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Ford, which undertook a big expansion in China earlier this decade, is paying the price for a lack of new models in its lineup. Last year, deliveries fell 6 percent even as overall vehicle sales in China rose 3 percent. Photo credit: REUTERS
BEIJING — Ford Motor Co.’s China slump is intensifying, with vehicle sales tumbling 38 percent in June and the automaker recording its worst ever first-half, as buyers shunned aging models that are awaiting updates and flocked to rivals.
The automaker said Friday it sold 62,057 vehicles in China in June. Sales in the first half fell 25 percent to 400,443, down 25 percent compared to the year-ago period. According to consultancy LMC Automotive, it was Ford’s biggest first-half percentage decline since starting operations in China in 2001.
Ford, which undertook a big expansion in China earlier this decade, is paying the price for a lack of new models in its lineup. Last year, deliveries fell 6 percent even as overall vehicle sales in China rose 3 percent.
“We always knew it would be a challenging year for us given our position in the product cycle,” Peter Fleet, head of Ford’s Asia-Pacific operations, which include China, said in a statement.
Fleet previously said Ford’s sales won’t likely regain momentum in China, the world’s biggest auto market, until next year when the first of new vehicle models arrive in showrooms in large enough numbers.
The dim sales numbers come as the United States and China slapped tit-for-tat duties on $34 billion worth of imports on each other Friday, with Beijing accusing Washington of triggering the “largest-scale trade war” ever in a sharp escalation of their months-long conflict.
With automobile imports subject to additional duties by China, Ford has much to lose. Last year, it shipped about 80,000 vehicles to China from North America, more than half of them luxury Lincoln models – including the Continental sedan and the Lincoln MKX crossover.


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During the past 3 quarters confidence amongst SMEs has taken a spiral downturn, and according to the first SME Growth Tracker in 2018 the feeling of negativity has remained and in fact, climbing.
The UK Country Manager at Amazon, Doug Gurr has commented;
“It’s clear that British SMEs are open for business, and those taking advantage of the opportunities presented by e-commerce can grow at a faster rate.
“The commercial benefits to be found by the adoption of digital technology can be enjoyed by all businesses. In fact, last month we published findings showing that more digital adoption in rural areas could add over £26 billion to the economy’s gross value added, so the more SMEs we can support and help adopt digital, the better for the UK economy.”
The report which is generated once each quarter by Capital Economics and commissioned by Amazon UK and Enterprise Nation evaluates growth prospects, and the views of the UK economy – this was sent out to more than 1,000 SMEs.
The report highlighted that the score for each individual business’s performance has actually increased by 1 point to 6 and for their confidence, up by 6 points to a total of 18, which continues to grow since the referendum took place in June 2016.
The report also found an overall increase in business revenue by 1% and employment levels jumping by 0.3% which suggests an increase of 0.7% in productivity which will jump to 0.9% during the next 12 months.
Founder of Enterprise Nation, Emma Jones MBE shares;
“With business indicators reflecting a rising confidence amongst SMEs, today’s results suggest that businesses are feeling the benefits of digital technology, helping them to connect to a wider customer base.
“As global economic uncertainty continues to pose a threat to stable business conditions, it is essential that SMEs adopt agile and innovative ways of working to stay competitive.”
Research also revealed that business’s emails and websites are a common forum to sell to their customers. This is expected to grow over the next 12 months with the implementation set to grow to 65% from 52% of SMEs. It is believed that selling via social media will also increase as 37% use this as a platform to sell. 23% are using third-party retailing sites to sell and 13% are using their own apps to deliver.
The growth of e-commerce is alike for all regions within the UK, however for those who were surveyed in the North East and West Midlands it was found that their e-commerce was at the highest level of 69%. For businesses who use e-commerce to reach their customers, they are expected to see an increase in revenue of 1.6% over the coming 12 months.
The SME Growth Tracker also uncovered that 73% of SMEs have not yet experienced any delay with business decisions however, 13% admitted that they have postponed hiring new staff while 7% held back their international expansion plans due to Brexit. The biggest fear SMEs have according to the research is the effect of rising supply costs.
Chief Project Economist at Capital Economics, Mark Pragnell concludes;
“Since launching the SME Growth Tracker soon after the EU referendum in 2016, we’ve seen a pattern emerge showing SMEs in the majority of regions which primarily voted to leave the EU, consistently more optimistic than SMEs in regions that voted remain.
“For example, this quarter, both the East and West Midlands – which had the highest share of the electorate vote leave in the Brexit referendum – have reported greater confidence than SMEs in Scotland and London where the majority voted to remain.
“But confidence does not appear to correlate with revenue growth expectations, with London and Scottish SMEs forecasting higher revenue growth than SMEs in the East and West Midlands.”

domain: news


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Optus' mobile virtual network brand Virgin Mobile has apologised to customers and is now offering rebates after a day-long network outage over the weekend. The company's network went into meltdown during Friday evening, May 3, affecting as many as a third of its one million customers, and the outage continued well into Saturday …
"Virgin posted an apology to its Facebook page..." but they didn't email their customers. After all, the fb adversphere is all that counts...
OK if Vodafone had a Vodafail, what happend to Virgin? A VirginDP'd? And Amaysim was Amayslayed?
These network operators are more screwed up than me: What are the odds it was their core billing or authentication systems not being secure, resilient or redundant.
It probably wasn't even the dodgy traffic management they use to prioritise some customer's traffic over another's.
- Twitter: La la la, we have not heard of any NUDE JLaw, Upton SELFIES
- China: You, Microsoft. Office-Windows 'compatibility'. You have 20 days to explain
- Apple to devs: NO slurping users' HEALTH for sale to Dark Powers
- Is that a 64-bit ARM Warrior in your pocket? No, it's MIPS64
- Apple 'fesses up: Rejected from the App Store, dev? THIS is why


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FAIR LAWN, N.J. — The idea at Benny's Luncheonette in Fair Lawn is fairly simple: go big or go home.
The diner sold more than 400 pounds of corned beef and cabbage this St. Patrick's Day, owner Diana Stella told Daily Voice.
"It's crazy," she said, "and they're still coming."
Other lunch specials included corned beef and cabbage sliders, quiche with corned beef, Swiss cheese and fried onions and corned beef fritters.
A few doors down, Benny's Bakery and Ice Cream Shoppe churned out almost 40 Shamrock Shakes.
Diana and her wife, Pamela, took over the luncheonette in 2011. They remodeled it to bring back "that homemade feel," and added the ice cream shop soon after.
“It’s a lot of comfort food,” Stella said. “Come here when you’re hungry.”
Click here to sign up for Daily Voice's free daily emails and news alerts.


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Earlier this month, Solidaridad, and its consortium of partners: Kawacom Uganda Ltd, Kaaro Agric Producers Ltd, and the Uganda Coffee Development Authority (UCDA), officially launched the Practice for Change Coffee Project in Uganda to improve coffee productivity, quality, and increase household incomes.
This project is focussed on Eastern and Western Uganda, where Arabica and Robusta coffee varieties are grown. Over 3,500 farmers from the East and 2,000 farmers from the West will be supported.
Already through this project, landmark transformations in the Ugandan coffee sector have occured. Most notably, the government ratified the Ugandan national coffee law on June 21 2018. The law will ensure the quality of coffee being produced meets international coffee market standards. The law will also regulate players along the coffee value chain to ensure that they are registered for ease of traceability as well as uphold best practice in coffee farming.
Partnering to Effect the Change that Matters
Speaking during the official launch of the Practice for Change Coffee project at Sipi in Kapchorwa district, Mr. Karugu Macharia, Managing Director of Solidaridad East & Central Africa commended government efforts aimed at improving the Uganda coffee sector. Karugu observed that the national target of exporting 20 million bags (60kg) of coffee by the year 2025 is achievable because the country has vast arable lands and hardworking farmers.
He said that this newly launched partnership is committed to empowering smallholder farmers by building their capacity in governance and financial management. Through this project, farmers will be encouraged to organize themselves in groups and cooperatives through which they can aggregate their produce and gain greater bargaining power over their produce.
Enabling Policy Environment to Spur Growth of Uganda’s Coffee Sector
Dr. Emmanuel Iyamulemye Niyibigira – Managing Director of Uganda Coffee Development Authority (UCDA) said that in a bid to attain the national coffee export target of 20 million bags by 2025, the government of Uganda has increased agriculture research funding. He said it is now focussing on coffee varieties that are water-efficient, drought-resilient, pest-resistant and high-yielding. The government, through UCDA, will revamp and strengthen coffee specific farmer-groups and cooperatives to increase production volumes.
Innovative Approach To Boost Coffee Productivity and Profits
Speaking during the project launch at Kazo in Kiruhura district of Western Uganda, Ms. Catherine Maina – the Practice for Change Coffee Project Manager noted that despite good fortunes in coffee, cooperatives are still facing many challenges due to irregular pricing on international platforms. She emphasised the project’s commitment to strengthen existing producer organizations, cooperative unions and farmer groups, and to transform them into formidable enterprises.
Maina said that through the project partnership, farmers will benefit from smart subsidy farm inputs, links to well-paying markets, and recertification of coffee-farmer groups, adding that for as much as the project emphasizes good farming practices, climate change is a challenge that may slow the project’s gains.
To overcome the climate variation challenge, Maina said that farmers will undergo trainings and benefit from extension services that offer strategic practical approaches to mitigate climate change effects, mainly through the promotion of good farming practices such as zero grazing, crop diversification, use of farming inputs and practices that lead to the reduction of greenhouse gases.
Solidaridad will conduct soil analyses to ensure the predominant Robusta coffee grown in western Uganda is planted under the right conditions to improve coffee yields. In addition, ICT tools will be used to improve coffee farming practices, and ensure farmers in the region have access to valuable information in real-time.
Reprieve for Coffee Farmers in Western Uganda
The project has elicited a lot of support from the government of Uganda. Addressing coffee farmers at Kazo in Kiruhura district, Mr. Jessy Daawa, the Managing Director of Kaaro Agric Producers Ltd, informed coffee farmers that the government of Uganda has extended 60% funding towards the establishment of a wet & dry processing Robusta coffee factory, to be launched in August 2018.
Once the factory becomes fully operational, it will cover the entire coffee value chain to ensure that farmers export a finished product. Through the establishment of the wet & dry processing factory in Kazo, the area’s structural infrastructure will improve, jobs will be created, production costs will be lowered and farmers’ incomes will increase. Daawa added that through this strong partnership, coffee aggregation, marketing and certification of farmers within their respective cooperatives will be adequately addressed.
The Ugandan Coffee Sector
Uganda is currently the second largest coffee exporter in the Eastern Africa region (after Ethiopia), and is ranked eighth globally. Over the past four years, coffee has emerged as Uganda’s most valuable export commodity that contributes towards 15.5% of the country’s total value of exports.
After conquering the East African market, and with demand hitting an all time high in Europe and the United States, Uganda is steadily venturing into the Middle East, Asia, China, and other emerging markets.
Read Solidaridad's Coffee Barometer Report here.


