text:
There is some risk in crypto. That comes in terms of financial risk as well as security risks. Cryptocurrencies are very secure for individuals to use but advanced hackers can sometimes breech exchanges. Further, software problems at the exchanges can cause problems for some users. These events are rare and they aren’t unique to cryptocurrencies but they are scary for some.
Do you shop online? Are you interested in crypto? What if, online retailers gave you Bitcoin when you shopped online? It turns out that there’s at least one that does, and it’s called Lolli.
A recent internal transfer within Samsung Electronics seems to indicate that the company wants to integrate its crypto wallet into Samsung Pay.
Unstoppable Domains is a blockchain company that aims to offer internet domains that can’t be censored. Their mission is now one step closer to reality with the successful completion of Series A investment round. The investors, led by Tim Draper’s Draper Associates, will inject US$4 million into Unstoppable Domains.
One of the barriers to large-scale cryptocurrency adoption is that crypto can be fairly difficult to spend on everyday items. This is also annoying to those people who have cryptocurrency because they want to spend it rather than treat it like an investment.
Andrew Haldane, Bank of England’s (BoE) chief economist, shared a surprising personal opinion after giving a talk at one UK college. While answering various questions from the audience, he said that Bitcoin could replace cash. This was first shared in a Reddit thread started by a student who attended Haldane’s talk.
One of the biggest obstacles to cryptocurrency adoption is the fact that not too many retailers currently accept it. Crypto enthusiasts dream of a world where crypto is used more as a currency and less as an investment. Unfortunately, there are barriers for businesses that would otherwise adopt crypto. These include a steep learning curve and hardware expenses.
The “world’s largest” crypto mining service for business-to-business companies will be available in the near future. This ambitious project is the scope of a recent strategic partnership between Argo Blockchain and HIVE Blockchain. The two companies have entered into conditional heads of terms. Thus, no money will be exchanged in the transaction. Instead, the companies will swap shares between each other.
Germany is one of the leading economies in the European Union. Now, it wants to become the hotspot for blockchain companies and token trading. According to a local newspaper Handelsblatt, the ruling coalition government of the country plans to adopt clear regulations for tokens. This will happen as early as this summer.
Stocks tumbled earlier this week as the US-China trade war escalated again. Meanwhile, Bitcoin continued the climb that started earlier this spring. CNBC initially made the connection and suggested causality.


text:
Things are about to get exciting for Disney fans in Malaysia.
Following the recent launch of Disney+ Singapore this February and the heart-shattering news that Disney will be shutting down their TV channels in the Southeast Asia region, Disney+ may just be making its way to Malaysian shores.
According to The Edge Markets, it is speculated that Disney+ will not only be setting up its own platform in Malaysia but will also have a working relationship with the country’s major platforms such as Astro Malaysia Holdings Bhd and Telekom Malaysia Bhd.
Addressing the speculations, Astro Malaysia has told fans and media to “wait for (the) official announcement.”
On the other hand, Telekom Malaysia has responded in support of Disney’s decision to move into the over-the-top space.
“We live in a time that high-quality broadband has enabled us to access a wide, rich, universe of entertainment that is ever-expanding,” said Telekom Malaysia. “As the nation’s primary provider of home broadband, Unifi will ensure that all our customers will continue to enjoy quality content on Unifi TV that meets their entertainment needs.”
Disney+ first launched in November 2019 and began making its way to Southeast Asia starting with India in April 2020, followed by Indonesia in September 2020 and Singapore in February 2021. As of March 2021, the streamer has amassed over 100 million subscribers worldwide.
With the streamer listing job openings in Kuala Lumpur, it will come to no surprise if Disney+ launches in Malaysia, and the rest of Southeast Asia anytime soon.
As per Singapore’s launch, if you’re keen on signing up for the service the moment it drops, the main Disney+ link is your best bet.

domain: news


text:
Jon Leibowitz announced today that he is resigning from his post as the chairman of the Federal Trade Commission. His announcement comes after presiding over both the investigation andof Google's antitrust probe.
Leibowitz plans to leave his position by mid-February, according to The New York Times.
"I felt like this was a good time to leave because we got through a number of things that I wanted the commission to address," he told the newspaper.
President Obama, who was formerly an FTC commissioner, to lead the agency in 2009. Leibowitz was said to have been chosen because of his stance on better enforcing antitrust laws and online privacy issues.
Over the course of his tenure, Leibowitz managed to bring antitrust investigations against, Google, and . He also tackled dozens of and the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act.
The most publicized effort under Leibowitz's belt is the FTC's antitrust investigation into Google's business practices. The 20-month probe focused mostly on the way Google displayed search results, which critics said favored the company's own services over those of its competitors.
Under the FTC's settlement, a handful of companies can now choose to stop showing their results inside Google products like Google+ Local, Google Shopping, and Hotels. The search giant also agreed to voluntarily change the way it uses other Web sites' data. However, some regulatorsthat the settlement agreement was akin to a slap on the wrist and that despite the probe, Google is continuing to operate as normal with its search results looking more or less the same.
Now that Leibowitz is resigning from his post, he is likely to move onto the private sector where he intends to focus on competition policy and privacy, according to The New York Times. It's unclear who his successor will be.
CNET contacted the FTC for comment. We'll update the story when we get more information.


text:
Turkey keen to invest in Bangladesh’s agro-industry, light engineering, ICT
DHAKA, – Turkish companies could invest or collaborate jointly in some potential areas of Bangladesh like agro-industry, light engineering, pharmaceuticals, ICT, ship building, energy and household appliances.
Ambassador of Turkey to Bangladesh Mustafa Osman Turan expressed such interest when he met Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI) President Rizwab Rahman at the DCCI today, said a press release.
“We want to rebrand Turkey in Bangladesh,” said the Ambassador. Osman said Turkey mostly imports jute from Bangladesh for their carpet industry while half of their total import which is about $300 million constitutes jute from Bangladesh.
Noting that Bangladesh’s agriculture sector is being modernized and experiencing a digital transformation now, he termed this sector as a very potential one for joint collaboration. The release said that the bilateral trade between Bangladesh and Turkey did not decline that much despite the COVID-19 pandemic.
DCCI president Rizwan Rahman said that Bangladesh has emerged as Turkey’s third largest trade partner in South Asia with a total trade volume of $705 million in FY 2018-19.
He also proposed to hold a bilateral virtual B2B meeting to promote private sector investment. Rizwan requested Turkey through the Embassy to withdraw anti-dumping duty on yarn from Bangladesh imposed on October 16, 2018.
The DCCI president said the total trade volume of both the countries in fiscal year 2019-20 was $686.88 million, which does not reflect the actual trade potential of these two friendly countries. He reiterated that more interaction and communication among the Turkish business bodies and Bangladeshi business community will enhance bilateral trade volume in the future.
DCCI Senior Vice President NKA Mobin, Vice President Monowar Hossain and Commercial Counselor of Turkish Embassy Kenan Kalayci were present, among others, during the meeting.


text:
Primark-owner Associated British Foods says strong pound and falling sugar prices has had bigger-than-expected impact on profits
Primark-owner Associated British Foods said the strong pound and falling sugar prices at its ingredients business has had a bigger-than-expected impact on profits.
The firm behind Kingsmill bread and Twinings tea, which saw £30m wiped off earnings from the strong dollar, managed to offset this impact through cost savings which left its forecast for the year unchanged.
But the shares fell 26p to 3113p after the clothing and food giant said in a trading update ahead of its full-year figures that Primark’s sales growth had slowed compared with last year.
Sales from shops open at least a year are expected to have grown 1 per cent over the past 12 months – but this is less than the 4 per cent seen the previous year.
Finance director John Bason blamed last autumn’s warm weather on the slowdown and said the comparative year had also been flattered by extremely strong sales.
Total sales for the full year are expected to be 13 per cent largely due to a 9 per cent increase in store space as new shops were opened.
Primark’s profit margins have also been affected by the negative impact of the strong US dollar – it buys much of its raw materials in Asia using the greenback. The margins were also hurt by a higher number of items being placed on sale compared to the previous year, when there had been an unusually large amount of products sold at full price.
France is the chain’s most successful new market. However, in the Netherlands and Germany store openings cannibalised sales from the countries’ flagship shops. Bason is hoping Primark will catch on in the US as it makes its debut with an outlet in Boston this Thursday.
In other parts of the business ABF said profit and sales revenues from sugar products would be ‘substantially lower’ than the previous year due a ‘further decline in European sugar prices’.
Most watched Money videos
- Ferrari launches new green supercar: 296 GTB plug-in hybrid
- Hennessey unveils Mammoth 1000 that can hit 60mph in 3.2 seconds
- Discover the water-resistant interior of the new Ineos Grenadier 4X4
- Take a look at £3.3 million Bugatti Chiron Super Sport hypercar
- Volkswagen reveals stylish hybrid, seven-seater, family bus
- E-Type UK Unleashed transforms classic cars using modern features
- Stunning Lotus Emira unveiled as company's last petrol car
- 1937 Bugatti Type 57: One of the most valuable pre-war cars
- Are investors too worried or too complacent about inflation?
- Why UK smaller companies can profit in the recovery
- Futuristic zero-emissions electric Ioniq 5 from Hyundai
- Vauxhall to make electric Opel Manta GSe ElektroMOD concept car


text:
THQ president Brian Farrell thinks the $59.99 asking price for games is "keeping people out," and plans to explore cheaper price points in a move that he says is "the way games are gonna go".
"What we're thinking about the business is we're turning it on its head a little bit," said Farrell at the BMO Capital Markets conference this week (via Gamasutra). "It's not, 'how high a price can we get', but 'how many users',"
"If you can capture everyone under that economic curve, that's where you can make the most money," he explained, adding that he believes the $59.99 price of games is "keeping people out".
"When we launched [MX vs. ATV] at $59.99, we'd do some units, and then when we brought the price down to the mass market-friendly price of $39.99, it would just pop,"
Thus Farrell hopes that launching at a lower price point from the start would garner a larger install base to which he can flog large amounts of DLC content.
"So the thinking this time is, let's initially launch at $39.99 -- it's a very robust game, very high quality, so this is not about trying to get a secondary title out.
"It's an AAA title, at that price point, but then with a series of DLC so people can extend their experience. We think this is the future of gaming. We think that's the way games are gonna go in the long term."
What do you think?
There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)


