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Noted social theorist and professional beverage consultant Homer Simpson once gave a toast, saying: "To alcohol! The cause of, and solution to, all of life's problems."
Today, both sides of the Simpson alcohol paradox are in full effect in Singapore. Men gather in Geylang and Little India to find comfort in hops and malted barley. The authorities see that as a problem.
This is a problem made up of three factors, namely the number of people, where they gather and the amount of liquid refreshment involved. The three ingredients together can make for a lively art gallery opening or, as feared by the Committee of Inquiry that looked into last December's Little India riot, a full-blown street riot.
In recent weeks, the cup of good cheer has been running a little low in Little India. Partitions have been put up at Tekka Market to deny spaces to drinkers, police patrols have increased, alcohol sale hours have been curbed and retailers have been asked to stop selling bottled beer to prevent their use as weapons.
Instead of turning the whole of Little India into a dry zone - which would have been impractical, given its status as a tourist spot and the number of licensed restaurants there are in that food paradise - the law has been given the trickier, more labour-intensive task of stamping out potential flashpoints.
Their targets, however, are proving to be wily. For instance, men are smuggling their own bottles of liquor into Tekka Market, according to unhappy vendors. Also, as the inquiry report noted, a reduction in the number of liquor licences in recent years has not brought down the number of cases of public intoxication in the area.
And unless the ban on sales is islandwide, as some retailers around Serangoon Road have said, the money just changes hands elsewhere and the booze is brought in.
So it appears that thirsty men are a lot like certain shady Sim Lim Square shopkeepers: They seem to get what they want no matter how hard the law tries to stop them.
While the Government is carrying out the "boots on the ground" approach through increased policing, employers and non-government organisations, such as the Migrant Workers Centre, are trying to see if workers can let off steam in other ways.
They are setting up purpose-built recreation centres or locating more facilities in dormitories.


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Guest post by Erica A.N. Kramer and Justin B. Hosie*
It’s hard to imagine that the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), which is not tasked with enforcing information-safeguarding (Congress left that with the FTC), would impose civil fines on a company for safeguarding representations, when the company in question didn’t have a data breach.
It’s even harder to imagine such an action when the very same agency announced a policy to encourage consumer-friendly financial innovations just a few weeks before imposing the fines. However, we now live in an age when the CFPB seeks to encourage financial innovation one day and stifle it in the next, even when no consumer harm appears to exist.
Earlier this month, the CFPB announced a consent order in its “first data-security action.” The announcement sends a clear message that the CFPB now has its sights on data-security practices. This enforcement action clearly shows that the CFPB is once again stretching its authority by simply labeling a representation as deceptive and blurring the lines between federal agencies’ jurisdictions. Consequently, we’re likely to see a significant increase of regulatory scrutiny in the data-security arena in the upcoming months.
The action targeted Dwolla, a Finovate alum operating a digital payment network that allows members to send and receive money. It has more than 650,000 members and transfers as much as $5 million per day. The CFPB alleged that Dwolla misrepresented its data-security practices by describing its network as “safe” and “secure” and its data-security practices as exceeding industry standards. While there appears to have been no consumer harm whatsoever, according to the CFPB’s unilateral assertions, Dwolla’s data-security practices did not live up to its claims and the representations constituted deceptive acts and practices. As a result, the CFPB imposed restrictions on Dwolla’s future conduct and ordered Dwolla to pay $100,000 into the CFPB Civil Penalty Fund.
Imposing civil penalties on innovative companies like Dwolla seems particularly heavy-handed when you consider the lack of evidence of consumer harm. Despite the extremely high volume of money and personal information moving through its network, Dwolla never experienced a data breach or received a consumer complaint regarding its data-security policies.
As Dwolla explained in its blog on March 2, “Dwolla was incorporating new ideas because we wanted to build a safer product, but at the time we may not have chosen the best language and comparisons to describe some of our capabilities.” Dwolla also explained that it is continually learning, growing, and adjusting its data-security practices to ensure members are provided with the security they expect. Unfortunately, the CFPB’s order demonstrates little tolerance for the growing pains and adjustments often accompanied by developing new technologies.
Given the CFPB’s none-too-subtle foreshadowing that more data-security-enforcement actions are on the horizon, we urge Fintech companies to consider several important factors:
- Understate, don’t exaggerate: The CFPB has little tolerance for puffery when it comes to data security. Make sure your claims match your practices.
- Act, don’t react: Address potential data-security vulnerabilities as soon as they come to your attention. Don’t wait for a problem to arise.
- Evolve your practices and your claims: Make sure that your data-security practices are growing and changing in lockstep with your product’s development.
- Follow the rules: Make compliance your top priority. Institute and follow a robust compliance management system that includes regular oversight and input by your company’s management and board.
Since there’s no way to avoid regulatory scrutiny, make sure your data-security practices are above reproach before the CFPB set its sights on your company.
*Justin B. Hosie is a partner at Hudson Cook LLP, licensed to practice law in Florida and Tennessee. Erica A.N. Kramer is an associate at Hudson Cook LLP, licensed to practice law in Florida. You can contact Justin for more information at 423-490-7560 or firstname.lastname@example.org.