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We can blame the successful Toyota Prius for the iconic egg-shape that has taken over the electric/hybrid vehicle category. Most manufacturers have sought to duplicate the success of the Prius by adopting its technology—as well as mimicking its exterior design. So, what did the consumers end up with? Cars like the Ford C-Max, Ford Focus Electric, Honda Insight Hybrid, and the Nissan Leaf hatchback compact—or a dozen EV jelly beans on wheels that are starting to look like car clones.
Well, Toyota might be serving up a new exterior for the Prius in its quest to freshen its image!
Although the Prius was a smash hit, Toyota lost its reign over the car industry a few years ago. A few too many recalls and boring vehicle line-ups cost the mass-market brand some customers. In an attempt to regain their crown, and curb some of Ford and Tesla’s success with EVs, Toyota is hoping to revamp its line and woo buyers. Toyota announced last week that they plan to shed their “frump” and are adjusting their design trajectory so that adjectives for future vehicles include “sporty” and “fun to drive.” Toyota is currently the top-seller of hybrid vehicles, and many of these design changes will primarily impact their hybrid and EV line up. Mr. Toyota wants to “inject energy into designs and driving characteristics in order to appeal to younger buyers.”
So what are the die-hard Prius lovers, EV connoisseurs, and eco-conscious car buyers in for next?
The next generation Prius will have a smaller motor, lighter chassis and a more energy-packed battery. Toyota is aiming for a 10% or better fuel economy improvement over the current Prius, which gets 50 miles a gallon in combined city and highway driving. The new Prius also will have a lower center of gravity and better driving dynamics.
Toyota said it is developing a new version of its plug in Prius that will have longer all-electric range and the ability to recharge wirelessly through induction.
Also, the next Prius will probably make its debut in 2015 — so start saving up those dollars!
Now, it’s not Toyota’s fault that everyone copied the Prius. But I do look forward to seeing the next generation of the infamous hybrid. And hopefully other small, hybrid and electric vehicle options that aren’t Prius-knock offs.
When the Chevrolet Volt was released, its design wasn’t a cookie-cutter Prius—it was different. (It was also subsequently aped by the Cadillac ELR). The Tesla Model S was also a far cry from its hybrid ancestor. The Model S was sleek and a full-sized car — not a hatchback! The Ford Fusion sedan steals more of its design genes from Aston Martin than Toyota. Some stirred up competition among the smaller hybrid/EV car makers will be good. I wish Toyota the best in its endeavor to serve up fresh, fun cars again. Let the design games begin!


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CNET ran an article on Spotify and its troubles of setting up business in the US. Many believe it’s the stubbornness of the record companies that have slowed them down to a halt almost. However, the CNET article states that Apple maybe protecting its iTunes Store from Spotify and talking with record labels to think twice about the ad-supported model. According to the CNet article, Apple executives are worried about the effects of a free music service might have on the rest of the market.
Apple and Amazon’s businesses were given as examples of companies that would suffer if someone would come to the market place with a free alternative. I agree they might suffer, but Apple and Amazon are beginning to sound like the cable channel directors when VCR came out. This essentially means that Apple, Amazon and others alike must innovate to keep up the top spot – that’s just how things go.
Spotify has proven to be hugely successful in the countries where it currently operates in. In 2009, Spotify’s revenues surpassed 90 million Swedish kronor (9.7 million euros) and ended up with a profit of about 14 million kronor (1.5 million euros). This turns out to about a 15,5% profit margin. Now while these numbers aren’t in the tens of millions euros they could be, they tell a very clear story to me – the business is scalable and very clearly working.
Some sources also tell that Apple is working on a Spofity-kind of service to defend their position in the music business. Music is one of the most universal things out there and if Spotify would show high adoption rates (and we know it would) in the US market, it could overtake Apple in the blink of an eye. That’s definitely something to be scared of.
Spotify, to my belief is only beginning its crusade in the the music industry. Their service is by far the best in the user experience, but it still comes short in many ways what it could be. Definitely a lot of room for improvement, but with its current offering – it’s already showing how things should be done.


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During yesterday’s keynote, Apple introduced a new e-reader app called iBooks. If you are familiar with a Mac app called Delicious Library, you certainly see a GUI resemblance between the two.
Developer Wil Shipley complained, of course, about Apple’s way to catalog books, ( and maybe in the future ) CDs and DVDs on the wooden shelves. Shipley said on Twitter that Apple didn’t ask for permission of using the GUI/graphics but he does not wants to sue Apple, in fact he believe that this will help the Delicious Library sales.
Other developers have always asked permission before using it, and an example is the iPhone app Classics.Shipley is also aware that some former developers that worked for his company are working with Apple now, and has no doubt that that interface has been stolen from him …


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More Yahoo apps hit the chopping block
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After announcing two new apps on Thursday, Yahoo said it’s shutting down a few more products to sharpen its focus.
As of the end of April, gone are:
- Upcoming - a local event guide
- Yahoo Deals - its Groupon-like service
- Yahoo SMS Alerts - its news alert service
- Yahoo Kids - a web portal for kids with games, jokes, movies, etc.
- Yahoo Mail and Messenger feature phone (J2ME) apps - these apps were for less-smart phones
- Older versions of Yahoo Mail (you actually have until early June to wean yourself off this)
Earlier this week Yahoo showed off a new Mail app designed for iPad and Android tablets and Yahoo Weather.
But more of the focus might be on trimming down apps, starting with the least popular. CEO Marissa Mayer said in February that one of her goals was to streamline Yahoo’s app portfolio, chopping it down from the 60 or 70 the company had then to about 15 total.
In other words, don't get too comfortable with those slightly more esoteric Yahoo apps.
Shana Lynch is managing editor at the Business Journal.
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Mahindra & Mahindra's Q1 net up 67% at Rs 1,257 crore; total domestic automotive volume grows 16.2%
Mahindra & Mahindra exported 9,360 vehicles during the first quarter, a growth of 100.2 percent over the corresponding period a year ago
Mumbai: Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M) on Tuesday posted 67 percent rise in net profit at Rs 1,257 crore for the quarter ended 30 June, driven by robust sales across segments.
The company had reported a net profit of Rs 752 crore for the same period of previous year (2017-18).
Revenues and other income stood at Rs 13,551 crore for the first quarter as compared with Rs 11,006 crore in the year-ago period.
Total domestic automotive volume of the company grew 16.2 percent. The heavy commercial vehicle volume grew 123.4 percent, resulting in a market share of 5.7 percent, the Mumbai-based company said.
M&M exported 9,360 vehicles during the first quarter, a growth of 100.2 percent over the corresponding period a year ago.
Its domestic tractor sales grew 18.8 percent and the farm equipment segment's revenue crossed Rs 5,000 crore mark during the period under review.
On the future outlook, the company said a normal monsoon, with a satisfactory temporal and spatial distribution, combined with the recently approved higher MSP for Kharif crops, should help support rural consumption further.
"Global growth backdrop has remained buoyant so far. However, the recently announced and anticipated tariff hike by the US and retaliatory measures by trading partners have increased the likelihood of escalating and sustained trade actions. These could pose risks to global recovery and investments," the company noted.
Shares of M&M were trading 0.32 percent up at Rs 936 per scrip on BSE.
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ONGC was the top gainer in the Sensex pack, rallying around 6 percent, followed by L&T, Bajaj Finance and Bajaj Finserv
On Friday, the BSE Sensex had crashed 1,939.32 points or 3.80 percent to end at 49,099.99, its worst one-day fall since 4 May last year
The Samsung Galaxy M31s price cut will be applicable through Amazon and the Samsung India online store.


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ADOTAS — Recognizing that mobile is moving to more app-based experiences, Facebook is running a small test to show Facebook ads in mobile apps, according to a post on the company’s news blog.
The test is intended “to improve the relevancy of the ads people see, provide even greater reach for Facebook advertisers and help mobile developers better monetize their apps,” according to the post, which continues:
“Our aim is to demonstrate even greater reach with the same power of Facebook targeting for advertisers both on and off Facebook. While we have run similar tests in the past, this current test is more like a mobile ad network in that we are working directly with a small number of advertisers and publishers rather than an outside ad-serving platform. The current test is limited to a few advertisers and partners, and we will share more details over the coming months.”
According to Digits, Facebook has run tests of a potential mobile advertising network in the past, but in this case, the social network is working directly with advertisers and mobile app publishers; previously, it worked through other middle men.


