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Truck tire speed ratings are a guideline, but pressure is the key
A recent investigation by the Associated Press calls into question the safety of commercial truck tires as highway speeds across the country increase. But the AP’s report doesn’t reference a common and accepted practice in the trucking industry: increasing tire pressure to compensate for heavier loads and higher speeds.
Jim Park, equipment editor for Heavy Duty Trucking (HDT), a sister publication of Modern Tire Dealer, is HDT’s go-to tire editor. The AP’s report is based on what Park acknowledges is true – most truck tires are rated for 75 mph. But it neglected to mention what he calls a “rule of thumb” for truckers: “Add 5 psi to their normal inflation pressure for every 5 mph over the rated speed they plan to travel.”
Focused on the 75 mph limit for tires, the AP pointed to 14 states, most of them west of the Mississippi River, that have speed limits of 75 or 80 mph. Parts of Texas have posted 85 mph limits. The AP reports, “Some of those states acted without consulting the tire industry.” The AP discovered the disconnect between highway speed limits and commercial tire speed ratings while covering the government’s investigation of truck tire failures.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration determined that truck operators were at fault in blowouts involving certain Michelin tires because in all 16 cases the operators were exceeding the 75 mph rating.
Park, from HDT, says, “There’s nothing particularly wrong with going 75 or even 85, if the proper inflation pressure is observed, even though the tire is rated for only 75. That’s not a fall-off-the-cliff number, just a guideline.
“The problem you will eventually run up against is the max cold inflation pressure rating for the tire and the wheel – usually 120 psi for a load range tire and slightly higher for a load range H.”
As for one of the remedies suggested by the AP – having tire manufacturers make tires with higher speed ratings, Park basically says fat chance.
“It won’t happen. It’s all about fuel economy today so that’s where the R&D dollars are going,” Park says.
For more specifics about the importance of commercial tire pressure, read the latest story on the topic from HDT, from December 2014: Are you putting enough air in your steer tires?
Find the AP’s report here: Big rigs often go faster than tires can handle.


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Good Signs for New Year
As the local market continues to remain strong, Toowoomba is poised to reap the benefits from major infrastructure projects and growing investor confidence.
The REIQ Queensland Market Monitor (QMM) shows the median house price in Toowoomba rose another 1% on the back of 4% sales growth for the September quarter.
Toowoomba continues to record strong sales activity with volumes up 21% on the June quarter.
RE/MAX Success sales consultant Tiffany Krause confirmed pre Christmas activity remained buoyant and expects this trend to continue in the New Year as relocations peak between January and Easter.
Miss Krause said listing numbers have also begun to improve reflecting a sign that vendors are becoming increasingly confident about current selling conditions in the Toowoomba market.
“With greater choices, competitive pricing complimented by astute internet and newspaper marketing will be paramount to achieve a reasonably quick result,” Miss Krause added.
“ It is a well established fact that new infrastructure drives investor confidence and real estate sales activity. Where ever you drive around Toowoomba there is evidence of major infrastructure projects underway and new residential accommodation under construction both in the city centre and suburbs. The new Wellcamp Airport has been a huge catalyst in driving consumer confidence. Bring on 2015!” Miss Krause exclaimed.

domain: news


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Even if you’re a model customer with no claims, other reasons beyond your control could be pushing your premium up.Fraudulent claims are increasingly common. Fraudsters who stage accidents to make money are causing rates to increase across the country. In Ontario, the Insurance Bureau of Canada reports that fraud costs an estimated $1.6 billion per year (...)
Tag: ontario auto insurance
Are dashboard cameras worth purchasing for insurance?
You’ve probably read about it in countless online articles dedicated to cars or technologies: dashboard cams are becoming increasingly popular. As technological advances continue to make dash board cameras smaller, cheaper and higher quality, you may be tempted to join the ten percent of Canadian drivers who have already embraced the trend and installed one in their car. They’re a must for some and a futile gadget for others. To help you out, we came up with the pros and cons to consider before making a decision (...)


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#BRICS... There are real benefits for Durban
Discussions between the 25-member council, made up of officials from Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, and chaired by Sekunjalo chairperson Dr Iqbal Survé, takes place ahead of the BRICS Summit to be held in Johannesburg next week.
Apart from the short-term boost to the eventing market that runs into millions of rand, and international exposure of the city, discussions are expected to lead to long-term growth of business and industry.
The president of the Durban Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Musa Makhunga, said: “Local businesses can benefit in ways such as infrastructure programmes, access to alternative funding models and capital, improved access to markets in and near BRICS nations, and skills development and knowledge sharing to enrich our workforce.”
Members of the chamber will represent the business community at the summit, and Makhunga said they would relate “some of the tangible benefits that will be available to business” afterwards.
“Discussions can set policy which dictates direct benefits to ordinary employees, businesses, entrepreneurs and potential employees. These discussions can/should lead to job creation as well as opportunity creation within our local market,” he said.
One of the key topics is trade relations between the countries and Makhunga said importance was placed on international trade agreements, and growing the local business sector.
“As much as ‘buy local’ is important for our local economy, we cannot ignore our trade agreements with international trade partners.
“We are committed to working towards an investment environment which is attractive and hospitable to investors both local and foreign and which reflects an optimally constructive balance between the two.”
The chamber, he said, believed that trade missions and agreements advanced the developmental agenda in eThekwini and Africa through its international business unit members, and businesses have full access to an international network, as well as access to international markets.
Short-term, however, the tourism and hospitality services would be boosted, and the city was ready for international exposure.
“This is an opportunity to showcase what Durban has to offer and we need to put our best foot forward and show the world that Durban is a city for the future. This can result in long-term exposure especially for hospitality, accommodation, restaurants, catering and even retail.
“Hosting special interest events during international events like this can create great publicity and be an incredible advertisement for businesses and the city.
“These international conferences have the potential to create a multiplier effect through areas of employment, accommodation, restaurants and catering right through to entertainment and tourism with the potential of boosting our local economy,” he said.
Phindile Makwakwa, acting head at Tourism KZN, said BRICS was a valuable opportunity to present the province to potential in- vestors and business people.
“It will be a platform for local business to inter- act with their counterparts from the BRICS countries and to forge profitable business linkages.
“Our research shows that delegates of this stature will spend an estimated R6400 per day during their stay and the estimated impact will be in the region of R5.7million for two nights. They will be staying at 4 and 5-star establishments.
“Hosting a global event of this nature increases the profile of our destination globally - not only as a tourism destination but also as a hub for potential investors to do business in.
“As KZN, we already have marketing initiatives which we are conducting in China and India and this is a major booster of those initiatives,” said Makwakwa.
At the other end of the province, Richards Bay also hopes to lure international investors to the region, and presented the facilities at the Industrial Development Zone at a meeting earlier this week.
Pumi Motsoahae, chief executive, emphasised its strategic location alongside the port, as a key attraction for investors.
“Many sites in the industrial zone have already been signed up by international investors, who want to be here.
“We want to show this off at the council meeting, and attract many more manufacturing companies to this area. We are the best placed for this,” said Motsoahae.The Independent on Saturday


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The BC Beer Awards and Festival released its official 2019 collaboration brew this week in celebration of its 10th annual event, taking place this Saturday, Oct. 19, at the Croatian Cultural Centre in Vancouver.
Last year’s BCBA award winners 33 Acres Brewing (Brewery of the Year) and Sooke Brewing Co. (Rookie of the Year) teamed up with collaboration-focused BREWHALL, to create a tropical brut IPA as this year’s official beer of the 2019 BC Beer Awards. Proceeds from this beer will fund a grant for students of Simon Fraser University’s Craft Beer and Brewing Essentials program, aptly named “BC Beer Awards Starter Kit.” In keeping with the academic theme of the collaboration series, this year’s beer is called Honour Roll to commemorate 10 years of celebrating B.C.’s best in class beers.
The tropical brut IPA is brewed with German pilsner malt, and Wakatu and Amarillo hops for a fresh and fruity beer with a refreshingly dry and spritzy finish that sits at 6.5% ABV and 26 IBU. The beer will be on tap at the 2019 BC Beer Awards, 33 Acres Brewing, Sooke Brewing Co. and BREWHALL. A select few locations around Vancouver will also be pouring Honour Roll, including Tap & Barrel Olympic Village, Tap & Barrel Convention Centre, Tap & Barrel Shipyards, 33 Acres Brewing, Sooke Brewing Co, BREWHALL, 12 Kings Pub, Darby’s Kits, Malone’s, Red Racer Taphouse Beatty, Timber and St. Augustine’s.
In partnership with Simon Fraser University’s Craft Brewing Essentials program, the proceeds of the tropical brut IPA will help fund the “The BC Beer Awards Starter Kit” grant, with $3,700 in tuition funding for a new student entering the program.
“The BC Beer Awards recognizes the hard work and passion that their peers in the beer industry demonstrate day to day, and want to provide an opportunity for a deserving student to become involved in this community,” the organization stated in a press release on Wednesday.
The sold-out 2019 BC Beer Awards & Festival takes place this Saturday, Oct. 19, at the Croatian Cultural Centre (3250 Commercial Drive) in Vancouver, from 4-9 p.m. VIP Awards Hour takes place from 4 p.m.-5 p.m.


