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A bill aimed at getting the state of Utah to accept bitcoin for states services passes its first reading in the Senate.
The bill has now passed its first Senate reading having already passed through the House of Representatives with a slim majority of 38 Yes votes against 36 No's.
The bill states in its general description that its aim is to look into how the state could accept bitcoin, specifically:
“This concurrent resolution of the Legislature and the Governor proposes the creation of the Council on Payment Options for State Services to study whether and how the state could accept bitcoin as a valid form of payment.”
The wording of the bill, however means that even if the senate approves the motion on its second and third readings, then the question of whether it is feasible for the state to accept bitcoin for payment of state services remains in the hands of an investigating “Council on Payment Options.”
Following the proposed legislation's arrival at the state's senate though, the Senate Revenue and Taxation Committee have already given the bill their nod of approval by three votes in favor to one opposed. The outcome of the legislated Council on Payment Options could therefore be equally favorable.
Roberts though appears to believe the benefit of Bitcoin extends beyond the idea of the state saving money on payment processing fees. The representative explains that the bill's text aim to lay out a greater vision for how the cryptocurrency could help Utah.
“THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of the state of Utah, and the Governor concurring therein, recognizes the potential benefits that could come from the expanded use of bitcoin in the state and recognizes that the state could be a key player in promoting the use of bitcoin.”
Salt Lake City based Overstock.com gets a name check in the text of the bill as an example of a bitcoin accepting business thriving in the state. The electronics distributor would be in line to save on its payment processing fees were it able to directly convert BTC sales on its website into payments for state services.
Utah is one of three US states where politicians are currently fielding legislation aimed at getting the local government to accept Bitcoin payments, alongside New Hampshire, and New York.
Cointelegraph recently reported on the efforts by New Hampshire Representative Eric Schleien to pass bill HR552. Schleien's version of the proposal takes a stronger stance by avoiding the investigative council step, and heading straight to an implementation plan. Bill HR552 is worded that its focus is:
“Requiring the state treasurer to develop an implementation plan for the state to accept bitcoin as payment for taxes and fees.”
“I would say it's very useful as far as popular acceptance of bitcoin goes. Once the states have to accept it then the banks will be right behind. It's then that we'll see the price of bitcoin start rising again on a long-term trend.”
With the Utah bill now nearing the completion of its journey through the senate, Bitcoin could receive a legitimizing vote of confidence from the state.
Did you enjoy this article? You may also be interested in reading these ones:
- California Governor Approves Bitcoin for Transactions
- Bank Supervisory Group Unveils BitLicense-esque National Regulation
- Why Coin Loft Customers Won’t Pay Australia’s 10% Bitcoin Tax


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People living on the West Coast will have more opportunities to take a magical Disney cruise in the near future. The American entertainment giant just announced that the Disney Cruise Line will expand operations out of San Diego in 2019.
Executives say the Disney Wonder, a 1,754-passenger ship, will be the primary vessel sailing out of “America’s Finest City.” The Disney Wonder will offer guests trips ranging from two-day excursions to weeklong adventures.
This Disney Cruise Line expansion will take place between the months of March and May in 2019. A few of the Mexican port cities guests can visit include Mazatlan, Ensenada, and Puerto Vallarta.
The Disney Wonder will return to its normal hub of Port Canaveral, Florida, for three- and four-night trips during January and February. These trips will include stops at destinations in Puerto Rico and the Bahamas.
Anyone who lives near Miami can take a cruise on the 1,754-passenger Disney Magic on four- and five-night trips. These trips include stops at locations like the Bahamas, Nassau, Grand Cayman, and Key West.
Port Canaveral will also be adding larger ships to its fleet in the coming years. One ship Disney Cruise Lines just revealed to the public is called the Disney Fantasy. This mammoth ship will be able to hold 2,500 passengers. Disney engineers are hard at work on both the Disney Fantasy and its sister-ship the Disney Dream.
Disney Cruise Line executives say they want to add at least seven new ships to their fleet by 2023. They believe the first of these new ships will be ready for operation in 2021.

domain: news


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This has further broadened the ever growing field of digital technology the numbers of people using mobile devices is doubling by the months how digital media. As innovation in advertising technology renders old tactics obsolete, it also opens new opportunities to reach your audience the central questions in digital. Digital media production software market to rise as a trendsetter in technology & development during 2018-2023 posted on april 13, 2018 digital media production. Embracing digital technology a new strategic imperative october 07, 2013 by: michael fitzgerald, nina kruschwitz, didier bonnet, and michael welch a study by mit. The role of information technology in media industry a waseem khattak m phil mass communication lecturer department of communication and media.
Discover interactive digital media in ontario digital media thrives in ontario, blending creativity and technology to develop globally recognized content, products and services. The media and entertainment outlook highlights industry trends and makes predictions on future digital developments that may drive growth for the media and entertainment industry—or derail it. The impact of technology on the media industry andrew m skinner manager technology consulting accenture. Continuing falls in run length is the key reason for the adoption of digital technology by many offset companies smithers pira's digital printing market analysis.
Digital media are any media that are encoded in machine-readable formats digital media can be created, viewed, distributed disruption in industry. More and more organizations in the media and entertainment industry are turning to cloud providers to help manage their compute and. Home // my career options // ict and digital technologies ict and digital technologies share industry sector contents overview jobs overview digital. Social media week is a leading news platform and worldwide conference that curates and shares the best ideas and insights into social media and technology's impact on business, society, and culture mf: “alone is especially not possible without social media it is a project born on the internet.
A digital ad veteran is leaving the washington post hoping to use blockchain technology to save the media industry. The 2013-2014 econtent 100, a list of the 100 companies that matter most in the digital content industry.
Media industry overview excerpt from media report companies in this industry produce, process, or distribute information and entertainment content in the us, the. Get the latest digital media news, features and analysis your guide to digital initiatives from traditional media companies and digital firms, emerging trends, social networks, digital music services, interesting partnerships and key people moves within the digital media industry. And that’s the crux of the challenge that traditional media has faced: grappling with digital disruption requires reframing the challenge from a technological challenge to a business model oneunfortunately, that makes the problem harder, not easier, as business models are often hard-wired in what our colleague mark johnson dubs an organization’s rules.
Bi intelligence offers expert-level research insight on best practices in digital media, new digital media technology, processors, and companies catering to both large and small businesses. The digital media center at the university of alabama digital media center (dmc), you can work alongside industry professionals through paid jobs, unpaid internships and course laboratories to develop the skills you need for your career. Consumer behaviour and technology has changed the way the media and publishing houses are operating their businesses impacted by the digital economy, media businesses are introducing new channels to engage audiences and further developing new revenue str.
Amrop's media & technology executive talent management services will help you navigate the digital world combining local experience with global resources. Econsultancy's digital cream is one of the landmark industry moderated roundtable events for marketers sydney 12 more examples of digital technology in retail. Electronic and digital media industry add remove 1 describe the role technology has played in electronic and digital media 2 discuss the historical and. Technology using digital media means using new technology both to create and support the media new technology can be an asset for. The media and entertainment industry has gone digital the technology that supports digital media provides you with the best insights, efficiencies, and opportunities. The impact of digital technology on media workers: life has completely changed digital labour: workers, authors, citizens note lise lareau 10-3lareaupdf.


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After Apple lost their supreme court against Samsung in the UK, they have been sentenced to advertise for Samsung.
Apple’s lawsuit against Samsung in the UK have given a strong backlash, after that Apple has lost one of the many cases against Samsung, about their tablets similar to iPads too much.
But after the loss of a supreme court in England has the judge sentenced Apple to humiliate himself publicly.
Apple must be publicly read that Samsung tablets do not have copied the design of Apple’s iPad, it is write our site.
And it is not just as a press release that it will happen. The judge has sentenced Apple to write about it on their own uk website where it should appear on the page in six months.
In addition, Apple write the same thing in several major newspapers such as Financial Times, The Daily Mail, Guardian mobile magazine, and T3.
However, nothing is for sure yet, since Apple is threatening to appeal the merits of the decision, and thus can be another chapter on the way.


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SAINSBURY’S in Farlington is encouraging people to take part in a nationwide food-drive to tackle poverty.
The Fitzherbert Road store is taking part in Sainsbury’s and FareShare’s second annual Million Meal Appeal on October 6 and 7.
The appeal sees customers donate items from the Million Meal Appeal shopping list, which are placed in the collection box at the checkout.
Customers shopping on Sainsbury’s Online can make a £1 donation between October 3 and 9.
Last year FareShare rescued 3,600 tonnes of surplus food, contributing towards more than 8.6 million meals.
Sainsbury’s community affairs manager Andy White said: ‘We had such an overwhelming response from our customers to last year’s initiative and we’re excited to be working on the second Million Meal Appeal.
‘The total of 1.2 million meals donated in 2011 would be enough to feed a sold-out London Olympic stadium 15 times.
‘We hope from this year’s campaign that we can further raise the awareness of food poverty in the UK and support those charities and projects that need our help.’
FareShare is looking for volunteers to help with the food drive who can help out with shifts.
To sign up, visit fareshare.org.uk.