text:
Innovation is a hard sell in the era of populist politics. Malcolm Turnbull’s embrace of technological disruption evidently did not go down well with the "quiet Australians" who backed Scott Morrison last month. But Facebook’s plans to launch its own digital currency to challenge banks and other payment transaction incumbents demonstrates again that disruption is now business as usual. Not surprisingly, giant tech platform businesses that connect billions of people with each other have figured they can connect their users’ money too. Some already offer quick and cheap payment systems linked to banks. But Facebook’s Libra will use its own private blockchain-based currency to cross borders, avoid traditional banks and their high charges, and even replace money in the real world too. Banks are accustomed to smaller, high-tech challengers eating into their fat margins. But with 2.4 billion current users, Facebook could be bigger than most banks. The many hundreds of millions in emerging economies who have WhatsApp but no bank account may just bypass banking altogether.
New digital technologies are a massive global supply side shock. By radically cutting the cost of information flows, they shake up old industries mostly for the better. Money, payments and banking are core parts of an economy’s lifeblood. So much regulation goes into maintaining the stability and integrity of the financial system. Regulators need to balance this with facilitating breakthrough technology that drives new economic growth.
Facebook’s Libra will need to be a stable store of value – unlike speculative bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies – to be become widely used as a means of transactions. It will use blockchain technology, sharing some characteristics of digital currencies. And it could be the first of other non-official monetary systems that challenge traditional government financial supervision. It might be harder to pull traditional monetary policy levers when people have both the state’s coin and private coin in their pockets.
Despite their publicised failings, traditional banks are still trusted to safeguard deposits. In the past two years, Facebook has made itself the least trusted of the digital giants and is now the target of all sorts of regulators. Now it seeks to enter one of the most heavily regulated businesses on earth. It could not manage peoples’ social gossip safely, and now it wants to track their money. So Facebook’s blockchain will be run by arms-length trustees from Switzerland. There will be no data-sharing with social platforms. But regulators will now be working out what they will ask of Facebook. Many new technologies don’t fit into their existing legislation and systems. And every financial innovation from credit cards to securitisation has brought upsets with them, so the risks are significant.
But it could be hard to beat the sheer convenience of sending money like a text. That promises to strip out costs and profits in the traditional banking and payments system. Just as long-profitable big banks will be challenged to respond, Australia’s political debate needs to grasp the essential idea that resisting technology disruption won’t preserve jobs and prosperity. To the contrary it will make us poorer.
- James Thomson
- Dan F. Stapleton


text:
Even with cryptocurrencies banned in China, some of the top retailers held fast on non-fungible tokens (NFTs), which weren’t quite covered by the law, although reselling them for a profit was banned.
Now Tencent has given up, shutting down its marketplace for them altogether, and will probably shutter Huanhe, the unit that mints and distributes NFTs. That comes on the heels of a broader crackdown, with social media giant WeChat banning accounts that even mention NFTs and other digital assets.
See also: China’s Tencent to Shut Down NFT Platform
China isn’t the only place where the NFT business had a big loss this week.
Minecraft, one of the largest massively multiplayer online (MMO) games, with 141 million monthly active users (MAUs), announced on July 20 that it was banning NFTs — and any blockchain technology on its platform — news that will have a significant impact on the broader gaming community’s love-hate relationship with the one-off cryptocurrency tokens.
Many hardcore gamers are hostile to NFTs, which they see as more of a way for game developers to squeeze extra money out of them, as well as a potential source of purchasable in-game items that give buyers an advantage — called pay-to- win, which is decidedly not a compliment.
Read more: Gaming’s Backlash Against NFTs Is Becoming Organized, Threatens Crypto Tokens’ Adoption
In a blog post, Minecraft developer Mojang Studios explained that its user guidelines require that “all players should have access to the same functionality,” explaining the issue as one of inclusion and equal access. “The speculative pricing and investment mentality around NFTs takes the focus away from playing the game and encourages profiteering, which we think is inconsistent with the long-term joy and success of our players.”
Beyond that, it said, no developers will be permitted to introduce any blockchain technologies into Minecraft or to create skins — changing the appearance of a player’s avatar — in-game items, mods or any other “scarce digital asset.”
It also pointed to potential scams like wash trading to artificially inflate the value of NFTs, as well as “rug pulls” by developers who take money and abandon projects. Interestingly, it didn’t mention the high energy use and subsequent pollution of a number of blockchains — a common complaint of NFT opponents.
Marketers Still Love NFTs…
The brand marketing industry has embraced NFTs strongly, both as standalone items and as a way of sticking a “me-too” toe into the metaverse and Web3.
See here: Since When Is Dropping an NFT Care Bears Collection a Web3 ‘Strategy’?
Membership and loyalty program startup Hang has been able to attract a number of major brands including Budweiser, Pinkberry and the Bonnaroo music festival to use NFTs as a way of increase sales and brand loyalty by offering people who reach new loyalty program limited edition NFTs that may also have resale value on NFT marketplaces.
Also see: Big Brands Replacing Membership, Loyalty Programs With NFTs
…And So Do Thieves
Yuga Labs, developer of the most valuable NFT collections, Bored Ape Yacht Club (BAYC) and CryptoPunks, tweeted out a warning that its “security team has been tracking a persistent threat group that targets the NFT community.”
Warning that a “coordinated attack targeting multiple communities via compromised social media accounts,” the company asked owners of its avatars — which are still attracting occasional million-dollar sales prices despite a broader NFT industry slump — to be vigilant.
Which is likely cold comfort to actor and TV producer Seth Green, who had to spend several hundred thousand dollars to buy back a stolen Bored Ape NFT that he was in the process of turning into the main character of a TV show he was producing.
Also read: Seth Green’s Kidnapped Bored Ape Shows NFTs’ Growing Commercialization
For all PYMNTS crypto coverage, subscribe to the daily Crypto Newsletter.


text:
- ARHT Media (TSXV:ART) has announced the launch of its online on-stage experience, Virtual Global Stage (VGS)
- The platform uses ARHT’s holographic telepresence technology to bring multiple 3D presenters to a virtual stage
- VGS lowers costs and carbon footprints by removing the need for travel, venues, and the physical presence of presenters of attendees
- As COVID-19 causes bans on travel and mass gatherings, this virtual technology may help to keep businesses going despite disruptions
- ARHT’s share price remains unchanged, and is currently trading at 6 cents per share
ARHT Media (TSXV:ART) has announced the launch of its online on-stage holographic experience platform, Virtual Global Stage.
The company is a global leader in the development, production, and distribution of high-quality hologram content.
Virtual Global Stage (VGS) uses ARHT’s patented Holographic Telepresence technology and multipoint broadcast solution.
The platform can bring multiple, 3-dimensional, life-size presenters from different locations around the world to the same virtual stage. People can use VGS for panel discussions, fireside chats, training events, town halls, and product launches, all within virtual environments.
The technology can stream securely online, without any visible lag, and can integrate 3D graphics into the presentation. With the addition of PowerPoint and other dynamic visual aids, clients can easily create engaging experiences.
According to ARHT CEO, Larry O’Reilly, clients already use holopresence to create greater engagement and better content recall.
“Now they can do so more easily, and at lower cost, by addressing audiences in their office or home over the internet.
With VGS, we deliver the full body presentations you are used to seeing on major conferences and events around the world,” he said.
VGS removes the need for travel, venues, and the physical assembly of presenters or attendees, which dramatically reduces costs and carbon footprints.
This is becoming more of a concern, as concerns over global warming and the COVID-19 outbreak take their toll. COVID-19 fears have caused governments to implement bans on travel and mass gatherings, leaving a gap that VGS can fill.
A fireside chat, town hall, or conference presentation with two presenters will set clients back at least C$33,000. ARHT Media has studios in Toronto, London, New York, Los Angeles, Hong Kong, and Singapore, making the technology accessible to global markets.
ARHT’s share price remains unchanged, and is trading at 6 cents per share, as of 10:02am EST.


text:
Sony Pictures is gearing up for a spook filled 30th anniversary for Ghostbusters next year.New licensee agreements have been lined up for the event ranging from apparel and memorabilia to toys and publishing. The goal is to target the films core fan base.Find out what else is in store below.
Personally, “Ghostbusters” is a perfect film in my book and I am always eager to get new and cool items from a franchise I grew up with. 2014 should be an interesting year for Ghostbuster fans. We hope some confirmed news comes down the pipeline for “Ghostbusters 3″ but…we’re not holding our breath.
Licensees signed on to support the anniversary include Mattel, IDW Publishing, World Tech Toys, Quantum Mechanics, Factory Entertainment, Diamond Select and Medicom Toys, Mad Engine, Titan Figures, Uniqlo, Kaientai, BCI, Funko and Underground Toys. Additionally, gaming partners such as Beeline, Ubisoft, GSN, Path, XMG and IGT will create interactive, gaming and slot machines items, and MDI is planning a series of state lottery programs. This equals one packed year for us GB fans.
Sony has also partnered with the pop culture art gallery Gallery 1988 to create a traveling art show that will feature top artists’ interpretations of Ghostbusters over the last 30 years. Limited edition screen prints and posters will be available during each stop of the tour, which will conclude in July at Comic-Con International in San Diego, Calif., in July.
“This franchise is very important to the studio, and we wanted to give fans new and exciting ways to participate,” says Greg Economos, senior vice president, global consumer products, Sony Pictures Entertainment. “Ghostbusters continues to gain fans and recognition year after year, and we are thrilled to extend the brand through products and events to celebrate this milestone event.”
Like what you see? Be sure to also visit Pissed Off Geek too for more news and reviews with a horrific edge. To stay up to date with the latest horror news and reviews from the site be sure to "like" Truly Disturbings's Facebook page and following us on Twitter!