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Analyst firm CRU recently released an electric vehicle (“EV”) report which highlights that China, currently the leader in the sale of new energy vehicles internationally, is expected to venture into Western markets while maintaining its market position, which makes up half of all expected global new energy vehicles, in the next 10 years.
CRU, which conducts independent market analyses of various commodities and is based in London, also noted in its report that local sales would be boosted by consumer demand as the availability of high-quality models grew and new energy vehicle (“NEV”) prices continued to decrease. However, sales would primarily be driven by government policies.
The report stated that the Chinese government had revealed its plans to increase NEV sales to 20% by 2025 before moving to 50% by 2035.
The document also notes that the Asian giant may begin to target international buyers in the near future given that government subsidies to the automotive industry have begun decreasing and the country already has an advantage over the West, with regard to manufacturing scale.
In addition, the report explains that while it is practical, exporting electric vehicles may be challenging for Chinese manufacturers because there are no widely accepted Chinese car brands in the United States and Europe. Additionally, conventional fossil-fuel automotive sales in the U.S. and Europe are higher for other brands, in comparison with Chinese brands.
However, the study goes on to report that if electric vehicles produced in China were marketed appropriately, became widely available and were price competitive, they could easily become globally popular in the next decade.
The report gives the example of Japanese vehicles, which weren’t very popular outside of Japan until the late ‘60s. However, this changed after the Toyota Corolla was launched, propelling Toyota into the international powerhouse it is today in the automotive industry.
Some steps have been taken by Dacia and Tesla to manufacture affordable low-range electric vehicles in China, which are then marketed overseas.
CRU argues that the global new energy vehicle landscape may undergo an important transformation, if one or a few EV manufacturers in China are successful in increasing the production of affordable vehicles that are accepted by European markets.
It also states that product demand may be affected greatly if electric vehicle manufacturers in China successfully market their commodities overseas, adding that as new energy vehicles occupy a bigger share of international automotive sales, the demand shift of crucial automotive materials such as copper, aluminum and steel will be boosted.
As the demand for those automotive materials rises, mineral producers such as Excellon Resources Inc. (TSX: EXN) (NYSE American: EXN) (FSE: E4X2) are likely to deliver greater shareholder value in the coming years and even decades.
NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to Excellon Resources Inc. (TSX: EXN) (NYSE American: EXN) (FSE: E4X2) are available in the company’s newsroom at https://ibn.fm/EXN
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On any given night when the weather allows, you’ll usually find James Macdonald chatting with customers or passers-by at his West Liberty restaurant, Bella Ciao, as servers shuttle in and out of the building to serve outdoor diners. But not for much longer. After running the restaurant for over 22 years, he and his wife Kathy Macdonald are selling the business to local chef Brandon Johns, who plans to transform it over the summer into an eatery that highlights food from local farms and markets.
Bella Ciao will remain open through the upcoming Ann Arbor Restaurant Week, an event spearheaded by James Macdonald that highlights downtown restaurants and features set-price lunches and dinners. Bella Ciao’s last dinner service will be on Saturday, June 20. Johns, with his wife Sara Johns and two business partners, plan to renovate the restaurant and open it in early August as Grange Kitchen & Bar.
The deal closed earlier this week. Kathy Macdonald made the announcement at Thursday morning’s membership meeting of the Main Street Area Association, which The Chronicle attended. In a phone interview later in the day, she said they plan to focus on their other local business, Pastabilities, a pasta wholesaler that sells to area groceries and chefs. She said they’ll be selling off most of Bella Ciao’s extensive wine list as well. “There’s only so much we can bring home,” she said.


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Today’s key global wellness news articles from around the world, impacting the industry and influencing the business of wellness.
CES hasn’t traditionally been the healthiest week for me. Aside from some unintentional intermittent fasting, TechCrunch really has the habit of doing it up with our team dinners at the show, to say nothing of Matt’s near religious devotion to a Mexican place named Tacos & Beer. In my defense, …
NEW YORK, Jan 5 (Reuters) – Nike Inc on Wednesday filed a lawsuit accusing Lululemon Athletica Inc (LULU.O) of patent infringement for making and selling the Mirror Home Gym and related mobile apps without authorization. In a complaint filed in U.S.
I’ve long been of the opinion that you can deep fry just about anything to make it edible. But such opinions haven’t stopped KFC and Beyond from entering into a years-long pilot of Beyond Fried Chicken to perfect the recipe for mass consumption. The pair started their first trial way back in August…
This is the time of year when we learn about the top colors of the year, which decade is making a style comeback, and whether wallpaper or stainless steel appliances are in or out right now.
Planet Fitness is seeing gym visits and membership growth hold up against the Covid omicron variant, according to the chain’s chief executive officer, Chris Rondeau. “Before there was a vaccine, we did see a pullback on joins and workouts and cancellation spiking,” Rondeau said in an interview Monday on CNBC’s ” Squawk Box.”
As the COVID-19 pandemic looks set to stretch into its third year, prolonged isolation and uncertainty continue to take a toll on Americans’ mental health. While studies show Americans are struggling with their mental health in record numbers, it’s not always easy to get treatment.
When she first started patronising SaladStop! in 2010, Linda Goh saw it as a convenient way to eat a quick, healthy lunch before getting back to her work at a private bank. These days, Goh continues to frequent the healthy food chain, albeit through its online store.