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Wednesday, November 26, arrives in less than a week, bringing with it one of the most impressive single-day-rosters of shoe launches in all of 2014. Second, perhaps, to Black Friday,[…]
Detailed break down of Foamposite release dates and simply news on Foamposites.
As Nikeblog.com reported earlier today, the Chuck Posite iD is set to drop next week. The in-line version? That same day. The Nike Chuck Posite Metallic Silver releases on Tuesday,[…]
One of the most historically anticipated kicks in ages — certainly within the context of the Foamposite franchise — the Nike Air Foamposite One Knicks release date is slated for[…]
Few things go together like Halloween and Ghostbusters, one of the great comedies in film history, and so there’s no better day to share one of the great customs in[…]
New York and basketball have a reciprocal relationship. They inform one another. One can hardly exist without the other. Well, to put it more accurately: Either could exist without the other,[…]
There’s all sorts of heat on tap this weekend — LeBron 12 Lifestyle, Dark Chocolate Future, Air Flight Lite White Men Can’t Jump, among others — but there’s definitely nothing else like[…]
Many people have taken umbrage with Nike Sportswear’s recent trend of unconventional, often graphic-printed Foamposites. Sometimes quite justifiably, too, although we’ll defend to our death the merits of the Air[…]
Far too much patience has been required of Foamposite fans of late, but it pays off this weekend, with the launch of the long-awaited Nike Air Foamposite One Wheat.
Nikestore.com has been known to launch expansive restocks of highly coveted sneakers of late; stuff that sold out in an instant, immediately tripled in value on the secondary market, and[…]


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The five-storey Manzana de Gomez centre is an example of Cuba's opening up to the West - and illustrates its need for tourist revenue.
They are top-of-the-range products and the prices are high - but it's niceHavana resident
The expensive Western consumer goods on display do not provide an image normally associated with Cuba. However they are on sale in the heart of old Havana: the communist island has opened its first luxury shopping mall since the 1959 revolution.
One pair of fashion trainers had a price tag of $268 US; to buy them would mean two and a half years of saving for an ordinary Cuban – assuming they spend nothing on anything else.
There are watches on sale for $5,000, pens at $3,000 and facial cream at $40 a jar.
Such products are in another galaxy for people who sometimes earn only $12.50 a month.
But some local residents in Havana welcome the glitzy new complex in their neighbourhood.
“They are top-of-the-range products and the prices are high – but it’s nice,” said state employee Claudia Veker.
“I didn’t buy anything; the prices are too high but even so, it’s still worth it, it’s welcome,” said Helena Rodriguez, who is self-employed.
A few streets from the mall working-class Cubans live in dilapidated apartments; the shops they visit have often had shortages of basic goods.
But the country needs tourists – numbers are up and it’s hoping for four million visitors this year, an increase of 15 percent on 2016.
Some may be attracted by places like this. Others say they’re repulsed; in the words of one American, “I came here to get away from this”.
Cuba has its first luxury mall, thanks to the business arm of Cuba's army,
mweissenstein writes. https://t.co/wFJpPzWEEa
— The Associated Press (AP) May 9, 2017


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According to regulatory filings, Amazon has invested $260 million in India in past one month. This is a part of the whole $5 billion investment plan for the Indian e-commerce market. In a recent meet with the PM Narendra Modi, Jeff Bezos had cleared his intentions to keep the aim high for India and his special interests for the Indian e-commerce market.
Up till now, Amazon India has been able to receive $2.3 billion of those promised investments from Jeff. Amazon India has been articulate on how it spends its investments. The main focus has clearly been the diversification of the product range. Moreover, it has also invested heavily on the logistics as well. Amazon India has also pumped up its investments in warehouses to strategically place itself as a competitor with all the required resources.
Amazon’s latest push for India’s share of e-commerce market is not isolated. It comes at a time when SoftBank invested $1.4 billion into Paytm. Moreover, it also invested $1.4 billion into India’s homegrown e-commerce startup Flipkart.
The negotiations of Flipkart and Snapdeal will turn this into a cornered fight between Flipkart and Amazon. That is if Snapdeal accepts Flipkart’s offer.
Amazon had lost its territory against Alibaba in China. It would not like to lose its foothold in India. Therefore it is beefing up its investments and strategically spending on various verticals related to e-commerce.
India is neutral territory for Amazon. As both the Chinese players and the Amazon will have an equal share of the market to compete upon. In China that was not the case for Amazon. However, a lot will depend on how Amazon will play its cards. With its deep pockets, it can surely withstand the assault from the east given the diverse and open market opportunities in India.


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Online wordsmiths can earn millions each year in an industry that is now worth several billion yuan.
by Will Wu, 08 June 2015
No in-house toilets, selling foreign currency to the government and 'going down to the countryside': six born and bred residents describe the good ol' days.
by Will Wu, 28 May 2015
Across the Taiwan Strait, the 1950-born aborigine has been treated as a hero, a pioneer and a spiritual leader.
by Will Wu, 25 May 2015
Dressing like a pro runner with swish shoes and air-permeable attire.
by Will Wu, 01 May 2015


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…Most of the shoppers looking for Tiana dolls are African-American mothers, but Disney reports brisk sales of Tiana nationwide and not just at urban retail stores. But for the moms and aunts and grandmothers we met at this Target, we heard the same thing as Gwen Arnold told us: Tiana isn't just a doll; she's a symbol.
One baby-boomer aged woman looking for a The Princess And The Frog doll notes that when she was growing up, "[There] was just one type of doll, just the white dolls. That was it. So there wasn't any choice when I was growing up at all."
Another mom tells Raz:
I think the times have changed a lot. And for especially the younger girls, at 9 years old, you have your first African-American president, that's probably going to be all that they ever remember, not the things that I remember from growing up. And then to see their first African-American princess, that's wonderful for them.
Some years, the hot Christmas present comes with a lot of buzz: Cabbage Patch Kids, Tickle Me Elmo, Beanie Babies. But none of those toys carry the historical weight Tiana carries with her, being Disney's first black princess. Whether the significance is apparent to kids — or is just something moms are aware of — is debatable. But you get the feeling that unlike toys which get forgotten or tossed, the Tiana doll will be a gift to remember.
[Image via Toys 'R Us]


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The Covid-19 pandemic revealed the importance of an efficient and effective supply chain. Distributing masks and hand sanitizer, supplying stores and health centers and organizing vaccination campaigns all required an intense mobilization of public authorities and healthcare professionals to set up emergency logistics adapted to the new constraints.
The Covid-19 vaccination campaign, which began on December 27, 2020, was a logistically unprecedented challenge, that accelerated sharply in the first half of 2021 and when vaccines started being offered to the general population.
The urgent need to speed up the delivery of vaccines and the specific limitations of messenger RNA vaccines (Pfizer, Moderna), which must be stored at controlled temperatures and require specialized transportation solutions, called for the innovative capacities of logistics specialists. They used blockchain (a system for securely storing and transmitting data) to develop new transportation solutions that are ushering in a new era for the transport of healthcare products.
While Covid-19 vaccines are obviously not the first ones to be distributed on this scale, this campaign was novel in many ways.
First, obviously, is the urgency of the situation. As the number of cases and hospitalizations climbed from week to week, and as lockdowns weakened society and the economy, a race against the clock was set in motion. Suitable logistic schemes had to be identified in just a few months. These were made all the more complex because, as noted previously, messenger RNA vaccines have stringent temperature requirements.
As a rule, logistics providers are accustomed to handling temperature-controlled deliveries between 2°C and 8°C. But the molecules contained in the doses produced by Pfizer are fragile, and must be stored at a temperature of -70°C (the Moderna doses must be transported at -20°C).
Special packaging had to be designed and large quantities of dry ice were produced.
The health authorities set strict recommendations, requiring that the vaccines had to be injected within five days of their release from the warehouse, which had to be followed. Quick compliance was essential.
Then, because of the gap between supply and demand, logistics specialists had to work on a just-in-time basis, which is more complex to manage, and deal with the general slowdown in transport.
The pandemic also had a major impact on air, sea and land transportation. Under normal circumstances, passenger aircraft carry nearly half of the world's air cargo traffic.That traffic slowed considerably at the beginning of the pandemic, and then remained diminished, though to a lesser extent. Meanwhile, maritime transport was tricky to say the least because of the specific demands of messenger RNA vaccines: a specialized container can be kept at -30°C, which is sufficient for Moderna doses, but not for Pfizer's. Plus the five-day turnaround time had to be taken into account... Finally, road transport, which is essential to deliver the products to the population, also had to account for the time, temperature and security constraints. The shipments were worth several million euros, resulting in convoys "worthy of a James Bond movie".
The health, social and political stakes were enormous. Citizens wanted to get their vaccines as quickly as possible, while the entire logistics organization had to be redesigned. Rising to the challenge required a blend of inventiveness and concrete innovations.
The need to consult logistics experts quickly became apparent, particularly in terms of cold control and product traceability.
These specialists, in consultation with health authorities, looked at the best way to meet the short turnaround time requirements and make the processes smoother.
To pull it off, some logisticians turned to blockchain, a technology for storing and sending information that operates without a central body and therefore ensures high levels of security and transparency.
Such was the case for GEODIS, which handled logistics between its warehouses in Val de Reuil and 45 distribution centers throughout France.
During transport, temperatures were recorded from start to finish, and the data was manually transmitted to the pharmacists who were responsible for certifying and authorizing the final delivery of the vaccines.
The process took up to one business day, with a positive response rate of nearly 99%.
But thanks to a blockchain solution provided by IBM, a test was conducted to automate data retrieval. Unless a sensitive situation was detected (in which case the pharmacist's intervention was required), this solution enabled automated approvals by providing certified, reliable and unaltered data.
Thus, the GEODIS teams were able to save 12 hours and speed up the distribution of vaccines. This innovation also limited the amount of vaccines hat had to be discarded because of poor logistics or poor tracking of doses. The solution, which was demonstrated to the government and health authorities in July 2021, is still being rolled out. However, it has proven itself and the value of blockchain in logistics... and of innovation in general.
The healthcare industry is undergoing a general transformation that extends beyond the most recent vaccines introduced to the market and the pandemic. Globalization, successive crises and the concentration of players have made supply chains increasingly complex. Demands continue to multiply, both at the local and regional levels.
For the players in the industry, the entire logistics outsourcing strategy needs to be redefined and streamlined in light of these upheavals. Transportation plans must be optimized and digitized tools need to be integrated.
In the competitive and fast-changing digital environment, new players have emerged. They are seeking to make the supply chain more responsive and efficient, even in the case of potential disruptions. As we have seen, blockchain can increase the degree of traceability.
So-called "control tower" solutions also help with this. These are technologies that give customers full visibility over inventory throughout the supply chain. Logistical information is easy to view and check, and users can respond quickly to the slightest problem in the system, such as a temperature breach.
GEODIS and IBM's innovative blockchain project has been distinguished with two in-house awards. As a result, a new permanent offer will be launched for the pharmaceutical industry, so that the advantages of this innovative solution can be shared more broadly.
Malicious individuals use GEODIS’ corporate image and name as well as forge GEODIS’ official seal to pursue illegal activities on social media platforms and websites.
GEODIS and its Affiliates will not bear any responsibility for the Fraudsters’ acts. GEODIS will fully cooperate with the local authorities to ensure the Fraudsters are identified and sanctioned.
Be vigilant. If you or one of your stakeholders encounter fraudulent activities, please report them to local Chinese police station.