domain: news


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Mutant Mudds and hatch stories Developer Atooi announced yesterday that it will be releasing a brand new Casual Online Party Game Experience for the Nintendo Switch. Don’t worry, this isn’t an April Fool’s joke.
This game is officially titled Run Box Run and will launch sometime this year. Here’s a quick rundown of what to expect, along with some screenshots, courtesy of PR:
– Global online matches with players
– Quick menu access to the lobby
– Race to the end of the level
– Last place eliminated
– Trivia break
– Up to 13 players
– Survive to win
– Stream friendly: show/hide code
– Share a unique room code with friends
– Host your own private party games
According to Atooi founder Jools Watsham, more information about Run Box Run will be released in the near future, so keep an eye out for updates. Does this look like your kind of game? Leave a comment below.
https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2022/04/mutant-mudds-dev-announces-new-casual-online-party-game-for-switch-supports-up-to-13-players Mutant Mudds Dev Announces New Casual Online Party Game For Switch, Supports Up To 13 Players


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The Walt Disney Company is the latest in a series of large corporations recently bent on eliminating plastic drinking straws and stirrers, which some disability activists say could pose new problems for customers.
The company announced Thursday that it plans to scrap single-use plastic straws and drink stirrers at all Disney-owned and operated locations by mid-2019. In a news release, Disney said its internal ban will amount to "a reduction of more than 175 million straws and 13 million stirrers annually."
Disney is the latest company to announce a ban on plastic straws in recent weeks, which have seen the likes of Starbucks and McDonald's UK renouncing this form of single-use tableware.
As CNN reported, activists have long been working to cure America of its estimated 500-million-a-day plastic straw habit, which gained fresh attention after a 2015 video of a sea turtle with a straw stuck in its nose went viral.
In lieu of plastic straws, Disney and other companies have said they'll offer versions made out of paper, bamboo, or other more sustainable materials.
Despite the proposed environmental benefits, however, some critics say this recent trend of forsaking plastic straws could put disabled persons at a real disadvantage with drinks.
As NPR reported, disabled persons who rely on plastic straws to drink have argued for more flexibility in companies' bans as the technology for sustainable straws catches up with demand.
Katherine Carroll, policy analyst at the Rochester, New York-based Center for Disability Rights, told TIME earlier this month, “The disability community is concerned with the ban because it was implemented without the input of their daily life experience ... Plastic straws are an accessible way for people with certain disabilities to consume food and drinks, and it seems the blanket bans are not taking into account that they need straws and also that plastic straw replacements are not accessible to people.”
A spokeswoman for Disney commented by email, "[The] needs of Guests with disabilities is extremely important to us, and as we move forward with this initiative, we’re actively involved in discussions to identify and develop accessible, alternative options for those who need them." She also said the company will "provide alternative straw options upon request for our guests who are unable to utilize paper straws."
Disney also announced this week that it has plans to reduce single-use plastics in other areas down the road.
In the next few years, the company says it will transition to providing refillable toiletries and in-room amenities on cruise ships and in its hotels, reduce its plastic shopping bags at resorts and on cruises, and drop polystyrene cups entirely. When single-use plastics are unavoidable, the company says it will continue its recycling practices in these areas.
Bob Chapek, chairman of Disney Parks, Experiences, and Consumer Products, commented in the release, "These new global efforts help reduce our environmental footprint and advance our long-term sustainability goals."
And the sooner companies take steps to truly reduce their plastic footprints, of course, the better; humanity is literally and figuratively already swimming in the stuff.
[Updated 7/30/2018 4:50pm EDT to include comment from Disney]