text:
The Wizards star re-signed with Jordan Brand and unveiled his new BB3 personal logo on Wednesday.
Washington Wizards star Bradley Beal, one of this fall’s most coveted sneaker free agents, has landed a multi-year footwear and apparel deal extension with Jordan Brand.
After signing with Nike as the third overall pick of the 2012 NBA Draft, and later again extending with the Swoosh, Beal shifted over to Jordan Brand in December 2020, with one year remaining on his contract.
As he entered sneaker free agency this fall, Beal and his representatives at Priority Sports received interest from other brands before ultimately re-upping with Jordan Brand.
“When you see the Jumpman logo, you know what it represents,” Beal said when first signing on with Jordan a year ago. “There are only a select few who get selected by MJ, and that speaks volumes.”
In addition to posting a video to celebrate the announcement, the three-time All-Star also officially unveiled his new “BB3” personal logo, expected to be featured on future player exclusive Jordan sneakers.
Beal had been a headliner of the latest Air Jordan 36 during the recent Tokyo Olympics, while also often wearing sneakers like the Jordan React Elevation.
After starring at Chaminade College Prep in St. Louis, Beal landed at the University of Florida, which Jordan now also sponsors. He’s often been spotted in Gators PEs of recent models, highlighting the blue and orange of his college days even a decade later, as he continues that collegiate connection through his Jordan deal.
With his new endorsement contract in place, Beal is expected to continue to be featured in Jumpman brand campaigns, headline upcoming team models and incorporate Jordan Brand into his charity efforts that have earned him the NBA Cares Community Assist Award winner in the past.


text:
Hackers have created fake JioMart websites that look exactly like the original website to steal money from shoppers.
Recently, Reliance Retail has launched an online grocery service under the brand JioMart. The new brand has been started for helping consumers shop groceries at the lowest prices sitting at home amid the pandemic and also local retail shops.
With this launch, the news of JioMart offering franchises and dealerships have been around for a while. However, Reliance is now warning users about fake JioMart websites doing the rounds.
Hackers have created fake JioMart websites that look exactly like the original website to steal money from shoppers. These fake websites are claiming to offer a franchise at reasonable rates. The company is warning consumers against such scams and asking them to stay aware and informed.
Reliance shared a caution note on its Twitter handle that said, “We would like to inform the public at large that we are not operating any dealership or franchisee model currently nor have we appointed any franchisee or any agent for appointing any dealer or franchisee in any manner whatsoever. Further, we do not charge any amount under the pretense of appointing a person as a franchisee.”
“We have been informed about certain unscrupulous individuals who are creating fake websites, pretending to be us or associated with us, and duping innocent individuals under the pretense of granting franchisee of JIOMART services. The public, manufacturers, traders, and dealers are hereby cautioned against such unscrupulous individuals and their online fraud activities; and are hereby warned that we will not be responsible any business dealing with such dishonest individuals,” the note further read.
The company also shared the list of fake websites that are masquerading as JioMart. It added in the notice, “Some of the fake websites identified and reported by us are jmartfranchise.in, jiomartfranchiseonline.com, jiodealership.com, jiomartsfranchises.online, jiomartfranchises.com, jiomart-franchise.com, jiomartshop.info, jiomartindia.in.net, jiomartreliance.com, jiomartfranchise.co, among others.”
In order to protect its "goodwill and reputation", Reliance Retail will also initiate civil or legal proceedings against those misusing its brand.


text:
Your favorite Apple, iPhone, iPad, iOS, Jailbreak, and Cydia site.
02-22-2010, 04:42 PM #1
Illnesses Linked to iPhone Touchscreen Production Facility
Today the world witnessed that the production of touchscreen technology is not only sensitive and important to our way of life, it is often a particularly dangerous endeavor at the factories that produce them.
Chinese news outlets are reporting at this hour that a worker at Wintek (a Chinese-based production facility of touchscreens) has died resulting from complications related to n-hexane exposure or poisoning. As of this moment, it's markedly difficult to cull any definitive facts from the Chinese news services reporting the death.
Wintek makes touchscreen displays for Apple devices, like the iPhone and iPod Touch. As it is understood at this time, the touchscreens produced require cleaning, a process often involving the hazardous chemical n-hexane, which is similarly used in textile manufacturing. Wintek has previously been censured for its use of this somewhat extreme chemical.
In early 2009, protests were organized by the Taiwan Labor Organization relating to the use of harsh chemicals and proclaiming "poor working conditions" at this particular Wintek plant.
Last summer, a rash of similar poisonings were reported in China, however, it should be noted that some media outlets are reporting data from last August's poisoning as though it is current. When more details become available, I will update the post accordingly and revise any errors as they become apparent.
Image via China Daily News
02-22-2010, 04:55 PM #2
this is hilarious. underpaid wage slaves are dying so that we, the privileged society, can live lives of luxury and opulence. how long until we are held accountable?
02-22-2010, 05:22 PM #3
i feel you on that this is awful news we as american take everything for grantedIF I HELPED PLEASE HIT THANKS
02-22-2010, 05:37 PM #4
at lease we dont have to do this. but i think that we need to start moving this kind of stuff out of china and into our own country. that wold create so many jobs and save the lives of so many chineese.
02-22-2010, 05:46 PM #5
Having first hand witnessed and helped to move jobs to a 'low cost region', I can tell you that worker safety is NOT a priority.
This is exploitation by corporations to create larger profit margins.
The people there are simply trying to survive and support a family on poor wages.
Horrible, atrocious, and morally defunct are all corporations that move to these 'low cost regions'.
Then again....everything we have now comes from overseas...
02-22-2010, 05:56 PM #6
02-22-2010, 06:08 PM #7
we dont have any control [Apple or otherwise] what goes on in another countries government controlled society.
Apple doesnt control the quality of the workplace. just the end product that comes out. talk to China if you all have issues.killall Terminal
02-22-2010, 06:16 PM #8
02-22-2010, 06:16 PM #9
02-22-2010, 06:16 PM #10
Rhekt, it may be a China issue with regards to worker treatment, and this is due to human rights or the lack there of, but the corporation has a responsibility in this also, if only out of a sense of moral obligation.
I for one would not want my product built in a place where I was knowingly allowing personnel to be in contact with hazardous materials without any safeguards.
This is simply exploitation in the name of profit, it is not like the end user is seeing cost savings.
One example is a large networking company called C**C*, (whom I have worked with and can tell you that the low cost savings are for profit increase only, and not passed to the consumer).
My 2 cents.
02-22-2010, 06:24 PM #11
02-22-2010, 07:07 PM #12
Only one explanation, Apple's iPhone is too awesome for some human beings!
Edit- On a more serious note, someone should start a company that collects and donates safety equipment to factories over there.
Last edited by steve-z17; 02-22-2010 at 07:18 PM.
02-22-2010, 07:08 PM #13
without people buying ipads and iphones this wouldn't happen. You're all to blame!!!
jk im surprised by this i figured machines just kind of stamped on glass
02-22-2010, 07:10 PM #14
as for the latter, i dont agree. its not like the us has always outsourced to china, india, etc. but products would much more expensive
Last edited by thrash907; 02-22-2010 at 07:14 PM.
02-22-2010, 07:23 PM #15
02-22-2010, 07:27 PM #16
02-22-2010, 07:43 PM #17
I read somewhere that the Chinese manufacturer is paid only a mere $10 for each unit of iPad they produce. If this is true, are they paid even less for iPhone and iPod? And the Chinese workers risks their lives for peanuts. The ironic thing is that despite this, their hard earned cash are still in US, tied up with the government loan that they can't really get rid off without destroying the prices of their investment. Now, on top of that, they're being pressurised to revalue their currency, which means that when they bring these money back to their home country, they loss a hugh chunk of it again. The west has certainly taken them for a ride.
It's harsh life to be a blue collar workers in China. If I live there, I want to be the corrupt offficial.:-)
Last edited by eaglesteve; 02-22-2010 at 07:45 PM.
02-22-2010, 07:44 PM #18
Yeah Jobs would only be a multi-millionaire and not a billionaire. Poor guy probably could find a reason to get out of bed in the morning.
02-22-2010, 07:44 PM #19
02-22-2010, 07:52 PM #20
and if you want to talk about creationism/ evolving from a bucket of slime. go look up entropy. then we can talk
Last edited by lolcats1; 02-22-2010 at 07:52 PM. Reason: Automerged Doublepost


text:
Sales fell 20 percent from a year ago and revenue from those sales dropped 15 percent as Apple sold just 7.5 million iPods in its most recent quarter, the lowest number since the fall of 2005, CNNMoney reported Friday.
The iPhone, which can also store and play music, has cannibalized sales of the iPod, and other smartphones with similar capabilities, like Google's Android devices, may also be taking sales away from the iPod, industry experts say.
The situation could get worse this fall when Apple unveils its iCloud service allowing customers to wirelessly push songs to all of their connected devices.
The iPod shuffle, nano and classic models, which make up half of all iPod sales, don't feature wireless connectivity.
Still, no one expects Apple to turn its back on the iPod anytime soon.
"Apple is gauging the market demand quite well for the iPod as well as their expectations with suppliers," analyst Ben Bejarin, director of Creative Strategies, said. "So until they really start losing money, I think they will continue to support the iPod business to some degree."