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The stockmarket gave Fairfax Media a gentle kicking this morning after it did what everyone expected it to do and ground out a profit for the June 30 year that hardly set the world afire.
In fact if it hadn’t been for another big effort from the company’s two standout new media businesses: Fairfax Digital in Australia and Trade Me in NZ, Fairfax would have seen earnings slide, thanks to lower returns from its Sydney and Melbourne papers, and from its New Zealand newspapers.
The shares fell to a day’s low of $2.61, four cents above the recent low of $2.57, before rising to $2.67 just before 11.30 am. That was off 2.6%, or 11 cents, hardly a ringing endorsement for what was a boring result.
Fairfax lifted profit 47% following the 2007 merger with Rural Press, to $387 million, but on an underlying basis to try and get a meaningful comparison, earnings before interest tax, depreciation and amortisation rose less 6.9% to $831 million.
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“Consistent with conditions in the broader economy, advertising markets have slowed in the new financial year,” the company said in commentary with the result.
“We have limited visibility on how well advertising markets will perform this half.”
They aren’t alone; company after company are saying they can’t tell how 2009 will pan out and have told the market and shareholders they won’t update earnings and overall performance until the annual meetings in October and November.
So tell us again, why are these executives are being paid so much?
The dividend is steady at 10 cents a share for the final and 20 cents for the year, which will please the Fairfax family, which control 14% of the company and ran into margin loan problems a few months ago which have now been resolved.
CEO David Kirk said “these are a very satisfactory set of results in the face of declining earnings for our Sydney and Melbourne metropolitan newspapers in Australia and tough trading conditions, particularly in New Zealand.”
The Metro papers in Sydney and Melbourne, plus magazines saw revenue decline 2.8%, costs drop just 0.9% and EBITDA fell 8.9% to $174.1 million. (Excluding the effect of an additional weekend trading in the 2007 financial year, EBITDA declined 7.3%). Said Kirk:
“Metro publishing revenues were weaker, with total revenues reflecting continued advertising weakness, particularly in Sydney. Melbourne market conditions were stronger but did weaken in the second half of the year. Circulation was strong with The Age a particular highlight. Fairfax Magazines performed very well, with strong revenue and profit growth.”
The online businesses, Fairfax Digital in Australia and Trade Me in New Zealand, were the standout businesses and the big difference in the group’s performance (allowing the impact of the Rural business contribution).
Fairfax said the Online business lifted revenue 33.0%, wile costs rose 26.8% and EBITDA increased 41.1% to $114.4 million
Fairfax Digital’s revenue increased over 30%, with a profit at the EBITDA level of $54.3 million, up 46.8% over the 2007 financial year. For the year Trade Me contributed NZ$70.1 million in EBITDA to the group result, up 39%. These strong results triggered the payout to the principals of the earn-out on the acquisition of Trade Me of NZ$45.2 million.
While “Specialist Publications” (Fairfax Business, which is mostly the Australian Financial Review, BRW and agricultural papers and other publications) lifted EBITDA 16% to $80 million. (The performance of Fairfax Business Media wasn’t broken out).
While the earnings and revenues from Rural press provided the bulk of the increase, that was to be expected. The sustainable, rapid growth in earnings continues to come from the Fairfax online businesses and the Trade Me operation in NZ, which was one of Mr Kirk’s early deals.
The Online business was the clear star for another year: imagine how much more it could earn if the AFR‘s online offering was smartened up and brought up to, say, the level of the business offerings from The SMH or Melbourne Age?
Fairfax’s online efforts are clearly better and more profitable than those at News Ltd, Ninemsn, Yahoo!7 and any other operator in this area in this country.


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In early October, Coingeek reported that the Venezuelan government planned to roll out its national cryptocurrency, the Petro, on November 5. And as the date draws near, the Venezuelan government has been ramping up its efforts to ensure that the controversial state-backed crypto coin’s launch will go off without a hitch.
This week, the government through its website announced that it has issued authorization to six websites to sell the Petro. According to Noticiero Digital, it had been announced initially that the launch would be done via 16 websites. Of this number, the first batch of six crypto exchanges have been approved to test the waters, so to speak. These exchanges are Cave Blockchain, Bancar exchange, Cryptia exchange, Amberes Coin, Afx Trade, and Criptolago. Some of these websites have already began marketing the Petro to promote the digital coin, the report stated.
On its website, Amberes moved to describe itself as a cryptocurrency exchange authorized by the Venezuela state for the purchase and sale of Petro, alongside other digital assets that are allowed in the country. Meanwhile, Afx Trade explained that it is a regulated cryptocurrency exchange platform in Venezuela for buying, selling, and safeguarding “digital assets inside and outside the national territory.”
It’s worth noting, however, that some of the approved exchanges were found to lack a good trading volume despite having multiple trading pairs. For instance on Cryptia’s website, three digital tokens—ETH, DASH, and XRP, are listed for trading against the BTC; however, they have no trading volumes. The website also urges its users to “buy and sell petros” via the Cryptia platform.
In a new white paper released ahead of Petro’s initial coin offering (ICO), the Venezuela government noted that the coin will be backed primarily by oil. Funding from Venezuela’s oil will account for 50%, while gold and iron will back 20% each. The remaining 10% is expected to come from diamond. There were allegations, however, that the white paper issued to support the Petro was an imitation of DASH’s white paper.
Meanwhile, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro said workers in the country would be receiving bonus payments based on Petro—instead of the Sovereign Bolivar—“in the coming weeks,” saying, “…if you think about the future, think about saving (…) think about the gold and Petro savings plan.”
New to blockchain? Check out CoinGeek’s Blockchain for Beginners section, the ultimate resource guide to learn more about blockchain technology.


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Did you know, every day, 93 million people play the addictive mobile game Candy Crush? And that each hour, people spend the equivalent of 128 years playing? Did you also know that Candy Crush offer in-app purchases for extra lives, boosters and other things? Okay, so now you know.
Hold on to your seat becasue this next bit of info is a SHOCKER! Ready? Did you know, that creators of Candy Crush King.com make $1.3 billion (£856 million) on Candy Crush purchases each year? That’s absolutely mental!
The study was carried out by TotalMoney.com and looked into people’s habbits with the intensely popular Candy Crush saga. In addition, $72.93 (£48) is spent every second on pointless in-app purchases. TotalMoney.com also found that people are spending 6 x more on King.com in-app purchases than they are on Rovio, the creators of Angry Birds, and Supercell, the company behind Clash Of Clans. That’s around a 28% increase.
Blizzard Activision has recently just taken over the Candy Crush giants King.com for a whoping $5.9 billion (£3.8 billion).
I’m telling you, pay to win app games are the future. Who wants to join my quest to invent the next big title? No one? There’s $5.9billion in it for you. Take a look at the nifty interactive infographic below. It features all the facts and figures behind Candy Crush’s spending audience.
(via Totally Money).


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Legal & General growing faster
INSURER Legal & General today said its business is growing at a much faster rate than the City expected, but tempered this with the fact its customers are living longer so it will have to put more money aside for their annuities.
In the second quarter, L&G saw a 'marked increase in new business growth', which it says indicates a return of consumer confidence in financial products.
It said second-quarter sales were more than 20% above those of the previous three and compared with last year's second quarter. That would bring them in 'significantly above market expectations'.
Analysts immediately concluded L&G has been the major winner of business lost by Standard Life, which yesterday reported a 13% drop in UK life and pension sales in its first half.
Chief executive David Prosser said: 'We believe the growth in the first quarter reflects a return of consumer confidence reinforced by the continuing trend towards those companies offering financial strength, operating efficiency and good value for money.'
Based on today's more conservative mortality rates, L&G says men born between 1925 and 1945 are likely to live an extra 11 months longer than it had previously calculated.
Taken overall, this will reduce net embedded value at the group by between £160m and £180m, the equivalent of less than 3p a share, which is much in line with recent analysts' forecasts.
The shares gained 2p to 96 1/2p.
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DOMO, a growing leader in smart phones, tablets and accessories, has announced its entry into the PC peripherals market with its entry level keyboards, mice, and earphones. The company is looking for distributors across India for its computer peripherals market.
DOMO has planned to launch its MagicKey Keyboard at a price range of Rs. 250-890, MagicKey Mice of Rs. 100-300, and DOMO Earphone at a price range of 150-300 and DOMO nHance 3D Glasses priced around Rs. 100-400. DOMO wants to initially launch entry-level products and move into the premium segment at a later date.
DOMO has appointed regional distributors in Chennai, Delhi, Jammu and Kashmir, Andhra Pradesh and Mumbai. The company has plans to appoint one national distributor and regional distributors in regions like Kolkata, Haryana, Gujarat, and Kerala. In Mumbai Metropolitan Region, the company is planning to specifically target Greater Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, and Thane.
DOMO currently has six channel partners and is planning to have 300 partners across India. A separate Web site for partners is also on the anvil. The company has onsite service support for its tablets and smart phones for even tier-III cities covering 7,000 pin codes and is now in the process of setting up 10 to 15 service centers.
Mazher Shaikh, Business Development Manager at DOMO said, “We are primarily a tablet and smart phone manufacturing company, but we are stepping into the PC peripherals market because we are keen to develop our business by entering all sectors to provide better products at affordable rates. We strive to provide better service support for our customers by setting up service centers soon. We are also looking for efficient channel partners who can fulfill our expectations. “


