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With a look toward the upcoming summer selling season, retailers view produce with different eyes.
[Editor’s note: some quotes by retailers were previously published in Jim Prevor’s Perishable Pundit April 13th Edition.]
Business-as-usual is the way the year started. Then, like that first raindrop signals a storm ahead, the COVID-19 virus swept around the world and into the U.S. in pandemic force. Since March, the produce business, especially at retail, has been unusual. In many ways, the conditions have been driven by state and federal mandates that govern how shoppers buy food.
Yet, resilient retailers are not just hunkering down. Instead, they are striving ahead with the task of observing how buying habits change in crises such as these, applying lessons learned to the immediate seasons ahead, and garnering insights instructive in the long-term to future generations of produce executives.
PANDEMIC BUYING & PRODUCE
Mid-March is when shelter-in-place orders kept shoppers and their families home, but supermarkets deemed ‘essential’ remained open, and restaurants were forced to close except for take-out orders, recaps Joe Watson, vice president of membership and engagement for the Eastern USA, for the Produce Marketing Association (PMA), headquartered in Newark, DE.
“Supply didn’t stop, but channels for fresh produce were disrupted, and it caught everyone by surprise,” says Watson, who has produce retailing in his background as former director of produce for Rouses Supermarkets, a 76-store chain based in Thibodaux, LA. “That was when we first saw a big spike in retail sales.”
Fresh produce sales peaked 32.4 % higher than the year prior during the week of March 15, 2020, with fruit sales up 28.4% and vegetable sales up 40.9%, according to total U.S. multi-outlet data for the week ending April 12, 2020, by Chicago, IL-headquartered Information Resources, Inc. (IRI).
Panic buying and stocking up for anticipated long-term cooking at home drove volume, but variety was drastically different in overall shopping baskets. Some items soared in sales, while others plummeted.
“On fruit, instead of specialty apples like SnapDragon, Kanzi, Kiku and Cosmic Crisp, which we had been promoting, it was mainstream bagged apples that customers wanted. Bagged oranges too. It got me thinking we should look into bagged pears this fall, something we have never really carried.”–Jim Weber
“We went from customers’ preference for 1-pound packs of small microwave potatoes to 15-, 20- and, in one of our stores, even 50-pound bags of potatoes,” says Jim Weber, produce supervisor for Tadych’s Econofoods, a six-store chain headquartered in Brillion, WI. “Likewise, 2- and 5-pound bags of table carrots increased a few hundred % in sales over baby carrots to the point where we needed to refill displays up to three times in a night. Our stores are open 24 hours, and we saw quite a few new customers as a result who came in to shop after midnight when it wasn’t crowded.
“This trend continued in other items too,” Weber adds. “Customers wanted whole heads of cauliflower, not bags of florets. They wanted 5-pound bags of onions. On fruit, instead of specialty apples like SnapDragon, Kanzi, Kiku and Cosmic Crisp, which we had been promoting, it was mainstream bagged apples that customers wanted. Bagged oranges too. It got me thinking we should look into bagged pears this fall, something we have never really carried.”
On the downside, “a lot of our grab-and-go items for snacking, such as parfaits, single-serve juices, and small packages, have decreased in sales since people have stopped going to work, gyms, parks, etc.,” says Josue ‘Josh’ Padilla, director of produce for Citarella, Inc., a 10-store gourmet market headquartered in New York, NY.
The good news overall is that two months later — as of mid-May — produce sales remain up. Specifically, fresh produce growth for the week of May 3, compared to the same week in 2019, was 17.2 %, based on IRI data. Fresh vegetables led fruits, but both registered double-digit increases.
THE DOMESTIC SEASON AHEAD
A lessening of COVID-19 sheltering restrictions, combined with the allure of summer seasonal produce, should keep retail sales of fresh fruit and vegetables brisk. Yet, the continued effects of pandemic life will still be apparent and play key roles in retailers’ buying, merchandising, and promotional strategies.
“Crisis or not, as we move into late spring and the summer-type holidays come into play, the sales opportunity is huge for fresh produce,” says Jeff Cady, director of produce and floral for Tops Friendly Markets, a 169-store supermarket chain headquartered in Williamsville, NY. “I think the panic-buying, for lack of a better term, is over. I think we will continue to see strong sales growth, but the fresher type items, like berries and salads, will grow even more, with the hardline items will slow down a bit.
Don’t get me wrong, double-digit growth for the hardline type produce items is expected to continue due to consumers eating at home more often, but the perishable items should outgrow as we move through the end of the crisis. The challenge is harvesting, packing, shipping, etc.”
“I think we will continue to see strong sales growth, but the fresher type items, like berries and salads, will grow even more, with the hardline items will slow down a bit.”–Jeff Cady
Tops Friendly Market
Weather has always been a challenge and will continue to be No. 1, but labor is a huge test because of the physical nature of the produce industry, according to Mark Hendricks, Sr., produce director at Rogersville, MO-headquartered Pyramid Foods, a nearly 50-store retailer whose banners include Price Cutter, Save-A-Lot and Country Mart.
“As long as workers are brought in from different areas and work near each other, the spread of whatever the next pandemic crisis is may become the biggest challenge in the industry during the seasonal harvests,” says Hendricks. “Also, as states adopt different methods of quarantine, the daily process of shipping commodities from area to area could prove to offer a different set of logistical problems. There should also be caution taken in the deals that one is approached with in the short term. Retail buyers should ask the hard questions when it comes to sizes and grades in this new world.”
“This has also been a good time to do category reviews. Items that are not selling at this junction will probably never sell, and it may a good time to discontinue and replace with newer or fast-selling items.”–Josh Padilla
According to Mike Orf, vice president of produce operations for Hy-Vee Inc., a 245-plus store chain headquartered in West Des Moines, IA, “In the coming months, we will be focused on making sure we are meeting the needs of our customers by working closely with our suppliers to secure our orders well in advance.”
Measures to curb the COVID-19 pandemic have led to new sources of supply for retailers. Namely, produce that would have been sold in the foodservice and export sectors.
“With much of the foodservice buying off the radar, we have been able to get better quality, availability and pricing to move product,” says Citarella’s Padilla. “This has also been a good time to do category reviews. Items that are not selling at this junction will probably never sell, and it may a good time to discontinue and replace with newer or fast-selling items. I also believe that this is a good time to add new items. I would recommend growers increase acreage on faster-selling items. Finally, it’s a good time for growers and retail chains to support further localize their local programs to specific stores by going DSD (direct store delivery) than farm to warehouse.
At Gelson’s Markets, a 27-store upscale chain headquartered in Encino, CA, John Savidan, senior director of produce and floral, foresees some great opportunities this summer with more export quality fruit being available in the U.S. “Being a high-end retailer, this will put us in a great position to be able to get our hands on these types of programs. We have reached out to our local suppliers and have told them we’d be interested in any export-quality fruit and to run all of these types of items by us.”
There may be even greater demand for packaged produce moving forward. For example, IRI data shows the share of produce sold in fixed weight packaging rose from 47.1 % during the 52 weeks ending in late January to 51.2 % during the peak of the pandemic.
“We have reached out to our local suppliers and have told them we’d be interested in any export-quality fruit and to run all of these types of items by us.”–John Savidan
“People may switch to more packaged itemization for the mere fact that it could appear safer when the contents are concealed,” says Gelson’s Savidan.
Merchandising could remain as difficult as it was during the peak of the pandemic. For example, limitations on the number of shoppers in a supermarket at any one time and one person per cart rules have created a ‘get in and get out’ mentality, according to the PMA’s Watson. “Some 40 % of sales are impulse, and this could be lost on shoppers who come in, buy what’s on their list, and want to quickly leave the store. This means retailers, as well as grower-shippers, might have to target shoppers with information about their products or promotions before they get to the store.”
The season ahead could be ripe for promotions as a downturn in the economy means less purchasing power for consumers. For example, 45% of 18 to 29-year-olds, and 31% of 31 to 38-year-olds have experienced work reductions due to COVID-19, according to IRI’s May 15-released report, The Changing Shape of the CPG Demand Curve.
“Depending on the commodity, there will undoubtedly be upward pressure applied to the cost of goods with labor, food safety, transportation and many other factors involved in setting market pricing going forward … we need to shy away from 99-cents per pound because it’s always been this.”–Mark Hendricks
“I’m sure we will see some bumps in the road where people will be cutting back on their spending, but I do feel it will be more along the lines of the higher-priced center of the plate items. The fresh produce industry is very fortunate to still have some of the lower-priced items within the store, especially when you compare to some of the other departments,” says Gelson’s Savidan.
With a crunch in the workforce and less expendable income, fresh fruits and vegetables may give way in part to cheaper processed offerings on the grocery side with canned and frozen options, adds Pyramid Foods’ Hendricks. That said, “the industry’s old-school method of pricing may suffer a setback in this new world. Depending on the commodity, there will undoubtedly be upward pressure applied to the cost of goods with labor, food safety, transportation and many other factors involved in setting market pricing going forward. There needs to be a blend of all the elements to arrive at the new market value, and we need to shy away from 99-cents per pound because it’s always been this.”
“It’s a good time for those of us in the fresh produce industry to provide our customers with more information about how to choose and use fresh fruits and vegetables in the dishes they are making.”–Vince Mastromauro
Unlike the 2008 economic downturn, people now have more time and are not just cooking at home, but cooking from scratch, notes Vince Mastromauro, director of produce operations at Sunset Foods, a five-store chain headquartered in Highland Park, IL. “This means shopping patterns have changed. It’s a good time for those of us in the fresh produce industry to provide our customers with more information about how to choose and use fresh fruits and vegetables in the dishes they are making. Fresh produce is healthful, and it’s a selling point especially during this time.”
THE NEW NORMAL – ONLINE SHOPPING
“Instacart orders are up significantly,” says Mike Roberts, director of produce operations for Harps Food Stores Inc., an 86-store chain headquartered in Springdale, AR, of the North American grocery pickup and delivery service.
There has also been an increase in produce items being added to Hy-Vee’s Online grocery orders for both pickup and delivery, according to Orf. Additionally, the chain recently launched its Mealtime to Go website, which lets customers order curbside meals-to-go online. Meals include selections from Asian, Hickory House, sandwiches, breakfast, sushi, and take-and-bake items, many of which include fresh produce items selected directly from the chain’s produce departments.
“We anticipate that many customers will continue to choose online grocery ordering, including their produce selections,” says Orf.
This view is also borne out by research. After shelter-in-place restrictions end, 40% of shoppers using curbside pickup more often plan to get 50% or more of their groceries this way, according to the IRI Consumer Survey fielded among Primary Grocery Shoppers in the National Consumer Panel, March 13 – April 19, 2020. Besides, nearly one-third of those ordering groceries for home delivery more often now plan to also get 50% or more of their groceries by this method.
“This presents an opportunity for retailers to increase their marketing efforts to create impulse purchase behaviors for those shopping online,” says Jonna Parker, IRI’s team lead for fresh. “One way to do this is by linking ingredients like fresh produce to recipes. Also, look at how ingredients are searched. For example, we’re seeing sales of fresh produce escalate as a side dish pairing to a protein. That’s one reason Brussels sprouts sales are up over the same time the year prior. Broccoli, fresh beans, and fresh corn too. Consumers like the experience of fresh and how it elevates eating at home. However, if you search for the words ‘side dish’, you won’t necessarily get fresh broccoli as one of the results.”
A ROADMAP FOR THE FUTURE
What advice does today’s retail produce executives have for colleagues who may come up against a pandemic situation in the future?
First: “Understand that consumers’ expectations change during a crisis, so don’t be too hard on yourself or the supply chain when you aren’t able to react instantaneously to sharp sales increases,” says Tops Friendly Markets’ Cady. “No one can be prepared for the influx in business that was experienced, so do the best you can.”
Second: “Build your business on relationships that stand the test of time,” recommends Pyramid Foods’ Hendricks. “If you have all your eggs in one basket, and have not shown an ability to give as well as take, you could be left out to fend for yourself, which could affect your ability to react when a crisis arrives. Prioritize your opportunities, both good and bad, and keep an eye on the end goal of being of service to those in need.”
Third: “Having your finger on the pulse of your business will help you make sounder decisions,” says Gelson’s Savidan. “I’d also recommend not being afraid to ask for help if you don’t have the answers. Let’s face it we have never had to deal with issues like we have these past few weeks, decisions were made each day from team collaborations and communications. It’s going to be interesting to see how this all changes the face of our business. In the end, the consumers will be telling us what they want, and it will be our job to make it happen for them.”


