic market.”
Mr Hughes encouraged any growers wishing to share information about any export business they have conducted, or to seek help in accessing export markets, to contact him by email at email@example.com

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Lowrance and White River Marine Group — builders of fishing boats that include the Tracker, Nitro, Triton and Ranger brands — announced a partnership that will lead to more Lowrance products as standard equipment.
“We are excited to be renewing and expanding our partnership with White River Marine Group, and to be able to offer increased product choices to anglers — both as standard and upgrade options, including our award-winning Ghost trolling motor,” Lucas Steward, executive vice president of Lowrance said in a statement.
The model year 2022 Nitro Pro, Triton Patriot and Ranger Cup models from 18 to 21 feet will be equipped with the latest from Lowrance (including HDS Live displays with preloaded, detailed C-MAP charts, ActiveImaging and ActiveTarget live sonar) as well as Ghost trolling motors with its Hybrid Dual Imaging (HDI) Nosecone.
“Lowrance’s cutting-edge products and technologies paired with my Nitro Bass Boat is a winning combination. My time on the water is more enjoyable and productive thanks to these two leading brands that continue to raise the bar on innovation,” added Edwin Evers, Lowrance pro angler.
Production is slated to commence later this summer.


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After remaining quiet on the hardware front for years, Amazon.com's China business has finally brought the company's Kindle tablet and Kindle e-reader to the country.
On Friday, both the Kindle Fire HD and Kindle Paperwhite went on sale through the company's site in the country. The Kindle Fire HD starts at 1499 yuan (US$242) for the 16GB version model, while the Kindle Paperwhite is available for 849 yuan ($137)
The company brought the products to China after releasing localized versions of its Kindle software to the country in the prior months. In May, Amazon updated its mobile app store to include Chinese language support, and last December it launched its local Kindle e-book service.
Before the Kindle's official launch in China, local consumers in the country were already buying Kindle e-readers from overseas markets, said Mark Natkin, managing director for Beijing-based Marbridge Consulting.


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In memory of Linda Hansen, mother of Huntington Beach label No Sleep Record‘s founder Chris Hansen, the independent company will be releasing a compilation of covers and originals entitled “A Comp For Mom.” Hansen recently passed away in April.
Into It. Over It., The Wonder Years, The Swellers, and Allison Weiss are featured on the compilation which is set to be released August 5th. All proceeds go to the family to cover outstanding medical bills. Additional donations can be made at the No Sleep store.
Add Into It. Over It. to My Radar


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Skip to comments.This start-up has stumbled across an incredibly popular use for the Apple Watch
Posted on 05/12/2017 1:59:19 PM PDT by Swordmaker
The Apple Watch is proving itself to be a useful tool for monitoring serious medical conditions, and not just for fitness.
A mobile health app made by start-up Cardiogram, backed by Silicon Valley venture firms including Andreessen Horowitz, has proven to be shockingly popular among the people who download it, the company's co-founder Brandon Ballinger told CNBC. Although only 250,000 people have downloaded it to try it, more than 100,000 people use it every day. Of the people who kept the app, more than 73% open it every single day.
Cardiogram uses the Apple Watch's built-in heart sensor to give you advice about heart health -- for instance, showing when you're unusually stressed out by checking your heart rate.
The company is also doing original research, and on Thursday it unveiled the results of a study on Thursday showing how the Apple Watch can be used to detect abnormal heart rhythms.
(Excerpt) Read more at cnbc.com ...
Doing for literally pennies what usually takes thousands of dollars in bulky, cumbersome equipment to do.................
The latest Apple/Mac/iOS Pings can be found by searching Keyword "ApplePingList" on FreeRepublic's Search.
If you want on or off the Mac Ping List, Freepmail me
Jim Lovell: [Tearing off his biomeds] Let's see how he likes this. I am sick and tired of the entire western world knowing how my kidneys are functioning!
Too bad watch HR monitors are horribly inaccurate
Apple is second only to Rolex in sale of watches!
We could make the snowflake generation afraid to get out of their beds in their parents basements.
A little hacking and the snowflakes could be warned not leave their bed, not to eat, not to sleep and that Trump is coming after them. They need to stay in their safe place and never come out.
A special good night to SnowFlakes across America. Sleep well! President Trump will be there, watching over you!
Help! My Fancy New Car Wont Stop Beeping
Touchy touch screens, buggy software and mystery sounds baffle drivers, forcing some to enroll in two-hour tech seminars; then the beeping started
By Christina Rogers
May 11, 2017
Jonna Miller, a Houston obstetrician, has delivered babies for 17 years, some births trickier than others. But getting from point A to point B using BMWs navigation system, she said, is too complicated to bother with.
So she turned off her electronics in her new BMer.
Soon enough The FDA will be asking some questions. game Over.
Can you be any more shockingly hyperbolic?? What a pile!
Well only if they start including a cardiac defibrillator in the AppleWatch design. Now that would be shocking. GRIN.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.


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March 19, 2011
The Food and Drug Administration will monitor foods imported to the U.S. from Japan for radiation exposure, following the earthquake, tsunami and nuclear disaster.
The most common imports from the devastated country are seafood, snack foods and processed fruits and vegetables.
FDA officials said they are now collecting information on where these products are grown, harvested or manufactured in Japan so they can ensure anything that is imported is not tainted with radiation.
They have ‘procedures and laboratory techniques for measuring radionuclide levels in food’ and are working with customs, which can scan full shipping containers.


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Qualcomm on Tuesday said that it believes it will supply only 20 percent of the modem chips to connect Apple iPhone wireless data networks by the device’s 2023 launch.
Qualcomm currently supplies modem chips for all of Apple’s devices. Qualcomm stated at an investor conference that its phone chip revenues will increase in line with wider phone markets, despite Apple purchasing 80 percent of its modems from other suppliers.
Apple is working on its own modem chip and purchased Intel modem unit. Qualcomm did not comment on whether it thinks Apple will self-supply all the share it expects to lose, or if it might turn to other vendors.
Akash Palkhiwala, Chief Financial Officer at Qualcomm, stated that Apple will make up less than 1% of the company’s total revenue. “low single-digit” percentage of the company’s chip sales by the end of fiscal 2024. Qualcomm’s chip revenues hit $27 billion this year, $10 billion of which came from sources other than smartphone handsets.
A chip shortage recently spurred Apple to sacrifice some iPad production — and divert the semiconductors to iPhone manufacturing.REUTERS
The company believes that its revenue growth in handsets, even excluding Apple sales will be faster than the overall market. This is due to its traction among higher-end smartphone manufacturers such as Vivo, Oppo, and Xiaomi.
“We’re no longer defined by a single end market and a single customer relationship,”During the event, Cristiano amon, Chief Executive Officer, spoke.
Amon also stated that Qualcomm sells Apple radio-frequency front end chips that are paired to modem chips. Amon stated that Qualcomm will be able to sell those chips to Apple in the future regardless of where Apple sources its modem chip.
But he said that those potential wins are not included in Qualcomm’s forecasts.


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A two-year-old voluntary curfew for Hyannis retail stores could move could become required by law. Barnstable Police Chief John Finnegan said he hoped the voluntary curfew would work, "but obviously it hasn't."
Earlier this month , Finnegan asked night shift supervisor Lt. JoEllen Jason to prepare a report on night activities focused on closing time.
Reading from the report, Finnegan said that compliance was and remains inconsistent.
He said that compliance with the voluntary request was good at fi rst and "had an immediate effect on the problem.
"As time went on, places started to open," Finnegan said. "Most of them comply, but it's awful diffi cult for them when one or two stay open."
The ordinance now in development would close establishments between 1 and 5 a.m. A special permit provision is expected to be included to allow businesses that would like to open during those hours, such as drive-through pharmacies and grocery stores, to appeal to the licensing board.
The ordinance is similar to one in place in Saugus, where Route 1 bars posed late-night problems for police. Finnegan has been in contact with the police department there to seek advice and review how the ordinance worked.
He was satisfied that it did, and asked the town attorney's office to draft a proposal that will be presented to the town council.
"Quite frankly, I don't see that these businesses do a make a whole lot of profit between 1 and 3 a.m.," Finnegan said.
The chief hopes that the rule will be ready and submitted in advance of the summer season.
In the off-season, weekends are the main problem at closing time, the chief said, but in the summer, "it can be any night."
When the voluntary ban was instituted two years ago, the police department showed video surveillance of crowds of perhaps 200 at various convenience stores in the Hyannis area, which can form quickly as night clubs let out at 1 a.m. "We would make arrests, but we're severely outnumbered," Finnegan said, so the strategy is simply to disperse the crowd as quickly as possible.
"We want to be proactive here," Finnegan said. "We don't want to have a stabbing or a shooting."
More video evidence will be part of the department's presentation when the proposed ordinance is forwarded, Finnegan said.
Barnstable police spokesman Sgt. Sean Sweeney said that an incident at the CVS on North Street in Hyannis St. Patrick's Day weekends was caught on video. He said the video shows store employees locking the front doors to prevent more people from entering after a fight erupted inside.