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The second half of 2011 is in full swing, and a slew of economic reports scheduled to be released this week will help provide more insight on a key data point for manufacturers right now -- commodity prices.
"I think manufacturers continue to be worried about inflation," said Chad Moutray, chief economist for the National Association of Manufacturers.
Moutray, though, is bullish about the manufacturing sector, based on recent economic data such as the Institute for Supply Management's June purchasing managers index, which rose 1.8% to 55.3.
On Thursday, the Bureau of Labor Statistics will issue its Producer Price Index for June, giving manufacturers a snapshot of commodity prices at various stages of processing. On Friday, the BLS will issue its Consumer Price Index for June.
The agency's May Producer Price Index for intermediate materials, supplies and components moved up 0.9%, marking the 10th consecutive monthly increase. Moutray attributed the jump to rising raw-material prices.
"So that represents a challenge to the bottom line for a lot of manufacturers," Moutray said.
On Wednesday, the BLS will issue its U.S. Import and Export Price Indexes for June.
On Friday, the Federal Reserve will issue its monthly index of industrial production, which measures real output for the manufacturing, mining, and electric and gas utilities sectors.
Industrial production edged up 0.1% in May, the second consecutive month with little or no gain, according to the index.
Highlights for the Week of July 11-15
Wednesday, July 13
- U.S. Import and Export Price Indexes for June, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (8:30 a.m.)
- Producer Price Index for June, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (8:30 a.m. EST)
- Initial jobless claims for week ending June 9, Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia (8:30 a.m. EST)
- Consumer Price Index for June, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (8:30 a.m. EST)
- Industrial production and capacity utilization for June, Federal Reserve (9:15 a.m.)
- Industrial production for June, Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia (9:15 a.m.)
- Dell Inc. shareholders meeting


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New decorations are adorning downtown Kent as an expansion of the annual Holiday Lights program thanks to Main Street Kent and a handful of donors.
Decorative skylines, wreaths and giant snowflakes are being added to downtown intersections and light posts.
The new decorations will be lit on Small Business Saturday, Nov. 24.
Kent service workers have been hanging the new decorations all week.
Read more about the new lights and tinsel here.


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Apple Car Contract May Go to LG Magna Joint Venture: Report
Magna and LG Electronics announced the formation of a partnership to build electric vehicle (EV) components last year, and in a new update, the joint venture may be likely to win a contract to build Apple’s upcoming autonomous vehicle.
On Tuesday, an anonymous person familiar with the matter told the Korea Times that LG Magna e-Powertrain is “very near” to signing contracts with Apple to build early units of the tech company’s autonomous EVs.
The contract would allow LG and Magna to build Apple’s first-generation EVs, which the company plans to use to evaluate its own marketability.
Apple’s First Electric Cars Designed to Be Driverless, Made by Kia USA: Report https://t.co/nU8ZjPyakO
— TeslaNorth.com (@RealTeslaNorth) February 4, 2021
The source said, “LG Magna e-Powertrain is very near to signing contracts with Apple under which they could handle the initial volume production of Apple EVs. Contract details are still being discussed.”
Despite the deal, analysts predict that the Apple Car won’t become available until at least 2025-2027 at the earliest.
Earlier in the year, automakers Hyundai and Kia were reportedly in talks with Apple, though after weeks of going back and forth in the media, the talks apparently pulled a full U-Turn.
If LG Magna and Apple are able to come to an agreement, the companies will begin establishing new details to prepare for prototype production, set to begin as soon as 2024.


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Today, TIME reveals its annual list of the Best Inventions of 2023, which features 200 extraordinary innovations changing our lives. Monarch Tractor is honored and excited to be included on this list of creative visionaries and problem-solvers whose ideas, dedication, and hard work are influencing how we live.
To compile the list, TIME solicits nominations from its editors and correspondents around the world, and through an online application process, paying special attention to growing fields — such as artificial intelligence (AI), green energy, and sustainability. TIME then evaluates each contender on a number of key factors including originality, efficacy, ambition, and impact. Inclusion on this list underscores Monarch’s vision to help as many farmers as possible across the globe become more profitable by employing practices that are healthier for their farms, consumers, and the planet.
Of the 2023 list, TIME’s editors write, “The result is a list of 200 groundbreaking inventions (and 50 special mention inventions) — including the world’s most powerful supercomputer, a game-changing entertainment venue, and a new shape — that are changing how we live, work, play, and think about what’s possible.”
For more than 20 years, TIME editors have highlighted what they felt were the 100 most impactful new products and ideas. According to TIME, the Best Inventions list began in 2022 out of recognition of a rapidly shifting world where innovation boomed. Last year’s list included life-mapping AI, diamonds made from excess carbon in the air, and the most powerful telescope.
Monarch Tractor Media Contact Sling & Stone | email@example.com


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Just a day after reducing the rate, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) increased the exchange rate for computing Customs duties at the nation’s seaports by 1.4 percent on Saturday morning.
According to information on the official trade portal of the Nigeria Customs Service, the Customs duty rate was adjusted upwards from N1,472.756/$ to N1,493.23/$ on February 17, 2024.
This adjustment marks a 1.4 percent increment in the Customs duty rate, with an increase of N20.474 compared to the previous exchange rate.
The move comes despite the House of Representatives’ directive urging the apex bank to stabilize the rate by keeping the exchange rate for Customs and excise duties below N1,000/$1 and proposing a peg of N951.941/$1.
The House believed that lowering the rate would stimulate patronage in Nigerian ports, curb inflation, and enhance economic stability.
However, the decision to raise the Customs duty exchange rate implies that importers will face higher costs to clear their goods, as import duties are tied to the dollar.
The new rate aligns with the official CBN foreign exchange rate, which stood at N1,493.73/$ as of Saturday morning, in accordance with the announcement by the Customs management.
Adewale Adeniyi, Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), had earlier stated that the Service would strictly adhere to the exchange rate on the official Central Bank’s window for the clearance of imported goods, refraining from arbitrary adjustments.


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Britain’s most eclectic sculpture selling exhibition. This unique atmospheric sculpture partnership is celebrating the best of the English countryside.
Farm to supply skins to make handbags and shoes would be one of the biggest in Australia under plan approved by Northern Territory government
This year’s winners of Green Oscars have been announced! These extraordinary conservationists are all leading grassroots work in
Climate activist says Covid-19 outbreak shows change can happen when we listen to scientists
Designers, jewellers and artists are turning northern Australia’s noxious pests into handbags, high heels and even fetish masks
The demand for its eggs almost made the beluga sturgeon extinct. Even now, when most caviar comes from farms, eating it is controversial. So why do so many restaurants refuse to give it up?


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Change of ownership for Alliance Trust Savings: Exciting new future ahead
Published: 22 October 2018
Alliance Trust PLC (“Alliance Trust”) today announces that it has agreed the sale of its subsidiary company Alliance Trust Savings (ATS) to Interactive Investor (“ii”), the UK’s second largest investment platform. This doesn’t affect our service to you, which continues as normal.
The deal is subject to regulatory approval and is expected to take several months to complete. When it does we believe it will mark the start of an exciting new future for our customers, our intermediary partners and our business.
Commenting on the sale, Lord Smith of Kelvin, Alliance Trust PLC’s chairman said:
“The Board is pleased to announce the sale of ATS to Interactive Investor. The two businesses are highly complementary and ATS customers, many of whom are Alliance Trust shareholders, will benefit from Interactive Investor’s similar low flat-fee structure, as well as its increased scale and focus. A key consideration for the Board was a commitment to maintaining ATS' presence in Scotland. We are therefore very pleased that ii plans to invest in ATS’ Dundee operating centre.”
There are no further details to share at this early stage and it is business as usual for Alliance Trust Savings. We will update here as the deal moves towards completion and, in the meantime, thank you as always for your ongoing and valued support.


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Independent brand agency Creative Spark has unveiled its latest TV commercial for Ministry of Sound’s newest release: ‘Chilled Electronic 80s’.
A significant departure from their usual style, Ministry of Sound approached Creative Spark to create something entirely unique. They wanted to break from previously logo-heavy adverts and were after a TV commercial that reflected the emotional state evoked by the album’s music.
Creative Spark took inspiration from the beats, pulses and rhythms of electronic music, realising that there were parallels to be drawn with in the natural world. Specifically, jellyfish. The team found film footage of pulsing jellyfish gliding through the oceans, before taking it into post production to create a purple and cerise seascape that reflects the calm, soothing and peaceful colours so iconic of the 1980s.
Creative Director: Neil Marra