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Submitted by David Stockman – The Contra Corner Blog
As of June 2008 no Wall Street banking house was predicting a recession, yet by then the Great Recession—–the worst economic downturn since the 1930s—– was already six months old, as per the NBER’s subsequent official reckoning.
Actually, it was already several years old if you concede that the phony housing boom of 2005-2007 was generating merely transient “statistical” GDP, not permanent gains in main street wealth. Even the movie houses now showing “The Big Short” have some pretty palpable reminders on that point——not the least being the strip club dancer who owned 5 residential properties, with two adjustable rate mortgages on each.
In fact, by then main street America was crawling with strippers. That is, equity strippers who were repeatedly doing “cash out” refinancings in order to generate between $20,000 and $100,000 or more of mortgage proceeds to spend on vacations, cars, man caves, aspirational leather goods, shoes and apparel, among much else.
At the peak in 2006-2007, upwards of 10% of personal consumption expenditures were accounted for by MEW (mortgage equity withdrawal). The utter unsustainability of that kind of Potemkin prosperity goes without saying, but the point here is that it was no deep dark secret buried in the economic entrails.
In fact, Chairman Greenspan went to great lengths to publicize the facts of MEW on an up-to-date basis. But he wasn’t trying to warn that the end was near. Unaccountably, he and his Wall Street acolytes concluded that the US economy had become virtually recession proof because of the extra firepower being accorded to household consumption by MEW!
In short, the economic booby trap of MEW was hiding in plain sight and so was the Great Recession. Yet there was nothing at all unusual about the 2008 recession call miss.
Wall Street never predicts a recession. And that’s basically why the stock market goes up for 5-7 years on a slow escalator, and then plunges down an elevator shaft during several quarters of violent after-the-fact retraction when an economic and profits downturn has already arrived.
Needless to say, there are plenty of economic booby traps hiding in plain sight this time, too. Yet the sell side was out over the weekend with noisy chatter about stocks now being on sale at a discount, and that selective buying of the dip is once again in order.
According to these Keynesian Cool-Aid drinkers, the US economy is doing “just fine” because job growth is robust, real wages are rising and the consumer is fixing to commence a shopping spree at any moment now. And since stocks have purportedly never gone deep into bear market territory in the absence of a recession, what’s to worry?
How about the fact that there are booby traps like MEW lurking in plain sight everywhere—both at home and abroad? For example, consider the allegedly robust condition of auto sales.
During the last 12 months, retail sales of autos were up 6.1% or by $65billion. But then again, auto loan paper outstanding was up by nearly $90billion!
That’s right. Auto lenders—especially the legions of subprime nonbank operations that have sprung up with junk bond financing——have been extending credit to anyone who can fog a rear view mirror. Indeed, since mid-2010 when the auto recovery incepted, auto credit outstanding is up by $340 billion or by 90% of the $375 billion gain in auto sales.
Needless to say, virtually 100% debt financing of an auto sales boom is no more sustainable than was the MEW financing of household consumption last time around. Like then, the pool of credit worthy borrowers has been depleted, meaning that it is only a matter if time before the debt fueled auto boom of recent years goes pear-shaped.
In this particular instance, it all about the fragile condition of the used vehicle market. At present upwards of 80% of all new car sales are either leased or loan financed. But leasing economics depend heavily on the “residual” or resale value of the vehicle and loan financing late in the sales recovery cycle depends on the ability of the marginal buyer to generate enough trade-in value to qualify for a new loan–even at today’s 120% LTV ratios.
As one industry analysis recently noted, when used car prices roll over, new vehicle demand gets whacked:
But it will mean a double whammy for new-car buyers. Greater supply will mean lower prices for used vehicles, thus reducing the trade-in value of a shopper’s current vehicle.
In addition, those lower prices could wallop lease terms. Typically, monthly lease payments are lower than monthly loan payments for the same vehicle because the financing institution doesn’t charge for the vehicle’s residual value — the amount it will be worth at the end of the lease. Falling used-vehicle prices will bring falling residual prices, with the consumer having to pay more to make up the difference. Automakers increasingly have relied on leasing to offset higher sticker prices, but that may not be as effective starting in 2016.
And that’s where the skunk in the woodpile is hiding. During the next 5 years a veritable tsunami of used vehicles will come off lease and loan and flood the used car market, thereby reversing the virtuous cycle of debt fueled new car sales that may well have peaked last fall.
Thus, in 2009 nearly 2.5 million vehicles came off lease, but by 2012 that number was down to 1.56 million owing to the 2007-2009 auto sales collapse. By contrast as estimated 3.1 million vehicles will come of lease in 2016, 3.4 million in 2017 and upwards of 15 million in the next four years.
Like in the earlier cycles shown below, therefore, used car prices are certain to weaken sharply. And that’s in the opinion of NADA, the auto dealers association:
An expanding inventory of off-lease used vehicles will gradually reduce used-vehicle prices during the next few years……… It’s estimated conservatively that used-vehicle prices could fall by 2.5% per year over the next three years. That would be down 7.3% in 2018 from 2015. This drop would mean that used-vehicle prices would be at their lowest point since 2010.
In turn, prices back at the recession period levels shown below will dry up the pool of credit eligible borrowers and send the leasing market into a tailspin as losses surge and new lease rate adjust sharply higher.
Manheim Used Vehicle Value Index
In short, this is just one more case of the truism that under conditions of “peak debt” new borrowings do not increase GDP on a permanent basis; they just steal sales and output from future years, thereby booby-trapping the main street economy with recession risk that the Keynesian Cool-Aid drinkers refuse to recognize.
Much the same can be said out the alleged strength in housing. As shown below, actual outlays for private residential construction in November had still just recovered to the April 2003 level, and that was in nominal terms. In fact, real outlays are at 30 year lows and amount to just 3.2% of GDP—–or barely half of the historic level.
Moreover, more than one-third of the outlays shown above are for home improvements, not new construction. The skunk in the woodpile there is that home improvement spending is heavily concentrated in the top quartile of households. It is also highly correlated to the stock averages.

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14 Jun „Made in Germany“,defends its leading position
In the past two years, Germany has defended its position as the leading country of origin of high-quality brands. This is happening despite growing international headwinds for German products: Donald Trump’s „America First“ policy is damaging German brands in the US, the diesel scandal has put a damper on German car manufacturers in their domestic market, and competition from China is also catching up quickly. Nevertheless, since 2015 the leading German brands have been able to grow almost consistently in terms of appreciation in important markets. In the case of Siemens, Puma and Bayer, the percentage increase was even 10% each. This is shown by the survey that Globeone conducted among more than 1,500 consumers in Germany, the US and China at the end of 2017 on their opinion of over 50 leading German brands. The results are now available in the fourth edition of our biennial study „The Image of German Brands 2018“.
None of the leading Made in Germany brand suffers a loss of image
„The image of German brands has generally improved again from a very high level since 2015,“ emphasized Niklas Schaffmeister, founder and Managing Partner of Globeone in Cologne. What is remarkable is that none of the leading brands in the top 20 suffered a loss of image in international comparison during this period. This even applies to VW, which has largely overcome the diesel scandal in the US and in China.
Quality, prestige and reliability cement the top position of Made in Germany brand
The study uses seven different image dimensions to specify Germany’s current country of origin profile (COO profile). According to the report, the country of origin is still most strongly associated with excellent quality (71%), high prestige (69%) and reliability (64%). BMW, Adidas and Mercedes occupy the three top positions in the evaluation of the brands with the best reputation (78% each). With five car manufacturers at the top of the awareness list, it is also clear that Germany is still perceived internationally above all as an automobile nation. And the reputation of German brands abroad is often even better than in Germany. The study points out that three out of five German brands have an even better image in China and the US than in their home market.
The COO leadership is politically delicate for Made in Germany brands
No wonder that Germany sold more goods to other countries in 2017 than ever before and has established itself as the surplus world champion in the current account over the past two years. This leadership is politically explosive in the face of growing protectionism and criticism from Washington of existing trade agreements. The German surpluses are one of the most controversial points in the dispute between the EU and the US over applicable import duties. The growing influence of politics on the success of brands – including national brands such as „Made in Germany“ – is perhaps the greatest challenge in view of the future.
Read more studies from Globeone
„America First“ puts German brands under pressure
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„Corporate Purposes“: A multi-guide, but not a cure-all
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„Made in Germany“,defends its leading position
In the past two years, Germany has defended its position as the leading country of origin of hi...