text:
In 2016, ‘small’ is set to be big on the agenda for brands.
Smaller screens. Smaller content. And a shrinking attention span also. Piecing these three forces together paints a picture of a culture where our interactions with, and consumption of media are increasingly bitesize — and increasingly shallow. We call this “micro-culture”.
So what does it mean for businesses and brands who’s objectives are still unequivocally big? Can we have macro-effect with micro-content — or is it all ‘buzz’ and no brawn?
My response starts 50 years before the advent of Twitter, where legend has it that Ernest Hemingway was challenged to tell a story that would bring his friend to tears, using just 6 words.
His response was as follows;
“For Sale, Baby Shoes: Never Worn.”
A big, compelling story in less than quarter the length of a single Tweet. And a great example of a belief at MNSTR; that the constraints that are increasingly placed around us in modern storytelling platforms — whether it’s 6 seconds or 140 characters — don’t hamper creativity, but actively fuel it.
A new service from Channel 4 in the UK is a great example of this. NewsWall takes the day’s biggest news stories, and squeezes them into one of the internet’s smallest and simplest medias — animated GIFs.
Take the (heart-breaking) story from a few months ago, that bacon and sausages are as carcinogenic as cigarettes. Traditional news outlets like the CNN and The Guardian covered the story with 663 and 893 words, respectively. NewsWall covered the story with just 15 words, coupled with a bespoke image.
With the two approaches laid side by side, we can ask some important questions; which one has the most impact? Which one are we most likely to remember a week later? Which one is likely to impact our behaviour?? These are, of course, overtly provocative questions — but they serve to illustrate the trade-offs at the heart of our tasks as micro-storytellers.
What we lose in information, we can gain in impact. What we lose in depth of engagement, we can gain in breadth of engagement. And most interestingly, what we lose in size of content, we can gain in weight of context.
Snickers’ collaboration with Google illustrates the power of the trade between content and context perfectly. Built around the insight that “ Yu cant spel properlie wen hungrie”, the brand bid on misspellings of the 500 most commonly searched terms. Each time someone misspelled a word, they were given a tailored message to “Grab yourself a Snikkers” — transforming another one of the internet’s most humble of formats, the Google Ad itself, into the content.
With 500 thousand views in the first 2 days, the activation delivered a ‘small’ piece of content, and a big slice of attention.
And more importantly showed that while in today’s micro-culture, content might be the new vehicle of a brand’s story, it’s context that provides the rocket fuel. So while for the most part audiences might not looking to engage with a chocolate brand online, Snickers have proved that if we can be in the right place, at the right time, maybe, just maybe, we can be of interest to people.
Perhaps it’s time for us to start thinking small.
Huw Devine – Strategic Planning Director at MNSTR
@MNSTR_agence - http://www.mnstr.com


text:
Masks Might Not Stop Bird Flu
April 28, 2006
by Lauran Neergaard
If a worldwide flu epidemic strikes, don't reuse a face mask - and don't assume, either, that it will offer a lot of protection, the Institute of Medicine said yesterday.
That's the bottom line from a long-awaited probe ordered by the government as it stockpiles supplies for a flu pandemic.
If it does strike, millions undoubtedly will turn to masks, raising a problem for the prestigious scientific organization: It is not clear that masks truly block the influenza virus...
...The report shows the government should buy more, said Jeff Levi of the advocacy group Trust for America's Health
. France, which is much smaller, has ordered 200 million masks, he said.
View the full story (some sites require registration)


text:
Burton’s Biscuit Co is rolling out Marvellous Creations-style biscuit NPD across the trade from this month.
Burton’s Maryland Mix’ems sub-range comprises two variants - Toffee Popcorn, Caramel & Candy Shells, and Fruit Jellies & Candy Shells - sold in 144g packs of nine cookies (rsp: £1.59). They recently soft-launched in the Co-op and are now rolling out across the major supermarkets.
The launch follows a raft of NPD across the grocery trade in recent years that combines ingredients, flavours and textures. This has included the £50m Cadbury Marvellous Creations chocolate, Lays Milk Chocolate Wavy crisps in the US, and the Chips Ahoy! cookies brought to the UK by Mondelez last year.
Burton’s (which makes lines under licence from Mondelez but does not make Chips Ahoy! cookies) said it had “taken up the baton” to bring excitement to biscuits.
“A combination of sweet and savoury, as well as colourful ingredients with vastly different textures and flavours is being delivered across confectionery, crisps and snacks, and now biscuits,” said Burton’s customer category management head David Costello. “Our research shows a consumer appetite for this type of product, and Maryland is best positioned to offer it.”
Maryland Mix’ems were targeted at families with teens, said Burton’s, which is supporting the launch with in-store sampling and point-of-sale material.
Citing Nielsen data to 8 November 2014, Burton’s said Maryland sales had grown 7.4% in the past two years to £47m, and had household penetration of 29%.


text:
“Goodbye Ubisoft! After nearly 15 years, today was my last day,” reads the post. “I’m thankful for the people I’ve met and what they brought me professionally and personally. Hopefully I was able to give back a little bit. On to new exciting adventures very soon!”
Henry setting sail is just one of many worrying developments in the history of Skull & Bones. The pirate themed adventure was announced back in 2017 at E3 as the first new IP in development at Ubisoft’s Singapore studio. The development and planned launch of Skull & Bones is part of a deal with the Singaporean government.
In exchange for letting Ubisoft set an office up in Singapore with generous subsidies, Ubisoft is required to launch an original, brand new IP from the Singapore studio. The outcome of this partnership would ideally result in local talent being trained up to start a new game development revolution in the country, and the hope that they would take the reins of the studio in the future.
Unfortunately, years later the game hasn’t come out yet and is stuck in what seems to be development hell. Plenty of management issues are plaguing the workforce. “Just having people working for four or five years on something that doesn’t move forward, that destroys anyone,” said one former developer.
Some traction was seen last year with the game’s new creative director, Elisabeth Pellen of Ubisoft Singapore. It’s said that under her leadership, development has entered into a “reboot” of sorts with a “new direction” inspired by the storytelling of Fortnite. Skull & Bones is now slated for release within the next fiscal year beginning April 2022.
There’s not much else to say about Henry’s departure, and we wouldn’t want to speculate about the circumstances around it. But let it suffice to say that his exit may be one of several possible setbacks that continue to trouble Skull & Bones. Now on its eighth year of development, it remains to be seen whether it, like other Ubisoft projects like Beyond Good & Evil 2, will ever see the light of day.


text:
Metal Gear Rising TGS demo teased by Hideo Kojima
- Posted September 10th, 2012 at 08:50 EDT by Michael Harradence
Hideo Kojima has taken to Twitter to tease the upcoming Tokyo Game Show demo of Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance.
Kojima-san posted two images of main protagonist Raiden looking battle-ready in his Ninja clobber, complete with visor. Check them out below.


text:
Momenta Partners, the leading global Advisory, Talent and Ventures firm focused on Digital Industry, is pleased to announce the appointment of Ned Hayes as Principal Partner in Advisory, contributing to their dynamic Startup Advisory practice.
Mr. Hayes is an accomplished strategist, leader, and technical manager who – for over 20 years – has built and led teams to success in product definition, go-to-market-strategy and service delivery, focused particularly in AI and Internet of Things (IoT). Teams led by Mr. Hayes have delivered groundbreaking IOT and AI solutions at global scale. Over the years, Mr. Hayes has also advised and mentored numerous startups through seed investment and launch, leading to significant exits for founders and investors.
Mr. Hayes has had a long and successful career as a startup CEO, General Manager and Senior Director at public and private AI and Internet of Things (IoT) companies including General Manager for SureID in Portland, Oregon; CEO of TeleTrust in Seattle, Washington; and manager of cross-functional technical and marketing teams at Intel, PARC, Vulcan, Microsoft and Adobe. He was an early AI innovator at both Vulcan Labs and PARC, helping to define the NLP and ML protocols now used broadly across the AI industry.
Most recently, Ned managed customer success for global telco clients for leading AI startup ASAPP. Prior to that, as GM he led SureID to its next stage of growth in the multi-billion-dollar identity and authentication markets with nationwide deployment of a proprietary IoT/software system in all 50 states. Ned’s previous successes in IoT and AI at Intel include delivery of the OpenVINO computer vision toolkit and the Intel Context Sensing SDK for IoT, co-winner with Dell of the 2019 CES Innovation Award.
“My focus on IoT and AI makes Momenta a perfect place where I can continue to help startups accelerate and win,” said Ned. “I’m passionate about helping Momenta grow their market leading Digital Industry Advisory practice.”
“We are excited to have Ned join our Advisory team,” said Doug Harp, Managing Director of Momenta’s Advisory Practice. “The demand for our offerings at startups targeting the digital transformation of industry continues to skyrocket – despite COVID and partly as a response to it. Ned’s specific experience in bringing IoT and AI solutions to market make him the perfect addition to our team.”
Momenta Press Release: PR – 8/17/2020
Momenta Partners encompasses leading Strategic Advisory, Talent, and Investment practices. We’re the guiding hand behind leading industrials’ IoT strategies, over 200+ IoT leadership placements, and 25+ young IoT disruptors.
Schedule a free consultation to learn more about Momenta Partner’s Digital Industry practice.


text:
|This is the cleverly edited frame used by CNN for their video link on |
the removal of protesters from Zuccotti Park last night.
If you watch the whole video (click here) you'll find its really rather
boring and innocuous. But we don't watch content do we?
We just absorb headlines.
When I visited Zuccotti Park in October I tried to speak to staff at two adjoining restuarants, but neither would speak to me on the record about any effects the protests were having on their daily business. Off the record, they were not happy but did not expect the protests to last this long.
Mayor Bloomberg (D-NY without having the backbone to admit it) has so far been more sympathetic to the Occupy Wall Street protesters (who are incidentally mostly not New Yorkers) than he has been to the citizens of his own city. That story changed last night after a group of business owners in the area marched on City Hall yesterday to let the mayor know how deeply the protest movement has cut into their livelihoods.
Here is the complete text of the Fox 5 story from last night:
(NewsCore) - The "Occupy Wall Street" movement has cost surrounding businesses $479,400 so far, store owners said.
A New York Post survey of a dozen restaurants, jewelry shops, beauty salons, a chain store and mom-and-pop establishments tallied almost a half-million dollars lost in the 53 days since the Zuccotti Park siege began on Sept. 17.
"We're done with them!" barked one Broadway business owner. The restaurateur -- who requested anonymity for fear of reprisals -- said his profits drained as soon as campers moved in.
"My customers used to take food to eat in the park, but now they can't," he lamented.
With clogged streets, aggressive signs and stories of predators and criminals lurking among the knot of protesters, business owners and managers say shoppers are not taking the risk of coming to the area.
"They think the protesters are violent," said Jewelry 21 manager Danny Nia.
It's worst on Saturdays, when protesters parade up and down Broadway all day long, the businesses said.
"When they march on the sidewalk, everyone runs away," said Mike Rauach, owner of VIP Men's Suits on Broadway. "They kill business."
Some businesses have suffered higher staffing costs. Stubborn occupiers, for example, often hold impromptu meetings inside coffee shop Pret a Manger, forcing workers to stay hours past closing time.
"They'd keep asking for 20 minutes, 20 minutes," one worker complained.
And the coffee shop has lost loyal customers who now can't find a place to sit.
"But we can't tell [OWS protesters] to leave," the worker added.
The movement costs the dozen businesses just over $9,000 a day.
That figure doesn't include money spent on toilet paper, cleaning supplies and repairs, businesses said, as the tent dwellers turn bathrooms into personal washrooms.
On two separate occasions the owner of the Essex World Cafe has rolled up his gate to find someone had defecated on it overnight.
"It must be a good place for them to hide," the owner cringed.
Next door at Ho Yip, a Chinese restaurant, filthy clothes and underwear carpet the bathroom floor, the manager said.
"I have to pick it up," the manager groused.
At Cafe Health World on Maiden Lane, delivery calls have slowed down from Goldman Sachs, where mid-level analysts burning the midnight oil would often order takeout. Now, manager Alex Furkov said, no one wants to stay in the Financial District.
"They're making it look like everyone's Warren Buffett over there," he said. "They're our livelihood. That's what keeps the lights on in this place."
The OWS folks insist, to the point of whining, that their First Amendment right to protest must be protected by the very society they are protesting against. I have a couple of questions regarding rights:
- What gives these people the right to keep other people from earning a living because they have decided they don't want to be part of a capitalist system?
- What gives these people the right to leave their dirty underwear on the floor of another person's business simply because their mom is not around to wipe their bottoms and pick up after them?
- What gives these people the right to force a business to stay open past its posted operating times (thereby incurring extra cost to the owner) because they want a warm place to meet?
- What gives these people the right to defecate where it is convenient for them to defecate?
After that we can talk politics.