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With 23% of office employees expecting to work primarily from home for the foreseeable future and another 16% planning to telecommute at least half of the time, according to a recent Hewlett-Packard report, home-based workers will be under increasing pressure to take responsibility for their own data security. Technology vendors are stepping up to the challenge.
There’s plenty of advice out there about how to secure home networks, including this outstanding PC World roundup. If you use strong passwords on sensitive accounts, encrypt Wi-Fi traffic, keep your malware protection up to date, and back up to the cloud, you should be covered. But not everyone has the expertise or time to attend to all the details.
A slew of new products has emerged recently that aim to take the fuss out of securing home offices, which are also increasingly part of home networks that may encompass dozens of connected devices. In most cases these products move protection off the endpoint and into the cloud where substantial computing power and artificial intelligence can be applied. For example, Intrusion’s Shield Platform uses AI for deep packet inspection and network traffic analysis to spot erratic behavior that could indicate an attack or intrusion.
Here’s a sampling of some of the more interesting innovations I’ve come across.
HP has been an innovator in endpoint security for a long time. One little-known feature that’s been built into its business PCs for a couple of years is Sure Click, a technology developed by the principal architect of the open source Xen virtualization hypervisor. Sure Click creates miniature virtual machines for individual tasks on a PC to isolate them from the operating system or underlying hardware, making it all but impossible for an infected application to do any harm.
One particularly nice feature is that Sure Click’s virtual machine protection is also automatically applied to browser sessions and email attachments. Website scripts and downloaded attachments automatically launch in a virtual machine, thus cutting off one of the most common attack vectors for viruses and ransomware. I’ve been using the product for over a year and have been impressed at its performance and minimal footprint. It’s surprising that HP doesn’t sell a packaged version because this seems to me to be something every PC user should have.
Protection in the cloud
Several vendors have recently expanded existing consumer products to incorporate more work-from-home security features. Ring, which is famous for its internet-enabled video doorbell, just came out with a high-end version of its home-security system that includes a router. The Ring Alarm Pro combines physical and network security with the managed service that tracks millions of malicious websites and automatically blocks most threats. Over-the-air updates ensure that protections are always current.
Palo Alto Networks just introduced a consumer and small business version of its Okyo Garde appliance, which combines the broad coverage of a Wi-Fi 6 mesh network with security services that protect all connected devices. That’s important now that TVs, printers, and home security systems are increasingly connected and creating attractive targets for cyber criminals. Like the Ring Alarm Pro, the Okyo Garde comes with a subscription service that replaces a patchwork of point security products with a single cloud suite that guards against malware, ransomware, phishing, intrusion detection, and other perils. With subscriptions starting at $349 per year, the solution isn’t cheap, but for many people, the simplicity will be worth the price tag.
Another hardware-based solution is Trend Micro’s Home Network Security station. It’s a small box that plugs into your router and monitors all traffic traversing the network while continually scanning for attacks, blocking access to malicious websites, and detecting anomalies such as mysterious new devices. One cool feature is its integration with Google Assistant and Amazon’s Echo to deliver audio alerts and enable management by voice. At $109.95 for the device and a one-year subscription, it’s a pretty good deal as well.
Acronis has bagged more than $400 million in funding for its service that combines continual backup and cyber security. In September it introduced a home office version that incorporates anti-malware, protection against zero-day attacks, and automatic restoration of data damaged during a ransomware attack. What’s unique about the company’s approach is that it mirrors the content of a customer’s entire hard disk to enable exact restoration of their operating environment without a lot of installation and configuration.
This list is by no means exhaustive, but it’s an example of how enterprise-grade security is becoming available to home-office workers, and at prices that any consumer can appreciate.
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Copyright © 2021 IDG Communications, Inc.


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TWO of Australia’s largest value-added foods companies using beef as a primary raw material have been bought by an international private equity investor.
International private equity investment manager PAG has bought Australian processed foods companies Patties Foods and Vesco Foods.
Patties is regarded as the world’s biggest pie manufacturer, with ‘household name’ brands including Four’N Twenty, Herbert Adams, Patties, Boscastle, Nanna’s and Leader (NZ).
Patties churns out about 500 million pies each year, employing about 1000 staff across Australia and New Zealand, including at two enormous factories at Bairnsdale and Packenham in Victoria. An additional $20 million expansion at the Bairnsdale site makes it the largest pie bakery in the world, sitting on a 158,316sq m footprint.
In addition to Australia, Patties various pie brands are exported into more than 20 countries, including the US and Japan.
PAG’s deal to purchase Patties Foods and Vesco Foods are subject to regulatory approvals. Terms of the deals were not disclosed.
In addition to its signature beef pies, Patties produces a wide array of savoury snacks, appetisers and meals, including party pies and sausage rolls.
PAG’s second purchase, Vesco Foods, is a producer of high-quality frozen foods and pre-prepared meal solutions. Its brands cater to a diverse range of consumers and occasions, including Lean Cuisine, On the Menu, Super Nature, Annabel Karmel and Jarraballi. Many use beef as a centre-of-plate item. Vesco also provides commercial food services under its 7 Star (bakes, casseroles, carvery and sliced meats), Clever Cuisine, and Enrico’s (canteen foods) brands.
The acquisition of the two leading Australian companies is the latest investment by PAG in the Australian food and consumer sector, following recent investments in Craveable Brands (Red Rooster, Oporto and Chicken Treat) and value-added chicken processor Cordina Group.
In a statement, PAG said it was now heavily focused on food investments in the Asia-Pacific region.
The company said it had an extensive track record of supporting growth for its portfolio companies, having previously acquired The Cheesecake Shop – the largest franchised bakery network in Australia and NZ – and successfully expanding the business’ network and footprint across its markets.
PAG’s head of private equity, Sid Khotkar, said the transactions enhanced the strength of PAG’s business in Australia and New Zealand, and presented a unique opportunity to take some of the region’s best-loved brands to the next level.
“We are looking forward to putting that expertise to work in support of Patties and Vesco, and helping them provide the highest quality products to consumers across Australia, New Zealand and beyond.”
Patties’ chief executive officer Paul Hitchcock said the acquisition presented a significant opportunity for Patties Foods, unlocking further investment into innovation, well-known brands and manufacturing capabilities.
Bernie Pummell, Vesco’s chief executive officer, said PAG was well-placed to support Vesco and its partners in the future, not only to build on Vesco’s success, but also to enable new opportunities through the combination of Patties and Vesco.


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From the Ballard News Tribune:
How do you like to read a book? Many readers have dumped the print for digital media reading devices like Kindle. Other’s cling to their age scented pages like a crucifix.
Amazon has had an influential role in changing the way we read, and with the way we read, publishing has changed too. More and more authors side step the traditional publishing house by contracting out all the work that goes into designing and editing a book to freelancers. With the change, new ways to sell books are emerging across the country and right here in Ballard.
Michael Matewauk is founder and curator of Factory vs. Academy (FA), a gallery and bookstore in a basement studio at 2220 N.W. Market Street. FA is part of this month’s Ballard Art walk. He launched FA in 2013, but this is his first showing. Every three months he plans to pair photography or paintings that lend to the featured indie writers’ books. Matewauk plans to expand the genre he features but right now is focusing on creative non-fiction. His current exhibit is called, “Thank you Bezos! A Self Publishers’ First Supper,” and features eleven books.
Along with the books, there is a large mural inspired by “The Last Supper,” by Leonardo da Vinci. Matewauk recruited Seattle mural artist, Andrew Morrison, to paint the walls of his gallery. Morrison painted the Native American heritage mural at Wilson-Pacific campus.
. . . .
“I don’t know where I got the idea to do this but I think it’s basically because Bezos sounds close to Jesus. I was thinking he’s a savior for a lot of writers by having readers buy their work online rather than going through the traditional publishing industry. I thought, ‘what would it be like to have him at the head of the table and have indie authors as the apostles?’ The mural shows that it’s a new idea – a new way to put a book out into the market place,” said Matewauk.
Link to the rest at Ballard News Tribune and thanks to Michael for the tip.


text: Shares took a hit on news of the company's acquisition of EDS, but, over time, Hewlett-Packard and its stock should benefit from the merger. By Anne Kates Smith, Executive Editor May 27, 2008 On any given day, you can walk into a Best Buy or Circuit City and get a great deal on a Hewlett-Packard computer. Some folks think that investors are getting the same opportunity right now in HP stock. The reason for the spring sale? Investors took a mark-down pen to HP shares (symbol HPQ) after news surfaced on May 12 that HP is pursuing an acquisition of information technology giant Electronic Data Services for $25 a share, or $14 billion. Both companies' boards have approved the deal, but HP shareholders gave it an immediate thumbs down. HP's stock sank nearly 9% in the week and a half following news of the merger. Even a report on May 21 of a strong second quarter (the company's fiscal year ends October 31) hasn't helped much. The stock closed at $45.70 on May 27, up 1.65% for the day, but down 7% from a recent peak of more than $49 a share on May 9. Shareholders have a right to be nervous about the merger, expected to close in the second half of this year. "I had a 'sell' on EDS before HP agreed to acquire it," says analyst Steve Biggs at Zacks Investment Research. Revenues at EDS are growing in the low single-digit range, compared with high single-digits at HP, he explains, and profit margins at EDS are slimmer. Last year, the number of big IT management contracts won by EDS was down from '06 levels. For that matter, the market for the kind of large-scale, soup-to-nuts IT management that EDS specializes in is on the decline in the corporate sector, although still strong in the government. Advertisement And yet, Biggs is among the bulls recommending purchase of HP shares. That's because, in the long-run, the EDS business is a good fit. The merger would double HP's IT services revenue, which came in at $16.6 billion, or 16% of total revenues of $104 billion, in fiscal 2007. Together, the companies logged more than $38 billion in services revenue, and with a combined 5.3% share of the service market, pose meaningful competition to IBM, the global IT service leader, with 7% of the market. HP's largest business segment is its personal computer division, accounting for 34% of sales, followed by printers and imaging, 27%. Servers, software and financing round out the offerings for the largest technology infrastructure company in the world, revenue-wise. EDS may not be much help right away in the revenue department. But analyst Shaw Wu, who covers HP for American Technology Research in San Francisco, says the acquisition can add a nickel to six cents a share to HP's earnings in fiscal '09 and as much as 27 to 32 cents a share in fiscal 2010 and beyond, as HP cuts costs and achieves some operating synergies. HP chief executive Mark Hurd is just the man to wring the inefficiencies out of EDS. Since Hurd's arrival at HP in 2005, notes Morningstar analyst Rick Hanna, the company's sales have grown faster than the industry average while the company has gained market share in virtually every product and geographic region. Operating profitability has improved dramatically, with profit margins up from 9% of sales in 2005 to 12% in 2007, and contributions from HP's business segments have become more balanced. Advertisement Results for the quarter ended in April handily beat what analysts had been expecting. The company earned 87 cents a share, versus the 85 cents expected. Earnings per share were up 24% from the same period a year ago. HP also reported $28.3 billion in sales, up 11% from a year earlier. The bulk of the company's revenue -- 70% -- comes from overseas, making up for sluggish sales here. Meanwhile, based on estimated earnings of $3.67 per share for the 12-month period that ends next January, the stock has a price-earnings ratio of 12 and is trading at a discount to both IBM (IBM), which closed May 27 at $127.32 with a P/E of 15, and Dell (DELL), which closed at $21.49 with a P/E of 14. In the short-term, investors will likely realize they've overreacted to the risks of integrating EDS. Standard & Poor's analyst Thomas Smith estimates HP's next four quarters of earnings (to April '09) at $3.78 a share. So he figures the stock deserves to trade at about 15 times that estimate -- a P/E that's in the bottom half of a four-year historical range for HP and below the average for companies in the S&P 500 Information Tech sector. Smith says $57 a share within 12 months is a reasonable target price for the stock. Even Morningstar's notoriously conservative "fair value" estimate for HP is $54 a share, hinting at a potential return from the current stock price approaching 20%. Even the best of bargains can engender some buyer's remorse early on, however, and investors who buy HP stock now should be prepared for volatility over the next year or two. Says Zacks analyst Biggs: "EDS is an acquisition that will benefit the company. But it'll take a couple of years to realize it."