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How COVID-19 Affects Alcohol, Advertising Industries*
The COVID-19 pandemic is rapidly spreading across countries. As of now, the virus has spread to 198 countries and territories and has caused a total of 488,345 infections worldwide. The pandemic has affected many industries around the world.
This article investigates how the COVID-19 pandemic and its consequences are affecting the alcohol and the advertising industries. This articel is as well as illustrating some troubling emerging trends.
Alcohol industry under pressure
The pandemic has lead to political decisions that are restricting business for the alcohol industry. As people start practicing in physical distancing and as governments institute lockdown measures, restaurants and bars close up to contain and prevent the spread of the virus. A decline in alcohol consumption can be expected as availability reduces across the world.
Several major Big Alcohol companies have already adjusted their previous growth forecasts for 2020 to reflect the decline.
- For example, Pernod Ricard is now expecting a 20% organic fall for fiscal 2020 in contrast to its original expected 5 to 7% growth.
- AB InBev has forecasted a 10% decline for the first quarter of 2020.
- Remy Cointreau expects the sales in 4th Quarter to be heavily affected by COVID-19 in China and beyond.
The decline in sales and consumption of alcohol is driven by several factors related to the COVID-19 epidemic.
- People switching to work from home has challenged the marketing and sales operations of the alcohol industry as well as many other industries.
- Alcohol consumption patterns in society are changing as people start physical distancing and avoid bars and restaurants. The on-premise trade is usually highly profitable for the alcohol industry.
- Bars and restaurants are major distribution channels for the alcohol industry. With their closure sales are likely to decline rapidly (if the alcohol industry cannot find alternative options for retail).
- Extra sanitization methods and hygiene requirements due to the virus mean a longer time to produce and distribute.
- Reduced hours of sales as many alcohol outlets either close or reduce the opening times limit alcohol availability and thus sales.
- For example, in Canada, home delivery of alcohol from LCBO is reduced as people need to pick up from a public depot according to Proof of Age Requirement laws and people are increasingly discouraged to go out.
Declining sales means lower consumption of alcohol, which can reduce alcohol problems in society.
Reduced alcohol supply is specifically positive during the pandemic as alcohol is known to weaken the immune system which will make people more susceptible to infections with and complications from the virus. The World Health Organization has recommended avoiding alcohol during this period specifically to reduce risks of COVID-19.
Alcohol harm is multifaceted and could potentially be severe given the specific circumstances of this crisis, if availability and sales are not decreasing and people are not avoiding or limiting their alcohol intake.
The pressure of declining sales has pushed the alcohol industry to look for alternatives to cover their losses and protect their profits as much as possible. For example alcohol producers are turning to producing hand sanitizer and disinfectants at mass scale, finally using alcohol for the purpose it should be used as a disinfectant on surfaces. Some of the major companies who have switched their operations are Pernod Ricard, AB InBev and Bacardi. Even some small distilleries are seen to adopt this new strategy.
While providing a much needed resource is positive during this pandemic, we must be aware major corporations are doing so partly for marketing purposes, similar to the corporate social responsibility (CSR) projects conducted by the alcohol industry to build their image and maintain brand loyalty. For example, Pernod Ricard’s move to produce hand sanitizer in the United States was lauded by President Trump, which means after all, free media coverage and good PR for a company that makes health harmful products.
Advertising industry under pressure
The marketing and advertising industry is also under pressure during the COVID-19 pandemic as many marketing and ad budgets get cut off. However, the advertising industry has come up with strategies – with possible public health ramifications – to stay afloat.
One strategy used by the industry is switching to digital marketing, focusing on TV, streaming platforms, social media and gaming advertising. Alcohol industry marketing has been fast to adapt as could be predicted.
- For example, Bud Light launched its first “Bud Light Dive Bar Tour: Home Edition,” which streamed on Instagram, featuring country music star Jake Owen performing from his own home. There was a cross promotion with alcohol delivery service Drizly operating in the US and Canada, which gave people $5 off their orders with a promo code. The show drew in 4000 live viewers.
It’s already known that celebrity marketing is potent especially with younger demographics. One study showed that alcohol marketing awareness was linked with teenage alcohol consumption, and one major source of marketing was through celebrities.
Another marketing strategy used is being proactive. As mentioned above major alcohol brands have switched to producing hand sanitizer in an effort to appear proactive with the pandemic. This strategy paints a responsible, sensitive picture about companies, despite the products which they may usually sell that result in heavy health, social and economic damage.
One main strategy which the Kantar group advises companies to adopt is to keep brand loyalty going by positioning the brand as meaningful and salient so that when consumers come back to buying the products in a specific category they will choose the brand. The above examples show the alcohol industry has already adopted this strategy.
Despite the declining alcohol availability in many countries, there are certain troubling developments and trends emerging in alcohol consumption due to the current crisis situation. These include:
- Increasing alcohol use in some societies due to myths,
- Continued alcohol production in some countries,
- Alarming increase in off-premise alcohol sales and changing alcohol consumption patterns to home alcohol use, in some countries,
- Increasing alcohol delivery services,
- New alcohol industry marketing strategies through digital media and brand image building,
- Tendency for substance use to increase during crisis situations as coping strategy through self-medication, and
- Weakening of existing alcohol policy measures (and rules for other harmful substances) that are likely difficult to reinstate after the crisis.
- Looming further concentration of the alcohol market and formation of even bigger oligopols.
1. Increasing alcohol consumption due to myths
At the start of the pandemic myths about alcohol being used to fight COVID-19 circulated heavily in social media. This had dire consequences as people in societies that generally don’t consume alcohol took up alcohol intake. For example, 194 people in Iran lost their lives due to consuming large amounts of alcohol because of this myth. In Turkey, 30 people have died due to alcohol use to prevent COVID-19 infection.
Movendi International has already addressed these myths in a blog article. Human consumption of alcohol is harmful and specific to the current situation it harms the immune system. Alcohol is a powerful disinfectant, when applied on surfaces.
2. Continued alcohol production in some countries
Despite the physical distancing measures in place and most industries switching to work-from-home, the United Kingdom (UK) has given the okay to go ahead with alcohol production in factories. UK has added alcohol retailers to the essential businesses list which can remain open during the pandemic.
Bottling plants and distilleries in UK can remain open. Workers have to maintain physical distancing, while commuting to work and at work. The industry says as long as employees are happy to work then production can continue. However, recently Unite union members in Scotland have called for a halt of work at Diageo plants due to workers’ stress and anxiety. Diageo does not plan to halt operations stating they are following government recommendations for safety.
As the UK authorities have said online non-essential services can remain open during the crisis, alcohol companies will also be selling online. This will increase availability of alcohol in the country and add to alcohol problems.
3. Alarming increase in off-premise alcohol sales and changing alcohol consumption patterns to home alcohol use
In some societies, an alarming increase in off-premise alcohol sales can be observed as people started to stock up on alcohol.
- Nielsen data for the United States show, total U.S. off-premise sales for wine grew 27.6%, liquor 26.4% and beer/flavored malt beverages/cider 14% in the week ending March 14, 2020 vs. the same week one year ago.
For perspective, Nielsen points out that in the 13-week period ending January 25, 2020 wine sale was nearly flat – up only 0.6%, liquor sales were up only 3.8% and the beer/flavored malt beverage/cider category was up by 5%.
- One company, Constellation Brands, reports a 3% increase in off-premise alcohol sales.
Even more concerning is that most alcohol is being bought in bulk.
- Nielsen data show in the United States, 3 liter boxed wines are up by 53% over the previous year, canned wines were up by 95% and the 24-pack beer category is up 24%.
An underlying trend which is demonstrated from the increasing off-premise sale is that alcohol consumption patterns are increasingly changing to home alcohol use due to the pandemic. This trend is concerning as it normalizes alcohol at home, which can increase consumption as well as expose children and teenagers to alcohol at an early age.
Evidence from past crises shows that alcohol is often used for self-medication, to cope with anxiety and other mental health problems, isolation, economic distress stress. Alcohol use is strongly linked to suicide, meaning changing alcohol use patterns might increase suicide rates.
Furthermore, alcohol consumption at home is linked with violence against women and children.
4. Increasing alcohol delivery
As people are practicing physical distancing the alcohol delivery market is seeing a massive boost. The delivery service Drizly (also mentioned above for its online cross promotion with Bud Light) reported a 450% increase in sales in New York City in the 72 hours following the closure of bars in the city.
Online alcohol sales and delivery is already posing a risk in increasing underage alcohol use. These services are hard to monitor and may deliver alcohol to underage youth or already intoxicated persons. What’s worse is with the pandemic minimal contact delivery is encouraged, which means even underage teens can get alcohol delivered fairly easily. For example, Drizly offers minimal contact delivery.
5. New alcohol industry marketing strategies through digital media and brand image building
Already mentioned above is the negative impact of alcohol advertising during this time, specifically through digital media and also in brand image building which will increase sales of a brand on the long term.
The risk is significant that children are exposed to even more alcohol promotions, ads and commercials as they spend more time in front of the TV, on the internet, and in social media – all channels that are flooding minors with pro-alcohol messages.
The alcohol industry is already working on establishing alcohol consumption during working hours as a new norm. For example, Heineken:
6. Tendency for substance use to increase during crisis situations
The cannabis industry says that consumers are “closely wedded” to cannabis and alcohol just as other “necessities”. Taking alcohol consumption during the economic recession from December 2007 to June 2009 into count, analysis shows that largely consumption maintained and increased afterwards.
Joe Devlin, senior vice president with Ikänik Farms – a cannabis farm – goes as far as to say the marijuana industry is “relatively recession-proof”.
The industry believes consumers might switch to buying cheaper products or products on deals and buying lesser in quantity, but that they will continue to consume and even increase consumption during COVID-19.
This is partly due to using substances as an unhealthy coping mechanism to deal with stress and also because substances are normalized as “rewards”.
7. Weakening of existing alcohol policy measures (and rules for other harmful substances) that are likely difficult to reinstate after the crisis
As an example for an observable trend, a specifically harmful policy decision comes from California, United States, where the state government decided to weaken alcohol control laws in view of the pandemic. In a series of new orders and regulations, state authorities have eased restrictions on cannabis dispensaries and on restaurants in the alcohol business. Their reasoning is to help these businesses with the oncoming financial impact due to physical distancing.
Pot shops have been classified as essential, and allowed to remain open during the shutdown. Certain cannabis outlets have seen unprecedented increases in sales of between 150 to 400%.
Restaurants have been allowed to sell liquor on the go and sell whole bottles of unopened bottles of alcohol.
With the tendency to use substances increasingly as mentioned above due to stresses from the crisis and being confined to homes, the weakening of alcohol control policies could have serious adverse effects.
In some countries and jurisdictions, alcohol industry lobbying and corporate social responsibility have succeeded in acquiring “essential service” status, protecting alcohol retail outlets from being shut down, as all other businesses that are not essential for society’s functioning during the lockdown phase of the pandemic.
The alcohol industry is in fact using the pandemic to lobby for deregulation and weakening of existing alcohol laws, for instance requesting tax reductions and the suspension of alcohol retail restrictions.
Early reports are already showing rising numbers of cases of domestic violence, child abuse and neglect. The weakening of alcohol policy protections is likely to have severe consequences in the short- and long-term: alcohol harm might not decrease as would be expected in times of crises and it is likely difficult to reinstate the same level of alcohol policy protections after this pandemic is over.
Even before the COVID-19 pandemic healthcare systems and services were heavily burdened by alcohol harm. But now, with all available resources being diverted to the fight against the novel coronavirus, the strain that alcohol is putting on health systems is felt more severely and acutely.
For example, early observations from South Africa show that alcohol-related harm such as emergency room visits, car crashes and violence are declining after new alcohol rules were put in place a week ago.
Therefore, preferential treatment for the alcohol industry will come at high costs for society, including both public health and the economy.
8. Looming further concentration of the alcohol market and formation of even bigger oligopols
Research has previously illustrated the problems associated with increasing market concentration in the global alcohol industry.
The growth of global alcohol corporations and concentration of the global alcohol market in the hands of a small number of companies is a public health concern because it may be associated with increased population-level exposure to alcohol marketing. Alcohol oligopolies in many countries permit oligopoly profit taking, which in turn facilitates higher marketing spending and acts as a barrier to entry, thereby preserving the oligopolies,” wrote Esser and Jernigan in 2018.
Increased marketing activity, in the form of both product development and promotion, can be used to segment and target groups that have historically not consumed much alcohol. In many LMICs, this includes women. For instance, in India, Diageo, a London-based global alcohol corporation, has explicitly targeted marketing toward women.
Researchers emphasize that oligopoly organization plays such a key role in the global shape of alcohol marketing. To appreciate the extent and scale of market concentration, two examples show the reality (around 2016) in the alcohol industry: Two multinational alcohol corporations were among the world’s 500 largest companies based on revenue in 2016, according to Fortune’s Global 500 list:
- Belgium-based Anheuser-Busch InBev (AB InBev) had revenue of $43,604 million for a rank of 211, and
- Netherlands-based Heineken had revenue of $23,208 million for a rank of 459.
For comparison, the Philip Morris International tobacco corporation had revenue of $26,794 million for a rank of 398.
So far, four waves of alcohol market concentration were identified. It is likely that the coronavirus crisis is now accelerating the fifth tidal wave of further oligopolistic market organization.
Already, voices of concern are even coming from inside the alcohol industry, for example from the United Kingdom. A UK high-end liquor distributor amphasized the probability that the days of the small-scale and independent distilleries and brewers might by “numbered”, according to Just Drinks – a development that would bring further market dominance to global alcohol industry giants, especially in the beer and liquor industries.
A concentration of market power means further acceleration of the industrial epidemic that is alcohol harm. Growing market control also leads to increasing marketing presence, increasing corporate political activity (lobbyism) and the buying of science, since the purchasing power of the giant multinationals is getting ever stronger.
The Globe and Mail: “How is coronavirus affecting the wine and spirits trade?“
Market Watch: “Pernod Ricard slashes guidance on coronavirus hit“
New York Post: “From alcohol to ventilators, how coronavirus is upending business”
Wine Industry Advisor: “Pandemic Alcohol Stock-Up Skews Toward Wine“
Marijuana Business Daily: “Is marijuana ‘recession-proof?’ Industry experts say yes – to a point – and alcohol might be a guide“
The Oregonian: “The alcohol delivery service whose sales are going through the roof“
Cal Matters: “Cannabis and cocktails amid coronavirus? State says carry on“
* This article was edited, using the following sources on April 13, 2020
Just Drinks: “UK alcohol production allowed to continue as lockdown bites“