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A man was mugged for his board games in Hull, UK. One, possibly two, discerning thugs (then again, I don’t know which games were grabbed) robbed the man of two board games and left him with life-threatening injuries. Said the local constabulary, “This was an isolated incident. Luckily incidents of this kind are rare and we don’t believe there is any threat to the wider public.”
Two men in Maroochydore, Australia, bored with “nothing to do at home”, grabbed an unspecified board game off the shelf of their local Target and walked out the front door with the box shoved down a pants leg. Stealth was not their strong suit, though. Police officers overheard them planning their caper, watched them grab the game, and followed them out the door before making an arrest.
In an incident made for headlines, a Florida woman stabbed her 18 year-old niece in the ear with a screwdriver during a game of Family Feud.
According to the website, eCommerce Bytes, in the Amazon listing for Hasbro’s Pie Face game, someone marked up boxes so the people appeared in blackface. That image isn’t there any more, nor was there any explanation available for how or why that image might have been part of the listing in the first place.
Petersen Entertainment is suing PayPal in Texas court. The game company claims that PayPal has improperly refused to hand over nearly $58,000 raised through Kickstarter for Cthulhu Wars. This despite Petersen providing documentation to PayPal that it has already shipped the product to the customers.
It seems that an apology and voluntary pay-cut wasn’t enough contrition for the president of the Japan Shogi Association after penalizing a player for cheating without evidence. He’s now resigned his position.
The mayor and deputy-mayor of Iizuka, Japan have resigned in the wake of public outcry over their habit of gambling on Mahjong during business hours. Also, the funeral business owned by one of the people with whom they played landed a municipal contract.
Two men in their 60s, one of them the president of the Hop Sing Tong Benevolent Association, were stabbed to death by an intruder while playing Mahjong in the association’s Los Angeles recreation center.
After several months of surveillance, police in Mallorca, Spain raided a location of weekend Mahjong games, where they believe €25,000-35,000 was illegally gambled on weekly basis.
“Most people who played Chess are liars,” said a Muslim televangelist in Turkey. “Playing Chess is worse than gambling and eating pork.” In response, the Turkish Chess Federation is suing.
A man died while fleeing from police who broke up a street dice game of Bầu Cua Cá Cọp in Binh Dinh, Vietnam. The police and coroner say he died from lack of oxygen caused by running. His uncle says the police beat him.
A man who just tried to walk away from a dice game argument in Waco, Texas, was followed out of the apartment by his host and stabbed in the parking lot.
In Cleveland, Ohio, when a man tried to rob a street dice game at gunpoint, one of the players, who had a concealed-carry permit, shot back and killed the robber.
In Ahmedabad, India, a dump-truck driver took to the wrong side of the road, killing a Chess coach riding a scooter on his way to a lesson. The driver’s employer then quickly began a dig on the street, attempting to suggest it was an active work zone.
Someone experiencing a seizure crashed their SUV right through the miniatures section of Deep Comics & Games in Huntsville, Alabama. Though the store was occupied at the time, no patrons or staff were injured.
According to police in Gainesville, Florida, a man grabbed a collection of 1,000 Magic: The Gathering cards from an unlocked car, then tried to sell them at a local game shop. The store manager, though, was a friend of the victim and, recognizing the cards, reported the seller to police.
An 83 year old man was beaten and robbed while walking home from a game of Dominoes in the Bronx.
Also in the Bronx, it was the Dominoes game itself that turned violent. An argument started, shots were fired, a woman was hit in the neck. The reports are unclear, though, whether she was participating in the game or hit by a stray bullet.
A former police officer in Cebu, the Philippines was shot and killed by a masked gunman while playing Mahjong. Authorities think the killing was retaliatory for something connected to the victim’s time in law-enforcement.
The latest deal at Bundle of Holding is for Fading Suns (2012 revised second edition). The starter collection ($14.95) includes the Player’s Guide and Game Master’s Guide, as well as the Worlds of the Realm setting supplement. The bonus collection ($25.13) includes five more supplements.
For the month of February, any order of $75 or more from Steve Jackson Games’ Warehouse23 will receive a Valentine’s Day Munchkin Monster Box as well.
In celebration of Chinese New Year, Panda Express restaurants will be giving out Celebration Kits, which include a Know Your CNY card game, with every order of a Family Feast. Offer expires February 21st.
AutoGuide.com is giving away a limited release Honda Monopoly.
For $10 off orders of $50 from HasbroToyShop.com, use promo code “SAVE2017”.
Fat Brain Toys is running a 30% off Just Because sale.
Closing today is Passport Game Studios’ HOP to It contest, in which the prize is copies of Tokaido Deluxe, the Matsuri expansion for Tokaido, and Samurai Spirit.
Also closing today is USAopoly’s giveaway of a Yu-Gi-Oh! game pack, which includes Monopoly: Yu-Gi-Oh!, a Yu-Gi-Oh!: Millennium Puzzle Collector’s Coin Bank, and a Yu-Gi-Oh! Collector’s Puzzle.
A sale on Mattel’s Pictionary Man Double Draw by Toys “R” Us expires today.
Play Fair, which began as an open-to-consumers auxiliary event at New York Toy Fair 2016, is moving to a fall show and will take place this year on the weekend of November 4th and 5th. It will remain, though, at the Javits Center in Manhattan.
At the inaugural event last year, 20,000 people attended Play Fair. Among the exhibitors already signed on for this year’s Play Fair are LEGO, ALEX Brands, K’Nex, Snazaroo, SCS Direct, VTech, Mattel, Hasbro, and Safari.
Play Fair is hosted by the Toy Industry Association and LeftField Media.
Penny Arcade, partnering with ReedPOP, is launching its first tabletop-focused game convention, PAX Unplugged. The event, which is scheduled for November 17-19 this year at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia, will join five other PAX shows with special attention to board games, card games, RPGs, and miniatures.
PAX Unplugged will take all the elements that have drawn millions of gamers to PAX – the chance to play and see the reveal of highly-anticipated upcoming games, attend game-inspired music concerts, participate in tournaments and watch panels with industry leaders – but with a renewed focus on fostering the best event for the burgeoning tabletop gaming community.
That makes the weekend before Thanksgiving a hot one for game events. PAX Unplugged is scheduled opposite BGG.CON and ChiTAG, though each serves different target markets.
Tickets to PAX Unplugged will go on sale in the spring.
The Nerd Cave was opened this fall in Lakeport, California as an alternative outlet for the non-electronic inventory of The Game Shop. The latter is located just up the road and was recently purchased by new owners, who decided to separate digital and analog product lines.
In Frisco, Texas, @Nerdvana serves coffee and board games.
Carolina Tabletop Games opened a few months ago on Main Street in Pineville, North Carolina, selling games and hosting gamers.
Utica has a new cafe in Wanna Play?, where the potato chips are fresh-made and the board games are $5.00 per person per day, or $2.50 with a meal.
Opening day of the D20 Board Game Cafe in Warford, UK was exactly 1 year from the day they came up with the idea.
The upstairs, public, cafe area of a Publix supermarket in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida has become a gathering place for people playing Mahjong, Bridge, and Canasta.
According to market research firm NPD Group, game sales in the United States grew 21 percent from the year before, reaching a total of $1.77 billion in 2016. The games category, in fact, was the third largest segment of overall toy sales, falling just behind collectibles and outdoor & sports toys at 8.7% of the total market.
Also of note, within the collectibles segment, blind pack sales grew 60 percent 2015-2016 and were six-times greater than in 2013!
Youth electronics were up 3 percent. Building sets were down 3 percent.
NPD reported similar growth in the U.K., where the games & puzzles segment also increased 21 percent year-on-year.
Use code “HOLIDAY17” to get 10% off orders from Paizo through the end of the month.
Asmodee is giving away three bundles of Mysterium digital and cardboard.
At Bundle of Holding starting at $7.95 is Hunter: The Vigil—rule book, setting information, and campaign material.
Our initial exposure to Magic Digital Next came a little over a year ago in a presentation by Hasbro CEO Brian Goldner. At that time, we saw it only as a new Magic: The Gathering product, albeit a sophisticated one for a range of players. From a new article posted online by Wizards of the Coast President Chris Cocks, we now learn, though, that Magic Digital Next (though not specifically named in the article) is just one part of a more comprehensive digital strategy update being pursued by WOTC.
Cocks describes “adjustments to and increased investments in our digital teams” as the “biggest move” currently underway at the company. WOTC has created a new Digital Games Studio with significant new outside talent, the existing Magic Online team, and digital art and game design staff.
But these changes don’t pertain just to Magic. Rather, WOTC is looking to apply a digitally integrated experience to all its games (including Dungeons & Dragons), incorporating such elements as augmented-reality games, MMOs, tournament organization, home game management, and other “unexpected settings, genres, and platforms.”
We are reimagining digital versions of Magic and other Wizards games… We will bring our characters and worlds to other games and experiences… We will make your Wizards experiences more efficient, connected, and convenient.
Perhaps we might hear more about this initiative from Hasbro leading in to New York Toy Fair.
Since being court-martialed by the Star Empire, smuggler and thief Joan Shengtu has done what she needed to do in order to survive—gaining a reputation along the way. When a new client’s mission goes sideways, Joan finds herself caught in the middle of dueling gambits between the Star Empire and the Trade Federation. Recruited to perform the heist of a lifetime, the fate of the Star Empire rests in her hands.
On the opposite side of the galaxy, Regency BioTech manager Dario Anazao sees an unsustainable situation brewing that promises a full-scale revolution. The megacorporations of the Trade Federation have kept the population in horrible working conditions, violating their human rights. With no one else to help, Dario must take it upon himself to rescue the workers of Mars.
Can two heroes from warring factions come together to make a difference in the galaxy?
It’s available now via Amazon: $12.95 paperback, $2.99 Kindle.
New fellowships are available for research at the The Strong’s National Museum of Play. The idea is to support researchers accessing the museum’s library; collection of toy, doll, and game artifacts; and video and electronic game resources. The G. Rollie Adams Research Fellowships will provide academic professionals, independent scholars, museum scholars, and advanced graduate students at the masters or doctorate level with $500 per-week stipends. Applications are due April 20th.