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10 January 2024
Nicholas Street Precinct will see the opening of many new businesses and the flagship Hotel Commonwealth and Hoyts cinema complex in 2024.
Ipswich Central Redevelopment Committee Chairperson Councillor Marnie Doyle said the next 12 months promised exciting times for residents and retailers.
“So much will come to fruition this year as Nicholas Street Precinct and Ipswich Central enjoy the road to refurbishment and we finalise some of our biggest projects,” Cr Doyle said.
“The wait will be well worth it as the iconic century-old hotel opens its doors again and the rebuilt cinema opens the curtains on a whole new era of movie magic.
“And we have high hopes for many new businesses joining those who have made Nicholas Street Precinct and Tulmur Place their home over the past year.”
Cr Doyle said council was currently in confidential discussions with some well-known and loved market leaders and was confident contracts would be signed in the coming months.
“We have recently seen the addition of Austhetica Oasis and Sofia Nails, joining Terry White Chemist in Tulmur Walk. They definitely are a welcome part of the beauty, wellness, glamour and good health component,” Cr Doyle said.
The Nicholas Street Precinct has also seen food businesses Stellarossa, That Dumpling Place, Gelatissimo, Sushi Hyo, Bun Bun Bao, and Zambrero open their doors to the public.
Major tenants, Hoyts and Aus Hotels, will take over the new entertainment complex at the Venue building and the Hotel Commonwealth respectively once construction is completed in late 2024.
Council recently announced an independent school, Indie Education, and an earthmoving and logistics company, VE Group AU, as the latest businesses to move into the Nicholas Street Precinct.
And council is set to reveal another health-related group moving into 143 Brisbane Street at the top of the precinct later this month.
Cr Doyle said the new leases were a fresh vote of confidence in Ipswich Central and the Nicholas Street Precinct as a cultural hub, with more jobs moving into the city and more opportunities for locals to access important services.
“Creating an appealing destination to work, study and recreate is one of the major focuses of Ipswich City Council in the Nicholas Street Precinct,” Cr Doyle said.
“These new leases will be closely followed by further new tenants moving into the precinct in the new year, with council currently in negotiations with several new businesses.
“It’s exciting to see our city heart attracting more interest and bringing fresh life to Ipswich.”
Cr Doyle said 2024 would see many new businesses opening across the Nicholas Street Precinct and the variety would appeal to all.
“Council is delivering on our promise to revitalise the centre of Ipswich with the inclusion of many new businesses and facilities in the precinct, with more exciting new businesses set to open.
“The Nicholas Street Precinct will once again be a hub for great food, entertainment and outstanding services.
“There are so many exciting projects on the go and residents and visitors to the city will be delighted with what is on offer when they come to Ipswich Central.”


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REIL, EESL bag big chunk of orders for EV charging stations
By : Sustainability ..., Nov 29, 2019
State-owned Rajasthan Electronics & Instruments Ltd (REIL) and Energy Efficiency Services Ltd (EESL) have bagged a significant chunk of orders for setting up more than 2,500 e-vehicle charging stations in about 90 cities across the country. No private sector company has...Read more..
EESL inks pact with BSNL
By : Sustainability ..., Oct 14, 2019
Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL), a joint venture of four National Public Sector Enterprises under the Ministry of Power, Government of India, has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with BSNL (Punjab Telecom Circle), to install 100 public charging stations to...Read more..


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Former General Motors design director Tom Peters is confident his team did the best job possible when forming the sixth-generation Chevrolet Camaro's exterior design.
The Camaro has been losing ground against the Ford Mustang and Dodge Challenger in recent years. Some critics have blamed the Camaro's exterior design for slumping sales.
The controversy peaked when the Camaro was refreshed in 2019, adding a massive grille (pictured) that some found objectionable. The company quickly changed course, however, and hastily readied another refresh for 2020 that adopted the more well-received front styling of an SS show car created for SEMA.
Speaking to Muscle Cars and Trucks, Peters said he would not change a single thing in hindsight, despite lackluster sales.
"We wanted to add more sculpture, more flavor, and more unique shape," he said, referring to the sixth-generation model.
Camaro sales slid to 24,516 units in the first half of the year, while the Mustang dropped to 38,542 deliveries and the Challenger fell by 23 percent to 28,668 units. As the numbers show, all three pony cars are experiencing waning demand so far this year.


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A South Side alderman said Friday she is “not discouraged ”— even though her ward includes Chicago’s only shuttered Dominick’s not to find a replacement grocer.
One day after the parent company of Jewel-Osco announced plans to buy and remodel five more Dominick’s, including stores in Rogers Park and near Cabrini-Green, Ald. Leslie Hairston (5th) tried to explain to her constituents why the shuttered South Shore Dominick’s at 71st and Jeffrey Boulevard stands alone unclaimed by another food store chain.
Hairston said she has spent the last three months working “non-stop to bring a full-service grocery store” to Jeffrey Plaza and has talked to “a number” of chains at the local and national levels.
But Hairston said the search is complicated by four major factors: the “amount of work and investment it will take to upgrade” the shuttered store; surrounding competition; community demographics and the store’s profitability.
“I believe all of these considerations are important. I also believe none of these considerations is a deterrent to attracting a full-service grocer [that’s] looking to expand in the Chicago market or enter the market,” the alderman said in a statement.
“As a shopper at the former Dominick’s, I know that store had a bustling business. I know how integral that location was to the community. I also know how important those jobs were to the workers — many of whom I’d come to know from being a regular shopper at that store.”
Hairston said although her ward may be home to the last Dominick’s in Chicago to find a replacement grocer, she is not discouraged.
“I assure 5th Ward residents that, while I’m working with the mayor and the city’s Grocery Store Task Force, I’m not relying on anyone else to find a grocer for this community. It is my top priority to bring a grocer to our community that residents deserve,” she was quoted as saying.
Safeway announced on Oct. 10 its plan to pull out of the Chicago area market, where it had 72 stores. At the time, Chicago itself had 15 Dominick’s stores.
The company’s retreat from the Chicago market had the potential to be a major setback for Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s highly-publicized effort to eradicate the food deserts in inner-city neighborhoods with precious few healthy shopping choices.
Preventing that from happening was a major focus for the grocery task force that Emanuel formed in December, in addition to finding new operators for shuttered stores, protecting the jobs of Dominick’s employees and training those whose jobs cannot be saved.
During City Council budget hearings last fall, Hairston urged Planning and Development Commissioner Andy Mooney to play a more active role in luring new grocers to shuttered Dominick’s stores in inner-city neighborhoods.
“If the city says, `We’re going to sit on our hands and we’re not going to do anything and we’re going to wait to see who comes in, that’s not really helpful,” she said then.
“I hope you all will at least assist some of us in trying to get some quality business. Suppose a grocery store decides not to come into a Dominick’s and say another Dollar Store comes in. That’s after the fact. We need a department that advocates for us and does get involved and tries to get those businesses to come into the community.”
Mooney replied that the Emanuel administration had adopted a wait-and-see approach during the bidding process for new operators.
“We have tried not to intervene on the market discussions with them because, how should I put this, it could easily skew the kind of deals that they’re going to enter into with new operators,” Mooney said.
Mooney argued that the “writing was on the wall” for Dominick’s for the last few years.
“Anyone who was paying attention to this would know that they had already started pulling out of the city really two-to-three years ago and the new owner who came in a couple of years ago came in, from my perspective, really on a real estate play [more] than trying to do a grocery store play,” he said.
“The good news … is that, during that same period of time, other operators were coming into Chicago, particularly Mariano’s, Wal-Mart and one or two others, including some independents that are growing in the city. Over the last couple of years, we’ve had 22 grocery stores open up and two more are being planned. So while on the face of it the Dominick’s announcement seems very hard, from a market perspective, we have other operators that are very active and aggressive in the market and will likely make bids for Dominick’s locations.”
The laissez-faire attitude did not sit well with Hairston, particularly as it impacts, what she called the “whole new world south of 57th Street” where Chicago’s greatest “challenges” lie.
“The department decided not to get involved. I don’t really understand that. How can a Department of Planning and Development not get involved in planning and developing communities,” Hairston said.
“Some of my colleagues that already know Mariano’s is purchasing their properties, that’s good. But, the rest of us that are in communities where we don’t know what’s going to happen. I was able to pick up the phone and find out who the brokers were. I was able to reach out to them directly. Isn’t that something you could assist us in doing?”


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Point Nine Capital has held a first and final close for its fourth venture fund, PNC IV, on €75m.
Existing investors including Softbank and Lakestar reinvest in the tourism booking platform
Andera has reinvested and Prenax has acquired LM Information's subscription management business
Sale ends a six-year holding period for KCP, which backed the company with a £3.3m investment
Danish internet company could reportedly be listed at a valuation of $1bn


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Thursday, September 1, 2016
Sphero Rolls Out Special Edition BB-8
Boulder-based robotic ball maker Sphero said on Thursday that it has released a new, special edition of its popular Star Wars BB-8 robot. Sphero said the new Special Edition BB-8 includes a new gesture-sensitive "Force Band" which lets you control BB-8 without a smartphone, and runs for 60 minutes on a single charge. Sphero also said the new BB-8 show "the wear and tear of Resistance missions, straight from the sands of Jakku."