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MYRTLE BEACH — Cliffhanger Productions plans to bring an electronic dance music, or EDM, concert to a hotel on South Ocean Boulevard where attendees will be able to enjoy the concert from the comfort of their hotel room.
DoubleTree Resort by Hilton in Myrtle Beach will host the ReVibe Wellness Retreat on Oct. 30-31, where 1,600 people are expected for the nearly sold-out event. The concert is being dubbed as “the first of its kind CDC-compliant vertical musical event on the East Coast.”
Michael Frits, general manager of the DoubleTree in Myrtle Beach, said the resort has seen an increase in revenue from their drive market cities, and so they’re targeting states that allow guests the option to drive in rather than fly, including North and South Carolina, Georgia, Tennessee, West Virginia, Alabama and Florida.
“We predict we will have attendees from as far north as New York and Massachusetts, as well,” Frits said.
Cliffhanger has a filed special events permit with Horry County. Frits said the resort has a permit that allows for amplified outdoor noise from 1 p.m. to midnight both Friday and Saturday. He said there shouldn’t be any concern about noise.
“Our oceanfront resort is great for hosting a vertical musical event since we have two towers with large connecting lawn spaces that will force sound to bounce off the hotel and be directed toward the ocean,” Frits said.
Two stages will be set up to face the towers at the Doubletree. Owners of Cliffhanger bought out all rooms in both towers to ensure all visitors are specifically there for the concert.
The concert is scheduled to feature artists including: Buku, Mersiv, TRUTH, and many more, according to the announcement.
Cliffhanger Productions produced a similar event in Calgary called the Diesel Bird Hotel Music Festival in August, which sold out.
Frits said with this being the first concert of its kind at the resort and Myrtle Beach, it would be difficult to put a financial impact of the show.
“Bringing new visitors to Myrtle Beach is always a benefit of hosting a large event like this and we’re proud to help give a boost to South Carolina tourism,” Frits wrote. “At the resort, our guests will be able to purchase food from multiple dining options during the weekend, including three restaurants on-property, but from seven local food trucks as well.”
Ticket prices start at $375 per person and can be purchased at ReVibeRetreat.com, where attendees can view the weekend lineup and choose their preferred tower.
Frits said he hopes this will offer concert promoters a viable alternative to large crowds pre-COVID.
“We hope to do more vertical concerts in the future and see the potential of offering a safe alternative to large gatherings,” he said. “We take the safety of our guests and employees very serious and look forward to a successful partnership with ReVibe.”


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Can’t see any news on Facebook? Long story short, the Australian Government in early 2020 reached out to the ACCC (Australian Competition & Consumer Commission) in a bid to create more power for news & media outlets against digital platforms. Specifically targeting Facebook and Google, a draft of the code was made available for public.
What changes have recently occurred and what does this mean for businesses? Apple recently released and introduced a number of privacy metrics and policies for consumers of their products. This includes transparency of what information, data and personal details apps collect from your phone when you download the app from the Apple App Store. As.
You may have recently heard the term “Google Data Sweep’, as it has certainly become more prominent and in the news of late, in this article we will briefly explain what and why Google’s Data Sweep is so topical. Google Data Sweep, is in brief; Google’s vast ability to collect immense amounts of consumer data.
The Facts There have been over 24,000 confirmed cases in Australia and sadly 472 people have died. The outbreak in Victoria has meant that there are now around 5,000 active cases in Australia. Daily infection rates have remained low in all states and territories, other than Victoria. At the national level testing remains high, with.
As a result of the forever changed landscape, reaching audiences has become more difficult and costly than ever before. With so much choice between free to air TV, subscription, catch up, on demand and digital mediums, multiple channels and that is before we introduce other mediums and platforms – making the correct decision and budgeting.
How does programmatic buying work? Programmatic advertising is effectively data driven and automated ad serving content delivered to a browser based on a persons search term. The resulting ad displays, depending on content of key words, bidding and ad relevancy across the network. Two examples of these are the Google Display Network (GDN) and the.
In our second article of What makes a great website, we focus on the content and contact pages. Again we have create the below wireframes to assist and help you visualise the layout of these key elements Website content page essentials Again the logo and phone number should be in the header and visible on.
In this article we look at the fundamentals of what makes a great website; from design to functionality, user experience (UX) and conversion, so that you optimise and provide the best possible chance for your website to be found by search engines and convert visitors into enquiries. To assist we have created the below wireframe,.
Pinterest has fast become one of the most used social platforms in the world for its easy to use nature and quick saving and sharing abilities. Being able to harness all your inspiration and ideas into digital bulletin boards for all sorts of topics and ideas, from cooking to fashion and every DIY in between..
Instagram is currently testing a new feature where users will no longer see the total number of likes or views on a post. The trial update started rolling out across Australia in July 2019 and will extend to Japan, New Zealand, Italy and Brazil. The purpose of the new feature is to reduce pressure on.
In 2019 the terms ‘Google it’ or ‘Youtube it’ are more apparent than ever! Some may even remember a time and ask; what did we do before we could Google it? The point is this approach has led to Google, and to a lesser extent, other search engines acting as the first point of contact.
The ever-evolving world of technology and algorithms are constantly changing; Facebook is no different. As you may already know, Facebook is the number one social media networking site with over 2.38 billion monthly active users as of March 2019 (Noyes D, 2019). Facebook’s recent push for genuine interaction and emphasis on personal relationships has led.
Myadd is pleased to announce it has recently partnered with Canadian based One Local’s Review Edge Product! So what does this mean? Well to start, search engines and social media now act as the first point of contact for many consumers when researching or making a decision on who they contact for their next product.
Chances are these days, if you have an online store that is not the big end of town and highly customised, you will be using either the self hosted largely template environment of Shopify or the WordPress E Commerce solution; WooCommerce. Both first class and highly efficient and cost effective online stores, but how do.
Gutenberg New WordPress EditorLast year you may have read or heard about the recent and large change to the WordPress format with its newly released editor Gutenberg, replacing the old TINYMCE based WYSIWYG editor together and combing with the release of WordPress version 5. WordPress claims, ‘the entire editing experience has been rebuilt for media.


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|The state hopes enough small businesses take advantage of generous digital media tax credits to reach the critical mass needed to lure larger companies.|
A May 25 news conference to welcome BitRaider to the Louisiana Technology Park was attended by Gov. Bobby Jindal, Mayor Kip Holden and Baton Rouge Area Chamber President/CEO Adam Knapp.
Jindal says the digital distributor of video games will provide "more opportunities for our children to find high-paying jobs right here in Louisiana." Holden calls BitRaider's move from Jacksonville, Fla., "a huge win for our region." And Knapp says the company helps "provide legitimacy to our region's position in the interactive media world."
In other words, there was a lot of hype for a small company that the state says will create 22 jobs and invest $450,000.
But economic development officials are trying to build something. Traditional industries, like farming and chemical manufacturing, likely will be a huge part of the economy for years to come, even if they aren't expected to grow very much. Digital media, on the other hand, is a fast-growing industry. Officials believe the state has a window of opportunity to become one of the leaders, and they hope generous incentives will help them get there.
"For Baton Rouge, it's great that you guys are out whale hunting," BitRaider founder/CEO Royal O'Brien says, referring to the news conference at which Jindal also discussed the local expansion of industry giant EA Sports.
"But when you're doing sales, you don't rely on the absolute biggest customers to be your bread and butter to keep you alive. You get a lot of smaller sales done, and they become your sustaining factors while the other ones become your major profitability centers."
Major studios would be nice, but a proliferation of small companies can help develop the workforce and create a sense of critical mass, officials hope, which in turn might tempt some of the big fish.
Louisiana first implemented a digital media tax credit in 2005. BitRaider would not have been eligible then, Jindal says, as the program initially focused solely on interactive media, like video games. Bit-Raider doesn't make games, but its patented technology allows online users to play one part of a game while other parts are still downloading, which helps game developers attract and retain customers.
"It makes them a better instrument," he says. "It makes it a lot easier for you to be able to convert them as you see fit."
Financial incentives aren't everything, however; other states and Canadian provinces have their own programs. Holden's persistence also helped convince BitRaider to move here.
"We basically said no for three years, because we weren't ready," O'Brien says, adding that relationships are important in navigating the business.
O'Brien and Pellegrin already knew each other, and it was Pellegrin who first connected O'Brien with local officials. O'Brien speaks highly of programs going on at local schools and universities, and plans on getting involved in helping teachers understand what the industry needs. He says he's very confident he can grow his workforce in Baton Rouge.
THE DIGITAL AGE
Details of Louisiana's Digital Interactive Media incentive program:
• Projects are awarded a 25% tax credit on qualified expenses paid to a Louisiana entity, plus an additional 10% on labor costs paid to Louisiana residents. A cost report by a CPA is required. • Projects that create software products built for commercial sale, as opposed to purely internal use, are eligible. • Credits can be sold or used against the holder's state tax liability for up to 10 years after issuance. • There is no minimum spending requirement, nor is there a cap on the amount of tax credits a company can earn. • Redemption of credits awarded through this program cost the state $421,500 in 2009, according to The BaxStarr Consulting Group. For more information, visit louisianaeconomicdevelopment.com.
Digital media and software development is "the single most exciting growth industry for our state," LED Secretary Stephen Moret says, adding that "probably a couple dozen companies" are considering significant projects in the state. Jindal says digital media has the potential to create 11,000 to 23,000 direct jobs over the next 20 years.
A lot of businesses would love to have access to the sweet incentives Bit-Raider is getting. But Moret says cultivating growth industries like digital media can help Louisiana achieve consistent job growth over the long term.
"It takes diversification to stabilize the local economy," O'Brien says. "The only way you're going to get that diversification is through incentives, and if you don't do that, it's a downward spiral."
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Walk-On's launches franchising program
Big tech winning battle with 'patent trolls'


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We’ll be live at Huawei’s press conference at MWC in Barcelona later today. The conference starts at 2 PM CET (1 PM GMT, 8 AM EST).
We have a team on the ground ready to cover the event and give you hands-on impressions on Huawei’s latest devices. Rumor has it that Huawei is about to announce a new tablet and we might see a new flagship phone as well. But don’t hold your breath for the Huawei P9.
Huawei is getting quite popular in China and is now making many different devices. Maybe the company will announce new smartwatches and mid-tier devices.
You can also check it out live via Huawei’s official stream above, and stay tuned on TechCrunch.com for ongoing coverage of all the news coming out of MWC.