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One of the Louisville area’s iconic local pizza chains, Impellizeri’s will open a new location in Middletown, in the space that recently was vacated by the California chain Mellow Mushroom. Continue reading Impellizzeri’s Pizza to open in Middletown
Whether you’re an eager customer or a restaurant owner, there are few things more aggravating than a delayed restaurant opening. So common are these events that the old saying in the restaurant industry is, “Every opening is just one government inspection away,” though the government isn’t always to blame.
In the case of restaurants like Sidebar on Whiskey Row, a new operation going into a very old building, it’s commonly a construction issue. The building is more than 150 years old, and according operating partner Rich Ruth, putting modern toys into an ancient chest is causing a few delays. Continue reading Sidebar at Whiskey Row opening pushed back until May


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HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, Fla. — An Amazon delivery driver is facing grand theft charges after he admitted to stealing packages and gift cards he was supposed to be delivering, according to authorities.
The sheriff's office says 22-year-old Ozcan Rodriguez Okur Junior stole nearly $900 in items and gifts cards between Oct. 24 and Nov. 27.
Deputies say Rodriguez Okur would mark the items as "missing." He admitted to stealing $250 in gifts cards, a Ring camera, Apple AirPods and a Playstation game, according to authorities.
HILLSBOROUGH NEWS | The latest headlines from Hillsborough County
"We tell people all the time how to protect themselves from porch pirates, but it's especially upsetting when the person responsible for delivering the package to your doorstep takes advantage of your trust and the trust of their company," said Sheriff Chad Chronister. "We are thankful that all of the victims in this case were reimbursed by Amazon and that our deputies were able to take Rodriguez Okur off of the streets before he could pull another Grinch-like move and steal from anyone else this Christmas."
Rodriguez Okur is cooperating with deputies to recover the stolen items, the sheriff's office says. He is facing one charge for grand theft third degree.
Sheriff Chronister wants to remind online shoppers of ways to protect themselves by following these tips:
- Keep an electronic receipt for proof of purchase in order to be reimbursed.
- Track your delivery closely online to know when it should arrive at your door.
- Check home surveillance cameras, such as Ring doorbells, if packages don't arrive. Video evidence often helps law enforcement track down thieves.


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Whereby in the past, distribution would mainly have been focused on large, central locations, the reach has now become much more widespread, with the increased need for more small-scale deliveries taking place to a wider range of smaller sites.
While this brings welcome growth and diversity to the industry, it also brings with it added challenges. The increased distance these services have to cover means an increased workforce and mileage, which translates into additional costs. The challenge, of course, is whether such costs can be absorbed, or whether they can be passed on to the customer.
Some organisations have been developing ways of managing the growing demand. The Pall-Ex Group, for example, has developed the ‘Hub and Spoke’ model which involves all deliveries being taken to a central ‘hub’ and grouped by destination and delivered by postcode. By sharing trailers with other freight bound for the same destination, haulage costs are reduced.
By using a network of smaller member companies, The Pall-Ex Group is able to utilise local knowledge while passing on benefits to its group members, such as greater vehicle fill, the ability to offer wider delivery ranges and technological benefits such as state-of-the-art Track & Trace IT.
One such member company was the Brentwood-based haulage and distribution firm Pallet Distribution Services Limited. The Company offered general haulage services covering South East England, as well as storage, warehousing and nationwide pallet distribution. It had an approximate annual turnover of £1.6 million and employed 20 people.
PDS had strong values and strived to always provide ‘rapid and reliable delivery of its consignments at competitive prices’. But it was these competitive prices, coupled with the increase in fuel costs that led to the company experiencing financial difficulties.
The company entered into administration on April 24, 2012, when SFP’s Simon and Daniel Plant – both licensed members of the Insolvency Practitioners’ Association – were appointed joint administrators.
Simon Plant, Group Partner at SFP, believes that the rising fuel costs that affected the future of Pallet Distribution Services Limited, may be a sign of things to come: “Profit margins are constantly squeezed for transport companies, with increased competition and high running costs, so it seems inevitable that increases on fuel charges will have a major effect on these businesses,” he says.
“PDS is not the first freight transport company we have tried to save in recent months, and it will undoubtedly not be the last,” he says. “It is a highly competitive sector where scale seems to be particularly important.”
Earlier in April, The AA reported that petrol had risen 10.23p a litre and diesel 7.32p a litre since pump prices started their climb at the start of 2012, adding a considerable amount to the smooth running of a fleet of delivery vehicles. Shortly after, the threat of a strike by the fuel tanker delivery drivers pushed up diesel prices still higher, leading the Road Haulage Association (RHA) to accuse certain fuel retailers of profiteering.
While a good infrastructure and strong business model will provide a stable base for any company, these unforeseen factors can cripple an otherwise sound company, as in the case of Pallet Distribution Services Limited.
Unfortunately for businesses such as this, unforeseen issues like tax increases, or an increased competitive market can be very difficult to bounce back from, and while all options of a business turnaround and rescue were investigated, in this case it wasn’t possible.


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Even though a $2 trillion valuation is massive compared to the size of the cryptocurrency market from a couple of years ago, there still appears to be lots of room to grow. Trillions of dollars that are in pension funds, trust funds, and brokerage accounts do not have access to cryptocurrency markets, and as soon as this money is able to be invested, crypto markets may surge to new all-time highs.
In the past two years, the cryptocurrency market has gone from a valuation of around $100 billion to over $2.5 trillion, a massive increase that has never been seen before in history. This 2500% increase in less than 2 years makes many investors wary about future price potential, as it seems like the only place to go from these prices is down. However, this is far from the case.
Right now, the only way to buy cryptocurrencies is through exchanges such as Coinbase, Binance, and Kraken. Even though there are trusts such as Grayscale’s Bitcoin and Ethererum trusts or Bitwise’s 10 Crypto Index Fund, they are being sold at a massive price premium, sometimes as high as 100%. This means that if someone wants to buy $100 of Ethereum through one of these trusts, they pay around $200. Thus, for any investor that values their money, the main way to buy cryptocurrency is through exchanges.
The average retail investor may have no problem creating a Coinbase account and buying $100 of Bitcoin, but for billion-dollar institutions and hedge funds, using Coinbase is simply not an option due to regulations, risks, and difficulties with custody. Instead, they would much rather invest in an ETF, or exchange traded fund, which holds Bitcoin as the primary asset and is traded on traditional stock exchanges such as the NASDAQ. Ideally, this would also be insured against hacks and other black swan events.
There is no current cryptocurrency ETF for American investors, but it is highly probable that in the future there will be ways for investors to buy crypto through the safety of their Charles Schwab or Fidelity account. The trading of cryptocurrencies on traditional exchanges will be a massive opportunity for the market, as there will be trillions of dollars that are now able to flood into the asset class.
For example, there are currently $50 trillion in retirement funds and the top 500 companies make $33 trillion in revenue annually. If these funds and companies had access to cryptocurrency, and wanted to invest a conservative 10% of their holdings and revenues into the asset, that would be $8 trillion, over four times the current valuation of the entire market.
Not only will a growing market cap increase the value of cryptocurrencies, but it will also legitimize them and allow for larger investors to get involved. When Bitcoin was only worth $10 million, it was seen as a fun internet experiment. When it was $1 billion, it was beginning to seem like an interesting investment, but nobody could invest more than a couple million without significantly moving the price. At over $1 trillion, investors and companies around the world are considering it the future of money, and billions can be bought and sold without price fluctuations. If it hits $10 trillion, Bitcoin has a good chance of being the reserve currency for the world, which would make companies and funds feel more comfortable putting hundreds of billions into the asset, furthering its growth and thus further legitimizing its status.
Although it is not guaranteed that large funds will buy crypto when it is available, they are certainly interested, which is why there are many cryptocurrency ETF applications pending approval with the SEC. Even the most conservative investment would be a massive signal that institutions want to put crypto in their holdings, and could easily double, triple, or quadruple the cryptocurrency market capitalization given enough time. Though it is uncertain when cryptocurrencies will begin trading on traditional markets, the sentiment is that it is inevitable, and it will bring about a new era in the history of digital assets.
By Lincoln Murr


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- Amazon Prime Day starts at midnight PDT (3am ET) on June 21, and runs through June 22.
- Amazon's two-day shopping extravaganza will offer more than 2 million deals globally, it said.
- Rivals Walmart and Target are expected to launch their own competing discount shopping days.
The e-commerce giant said customers could shop more than 2 million deals across each category on its site, including fashion, home, and gaming. The event starts at midnight PDT (3am ET) on June 21, and runs through June 22.
Amazon Prime Day launched in 2015 and has become one of the company's busiest shopping days of the year. It typically takes place in mid-July, but in 2020 was pushed back to October because of the pandemic, which had put extra strain on Amazon's supply chain.
Amazon said that its 2020 holiday shopping period, covering busiest period on record., November, and December, was its
In a statement Wednesday, Amazon said it would promote small businesses on Prime Day by giving people $10 credit if they spend $10 on items from these sellers.
Amazon's third-party marketplace is a booming part of its business, accounting for 58% of sales in 2020. But its treatment of these businesses, and its role as both a direct seller and a platform for other merchants, has caused controversy. Amazon was previously called out for using data from its top sellers to create its own private label products, for example.