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There is no question that the current, fourth-generation Cadillac Escalade is a fine luxury SUV. Despite being developed over half a century ago and introduced in 2014, the present model has aged rather gracefully, while serving its purpose as Cadillac’s talisman (and phenomenal profit generator). But Cadillac is hard at work on the all-new 2020 Escalade, which is expected to deliver significant, especially in the powertrain department.
Offering more than one engine in the Escalade is a notable departure from the state of affairs with the current model, which is available exclusively with one engine – the 6.2-liter Small Block V8.
The Cadillac Society Take
We weren’t told exactly what three engines will be offered, but thanks to our penchant for speculation, we would not be surprised to see the 2020 Cadillac Escalade offer the following powertrain lineup:
First: we would not be surprised to see the base engine of the 2020 Cadillac Escalade to be the naturally-aspirated 6.2L V8 Small Block (production code L87).
Essentially an upgraded version of the eight-banger in the current Escalade, the motor was recently introduced on the Chevy and GMC pickup trucks of Cadillac parent firm, General Motors. The most notable improvement to the engine over its predecessor is the replacement of Active Fuel Management (AFM) cylinder deactivation system with the more advanced Dynamic Fuel Management (DFM) technology. While AFM is capable of alternating between eight- and four-cylinder modes, DFM features 17 cylinder patterns and is capable of running on just one cylinder at a time. That greater control over cylinder patterns enables the engine to constantly optimize efficiency and power delivery at all speeds.
In pickup truck applications, the 6.2L V8 L87 engine makes an SAE-certified 420 horsepower (313 kw) at 5600 rpm and 460 pound-feet (621 Nm) of torque at 4100 rpm. The numbers are identical to the output of the current Escalade, but the new motor should be more fuel efficient while being more refined when compared to its predecessor.
Second: an upgrade over the standard motor could be Cadillac’s new 4.2L Twin-Turbo DOHC V8 engine (production code LTA).
First introduced in the refreshed 2019 Cadillac CT6, the boosted engine is available in two versions:
- Regular output: 500 horsepower (373 kW) at 5000-5200 rpm and 553 pound-feet (750 Nm) of torque at 2600-4600 rpm
- High output: 550 horsepower (410 kW) at 5700 and 627 pound-feet (850 Nm) of torque at 3200 – 4000
Cadillac can use either version of its new eight-cylinder belle in the 2020 Escalade. It might also create another tune entirely for the full-size SUV. Whatever version of the LTA Cadillac ends up using, it might call the final product the Escalade-V or Escalade V-Sport.
These first two engines will likely be mated to the new 10-speed automatic transmission that is debuting on the face-lifted CT6.
Third: the third option might not be an engine at all, but a new energy vehicle instead. In other words, we would not be surprised to see an Escalade Plug-In Hybrid (PHEV), similar to the namesake Cadillac CT6.
About 2020 Cadillac Escalade
Expected to launch in the second or third quarter of 2019 as a 2020 model year vehicle, the 2020 Cadillac Escalade will represent the fifth generation of Cadillac’s largest and most expensive offering. The vehicle will represent a complete overhaul over the current model, consisting of a complete redesign and re-engineering.
Expect a dynamic new design that brings the Escalade in line with the new Cadillac design language introduced by the Escala Concept, and brought to market by the 2019 CT6 and XT4. As before, the regular-length Escalade will be joined by an extended-length Escalade ESV model. Expect an all-new interior with new rotary infotainment system controls, along with new and luxurious features for the second row, including reclining and massaging chairs.
Three new powerplant choices are expected to be available, including a regular-power model, a high-power model (potentially called Escalade-V or V-Sport) mated to the new 10-speed automatic transmission, as well as a new energy model, such as a plug-in hybrid vehicle (PHEV). The 2020 Escalade is also expected to gain a fully-independent rear suspension, a change that is expected to enhance ride comfort while also improving agility, especially over uneven pavement.
Follow our coverage of Cadillac Escalade news.
Discuss the 2020 Escalade in our Cadillac Escalade forum.


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The new software, called PlayTV, is a TV tuner that plugs into the PS3 and will be made available first in the UK, France, Germany and Spain from early next year.
Users will be able to pause and record live TV from channels available on digital terrestrial television, primarily Freeview.
Recorded programmes can be streamed over a wireless internet connection from a PS3 console to the handheld PlayStation Portable, or transferred permanently to the device via a USB cable.
"The introduction of PlayTV will extend the already broad entertainment credentials of the PS3," said David Reeves, the president of Sony Computer Entertainment Europe.
Sony has also announced a tie-up with BT, called Go!Messenger, to launch software to enable PlayStation Portable users to make phone and video calls and send texts. Go!Messenger will be released in January.
The company is also developing a Go! branded video download service for the PSP, due to launch early next year, in a joint venture with BSkyB for users in the UK and Ireland. · To contact the MediaGuardian newsdesk email firstname.lastname@example.org or phone 020 7239 9857. For all other inquiries please call the main Guardian switchboard on 020 7278 2332.
· If you are writing a comment for publication, please mark clearly "for publication".


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Student's business skills earn title of 2011 Student Entrepreneur Ontario Champion
March 21, 2011
Fifth-year marketing and entrepreneurship student Yanina Chevtchouk has already made a name for herself in the business world.
As CEO of Paria Lambina Inc., a woman's wear company, Chevtchouk has been named a 2011 Student Entrepreneur Ontario Champion.
Chevtchouk represented Ontario in the 2011 ACE Regional Exposition in Toronto on March 18. A win at regionals earns her $1,000 and a spot at the national exposition in May. The national champion will receive a $10,000 cash prize and represent Canada at the Global Student Entrepreneur Awards.
The competition is run by Advancing Canadian Entrepreneurship (ACE), with support from CIBC.
Started in 2010, Paria Lambina is owned and operated by Chevtchouk. The company designs and wholesales unique, contemporary clothing for successful professional working women.
"Winning this award provides an amazing opportunity to network with like-minded individuals, receive feedback from top executives and find new ways to make my business even better," Chevtchouk said.
Chevtchouk's most significant business accomplishments to date include showcasing her spring 2011 collection at Montreal Fashion Week, being featured in FLARE Magazine, Conglomerate Magazine and being interviewed on ET! Canada, as well as being invited to show her spring 2011 collection at the Toronto Alternative Fashion Week in April.
"With today's ever-changing economic situation, ACE is proud to continue its work developing leaders, creating connections and building a better Canada," said Amy Harder, president of ACE. "We are confident that our 2011 Student Entrepreneur Provincial Champions will make meaningful contributions to the country and its economy for years to come."
ACE is a national, charitable organization that is teaching and igniting young Canadians to create brighter futures for themselves and their communities. ACE delivers a team-based program called Students In Free Enterprise and an individual-based program, Student Entrepreneur. ACE students created 540 jobs, logged 273,000 volunteer hours and directly impacted 114,000 people in the past year alone. In the past three years, students have generated over $80,000,000 in economic opportunity. ACE is currently established on more than 55 post-secondary campuses across Canada.


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Pakistan mulls tax breaks for exports to boost trade
As part of a plan to increase foreign exchange earnings and end a chronic boom-and-bust cycle, Islamabad may offer tax breaks to various industries with export potential.
That’s according to Pakistan Prime Minister’s adviser for commerce and investment Abdul Razak Dawood, who told Bloomberg that an export policy will be announced next month.
“I am in favor of limited time-bound incentives,” Dawood said in an interview, indicating a three- to four-year period for tax breaks.Also on rt.com Foreign investors rush into Pakistan, with inflows surging 200% in first half of the year
This comes despite Pakistan's reported promise to the international Monetary Fund (IMF) not to grant any further tax amnesty schemes as a condition of its bailout program. According to the Letter of Intent (LoI) submitted to IMF, Pakistan has stated that “we have refrained from granting further tax amnesties."
Engineering, chemicals, technology and footwear are among the 20 sectors identified for incentives. Pakistan’s trade deficit narrowed 33 percent to $9.7 billion in the five months to November, as imports plunged by 18 percent and exports rose 5 percent in the same period.
Dawood said he sees outbound shipments growing to $24.5-$25 billion this fiscal year ending in June, up from $23 billion last year. The expected new free-trade agreement with China could help to grow overseas shipments by at least $500 million annually.
For more stories on economy & finance visit RT's business section


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Every fall, I attend the Finovate conference in New York City, where dozens of fintech entrepreneurs from around the world present apps and services they’re rolling out for consumers and financial institutions.
The Tesla Model S is no longer the only electric performance sedan in town. Here's a look at how it stacks up against the 2020 Porsche Taycan in both 4S and Turbo configurations. The Tesla Model S isn't
The electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) industry is heating up, with a lot of companies finding dancing partners for what looks like it could be a boom industry – provided the significant technical
Porsche is partnering with Boeing to build an electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft (eVTOL) to create a premium urban air mobility service. Following the rise of consumer drones and improved
The new M8 marks a genuine first for BMW's naming policy. This is the first full-M version of an 8-series, although not for lack of trying. In the early 1990s, a V-12–powered M8 was developed around the


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Harley reveals the teaser of “From Evolution to Revolution”
Harley Davidson has published their new plans to reveal a new Harley-Davidson Pan America 1250 accompanied by a new Revolution Max powertrain.
The virtual launch event will take place on July 13, 2021, at 10 am CDT. And you can join via registration. And the name of the event is “From Evolution to Revolution.”
“Following the successful launch of our first adventure touring motorcycle. The Pan America, we are excited to reveal another all-new bike.
Built on the Revolution Max platform in the sports segment. Showcasing unmatched Harley-Davidson technology, performance, and style,” said Jochen Zeitz, chairman, president, and CEO of Harley-Davidson.