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Taiwanese PC hardware and mobile devices maker Asus is apparently going to launch a new Android tablet very soon. The tablet has made an appearance on the GFXBench graphics benchmark database recently, revealing a part of spec-sheet.
The tablet is going to feature a 9.6-inch display with 2048 x 1536 resolution, resulting in a pixel density figure of 267 pixels per inch. It will be running on the MediaTek MT8173 64-bit quad-core SoC with dual ARM Cortex-A72 cores and dual ARM Cortex-A53 cores arranged in a big.LITTLE configuration. It will be clocked at a high 2.1 GHz, with the Imagination Technologies PowerVR Rogue GX6250 GPU handling the graphics. The GFXBench incorrectly detected the chipset as being dodeca core (12-core), which is a little weird. While the SoC is fairly powerful for a mid-range SoC, it is manufactured on a 28nm process, so efficiency will not be as impressive as some other mid-range SoCs manufactured on a 14nm process.
In the memory department, the tablet is going to come equipped with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of internal memory. The storage could perhaps be expandable, as Asus does offer memory expansion on most of its devices.
Moving on, the tablet is listed to include an 8MP resolution camera at the back with support for 1080p Full HD video recording, HDR photos, and autofocus. There is also an LED flash at the back, a feature that isn’t offered on all tablets. On the front will be a 5MP unit with support for 1080p Full HD video recording.
On the software front, the tablet was caught on GFXBench running on Android 7.0 Nougat operating system, which basically confirms that it will ship with Android Nougat out of the box when it goes on sale.
Asus had launched the ZenPad 3S 10 tablet with slightly better specs recently at $405, so we expect the upcoming 9.6” tablet to be priced around the $300 mark when it goes on sale. Thanks to its high-res display, it could be a good alternative to the iPad Air 2, provided the company prices it competitively.


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Press Releases 2019
Shoal Games’ Rooplay OTT System and the Kidoz Network will Reach 50 Million Kids a Month with a Premium Subscription System Offering
ANGUILLA, B.W.I., March 4, 2019 – Shoal Games Ltd. (TSXV: SGW) (“Shoal Games” or the “Company”), mobile software developer, owner of the Rooplay edu-games platform (www.rooplay.com) and publisher of the Rooplay Originals games library, has successfully completed its acquisition of all of the issued and outstanding shares of Kidoz Ltd. (“Kidoz”), the Israel-based industry-leader in the global kids’ content distribution and monetization marketplace (the “Acquisition”), as previously announced in the Company’s news release dated December 28, 2018.
The Acquisition enables the global reach of Kidoz’s content network to be efficiently combined with Shoal Games’ Rooplay subscription OTT platform, to create a unique player in the high growth digital kids market. The combined company is positioned to grow through exclusive ownership of content which the Kidoz network will make accessible to tens of millions of kids each month, utilizing a proprietary OTT subscription platform and a kid-safe monetization platform to attract top kids advertisers.


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Pokemon Unite introduced fans of the JRPG franchise to the MOBA genre back in July, and to great success. This free-to-play title has been one of the most popular on the Nintendo eShop, and is soon set to hit more digital storefronts. Pokemon Unite will be released tomorrow, September 22, for iOS and Android devices. In celebration of the launch, developer Timi Studio Group has announced new content coming to the game on the same day, including a new Battle Pass and more.
It was on the Pokemon Unite Twitter account that the developer shared a sizzle reel of action, revealing new content that players can expect when the latest update hits tomorrow. We see new cosmetics for Garchomp, Charizard, Gengar, and Slowbro, as well as new customization options for trainers. It’s also confirmed that both Sylveon and Mamoswine - who were revealed as the next two post-launch additions to the game back in August - will officially join the roster as a part of the new update.
On the Pokemon Unite website, a letter from the developers dives even further into what fans can expect when the major September update hits. This includes the new Squads feature, which essentially serves as Pokemon Unite’s version of Clans. Players can create or join a Squad, earning experience and rewards as a group. There will also be a designated chat thread where Squadmates can communicate.
Crossplay will be active from the beginning, allowing players on mobile devices and Switch to team up. This update will also see the first introduction of Spectator Mode, though in a limited capacity. Providing a way for viewers to watch matches could be the first step towards a potential esport ecosystem for Pokemon Unite.
Pokemon Unite launches on iOS and Android devices tomorrow, September 22, 2021. With it comes a slew of new content and features to dig into as well. Stick with Shacknews for future updates from developer TiMi Studio Group on Pokemon Unite.


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Now more than ever there is more reason to sign up for Thexyz Premium Email as users will be able to sync their contacts, calendar and email automatically on iPhone, Android and Windows phone.
With a larger proportion of business being done through a mobile device, these devices need to be faster, smarter and highly secure to keep users updated on the go. Having to remember to manually sync a device by connecting it to a computer can also be too much work. That is why we have worked long and hard at making all mobile devices work seamlessly with our secure email service.
You do not need to worry about the security of your contacts and calendar being synced automatically, as all our Premium Email services are run through encrypted servers employing the 256 bit SSL encryption.
Users have been enjoying the many features of running a Premium account and in a recent poll, nearly all users said it is worth the extra cost. I have spoken to some users that have been using these features on the Blackberry where is has been available for sometime and they have said it has changed the way they do business.
Just yesterday we were speaking to client that uses his phone to talk to clients, adds their details to contacts and makes an appointment, this data is shared securely through an encrypted network to other team members that may need to attend or know about the appointment. The client also said, “what used to take 5 hours, now takes 5 minutes.”
This has been great but they all needed to be Blackberry users, now with our latest sync update you can also sync data between the iPhone, Android and Windows phone too.
If you already have Thexyz Webmail you can our email device setup tool to setup sync on your device:


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Daft Punk release new exclusive merchandise with Spotify
Daft Punk announced a new exclusive merchandise drop only available on Spotify to celebrate the 10th anniversary of “Random Access Memories” of their final studio album.
Since Daft Punk announced their heartbreaking split in 2021, they are back to announce a collaboration with Spotify as a part of their ‘Spotify Capsule Collection‘ series where they collaborate with many big artists to offer fans a chance to get a grasp of exclusive merch only available on the Spotify platform.
This collection of merchandise was released in celebration of the 10-year anniversary of their infamous final studio album, ”Random Access Memories”. You can get a hold of 3 different items such as a Daft Punk hoodie, a crystal clock with their logo in crystal, shiny fonts, and a white t-shirt in the style of their ‘Random Access Memories – Drumless Edition’ album. Fans can purchase the exclusive collection here for a limited time only.
For people who haven’t kept an eye on the ‘Spotify capsule collection‘ drops, each week a new artist will have their own merch line released exclusively on Spotify. The VP Head of Music at Spotify says “I’m thrilled with the launch of our Capsule Collection and thankful to all the amazing artists for partnering with us on this, We’re excited to provide another avenue for fans to support their favorite artists with unique and high-quality merch. Spotify is already where fans and artists connect, and we’re dedicated to continuing to find new ways to strengthen that bond within our platform’s ecosystem.”
Check out the exclusive merch while it is available and celebrate a decade since Daft Punk released their incredible swan song, Random Access Memories.
— Spotify (@Spotify) November 7, 2023
Image Credit: Daft Punk / Press


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WHILE the 2014-15 wool selling season didn't finish on the high punters had hoped for, the Australian Wool Exchange (AWEX) Eastern Market Indicator (EMI) still climbed a solid 247 cents a kilogram for the financial year.
The 24.3 per cent price lift for the season was the sixth-best result in 35 years of tracking the EMI, said AWEX senior market analyst Lionel Plunkett.
The EMI averaged 1099c/kg for the season.
Last week the indicator lost 57c to close at 1263c/kg - the largest weekly fall in more than two years.
In US dollar terms the EMI finished last week at 978c/kg, down 41c/kg, however it was 23c/kg higher for the season than for 2013-14.
ANZ Research senior agricultural economist Paul Deane said the second quarter of 2015 had been the strongest period for Australian wool producer prices since the heady days of 2011.
He said Australian wool prices surged 30pc in April and May before retracting modestly in June.
"What is different to this year's rally versus 2011 is the subdued price activity in many other commodity markets.
"By contrast, the spike in wool prices in 2011 was - in conjunction with most commodity markets - also hitting record highs."
Mr Deane said the abnormal seasonal strength in wool prices this year was seeded in 2014 as Chinese mills ran particularly hand-to-mouth for that period.
"Wool stocks in China heading into 2015 were particularly run down, with China having to restock aggressively in preparation for the upcoming northern hemisphere winter season."
He said for only the second time on record, China's wool imports in 2015 had exceeded 150,000 tonnes in the first five months of the calendar year.
While the demand from China had been exceptionally strong, Australian wool supply had been limited.
And according to Mr Deane, supply would hit its lowest level in 90 years for 2015-16, with production forecast to decline at its fastest rate in six years to 320 million kg.
He said the Australian sheep flock was estimated to have fallen to 71.8 million head by the end of June, only two million head above the record low reached during the 2010-11 season.
Mr Deane said the retreat in wool prices in recent weeks indicated the seasonal peak in wool prices had passed, but prices were not forecast to fall back to 2014 levels.
He anticipated reduced wool supply from Australia would stabilise the 21 micron wool prices at 1300c/kg through spring.
"Prices could then potentially retest the may high again late in 2015 or in early 2016."
Elders northern wool manager Bruce McLeish said demand for wool had not disappeared despite the market correction.
"Most would agree the market did get a little bit overheated three to six weeks ago. Once a correction appears in the wool industry it's not unusual for the market to give up 50pc of it rally," he said.
Mr McLeish said the volume of wool available when sales resume after the July recess may not be all that large- given the increased volume of wool sold this season compared to the previous year.
"The market may just have enough momentum to carry current prices through August-September."
The National Australia Bank (NAB) released its forecasts for the wool industry last week and predicted the EMI would average 1225c/kg in 2015-16, compared to ABARES' forecast of 1230c/kg.
NAB was more pessimistic about Australia's wool production, predicting it would fall by 4.4pc, while ABARES predicted that shorn wool production would decline by 2.9pc.
Around Australia last week there were 45,052 bales offered for sale, almost 10,000 more than the initial estimate three weeks ago. The spike in bales resulted in 16.9pc passed in at auction, up 9.9pc on the week prior.
For the 2014-15 season there were 1,972,130 bales offered in total, up 136,308 bales on last season.
The pass-in rate for the season fell 2.6pc for the season to 8.1pc compared to 10.7pc in 2013-14.
Next week is the last week of auctions before the three week July recess.