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Nike Gets Bullish on the Metaverse and Acquires a Digital Fashion House The terms of Nike's acquisition of RTFKT were not disclosed.
Over the past few months, apparel company Nike has been inching towards the metaverse. Towards the end of October, the brand filed several trademark applications aimed towards the virtual space, and even posted job openings for virtual design roles.
Things have only ramped up since then, as the clothing giant announced its purchase of virtual sneaker and collectible company RTFKT (pronounced "artifact") on Monday.
Related: What Is an NFT? Inside The Next Billion-Dollar Crypto Sensation.
"This acquisition is another step that accelerates Nike's digital transformation and allows us to serve athletes and creators at the intersection of sport, creativity, gaming and culture," says John Donahoe, President and CEO of Nike. "We're acquiring a very talented team of creators with an authentic and connected brand. Our plan is to invest in the RTFKT brand, serve and grow their innovative and creative community and extend Nike's digital footprint and capabilities."
RTFKT is now a part of the NIKE, Inc. family. pic.twitter.com/5egNk9d8wA— RTFKT Studios (@RTFKTstudios) December 13, 2021
RTFKT started in Jan 2020 on the metaverse and has made already made some successful headway in fusing physical apparel with the digital world. It claims that a February collaboration with teenage artist FEWOCiOUS to sell real sneakers paired with virtual ones managed to sell around 600 pairs in under 10 minutes, bringing in over $3.1 million at the time. The startup is also in collaboration with Japanese artist Takashi Murakami in an NFT project called CloneX.
The terms of the deal weren't disclosed. In May, RTFKT raised an $8 million seed round that valued the company at $33.3 million.
"This is a unique opportunity to build the RTFKT brand and we are excited to benefit from Nike's foundational strength and expertise to build the communities we love," says Benoit Pagotto, one of RTFKT's co-founders. "Nike is the only brand in the world that shares the deep passion we all have for innovation, creativity and community, and we're excited to grow our brand which was fully formed in the metaverse."
Related: Can Anything Be an NFT? Here's What You Need to Know.


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Nokia Lumia 920 Now Shipping Pre-loaded With Latest Portico UpdateJanuary 12, 2013 1 Comment
A “Portico“ as the (world may know it) is a porch leading to the entrance. To us Windows Phone “nerds” a “Portico ” was Microsoft’s first OTA update for Windows Phone that was released for Windows Phone 8 that brought much needed fixes including a camera fix that corrected the issue with fuzzy pictures specifically on the Nokia Lumia 920.
Now we have word from MyNokiaBlog that the latest batch of 920′s are already shipping with the Portico update pre-loaded. This is fantastic news for anyone who hasn’t purchased one yet but unfortunately this cool update isn’t set to roll out to the rest of the world until next month. Stay Tuned..MBGW


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Many Oamaru people are struggling to get their heads around Gigatown, Waitaki Mayor Gary Kircher told yesterday’s council meeting.
“I understand that, but there are various aspects to it. First and foremost, this project is built around social media. The benefits of taking part are that people are connecting online and businesses are waking up to being out there.”
Mr Kircher, who is also chair of the Gigatown organising committee, said there could be many e-commerce benefits for the town and district.
“The prize is well worth winning; it will create opportunities. Some businesses will take advantage of it and others will move here because we’ve got the prize.
“If we win, we’ll have the publicity of being the fastest town in the Southern Hemisphere.”
He said if Oamaru won, software development and data storage companies could relocate to the town.
Council was debating a staff recommendation that $10,000 be spent from this year’s budget on Gigatown and that a further $20,000 should be included in the 2014/15 annual plan.
Cr Hugh Perkins was opposed to $10,000 being made available this financial year.
“I’m a paid up Luddite; a lot will come from the work currently being done. My other concern is that this is an advertising thing for Chorus but we’re being asked to chuck money at them with little accountability.”
Crs Melanie Tavendale, Sharyn Price and Sally Hope expressed concerns about the lack of information as to where the money would be spent.
“I struggle with no real figures in front of us,” Cr Tavendale said.
Cr Peter Garvan supported the recommendations.
“A lot of people have put in a lot of work already and costs have already been incurred,” he said.
Cr Jim Hopkins said the matter was an economic development issue and there was the possibility of a potential reward for the district.
“Gigatown gives us a chance to be New Zealand’s sharpest town on steroids.”
He said he was aware the mayor was chairman of the Gigatown organising committee but he was sure he would act prudently on the matter.
The council approved the recommendations while Cr Perkins voted against.
By CHRIS TOBIN


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CHICAGO (Aug. 21, 4:20 p.m. EDT) — MGS Manufacturing Group has built a reputation as a mold designer and builder, an injection molder and a company that builds portable injection units and rotary platens for the red-hot field of multicomponent molding. You could add “machinery maker” after touring the company's booth at NPE 2006 in Chicago.
Standing in the booth was an unusual-looking insert molding machine with 35 tons of clamping force. It marked the first trade-show display of an MGS-made molding machine, said John Hahn, vice president of engineering.
Hahn said MGS designed the press especially for a customer that makes automotive drive shafts. The customer, which Hahn would not identify, loads U-joints into the press, which molds a retaining ring into the large metal part.
Hahn said MGS can make specialty insert presses with clamping forces of 10-120 tons.
MGS has no plans to compete against the mainstream injection press builders, said John Berg, marketing director of the company in Germantown, Wis.
“One of our niches has been that we are willing to build one machine for a customer, and we have heard many comments from visitors to our booth that one of the reasons they became aware of us was by asking around,” Berg said. They found traditional manufacturers aren't interested in making one or two machines. “MGS is interested.”
Also at its booth, MGS molded a three-component medical feeding-tube assembly. The first shot injected the polycarbonate body, then the mold rotated 180 degrees to the second position, where the press molded on a polypropylene valve part and a fitting of thermoplastic elastomer.
MGS officials also discussed technology for molding-in color. Hahn said the company has custom-made equipment for molding automotive exterior trim, but he would not name the customer. The process is called injection shuttle compression. First, the customer injects a thermoplastic preform into an open mold. Then the mold is shuttled into a hydraulic press, similar to compression molding. One injection unit can serve several molds, according to MGS.


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YouTube, a Google-owned music and video streaming platform, has unveiled plans to introduce new updates to its platform. Among the key updates is the addition of support for Really Simple Syndication (RSS) uploads for podcasters, set to be implemented by the end of this year. This new feature, currently in beta testing as part of an invite-only pilot program, is aimed at enhancing the podcasting experience on YouTube.
An RSS feed serves as a comprehensive online file containing crucial details about each piece of content published on a site, making it a fundamental component for podcasters who wish to share their content widely.
ALSO READ | OpenAI restricted by top news publications from content access
Furthermore, the platform has confirmed its intention to expand podcast support to YouTube Music, scheduled for rollout by the end of the year. This move will enable users to enjoy podcasts seamlessly on YouTube’s music streaming service. Although the initial launch was limited to the US across iOS, Android, and the web, YouTube’s plan to expand to other markets is eagerly anticipated.
In a notable step toward enhancing user experience, YouTube is enabling users to integrate RSS feeds into their YouTube Music libraries, including private feeds. This development aligns YouTube Music with standalone podcast applications such as Apple Podcasts and Overcast. Additionally, it positions YouTube Music ahead of Spotify in terms of supporting private RSS feeds.
ALSO READ | Messenger Lite app for Android to shut down next month: Here’s all you need to know
Parallel to these advancements, the platform is pioneering innovative features, including a new Android feature that allows users to search for songs by humming or recording the melody. The implementation of RSS uploads and expanded podcast support represents a strategic move to cater to the diverse content preferences of YouTube’s user base.
Latest Technology News


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Accentuate Home held a launch party in Singapore on Friday 16 September at their showroom along Lower Delta Road. The event showed off the new brand’s 100-piece classic contemporary yet eclectic furniture collection, all flaunting clean lines, sleek silhouettes and unique details.
The internet never sleeps! Here's the stuff you might have missed
…And for its next trick, WMK makes the impossible happen – creating space out of nowhere! Rapidly outgrowing an existing premises on Collins Street, co-working house Space&Co wanted to increase the size of its cool Melbourne space without having to relocate.


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In the lead-up to FTC “Town Hall” meetings on digital rights management, the Electronic Frontier Foundation has issued a statement calling on the U.S. government to “mitigate the damage that digital rights management technologies cause consumers.”
The EFF said DRM, in conjunction with the Digital Millennium Copyright Act, “impedes innovation and thwarts consumers’ rights” and called upon the commission to study copy protection efforts and establish guidelines to minimize its impact on consumers. While many digital content creators and publishers claim that DRM is necessary to protect copyrights and sales of digital media, the group noted that DRM schemes are typically broken almost immediately after their release to the public.
Among the more interesting and salient points in the filing is a statement made by Microsoft engineers who were studying the effectiveness of DRM back in 2002. They concluded that illegal distribution methods, referred to as the “darknet,” would continue to thrive into the future and rather than helping fight piracy, DRM would actually drive more people to it.
“There is evidence that the darknet will continue to exist and provide low-cost, high-quality service to a large group of consumers,” they said. “This means that in many markets, the darknet will be a competitors to legal commerce. From the point of view of economic theory, this has profound implications for business strategy: For example, increased security (eg. stronger DRM systems) may act as a disincentive to legal commerce.”
“Consider an MP3 file sold on a web site: This costs money, but the purchased object is as useful as a version acquired from the darknet,” they continued. “However, a securely DRM-wrapped song is strictly less attractive: Although the industry is striving for flexible licensing rules, customers will be restricted in their actions if the system is to provide meaningful security. This means that a vendor will probably make more money by selling unprotected objects than protected objects. In short, if you are competing with the darknet, you must compete on the darknet’s own terms: That is, convenience and low cost rather than additional security.”
“DRM does not prevent piracy,” said EFF Staff Attorney Corynne McSherry. “At this point, DRM seems intended to accomplish a very different purpose: Giving some industry leaders unprecedented power to influence the pace and nature of innovation and upsetting the traditional balance between the interests of copyright owners and the interests of the public. The best way to fix the problem is to get rid of DRM on consumer products and reform the DMCA, but the steps we’re suggesting will help protect technology users and future technology innovation in the meantime.”
The FTC’s Town Hall meeting on DRM will take place at the University of Washington in Seattle on March 25. The EFF’s filing to the FTC can be read in full here. (PDF format)