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Russian fans couldn’t wait for the official release. “My patience only lasted for two days,” says Anna, an experienced gamer and a longtime admirer of Pokemon.
Like tens of thousands of other Russian smartphone users, Anna decided to download the unreleased app using an account set up in a foreign App Store. “The fact that it was sort of illegal and Apple could ban me for it didn’t stop me,” she said.
“Pokemon Go,” the latest online game by Nintendo, went viral in a matter of days after it was released in the United States, Australia and New Zealand on July 6. With its interface placing cartoon creatures on actual landscapes captured by a smartphone camera, “Pokemon Go” is said to have created a new reality — one that connects a virtual world with the real one.
In Russia, the game has stumbled upon a different reality: bans, criticism from traditionalist forces and threats of criminal prosecution.
Russian officials have already condemned Pokemon as “dangerous” and “eroding morale.” Several patriotic organizations have called for a ban. State-owned television channel Rossiya 24 aired an entire report explaining how Russians could be committing criminal offenses while playing it.
Businessmen, meanwhile, ignored the above, and decided to ride the Pokemon wave.
Restricting the Devil
Nintendo refuses to reveal when the game will be released in Russia. But Russia’s traditional values crusaders are already worried nonetheless. “It feels like the devil arrived through [Pokemon] and is trying to tear our morality apart from the inside,” said Frants Klintsevich, a senator of the Federation Council, Russia’s upper chamber of parliament. Klintsevich has called for a list of “restricting measures” to help gamers avoid falling under Pokemon’s corrupting influence.
He was not alone in calling Pokemon demonic. A nationalist, ultraconservative Cossack group based in St. Petersburg, Irbis, announced plans to appeal to consumer rights watchdog Rospotrebnadzor, the Federal Anti-Monopoly Service and Apple to ban the game in Russia, using the same comparison. “We need to take people out of the virtual world, and this generally smacks of Satan,” said Andrei Polyakov, the group’s leader.
The Russian government’s Communications Minister Nikolai Nikiforov took a more reasonable stance. He doesn’t see the need to ban the game, he said. That did not stop him preferring a conspiracy theory of his own.
“I’m starting to suspect that intelligence services might have contributed to this app,” he said. Perhaps this was to “collect video-information” about different locations around the world, the minister said.
Several other concerned officials called for restricting players from hunting Pokemon at specific locations, including churches, cemeteries, military areas or in government institutions. “A game like this should definitely have location restrictions,” said Yana Lantratova, a member of the Presidential Council for Human Rights.
The media storm peaked when Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov decided to address the “Pokemon Go” question. Peskov was asked whether the Presidential Administration would object to people catching Pokemon in the Kremlin; he said that the Kremlin was “unprecedentedly open,” but added that catching Pokemon should not be the only reason to visit the “treasury of worldly culture.”
Behind Augmented Reality
“Pokemon Go” is not the first game based on augmented reality, says Alexander Kuzmenko, head of the Games Mail.Ru project. Five years ago, the creators of “Pokemon Go” released a similar game, “Ingress” — but it was too complicated, with numerous rules and teams. “Pokemon is simple and clear: you find them, you collect them and then you make them fight one another,” Kuzmenko says.
“Ingress” and its augmented reality came out ahead of time, he adds. Creators of “Pokemon Go” used the same technology, and it exploded. “Unprecedented popularity of the Pokemon franchise contributed to the success a great deal,” Kuzmenko says. “It was hugely popular back in the day, and now the generation of people who were fans of Pokemon [as children] are playing it because they’re nostalgic.”
Kuzmenko is positive that the game is the first harbinger of augmented reality becoming part of everyday life. “Imagine all the ways it could be used,” he says. “Just off the top of my head, you would be able to walk around a city, capture buildings and monuments with your camera and immediately see information about them. The game industry has always been on top of technology, and new useful inventions will definitely follow.”
Speaking to The Moscow Times, child psychologist Anton Sorin insisted there was nothing dangerous about the game. Indeed, it might, perhaps, encourage teenagers to leave their computers and explore the world. “Cossacks and Orthodox activists adamantly resist it simply because it is an idea that unites people — just like their own ideologies, and they don’t want Pokemon to steal their potential audience,” says Sorin.
Nothing Personal, Just Business
While officials make headlines by vocalizing their concern about the game, Russian businesses have already begun to develop marketing schemes using “Pokemon Go.”
Russia’s state-owned banking giant, Sberbank, announced on Monday that it would launch “Pokestops” — areas containing many Pokemon — near its offices and offer players free accident insurance. Another state-owned bank, VTB24, promised to double cash-back for those who took a photo of a Pokemon and a VTB bank card. Russia’s biggest luxury department store, TsUM, offered to add 500 bonus points to a shopper’s discount card for every Pokemon caught inside the store.
“Pokemon Go” might also be used as a political tool, suggests Vladimir Petrov, a lawmaker from the Leningrad region. If app creators could place rare Pokemon in polling stations during upcoming elections, more youth votes could be gathered, he suggested on Sunday.
In the meantime, Russians’ interest in the game grows by the day. So far, Russians have searched for information related to it more than 1.7 million times, spokespeople of the biggest Russian search engine Yandex told The Moscow Times. This is 50 times more than every other Pokemon-related search in recent years.


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Interesting piece from Peter Krasilovsky today involving Vermont’s own Maponics…
Sorting content by neighborhoods and ZIP codes can boost usage considerably, as HelloMetro recently discovered. The 10 year old city guide gets over six million monthly unique visitors, and has 1,500 local sites. In a case study published today, it said it has received a ten percent jump in traffic after it started using a neighborhood and ZIP sorting service from Maponics. Twenty-five percent of that boost, or 2.5 percent overall, was directly related to pages organized around neighborhoods and ZIP codes.
The site says its problem was that it had too much content coming in from its 50 writers and various news feeds. But it didn’t sort enough by neighborhood. Searches for subjects, names and points of interest could only be done on a metro-wide basis.
The Maponics technology for sorting neighborhood data essentially solved that. Now, searches can be conducted by neighborhood and also include such features as city resources, shopping ,theater, communities, schools, jobs, and other categories. Altogether, 90,000 fully optimized neighborhood and zip-specific pages have been developed. There are roughly 45 neighborhoods per metro, it noted.


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The Android market surge in recent times has attracted a lot of hackers to target Android devices with malicious software. In response to this, Android security apps have also proliferated. Significant among these is Norton Mobile Antivirus. The primary goal of this Android security app is to add an extra sense of security by safeguarding the Android mobile device against malware, theft and viruses.
There have been reports of this Android security app slowing down the system, but that is dependent on the device’s specifications. Overall, among Android security apps, Norton Mobile Antivirus has a very good reputation in the market and is highly recommended for any Android user.