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PRI lays off 20% of workforce due to drop in fab automation sales News & Analysis 3/30/2001 Post a comment BILLERICA, Mass. --PRI Automation Inc. here today (March 30) announced it was laying off 20% of its workforce, or 370 people, because of falling orders for wafer fab automation systems. The company also slashed its estimates for revenues and earnings in the company's current fiscal quarter, which ends March 31.
Motorola's latest job cuts hit automotive electronics fab News & Analysis 3/30/2001 Post a comment Motorola Inc.'s Semiconductor Products Sector will "temporarily lay off" up to 1,500 workers at its fabrication facility in Toulouse, France, which specializes in automotive electronics. The move indicates that the automotive segment, where demand has remained strong while orders for PCs and mobile phones have weakened, is not immune to cuts.
U.S.-based Cradle hopes India's software will reshape MPU business News & Analysis 3/30/2001 Post a comment DELHI, India--Silicon Valley startup Cradle Technologies Inc. today (March 30) launched a software initiative in India to build development support for its Universal Micro System (UMS) platform and plant the seeds for a new crop of "chipless chip" companies that could redefine the microprocessor business.
UML moves towards hardware-software codesign News & Analysis 3/30/2001 Post a comment Work by Cadence Design Systems and the companies that make up the European Electronic Chips and Systems Design Initiative (ECSI) could lead to a version of the Unified Modelling Language (UML) that can underpin both the hardware and software sides of system design.
Ericsson och Nortel levererar UMTS-nät till Mobilkom Austria News & Analysis 3/30/2001 Post a comment Mobilkom Austria, en av Österrikes 3G-licensinnehavare, har valt Ericsson och Nortel Networks som leverantörer av UMTS-utrustning för uppbyggnad av vad som Mobilkom betecknar som Österrikes första UMTS-nät. Nätet beräknas kunna börja leverera 3G-tjänster under första halvan av 2002. Mobilkom planerar att investera mellan 600 till 700 miljoner euro i sitt UMTS-nät fram till 2010.
Rekordsnabb fiber News & Analysis 3/30/2001 Post a comment WorldCom och Optisphere har tillsammans slagit världsrekord i överföring av data, tal och video. En enda fiber i WorldComs nätverk har uppnått överföringshastigheten 3,2 terabit per sekund.
UML spec eyes hardware-software co-design News & Analysis 3/29/2001 Post a comment Work by Cadence Design Systems and the companies that make up the European Electronic Chips and Systems Design Initiative (ECSI) could lead to a version of the Unified Modeling Language that can serve both the hardware and software sides of system design.
Morningstar analyst says Intel will admit to cutting capital spending News & Analysis 3/29/2001 Post a comment CHICAGO--Another financial analyst is predicting that Intel Corp. will soon buckle to the chip recession and cut capital spending from the company's current budget of $7.5 billion. In a new report, Morningstar Inc. analyst Jeremy Lopez said it is only a question of how much Intel will cut back from its record capital spending plans.
Scheme bridges cable and DSL service gaps News & Analysis 3/29/2001 Post a comment Looking to fill the gaps left by today's cable and digital subscriber line (DSL) deployments, BridgeWave Communications has devised a new modulation scheme that capitalizes on the wealth of available millimeter-wave bandwidth to wirelessly deploy any broadband-access service on a multimegabit/second basis throughout the metropolitan area.
Powell tells Congress he'll reform FCC News & Analysis 3/29/2001 Post a comment Michael Powell, the new chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, told Congress on Thursday (March 29) that he will remake the agency as a nimbler regulator of emerging digital industries, and pledged to rebuild the FCC's technical expertise to help commissioners sort through the dizzying array of issues created by technology and industry convergence.
Micron posts loss as memory prices drop 50% in quarter News & Analysis 3/29/2001 Post a comment BOISE, Idaho -- Micron Technology Inc. today (March 29) reported a net loss of $88.3 million on net sales of $1.07 billion in the company's fiscal second quarter, ended March 1. The loss includes the effects of Micron Electronics Inc. pulling out of the PC business and plunging DRAM prices, said the Boise company.
Micron Technology reports net loss for quarter News & Analysis 3/29/2001 Post a comment Micron Technology, Boise, Idaho, today confirmed its March 21, 2001 announcement that the pretax results of its Semiconductor Operations were slightly profitable for the second fiscal quarter ended March 1, 2001 on net sales of $1.05 billion.
Board-industry recruiters feel economy's pinch News & Analysis 3/29/2001 Post a comment Recruiters of board-level engineers are feeling the hiring pinch precipitated by the slowdown in the economy, but at least one employer says it doesn't want to miss an opportunity to hire a good engineer, despite current economic conditions.
Intersil to phase out IC facility News & Analysis 3/29/2001 Post a comment Intersil Corporation announced today that it plans to embark on a phased closure of the company's Findlay, Ohio operation, which manufactures integrated circuits primarily for automotive and industrial applications.
Aspex Uses Synopsys' Timemill to Tape Out Programmable DSP Chip News & Analysis 3/29/2001 Post a comment Mountain View, CA - March 29, 2001 - Synopsys, Inc. today announced that Aspex Technology Ltd. of Uxbridge, England, a fabless semiconductor company designing scaleable digital signal processing (DSP) integrated circuits, used Synopsys' high-speed, high-capacity circuit simulator, Timemill, to successfully tape out its VLSI Associative String Processor (VASP) chip.


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Coverage: Circuit City is planning a revival
Electronics retailer Circuit City has picked Feb. 15 as the day its website will relaunch, said CEO Ronny Shmoel at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.
Lauren Thomas of CNBC.com had the news:
Shmoel told his audience at CES that Circuit City’s revamped website will include virtual vignettes, search by photo, augmented reality and real-time tech support via video chat, among other experiential features, Twice said.
Circuit City also recently hired Skinny IT to provide home installations and is working with Taylored Group to design experiential showrooms that would mirror its new site, Twice added.
Under new ownership, Circuit City has been making plans to open smaller stores in the wake of filing for bankruptcy in 2008. The retailer attempted to operate strictly online after closing its last store in 2009, however those plans folded in 2012.
Shmoel acquired the brand, domain and associated trademarks for Circuit City in October 2015.
Tom Huddleston Jr. of Fortune reported that Circuit City failed in a previous online-only strategy:
Consumer electronics website Twice reported on Shmoel’s Monday announcement in Las Vegas, noting that the reconfigured Circuit City website will include augmented reality and video chat with tech support and a virtual personal shopping assistant supported through a partnership with IBM Watson’s artificial intelligence platform. Circuit City is also working with the company Skinny IT to provide home installations of products bought online.
Shmoel also announced plans to expand into opening retail kiosks and stores-within-stores (and, eventually, its own large showrooms). The company closed its last brick-and-mortar location in 2009.
Circuit City tried operating solely online in 2009, after Systemax paid $14 million for the bankrupt company’s assets. However, that attempt also fell flat and Systemax stopped using the Circuit City brand name five years ago before selling the brand to Shmoel in 2015. While Shmoel has been preparing to relaunch the Circuit City brand for nearly two years, the company obviously faces some major obstacles, considering that its e-commerce rivals—from Amazon to Target and Walmart—have only gotten bigger in the years since its bankruptcy.
Alan Wolf of Twice reported that the new Circuit City version is taking on a play-explore-learn strategy:
The goal, added a company spokesman, is to transform the traditional search-find-buy shopping model into play-explore-learn.
Shmoel described a curated product assortment that will include A/V, computers, gaming, imaging, small appliances and smart-home products by top-tier vendors like Samsung, Panasonic and Canon, as well as tier-two and tier-three brands. The new Circuit City owns some of its own inventory, which it is amassing in distribution centers around the country, and will also work with drop-ship partners, he said.
The company has also enlisted national integration service Skinny IT to provide home installations, and has contracted with Taylored Group to design experiential showrooms ranging from 8,000-10,000 square feet that would mirror the website.


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What were the hottest apps, TV shows, magazine covers and personalities of 2016? Our panel runs down Adweek's annual Hot List, along with the week's best ads (including Wes Anderson's return to marketing, this time for H&M). We also talk about AT&T's new TV package for cord cutters, Casey Neistat's new CNN gig and lots more.
It's only the middle of November, but we're already deluged with holiday ads. Our panel of experts sifts through this year's feel-good spots to find the real gems (and the lumps of coal). We also talk about how brands and agencies might respond to a Trump presidency in their targeting and messaging, and we discuss Facebook's rotten week as well as the colorful launch of Snap Inc.'s Spectacles.
Trump's the new U.S. president, and a few more states have made it legal to smoke marijuana. Oddly enough, those two aren't directly related. Our panel of Adweek editors talk about these ballot results, along with the Adweek 50, our annual list of the real power players behind today's top marketers and media outlets. Check out this week's episode for all that, plus the week's best ads.
We memorialize the loopy candle in the wind that was Vine, then move on to more positive news like the week's best ads, our fascinating conversation with #BlackLivesMatter icon DeRay Mckesson and the joys of having an awesome creative side job.
Big thanks to MailChimp for sponsoring this week's episode. And don't forget you can reach us any time at email@example.com