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Packers players will be back in Fox Cities for Green & Gold Charity Softball Game in 2020
GRAND CHUTE - The annual Green & Gold Charity Softball Game featuring Green Bay Packers players will celebrate its 20th anniversary next summer at Fox Cities Stadium.
The game will be June 7. The hosts will be announced in the months ahead.
Earlier this year, the combo of wide receiver Davante Adams and linebacker Blake Martinez headlined the event. Martinez stepped in for Clay Matthews after Matthews signed with the Los Angeles Rams.
The first opportunity to buy tickets for the 2020 game is 10 a.m. Oct. 29, when four-game packs go on sale. They’re $56 for reserved seats, $75 for box seats and $114 for premium box seats. Premium box seats are the first two rows of the seating bowl. The four-game packs include vouchers for three Wisconsin Timber Rattlers home games during the 2020 regular season.
Tickets will be available at timberrattlers.com, 920-733-4152 and at the Timber Rattlers ticket office.
Individual tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. Nov. 5. Tickets are $20 for reserved bleacher seats, $30 for box seats and $69 for premium box seats. Prices will increase on Dec. 19. Also those who purchase tickets before Dec. 19 will get a commemorative mini-football to be picked up on game day.
A limited number of patio seats will be available for $225. The patio tables seat four people and include waitstaff service and an autographed item from the hosts. An all-you-can-eat seating option also is available for $87 for the softball game only. Those seats are on the first-base side of the stadium.
First pitch for the main event is scheduled for 1:05 p.m. Before that, a game for sponsors will be played at 11 a.m. and a home run derby starts at noon.
Last year, Team Davante topped Team Blake 16-8. Besides the captains, Aaron Rodgers, Geronimo Allison, Jamaal Williams, Aaron Jones, Za'Darius Smith, Preston Smith and Marquez Valdes-Scantling were among the Packers players taking part.
The 2020 game will mark 20 years since the Timber Rattlers began hosting the event. It initially launched in 1994 at Appleton's Goodland Field.
Brett Favre hosted the game from 2000 until he left the Packers in 2008. Donald Driver and Jordy Nelson each then had their turns as the face of the game. Driver has since started up his own charity softball game at Fox Cities Stadium, which was held for a third time in July.


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GoPro Slashes 15% of Workforce, Shuts Down Entertainment Division
GoPro has announced that it will lay off more than 200 employees and freeze hiring, amounting to a reduction of about 15% of its workforce. As part of the restructuring, the company is also shutting down its entertainment division. In addition, the company said president Tony Bates will be leaving the company. From a report on Variety: Also Wednesday, GoPro also said Black Friday camera unit sales were up more than 35% year-over-year at leading U.S. retailers. GoPro said its Hero5 Black camera has been the best-selling digital-imaging device in the U.S. since it launched Oct. 2, citing NPD Group data. GoPro shares climbed more than 4% in premarket trading Wednesday on the news. The move appears to spell the end of the struggling company's ambitions to branch out beyond device sales into the entertainment biz, which had included plans to produce original shows. The GoPro entertainment unit has been led by Ocean MacAdams, who previously held programming posts at MTV, Warner Music Group, and the Madison Square Garden Co., after Zander Lurie left in January to become CEO of SurveyMonkey. The division at one point had about 200 staffers, including Bill McCullough, who produced award-winning sports documentaries for HBO, and Joe Lynch, who previously led Time Inc.'s live-streaming initiatives.
Read more of this story at Slashdot....


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ONLINE touts are bidding to cash in on Scotland’s crunch Euro 2016 clash with World Cup winners Germany.
Greedy sellers are demanding as much as £194 a ticket – more than five times their face value. Four VIP tickets are also being flogged for £862 each.
Last night, the SFA launched an investigation and vowed to take action against fans flogging briefs at inflated prices over the internet.
The vital qualifier at Hampden on September 7 sold out on Friday.
And touts wasted no time in using secondary ticket-selling websites to charge the Tartan Army eye-watering prices.
Desperate Germany fans are also being asked to stump almost £400 for a seat in the away section.
An SFA source said: “We take this sort of activity seriously. Any members of the Scotland Supporters Club found to be selling their tickets for more than face value will have their membership terminated.”
Bilbao-based Ticketbis offered Scotland fans tickets ranging from £121-194. They act as middle men between buyers and sellers.
Ticketbis bosses were unavailable for comment.
London-based website FootballTicketPad were flogging tickets for £115.
Their spokesman said: “We don’t set the prices.”
An SFA spokesman said: “We would urge all Scotland supporters to purchase only through the official channels.”


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Fattal to Drop Jurys Brand
The Jurys name, synonymous with the Irish hotel sector for more than 150 years, will disappear as part of a major rebrand by the Fattal Hotel Group, owner of Jurys Inns.
All 35 Jurys Inn hotels across Ireland and the UK are to become Leonardo hotels this autumn as part of a wider growth strategy that could also see new hotels built in Dublin, Galway and Cork.
The Jurys Inn portfolio was acquired by the group, owned by Israeli billionaire David Fattal, in 2017, and the Jurys brand has since operated in Ireland and the UK under the Fattal umbrella, along with its Leonardo, Royal and Nyx properties.
At the time, Fattal already had seven Leonardo hotels in the UK. That has since grown to 15 properties with much of the marketing, procurement and other back-office responsibilities handled by Jurys Inn in Dublin.
The Jurys name goes back to 1839 when William Jury opened a guesthouse in College Green in Dublin, with the first Jurys Inn opened in Galway in 1993.


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The AMD RX 6800 and 6900 graphics cards were recently brought into the spotlight after a batch of them crashed due to a physical GPU break, and we now have a clear answer as to why this happened.
This comes from YouTuber KrisFix (who runs a German hardware repair shop), who noticed several AMD GPUs that were showing up on his doorstep that died of a crack.
At the time, speculation was rife about an AMD driver being a possible culprit—all owners of these graphics cards were running the latest version—but as KrisFix explains in a new YouTube video (highlighted by Tom’s Hardware), that wasn’t the case.
In fact, KrisFix proposes a theory that the problem was caused by a combination of two factors: the GPUs are pre-crypto mining models, and the way they were stored prior to sale.
KrisFix notes that all of the trouble cards were sold at the end of November, or the beginning of December 2022, and likely came from the same second-hand source — i.e. a crypto-mining farm that sells a load of these AMD Radeon models.
So, the idea is that these graphics cards were driven super hard 24/7 on their mining tasks, and were likely stored in a bad environment, perhaps in a warehouse with high humidity levels.
Meaning that when buyers got their GPUs, they worked fine at first, but then when gaming (or other intensive workloads) resulted in higher chip temperatures, due to damage from excessive moisture (along with all the Those previous miles. hour of mining), the GPU simply cracked. Owners may have had a day or two of cards—maybe even three—before they set off.
All of the broken graphics cards showed the same type of damage, and were generally in similar condition – with coolers cleaned as well. (Usually a used graphics card has some dust in there, but in this case, the cards were all clean, which indicates that the mining farm owner sanded them all before putting them up for sale.)
Analysis: Used GPU Market Risks
This is really not surprising, since when we originally reported this issue, we noted that the affected models could be earlier mining GPUs. What KrisFix says here makes sense to us, and also explains why we haven’t seen this problem elsewhere – a local mining operation shut down and all graphics cards (stored in the same way) were sold to buyers in the area, well, a lot of them turned to this repair shop to fix their problems when it blew graphics processing unit.
The good news, then, is that this won’t be a widespread problem for the RX 6900 and RX 6800 models, and that the AMD graphics driver isn’t at fault (which KrisFix confirmed in this latest video).
Instead, this episode serves as a very clear warning about the dangers of buying GPUs that ran pre-harvested on a large mining farm, and that it’s not just about their workloads, but also the environmental damage (and even storage life after farming, before the cards are actually sold).
In short, buy a pre-mining graphics card at your own risk, because there are specific and clear risks associated with these GPUs. The problem is that sellers often don’t disclose that the used card is ex-mining stock, because they know this isn’t suitable for many people. So you are left with a situation where you have to trust the vendor’s reputation and integrity to be honest about the graphics card’s past life.
All of these risks are greatly amplified at a time when, as it did last year, cryptocurrency falls off a cliff, mining operations quit, and it’s clear that they’re looking to sell their shares as the ultimate cash grab. At times like these, the used GPU market can become a bit of a minefield, so tread carefully when buying the used stuff.


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The iconic motorcycle brand Jawa was re-introduced in the Indian market last year. The resurrected Jawa launched two retro motorcycles – Jawa or Jawa Classic and Jawa 42. However, there was another motorcycle at the launch which caught everyone’s attention. It was Jawa’s factory custom bobber Perak.
It was announced at the event that Perak will hit the market at a later time period as their main focus is on the other two motorcycles. Earlier it was expected to be launched around June this year. It is now revealed that the launch of Jawa Perak will be delayed.
As per the new timeline, Jawa Perak is expected to be launched towards the end of 2019. The Perak, uses a big bore version of the standard 293 cc Jawa motor, displacing 334 cc. The bigger engine makes 30 Bhp of power along with 31 Nm of torque. The engine gets a 6 speed manual gearbox as standard.
Both the 293 cc and 334 cc motors of the Jawa motorcycles are based on the Mahindra Mojo’s 295 cc, single cylinder engine. However, the Mojo’s engine has been extensively re-engineered to get their distinct character and exhaust note on the Jawa motorcycles it will power.
Coming to the key differences between the Jawa and the Perak, the latter uses a monoshock set up at the rear, for achieving the distinct Bobber look. The other bikes get twin gas charged rear shock absorbers. The front end remains similar, with telescopic forks.
The Jawa Classic and 42 motorcycles are powered by a short stroke, fuel injected, DOHC 293 cc four stroke engine. This liquid cooled motor churns out 27 Bhp and 28 Nm. The engine is liquid cooled and maximum emphasis has been placed on low end torque.
Keeping the customer demand in mind and upcoming safety norms Jawa had recently introduced dual-channel ABS in the Jawa classic and Jawa 42. The standard, rear drum-brake version of the Jawa is priced at Rs. 1.64 lakh and the Jawa Forty-Two is priced at Rs. 1.55 lakhs, both price ex-showroom. The rear disc and dual-channel ABS version of the bikes are priced at Rs. 1.73 lakh and 1.64 lakh respectively.
Price of Jawa Perak was revealed during the launch last year itself. It was priced at Rs 1.89 lakh ex-showroom. However, it remains to be seen if Jawa will launch the bike with same price tag when the company launches it later this year. If Jawa manages to price the Perak at Rs. 1.89 lakhs, the bike will be India’s cheapest Bobber on sale.