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| May 21, 2013
| 7:53 AM
It looks like a truck, drives like a truck and hauls like a truck. So the 2013 Ram 1500 is, you guessed it, very much a truck.
This is despite the fact that beneath the handsome sheet metal are two key elements that, until recently, would have...
| May 7, 2013
| 4:05 PM
PINEHURST, N.C. -- There are gas hogs and there are gas hogs.
Some are the expensive, high-horsepower super-luxury cars that environmental enthusiasts may look upon with disdain.
Some are just awe-inspiring, like the 1941 Willys Speedway drag racer that...
| May 8, 2013
| 8:51 AM
They may not attract the same number of catcalls or envious stares as a classic Corvette or Jaguar, but the market for vintage SUVs is heating up.
Since 2008, the classic SUV segment has grown by 65 percent, according to Hagerty Insurance, which...
| Sep 27, 2010
| 9:55 AM
So long, Mercury, we hardly knew ye.
Well, actually we did – the Mercury automotive brand has been around since 1939, when it was created to build a brand that was slightly more upscale than Ford, slightly less than Lincoln. After 2010, Mercury...
| Sep 3, 2011
Would you like free insurance with that?
If you're buying a GM car in Washington or Oregon these days, you might hear those exact words from your dealer.
It's part of a new crop of aggressive incentives that also includes Hyundai's trade-in guarantee...
| Apr 21, 2011
| 2:50 PM
If the price of gas has got you down, AAA's annual study on the cost to own and operate a vehicle will offer little solace.
According to AAA, a motorist will spend 76.3 cents a mile to drive a new vehicle 10,000 miles in 2011, up from 73.9 cents a mile a...
| Oct 15, 2011
The latest delay in Alfa Romeo's resumption of U.S. sales — now pushed back to mid-2013 — is bad news for more than 100 of Chrysler's best dealers. They expected the sporty Italian brand's American reboot to help cover the cost of expensive...
| Jan 3, 2011
| 12:02 PM
Numbers don't lie: There's no denying that the Ford Explorer, introduced in 1990, was an enormous success, quickly becoming — year after year — the top-selling SUV. The four-door, V-6-powered sport utility vehicle filled an enormous hole in...
| Feb 10, 2011
| 2:26 PM
The 2011 Dodge Durango and its sibling the Jeep Grand Cherokee have a lot in common but there are also some significant differences that could easily make the Durango a more appealing choice.
Both are assembled in Detroit, share the same basic...
| Feb 11, 2011
| 1:08 PM
The Chicago Auto Show has always been a good way to sit in cars to get a good feel for them, but this year, there are several models in which you'd better be ready to buckle up.
With 1.2 million square feet of space, the show will have room for four...
| Feb 18, 2012
As soon as my liver and spleen regain their former shapes, I will feel the need to tweet, little birds.
"Was bouncing down r-r-road in @Jeep, dudes. Totally, totally awesome."
At long last, the mud-slinging, disc-pounding Jeep Wrangler has gone a tad...


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Amazon is back with another quiz on its mobile platform. The daily quiz is now live on the Amazon App and today’s Amazon Quiz will give you a chance to win Rs 1,000 Amazon pay Balance. The participants can play the 27 November 2021 Amazon Quiz from 12 AM to 11:59 PM. For those who are unaware of the quiz, the e-commerce platform brings a fresh quiz on a daily basis which consists of five questions related to general knowledge and current affairs.
The participants need to answer all the questions correctly and their names will be selected for a lucky draw. The winner will be announced at the end of the month. One wrong answer could eliminate you from the quiz. Only app users are eligible to participate in the Quiz. In today’s Amazon Quiz the participants will get a chance to win Rs 1,000 Amazon Pay Balance. Check Out 27 November 2021 Amazon Quiz Answers.
Table of Contents
27 November 2021 Amazon Quiz Answers
Question 1: After a hiatus of 5 years, which famous singer recently released a single titled Easy on Me?
Question 2: In 1996, the UN General Assembly adopted Resolution 51/95 proclaiming 16th November as the International day for what?
Question 3: Playing in her first Masters 1000 final at Indian Wells, Paula Badosa from which country, recently beat Victoria Azarenka?
Question 4: This is a view of Male, the capital of which country?
Question 5: What is this drink called?
For the latest gadget and tech news, and gadget reviews, follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. For newest tech & gadget videos subscribe to our YouTube Channel. You can also stay up to date using the Gadget Bridge Android App. You can find the latest car and bike news here.


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Retailers ready to implement Government guidance on face coverings
From tomorrow, 24 July 2020, it will become mandatory for customers to wear face coverings when visiting shops in England. Failure to comply can result in a £100 fine, unless the individual is unable to wear a face covering, for example young children or those with underlying health conditions.
It is the customer’s responsibility to wear a face covering. While retailers will work to encourage and support the new regulations, the Government has made it clear that the role of enforcement will remain with the police.
Government has still to publish the Regulations and more detailed Guidance that we have been told to expect. This is now very urgently needed so that all necessary preparations can be made.
Tom Ironside, Director of Business and Regulation at the British Retail Consortium, said: “Retailers are doing all they can to support necessary safety regulations and will play their role in communicating and encouraging the Government’s new policy on face coverings.
“While enforcement of this policy will be handled by the police, the ultimate responsibility remains with customers who must ensure that they wear a face covering when going into stores. Our shopping experience is changing, and we ask customers to be respectful and considerate when the new rules come into force tomorrow.
“The Regulations and more detailed Guidance that the Government has told us to expect is now overdue. Every passing hour limits the time that retailers have to implement the new guidance.
“Government communications with the general public must be managed effectively to ensure everyone understands the reasons for these changes. It is vital that consumers are confident enough to return to their high streets, as demand remains low despite the lifting of lockdown. If sales and footfall fail to recover quickly, Government should urgently consider steps to boost demand or else we will see many more shop closures and subsequent job losses.”


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Lenovo Yoga Tablet 2 Pro was originally priced at Rs 47,990 in India. Now, it is Rs 1,500 dearer.
The Lenovo S8 tablet has brightest screen in this price range
MT6595, is the world’s first True Octa-core 4G LTE System on Chip (SoC), and has recently been commercialised in India.
Priced at Rs 19,999, Lenovo VIBE X2’s first shipment was up for grabs on Flipkart with some good deals
Check out new electronic devices in the market only at Express Launchpad.
The phone also stands out for its processor, which is chipmaker MediaTek’s big entry into the top-end segment.
Samsung still holds a sizeable share and volume lead in the global market accounting for 25 per cent of Q3 2014 shipments
Lenovo wraps up $2.9 billion purchase of Motorola Mobility from Google.
The Lenovo Yoga Tablet 2 is one of the best value for money Android tablets in the market at the moment.
Samsung lags behind Apple in premium market and overtaken by Lenovo, Xiaomi at bottom end.
The A7-30 3G is Lenovo’s first ever 3G device in the 10,000 price range.
Lenovo has introduced three Android tablets and a Windows tablet.
The VIBE Z2 Pro sports a 6-inch screen and runs on a Qualcomm Snapdragon quad-core processor with 3 GB RAM.
The Lenovo A536 features a 5-inch display along with a 5 MP rear camera with flash and a 2 MP front snapper.
The smartphone is priced at Rs. 15,499/- (MOP) and includes a snap stand case that provides a stand mode for table top usage.


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How many online music download services can the market bear?
That's going to be a key question as the music download market warms up to a white-hot temperature in 2004. The rush is underway among several companies to build music download services and replicate the success of others already leading the way.
In recent weeks you likely heard of others with plans to start selling downloadable music in the new year:
The actual size of the market opportunity for music downloads is growing. That much is clear. Market research firm Ipsos-Insight said last month that as of June of this year one out of every six Americans over the age of 12 who had downloaded music had paid a fee to do so. That translates into about 10 million people, and represented a twofold increase in six months.
The increase coincided, it seems, with the Recording Industry Association of America's aggressive prosecution activities against illegal file downloads.
One interesting stat that Ipsos discovered was that less than a fifth of those "downloaders" owned a digital music player, which may indicate there's a substantial opportunity to sell players in connection with download services.
Using the service to sell players is about the only reason to get into the download business in the first place. No one is yet making money selling music online, though--by one reckoning, that of Gene Munster, analyst at U.S. Bancorp Piper Jaffray--Napster can break even by selling between 1.3 million and 1.5 million songs a week and can realistically expect operating margins north of 15%. And though Apple has never disclosed it, its iPod player is thought to carry a margin much higher than its iMac computer.
But here's the long-term problem with music downloads. While the going rate to charge for a song appears to be 99 cents each, it's album sales that present a tricky pricing problem. Another Ipsos-Insight study just out today suggests that consumers find that paying between $10 and $15 to buy a full-length CD is acceptable. But when it comes to downloading full-length albums online, they expect to pay less.
The range of acceptable prices for a digitally-downloaded album, Ipsos found, ranged from $5 to $10. Right now downloading an album on Apple's iTunes Music Store costs $9.90, suggesting there's some price pressure ahead that will bring the breakeven point for these services under attack.
That will turn the music download business into a struggle for market share, and the chief weapon will be what it has always been: special promotional prices, giveaways and profit-sapping deals, which can't help but extend the time it takes these services to achieve profitability. That means a shakeout is coming. And by this time next year, its results, and the victors, will be apparent.