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New York's new shock anti-obesity ad features amputee
We all poke fun at supersize Americans, but a new series of adverts run by New York City's Health Department doesn't see the obesity problem as a laughing matter.
The series of adverts is based on the idea of cutting the size of American food portions. One of the new, shocking adverts shows a man who lost his leg to Type 2 diabetes, with a warning against the super-sizing of food portion across the pond.
The advert shows three cups of soft drinks on a scale from 'then' to 'now', with a bucket-sized cup on the 'now' side. These all sit uncomfortably in front of a seated obese man whose right leg has been amputated due to health problems related to his weight. The tag line reads: 'Cut your portion. Cut your risk.'
Health Commissioner Dr. Thomas Farley said of the eye-catching campaign: “The portion sizes that are marketed are often much more than humans need.
“We are warning people about the risks of super-size portions so they can make more informed choices about what they eat. Consuming too many calories can lead to weight gain, which greatly increases the risk of type 2 diabetes. If New Yorkers cut their portions, they can cut their risk of these health problems."
The other ad in the series pictures an overweight woman trying to climb up stairs while out of breath. This time, the scale shows French fries in place of the soft drinks, again with the same tag line.
Critics have been quick to brand the adverts 'ineffectual' and 'misleading', but they will certainly grab Americans by the scruff of the neck. Whether it persuades them to cut back is another question.


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A class action lawsuit against Ford alleges that 2018–2020 Ford F-150 trucks have several defects that cause the trucks to consume excessive amounts of oil. Ford allegedly refuses to repair the trucks adequately and denies the existence of these defects.
The lawsuit claims that, at one point, dealers were merely instructed to replace the dipsticks with lowered the minimum fill levels in order to hide these oil consumption issues.
The oil consumption issues allegedly cause unexpected stalling and failure, which could happen at any time and at any driving speed. These oil consumption issues also allegedly cause damage that requires expensive repairs, which owners of these Ford F-150 trucks claim the automaker will not pay for.
The Ford F-150 trucks are equipped with a 5-L engine named “Coyote,” which has an engine oil capacity of 8.8 quarts.
The Intelligent Oil-Life Monitor determines when the truck needs an oil change based on the truck’s usage.
While Ford recommends oil change intervals of 10,000 miles or one year, consumers allege that the oil change indicator lights up as early as 3,000 miles after a previous oil change. Engine components such as oxygen sensors, catalytic converters and spark plugs can sustain damage due to excessive oil consumption. Ford F-150 trucks can also experience a decrease in fuel efficiency.
Technical service bulletins (TSBs) were cited as proof of Ford’s knowledge of the alleged defect. Though some TSBs recommended replacements of some components, the lawsuit alleges that some Ford technicians were told to stop replacing engines or engine parts and to simply fill the engine’s oil to the maximum fill line.


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New York, Washington and Oregon have the sexiest hotels in America according to a recent list released by TripAdvisor.
Rapid Global Expansion Supported by Strategic Staff Appointments and Positioning as Portfolio Strengthens and Advances into New Regions
The Rezidor Hotel Group, one of the fastest growing hotel companies worldwide, announces the Radisson Blu Hotel, Uppsala in Sweden.
As The Westin Mumbai Garden City opened its doors to receive guests on the 16th of January 2010, among the first to check in was Hollywood actress, Lucy Liu. She was in Mumbai to direct a short film ...
A New Star Rises Above the Hollywood Walk of Fame
Earn Triple Rewards for Booking on bestwestern.com
Warwick's growing portfolio of Hotels & Resorts now includes the Villa Källhagen in Stockholm
A debate is raging over the actual demand for accommodation during the 2010 FIFA World Cup, after FIFA released 65,000 of its MATCH-booked rooms in the Western Cape.
Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group today announced the launch of the Group's interactive mobile website.
Leading Spas of Canada is pleased to announce 16 Canadian spas have received "Quality Assurance Approved" status
For the full year ending 2009 Starwood managed to record a net profit of US$73 million, a drop of 78% when compared to its US$329 million profit achieved a year earlier.
Luxe hotel offers quintessential west coast experience
UK company, Seymourpowell has released a revolutionary new travel and transportation concept called Aircruise, which has been likened to a hotel in the sky.
Wolgan Valley, Australia's latest "uber-luxury" resort, has been given a carbon neutral certification from international recognised carboNZero within three months of its launch.
The welcome mat is out at the brand new 20-storey, 220-room Coast Coal Harbour Hotel in downtown Vancouver.
Starwood Hotels & Resorts launched this week a new online portal dedicated to food, beverage, spa, weddings and events.
InterContinental Hotels has taken a swipe at Hilton Hotels launching a brand new competition for disgruntled loyalty club members who recently had their points devalued.
Giorgio Armani is set to make his official debut into the world of hospitality when the first Armani Hotel opens in Dubai on March 18.
As One of the World's Top Art Hotels, the Chambers Underscores Le Méridien's New Brand Direction and Passion for the Arts
This is the season to savour the Dungeness crab in February.


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Samsung touts newest smart phones - JoongAng Daily
Samsung touts newest smart phones
Samsung Electronics, the world's second-largest maker of mobile phones, invited the media yesterday to check out five smart phones in its Omnia Family ...
Android Phone for Christmas?Korea Times
Samsung unmasks Omnia II GT-18000 in IndiaTechGadgets.in (blog)
all 30 news articles »
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Legendary musician Kid Rock went ballistic over the latest pandering corporate stunt after Bud Light announced trans TikTok star Dylan Mulvaney as its latest spokesperson in a pair of videos.
Mulvaney said in a promotional post: “Happy March Madness! Just found out this had to do with sports and not just saying it’s a crazy month! In celebration of this sports thing @budlight is giving you the chance to win $15,000! Share a video with #EasyCarryContest for a chance to win!! Good luck! #budlightpartner.”
The backlash was intense with critics lighting up social media. Radio host Erick Erickson wrote, “Is the Bud Light thing an April Fool’s joke? I mean it is trash beer, but given the constituent demo of Bud Light drinkers, it seems like a terrible marketing thing.”
John Cardillo wrote, “Who the hell at @budlight thought it was a good idea to make a grown man who dresses like little girls their new spokesperson?
American singer, songwriter, and rocker Kid Rock posted a video Monday night of him shooting cases of Bud Light in response to Anheuser-Busch featuring trans TikTok star Dylan Mulvaney as the spokesperson for the beer.
In the video, Rock faces the camera and says, “Grandpa is feeling a little frisky today. Let me say something to all of you and be as clear and concise as possible.”
The rocker then turns and opens fire on several cases of Bud Light set up as targets at a distance, pulverizing them.
The video was temporarily pulled because lefties reported it GOD knows how many times.
Kid Rock looked directly into the camera and said:
“Grandpa is feeling a little frisky today. Let me say something to you all as clear and concise as possible,” before turning his back to the camera and firing off a few rounds at some Bud Light beer cases.
He ended with:
“F*ck Bud Light and f*ck Anheuser Bush. Have a terrific day.”
P.S. If you’re not up to date on the story, Anheuser-Busch confirmed yesterday that they in fact paid trans activist/woman-debaser Dylan Mulvaney to be a Bud Light spokesman.
I’m shrewd, passionate, learned and energetic, God-fearing and patriotic. I’ve done a fine job reintroducing good old American conservatism to a new generation of Americans. I’ve earned the love and friendship of many, the hatred of some, but the respect of all.