text:
There’s a new hotel in Oregon that’s proud to have an old pair of shoes in the lobby.
A Nike-themed property in Eugene paid a Sacramento, Calif. man $50,000 for his rare sneakers last month, Fox40 reports.
Dave Russell was 25 when he was vying for a spot on the 1972 Olympic marathon team, Fox40 reports.
He received these first prototype shoes designed by Nike co-founder Bill Bowerman. Only 12 of these waffle-soled Moon Shoes were made.
“They were very unorthodox shoes. They were very exotic because the sole was completely different,” Russell told Fox40. was completely handmade.
Were they good?
“Oh I loved them, they fit like a glove,” he said.
Russell told Fox that he only recently considered selling the rare shoes.
“I kind of had an idea what they were worth, so yeah, but it was way beyond that,” Dave Russell told Fox40 with a laugh. “Who would pay that kind of money for funky old shoes?”
Eugene’s Graduate Hotel features an exhibit of dozens of vintage Nike running shoes.
Russell told Fox40 the money will go to his children and grandchildren.
Steven Adams is director/photographer of Tribune-Review. You can contact Steven at 412-380-5645 or [email protected]


text:
Posted Thu Jun 9, 2016 at 12:15 PM PDT by Justin Clark
30 second teaser for Hanger 13's upcoming title.
The actual reveal for their E3 demo happens this Sunday at 5:30 PM Pacific, but this teaser should tide everyone over till then, showing off some gunplay, a little bit of plot, a little bit of the sexy sights of the city, as well as what appears to be cage fighting. It's packed. And this is just a taste of what we have in store. Take a look.
You can find the latest info on 'Mafia III' linked from our Video Game Release Schedule.
The latest news on all things 4K Ultra HD, blu-ray and Gear.


text:
Internal Hackathon was organzied at FAMT on 20th January 2020. It was a preliminary round for Smart India Hackathon National Level Competition. Smart India Hackathon 2020 is a nationwide initiative to provide students a platform to solve the pressing problems we face in our daily lives. Thus, it inculcates a culture of product innovation and a mindset of problem-solving.
It was conducted under hardware and software categories in which the students of IT, MCA, Mechanical, Electrical and Electronics departments took active participation.


text:
Don't worry party fiends, there are still plenty of places to get a drink. Goa just wants you to keep the place clean.
Drinking has been banned on beaches in Goa, India, as authorities attempt to crack down on littering and nuisance.
Those who fail to heed the new ruling, announced last week, could face arrest.
Alcohol will continue to be sold in hotels and the licensed bar shacks, and can be consumed on the premises, but walking or sitting elsewhere with a drink will no longer be permitted.
The ban was introduced under the Goa Tourist Places (Protection and Maintenance) Act. According to Nikhil Desai, Goa’s Tourism Director, “the act envisages to protect and maintain the tourist places from deterioration and erosion, and preserve the tourism potential”.
A senior official at the tourism department told the Times of India that tourists were being injured by stepping on broken bottles on the beach.
Picnicking locals will also be affected.
The official referred to recent reports of crimes against women in the country and told the newspaper that the step had also been taken “to prevent Eve teasing on Goan beaches”.
A section of the Goa police force responsible for maintaining order on the state’s beaches, the Indian Reserve Battalion, will enforce the rule.
Those found drinking on the beach will first be warned of the need to comply with the rule.
Goa’s beaches are popular with British tourists and offer a range of bars, from low-key shacks to five-star hotel bars and nightclubs.
Goan authorities are keen to promote tourism in the region but aware too of the sensitivities of the local population – they recently turned down an application from Playboy to open an open-air club in the state .
The adult entertainment brand asked to open as a beach shack on upmarket Candolim Beach, but was told that permission would only be given to individuals, rather than global chains.
PB Lifestyle, Playboy’s Indian franchisee, is causing controversy with its plans to open 120 clubs hotels and cafes in India. The official bunny uniform, apparently signed off personally by Hugh Hefner, consists of a floor-length chiffon skirt and a tight, sleeveless top, cropped above the midriff.
The decision regarding Candolim Beach does not prevent clubs opening elsewhere in the state however.
Photo credit: The sun sets in front of a restaurants on Colva Beach in Goa, India. Eustaquio Santimano / Flickr


text:
IBM researchers have predicted five ways its researchers will transform farming worldwide within five years time.
Scientists are currently working on new technological solutions, including using AI and cloud-connected devices, to meet the demands of global food production.
With the global population set to rise to 8 billion by 2024, the US multinational IT company has predicted the use of new technologies and devices, scientific breakthroughs, and entirely new ways of thinking about food safety and security.
The world's complex food chain—already stressed by climate change and a finite water supply—will only be tested further, the company says.
“Our researchers inspire us to imagine what else could be possible five years from now,” Arvind Krishna, senior vice president of IBM Cloud & Cognitive Software, said in a blog post.
“When the eight billionth person is born on Earth, she will enter a world more connected, more interdependent and more responsive to change than the one her parents ever imagined. This is the future that awaits us all.”
IBM scientists have made a summary of the predictions which will be presented later this year:
Farming’s 'digital doubles' will help feed a growing population using less resources, the company says.
By 2024, digitising and capturing all aspects of agriculture will be a reality, from the quality of the soil to the skills of the tractor driver.
It’s known as a 'Digital Twin', and within the next five years, researchers will use AI to use this data to accurately forecast crop yields, which in turn will give banks and financial institutions the data points they need to provide credit to help farmers expand.
Adding blockchain into the food supply chain will help eliminate costly unknowns in the process, according to IBM.
The technology, along with IoT devices and AI algorithms, will allow every participant in the supply chain, from farmers to grocery suppliers, to know exactly how much to plant, order, and ship, which will minimize waste and increase the freshness of produce on store shelves.
Mapping the microbiome
Mapping the microbiome will protect consumers from bad bacteria, the blog post says.
Within five years, food safety inspectors around the world will gain a new superpower: the ability to use millions of microbes to protect what is consumed.
These microbes—some healthy for human consumption, others not—are regularly introduced into foods at farms, factories, and supermarkets.
New techniques will enable scientists to analyse their genetic make-up cost effectively, and microbes will tell researchers a lot about the safety of what people consume.
In the next five years, farmers will be able to detect dangerous contaminants in their food using a mobile phone equipped with AI sensors, according to the blog post.
IBM researchers are creating powerful, portable AI sensors that can detect foodborne pathogens anywhere they might turn up.
Radical new recycling process
In five years, the disposal of trash and the creation of new plastics will be completely transformed, according to IBM.
“Everything from milk cartons to cookie containers to grocery bags and cheese cloths will be recyclable, and polyester manufacturing companies will be able to take in refuse and turn it into something useful,” IBM says.
“This transition will be powered by innovations like VolCat, a catalytic chemical process that digests certain plastics (called polyesters) into a substance that can be fed directly back into plastic manufacturing machines in order to make new products.”


text:
Barbie live-action: everything we already know about the film with Margot Robbie – Photo: Disclosure
Ever since Margot Robbie appeared dressed as Barbie, there is nothing else to talk about and it seems that celebs have also fallen in love with the look of the doll. Approves? Several are adopting the warmer shade of blonde, inspired by the doll. Zoey Deutch, for example, abandoned the brown and took on the light strands shortly before the release of her new film. Gigi Hadid has also paraded a hot platinum around in recent months.
Zoey Deutch — Photo: Instagram @gregoryrussellhair
With something warmer, the “Blonde Barbie” talks between shades of vanilla and butter, but we need to remember that going through a transformation to get the color, depending on your natural color, can take days. “People with brown or dark hair should pay a little more attention not to damage the hair structure, making the bleaching process gradually”, comments hair stylist Jo Bosco.
Gigi Hadid — Photo: Instagram @gigihadid
Yes, Barbie is more difficult to get, as it almost reaches platinum, so stay tuned and talk to your professional to understand if your hair can handle it, okay?
It is important to remember that hair care is essential after the transformation. Invest in products rich in hydrating actives, which strengthen the hair fiber and prevent dry and brittle ends. “Shampoos, conditioners and masks for blonde hair, in addition to a hair schedule with hydration, nutrition and reconstruction are essential”, concludes Jo.
Check out more celebs who have already joined the tone:
Lil Nas X — Photo: Instagram @lilnasx
The rapper bet on the color and lightened his curls.
Lily James — Photo: Instagram @johnmacphersonhair
The actress went from brown to blonde.
Jessica Ellen — Photo: Playback/Instagram
Dreadlock Barbie? Certainly! Jessica Ellen bet on color.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – JUNE 27: Ciara attends the BET Awards 2021 at Microsoft Theater on June 27, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Rich Fury/Getty Images,,) (Photo: Getty Images,,) — Photo: Glamor
Did you order a bob version? Well, Ciara delivered!