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Yes, from your coverage, Beth, it already seems there is an explosion of new technology surrounding everything 3D. Virtualization and simulation seem to be getting real traction, not to mention the reality of 3D printing.
I know, it's crazy. Viztu isn't the only company doing this. As I mentioned, Autodesk has similar technology and I'm sure there's definitely stuff out there that we haven't run across. This capability, along with new content creation tools and low-cost 3D printers, are going to be a huge area of innovation over the next couple of years, in my opinion.
The 3D printing revolution seems to have a knack for quickly moving technology ahead by way of collaborative effort and even a little friendly competition -- all of course in the name of scientific advancement.
Advantech has launched a new series of motion-control I/O modules to meet the increased demands that come with more distributed industrial systems that require control of a growing number of axes and devices.
A quick look into the merger of two powerhouse 3D printing OEMs and the new leader in rapid prototyping solutions, Stratasys. The industrial revolution is now led by 3D printing and engineers are given the opportunity to fully maximize their design capabilities, reduce their time-to-market and functionally test prototypes cheaper, faster and easier. Bruce Bradshaw, Director of Marketing in North America, will explore the large product offering and variety of materials that will help CAD designers articulate their product design with actual, physical prototypes. This broadcast will dive deep into technical information including application specific stories from real world customers and their experiences with 3D printing. 3D Printing is


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LVM registration desk opens
LAS VEGAS – The online registration desk for the 2019 winter edition of the Las Vegas Market (LVM) has opened. The twice-yearly trade event will run from 27 to 31 January will be held at the World Market Centre here and will offer more than 4,000 cross-category furniture, home décor and gift resources across three buildings and two pavilions.
The portal can be found at www.lasvegasmarket.com/register.
“Las Vegas Market offers buyers, designers and exhibitors an easy-to-navigate destination to launch new lines and discover the latest trends,” said Robert Maricich, chief executive officer of International Market Centers (IMC), the owners and operators of the market.
“Las Vegas Market is the nation’s fastest growing gift and home décor market and the leading furniture market in the western U.S.,” he added.
The organisers said market-goers will be offered a variety of special events and industry networking opportunities, including the 14th annual Las Vegas Market Design Icon Award, which honours an interior designer or architect who has made a significant contribution to the industry throughout his career while giving attendees an opportunity to connect with and learn firsthand from living legends.
For the first time this January, LVM is partnering with Kite Trade Association International (KTAI) to bring 20 makers and designers of wind-related products to Pavilion 1, adding a new dimension to the market’s gift and home temporary exhibits. KTAI is a non-profit organization based in Oregon that exists to support and promote the manufacturing, distribution and retailing of kites and wind-related products.
The co-location, which is KTAI’s first collaboration with a major market, will add to the 200+ toy resources available in three buildings and two pavilions at Las Vegas Market.
Additional LVM-exclusive events include the 2019 Housewares Design Awards, which recognise design excellence in 11 core housewares categories, one SMART home category and a new Gourmet Specialty Foods category. During the industry event, the third annual Design Influencer Award will also be presented.
Other highlights include product introductions in gift, home décor and furniture resources in both permanent showrooms and temporary exhibits. Introductions within the gift category include international, seasonal/garden, pet products and fashion accessories.
Within furniture, there will be a focus on case goods, upholstery, casual/outdoor, mattress and bedding and hospitality.
In home décor, new resources are expected in lighting, rugs, accents, wall décor and home textiles.
Organiser also expect that all major mattress and bedding producers will exhibit at the January show, which in recent years has established itself at the largest mattress event in the United States.
Temporary exhibits will showcase 500-plus new and returning gift and home décor exhibitors in six categories at The Pavilions, including a section devoted to antiques.
Beyond products, LVM hosts a proprietary trend program called First Look, which features a curated showcase of products that reflect the diversity of styles, prices points and categories available at market. Buyers can also attend events, hospitality and product demonstrations designed for them as well as use onsite amenities, including campus and hotel shuttles, fully-equipped internet lounges, and convenient café and food kiosks.
Its web site and app host an exhibitor directory and other planning tools to create and customise preferred exhibitor lists. Floor maps have been included in exhibitor profiles and integrated market registration details, including Scan & Go QR codes, are available to users who have created an account.
Dates for the winter 2019 Las Vegas Market are Sunday to Thursday, 27 to 31 January.
From Sunday to Wednesday, the permanent showrooms and temporaries on C12 and C13 will be open from 8am to 6pm, but will close on Thursday at 4pm.
The Pavilions will be open from 9am to 6pm, and close on Thursday at 4pm.
The Home Furnishings Temporaries on B12 will also be open from 9am to 6pm but will close on Thursday at 2pm.\
For more information, visit www.lasvegasmarket.com.


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The 18-piece collection, retailing from $20 to $130, was produced in Japan and is being sold in the Babylon online store and some retailers in Japan. A checkerboard pattern with a repeating bullet hole motif is the featured print for the collection’s slippers, wallets, pillows, backpacks and other pieces.
“Medicom has been a staple in fusing art and streetwear for years,” said Babylon cofounder Garrett Stevenson. “It was great to create a capsule of Japanese-made goods that we could put our spin on and bring to our core over here in the States.”
It marks the first time the company worked with the Medicom Fabrick division. Medicom produces collectible toys, including the popular Bearbrick series.
“I’ve been a big fan of a lot of the Medicom collaborations over the years so it was really dope to be able to come together with them on this capsule,” said Babylon cofounder Lee Spielman. “We wanted to make everything that you would need to be on the go. We travel a lot so this [collection] is almost like our built-in globetrotting pack. I’m really happy with how it all came out.”
Stevenson and Spielman started Babylon about three-and-a-half years ago, born out of a progression of their own personal interests in the punk scene and the hardcore band they still have called Trash Talk. The impetus behind the brand has been community and a DIY ethos as seen with a Hollywood store that was one-part shop and one-part community center. The space was shuttered in the summer and will be relocated elsewhere in the Los Angeles area next year.
The collaboration with Medicom’s Fabrick trails Babylon’s link with Venice brand Born x Raised, which includes hoodies priced at $160, $130 sweatpants, $70 long-sleeve tops and $50 T-shirts.
The label is distributed direct through the Babylon online store, in addition to a select group of about 25 accounts.


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Stellar, which claims to be on a mission to offer “unprecedented” access to credit-building and financial tools to underserved communities, has reportedly attracted several investors to finalize an oversubscribed $7 million round.
Stellar Founder and CEO, Lamine Zarrad, stated:
“We created Stellar to provide credit access to the 132 million Americans who currently have poor credit or no credit. That’s in large part because traditionally, credit scores are made up of a person’s payment history on loans and credit cards. This means bills for everyday purchases like rent, utilities, and Netflix go unreported. These are people who pay their bills, and get zero reward for it. We want Stellar to let their bills pay them back–something they’ve deserved for a very long time.“
Stellar was established with the understanding that for many consumers, having a healthy credit score is vital to achieving financial independence. Stellar is now focused on expanding access to credit by allowing consumers to build credit via their daily purchases, opening key opportunities to build their credit score and achieve financial security.
Although competitors use traditional tools such as secured loans and high-interest cards to build credit, Stellar aims to make the credit building process as seamless as possible for users by consolidating their bills and enabling them to establish credit via the bills they currently pay.
Stellar also reports its monthly payments to various credit bureaus. This allows clients to focus on their goals–such as acquiring their first home, moving into a new apartment, or obtaining a credit card with useful benefits.
Along with credit building and bill consolidation within the Stellar app, clients will have the option to obtain rewards and cashback in order to apply directly to their connected bills, keeping more funds in their savings while enabling them to reach their goals.
As mentioned in the update, Zarrad established Stellar as a Public Benefit Corporation with the goal to address the poverty cycle by allowing for financial equity via credit building.
Zarrad has also founded the country’s “all-inclusive” neobank for independent professionals, Joust, which has now been acquired in 2020 by ZenBusiness. As Head of Product at ZenBusiness, Zarrad assisted the firm with achieving Fintech Unicorn status.
The investment round has reportedly been led by Acrew Capital and co-led by Trust Ventures along with contributions from Accomplice Ventures, Fiat Ventures, Vera Equity, Permit Ventures, Kindergarten Ventures, and angel investors. The proceeds will be directed towards deploying Stellar’s financial platform while opening up access to consumers with poor or no form credit history.
John Gardner, Executive in Residence at Acrew Capital, noted:
“Acrew is thrilled to partner with Stellar. We’re steadfast supporters in mission-driven companies building toward a more inclusive financial future. Through their collective lived experiences with credit challenges, Lamine and his team have a clear and innate understanding of their customers’ financial wellness needs. Building back credit often feels punitive and inflexible –Stellar aims to completely overhaul this.”
Brian Tochman, General Partner at Trust Ventures, remarked:
“Credit is crucial to pursuing so many opportunities—from buying a car to paying for college—but millions of Americans lack access to credit because the current system is broken. Stellar is knocking down the obstacles that stand in the way of people who have been shut out, and helping them achieve the stability and security they dream of. Trust Ventures is proud to support Stellar in their mission to transform access to credit as we know it.”


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INDIANAPOLIS — There no longer is any question over whether Hoosiers are permitted to use cannabidiol, also known as CBD oil, as a natural remedy to treat health ailments.
Republican Gov. Eric Holcomb on Wednesday signed into law Senate Enrolled Act 52 that explicitly legalizes CBD oil in response to an official opinion by Republican Attorney General Curtis Hill that suggested the marijuana-related product could not be sold or consumed in Indiana.
The Republican-controlled General Assembly overwhelmingly overruled the attorney general's November announcement by approving the CBD legislation 97-0 in the House and 36-11 in the Senate.
Holcomb said after enacting the measure: "I'm grateful for the General Assembly’s hard work to bring me a bill to address the needs expressed by our citizens."
Under the new law, which took effect immediately, there are no limitations on CBD oil sales through June 30 provided the product contains less than 0.3 percent THC, the cannabis compound that produces a "high."
Beginning July 1, CBD oil retailers only can sell CBD products that comply with new state testing and packaging requirements, including certification that the product is derived from industrial hemp and not marijuana.
"Indiana lawmakers delivered a bill that ensures Hoosiers who benefit from CBD oil can access it," Holcomb said. "The bill provides much needed clarity, with labeling requirements and a 0.3 percent THC limit on CBD products."
The new law also provides that retailers who knowingly sell marijuana disguised as CBD oil can be charged with a Level 5 felony punishable by up to six years in prison and a $10,000 fine.
An individual who possesses marijuana made to look like CBD oil may face a Class A misdemeanor with up to one year in jail and a $5,000 fine.
Hammond Mayor Thomas McDermott, Jr., who clashed with the attorney general over the CBD oil McDermott regularly provides to his aging dog, Teddy, pronounced the new law "outstanding."
"I know a lot of people, human and non-human alike, that take CBD oil for ailments, a lot of arthritis issues," McDermott said. "I think it's a real great alternative."
The mayor said the will to legalize CBD oil was in the General Assembly all along as demonstrated by its 2017 law that authorized CBD oil use by Hoosiers with treatment-resistant epilepsy.
He said Hill's official opinion that CBD oil sales and use remained illegal likely led to the new law that leaves no doubt about its status.
"The fact that we even had a controversy this year was just because of Curtis Hill," McDermott said. "He wants to be loyal to Donald Trump and the hard right-wing by taking a hard stance on something that couldn't get you high even if you drank a whole bottle of it. Never made sense to me other than political grandstanding.
"I appreciate the governor and the Legislature doing the right thing, and making a natural, herbal remedy available for pain relief."
An email message sent to Hill's spokeswoman seeking comment on the new law was not returned Wednesday evening.
Two Northwest Indiana legislators were among the sponsors of the law: state Sen. Karen Tallian, D-Ogden Dunes; and state Sen. Lonnie Randolph, D-East Chicago.