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Lincoln Penny Designs Unveiled
new lincoln penny designs unveiled
The new one-cent piece is being unveiled by the U.S. Mint as part of Lincoln's bicentennial celebration, being held Thursday morning near his.... Pennies. In the middle of the financial implosion, we're worrying about what the pennies look like. Design changes unveiled for Lincoln penny.... The U.S. Mint unveiled the new designs during a ceremony Monday at the Lincoln Memorial. The coin changes are part of the government's.... This year, the Mint will issue another tails design, designed to last into the indefinite future. The tails side of the 2010 penny to be formally.... The newest--and for now permanent--version of the Lincoln penny was unveiled Thursday morning at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum, where the line,.... With President Abraham Lincoln, I am delivering remarks before unveiling the four new penny designs to celebrate the Lincoln bicentennial in 2009. A view from.... ... Lincoln's birth, the U.S. Mint announced Monday. While the coin will continue to depict L - ... New Lincoln penny designs unveiled. CNN 2008.09.23 09:11.. The Lincoln cent is a one-cent coin that has been struck by the United States Mint since 1909. ... Many writers had suggested a Lincoln half dollar, but that coin's design had been changed in 1892 and could not yet be altered ... Unveiled September 22, 2008, at a ceremony held at the Lincoln Memorial, these designs were:.. The new 2010 Lincoln Preservation of the Union One-Cent Coin was formally released to the public on Thursday February 11, 2010 at the.... By Erin Carlson Mast. The U.S. Treasury unveiled their 4 new designs for the redesigned penny. I have heard various complaints that the timing.... WASHINGTON, D.C. - Next year, the penny will be getting not just one new look but four of them, the first changes to the 1-cent coin in 50 years.. The newest--and for now permanent--version of the Lincoln penny was unveiled Thursday morning at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum, where the line,.... The United States Mint announced in a media advisory Friday that it will reveal the 2009 Lincoln penny designs during a news conference at.... The U.S. Mint unveiled the new designs during a ceremony Monday at the Lincoln Memorial. The coin changes are part of the government's.... Kentucky, Missouri and Indiana were among the states represented at the unveiling of the new coin, which came on the eve of Lincoln's 201st...
As per the article, "While the coin will continue to depict Lincoln's likeness on the front, the reverse side will bear one of four new designs, the.... Quite a bit actually. The US Capitol has undergone many renovations and additions in its history. The most famous was after the War of 1812.... The announcement came during the official launch ceremony for the fourth 2009 Lincoln Cent design, held today in Washington DC.. The US Mint today pulled away the drapes and revealed the new 2010 Lincoln Cent reverse design. The 2010 penny is a continuation of sorts.... In 2009, the United States Mint will mint and issue four different one-cent coins in recognition of the bicentennial of President Abraham Lincoln's...
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Indonesia Tech Giant GoTo Snags $1.3 Billion Ahead of IPO
(Bloomberg) — GoTo Group, formed this year by the merger of Indonesia’s two most valuable internet startups, raised more than $1.3 billion in a funding round ahead of its initial public offering (IPO).
Investors in the pre-IPO round include the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, Avanda Investment Management, Fidelity International and Google, the company said Thursday in a statement.
The Jakarta-based company said it expects more investors to join the fundraising ahead of final completion in coming weeks. Other backers in the round include Permodalan Nasional Berhad, Primavera Capital Group, SeaTown Master Fund, Temasek Holdings Pte., Tencent Holdings Ltd. and Ward Ferry.
GoTo was formed by the merger of Indonesia’s two most valuable startups — ride-hailing giant Gojek and e-commerce firm PT Tokopedia. It’s been aiming to raise as much as $2 billion at a valuation of $25 billion to $30 billion before an IPO at home and a subsequent U.S. share sale, people familiar with the matter said in July.
“Indonesia and Southeast Asia are some of the most exciting growth markets in the world,” Andre Soelistyo, GoTo’s chief executive officer, said in the statement. “The backing we’ve secured shows the confidence that investors have in the region’s rapidly expanding digital economy and our market-leading position.”
GoTo’s planned IPO reflects the maturing of the first generation of tech startups in Indonesia, where there has been a flurry of fundraising and startup deals this year. E-commerce company PT Bukalapak.com became the first homegrown unicorn to list on the local exchange in August.
Citigroup Inc. and Goldman Sachs Group Inc. are acting as GoTo’s financial advisers on the fundraising. Davis Polk & Wardwell and Assegaf Hamzah & Partners are the legal advisers.
Contact editor Bob Simison (email@example.com)
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A couple of more details have been released surrounding Project Scorpio and various interesting comments are being made. Microsoft has confirmed all 1st party made games will run in native 4K resolution and the upcoming console will also have 12GB of RAM.
Project Scorpio is being heralded as very PC like in nature in terms of power. Moon Studios Director (Ori and the Blind Forest), Thomas Mahler, has weighed in on Project Scorpio vs the PS4 Pro debate:
Mahler added that because consoles now largely rely on the same system architecture, it’s remarkably easy for console manufacture to iterate on their machines, adding more power and features without completely cutting off those who own an older model. He said that the PlayStation 4 Pro is more of a “half-assed upgrade” than a substantial next step, and this can be supported in large part by looking at the current “better with PS4 Pro” lineup — only a handful of games are capable of running at a native 4K resolution, and several AAA releases don’t even upscale to that resolution, or support high-dynamic range.
Another interesting point is that the VR capabilities of Project Scorpio have been removed from Microsoft’s website. Some reports are coming that this is still an upcoming feature but it won’t be released when the new console comes out later in the year (bet on November). Microsoft won’t be pulling any punches when they likely unveil their new flagship console this year at E3.


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SMA opened its sales and service subsidiary in India in 2010. Credit: SMA
Major PV inverter manufacturer SMA Solar Technology has sold more than 1GW of solar inverters in India during 2017 and has now exceeded 3GW of cumulative sales in the country.
The firm’s sales in the commercial segment have already doubled compared to last year and it now has a 30% market share in this segment. The company also claims to have a 20% market share in the utility-scale segment in india.
“India is one of the key markets for SMA in Asia Pacific. In the last three years, we see the strong commitment from the Indian government as well as the growing market demand in the solar sector,” said John Susa, executive vice president of SMA Sales North America/APAC.
“We are very happy to see that our business growth not only comes from central inverters for utility-scale PV power plants but also from string inverters for the growing commercial segment,” said Rakesh Khanna, managing director of SMA India.
SMA opened its sales and service subsidiary in India in 2010.


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Borderlands 2 PhysX trailer is phenomenal.
Here’s your weekly round-up of all the next-gen news and this week was pretty exciting for a lot of reasons. It’s also interesting to note that the PC has been going from strength from strength and this Borderlands 2 Physx video will tell you why.
Finally we have something for the PS4, and it’s something that most people will be pleased to hear because they can spend incredible amount of money on a new 4k TV.
BGR is reporting that the Next-Generation Sony console PS4 is going to be supporting 4K resolution. Sony is planning to introduce a 80 inch XBR LED 4K resolution TV sometime next year to start pushing out these next-generation of TVs to get their consumers up to new heights with technology in their living room.
“Currently we are working – like always – with a relatively small team on a next-gen project. One question you always ask yourself in this phase is: can the upcoming consoles really be so much better compared to the current gen?,” Hakkinen told GamesIndustry International.
“I can rest assure you, they are! It’s a quantum leap.”
The purple hue of the controller screen allows you to find messages, ammunition cache and a lot of other things to make survival easy. You can also leave messages to other players giving them hints – sort of like the Souls games, but there’s not a lot of in-depth explanation here.
Loaded with NVIDIA’s GPU-accelerated PhysX technology, the video shows you the incredible effects you can witness in Borderlands 2 when gaming on a GeForce GTX system.
Creatures, such as the Crystalisk, spew simulated fluids comprised of hundreds of thousands of particles, allowing explosions and physical interactions to manipulate them after the fact, rendering an unprecedented level of detail previously unseen on any platform.
Stay tuned for our round-up for next week.


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Posts Tagged rfid protected
In early November 2011, BBC News services reported that malware attacks on UK Android Apps, and smartphone fraud in general, had risen by a staggering 800% since this time last year!!!!
Meanwhile, RFID Protect is developing a solution for smartphone users wary of this technology. It comes in the shape of a simple flexibly designed App that will be launched late 2012, and made available to download from www.rfidprotect.co.uk
So before too long, iPhone and Android users will have the option to disable their NFC (Near Field Communication) feature and as our motto goes “MAKE YOURSELF INVISIBLE’ to would be phone hackers, e-pickpockets and e-payment skimmers.
We’re exploring the scope for a timer function too – so users get to determine the amount of time their smartphone can be accessed by third parties.
In these short videos you will see examples of so called ‘RFID skimming’.
The Electronic Pickpocket – RFID ‘skimming’ on Channel 3 News (4 mins 26 sec)
How RFID works (2 mins 31 sec)
Skimming – the new ‘rip off’ (2 mins 31 sec)
Wireless identity theft – an RFID ‘skimming’ demonstration (1 min 06 sec)
Cloning RFID tags in Sacramento (2 mins 05 sec)


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Industry leaders share their views on the Budget…
Mike Hawes, SMMT Chief Executive said: “There are some welcome announcements in the Budget, including further funding for the industrial strategy, in particular the Stephenson Challenge and investment into infrastructure. Amid continuing Brexit uncertainty, however, the automotive industry was looking for a stimulus to boost a flagging new car market. We wanted to see more incentives for consumers to purchase the latest, most environmentally friendly vehicles.
“The forthcoming review into the impact of WLTP on Vehicle Excise Duty and company car tax must, therefore, ensure that motorists buying the latest, cleanest cars are not unfairly penalised. Industry looks forward to working closely with government on this review to ensure we encourage the newest, cleanest vehicles on to our roads rather than incentivising consumers and businesses to keep older vehicles going longer.”
ACFO chairman John Pryor comments: “… ACFO questions what has happened to the government’s ‘green’ agenda. Recently the government cut the Plug-In Car Grant and in the Budget it has failed to answer our call for a U-turn on the decision to increase to 16% benefit-in-kind tax on cars with emissions of 50g/km or below in 2019/20 and bring forward the already announced reduced rates, including the 2% threshold for 100% electric models and those with an electric mileage range of up to 130 miles, to April next year from 2020/21.
“Those twin decisions will, ACFO believe, only serve to dampen fleets’ enthusiasm for ultra-low and zero emission cars, at least in the short term, at a time when the government says it wants to drive out petrol and diesel engined vehicles from the UK car parc.
“Budget 2018 has been a waste of a golden opportunity for the Chancellor to provide both clarity and long-term stability to enable fleet decision-makers to shape company car policies. The fleet industry must now wait until spring 2019 to know the future shape of company car benefit-in-kind tax and, in the meantime, uncertainty continues to rule.”
Claire Haigh, Chief Executive of Greener Journeys, said: “The extension of the Transforming Cities Fund provides a welcome boost to towns and cities across the UK which are suffering from congested roads and illegal levels of air pollution, both problems which are exacerbated by too many cars on the road.
“However, the continued freeze in fuel duty will have a severe negative impact on air pollution and public health in the UK. With roadside air pollution causing up to 50,000 early deaths a year, we urgently need to tackle our air quality crisis and move away from our reliance on the car to more sustainable public transport.
“The fuel duty freeze has already made the price of fuel at the pump 13% cheaper than it would otherwise be resulting in 4% more traffic and up to 200 million fewer bus journeys over the past seven years. Greener Journeys research has also shown that it has caused an additional 4.5 million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions and 12,000 tonnes of harmful NOx emissions.”
Richard Hipkiss, Managing Director, Fleet Operations
“The Chancellor’s decision to delay a government review of the impact of WLTP on Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) and company car tax (CCT) will come as a major blow to the fleet sector. The lack of insight into tax liabilities from April 2021 continues. Strategic long-term planning remains difficult with the lack of clarity set to continue stymying procurement decisions for many fleet operators.”