text:
Earlier this year, we got our first test drive of the next generation Chevy Colorado. Initially introduced for the 2004 model year, the Chevy Colorado was built to replace the Chevy S10, which had been Chevy’s go-to compact/midsize truck for years. While the Chevy Colorado was successful as an entry-level midsize truck, the Colorado found its calling during its second generation, which is when the Colorado ZR2 was introduced.
The Chevy Colorado ZR2 was the surprise hit of the 2014 Los Angeles Auto Show. With the ZR2, the basic Chevy Colorado work truck was transformed into an off-road beast with the looks and performance numbers of the true trophy off-road truck. Due to the overwhelmingly positive response from Los Angeles auto show attendees, the ZR2 was converted to a production truck.
With the third-generation Chevy Colorado announced for the 2023 model year, we’re looking forward to a new trim level, the Chevy Colorado Trail Boss. What can we expect from this new level of equipment? Here’s everything you need to know about the Chevy Colorado Trail Boss.
What is the Chevy Colorado Trail Boss?
The Trail Boss is an all-new trim level that will be offered on the third-generation 2023 Chevy Colorado. The Trail Boss chooses certain options offered on the top-of-the-line Chevy Colorado ZR2 to make a truck that’s a perfect fit between the entry-level highway-focused Chevy Colorado and the off-road-focused ZR2.
Specifications and features
According to hot cars, the Chevy Colorado Trail Boss comes with only one engine option; a 2.7L Turbo Plus engine producing an estimated 310 horsepower and 390 lb-ft of torque. This engine is paired with a new 8-speed automatic transmission that sends power to all four wheels. While the Colorado ZR2 offers 17-inch wheels with 33-inch tires, the Trail Boss opts for a larger wheel with an 18-inch aluminum wheel as the only option.
From the factory, the Trail Boss receives a 2-inch lift along with a wider frame compared to the base Colorado. The Trail Boss also offers an impressive list of selectable drive modes including Off-Road, Terrain, Tow/Haul and Normal drive modes. These electronic drive modes automatically adjust engine and transmission power for maximum power to suit the situation.
How much is it?
According to car and driver, the 2023 Chevy Colorado Trail Boss is expected to cost around $43,000 MSRP. While that’s expensive for a midsize truck, especially when lower-end Colorados are expected to be priced in the $28,000 range, Trail Boss offers some of the coolest design aesthetics in the Chevy truck lineup and provides consumers one of the best. equipped medium trucks on the market.
This pickup offering brings power and capability to the midsize midsize pickup. If you’re looking for a smaller truck that’s well above its weight class, look no further than the 2023 Chevy Colorado Trail Boss!
RELATED: What Generation Is the 2023 Chevy Colorado?


text:
Pork export sales are up. USDA-Foreign Agricultural Service reports net sales of 90,700 metric tons (MT) of pork for the period of March 29 to April 4, 2019. This is up noticeably from the previous week and from the prior four-week average.
Increases were reported for China at 77,000 MT, South Korea at 3,600 MT, Chile at 2,900 MT, Japan at 2,200 MT, and Canada at 1,100 MT. Exports of 27,500 MT were up 1% from the previous week and 3% from the prior four-week average.
The primary destinations were Mexico at 7,200 MT, South Korea at 4,900 MT, China at 4,000 MT, Japan at 3,300 MT, and Australia at 1,800 MT.
“The huge jump in sales to China appears to confirm rumors that COFCO (a government-owned company) is buying U.S. pork for the national reserve,” says Dermot Hayes, distinguished professor in agribusiness at Iowa State University. “COFCO typically buys split carcasses when the meat is destined for the reserve. China will need huge quantities because it has lost 25% to 35% of its production to African swine fever.”
Hayes says COFCO probably has people in the U.S. right now arranging additional sales. Because they are government-owned, he believes they can avoid the retaliatory duty of 50%. If not, Hayes says they should have purchased this pork in the EU.
“The impact of these purchases has already been reflected in the futures market,” Hayes says. “When this meat is sourced, it will drive cash prices up to reflect the futures price.”
Hayes expects huge purchases by the Chinese private sector this fall if the duties are removed.
“I had been concerned about a surplus of pork this fall and now it appears that we will have a deficit,” he says.


text:
Awwwards is the leading conference for UX designers, and its 2018 event is bringing you more than 20 inspirational talks from design visionaries and innovative thinkers. This year, you can follow all the action as it happens right here on CB via the Adobe Live stream (running from 8-9 February from 10am CET).
Several Awwwards speakers will be joining the Adobe team discuss UX/UI industry trends and share their tips for good experience design, as well as working live in front of the camera and answering questions from the online audience.
Those sharing their expertise include leading lights in the field of UX and virtual reality, digital visionaries and design professionals such as Tobias Ahlin (experience design director at Minecraft), Jeany Ngo (experience designer at Airbnb), designer and entrepreneur Michael Flarup, and Irina Spicaka (senior UX/UI designer at Holoplot).
Plus, you’ll get a sneak peek of a brand new Adobe XD feature, plus free access to three exclusive collections of icons, designed by some of the world’s top icon designers, as a special thank you from Adobe.
One talk worth setting a reminder for is Khoi Vinh’s keynote Never Not Striving: Things Designers Could Be Doing Better, which will take place at 16.10 CET on 9 February – watch it in the livestream above. Khoi is a lead contributor to Adobe XD, and has been instrumental in design's transformation into a key element of modern business over the past two decades.


text:
Online gaming is a multi-billion dollar opportunity for Indian startups and a key component of PM Narendra Modi’s ambition of a $1 trillion digital economy and India Techade, Thus, Young Indians across the nation are driving online gaming startups and new innovations. This article explains these new online gaming rules notified by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology on 6th April 2023 by bringing amendments in The Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021 in April 2023, exercising power under Section 87(1), Section 87(2)(z) and Section 87(2) (zg) of the Information Technology Act. In accordance with the Government of India (Allocation of Business Rules), 1961, the issue pertaining to online gambling regulations was assigned to the Ministry of Electronics and IT (MeitY) on December 23 of last year. The Ministry created the proposed IT rule revisions within a fortnight, and on January 2, 2023, it posted them for comments and consultations. These new guidelines will give businesses clarity and stability in terms of the legal framework and surrounding in the industry.
With the rise in the number of Indians playing online games, it has become necessary to verify that these games are provided in accordance with Indian legal regulations and that players are protected from any sort of danger. Additionally, the Government of India has assigned problems relating to online gaming to the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology in order to permit consideration of those issues in their entirety. The gaming rules will apply to all the online gaming companies and online gaming intermediaries that host, publish or advertise the gaming rules in India, and in case of failure, the OGI would lose the ‘safe harbour’ immunity provided under Section 79 of the Information Technology Act, 2000, and would additionally be subject to penal provisions. The rules are announced to protect online gamers from any financial loss from the games that deal with real money deposits and winnings and to control the internet/ online gambling market.
SRB (Self-Regulatory Bodies’) Verification:
Online gaming platforms can also only host real money games verified by a self-regulatory body and cannot host any game (real money or not) that causes “harm.” Only those Money games can be hosted by OGI that have been verified as a ‘permissible online game’ by the self-regulatory body (“SRB”), and while hosting such games, the SRB’s verification mark would have to be displayed. Only ‘members’ of SRB may apply to SRB for obtaining such verification. The members of SRB should be representatives from the gaming industry who have been offering/promoting online games in a responsible manner.
As the Rules do not specify any further requirements for membership in SRB, it remains to be seen if foreign gaming companies that provide money games to Indian customers will be permitted to join. Based on the applicant’s information, the SRB may initially give verification for a period of three months. However, during this time, the SRB must finish its investigation to determine whether the applicant satisfies the requirements or not
Absolute And Explicit Restriction On Wagering And Gambling And Their Advertisements:
The guidelines have made it quite clear that an online game means a game that is offered on the internet and is of the nature that must be in confirmation with the law relating to gambling or betting or the age at which the individual is competent to enter a contract. The rules add the provision explicitly stating that the games must not violate any law in force at the time being in the country. A gaming company can not advertise the game in a way that it incentivises the people to enter the game finding it to be of a gambling nature. Thus, the rules cover the advertisements also in its ambit.
Extensive Due-Diligence Obligation On OGI (Online Gaming Intermediaries):
The rules expect the intermediaries to observe various due diligence while performing their duties. The intermediaries’ rules, regulations, privacy policies and terms shall inform the user and keep them informed about the manner of determination of the prize money, the fees, or any other charges that the user would have to pay for each of the online games. The user should be informed of the risk of financial loss if any explicitly. This must be ensured even if there is any advertisement being done for the same. The online gaming intermediary shall appoint a chief compliance officer, the same as done during the social media regulations, who would be key managerial personnel of the online gaming intermediary, who shall then appoint a nodal contact person for 24*7 coordination with the motive of ensuring the compliance of these provisions and other laws of the country too.
KYC Attachments Of The Users: Prior Requirement
On the compliance standards that must be followed upon receiving “deposit,” the Rules remain silent. Any remaining funds may be credited to the game provider’s account as a charge or fee, divided to other winning users, or permitted to be spent by the user to play additional games, depending on the game model. The applicability of several legislations controlling “deposits,” such as the Companies Act, 2013, the Payment & Settlement Systems Act, 2007 etc., would have to be evaluated for each individual model in the lack of clear guidelines. Therefore, the government ought to think about providing pertinent clarification in this situation. For the grievance procedure and the contact information of the person, a user can complain to must be made available on the SRB’s website or mobile application. Within 24 hours, the complaint must be acknowledged, and within 15 days, it must be resolved.
Analysis and Conclusion:
The two prolonged intentions behind formulating these regulations were first to regulate and disallow betting and gambling platforms to function and secondly to secure the user’s rights in the games that provide real money prizes apart from the wagering and gambling elements. Then, the govt has given various guidelines to be followed by the companies themselves acting as self-regulatory bodies. Despite there being a proper draft of the rules, several questions still remain to be answered. The companies have mentioned various concerns over the excessive involvement of government authorities in the games where real money is involved. The breach of privacy and complexity in user participation by asking for the completion of various prior requirements would be against the spirit of free trade.
As the online gaming landscape continues to evolve, the public will be crucial to fine-tune and adapt these regulations. Ultimately, the objective is to create a secure and transparent environment for online gamers while promoting the growth of the digital gaming sector in alignment with India’s ambitious digital economy goals.
This article is written and submitted by Renu during her course of internship at B&B Associates LLP. Renu is a BA.LLB 3th Year student at Rajiv Gandhi National University of Law, Patiala.