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Hewlett-Packard Co. news, photos and video - southbendtribune.com
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ReutersLONDON, May 5 (Reuters) - British newspapers reported the following business stories on Sunday: The Sunday Times RBS'S HESTER SAYS DIFFICULT TO FIND BORROWERS FOR 20 BLN STG Stephen Hester, chief executive of part-nationalised RBS , says that the bank...
ReutersHONG KONG, May 2 (Reuters) - Taiwan's AU Optronics Corp , the world's No.4 LCD maker, plans to sell $350 million of stock to fund the purchase of raw materials and components from overseas, according to a term sheet of the deal seen by Reuters on...
Tags: Dell Inc., Sony Corp., Taiwan, Citigroup Incorporated
ReutersBy Noel Randewich SAN FRANCISCO, May 1 (Reuters) - Global tablet shipments more than doubled in the first quarter and while Apple remained the top seller, Asian manufacturers making low-end gadgets accounted for a major chunk of the growth, according to...
Ron Johnson was ousted as chief executive of J.C. Penney Co. after a remarkably short and gaffe-filled tenure that succeeded mainly in driving away customers. Johnson was lured 17 months ago from a top job at Apple Inc., where he was celebrated for...
At times, Andy Shih still finds himself overwhelmed by the groundswell of interest in autism apps he's seen in the three years since Apple Inc. released the first iPad. In his role as senior vice president for scientific affairs at Autism Speaks, a...
Palo Alto Daily News, Calif.Shelley Smith is confident he can do the jobs, and what jobs they are. Smith has been hired as Mountain View's new athletic director, head football coach and physical education instructor. Smith was a defensive coordinator at Saratoga the past two years....
Tags: Sports, Shelley Smith, Football
The following items were taken from police reports. Arlington Heights Burglary An exterior door of a vacant office building at 145 E. Algonquin Road was reported forced open and copper wire with a possible value in excess of $20,000 removed. The...
The American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) is a group promoting far-right legislation. Its tax exempt status is currently challenged, as its sole purpose is to formulate legislation promoting extremely conservative points of view and helping the...
The Columbian, Vancouver, Wash.Washington state officials, eyeing the rare opportunity to capture a big piece of a Fortune 500 corporation and to transform Clark County's economy with one masterstroke, pursued a planned expansion by Nike Inc. with everything they had. The officials...
The Bangkok PostThe proliferation of wireless devices used to view content at home and on-the-go is proving a challenge for personal computer (PC) makers and changing the playing field for the overall information technology (IT) industry. Of all PC makers worldwide,...
Leap Motion is delaying the release of its 3-D gesture-recognition controller to July 22 to give the company more time for testing. “As a company, in good conscience, we couldn’t sacrifice the testing process," Chief Executive Michael...
San Jose Mercury NewsApple (AAPL) just dodged a bullet. After months of mounting concerns over its ability to keep dazzling the world with its products, along with whisper campaigns that CEO Tim Cook is skippering a ship adrift, the company Tuesday announced better-than-...
May 5, 2013 |Story| Reuters
May 2, 2013 |Story| Reuters
May 1, 2013 |Story| Reuters
Apr 9, 2013 |Story| Los Angeles Times
Apr 30, 2013 |Story| Los Angeles Times
Apr 30, 2013 |Story| McClatchy-Tribune
Apr 29, 2013 |Story| Chicago Tribune
Apr 29, 2013 |Story| Aberdeen News
Apr 28, 2013 |Story| McClatchy-Tribune
Apr 26, 2013 |Story| McClatchy-Tribune
Apr 25, 2013 |Story| Los Angeles Times
Apr 24, 2013 |Story| McClatchy-Tribune
Original site for Hewlett-Packard Co. topic gallery.
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Day 3 of placements at the IIT-Bombay saw the highest international offer from MEC Japan that offered jobs to five students for an annual salary of 5 mn yen (around Rs 30 lakh).
Tucked away in Bangalore, Mistral Solutions has designed a wearable computer operated by voice commands and head movements.
The world's biggest ecommerce company is looking to try out something decidedly low-tech that could give it an unbeatable edge on deliveries.
Infra and capital goods indices & select stocks have rallied sharply. BSE cap goods index has risen massive 40% compared with Sensex's 11%.
India has one of the highest no of 2-wheelers in the world. Unorganised players currently driving the helmet biz; the category has huge potential, says Titan MD Bhaskar Bhat.
Renault has made the Duster facelift official now! In a nutshell, it is the Dacia Duster facelift with Renault badges and a different design for its grille.
Certain that Congress is not going to come back to power and either it is going to be a hotchpotch or perhaps BJP might just about cross the halfway mark.
Technology cos are seeing increased demand from regional airports as more passengers fly in and out of smaller cities and the govt looks to modernise those airports.
ICICI is changing--from an anxiety-ridden place to a more relaxed one. From compensation, promotions to work hours, can it sell change to its 65,000 employees?
Nexus 5 is the best that Google offers. Google believes it to be the best Android. iPhone 5S is the best that Apple offers. Let's do a head-to-head comparison...
Sri Lanka, Thailand and Singapore are the latest hotspots as authorities crack down on travellers from Dubai, the traditional source of smuggled gold.
Till the previous yr, Levi's was almost double the size of its nearest rival. But the strategy of exiting few brands and shutting down dozens of stores has backfired.
Networkingitimes|Dating & Chat|Email


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Sacré Coeur © Noémie Coissac
With more than 6, 500 attending professionals, MaMA is the greatest French gathering of the music industry. By day, MaMA suggests a conference program featuring over 400 international speakers and 170 panels, keynotes, workshops, match-making sessions and cocktails for music industry actors.
Music industry highlights will be covered such as: women in the music industry, sustainability and ecological issues, streaming, finance and values, marketing and communication, innovation and data, entrepreunership, brands and media, international markets, publishing, cultural policies, synchro, creation and autoproduction…bringing together +400 french and international speakers.
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Besides the holidays, savvy car buyers know deep discounts can also be had towards year's end as dealers cut prices on last year's cars to make room for the newest models.
Read This Article
The Mopar 2013 Dodge Dart arrives this summer, but we've got all the details now.
Mopar, Chrysler Group's custom parts branch, has announced that a modified 2012 Chrysler 200 and an altered 2012 Dodge Charger have joined its lineup.
Chrysler has announced pricing for the 2013 Dodge Dart Aero, a hyper-fuel-efficient variant of the sedan it launched earlier this year.


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Jaws, American Psycho, Vampira, and UHF collections are on sale now at the newly-renovated Fright-Rags.com.
Fright-Rags...News of a Child's Play reboot broke last week, but Chucky remains one of the most iconic modern horror villains. Fright-Rags embraces the legacy with a new collection of Chucky merchandise. The company also rings in the summer with fresh Jaws apparel.Available in single wax packs, factory boxes, and seal boxes, Fright-Rags' Chucky trading cards... Continue Reading →
Fright-rags T-Shirts...Steven Spielberg changed the landscape of summer movies with the release of Jaws in 1975. Today, Fright-Rags is celebrating the groundbreaking film's 40th anniversary with a new collection of apparel. You're gonna need a bigger closet!The Jaws box set includes a retro-style "Collegeville" replica mask and box, a shirt designed by Christopher Lovell (exclusive... Continue Reading →


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What could be better than Beyoncé?
Beyoncé and Topshop combined, that's what.
Yep, all of our prayers have been answered – Beyoncé is teaming up with the high street store to create a fitness and streetwear brand.
And you'll be able to get your hands on the range from next year.
The superstar has teamed up with Topshop boss Sir Philip Green to create a 50-50 venture company called Parkwood Topshop Athletic Ltd. The name of the actual brand is not yet known.
Items will include everything from accessories to footwear and dance clothing.
According to online Vogue, Beyoncé said in a statement this morning: "I could not think of a better partner as I continue to grow the Parkwood business. I have always loved Topshop for its fashion credentials and forward-thinking. Working with its development team to create and produce a technical and fashion-led collection is exciting and I'm looking forward to participating in all aspects of this partnership."
Green told WWD that the brand will not be like his other celebrity Topshop ventures, which have seen the likes of Kate Moss help create clothing lines in store.
This is not a collaboration. This is about building a brand and building a business — a separate, proper business, with separate overhead and a separate office. ...
We have been looking at this (athletics) category as fashion-inspired fitness develops, and know that this is right in our customers' heartland. Creating a partnership with Beyoncé, one of the most hard-working and talented people in the world, who spends many hours of her life dancing, rehearsing, and training, is a unique opportunity to develop this category. Being partners with Beyoncé and her team, who have the greatest creative energy and enthusiasm, is inspiring for all of the team at Topshop.
We have much to achieve in just under a year, but we are all up for the challenge, and look forward to delivering athletic streetwear in an inventive and exciting way.