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Charity RECOUP has launched its annual UK Household Plastics Collections Survey which has found that there is a steady progress in the plastic packaging being collected for recycling.
According to the report, local authorities are continuing to perform, and there is greater consistency in materials being collected for recycling from kerbside, which needs to be exploited to drive material quality.
Only four local authorities in the UK do not provide a kerbside recycling collection service that includes plastic bottles, but they aim to have a service in place by 2019, said RECOUP.
Nearly 80% of local authorities collect plastic pots, tubs and trays as part of their kerbside service.
While the 2018 survey reported 527,010 tonnes of plastics packaging was collected for recycling from households in 2017, the data reflects a collection rate of 59% for plastic bottles and 33% for plastic pots, tubs and trays.
However, while there are opportunities to increase the amount collected for recycling, the report said that the quality of material is “increasingly becoming a concern”.
Local authorities said the reasons for consumer confusion include conflicting national media messages, language barriers, and people not understanding it, although 47% of the authorities in the UK reported that they received budget cuts for collection and communications and were unable to secure the resources with their residents.
The charity reported that 49% of local authorities are planning a communication about plastics recycling, with 91% including reducing contaminating in their communications, and nearly 100% being interested in a match funded partnership to provide plastics recycling communications to residents.
RECOUP technical manager Steve Morgan said: “Although plastic bottles have seen the biggest increase in collections for three years, with volatile export markets the drive for quality is needed throughout the plastics recycling value chain. The opportunities are there. There are still nearly 600,000 tonnes of rigid plastics packaging that could be collected for recycling, but the consumer is often unaware how they can make a difference by their individual actions, both by what plastics packaging they can recycle in their local area and how to present it for recycling.
“There is still work to be done to develop reliable markets for some fractions of plastics, and to remove some of the discrepancies within the detail of how pot and tray recycling messages are given to the public.”
RECOUP has also announced that its plastics initiative Pledge 4 Plastics has changed its name to Pledge 2 Recycle Plastics and will continue to provide resources and be a catalyst in consumer communications on plastics recycling in the UK.
New resources have also been produced which can be adapted for each authority and are aimed at tackling the detail of how to present plastics packaging for recycling and identify key items of confusion that lead to contamination.
The Recoup Plastics Recycling Conference takes place on 27 September in Peterborough. More info is here http://www.recoup.org/p/298/recoup-conference-2018


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Its new report shows 68 per cent of predominantly younger people who use so-called ‘second screens’ while watching TV do not want to receive real-time information from products, advertisers or personalities’ associated with their viewing.
The report, timed to coincide with the annual broadcast trade gathering in Edinburgh this week, found that just under a quarter of people (24 per cent) use second screens.
That number rises for younger people – half of 16-24 year olds use social networking sites such as Facebook, Twitter and instant messaging to discuss TV programmes while watching, according to the report.
However, the appetite for chatting about TV online does not extend into middle-age with 79 per cent of over 55s saying they never do so.
Deloitte says people who do use second screens do not generally want to interact with the programme-makers or channel while watching. Just 40 per cent said they like being able to send comments into programmes.
Investment in engaging consumers on second screens will be a risk for programme-makers, as it will divert marketing spend from the main TV audience, but entrepreneurs are needed to test what works, the research agency concludes.


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Recently, Warren Buffett, the billionaire business magnate had predicted that a change in accounting would cause some huge changes in the quarterly earnings of his company. It seems as though his predictions have become a reality. Berkshire Hathway Inc., Warren Buffett's company has reported a loss of $1.1 billion for the first quarter of this year.
The losses came after a new rule that required the company to report any gains or losses that were unrealized in the net income of the company. A net loss of $6.3 billion on investment income was reported by the company for the first quarter.
This is the first loss that has been reported by the company since 2009 although it was not out of the blue.
Buffett warns about a swing in revenue
Buffett had warned about the potential swing in profits due to the new rule in an annual letter he had written in February to the shareholders of the company.
He had also stated that such a loss could affect the figures that represent the performance of the company.
Buffett has urged the investors of the company to turn their focus away from the company's earning and instead, to concentrate on the operating businesses.
He had also stated that in a given portfolio, fluctuations of up to $10 billion can be observed in the stock portfolio.
Buffett has stated that the gains or losses in investments in any given quarter are usually meaningless.
Berkshire owns businesses that range from railroads to industrial manufacturing. In fact, the company owns about 5 dozen businesses. The well-known brands under the company include Duracell, GEICO, and Dairy Queen.
In the first quarter of last year, Berkshire had made a profit of $4.1 billion as compared to the loss in the first quarter of this year.
Wall Street had harbored expectations of $58.7 billion for the first quarter of this year. The company, however, reported a revenue of just $58.5 billion. The figure is 9.1 percent below the $64.4 billion the previous year during the same time frame.
The operated earnings of the company that does not account for certain aspects that do not influence the business health seemed to be more promising. In fact, the company reported operating earnings of $5.3 billion. The figure is up by 49 percent as compared to the $3.6 billion mark the previous year during the same period.


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The two new appointments will further strengthen the circle leadership team at Sistema Shyam TeleServices Ltd, Chief Executive Dmitry Shukov said.
SSTL in partnership with Rapid MetroRail Gurgaon Ltd has started providing free wifi services on all trains running on the 5.1 km.
Customers opting for recharge coupons priced at Rs 150 and above in multiples of Rs 10 will get full talktime as well as 10 per cent extra talktime.
The government should consider the reduction in USO fund levy from a current present 5% to 1% in a phased manner and implement a single tax structure.
MTS Blaze 5.0 runs on Android Jellybean 4.1 and features a 5-inch touch screen and comes with an 8.0 mega-pixel auto-focus camera.
The device is available for prepaid and postpaid customers at Rs 3,499 and Rs 2,999 respectively with a bundled usage of 10GB of data for a month.
The move to bring this global brand property of Sistema is also aimed at strengthening the “youth connect of the MTS brand” here
SSTL, which operates under MTS brand, has sought approval of the FIPB to raise FDI limit in the firm from 73.95 at present.


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The increasingly popular e-cigarettes after strict regulations from the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) may stop helping with smoking cessation efforts, according to Jennifer Abbasi. She is a senior staff analyst from the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA).
E-cigarettes or electronic nicotine delivery systems are designed to deliver nicotine to their consumers in the form of vapors instead of smoke. The product comes in different flavors and is used in Nicotine replacement therapy (NRT), which entails the use of nicotine without smoking to help people quit smoking.
On May 5, 2016, FDA announced its final rule on all type of tobacco products like cigars, hookahs, e-cigarettes and others. “We have more to do to help protect Americans from the dangers of tobacco and nicotine, especially our youth,” said the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Sylvia Burwell in the press release.
The rule prohibited the selling of e-cigarettes to individuals under the age of 18 years, both online and in person. Requiring a photo ID before selling such products, selling at vending machines and distribution of tobacco products as free samples was also made illegal. The rule comes into effect on August 8 this year, and will also add additional responsibilities for manufacturers to ensure that e-cigarettes are not making false claims or violating public health standards set forth previously.
‘This raises many questions in the public health community,’ says Abbasi. Will this push out small e–cigarettes manufacturers from the market? Before the new rule, the multibillion dollar industry was flourishing with an estimated worth of 2.5 billion US dollars in 2014. Now all the products would be evaluated by the FDA and new public health protocols would be published. According to Jeff Stier, from the National Center for Public Policy Research, each e-cigarette approval application would cost $1 million or more.
The costly premarket application process that the agency uses for tobacco products could lead to this scenario where only largest players are left standing. The smokers who use e-cigarettes to quit smoking may have fewer choices now. This could result them reverting back to the original source to get their nicotine kick.
This is not lost on the agency’s Center for Tobacco Products (CTP) Director Mitch Zeller, JD, who said in a meeting in May that they were still considering how to implement their new authority over the products while they evaluate the net effect of e-cigarettes on the US population.
The efficacy of e-cigarettes is currently in debate, with people at extreme ends of the prism. The US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) has given their recommendation that the current evidence is not enough to support electronic nicotine delivery systems as a measure to ensure tobacco cessation.
The cousins across the sea disagree. The United Kingdom Tobacco Advisory Group of the Royal College of Physicians recently recommended that the use of e-cigarettes, NRT, and other non tobacco nicotine products should be used as widely as possible to help people quit smoking. Public Health England also supports this recommendation.
Coming to the scientific side of things, Abbasi points out the two randomized clinical trials that were published on the effectiveness of e-cigarettes to help people quit smoking have shown modest results. The research design and method of those trials is however under debate. New research efforts are under way. Currently, CTP is supporting 85 projects that are conducting research on e-cigarettes design, toxicity, addiction, constituents and possible health outcomes.
E-cigarettes have also been under scrutiny due to multiple reports of side effects and dangerous health outcomes they can cause in people using them and their loved ones around them. Just a month ago, a study found that e-cigarette exposure in children can have a 5.2 times higher odds of admission into a medical facility and 2.6 times higher odds of developing severe medical complications.
In June a Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) found that in US 44.9 percent teenagers have been reported to use the electronic vapor products that include e-cigarettes. Deputy Director for Research Translation from the CDC’s Office on Smoking and Health, Brian King (PHD, MPH) explained that the bottom line is that no teenager should be using any form of tobacco product whether its cigarettes, or e-cigarettes.
A majority of smoking adults prefer to use e-cigarettes to quit compared to a nicotine replacement patch or nicotine replacement gum. According to US household interview survey, nearly 12% of adults have tried e-cigarettes once while less than 4% are current users. The data suggests that the main reason for people to try this product has been to quit smoking or sometimes reduce smoking.