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Uniswap Labs, the proprietor of the DEX exchange Uniswap, just obtained $ 165 million in a Series B round, bringing its valuation to $ one.66 billion.
As leaked, Uniswap Labs has just closed a $ 165 million Series B funding round, with the participation of Polychain Capital, a16z, Paradigm, SV Angel and Variant. Since then, the company’s valuation has risen to $ one.66 billion.
one / We are proud to announce that we have raised $ 165 million in Series B funding to deliver the potent simplicity of Uniswap to even a lot more individuals all over the planet 🦄🍾https://t.co/ChilydWOEO
– Uniswap Labs (@Uniswap) October 13, 2022
According to founder Hayden Adams, the goal of the funding round is to deliver Uniswap’s companies closer to a lot more customers all over the planet.
“We are now committed to bringing minimalism and powerful security to more people around the world.”
Uniswap was launched in 2018 and elevated eleven kidsIU.S. bucks in its initial round of funding in 2020. This DEX has processed a trading volume of $ one.two trillion to date.
As reported by Cointelegraph, Uniswap has constantly taken some measures to “renew” the undertaking itself and fulfill its ambition to innovate the complete discipline. Typically, the shift to “dodge” the NFT section when shopping for the Genie industry and trading with seven NFT lending platforms at the identical time. In addition, the initial grant from the Uniswap Foundation in September awarded funding to 14 tasks to support create the ecosystem at the sector degree.
At the time of the announcement of the aforementioned financing round, UNI reacted positively, but failed to conquer the common condition, exactly on the event of the announcement of the CPI in September.
Also these days, cryptocurrency custody platform Copper also finished a $ 196 million Series C funding round, regardless of a $ 15.95 million reduction in 2021. The September ten fundraising markets are unfolding. very actively, for illustration the agreements of Azuki ($ thirty million), Messari ($ 35 million), Sardine ($ 51.five million), Doodles ($ 54 million), Sender ($ four.five million) ). USD), Mysten Labs ($ 300 million), Deribit ($ 400 million), Strike ($ 80 million), MPCH Labs ($ forty million), NYDIG ($ 720 million) and Golden ($ forty million).
Synthetic currency 68
Maybe you are interested:


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Warner Bros delayed The Lego Movie 2 Release Date. Now, you have to wait for another few years to see the same awesomeness again.
Warner Bros are nowadays shifting it’s biggest movie release date, earlier Wonder Women movie shift to June 2, 2017 after WB confirmed Ben Affleck’s Batman Solo Movie in it’s upcoming schedule.
Now another big movie, The Lego Movie 2 gets pushed one more year, now i guess we have to wait even longer for everything to be awesome again.
Warner Bros have been rearranging their stock and four projects shifted into new release dates but the biggest change or at least the most notable is the Lego Movie 2 almost a year back from May 2018 to February 2019 which makes the difference of Five years between Lego Movie and Lego Movie 2.
Hopefully the film will be more than worth the wait.
The Lego Movie 2 Release Date Is Now, February 2019.
What do you think of The Lego Movie 2 Release Date Delayed? Share your thoughts & reactions in the comment thread below.


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Here's what Wall Street expects from Novo Nordisk's earnings
- Novo Nordisk is presenting Q4 earnings on February 3.
- Analysts predict earnings per share of DKK 3.71.
- Watch Novo Nordisk stock price move in real-time ahead here.
Novo Nordisk presents their latest quarterly figures on February 3.
17 analysts forecast earnings of DKK 3.71 per share compared to earnings of DKK 3.70 per share in the same quarter of the previous year.
Analysts are expecting sales to decrease 1.76% compared to the prior year quarter. The company is expected to report DKK 31.85 billion.
Overall, analysts expect an average profit of DKK 17.94 per share for the current fiscal year, compared to DKK 16.38 per share in the previous year. On average, analysts predict that the company will report annual sales of DKK 126.74 billion.
This story was written by Markets Insider's RoboEddy, which automatically writes these stories based on data provided by our partners.


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Aldi is rolling out new community donation points in stores nationwide to help support those in need.
From October, stores will feature donation boxes near the packing benches in stores for customers who wish to donate any food or household products, regardless of where they were purchased, to local good causes.
From long-life foods like grains and tinned goods to non-food items such as toiletries and cleaning products, the supermarket has released a list of the items that are most in demand to help guide customers.
All donations will be distributed to local charities, foodbanks and community groups that are part of the surplus food donation scheme on selected days via community giving platform Neighbourly.
The new initiative follows Aldi’s commitment to donate 10 million meals across the country in 2021, with the supermarket already working with Neighbourly to donate surplus food from stores each day. Recently, Aldi donated over one million meals to charities, community groups and foodbanks over the school summer holidays.
Mary Dunn, Managing Director of Corporate Responsibility at Aldi UK, said: “This year, we are committed to donating more meals to those in need than ever before, and we know that our customers want to help too.
“This is why we are working with Neighbourly to extend our current donations scheme, making it easy for customers to donate food and essential supplies to those in need year-round.”
Steve Butterworth, from Neighbourly, added: “Customer donations can help make a real difference, and I’d encourage anyone who is able to get involved to do so. The list of most-needed items should help guide customers when deciding what to donate; however anything people can contribute will be a massive help.”
Top 25 most in-demand items
Aldi is spreading the festive cheer and bringing together local communities by donating Christmas lunches to those in low-income areas across the UK.
Britain’s fourth-largest supermarket is working in partnership with Company Shop Group to provide free Christmas dinners at Community Shops in the run-up to Christmas.
Aldi has announced when its stores will be open over Christmas and New Year.
From Monday 18th December to Saturday 23rd December, shoppers can visit Aldi stores between 7am and 10pm to pick up everything they need to celebrate Christmas, at the lowest possible prices.


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The upcoming finale season will premiere exclusively on Stan, 25 October, same day as the US
Following last season’s disastrous bust gone wrong, season three finds detectives Nick Cullen and Judd Tolbeck back in uniform with a revolving door of quirky new partners and even quirkier criminals
Apple release a teaser for another new drama coming to their streaming platform later this year
From producers of the “Bourne” franchise, the series explores the origin story and present-day actions of Operation Treadstone, the infamous, covert CIA Black Ops program that uses behaviour modification
A brand new nature documentary to rival the work of Sir David Attenborough, coming exclusively to Apple’s new streaming platform
Based on the real life high school years of former NFL star Spencer Paysinger, the second season of All American sees star wide receiver Spencer James facing a huge moral decision.
Apple are starting to deliver details on the series that will be available at the 1 November global launch
The vast collection of award-winning and hugely popular DreamWorks Animation films rolling out on Stan forms part of the recently announced multi-year output deal with Paramount Pictures.
From Tuesday, 1 October all seven seasons will be available to stream. This is the first time all seasons have been available together.
The first UK adaption of the global hit series will showcase the most fabulous drag queens that the UK has to offer.


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SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — Roku is getting more creative and attempting to offer advertisers more certainty over outcomes, in a climate in which marketer spending is coming under pressure.
The company is one of the leading gateway platforms to connected TV programming, used by more than 70% of US cord-cutters, and has a large operation selling ads in that content.
In this video interview with Beet.TV, Miles Fisher, Sr. Director, Ad Platform Sales & Strategy, Roku, paints a picture of the changing landscape.
Fisher says half of ads on Roku now involve the use of the data Roku holds about its own users.
“We have the Roku ad ID for advertising, which allows us to persistently understand the way that consumers are behaving on our platforms – one out of every two CTV impressions actually served on a Roku device,” fisher says
“So when we work with our brand partners and our publishing partners, that Roku identity layer allows us to deliver a much more impactful user advertising experience.”
Roku’s ID for Advertising (RIDA) exists at a time when Apple has limited iOS’ IDFA and Google is deprecating third-party cookies from web browsers.
Ads under pressure?
Roku’s Q4 2022 investor update, published in February 2023, noted a rare slow-down in what have historically been surging sales of ads across its platform, attributed to economic pressure.
“While Roku continues to benefit from the shift of advertisers from
traditional TV to TV streaming, that was largely offset in Q4 by the
pullback in overall ad spend,” the update noted.
Roku clocked $731.3 million in quarterly platform revenue, a number which includes ad sales, up 5% year-on-year.
In part, the slowdown was also relative to a big upward spike in the prior year’s quarter, caused by an influx of views to newly-adopted streaming services.
Roku gets rocking
Roku’s Fisher is aiming to build out OneView, Roku’s advertiser platform, further, to give marketers more certainty.
“How can we go beyond just reach and frequency … ultimately showing ‘how does that TV spot then deliver on other omnichannel formats and move towards other metrics like CPA or other ROAS signals?’,” he says.
The company has been rolling out a slew of marketing products, including:
- New ad formats.
- Content made with Roku Brand Studio.
- More inventory against Roku Channel original productions.
- Roku Recommends, a show facilitating both discovery and branded content.
- Shoppable ads, enabled for ecommerce with Roku Pay.
“The key differentiator for our One View platform is that identity layer. It really allows our marketers to connect the top of the (marketing) funnel to the bottom of the funnel.”
Fisher says, when a user turns on a Roku device, he wants them to see “large banner ads, tying that with retargeting, remarketing, click-to-purchase, tying that to mobile”.
“We’re investing heavily in that space and bringing that to the 15- and 30-second spots that TV advertiser are used to buying. That nexus is really kind of that next wave of connected TV that we’re hyper focused on.”
You’re watching coverage of Beet Retreat San Juan 2023, presented by LiveRamp, Madhive, Magnite, Paramount, T-Mobile Advertising Solutions and VideoAmp. For more videos from the Beet Retreat, please visit this page.