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Tag Archives: MTN
This is how FNB’s new mobile virtual network operator’s data prices stack up against Vodacom, MTN, Telkom, and Cell C.
MTN has cut the price of its low-cost Steppa 2 smartphone.
MTN has called for a legally binding arbitration process as it faces industrial action by the Communication Workers Union.
Telkom has launched a new broadband deal, offering data bundles on ADSL, LTE, and fibre for R699 a month.
Cell C has made an aggressive move with its new Epic contract offer, but experts warn that other factors count.
HTC has announced the launch of its latest flagship Android smartphone in SA.
Mobile network MTN has strongly denied that workers at the company have allegedly switched off 200,000 contract subscribers amid an ongoing strike.
Striking MTN employees kept up their picket at the company’s 14th Avenue offices in Fairland, Randburg, ahead of an expected meeting on Wednesday
Mobile operator MTN has apologised to customers for service disruptions as strike action continues to impact on operations.


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The supervisory board of Volkswagen discussed the delays and discrepancies within the group in the development of its own car software and the expansion of the “Cariad” IT division. On Friday, it was also about a concept already indicated by CEO Herbert Diess and Cariad boss Dirk Hilgenberg, with which responsibilities should be distributed more clearly and new interim goals should be agreed. But there is still no final plan, it said in the evening. Another topic of the meeting was the appointment of Kerstin Waltenberg as VW human rights officer on August 1st.
Development status, ideas and difficulties
Diess bears overall responsibility for the software area, which is strategically important alongside e-mobility. The aim is a uniform electronics and IT platform from which all brands can use a modular system as required. Contrary to what was initially planned, however, the development for the upper-class subsidiaries Audi and Porsche, especially for assistance systems, should continue in parallel for the time being. The processes will only be merged in a few years.
The background is deviations in the development status, different ideas of the brands and difficulties with compatibility. Actually, it should come down to a uniform software platform much sooner. This “Version 2.0” is now targeted for the middle or second half of the decade. It is to be used in the future Trinity core model, for example. There were already fears that various starts could be at risk because of the time delay.
Earlier this week, Diess explained to the workforce that the timing had to be improved. The preliminary division of tasks will cost VW up to half a billion euros. “Setbacks in individual projects are part of it, we still have to learn software culture,” he said. The group wants to increase Cariad’s staff, streamline decision-making processes and look out for other specialized IT companies for takeovers or investments.
Uyghurs: Problematic work in China
The new supply chain law will take effect in Germany at the beginning of 2023. Waltenberg is to report regularly to the Executive Board on the monitoring of labor, social and environmental standards in the global purchasing and production networks that will be mandatory from then on. This had been planned for a long time, it said. Some observers also see the personnel as a sign that Volkswagen wants to address concerns about its China business more.
The group operates a factory in northwest China’s Urumqi with the state-controlled joint venture partner SAIC. According to human rights organizations, the Muslim Uyghur minority in the Xinjiang region is being systematically oppressed – VW has faced criticism for maintaining its presence. IG Metall called for consideration to be given to giving up the location.
Diess wants to visit the plant soon to get an idea. According to his information, there is no forced labor there. He rejects withdrawing from Urumqi – that would hardly improve the situation for the people, rather more communication about values is necessary. The VW boss also generally warned against the exclusion of China.


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SALISBURY, MD. – Jeff Tripician has been tapped as the new president of Perdue Premium Meat Company L.L.C., a subsidiary of Perdue Farms.
Mr. Tripician was most recently general manager of Niman Ranch, which Perdue acquired in 2015. Before joining Niman Ranch in 2006, he spent two years as chief marketing officer at Coleman Natural Meats, Inc., which Perdue acquired in 2011. Previously, Mr. Tripician was c.m.o. and executive vice-president of sales at Frontier Natural Products, and before that was vice-president of marketing for the International Dairy Foods Association. Earlier in his career, Mr. Tripician held marketing roles at Borden Dairy Co., Sara Lee Co. and Procter & Gamble.
“When we acquired Niman Ranch in 2015 and Coleman Natural in 2011, we were expanding our ability to make positive change," said Mark McKay, president of Fresh Poultry and Premium Meats for Perdue Foods. "As we stay current with consumer demands and values, we will continue to expand our mission-driven positions on responsible agriculture and clean products — important areas of learnings and growth. Jeff’s passion and drive will help make all of Perdue a more progressive leader in humane animal care, sustainability and, most importantly, our commitment to our farmers and ranchers.”
Stepping into the general manager position vacated by Mr. Tripician at Niman Ranch is Chris Oliviero, vice-president at Perdue Farms. Mr. Oliviero joined Perdue Farms in 2007 after working as a business consultant for FedEx, Toyota, BMW, Heinz and Molson. He was named vice-president of Perdue's Deli business in 2012 and has also served as vice-president of business development for the company. Mr. Oliviero is credited for the launch of Perdue organic and no-antibiotics ever products.
“Chris’ new role as general manager of Niman Ranch is part of Perdue’s long-term pledge to humane animal care, no-antibiotics-ever, all vegetarian-fed products from animals raised sustainably and to the highest standards across the full range of proteins,” Mr. McKay said. “Chris has paid his dues through a wide-array of leadership positions within Perdue, and he is well-positioned to continue Tripician’s legacy as a steward of Niman Ranch.”


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On the afternoon of August 26, 2017, the Legal Guru Club invited more than 20 vice presidents and general counsels of large central, state-owned, foreign-invested and private companies, experts of Development Research Center of the State Council and officials of Haidian District People’s Government to visit the Tencent and experience the working style of the “Penguin Empire” under the guidance of Mr. Cui Shufeng, the public strategy director of public strategy committee office of Tencent.
（Group photo of Legal Guru Club visiting Tencent）
1. Visited Corporate Culture of Tencent
On the afternoon of August 26, under the guidance of Mr. Cui Shufeng, more than 20 guests, including Ms Angel Yingjun Wang, the founder of Legal Guru Club, Mr. Xu Yongjian, the general counsel of China National Aviation Fuel Group Limited, Ms Li Zhaohui, the general counsel of China Nuclear Engineering & Construction Corporation Limited, Mr. Sun Hong, the vice president of Zhejiang Geely Holding Group, Ms Ma Jun, the vice president and general counsel of Volvo Group China, Mr. Zhang Weihua, the deputy general manager and general counsel of United Energy Group Limited, and Ms Fan Xizhen, the chief legal counsel of the legal department of Oracle China, visited the exhibition hall of Tencent.
The exhibition hall shows the development history, products, honor wall and interactive experience area of Tencent. With strong visual impact, the company’s product display represents the future direction of Tencent’s products – how to improve the lives of urban residents in terms of medical care, transportation, appointment register and corporate entrepreneurship & innovation step by step with Internet plus, through a large LCD screen.
(Visiting the interactive experience area of Tencent）
- Listen to the corporate strategy of Tencent
After the visit, Mr. Cui Shufeng and the guests returned to the conference hall. With a short break and exchanges, Mr. Cui shared the future development planning and market layout of Tencent with everyone. He introduced that Tencent “takes user value as the basis” and cares the most about the user experience. In case of any problem, the company will make improvement immediately and release update on weekly and monthly basis to meet the needs of users. Strengthening the close relationship between enterprise and users in the process of continuously communicating with users and improving products is the most important concept in the era of Internet economy.
(Exchanging in the conference hall)
Later, Mr. Cui introduced several modules and blueprint of Tencent. The company will provide users with a full-range Internet products through 7 business groups including SNG (social network group), WXG (WeChat group), IEG (interactive entertainment group), MIG (mobile Internet group), OMG (online media group), TEG (technical engineering group) and CDG (company development group).
Finally, Mr. Cui explained one important investment concept of Tencent – investment without interference. Tencent does not interfere with the development orientation and plans of other companies. In the future, Tencent will become a technology company, become water, air and soil for other emerging companies based on its own data and technologies to help those companies grow and achieve a win-win situation, and become the Amazon of China.
Mr. Xu Wei, the researcher of the Macro Economy Research Department of the Development Research Center of the State Council, analyzed the short- and medium-term economic forms of China for the guests, and forecast China’s future economic trends and directions through comparison.
After the meeting, Mr. Cui interacted and exchanged with the guests and introduced the construction and design of the legal team of Tencent. The most significant difference between the legal team of Tencent and that of other companies is that Tencent has arranged a lawyer for each business line, who will control the risks in the whole process from the beginning to the decision-making. Afterwards, the guests interacted and communicated with Mr. Cui, the experts from the Development Research Center of the State Council and the officials of the Haidian District People’s Government regarding their concerns.