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Kyabram Free Press
Men's Shed ready for Plants and Goods Sale
A beloved part of the local community, the Kyabram Men’s Shed is looking to get back on its feet following what has been an incredibly challenging 18 months.
Showcasing their recent work, the Men’s Shed members will be running a Plants and Goods Sale next Saturday as they look to raise the funds needed to continue their operation, which serves the community so well.
Kyabram Men’s Shed president Paddy Turner explained the inspiration behind this upcoming event.
“We at the Ky Men’s Shed are fully self-funded, and I acknowledge from the start we get a really good deal on our rent from the KCLC, but it has been really difficult over the last 18 months to fundraise,” Mr Turner said.
“Normally we would do at least three or four sausage sizzles at Bunnings over the year and that would be our main way of making money, but in the last little while those obviously haven’t happened so with everything now opening up again we need to get some money back through the accounts and the idea of this is to sell a few things we have made in shed.
“This is something we would usually do at the Bush Market, but that’s not happening this year so this sale is a way of us going out and doing it on our own.”
Mr Turner outlined some of the products on offer.
“We have got a variety of plants on offer and we will be keeping our prices at a minimum for the locals — there will also be some flowers and veggies and things, so a nice mixture,” he said.
“Then for the goods we also make the Ky Fruit Boxes, which we have been making for years and lots of people buy those, we have our little play kitchens for kids and with Christmas not far away they make a great present, so that is the kind of stuff we have in mind.”
Having to either cease operations or work at a heavily reduced capacity for much of the past 18 months, Mr Turner detailed just how tough the pandemic had been on the Men’s Shed.
“We have had a couple of times where we have just had to shut and that’s had a big effect on some of the members,” he said.
“The big thing is we would normally be doing small jobs for people in the community that we would charge a fairly minimal fair fee for and that would just keep the funds ticking over and then we would get the big boosts from barbecues at Bunnings.
“The difficult thing for us has been even if we are or aren’t here our main expenses stay the same, so that can cause a little bit of concern sometimes.”
Mr Turner highlighted the benefits the Men’s Shed provided to the community.
“There is the fact that the Men’s Shed is a safe environment for anyone that wants to come, you can come and make stuff, grow vegetables or have a cup of tea and we are open three days, so you can come for as long as you want over that time,” he said.
“We will also do those little jobs perhaps a tradie doesn’t necessarily want to do because it is too small a job and that is how we balance what work we do and don’t take.”
The Plants and Goods Sale will take place at the shed from 9am to noon on Saturday, November 13.


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Stephen Sheung, Head of Investment Strategy at SHK Private, expects the U.S. to see a significant re-balancing in the second quarter, which will benefit Asian countries like South Korea.» Read More
SEOUL, South Korea— LG Display Co. has developed an 18- inch flexible display that can be rolled into the shape of a thin cylinder, a step toward making a large display for flexible TVs. It means LG Display could produce TVs that are larger than 50 inches diagonally and can be rolled up.
SEOUL, South Korea— Samsung is facing a fresh accusation that one of its China suppliers hired children to meet production targets during a period of high demand from the South Korean electronics giant.
SEOUL, South Korea— Global markets were mixed Thursday with a slight pickup in China's exports failing to give a lift to European stocks after most Asian indexes closed up. Britain's FTSE 100 was down 0.4 percent to 6,693.71.
*Bank of Korea cuts GDP, CPI forecasts; recovery seen on track. As expected, the Bank of Korea left its policy interest rate unchanged at 2.50 percent for the 14th straight month and trimmed its economic forecasts to reflect recent softness, but its governor maintained the view that Asia's fourth-largest economy was still on a recovery track.
SEOUL, South Korea— South Korea's central bank said economic growth will be slower than expected this year because consumer spending has waned following a deadly ferry sinking. Lee Ju- yeol, governor at the Bank of Korea, said Thursday that South Korea's economy will expand 3.8 percent this year instead of 4.0 percent predicted in April.
SEOUL, South Korea— South Korea's central bank says economic growth will be slower than expected this year because consumer spending has waned following a deadly ferry sinking. Lee Ju- yeol, governor at the Bank of Korea, said Thursday that South Korea's economy will expand 3.8 percent this year instead of 4.0 percent predicted in April.
SEOUL, July 10- A South Korean nuclear reactor has restarted after a month-long closure due to a control rod problem, a spokesman at state-run atomic operator Korea Hydro and Nuclear Power Co Ltd said on Thursday.
TOKYO— Asian stocks fell for a third day Wednesday and European markets traded tepidly as caution spread ahead of corporate earnings and after record highs on Wall Street.
Below are key facts and a timeline concerning development of China's yuan payments system. NOVEMBER 2005- China's central bank announces the expansion of the yuan banking business in Hong Kong.
BEIJING/ HONG KONG, July 9- China's quest to turn its yuan into a full-fledged global currency has hit a road-block as the planned roll-out of a worldwide payments superhighway looks certain to get delayed because of policy snags and technology challenges.
BEIJING, July 8- The United States will press China to resume cooperation on fighting cyber espionage to ensure an orderly cyber environment, a senior U.S. official said on Tuesday ahead of annual talks between the world's two largest economies this week.
SEOUL, South Korea— Samsung Electronics Co. said operating profit declined to a two-year low in the second quarter, hit by the strong local currency and slowing demand for smartphones in China. The South Korean electronics giant said Tuesday its operating income was 7.2 trillion won for the three months ended June 30, down 24 percent from a year earlier.
SEOUL, South Korea— Samsung Electronics Co. said its second-quarter operating income has declined to a two-year low hit by the strong local currency and slowing demand for smartphones in China. The South Korean company said Tuesday in its earnings preview its operating income was 7.2 trillion won for the three months ending June 30.
BEIJING— Global stock markets were mostly lower Monday as investors looked ahead to U.S. corporate earnings following last week's strong job numbers. In Europe, France's CAC-40 shed 0.3 percent to 4,455.11 and Germany's DAX was off 0.2 percent to 9,990.38. Britain's FTSE 100 dropped 0.2 percent to 6,850.14.
China's benchmark Shanghai Composite Index was off 0.1 percent at 2,059.65 points and Hong Kong's Hang Seng was down 0.1 percent at 23,517.08. Taiwan, Sydney, Seoul and Singapore also registered small declines. Taiwan's Taiex shed 0.2 percent to 9,486.92 and Seoul's Kospi was off 0.4 percent at 2,001.27.
SEOUL, July 4- China and South Korea's vow to wrap up talks on a trade deal by year-end may prove optimistic, as differences over opening markets for petrochemicals, steel and agriculture could delay a deal, a senior South Korean trade ministry source said on Friday. China is the world's largest exporter and South Korea the seventh.
*Hong Kong retailers suffer after data disappoints. HONG KONG, July 4- China shares slipped from two-week highs early Friday as investors took profit on recent outperformers, though a stronger property sector helped limited losses.
BEIJING, July 3- Access to online services such as messaging app Line and photo-sharing site Flickr was disrupted in China this week, a step that anti-censorship groups said was carried out by the government to block information about pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong.
SEOUL, South Korea— China and South Korea on Thursday agreed measures that will expand the use of China's tightly controlled currency and boost trade as Xi Jinping made his first presidential visit to the Korean Peninsula. At a press conference, Park said South Korea and China will aim to complete long-running free trade talks by the end of this year.
BEIJING, July 3- Access to online services such as messaging app Line and photo-sharing site Flickr was disrupted in China this week, a step anti-censorship groups said was carried out by the government to block information about pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong.


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- Study: EVs are catching on more quickly than hybrids did
- Study examines first four years of sales for early hybrids, early EVs
- Tax incentives and consumer awareness likely explain the popularity difference
Electric vehicles are catching on faster now than hybrids did when they were first launched. That’s the latest from a new study by IHS Automotive, which compared sales of early Toyota Prius models to the Nissan Leaf EV and the plug-in hybrid Chevrolet Volt.
According to the IHS study, the Prius managed to sell around 52,200 units in its first four years of global availability. That’s a big number for a car filled with unfamiliar technology, but it’s nowhere near as strong as the Volt’s 68,500 units over the same initial 4-year period. And it certainly can’t beat the Nissan Leaf’s impressive 4-year global sales total of 96,500 units worldwide.
What’s the reason that hybrid cars took so long to take off compared to their electric counterparts? One explanation is simple: Before hybrids, most shoppers had little or no understanding at all of electric vehicles. Now that we’ve had several years to become familiar with hybrids, the jump to an EV or a plug-in doesn’t seem so big, meaning more shoppers are willing to take the risk.
Another reason electric vehicles have enjoyed better success might be the fact that they use no gas at all. While some shoppers may have been unwilling to upgrade to a gas-powered hybrid car such as the Prius, others likely wanted to wait for a vehicle that uses no gasoline at all, such as the Leaf, or very little, such as the Volt.
Of course, lease deals and tax incentives have probably also spurred Leaf and Volt sales, at least in the U.S. Both Chevrolet and Nissan have offered several enticing lease offers to Americans, while the U.S. government doles out up to $7,500 in income tax credit to drivers who choose an electric car.
What it means to you: Electric vehicles are catching on quickly — and that means more models are likely to come.