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The search company works to improve its image and increase the volume of searches on its sites.
Ask Jeeves is expected to unveil personalization features, local search capabilities on Tuesday, plus an upgrade to its Teoma search technology and a new, thinner butler mascot.
The company also said it plans to release a desktop search tool in the fourth quarter. The moves are all designed to drive awareness and increase search volume on the Ask Jeeves site, which generates revenue primarily through the display of Google’s AdWords.
"The launch immediately delivers a better experience for our users in several important areas and lays the groundwork for us to fulfill our vision for search in new ways," said Jim Lanzone, senior vice president of search properties at Ask Jeeves.
Amidst the flurry of announcements, the most dramatic is the introduction of "MyJeeves," a personalized section of the site in which users can save search results, put these saved results into categories, make notes on saved URLs, and email those results to friends. That functionality is available whether or not users register and log in, but those who do log in get more features: a saved search history, ability to access the personalized area from any computer, and additional storage.
The search history feature is similar to what Amazon.com offers on its new A9.com search engine, while the ability to save searches is akin to what’s offered by companies like Furl or Backflip.
"The user creates their own personal Web index," said Lanzone, explaining users’ notes about pages become metadata that help make searches on the "MyJeeves" area more relevant.
Ask Jeeves is also debuting new local search features, with content gathered through partnerships with Citysearch and Topix.net. The company had already offered local content like maps, weather, driving directions, and movies. Now, users searching for things like "pizza in Chicago" will get listings for local businesses through Citysearch. Topix.net, which gathers content from 7,000 sources, will power a local news product in the News channel of Ask.com.
Powering all these search results is a new 3.0 version of Teoma search technology, the company said. Ask Jeeves says it’s improved the relevance of its algorithm, expanded its index to encompass 2 billion documents, and has begun crawling sites more often -- with special attention to frequently updated sites such as news sites. The company says it can also now crawl Flash and PDF files. Fourth-quarter additions will include cached versions of popular sites, related search technology and a desktop search tool. Desktop search has become one of the hotter areas of the search market.
Ask Jeeves intends to personify all these changes with the introduction of a new, thinner, more confident-looking butler mascot. Since September 14, the company has run a publicity stunt on its site featuring a silhouette of the butler that asks "Where’s Jeeves?" The image links to a Web page upon which Jeeves explains he’s embarked on a "secret mission" and "worldwide quest" to strengthen and improve Ask.com. On Tuesday, he will return, having lost his double chin, changed into a more modern-looking suit, and adopted a more confident posture.
"We are going to be essentially starting a broad campaign around checking out the new Jeeves," said Scott Garell, executive vice president and general manager of U.S. sites at Ask Jeeves. "We are world class. We’re taking the butler through an extreme makeover to be reflective of that."
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Pamela Parker is a former managing editor of ClickZ News, Features, and Experts. She's been covering interactive advertising and marketing since the boom days of 1999, chronicling the dot-com crash and the subsequent rise of the medium. Before working at ClickZ, Parker was associate editor at @NY, a pioneering Web site and e-mail newsletter covering New York new media start-ups. Parker received a master's degree in journalism, with a concentration in new media, from Columbia University's Graduate School of Journalism.
Gartner Magic Quadrant for Digital Commerce
This Magic Quadrant examines leading digital commerce platforms that enable organizations to build digital commerce sites. These commerce platforms facilitate purchasing transactions over the Web, and support the creation and continuing development of an online relationship with a consumer.
Paid Search in the Mobile Era
Google reports that paid search ads are currently driving 40+ million calls per month. Cost per click is increasing, paid search budgets are growing, and mobile continues to dominate. It's time to revamp old search strategies, reimagine stale best practices, and add new layers data to your analytics.
June 10, 2015
12:00pm ET/9:00am PT


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Norwich Public Schools has been awarded a grant by the state of Connecticut in a recent announcement by Governor Dannel Malloy and Department of Agriculture Commissioner Steven K. Reviczky, to bring more locally grown produce to its district. The $49,999 grant is part of an overall package of funding for the Connecticut Department of Agriculture's Farm Transition Grant and Farm Viability Grant programs which works to promote locally grown products.
The Farm-to-School Program is a statewide program designed to encourage the use of Connecticut Grown fresh fruits and vegetables in your schools' cafeteria meals and snacks. The promotion of local foods can be used to make kids more interested in learning and living a healthier lifestyle.
The grant will allow Norwich Public School Food Services to convert an underused school kitchen to a food processing kitchen, which will allow locally grown fresh produce to be processed and preserved for thousands of children in the Norwich school system. The grant will also be used towards a van to pick up the produce.
"Getting locally grown products into school cafeterias is a win-win situation for our children and CT farms," says Roberta Jacobs, Norwich Public School's Food Service Director. "The new kitchen will allow us to receive local farm foods when they are plentiful in the spring and summer and preserve them for year around use."
According to Jacobs, the program should be up and running by the end of June.
Schools operating a Farm to School program have shown increases in children's participation in the school meals program and consumption of fruits and vegetables. The grant will assist in overcoming some obstacles to serving CT Grown products throughout the entire school year. Norwich's use of this grant may serve as a model program to other schools around the state.
Norwich Public School's Food Service along with the School Nutrition Association of Connecticut has made it a priority to bring locally grown produce into schools in order to provide students with more nutritious foods and support Connecticut industry. Through grants like this and the expansion of Connecticut's agriculture programs, the School Nutrition Association hopes to implement more locally grown produce and healthy foods into Connecticut's school systems.
About the School Nutrition Association of Connecticut:
The School Nutrition Association of Connecticut (SNACT) is an affiliate of the national School Nutrition Association which has been providing healthful and nutritious meals to schools nationwide since 1946. SNACT provides education and support to members to advance good nutrition in Connecticut communities. Members serve healthy meals and snacks in school cafeterias and classrooms daily in order to give students the fuel they need to learn and lead healthy, active lives. The School Nutrition Association of Connecticut supports and participates in nutrition education and other wellness initiatives in school districts throughout the state. For more information, visit http://www.snact.org.


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Seatwave sees demand soar as the
world's cricket stars head to England
LONDON, 28 May 2009 - As England gears up to host the second
ever ICC World Twenty20, Seatwave, Europe's leading fan-to-fan
ticket exchange, is seeing explosive demand for tickets. In
the past seven days the Twenty20 tournament has even out sold U2 by
Pakistan is the team that fans most want to see with 29% of all
tickets sold for days when they are playing. Moreover, the most
popular match of the tournament looks set to be Pakistan's clash
with India in the warm-up stage.
The tournament is proving popular with fans across the world.
Seatwave has sold tickets to fans in 17 different countries,
excluding the UK. The majority of these sales have been in India
but Seatwave has also sold tickets to fans from far-flung
destinations such as Hong Kong, Australia and Saudi Arabia. In
fact, 6% of all tickets sold have been to fans based abroad, and of
those, 20% have bought tickets to more than one game - great news
for the UK economy.
Joe Cohen, CEO and Founder of Seatwave said: "The Twenty20
England World Cup is set to be one of the sporting highlights of
2009 and fans are keen to watch their cricketing heroes in action.
We expect sales to continue to rise throughout the tournament
as fans follow their team's progress. This tournament has clearly
shown an increasing number of fans taking advantage of the
increased flexibility and access which Seatwave provides."


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A FLORIST’S shop in Henley closes today (Friday) after 13 years
A FLORIST’S shop in Henley closes today (Friday) after 13 years.
Stemtation in Market Place Mews will now sell flowers only online as the owners say footfall has fallen and the future of their rented premises is uncertain.
Kathryn Hammant, 41, from Sonning Common, and her business partner Eric Miche, 42, from Reading, said they had to take action as they believed the area was about to be redeveloped.
Last year, the mews was put on the market after the DeStefano Property Group, the parent company of London and Henley Properties, went into administration.
It was bought by asset managers Catalyst Capital as part of a £55 million deal for 19 former DeStefano properties across the South. The previous owner had planning permission to redevelop the mews into 14 flats and 16,000 sq ft of retail space.
Mrs Hammant said she believed redevelopment of the site was imminent.
“We have had people coming in doing a lot of surveys and inspections. These are all signs that something is in the pipeline,” she said.
“At the end of the day the mews needs something doing to it. It doesn't look like it did when we came in — we have got an empty unit next door.”
Mrs Hammant said the pair had observed a drop in footfall and blamed it on insufficient parking, traffic queues on Remenham Hill and people choosing to shop online.
They didn’t believe it was worth paying rent on another shop when they had a business that was already expensive to run.
“It wouldn’t be cost effective,” she said. “Henley is not what it used to be and seeing so many people leaving, so many shops empty, doesn’t give you confidence.”
Mrs Hammant said the business would remain in Henley and they would offer consultancy as well as selling online.
Stemtation first opened in Market Place Mews in 2003 but in 2008 moved to Toad Hall garden centre because planning permission had been granted to demolish and redevelop Market Place Mews.
After that redevelopment, the business returned to the original unit in August 2011.
In a statement, the owners thanked their friends and customers.
They said: “Because of you, we have had more than 12 successful years here in Henley and we are looking forward to many, many more, but the future of our premises has been unsure for a while.
“Recent changes of ownership and the threat of redevelopment of Market Place Mews have led us to take the decision to relocate. We have done this before so this time it should be a breeze!
“Christmas 2015 was our busiest and most successful one to date and now that we have recovered we will continue our search for new premises, which will be mainly used for consultations.
“We have enjoyed working with all of you and appreciate your support over the last decade and more and we hope that you will continue to support us in the future.
“We know what we want, we know what we are capable of and we also know our customers and for that reason we know the next step is not a business risk, it's a new phase in what has been a fantastic journey so far for Stemtation.
“We are excited to see what 2016 has in store and remember, we are changing, not closing.”
Two weeks ago the Henley Standard reported that gift and art shop St Audrey’s in Duke Street would close this summer with the owners blaming the growth of online sales. Skate shop Yeuk in Friday Street closed last month.
Meanwhile, the Cargo store in Market Place will close at the end of next week before re-opening as a Bensons for Beds outlet. The two brands are owned by Steinhoff UK.


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Great news for all portterheads out there!!
J.K. Rowling is releasing a new story on Halloween, and it’s about one of the most terrifying villain of all!!
Whom? You may ask? Professor Dolores Umbridge!!!
The news came out early this morning on the author’s website Pottermore
The new exclusive J.K. Rowling content provides a rich, 1,700-word back story about Umbridge’s life filled with many new details, as well as Rowling’s revealing first-person thoughts and reflections about the character.
Umbridge is not only one of the most malicious Potter characters, she is the only person other than Lord Voldemort to leave a permanent physical scar on Harry.
So get ready to buy the book as it comes out next friday!