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According to Auto Bild Allrad, winter tyres continue to improve in regards to their performance – but are also becoming pricier. The specialist SUV and 4×4 publication thus asks whether these products are worth buying. In order to provide an answer, it tested ten premium, value and budget tyres in size 235/55 R18. What Auto Bild Allrad found is that it is still possible to get “good performance at a fair price” when buying winter tyres. It rated the two best-scoring performers as ‘exemplary’ products and named them this year’s joint winners.
Yokohama Rubber Co. Ltd.’s Advan Sport V105 tyres have been selected by Volkswagen of America for its Atlas Cross Sport GT Concept, which was unveiled in July. The car is fitted with 285/35ZR22 106Y size V105 tyres.
In the preamble to its latest tyre test, Auto Bild Allrad comments that the “future belongs to all-season tyres” and notes the evolution of these products into a true alternative to dedicated summer or winter tyres. This year, the German magazine for 4×4 and SUV enthusiasts tested ten brands of all-season tyre in size 215/65 R17. Victory was claimed by the Hankook Kinergy 4S2 X, a tyre that Auto Bild’s testers declared an “exemplary compromise” for safe driving in all weather conditions.
Giti Tire has launched its new winter tyre on the European aftermarket. The GitiWinterW2 delivers improved dry dynamics, wet braking and aquaplaning resistance, the manufacturer states, while snow and ice grip and traction are maintained from the first edition. The tyre is available initially in 13 car and SUV sizes, including the 10 most popular in the European market, for rims between 15 and 19-inches. Giti adds that extra sizes will be introduced in 2022. The tyre targets a wide range of vehicles, from small and medium cars such as the VW Polo or VW Golf up to premium limousines such as the Mercedes C Class. CUV and SUV sizes are designed to be fitted on popular models like the Nissan Qashqai and VW Tiguan.
Giti Tire’s all-season tyre range has been boosted by 13 new sizes of the GT Radial 4Seasons tyre. Launched in May 2018 at Tire Cologne, the passenger car portfolio has increased by eight sizes to stand at 28, and now covers 26 of the 30 of the most in-demand sizes in Europe. The manufacturer has added five new SUV-marked tyres, bringing the SUV derivative up to a total of eight size options. The GT Radial 4Seasons range now includes 13 of the top 20 SUV size combinations in Europe, which equates to 70 per cent of market demand.
Kevin Burke Tyres (KBT) has signed an initial three-year distribution partnership with Groupe Michelin brand BFGoodrich. The wholesaler will supply BFGoodrich tyres across the whole of Ireland until at least mid-2024 with the option to extend for a further two years. The deal covers BFGoodrich car, van, SUV and 4×4 tyres, all of which will be stocked for next-day delivery at KBT’s warehouse facility in Athenry, County Galway. The company has stocked “large quantities” of BFGoodrich tyres since 2015, it said, with the new deal representing the latest step in its developing relationship with the brand. The deal follows news from Great Britain that newly appointed UK BFGoodrich 4×4 wholesaler Micheldever Tyre Services has almost doubled its sales of the brand in the last year.
The Hyundai Alcazar was launched recently on Apollo Apterra Cross tyres. Within few months of its launch, Apollo Apterra Cross has been chosen as the standard fitment tyre for the Hyundai Alcazar in 18-inch tyre size. This is also the first OE fitment approval received for Apterra Cross tyres, which was launched in March this year.
More than a year after its counterpart for conventional saloons came to market, Goodyear is introducing the UltraGrip Performance+ SUV. This new tyre range covers the growing SUV and crossover market by offering consumers a “technology-packed winter tyre that increases the versatility and contributes to the safety of their vehicles.”
Micheldever Tyre and Auto Services has become a four- time winner of the Pirelli 4×4 Key Dealer of the Year award in the sixth year of running the accolade. Each year, the 4×4 Key Dealer of the Year award gives 15 of Pirelli’s exclusive 4×4 Key Dealer Club members the opportunity to nominate one of their depots to enter for the prestigious award. As part of the process, each depot must take part in a number of independently-run mystery shop audits.
Kumho’s Ecsta UHP tyre range is currently represented by the PS91 and PS71 models, covering fitments between 17 and 21”. This Ecsta range has been embellished with runflat and SUV variants, extending its reach into other areas of the market, and in the process collecting an original equipment homologation on the BMW 5 Series.
With SUV tyres the fastest-growing replacement tyre segment during the last decade, branching out in this area has been one of the main targets of Triangle’s ongoing product development strategy. The introduction of AdvanteX SUV TR259 therefore represents a big leap forwards for Triangle towards high-quality and high-value SUV customers.
The Toyota Yaris has gone the way of the Mini and Fiat 500 and bulked out to meet market demand. Toyota has launched the Yaris Cross, a new and larger version of its popular supermini. It designed this B-segment SUV specifically for the European market and has selected Goodyear as an original equipment tyre supplier. The Toyota Yaris Cross will wear the Goodyear EfficientGrip Performance 2 in size 215/50R18 with a load/speed rating of 92V.
More than half of European drivers with all-season tyres choose them for their convenience as all-season tyres do not need to be changed twice a year. Another reason, according to the survey conducted by Nokian Tyres in the past year, is the safety aspect. 50 per cent believe that all-season tyres are safe enough to use throughout the whole year in central Europe and they meet all the regulatory requirements for winter tyres. The survey was conducted in four countries: Germany, France, Italy and Poland. The new Nokian Seasonproof all-season tyre is designed for drivers who need reliability and first-class safety for snowy and slushy winter days but who also want top-notch performance and effortless driving feel in the summer.
Pirelli has shared further details about its new Powergy range. The tyre maker says it will offer this replacement market summer tyres for cars, crossovers, SUVs and MPVs in 55 sizes for 17- to 20-inch rims and H to Y speed ratings by the end of this year.


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10/04/2019Plastic waste desecrating beaches and rivers or oozing out of the ruptured belly of a dead fish – at the moment, these disturbing images seem to be ubiquitous. Consequently, the image of plastics has never been as negative as it is today, and discussions regarding the use of plastics have rarely been so emotionally charged.
22/03/2019K 2019, known as “The World’s No. 1 Trade Fair for Plastics and Rubber” and scheduled to take place in Düsseldorf from 16 to 23 October 2019, is fully booked. Over 3000 exhibitors from more than 60 countries have registered to participate.
05/06/2018Companies from the plastics and rubber industries again place their trust in the flagship fair Focus on innovative materials and technologies, digitalization and circular economy


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However, the world's biggest publisher of free dailies has seen a steady improvement of its financial results for three consecutive quarters and the end of freesheets seems further off than many predicted in 2009 and 2008.
No doubt, the consolidation in the freesheet market, Metro's own divestments and closures as well as an end to costly freesheet wars, most notably in key markets such as Denmark and Sweden, has benefited Metro's bottom line. "We're getting to be a bit more of a boring company, more predictable," said Anders Kronborg, the company's CFO, when I talked to him about Metro's Q1 results in April.
If you look at the company's share price curve for the first half of 2010 there's not much evidence of that so far, but now that it has moved its headquarters back from London to the city where it all started, back in 1995, perhaps some of that Swedish steadiness and predictability, which also may be described as boring in some contexts, will rub off.
At least Metro is using the relocation as a chance to build a new team and re-evaluate its online operations, Metro-boss Per Mikael Jensen told me yesterday. He said the organisation is planning to reveal a new online strategy come August/ September. PaidContent in particular has focused a lot on the company's lacklustre online results.
When confronted with this, Jensen pointed out that this was not in any way unique for Metro. "Point me to a media company that's been successful online apart from the likes of Schibsted, there are not many who have been successful making money online," he said and added that Metro does run profitable online operations in countries like Canada, Mexico, Denmark and Sweden. Now, in the latter country Schibsted took a 35 per cent stake in Metro's operation when it folded its own freesheet, Punkt SE, in 2008. Perhaps some of Schibsted's reputed online savviness will rub off too.
In the meantime, there's Q3 to grapple with. Jensen said Metro is on track to a full year operating profit for 2010, but admitted the third quarter is usually the company's weakest. "If we could remove Q3 from our results we would be happy to, but it is estimated into our full year forecasts. Actually, in Metro we have T-shirts with 'I hate Q3' written on the back," he said.


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Dane County sues foam makers over PFAS pollution
MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Dane County officials are suing dozens of firefighting foam manufacturers alleging their products contaminated the area around the county' airport.
The Wisconsin State Journal reported Tuesday that the county filed the lawsuit in state court last week. The county is seeking unspecified damages from dozens of companies, including DuPont, 3M and Johnson Controls.
The county alleges the manufacturers sold foam for decades despite knowing it contained PFAS and failed to warn consumers and the public of the chemicals' dangers.
The city of La Crosse filed a similar lawsuit last year. The state Department of Justice sued Johnson Controls in March over PFAS contamination near Marinette.


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World Vegetarian Day may seem like just another day for those of you who are true vegetarians (yes, sans seafood), but Oct. 1 is all about celebrating everything about being a vegetarian, its impact on environment and of course, the food.
Many cultures already make delicious vegetarian-friendly dishes, from traditional Mediterranean foods like hummus to noodle and rice dishes from Asian countries like Japan or Taiwan. And as the Guardian notes, some of the best countries in the world for vegetarians include Israel, Ethiopia and India.
Now we're not going to bore you with the obvious reasons vegetarianism is good for your health (because it is), but get right into the food instead. The next time you have a vegetarian hater/meat lover who says they can't possibly understand your diet, surprise them with one of these recipes below.
Here are 15 of our favourite mouthwatering vegetarian meals from around the web. Have a recipe you're dying to share? Let us know in the comments below. Oh and haters, happy eating!


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A luxury vehicle has been purchased to serve as the official car of Turkey’s top cleric, Hürriyet has learned.
Mehmet Görmez, the head of Turkey’s Religious Affairs Directorate (Diyanet), will soon start using the Mercedes S500 sedan, which is worth 1 million Turkish Liras ($435,000). Moreover, 14 Toyota cars were bought for the Diyanet’s general directors, as well as 16 minibuses to serve the organization.
The institution announced Dec. 13 that the purchases were made from the coffers of the state, not by using citizens’ private donations for the Diyanet Foundation.
“All the vehicles mentioned in the news report were purchased through tenders conducted by the State Supply Office under the permissions granted by the Law of The Central Government’s 2014 Budget and within the knowledge of the Finance Ministry,” the Diyanet said in a written statement.
Turkey’s top religious office also said that the cost of the luxury car allotted for Görmez is “much lower,” without releasing the actual figure in the official documents…