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Both Apple and Google have begun cracking down on apps related to the coronavirus, according to a new report from CNBC. App developers who spoke with the news organization say Apple is rejecting any and all coronavirus-related mobile software not from recognized health organizations or the government. CNBC also reports that Google is not returning any results for coronavirus-related searches on the Play Store, although it’s unclear at this time if Google is restricting the approval of new apps, too.
Apple appears to be catching new coronavirus-related apps in its manual review process, with one developer telling CNBC they received a message from the iPhone maker reading, “Apps with information about current medical information need to be submitted by a recognized institution.”
Apple and Google are taking measures to prevent misleading coronavirus apps
Some well-meaning mobile apps from independent developers that rely on World Health Organization data and information form recognized health institutions are getting caught up in the ban, CNBC reports. That’s because Apple is apparently evaluating whether apps that provide information related to the coronavirus can be trusted sources of information for the public, CNBC says. In this case, it would seem Apple is restricting those trusted sources to only official health organizations and the government. Apple declined to comment for this story.
Right now, few iOS apps related to the virus are appearing in search results or in top app rankings, CNBC reports, although there are existing and mostly benign options available. Those include a “virus tracker” app from a company called Healthlynked, a COVID-19 (the illness caused by the novel coronavirus) app from medical resource company Unbound, and a Portuguese-language app published by the Brazilian government with information about the virus.
As for Android, Google appears to be deliberately blocking search results for the virus and COVID-19, yet we don’t know if the company has an outright ban on new apps related to the coronavirus. Google does, as CNBC points out, have existing policies against apps that deny the existence of “major tragic effects”; apps that “lack reasonable sensitivity towards or capitalize on a natural disaster, atrocity, conflict, death, or other tragic event[s]”; and apps that appear to “profit from a tragic event with no discernible benefit to the victims.”
Google declined to comment for this story, but the company did point The Verge to a series of approved apps providing coronavirus information, including ones from the American Red Cross, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and Doctor On Demand, as well as news apps like the official Twitter Android app and News 360. Apps that are found to be in violation of its “sensitive events” policy, outlined above, can be removed as well, so it doesn’t just apply to yet-to-be-published apps still in review.
Apple and Google are far from the only companies taking measures to cut down on content that either peddles misinformation or seeks to take exploit the ongoing outbreak for financial gain. Facebook, the company’s Instagram subsidiary, and Twitter have instituted bans on coronavirus misinformation, and Amazon is currently grappling with waves of new product listings that are exploiting the situation by either claiming to provide cures or protection against COVID-19 or price gouging health items like hand sanitizer and face masks.


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SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Womply, the leader in front office software for small- and medium-sized businesses (SMBs), today released the results of a national small business sentiment and intentions survey that polled thousands of owners in all 50 states. The study, which is released to coincide with the U.S. Small Business Administration’s National Small Business Week, reveals that local merchants are overwhelmingly optimistic about business prospects, with their confidence driven by customers, employees, and the election of a new U.S. president.
“The country’s 28 million small businesses are an important bellwether and a window into the pervading mindset on Main Street,” says Womply spokesperson Brad Plothow. “By understanding what local business owners are thinking, we can make predictions about where the economy, labor market, and even the political landscape may be heading throughout 2017 and beyond.”
The study draws correlations between what’s driving optimism or pessimism for small business owners and how that sentiment might affect actions like hiring, increasing wages or benefits for employees, and intentions to expand or liquidate the business. Read the full report here.
- Confidence is high on Main Street. The study revealed that 70 percent of small business owners are optimistic about business prospects in 2017, compared to 13 percent who are pessimistic.
- Trump inspires and divides entrepreneurs. Donald Trump’s election as the 45th U.S. president has had a polarizing effect on small businesses, with optimists identifying Trump as their No. 3 reason for confidence (behind customers and employees) and pessimists saying he’s their No. 1 reason for concern.
- Daily business concerns are paramount. We asked owners to rank their top worries. Overall, pragmatic concerns are top of mind, with attracting customers, having enough time for everything, and making enough money rating as top worries nationally.
- Business performance drives optimism. We combined Womply’s sales transaction data for 4 million small businesses with survey responses to identify connections between business performance and general sentiment. As expected, we found a positive correlation between revenue growth and business optimism.
- Business optimism drives economic impact. Optimistic owners are 3.5 times more likely to hire and give raises to employees this year, whereas pessimists are 6.5 times more likely to reduce staff headcount and employee pay. These findings suggest that the impact of small business confidence is enormous when aggregated nationally.
- Taxes are top of mind, healthcare not so much. We asked owners for opinions on timely political and policy matters that affect business. Taxes are the policy area most small businesses want changed, ranking far ahead of healthcare, business regulations, overtime, immigration, and other issues. Regarding healthcare reform, a majority (29%) say that repeal of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) would have no impact on their business.
“In 2017, we’ll see a number of important conversations play out that will impact the collective psyche of American small businesses,” Plothow says. “Local merchants are clearly tuned into current events and factor the broader economic and political landscapes into their business decisions. Small businesses will continue to drive economic and job growth in the U.S. as long as confidence and optimism remain high.”
Womply is a software-as-a-service (SaaS) provider to small and medium businesses and one of the fastest growing software companies in America. Our mission is to use technology and data to grow, protect, and simplify small business. Every day we serve tens of thousands of merchants, across 400+ business verticals, in every corner of America. To learn more, visit http://www.womply.com or email email@example.com.


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Young people are more likely to begin using cannabis once recreational cannabis laws are passed in their state, a new study published in Addiction has found.
A state legislative committee gave final approval on Tuesday, May 24, to set the permissible levels of yeast and mold to 100,000 colony-forming units per gram.
The Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority has also recalled 99 medical cannabis products tested by the lab.
A federal court in California has ruled that delta-8 THC products can be considered lawful if they’re derived from hemp.
Researchers at Newcastle University and the University of Liverpool have unveiled a new visual tool to make sense of drug classification.
The Thai government will distribute one million cannabis plants as part of its medical cannabis legalization plans, according to one of the country’s ministers.


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It isn't the fallout of Team India's dismal performance at the recent T20 World Cup, but a sustained environment awareness campaign that may see Dhoni bombs take a bow from Jamshedpur this Diwali.
Unlike a decibel-doting Ranchi, rough market statistics show green crackers are indeed the new rage amongst the steel hub's eco-friendly citizens.
Firecracker dealers, mostly based in Jugsalai area of the city, revealed that sale of ear-splitting bombs ' flaunting even celebrity brand identities like Dhoni Special Chocolate or Dhoni Junior Chocolate and those named after master blast Sachin Tendulkar or desi superhero Shaktimaan ' had plummeted. Instead, people are splurging on mild sound crackers that also emit less smoke compared to the traditional patakhas.
Raunak Gulati, proprietor of RA Traders on Station-Jugsalai Road, said Dhoni chocolate and 'atom' bombs were finding few takers for the first time since they were launched.
"Ever since these bombs hit the market in 2009, they sold like hot cakes until now. We had to order more than 30 cartons from Sivakasi. This time, only 10 cartons have been ordered. Still, we are not sure whether all will be sold," Gulati said, suggesting an almost 70 per cent drop in high-decibel cracker sale.
"We had felt the green pulse of customers last year too and have, thus, ordered more than 30 cartons of environment-friendly fireworks like multi-shots and single-launchers, sparkles and chakris," the man, who has been in this trade for over a decade, added.
The multi-shot bursts into various vivid hues mid-air without much noise, while the single-launcher colours the sky with a solo shade. The sparkles too burst mid-air, but in a quick succession of 25 to 50 times spreading an array of illumined glitter on the horizon.
A green Diwali is most certainly heavy on the pocket. Eco-friendly fireworks are understandably priced much higher than decibel devils like 'atom' bombs, chocolate bombs, chain crackers, Kali patakha, dhani patakha, seven shots and rockets.
A packet of sparkles costs around Rs 1,000, while ring wheels and magic wheels are priced between Rs 200 and Rs 300. The multi-shots and single-launcher come for anything between Rs 500 and Rs 1,000.
In stark contrast, a packet of 'atom' bombs costs Rs 80-120, while 12 pieces of the chocolate variant is far cheaper at Rs 30-40. The price of one box of anars (10 pieces) is Rs 90-100 and a traditional chakri set (10 pieces) is easy on the pocket at Rs 80.
Mohammed Iqbal, a vendor who has been selling crackers at Aambagan grounds in Sakchi for over 10 years, said earlier he used to fetch one carton of flowerpots and chakris, two of sparkles and its ilk and more of bombs. "But, the demand has soared for fancy fireworks now despite the high price," he added.
Lochan Mangotia, another wholesaler in Jugsalai, said gauging the demand they had placed orders for green crackers with manufacturers and stockists in Tamil Nadu. "We have brought ring wheels and magic wheels, which look like traditional chakris, but emit very little smoke. They also spin more than three times," he added.
During Diwali, firecrackers worth more than Rs 50 lakh are sold across 300 shops in the city. Out of these, barely 30 per cent are high-decibel crackers, Mangotia maintained.
Mango resident Gurucharan Singh said he had managed to convince his two children to opt for low-noise crackers. "It is all sparkles and wheels for us this time," he said.
Former president of Rotary Club Ronald D' Costa pointed out that the mindset of the people and changed, thanks to sustained environment campaigns by NGOs and schools.
Principal of ADLS Sunshine School Indrani Singh said they would celebrate an eco-friendly Diwali. "Like last year, students will conduct awareness drives in various pockets of the city encouraging people to shun high-decibel crackers," she added.