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A unit of BK Modi-promoted Spice Mobility Ltd has acquired 26 per cent stake in Creative Functionapps Lab Pvt Ltd, which develops products and services for next-generation telecom networks, for an undisclosed amount.
Post the transaction, Creative Functionapps has become an associate company of Spice Digital, which is a subsidiary of Spice Mobility, according to a statement released to the stock exchanges.
Founded in 2013, New Delhi-based Creative Functionapps develops analytic products related to telecom network performance, monitoring and internet consumer services, among others.
Spice Mobility is part of the $2 billion Spice Global Group which is promoted by India-born BK Modi, who is a citizen of Singapore. The group has diversified interest in telecom, real estate, retail and BPO.
Noida-based Spice Mobility manufactures entry-level devices such as smartphones, networking phones, feature phones and others.
Spice Digital, which was founded in 2000, provides mobile value-added services and content aggregation in 25 countries. It has partnerships with all telecom operators in India, in addition to tie ups with 20 overseas telcos. In January, the firm had acquired 38.53 per cent stake in privately held Anytime Learning Pvt Ltd, a firm which owns online job assessment property Common Job Test.
Shares of Spice Mobility were up by 1.97 per cent to close at Rs 23.30 on BSE on Monday.


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WhatsApp, which is utilized by thousands and thousands of customers worldwide, is thought for enhancing the consumer expertise because it continues to deliver new updates and options.
This time, the moment messaging app introduced that it was rolling out a brand new replace that aligns with the most recent Materials Design 3 tips.
In accordance with WaBetaInfo, the moment messaging app is bringing the replace to some beta testers as of now which is known as “rounded alerts”. Nevertheless, extra customers will have the ability to use it within the coming weeks.
WhatsApp, which introduced to launch tweaked interface by bringing redesigned switches and floating motion buttons, mentioned that these parts are following the Materials Design 3 tips.
These new updates will improve the consumer expertise as the brand new look is loads totally different from the earlier one with spherical edges. The brand new look appears fashionable in addition to improves the expertise general.
“It’s vital to notice that any alert inside the app has been redesigned, not simply the one proven within the connected screenshot,” mentioned the app-tracking web site.
The messaging app will proceed to deliver new modifications to alter your entire utility for beta testers.
Those that set up the most recent WhatsApp beta for Android updates from the Google Play Retailer will have the ability to use this new replace. Nevertheless, extra individuals will discover the replace on their telephones within the close to future.


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Irvine, CA — Following the success of its Hi-Chew Bite-Size Candy Shop in New York City this past June, Morinaga America, Inc. is bringing the pop-up experience to three more cities this fall: Dallas, Los Angeles and Miami.
From experiencing the brand’s history and colorful packaging to snagging newly released products, exclusive flavors and new merch, the shops bring consumers all things Hi-Chew, the company reports.
The Dallas event took place September 15 to 17, with the LA shop scheduled to be open October 27 to 29 at The Grove. The Miami location runs from November 10 to 12 in Wynwood.
The company notes customers are immersed in a fruit-forward world that evokes a sense of fun and uniqueness. Each location brings a new element that’s specific to the city, combining consumers’ hometown flare with the candy. Consumers will also be transported around the world as they explore the brand’s history and browse the display of global flavors.
The Bite-Size Candy Shop will feature exclusive products such as Yogurt Mix, Pineapple and Lillikoi, as well as classic Hi-Chew flavors including soda pop mix, banana and kiwi. What’s more, Morinaga America is using the venues to unveil Hi-Soft, a salted caramel chew that is the latest addition to its product lineup.
Exclusive branded merchandise will be available for purchase including new hoodie designs, beanies, fanny packs, and limited-edition stickers specific to each city.
“After the success of our Bite-Size Candy Shop in New York City, our brand fans were eager for more, and we’re excited to be able to bring this experience to them in Dallas, Los Angeles, and Miami this fall,” says Teruhiro Kawabe (Terry), chief representative for the USA & president, CEO of Morinaga America. “As our loyal Chew Crew continues to grow throughout the country, we’re so happy that we can bring the HI-CHEW® pop-up to each of these cities.”


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There’s the launch of Movenpick’s latest global menu, pesto and pistou, which is available for lunch and dinner throughout October at Sicilia Restaurant.
For those celebrating Diwali, Chor Bazaar is hosting a dinner buffet from AED185 per person between October 29 and November 1. Diners can expect a selection of authentic Indian favourites including signature lamb chops, chicken tikka, and traditional naan.
There’s also a ‘spooktacular’ brunch at Al Bahou for Halloween. On November 1 the Friday family brunch is getting a scary edition, with everyone encouraged to dress up for the chance to win a free brunch on your next visit.


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Festival Special Cisneros and Mondelez to speak at FOMLA 2013
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The M&M Global Awards are back! Save the date for one of the best nights on the advertising industry calendar: September 5, 2013
Entry deadline: June 10
Shortlist announced: July 24
M&M Global Awards: September 5


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In a merger of cloud solutions providers, Virtustream has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Enomaly, which makes software for private cloud management and also operates the SpotCloud marketplace for buying and selling cloud capacity. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
"We have talked to every emerging player in the space and believe Virtustream has both the IP and the people to be the leader in cloud technology solutions geared for the complex enterprise," said Reuven Cohen, founder and CTO of Enomaly. "We are very excited to be joining the team."
SpotCloud is an online marketplace bringing together buyers and sellers in a cloud capacity clearinghouse and marketplace. Cloud providers can use SpotCloud to sell inventory that would otherwise go unsold, enabling increased utilization and revenue. By selling through SpotCloud, providers can monetize inventory without undermining their standard pricing. For end users, SpotCloud provides a venue to discover and buy computing capacity, based on performance, cost and location parameters – all accessible through a web dashboard and API.
Virtustream says it will delay the production launch of SpotCloud 1.0 to enhance its robustness and security, and will inprove SpotCloud's ability to exchange workloads with the xStream Infrastructure Unit (IU), a "cloud atomic element" developed by Virtustream. The xStream IU is an extensible container of compute, memory, bandwidth and IOPS, smaller than a virtual machine.
Virtustream says it will continue to support released versions of Enomaly's software products, and will integrate features of SpotCloud into future product suites. Virtustream's xStream cloud platform managed private clouds either in an on-premises data center or on public cloud platforms.
Virtustream also was attracted by Enomaly's presence in the Asia-Pacific market.
"Enomaly has gained its most significant market traction in AsiaPac, specifically China," said Rodney Rogers, chairman and CEO of Virtustream. "This acquisition allows us to leverage their customer base in this region and to expand upon it by bringing these customers a much broader capability set with the xStream Cloud Platform."


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Considered one of the most influential gangster films ever made, Scarface’s gritty depiction of Tony Montana’s lethal ambition has made it a cultural touchstone that spans generations. Now, Universal Pictures Home Entertainment commemorates the 1983 film’s release with the Scarface Gold Edition available on 4K Ultra HD for the first time ever, newly remastered Blu-ray™, DVD and Digital on October 15, 2019.
The physical releases include a brand-new bonus feature, the Scarface: 35th Anniversary Reunion featuring Al Pacino and Michelle Pfeiffer to celebrate the film’s iconic legacy as one of the greatest crime sagas of all time.
Universal Pictures Home Entertainment is also releasing a Scarface “The World is Yours” Limited Edition gift set which includes...
Continue reading: Pop-Culture Phenomenon SCARFACE Coming to 4K Limited Edition from Universal Pictures in News. - Comments (Reply To Topic)


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The two southern cement manufacturers Lucky (PSX: LUCK) and Attock (PSX: ACPL) are really headed south from the looks of their financials for FY19, but there is not much anyone can do about it. On the one hand is Attock with margins contracting to 23 percent; while on the other is market leader Lucky that has also witnessed its margins shrink to 29 percent—a level that is a new low for the company's historically stellar performance. Earnings have fallen, though Lucky manages to come out it looking much better than Attock and—as we will find out in the next few weeks—other players in the industry.
The cement industry is going through a difficult transition—from capacity unable to meet growing demand to depleting demand unable to keep up with rising capacity. Even then, the industry managed to grow its sales by 2 percent, thanks to increasing volumes of exports, particularly clinker. In FY19, as per Lucky's director report, industry clinker exports rose over 600 percent. Lucky is contributing to 36 percent of these clinker exports; 28 percent of all industry exports. Of all its own exports, clinker constituted 45 percent of its sales going abroad. Despite this growth, Lucky's revenues only grew 1 percent owing to lower prices fetched in the global market as clinker falls lower in the cement value chain. High priced domestic sales for Lucky fell by 12 percent.
However, the company's revenue per ton grew by 3 percent which given the current dynamics is decent. Part of the reason is also that southern players enjoy higher prices than the more competitive cement sold in the north. The fact that Lucky is not leveraged helps its cause as unlike other players it is not incurring high finance costs owing to expansions and exacerbated by rising borrowing costs. High distribution costs due to sales mix tilted towards exports means the company's expenses as a share of revenues have increased. Even then, Lucky manages to hold a net profit margin of 22 percent which is not too bad after all.
As a comparison, Attock's profit margins have had a mighty fall, coming down by 53 percent. Its expenses after gross profit have grown to 13 percent of revenues—which includes higher cost of borrowing the company now incurs. Though Attock's revenues have grown significantly—it is also contributing heavily to clinker exports—its costs have increased that much higher. Cost of imported fuel, local power and inputs like coal have all gone up due to the unfavorable exchange rate. Coal prices in the global market have also been shaky. Together these factors have led to a margin attrition. Attock's earnings have almost halved since last year as well and while part of the reason is rising costs of production, and higher distribution and finance expenses, the other part is an effective tax of 14 percent whereas last year, the company received a rebate.
A storm is brewing. Earnings will not recover unless domestic demand changes its tune, currency becomes more stable, and inflation is under control.


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The Ukrainian police have arrested a hacker who made headlines in January last year by posting a massive database containing some 773 million stolen email addresses and 21 million unique plaintext passwords for sale on various underground hacking forums.
In an official statement released on Tuesday, the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) said it identified the hacker behind the pseudonym “Sanix,” who is a resident of the Ivano-Frankivsk region of Ukraine, but it did not reveal his actual identity to the media.
In January last year, the hacker tried to sell the massive 87-gigabyte database labeled as “the largest array of stolen data in history,” which, according to security experts, was just a fraction of the stolen data Sanix collected.
According to the authorities, Sanix had at least 6 more similar databases of stolen and broken passwords, totaling in terabytes in size, which also included billions of phone numbers, payment card details, and Social Security numbers.
Besides email logins, the database also contained bank card PIN codes, e-wallets of cryptocurrencies, PayPal accounts, and information about computers hacked for further use in botnets and to launch distributed…