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Every year not only brings new cars and updated models, but also two new license plates that denote the current year. But why did people express concern over this year’s first registration plate?
As we are in 2013, there was a concern from those with a superstitious nature as to having the number ’13’ on their registration plates.
The number 13 is considered to be an unlucky number in some parts of the world, now synonymous with the ‘unluckiest day of the month’: Friday 13th. Those who fear the number are said to have the recognised phobia: ‘triskaidekaphobia’.
Early in 2012, the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) considered allowing new car buyers, who found the number 13 to be unlucky, the opportunity to keep the previous ’62’ plates. The DVLA dropped this idea not long afterwards, however.
In a survey conducted by the AA last year, with 20,029 of its members, approximately one in ten said that they would not purchase a vehicle with a ’13’ license plate.
Many also stated that they would think twice about buying a new car with a ’13’ registration plate not because they think that it represents bad luck, but because they fear trying to sell them on in the future – as potential buyers may themselves have superstitious tendencies.
However, when analysing the data provided by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) since the introduction of the ’13’ license plates, it would appear that the change has not deterred buyers.
In March 2013, when the new registrations plates were introduced, UK new car registrations rose by 5.9 per cent, with 394,806 registrations of 13-plate cars.
March marked the 13th consecutive month of growth in new car registrations, which would imply that the superstition did not affect sales.
In March, SMMT Interim Chief Executive, Mike Baunton, commented: “UK new car registrations out-performed expectations in March, the first month of the new 13-plate. The market increased more than 5% on March 2012 to almost 395,000 units.”
He continued: “Despite ongoing economic concerns, consistent monthly growth in the market is an encouraging sign of returning consumer confidence as motorists are attracted to forecourts by new models and the latest technologies.”
So it would appear that motorists were attracted more by new models and the latest technologies that they were put-off by any superstitions.
In the next month, April, UK new car registrations further rose by 14.8 per cent to 163,357 units – further cementing the fact that buyers were not put-off by 13-plate models.
Furthermore, the month of May saw further increases in UK new car registrations, with 179,029 new models registered in UK dealerships in the month, compared to 160,876 new models in May 2012 – a 11.28 per cent change.
Manufacturers such as Ford, Vauxhall, Nissan, Fiat and Peugeot have continued to record higher and higher sales in the past few months, with buyers undeterred by the change in license plates.
Ford has continued to dominate the best sellers lists, with its Fiesta and Focus models occupying first and second space in both the monthly and year-to-date list for the majority of the time-span – although the Vauxhall Corsa has managed to knock the Focus off its second-place perch on occasion.
In the most recent month, May, a total of 25,674 new Ford models were registered in dealerships throughout the UK – besting May 2012’s sales figure of 23,255 new models sold.
This is a small indication of how customers have not been swayed by any superstitious thoughts and are continuing to buy models from their favourite manufacturers.
When looking at the actual month when the 13-plate cars were introduced (March 2013), British car manufacturer Vauxhall, the second best-selling car marque in the UK market, recorded sales of 42,017 units.
This represented an 8.78 per cent increase over March 2012’s sales figure of 38,624 new Vauxhall models registered in UK dealerships. This goes some way to proving that the ’13’ superstition has not affected the motoring industry.
For information regarding purchasing a new model, as well as enquiring about pricing, specifications and any test driving opportunities for all vehicles, visit any of the numerous Perrys Dealerships located throughout the UK.


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Toluca, Mexico based company La Moderna opened its first $50 million, 150,000-square-foot U.S. headquarters and state-of-the-art production, manufacturing and distribution facility in Cleburne, Texas yesterday, marking the company’s first American property.
Top media members were invited to the inauguration ceremony, which featured remarks from Texas Governor Greg Abbott and other U.S. and Mexican business leaders, such as Mexico Secretary of Foreign Affairs Luis Videgaray Caso, Cleburne Mayor Scott Cain, La Moderna CEO José Carlos Franco Autrique, La Moderna Chairman of the Board Luis Miguel Monroy and representatives from the City of Fort Worth, among others.
“From the hard work of Mexican farmers all the way to a dinner table in Texas and all over the U.S., you can clearly see that when working together, Mexican and Texans, we can create wealth for our people and bring positive synergies that allow both sides to be more efficient in this ultra-competitive world. We live in a global village. In La Moderna, we work with people from different parts of the world…with core values aligned and good faith, we join forces every day to earn our living and deliver world class food to consumers. I have no doubt that in this new venture, the formula of cooperation will be the same,” La Moderna Chairman of the Board Luis Miguel Monroy said at the inauguration ceremony.
This new facility marked the popular Mexican company’s quest for U.S. expansion and market share.
The new U.S. facility sits on 16.5 total acres, produces nearly 4,000 tons of pasta per month and has created 100 direct and 300 indirect new jobs for the city of Cleburne and greater Johnson County.
“We are so proud that you’ve chosen to come here to Cleburne, come to Texas, grow your company here and expand and sell your product across the entire United States of America,” Texas Governor Greg Abbott said at the ceremony.
“I’ve had the opportunity to participate in countless groundbreakings, as well as openings of new facilities. I have never been as impressed as I am today,” Governor Abbott added.
Since its beginnings in the 1920s, La Moderna has quickly expanded into becoming the largest pasta company in Mexico. In 2017, the company registered $520 million in total sales and sold more than 570 million pounds of pasta products, with approximately 20% of sales coming from the U.S. market.
Photo Gallery of La Moderna plant inauguration in Cleburne, Texas
Pastas La Moderna PRODUCTS
Here is a complete list of the products offered by La Moderna and how to order them for your store.


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After a brilliant financial year in 2019, Columbia Sportswear did not have a great start to 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Its net profits stood at just $0.2 million, down from $74.2 million for the year-ago quarter, while sales dropped by 13 percent to $568.2 million.
Lower consumer demand related to coronavirus started to impact financial performance in China in late January, then in Korea and Japan in early February, and finally in North America and Europe in March.
This caused wholesale revenues to tumble by 10 percent to $325.9 million and direct-to-consumer (DTC) sales to drop by 17 percent to $242.3 million. The store fleet included 122 outlets and 20 brand stores at the end of the quarter, against 113 outlets and 21 brand stores last year. Overall, the gross margin fell by 3.6 percentage points to 47.8 percent, primarily reflecting inventory obsolescence provisions related to Covid-19 and lower DTC product margins due to higher promotional activity.
Most stores in China and Korea have re-opened recently, but stores in Europe, Japan and North America remain closed, although this could change soon with easing of restrictions. E-commerce stayed operational in most markets.
Accordingly, by region, sales in EMEA dropped by 20 percent in constant currencies, reflecting lower consumer demand related to coronavirus and widespread store closures that started in mid-March.
In the U.S., the group’s sales decreased by 9 percent, with the steepest decline in March. Retail traffic trends started to decline early in the month before the company closed all its own stores in mid-March.
In constant currencies, revenues fell by 13 percent in Canada. In Latin America and Asia-Pacific, they tumbled by 22 percent. China, the first market to have experienced pandemic-related weakness, was down by more than 40 percent.
By category, the apparel/accessories/equipment segment decreased by 14 percent to $452.2 million, while footwear lost 9 percent to $116.0 million.
The Columbia brand was hit the hardest, suffering a 15 percent decrease in sales during the quarter, owing to lower demand resulting from the pandemic as well as unfavorable weather conditions. At Sorel, sales were down by just 2 percent, with the decline primarily resulting from lower sales of winter utility styles in Europe. In the U.S., the brand experienced robust e-commerce growth. On the other hand, Prana declined by 11 percent, as lower wholesale revenues more than offset e-commerce growth. At Mountain Hardwear, revenues dipped by 2 percent as a healthy start to the year gave way to lower demand due to the pandemic.
Columbia suspended its formal guidance, but said that it expects sales in the seasonally small second quarter to be significantly weaker, resulting in an operating loss. It is planning more clearances, and it has curtailed sourcing for the autumn/winter collections.
As previously reported, the group has taken several measures to reduce spending, such as cutting senior executives’ salaries and placing retail employees on temporary layoffs after keeping them on the payroll for four weeks. To shore up liquidity, the company added $525 million in revolver commitments, plus an available $100 million extension.
The company expects to reduce 2020 capital outflows by about $120 million and SG&A by more than $100 million. However, the it will continue to spend heavily on the further development of its omni-channel capabilities, which have served it well, especially in the U.S.


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Consumer research by News Corp Australia has revealed how the Covid-19 crisis is affecting Australians’ finances and what this means for financial services brands.
Navigating the new financial equilibrium, commissioned by News Corp’s integrated marketing solutions unit Newsamp, surveyed respondents from four generations to determine the economic fallout from Coronavirus on Australians.
While most Australians are affected by the pandemic News Corp’s research shows that it is impacting each generation differently. The key findings include:
• Before the crisis, consumers had a fairly balanced approach to achieving short-term financial goals and long-term aspirations, but they are now sacrificing their longer term financial security to survive in the short term
• Younger generations are being impacted by reduced employment-related income, whereas older Australians are seeing declining income from investments (e.g. shares, investment properties)
• There is no single way consumers are reacting to the financial implications of the crisis, and many are looking for guidance on the correct path to take
• Despite the significant work that banks are doing in helping their customers, consumers are not currently giving them credit for it. Consumers recognise large supermarkets and retail brands for their role in the crisis but give little thought to the banks.
News Corp Australia’s managing director of national sales, Lou Barrett, said: “As consumers assess the short and long term impact of Covid-19 on their household budgets, they’re seeking analysis and advice from trusted sources. Traffic to finance content across our network has jumped 86 percent2 which presents financial brands with an opportunity to engage Australians of all ages and be their trusted advisor.”