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Last week was a busy and exciting time for Bigtincan as we made the cross-country trip to San Francisco, CA for Dreamforce 2018. During the week-long event, we met a ton of great people at our booths, hosted speaking sessions, made some major announcements, and enjoyed the San Francisco nightlife.
During Dreamforce, Bigtincan made 3 major announcements regarding our company and product:
- First, we announced that independent research firm Forrester Research, Inc. ranked Bigtincan as a Strong Performer in The Forrester Wave™: Sales Enablement Automation Platforms, Q3 2018.
- We launched an exciting new product: Bigtincan for Salesforce, a new SaaS solution for Salesforce.com users based on ontologies – a new approach to AI and data science.
- Lastly, we announced our acquisition of FatStax, a sales enablement leader creating end-to-end connections across CRM and sales enablement.
This year we had 2 (yes 2!) booths in the customer success expo where our team spread the word about Bigtincan and our vision for sales enablement to the 160,000 attendees from all over the world.
During the customer success expo, Bigtincan Co-founder and CEO, David Keane hosted a speaking session where he talked about Ontology and the role that it can play in recommending content and improving an organization’s overall content strategy.
We were also fortunate enough to have one of our innovative customers, Cardinal Health, give a presentation about their deployment of Bigtincan and how it is driving success in their organization.
Additionally, Bigtincan was a sponsor of the Sales Enablement Soirée – an event held outside the main show focusing solely on Sales Enablement. At the Soirée, Bigtincan’s Steve Hanson presented on a panel all around mapping sales content to the buyer, and Bigtincan executives sat down for video interviews with Vendor Neutral. The Soiree was also a great opportunity for us to showcase Bigtincan for Salesforce, demonstrating to the 2,500+ attendees how we could recommend content to sales people across multiple data sources without the need to tag the source content using ontologies.
The Fun Stuff
After the long days at the conference, the Bigtincan team let loose and explored downtown San Francisco where we joined our partners and colleagues at networking parties, and let’s not forget Dreamfest where some of our team rocked out at the free Metallica concert!
Dreamforce is always a whirlwind, and though we are sad this week of learning, networking, and innovation is over, we are already looking forward to Dreamforce 2019 – see you soon, San Francisco!


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Med-View AirlineMedview Airline Plc says it is targeting revenue of N58.49 billion for the financial year ending Dec. 31, 2020.
Alhaji Muneer Bankole, Medview, Chief Executive Officer, made this known on Tuesday at the company’s listing of 9.75 billion shares by introduction at N1.50 per share on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) in Lagos.
Bankole said that the company was also targeting a profit before tax of N9.17 billion in the same period.
He said that the company had also projected revenue of N47.55 billion, N38.66 billion and N31.43 billion for 2019, 2018 and 2017 respectively.
Bankole said that the company was also targeting profit before tax of N8.51 billion, N6.09 billion and N4.35 billion for 2019, 2018 and 2017 respectively.
The company had posted a revenue of N25.85 billion for the 2016 financial year on a profit before tax of N949 million.
The Medview chief attributed the company’s performance to efficient service delivery and professional team.
“Quality of service offered to customers is the key to business,” he said.
Bankole said that the company which commenced operations in 2007 had lifted over 46 million tons of cargo into the country, in partnership with a Saudi cargo airline.
He said that the firm was operating in about 19 approved international routes and was currently designated to 14 more new routes.
Bankole, however, decried the impact of foreign exchange instability in the business operations, especially on maintenance.
According to him, the company spends about two million dollars on maintenance of one aircraft outside the country.
“We do not have those items for maintenance in Nigeria and this is very sad. You have to buy dollar from many sides, very unfortunate, that is where the cash goes.
“We spent about two million dollars on each aircraft before bringing them back into the country.
“We are face with sharp increase in the price of dollar and aviation is dollar-denominated,” Bankole said.
He explained that the company decided to join the league of quoted companies on the exchange in order to enhance its corporate value and brand image of Medview.
Bankole said the company decided to list in order to have better access to long-term capital from a wide range of local and international investors.
Also, Mr Oscar Onyema, NSE Chief Executive Officer, commended the company for taken a strategic step to join the prestigious club of quoted companies in Nigeria.
Onyema said that the listing reaffirmed the belief that in spite of several polices and economic challenges facing the nation, NSE remained one of the best avenues for raising capital and enabling sustainable growth for national development.
He encouraged other participants in the aviation industry value chain to look at leveraging the opportunities that abound in the nation capital market.