text:
News and views from the digital frontier.
Posts filtered on Category
Web users are vulnerable to being identified and profiled by Web sites they visit, even if they employ common measures to keep their browsing habits private, according to new research from the privacy advocacy group Electronic Frontier Foundation. Most browsers today provide users with a number of options to personalize their privacy settings and control Read More
Facebook scrambled today to fix a security gaff that allowed users to follow their friends in a way that probably wouldn’t make them very comfortable. By using a feature that allows users to preview what information acquaintances can see in their profiles, anyone could view their friends’ live chats and even confirm or ignore their Read More
Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg certainly raised many eyebrows when in January he suggested that people’s growing level of comfort with sharing personal information through social networks was a sure sign that people’s expectations of privacy have dwindled in the last five years. And hey, considering all the stuff that people reveal about themselves on blogs, Read More
More news on those thousands of compromised Hotmail accounts: they weren’t just from Hotmail. Tech blog Neowin.net reported yesterday it discovered details on more than 10,000 Hotmail accounts and their passwords – most of them from European users – posted on Pastebin.com, a site developers use for code-sharing and debugging. Since then, the BBC has Read More
For years marketers have argued that Web surfers prefer to see ads that cater to their specific interests, but a study from the universities of Pennsylvania and Berkeley suggests otherwise. The researchers surveyed around 1,000 adult Internet users and found that two thirds of them said they didn’t want tailored ads. The number grew to Read More
A recent study ranked the top 10 most trusted companies in the realm of privacy and, what do you know, Facebook was there. The two-part study by the Ponemon Institute and TRUSTe – both privacy specialists – surveyed 6,486 U.S. adult consumers and had an expert panel review the companies’ record on privacy. eBay topped Read More


text:
Can the Surface Win Its Way Into the Heart of the iPad Market?
Bill Gates is on a mission to prove that Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT) is down, but by no means out. While the software maker fills the top slot in several categories, there’s at least one market where that is not the case: mobile platforms, or more specifically, tablet computers.
The number one space for tablets is almost undeniably awarded to Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL), as its iPad tablet has sold 140 million units since its launch in 2010. It’s widely accepted as the gold standard of tablet computing, and the company has built legions of fans around the product, while Microsoft has been largely relegated to the sidelines as the iPad stole the spotlight.
A few years following the iPad’s release, Microsoft gave the tablet market a shot with its own unit, the Surface. As is usually the case with products that don’t enjoy first-to-market advantage, the Surface has been a relatively slow seller. The company sold 900,000 units in the first quarter of this year, for about 1.8 percent of the tablet market. (Apple, by contrast, sold an estimated 19.5 million units). Although selling more slowly than the company was hoping for, Bill Gates has stated that the Surface fills in the void that the iPad has left empty.
Gates maintains that tablet users desire more than what the iPad can offer. Unlike the iPad, the Surface has a physical keyboard, but perhaps more importantly, it can offer a fully functional office suite.
“With Windows 8, Microsoft is trying to gain share in what has been dominated by the iPad-type device,” Gates said. “A lot of those users are frustrated. They can’t type. They can’t create documents. They don’t have Office there. So we are providing them something with the benefits they have seen that have made that a big category, without giving up what they expect in a PC.”
For Microsoft (and by extension, Bill Gates), the tablet represents a far more functional product than what the iPad is currently offering. Perhaps it stems from the company cultures of which the two tablets were born — Apple, with its extensive app store and game-and-fun friendly interface, versus Microsoft’s undeniable mastery of office productivity. The two products seem to exist to serve two different purposes.
In a reality now where technological success hinges on such peripheral additions as a physical keyboard, or having the right apps or a bigger camera, there is a key notion to keep in mind: technology has come so far overall that companies must rely on these mundane details to differentiate one product from another. Is it really so impossible to think that the iPad and Surface cannot coexist?
In the end, consumer preference will ultimately be the deciding factor in the tablet war (or smartphone battle, for that matter). What works for one person may not work for the next. To some, a tablet represents a fun gadget to bring on long flights, a means for some comic relief after the workday. To others, the tablet is a tool for streamlining office productivity and ensuring you have the necessary utility in a compact, easy-to-store format. Whatever side of the tablet divide you fall on, if the tablet you own does what you need it to do, that’s the most important part of all.


text:
NEW YORK (TheStreet --It wasn't long ago that April 20th was just another day. Now, it's become the de facto National Marijuana Celebration day, and companies are lining-up to sponsor a 420 event.The origin of the use of 420 as a code word for pot has been debated. Some attribute it to the time of day when high schoolers at San Rafael High School in California got together to smoke, others to High Times editor Steve Hager suggesting that 4:20pm is an ideal time to get stoned. For a long time, it was thought to be a police code for marijuana smokers but that myth debunked. Regardless, 420 is now becoming the subject of festivals and concerts, especially in Colorado and Washington state, where medicinal marijuana is legal. Even in Texas, which hasn't relaxed its marijuana laws, there are at least 10 events in Houston alone featuring the 420 moniker. So, bring on the sponsors? Well, gingerly. Mainstream companies aren't quite ready to embrace illegal drugs just yet, but they are sampling the market. Red Bull reached out to "fine"marijuana grower Diego Pellicer as a potential sponsor for the 420 Fest in Colorado. RedBull is a famous energy drink out of Austria known for being edgy and catering to the youth generation. Although it seems to be an oxymoron to pair an energy drink with the relaxing nature of cannabis. Publicly-traded GrowLife ( PHOT)is a co-sponsor of the 420Fest in Colorado. CEO Sterling Scott said, "Colorado is the place to be." He went on to say, "We are pleased to be able to support this cultural and musical event. It has the making of Woodstock for this generation." Colorado is also benefiting from tourists traveling to the state to celebrate the two day 420 festival. Coincidentally, earlier this week, House Bill 1523 Respect State marijuana Laws Act was introduced in Congress, which essentially will allow states to set their own laws with regards to pot. It is one of several pending before Congress now. GrowLife supports HR 1523. Scott believes that as the laws move towards taxing and regulation of pot, more companies will jump into sponsorships.
In Miami, Nug Brand clothing is a sponsor for a 420 event. The company specializes in cannabis apparel and accessories. Cavigold Records is a sponsor of the HempFest in Seattle. Houston has several 420 events and sponsors of the 420 one Love Event include locally made DASH Vodka and Angels Envy Whiskey and FatCat Creamery, Norml ( The national organization for the reform of marijuana laws) is the sponsor of many 420 events, along with local media. A review a various events around the country demonstrate strong involvement of local businesses, like legal defense. Of course many sponsors are local smoke shops and food companies. One can only imagine the future sponsors of 420 events as marijuana comes closer to being legal. Munchies? Diamond Foods ( DMND)and J&J Snack Foods ( JJSF)seem like good choices. Thirsty? Anheuser Busch ( BUD), this bud's for you. Finally, a sponsorship event that would welcome big tobacco like Altria ( MO)or Reynolds ( RAI). How about Martha Stewart ( MSO)for your tie dye needs? According to US Government's Substance Abuse and Mental Health Data Archive (SAMHDA), almost half of pot smokers are in the sought after 18-25 year old demographic. Since this generation no longer watches television or reads magazines, 420 festivals may be the best new way to reach this crowd. --Written by Debra Borchardt in New York. >To contact the writer of this article, click here: Debra Borchardt. Follow @WallandBroad


text:
Hot on the heels of Criterion's Burnout tease, Mortal Kombat head Ed Boon yesterday implied that Mortal Kombat (MK9) and Injustice: Gods Among Us will also be heading to Xbox One, courtesy of backwards compatibility.
Larry "Major Nelson" Hyrb chimed in soon after:
MK9 released on Xbox 360 back in 2011 and features the same classic kombat and gory x-ray moves as the recently released MKX. Injustice: Gods Among Us released in 2013 on PS4, and Xbox 360, but never Xbox One. The DC Universe fighter won widespread praise and achieved decent sales, so to see it finally head to Xbox One is a a significant boon.
The interest from third party devs should be encouraging for those hoping to see their favourite Xbox 360 games on Xbox One. You can see the full list of current backwards compatible Xbox One games here, and vote for further games to be added here. Deus Ex Human Revolution needs more votes guys and gals.
Get the Windows Central Newsletter
All the latest news, reviews, and guides for Windows and Xbox diehards.
Jez Corden is a Managing Editor at Windows Central, focusing primarily on all things Xbox and gaming. Jez is known for breaking exclusive news and analysis as relates to the Microsoft ecosystem while being powered by tea. Follow on Twitter @JezCorden and listen to his XB2 Podcast, all about, you guessed it, Xbox!