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HOW TO IMPROVE FOOD SECURITY IN CANADA AFTER COVID?
E. coli outbreaks over the past year sent dozens of North Americans to hospital and resulted in half a dozen deaths. It also shook consumer confidence in the safety of romaine lettuce and other recalled produce.
In January 2019, the government implemented the Safe Food for Canadians Regulations (SFCR) with the goal of making the food system safer “by focusing on prevention and allowing for faster removal of unsafe food from the marketplace.”
The cornerstone of the SFCR is that it requires suppliers, importers and exporters to trace food one step forward to the immediate customer and one step back to the immediate supplier.
Wholesalers or distributors that sell food directly to consumers―retail stores and food-service establishments such as restaurants and cafés―do not need to track one step forward to the customer but must trace one step back to the immediate supplier.
There are other exceptions: Wholesalers that do not trade across provincial or territorial borders do not need to meet traceability requirements; however, importers do, regardless of whether the food products they import are traded across borders.
According to the new regulations, traceability data must identify the common name of the food, the name and address of whoever manufactured, prepared, produced, stored, packaged or labeled the food, and a lot code or other unique identifier.
Clear and readable data must be maintained for two years, be accessible in Canada, and be provided to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency upon request.
The new regulations substantiate the crucial role of traceability as a means of securing the food supply chain, but why stop at one step forward and back when the technology exists to take a giant leap forward to the end consumer and an even bigger leap back to the very source of the food items we consume?
Digital end-to-end supply chain traceability leverages innovative technologies to connect all the players along the supply chain, from the farmer right up to the consumer and everyone in between.
In the case of the romaine lettuce recalls, such a system could have quickly pinpointed the source of the contamination, negating the need for a mass recall of unaffected produce. Rather than pulling all romaine lettuce off the shelves, retailers would have had to remove only those products identified as being tainted.
Because it allows single items to be tracked and traced through serialization at every step along the supply chain, digital end-to-end traceability can not only improve recall management but can also mitigate a cornucopia of other issued affecting the food and beverage supply chain.
The ability to guarantee the authenticity of products, minimize diversion, counterfeiting and fraud, verify sustainable business practices and provide customer-engagement tools to boost brand loyalty are just a few of the added benefits traceability offers.
So, while measures like the Safe Food for Canadians Regulations are certainly a step in the right direction toward a safer, more secure food and beverage supply chain, digital end-to-end traceability is the major leap required to complete the journey.
OPTEL is the only company with the ability to offer true end-to-end traceability, providing granular data at every step of the supply chain—from raw materials to the consumer and beyond.
OPTEL’s solutions allow diverse industries, including food and beverage, to benefit from actionable, real-time data to ensure the quality, integrity and authenticity of consumer products, help stop counterfeiting and reduce waste.


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Multi-brand retailing expansion to boost T&C sector growth
Expansion of multi-brand retailing expected in the wake of the recent Government decision to allow FDI in the sector will create unprecedented opportunities for the textiles and clothing industry of India, according to a paper presented by Mr. Thomas Varghese of the Aditya Birla Group at the Indian Textile Summit organised by the Confederation of Indian Textile Industry (CITI) in Mumbai. The well-attended summit discussed some of the critical issues and opportunities emerging in the global as well as Indian textile sector.
Welcoming the speakers and participants to the summit, Mr. Prem Malik, CITI Deputy Chairman, stressed the need for the clothing industry of the country to improve production efficiency to meet competition from low-cost Asian competitors. He felt that the country has the potential to raise its share in global apparel trade from the current 3.1 to 6-7 per cent. He also felt that some of the measures announced by the Government recently like liberalizing retail investment would help the textiles sector in improving its performance.
Addressing the summit, Mr. Thomas Varghese said that T&C products would be the core component of most of the multi-brand outlets because of its high margin and the ability to create differentiation through private labels. This sector would be one of the major beneficiaries of the liberal retail trade scenario. FDI in retail would increase competition and would also create opportunities for T&C players to garner scale and become world class players.
Currently clothing occupies 36 per cent of the overall retail segment, and this would increase substantially after more organised retailers enter the market. Demand for readymade and Western outfit is growing at 40-45 per cent annually, but the key for success in the emerging competitive environment would be to deliver affordable and accessible fashion to the value conscious customers, he added.
Mr. R. Raghuttama Rao, Managing Director, ICRA Management and Consultancy Services (IMaCs), in his paper on the global economic situation, observed that the global recession had a negative impact on the Indian textile industry, but this would be a short-term problem.
Though the EU members are still in contraction mode and fighting the financial crisis, the recovery of consumption in the US and the possibilities of the market emerging out of slowdown are expected to provide the much-needed relief to Indian textile exports in the medium term.
Moreover, the slowdown of the Chinese economy and Vietnam, one of the lead players in the textile sector, would provide some competitive relief to India as the global demand starts growing along with recovery.
The next phase would be really critical for the industry.
He also observed that among the textile and clothing products, menswear continued to remain the biggest segment at present.
But the growth would be higher in kid’s wear and women’s wear in future, leading to growth opportunities.
Among the neighbouring countries Bangladesh would continue to compete with India on cost advantage; Wal-Mart’s apparel sourcing from Bangladesh increased by 41 per cent in 2011 over 2010.
Mr. Deep Mukherji from Fitch Ratings India Pvt. Ltd. observed that the softening cotton and cotton yarn prices in the first two quarters of 2011-12 led to a partial margin revival in the sector but not a full-scale demand recovery.
Reduced substitution demand for synthetic textiles, higher crude oil-based input costs and oversupply in the partially-oriented yarn segment are the major sources of concern for the industry.
Leading textile manufacturers lauded the initiatives of the States to increase the flow of investment in the sector by appropriate policy schemes.
Speaking at the summit, Mr. B.K. Patodia, Chairman, GTN Group, said that the textile policy of Maharashtra and Gujarat could drive greater investments in these States. With the availability of cotton and other infrastructural facilities like ports and power, these States could generate immense investment interests among textile entrepreneurs. The rising cost of production is taking away India’s competitiveness in the textile sector. High interest rates and power costs are the really worrying factors for the textile industry.
Presiding over the concluding session, Mr. S.V. Arumugam, CITI Chairman, said that the industry’s fragmented nature and structural weaknesses have been preventing it from achieving its potential. Some sectors like fabric manufacturing and processing still languish as weak links in the textile value chain. Though enormous opportunities exist in international trade for the clothing segment, here again structural problems are affecting the competitiveness of Indian producers, in comparison to other Asian industries.
The summit was attended by over 250 participants from various fields connected with the textiles sector. In addition to leading textile luminaries and experts from various fields, it was also addressed by key players from the textile machinery manufacturing sector.


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The Apple Worldwide Developers Conference 2020 (WWDC) in June will have a digital-only format.
Due to the new online format, Apple will donate $1 million to organisations in San Jose to make up the associated revenue loss for digitalisation of the event. The firm has cited the coronavirus pandemic as one of its reasons for the move.
"We are delivering WWDC 2020 this June in an innovative way to millions of developers around the world, bringing the entire developer community together with a new experience," said Apple's senior vice president of worldwide marketing Phil Schiller.
"The current health situation has required that we create a new WWDC 2020 format that delivers a full program with an online keynote and sessions, offering a great learning experience for our entire developer community, all around the world. We will be sharing all of the details in the weeks ahead."
To the future
The event is designed to offer developers new insights and tools on top of news for consumers. Further information on what will be included will be detailed between now and June.
"With all of the new products and technologies we've been working on, WWDC 2020 is going to be big," said Apple senior vice president of software engineering Craig Federighi.
"I look forward to our developers getting their hands on the new code and interacting in entirely new ways with the Apple engineers building the technologies and frameworks that will shape the future across all Apple platforms."
The BAFTA Game Awards has also adopted the digital format due to Covid-19 concerns.


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Trino, a puzzle-action game developed by Carnegie Mellon graduate students, is now available on Steam for $4.99. The game began its life as an Xbox Indie and when it came out it was one of the most polished games on the channel.
thx for heads up
This looks awesome, and at its low price point, it's a must buy for me.
Good news, Xbox Indies are coming up in the world.
Looks pretty interesting, may give this one a go.
N4G is a community of gamers posting and discussing the latest game news. It’s part of NewsBoiler, a network of social news sites covering today’s pop culture.