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Black Hat 2021 took place online and in Las Vegas this month, the first hybrid event in its 24-year history. Unsurprisingly, a major topic of conversation was supply chain security. Why are supply chain attacks on the rise, and what steps can organizations take to protect themselves?
Thanks to the increasing complexity of software environments, supply chain attacks have been a major challenge for cybersecurity professionals over the last several years. Third-party dependencies, the enormous depth and scale of modern tech stacks, and the new requirements of cloud-based business have all contributed to this complexity. As your business expands, you risk exposing entry-points for bad actors seeking to compromise your network.
Of course, the untold complications of the pandemic have made it even more difficult to ensure the integrity of the software supply chain. During this year’s event, numerous sessions and keynote speakers focused on the importance of preventing supply chain attacks.
A question worth asking is: Who is responsible for supply chain attacks? Remote work, BYOD policies, and internationally distributed teams demand a whole new approach to cybersecurity that focuses on securing applications and resources rather than network perimeters. In these conditions, everyone bears part of the responsibility for an organization’s cybersecurity posture. The real question is: Who’s responsible for security when everyone’s responsible?
Incidents like the SolarWinds breach, the Colonial Pipeline attack, and the Kaseya attack remind us that supply chain attacks can have devastating and far-reaching consequences, from brand erosion to heavy fines for noncompliance with data security laws.
Supply chain attacks can also threaten national security. The White House’s Executive Order on Improving the Nation’s Cybersecurity called on organizations to implement Zero Trust security as soon as possible. Government agencies are already following President Biden’s directive to implement Zero Trust security through network segmentation, and the White House has urged private companies to follow suit.
Supply chain attacks have become more common and more devastating since the beginning of 2020, but they’ve always been a threat. In conversation with Black Hat Founder Jeff Moss and several members of the Black Hat Review Board, cybersecurity expert Kymberlee Price pointed out that companies have understood the need to secure the supply chain and protect open-source environments since at least 2014, but until more recently, these risks seemed more theoretical than concrete.
Protecting against supply chain attacks has been seen as complicated, resource-intensive, expensive, and slow to deliver ROI, further discouraging companies from investing in their cybersecurity infrastructure. As a result, most organizations are behind where they need to be when it comes to supply chain attacks and vulnerabilities in their open-source networks.
Another topic of conversation across sessions at Black Hat 2021 was addressing new and expanding attack surfaces: for instance, Microsoft Exchange Servers exposing new and much larger attack surfaces with Client Access Services (CAS). Exhange architecture is wildly complex, so vulnerabilities proliferate. Legacy protocols like those employed by CAS, including some extremely outdated protocols like IMAP4 and POP3, contribute to the expansion of the surface area, exposing new weak points that attackers hurry to exploit.
Another refrain at Black Hat was the multitude of risks inherent in open-source software (OSS) environments. OSS has the potential to introduce so many risks that not all vulnerabilities can be patched promptly—or at all. Vendors along the supply chain have been making their own tweaks and customizations, thereby introducing vulnerabilities. To effectively secure their businesses, organizations that rely on OSS environments need to secure a huge number of diverse OS vulnerabilities. Without a mechanism to seal these gaps, organizations are spending vast time and energy on risk management.
How do organizations address these challenges? Asset management is a great place to start.
You’ve probably heard the expression “You don’t know what you don’t know.” By extension, it’s true that you can’t protect assets in your network if you don’t know they’re there. During a discussion between Moss and several Review Board members, asset management emerged as a critical consideration for organizations trying to prevent supply chain attacks resulting from OSS or Microsoft Exchange vulnerabilities.
Plenty of companies—at ColorTokens, we’d venture to say most—don’t know exactly what’s in their software environments. With mergers and acquisitions, a fact of life in many industries, you might acquire different parts of various systems piecemeal without carefully vetting or even noticing what you’re adding to your network.
As new business needs arise, you add new tools, systems, and users—all of which have the potential to introduce vulnerabilities. And what about third-party vendors, partners, and even customers who might have access to your network? There’s no way of knowing how secure their networks are today or will be tomorrow.
The bottom line: As your business grows and scales, you inevitably introduce vulnerabilities. That’s why asset management is an integral part of any modern cybersecurity architecture, along with microsegmentation solutions that reduce attack surface, restrict lateral movement, and contain breaches.
Black Hat 2021 made it clear that recent events have spurred government organizations and companies alike to pay more attention to supply chain attacks and other threats. As a result, many organizations have already begun implementing Zero Trust security to protect their environments, whether on-prem, cloud-based, hybrid, or multi-cloud.
Zero Trust security is one of the most talked-about approaches in 2021, with good reason: implementing Zero Trust can secure your hybrid, multi-cloud, OS, or on-prem environment without disrupting business operations or compromising ease of use. And implementing Zero Trust might be easier than you think, especially with our award-winning Zero Trust platform.


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Joan Rivers, who died on Sept. 4, appears to have promoted the iPhone 6 from her personal Facebook page, Los Angeles news station KTLA reports.
A Facebook post was sent out from the late comedian on Friday, where she promoted the new device. Rivers died five days before the release of the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 plus, which is referred to as “the fat one.”
“This badass is being replaced by an iPhone 6 (not the fat one),” the Rivers account wrote, along with an image of the iPhone 4s. The post was deleted shortly after.
There was speculation that a representative for Rivers could have scheduled the post before her unexpected death.
Although the comment was deleted, TMZ was able to grab a screen shot.
The errant post led to jokes on social media.
“iPhone is so big, Joan Rivers came back from the dead to endorse it,” said one Twitter user quoted by KTLA.


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"This is not appropriate for a trade agreement".
Lobbyists for several industries said they hoped the U.S. -Mexico-Canada Agreement would serve as a yardstick for future U.S. trade deals, including any involving China.
It replaces the 24-year-old North American Free Trade Agreement, which President Donald Trump had called a job-killing disaster.
Over the weekend, the governments of the United States, Canada, and Mexico came together to create a new, and newly named, version: the USMCA. "To put that to bed is great and to have something that includes Canada, and not just Mexico, is fantastic".
"The US relationship with China is much more complicated than its relationship with Canada". It also requires that Mexico retain at least its current level of openness to USA energy investment, and allows additional flexibility for US customs authorities to accept alternative documentation to certify that natural gas and oil have originated in Canada or Mexico upon entering the United States.
Just an hour after President Trump hailed the proposed revision of the North American Free Trade Agreement as a win for USA workers and a vindication of his hard-edged approach to trade, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau predicted the new deal would be "profoundly beneficial" for Canadian families and the middle class.
De Minimis: this is a term that represents the amount of goods a person can bring across the border without being hit by duties.The basic exemption when crossing the border in person will increase to $40 of us goods up from the current $20. "Having Canada as a trading partner and a party to this agreement is critical for North American energy security and US consumers".
"We are not going to allow our steel industry to disappear", Trump said, adding that Sunday's deal would not have happened without the tariffs.
"What we felt was possible and reasonable was to offer some additional market access", in the dairy sector, she said. The Canadian sector is worth Can$20 billion (US$16 billion).
Another red line for Canada was Chapter 19.
'Jersey Shore' cast supports The Situation at his sentencing
Reality TV star Michael " The Situation " Sorrentino is scheduled to find out whether he'll be headed to prison or headed home. Indicted at the same time as Sitch on tax evasion charges, Marc was sentenced to two years in the slammer and a $70,000 fine.
"The bar for supporting a new NAFTA will be high".
Still, on the surface, there were no obvious examples of fundamental harm.
Canada has strictly controlled imports for decades to limit the supply of milk in the country.
"The most important gain from this agreement is retaining our access to the US market and Canadians understand that", Freeland said.
"We had to make compromises, and some were more hard than others", Trudeau said, promising full compensation to dairy farmers who might suffer.
The loonie traded higher at 78.13 cents U.S. compared with an average of 77.25 cents USA on Friday.
A deal seemed imminent, worrying those within the USTR who were convinced they weren't yet done, said the source. So far, European companies have been more aggressive in taking advantage of the deal, he said, but it's still early days. Animated by seventeenth century mercantilist ideas about trade deficits, all Trump seems to know for sure is that the deficits in merchandise trade are always and automatically bad, and that all existing trade agreements, particularly multilateral agreements like the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), that produce such deficits are therefore likewise always bad.
Copyright laws: Canada has agreed to extend the terms of a copyright from 50 years up to 70 years. "It is imperative that the United States remains an integral player in driving the global trade agenda".
For Trump, the agreement offered vindication for his hardline trade policies that have roiled relations with China, the European Union and America's North American neighbors while causing concerns among Midwest farmers and manufacturers anxious about retaliation.