text:
The Hollywood actress Zoe Saldana has responded to criticism that she is too light-skinned to play the African American singer-songwriter Nina Simone, commenting: ‘I can’t stop to think about who thinks me to be black enough or not black enough.’ The actress, whose mother is of Puerto Rican descent and whose father was from the Dominican Republic, discussed the controversy surrounding her casting in the film Nina in this month’s Ocean Drive magazine.
The casting choice has elicited considerable anger because while Zoe Saldana’s skin shade should not matter, prejudice on the basis of skin shade known as colourism or shadeism, means that it does. There is growing frustration with the tendency for light skin to be privileged over darker skin shades in Hollywood and the media, with the implication that light skin is more attractive and more palatable than darker skin shades. Given the obstacles Nina Simone faced because of the shade of her skin and what she then represented for other black women who faced similar oppression, the casting selection is emotive. Nina Simone’s daughter, Simone Kelly, told the International New York Times that in terms of appearance it was not the best choice because her mother was told that ‘her nose was too wide, her skin was too dark.’
Colourism continues to affect people of colour, and particularly women, all over the world, helping to perpetuate hierarchies based on skin shade. Its consequences can be seen in the UK, where skin lightening creams are routinely sold in many black and Asian hair and beauty shops. Coupled with the racism from which it stems, colourism has contributed to the growth of skin lightening into an industry expected to be worth $19.8 billion globally by 2018, according to Companies and Markets.
When I first spoke out against colourism I used to feel that mine was a minority voice, but now it is a hot topic of discussion among people of colour following the UK premiere of Dark Girls, a documentary on the subject, and the rise of a ‘Dark Is Beautiful’ campaign in India. Dark Girls, produced by D. Channsin Berry and Bill Duke, discusses the damaging effect of colourism on African Americans and people of colour more generally.
The reasons for the prevalence and continuation of colourism are complex. It has its roots in slavery and colonialism. During slavery slave masters would rape slaves who then had children with lighter skin who were accorded a higher status than their counterparts with darker skin. Similarly, during colonial rule people of colour were taught that colonisers were superior and many aspired to the higher status associated with lighter skin. This historical legacy has been exacerbated by institutional racism, the ways in which institutional processes discriminate against and disadvantage people of colour, and the privileging of white and light skin over dark skin in the global beauty market.
Colourism does not just affect people with dark skin, however. People with light skin can be accused of not being dark enough or of acting superior to those with darker skin shades. Its effects are divisive, pitting people of different shades against one another. It distracts from much-needed efforts to tackle the very real enduring problem of racism, which is never far from the headlines. Colourism is insidious and damaging. It needs to be addressed and now is the time to do it.
Aisha Phoenix has started a campaign with Dr Jude Smith Rachele, co-founder and CEO of Abundant Sun, the cultural transformation agency that screened the Dark Girls documentary in the UK. Please visit www.endcolourism.org and follow @EndColourism on Twitter for more information
Register for free to continue reading
Registration is a free and easy way to support our truly independent journalism
By registering, you will also enjoy limited access to Premium articles, exclusive newsletters, commenting, and virtual events with our leading journalists
Already have an account? sign in
Join our new commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies


text:
Super 8 by Wyndham’s PSA-style campaign gets reimagined to promote safe travel as increasing numbers of travelers prepare for a return to the open road.
Super 8 by Wyndham, the economy hotel brand with more than 2,700 hotels globally, unveiled its lastest #JourneySafe campaign. Featuring the voice of actor, road tripper Oliver Hudson, the multi-channel campaign, known for its use of iconic dashboard bobbleheads, promotes the continued importance of safe and responsible travel.
#JourneySafe returns as millions of travelers look to travel again. According to a recent third-party travel study shared by the United States Travel Association, close to 9 out of 10 American travelers now have travel plans in the next six months.
This last year has changed what it means to #JourneySafe. The words carry new weight and it was important to us that our campaign evolve to reflect that.
Mike Mueller, president, Brand Operations, Super 8 by Wyndham
As millions of travelers start making plans to get back on the road—some for the first time in more than a year—we want to let them know that Super 8 hotels are ready to welcome them and their families. From elevated health and safety protocols to flexible booking policies, we’re here to be their companion on the road.
Oliver Hudson, known for his work on series like Rules of Engagement, Nashville and Splitting Up Together, joins as the voice of Coach in the campaign’s anchor: a 30-second PSA-style video. In the spot, he and his “team” of dashboard characters share practical advice for a safe journey, tips around hand sanitizer, face masks, and pit stops, as they prepare to get back on the road.


text:
LivingSocial, the parent site for six user review services including ReadingSocial, TuneSocial, and ReelSocial, is announcing two things today: First, a $5 million round of venture funding, which will be used to expand the business. And second, an interesting new strategic twist for the company: a destination Web site. LivingSocial has, to date, relied almost exclusively on its social-network apps and widgets for traffic, so this is a departure.
There's no doubt that Facebook and other social networks have served LivingSocial well: The company's services have 6.4 million users so far, who have posted over 8 million reviews. But building a business that's beholden to the social-network platforms does have its downsides.
Chief among them is discoverability. LivingSocial is building a database of reviews, and the potential user base for those reviews eclipses the social networks. Burying content inside social networks also doesn't do great things for search engine optimization. So all content now contributed to the services via social networks will also get presence on the LivingSocial destination sites, which Google and other search engines will be able to index more easily.
I expect more social-network app expansion plans that don't rely exclusively on the social nets. LivingSocial CEO Tim O'Shaughnessy said, "We think we'll be larger, more successful, and provide a better experience if we have both."
It makes sense for LivingSocial since the service uses the social networks as interfaces into a parallel network of its own users and their content. When you review a product on a LivingSocial site, it's shared with all LivingSocial users, no matter what network they're on, as long as they've installed the app. (The service uses OpenSocial as its platform for distributing its interface to non-Facebook sites.)
But this plan makes sense for other services, too. Social-network platforms expose apps to a lot of users, but the open Web has its own benefits. Especially since data can transcend platform, the smart developer should plan to build apps for as many of them as possible.


text:
A new study is suggesting that people who drink coffee and tea are significantly less likely to carry the potentially deadly bacteria MRSA in their nasal passages.
For the study, released yesterday in the Annals of Family Medicine, of the 5,000 healthy people had their noses swabbed for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), which can live in nasal passages without infecting the carrier, coffee and tea drinkers were half as likely to test positive.
People with MRSA colonized in their nasal passages can spread the harmful bacteria — most often transmitted in hospitals and athletics environments — but may not be infected themselves. According to the study, it is basically unknown why coffee and tea drinkers seem to be at less risk of carrying MRSA than people who regularly drink other beverages.
“Oral consumption, which is the way most of us drink our tea and coffee, does seem to help, but no one is sure why,” Eric Matheson, the study’s author, told Bloomerg News.
The study comes a week after a separate study suggested that coffee consumption may have the ability to ward off symptoms of Alzheimer’s Disease.
For the full story: Bloomberg


text:
In a move that is expected to add more cachet to its repertoire of brands, VF Corp. agreed Monday to buy high-end clothing company Nautica Enterprises Inc. for nearly $586-million.
The all-cash offer by VF, the maker of men's and women's sportswear and Lee and Wrangler jeans, represents a 28 percent premium to last Thursday's closing price of $13.19 for Nautica shares. The stock has traded between $14.78 and $8.06 in the past year.
"We're pleased to say Nautica fits perfectly," said Mackey McDonald, chairman, president and chief executive of VF Corp., which has made no secret that it was in the market for key acquisitions.
"We've been interested in Nautica for a number of years," he said Monday. "The timing was right to bring it together."
VF, with headquarters in Greensboro, calls itself the world's largest apparel company. It said the acquisition will boost its presence in department and specialty stores and provide additional sportswear lines.
The apparel manufacturing giant also has a division in Tampa: VF Imagewear. It is one of a handful of companies authorized by the NFL to make official apparel.
Monday's acquisition is the latest example of the buying frenzy by large U.S. apparel companies, which are acquiring brands to expand their growth in an overall sluggish environment. Tommy Hilfiger recently announced that it is looking to acquire labels to increase overall sales, while Kellwood Cos. agreed to acquire Kasper ASL, a bankrupt women's clothing and accessories company.
This spring, Liz Claiborne Inc. completed the purchase of the stock of Travis Jeans Inc., which owns the trendy label Juicy Couture.
Nautica chairman and chief executive Harvey Sanders said his company "brings a great deal to this merger.
"We are proud of what we have accomplished over the last 20 years, and gratified that VF recognizes the potential and value of our company," he said.
The deal calls for VF to pay Nautica shareholders $17 a share in cash. The company also will pay about $14.6-million after taxes to cash out employee stock options.
Investors seemed pleased by the news, sending shares of Nautica up more than 27 percent, or $3.59, to close at $16.78 on the Nasdaq market. On the New York Stock Exchange, VF Corp.'s shares were up $1.55, more than 4 percent, to close at $35.59.
The deal is expected to soothe anxious Nautica shareholders, who have been increasingly disappointed with the company's performance. Nautica announced last month that it was in merger discussions, as it grappled with a dissident investor group called Barington Cos. Equity Partners, which owns 3.1 percent of the company. Barington was seeking to replace two of Nautica's board directors, noting that the board lacked representation from a sufficient number of independent and experienced directors.
After enjoying robust growth in the 1990s, Nautica, along with Tommy Hilfiger and other labels, has seen anemic sales at department stores, in an increasingly competitive environment.
Meanwhile, adding Nautica's label will enhance VF's product mix with men's tailored clothing, dress shirts, accessories, fragrances, eyewear, watches and home furnishings. Nautica will benefit from VF's supply chain, inventory and brand management capabilities, McDonald said.
"It provides us with a new platform for profitable growth and we're excited about the future potential we see for the brand," he said.
VF said it plans to expand Nautica's businesses as well as the company's Earl Jeans businesses. VF also said it aims to develop a new Nautica women's sportswear line.
The boards of both companies have approved the deal, which now requires the approval of Nautica's shareholders. VF expects the merger to be completed in the fourth quarter of 2003.
VF made a separate agreement with Nautica vice chairman David Chu to buy out his right to receive half of the net royalty income from licensing the Nautica trademark. VF will pay Chu $38-million upon the closing of the transaction, expected this fall, and $33-million on each of the third and fourth anniversaries of the closing.
Nautica earned $20.7-million in the year ending in February on sales of $694-million.
VF reported a loss of $154.6-million in 2002 on sales of $5.08-billion.
VF last month slashed its second-quarter earnings and sales outlook. The company said earnings per share could fall 20 percent to 25 percent for the three months ended July 5 and sales could be down 5 percent to 7 percent from a year ago. VF, which also makes JanSport and The North Face sportswear and Lily of France intimate apparel, blamed slow retail sales.
Nautica will keep its headquarters in New York City and its distribution center in Martinsville, Va.
_ Times staff writer Alicia Caldwell contributed to this report.