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At the heart of the matter: what would the experts of the automotive industry change to the COE system?
SINGAPORE: On Wednesday July 20, the Certificate of Entitlement (COE) premium for the Open car category reached a record S$114,001, surpassing a 28-year high set two weeks earlier. Premiums also increased across the board.
What explains the price increase? Is the entry of private hire vehicles and the explosion of a delivery economy a factor? Could the system make adjustments or is it working exactly as intended by pricing cars beyond the reach of those who cannot afford them and therefore reducing the car fleet?
Steven Chia, host of CNA’s Heart of the Matter podcast, posed these questions to his guests: Associate Professor Terence Fan of Singapore Management University, Arthur Wong, Managing Director of ACM Automobiles, and Aaron Tan, CEO of Carro, a online car market.
Here are some highlights of their conversation:
Why are COE prices so high now?
Aaron Tan: We have more re-registered cars…more than…10 years ago or two decades ago. As a result, there are significantly fewer COEs today than 10 years ago. Second, … the demand today is not just from the consumer perspective, it is also coming from the private rental vehicle side, right? So if you think of all the Grab and Gojek drivers, they need a vehicle,…that also increases the demand…And the last thing I would say is that with a lot more EVs coming to the market, we see a triple whammy (of) trouble here… So prices being where they are today was no big surprise to us.
Assoc Prof. Terence Fan: If it is simply replacing one car with another, there is no net change or net increase in demand… Let’s say we have 100 people or companies wanting to buy cars. Now there are 101, it is because of this 101 person or entity who wants to buy a COE at any price… This will drive up the overall prices. It’s not like… you can blame the original 100 car owners, or you can identify this as a new owner. I think it’s very difficult. But as long as you have that extra person willing to pay, it drives up the price for everyone.
Q: Is there an influx of wealthy people who are willing and able to offer a factor?
Arthur Wang: Yes, right now people are more apt to buy continental cars, more expensive cars, sports cars. The influx of foreigners is (that) they have pushed the thirst for luxury vehicles. So yes, I agree.
Q: Have private rental companies affected the system?
Assistant Professor Terence Fan: For the private rental companies, if you look at how many of them have actually placed bids… you might find that they actually don’t bid very much. They don’t do a lot of offers.
Aaron Tan: So those PHV (Private Hire Vehicle) companies that say they’re not actually the cause of it are probably true. But to say that it has absolutely nothing to do with platforms is also incorrect, isn’t it? Because the demand is certainly fueled by the fact that there is a demand for PHV vehicles. There’s a demand for Grab food deliveries and stuff like that. As a result, all of these people are just doing their job properly. But they indirectly caused the COE to increase…because there are more people bidding for these cars.
Q: Does the COE system need to be changed? How?
Arthur Wang: Have a fixed premium for each COE category to avoid market volatility. I just want to cut this COE auction thing, just a fixed price for this category and a fixed price for this category. That’s what I think is best for people.
Assoc Prof. Terence Fan: Guide or lower the initial bid price to manage speculative auctions. I think for me, I was just looking at what Arthur was saying about the initial suggested bid price. It actually seems to trigger a secondary reaction from bidders who say, “Oh, the starting price is S$80,000, so I have to bid more.” So I’m actually going to try to experiment, reduce that or maybe get rid of it, but give some advice. So hopefully this will reduce some of the biases that this initial starting bid may actually cause to bidders.
Aaron Tan: The first is to keep it simple, right? Secondly, adding another category in itself for special needs could be interesting so that we can ensure that vehicles are more accessible.
Q: What advice do you have for people looking to buy a car?
Arthur Wang: Just buy one that suits your budget and needs. I think that’s the most important.
Aaron Tan: Obviously, (buy a) used car, don’t buy a new car.
Assoc Prof. Terence Fan: I think, in fact, that you have to consider public transport and use car-sharing services before having your own car.


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German discounter Aldi wants to conquer China, starting with the launch of a Chinese web shop. This will however mean competing with local giants Alibaba and JD.com.
Supplies from Australia
The new web shop will be supplied by its Australian subsidiary Aldi Stores. Several of its Australian suppliers have already been informed, giving them time to alter the labels and packaging wherever necessary.
Not only European specialties for the more affluent Chinese consumer will be included: Aldi wants a complete product range, including local items.
It is the very first time Aldi moves into a new market without the support of physical stores, but that does not mean it will never open physical stores in China, it added.
It remains to be seen whether Aldi can reach more than 450 million online customers in China all on its own. Several other Western chains have tried, but finally decided to collaborate with Alibaba or JD.com, who pretty much dominate the entire Chinese online market together.


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Imagine a world where people are rated much like restaurants on Yelp or products sold on Amazon. Rather than having a personal opinion based on how well you know a person, you can quickly give them rating and move one with your day.
Userscan’t do anything about the rating, even if you have done it out of spite or just for a joke. It sounds like a recipe for a lot of hurt and offended people to get their revenge.
No need to imagine, as it’s coming to us soon in the shape of a new app known as Peeple
The app was announced this week, and it thankfully was met with a wave of criticism online. Some people love the idea, as it could be viewed as a harmless bit of fun, a way to wind your friends up with a spot of harmless trolling.
A strong majority of people have called it out for being tasteless, tacky and the perfect environment for a lot of online bullying and ridicule.
Both sides of the argument agree that the app is pretty much a human equivalent of Yelp – where business are given a rating based on how good a service they provide.
Yelp themselves have gone on record to say they share nothing with Peeple, which is an independently developed application. While many may think this is nothing more than a viral story that will fade in obscurity, it’s worth noting that the estimated value of the start-up according to some reports could be as high as $7.6million.
Peeple lets you rate and make comments to other users of the app, allowing for both positive and negative criticism to be left. The idea is that it will be used much like other social media apps, where you get to interact with friend’s family and acquaintances, accept you get to let them know what you really feel about them by leaving a rating.
The creators of the app have claimed that it allows for online praise and constructive criticism, but many are outraged by ignorance of the developers, who seem to forget just how nasty a place the internet can get, especially with a platform actively criticise a person.
Commentators believe that it will be rife with trolling and online bullying, rather than a way to receive compliments and the odd bit of criticism.
Julia Cordrayis one of the co-founders of the app along with her good friend Nicole McCullough, and both are defending the app. As Cordray explains on a message from their website
“Innovators are often put down because people are scared and they don’t understand. We are bold innovators and sending big waves into motion and we will not apologize for that.”
The app will still launch despite the increased outrage, which as only helped gain Peeple more exposure. The developers are still siding with the positive connotations of having such an app, going as far to name it a “positivity app”, going on to state on their website that
“Whether you love us or our concept or not; we still welcome everyone to explore this online village of love and abundance for all,”
Users of the app will be given a rating based on a five star rating system, which is given to them by other users of the app. They have no control over their rating, and each user cannot hide their identities as Facebook accounts are required for logging in.
Users then only need the name and mobile phone number of a person to then make a rating, which could spell for some nasty reviews in the event of fall outs and breakups between people.
Receiving criticism results in a two day hold, which is aimed to allow each user to work on any issues that may be present, after that the rating stays.
Many have called for the app to be dropped as it will create a haven for any cyber bullies, trolls and even stalkers. The effects of these type of people being able to carry out personal attacks on people could end up with tragic consequences, especially in a time where internet bullying has cause so much damage to vulnerable people.
Ironically enough, when the Twitter account of Peeple received a constant barrage of attacks and criticisms for the perceived tastelessness of the app, they proceeded to block users to stop receiving further criticism. Will they have such a safety net on their own app? Only time will tell…
We hope that such an app is met with a little bit of friendly banter between friends. Though if the internet has told us anything, that chances of that happening remain slim.


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Japan-based electronics company Sharp Corporation finalized its majority acquisition of fellow Japan-based NEC Display Solutions on Sunday, creating a new joint venture called Sharp NEC Display Solutions.
The business will primarily focus on visual display products and solutions, which for cinemas includes projectors, digital ticketing kiosks, and digital signage menu boards.
Fujikazu Nakayama, president of business solutions of Sharp, will serve as chairman of the new business. Hisatsugu Nakatani, president of NEC Display Solutions, will serve as president.
Under the new arrangement, Sharp Corporation will own 66 percent of the business, while NEC Corporation — the parent company of NEC Display Solutions — will own the remaining 34 percent.
The website for the new business can be found here.


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Thanks to our incredible community of RevOps professionals and customers, we’re proud to share Sonar is joining Forbes’ list of America’s Best Startup Employers for 2022, coming in at number 80 out of 500.
Each company Forbes chooses as a Best Startup Employer must have at least 50 employees and be founded between 2012 – 2019. But the real deciding factors? Those come down to reputation, employee satisfaction, and growth.
How did Sonar make the Best Startup Employers list?
Our reputation is key to our success
Since our launch in 2018, Sonar has been paving the way in Change Intelligence–and our hard work is paying off. Operations teams are raving, giving Sonar a near-perfect rating on G2, the world’s most trusted software review platform. Along with our rating, we’re also one of G2’s top 50 software for 2022 thanks to its users who gave us high marks for our easy-to-use platform and quick setup process.
Co-founder and Chief Product Officer Jack McGlinchey reiterates how important Sonar’s reputation is to our overall success.
One of the biggest things Brad (Sonar Co-founder and CEO) and I focus on at Sonar is not just building an amazing product that solves important problems – we also want to build a company with a reputation our employees are proud of.
We believe employee satisfaction leads to innovation
Happy employees make for good employees, and overall productivity rises the more a company cares about the well-being of its team members. For the Best Startup Employers rankings, Forbes measures satisfaction based on online reviews, average length of employment, and retention.
Sonar takes the well-being and satisfaction of our employees seriously, keeping the lines of communication open to ensure every voice is heard and every concern addressed. To keep a pulse on how employees are feeling, we hold quarterly surveys through CultureAmp to see where we can improve company culture. And the results speak for themself:
By giving employees a way to voice their thoughts, we keep these numbers high.
Our growth has taken off
Sonar has grown a lot over the last two years. In May 2020, we raised $1.6 million in a funding round led by Parade Ventures. And that was just the beginning. In March 2021, we secured a $12 million Series A led by Craft Ventures. This funding has almost tripled our team, helping us become the top-rated Change Intelligence platform we are today.
Our product is growing fast, too. We started out with an integration with Salesforce and kept growing from there. In 2022, we expanded to Pardot, helping ops teams bridge the gap between marketing and sales.
We now integrate with Slack as well, increasing ops teams’ visibility into their tech stack by sending a daily snapshot of what changed across Salesforce and Pardot.
We don’t plan to stop at #80
Forbes choosing Sonar is a huge milestone for our company. By continuing to focus on our product, team, and customers, this is just the start of our growth and success. After all, there are a lot of lists out there, and we plan to be on them.
Want to see what makes us great? Try Sonar for free.