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The Nokia Lumia 620 just launched in India, and for all you prospective buyers or owners, a good news is that Nokia just announced a rugged shell CC-3061 for the device with IP 54 dust and water protection. This shell is not a cover, not a pouch, but a replaceable shell that can just swap with your present one. The shell can withstand dust and splashes of water defined by the Ingress Protection rating of IP 54. It is slated to be available within a month.
Continue reading “Nokia Lumia 620 gets a new rugged shell with IP54 dust and water protection”
Panasonic has announced a new waterproof Android smartphone, Panasonic ELUGA for Europe. This phone is sleek, which is just 7.8 mm thick and weighs 103 g. It has 4.3 inch, (960×540 pixels ), capacitive OLED display that has 66% display area ratio, 1GHz dual-core processor (OMAP4430) and 8MP auto focus camera. It is protected for up to a depth of 1 metre for up to 30 minutes in water, and protected against dust if left near or in it for 8h or less. Continue reading “Panasonic ELUGA waterproof Android smartphone announced for Europe”
We were at the Docomo Booth at a recent event and we managed to try out the latest handsets hitting the Japanese market. We spotted a Android Device which seemed like a netbook with a full QWERTY keypad, 3G , WiFi , Front Facing Camera, 5 MP Rear Camera, Track ball and a 13.2 Megapixel Camera Phone ! Continue reading “Photos from NTT Docomo Booth including Interesting QWERTY Android Device and 13.2 MP Camera Phone”
Leading mobile phone manufacturer Samsung has launched its latest outdoor mobile phone Samsung Marine-B2100 in India which could withstand any environmental conditions.This phone suits for mountaineers, mariners, trekkers and to all those who enjoy outdoor activities. Having the capacity of eliminating bumps, bangs and scrapes, the mobile is provided with water-resistant, dust-proof and shock-proof through the shock urethane material case.
Continue reading “Samsung Marine B2100 outdoor mobile phone”
Sony Ericsson filed a patent for a casing, which is waterproof and will help camera photographers to use their cameras to click photos underwater. But just imagine your beautifully designed cell phone getting a bulky look once its goes inside this casing.
Continue reading “Waterproof Coating of Soldiers now for Gadgets”


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Hyundai places major drive core order with Posco
The South Korean steel company Posco has received a major new order from the Hyundai Motor Group to supply 3.53 million traction motor cores with stator and rotor. Part of this order is to be delivered to America, the other to South Korea.
Under the new contract, Posco International will supply 2.72 million traction motor cores to Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America (HMGMA) – the South Korean automaker’s first electric car plant in the US – over an eight-year period starting in 2026. Posco will provide the other 810,000 units over a ten-year period for Hyundai’s electric car production in South Korea.
The South Korean steel group itself aims to produce a total of 5 million engine cores annually by 2030 at its main production facilities outside South Korea, specifically in China, Mexico, Poland and India. Another arm of the Posco Group – Posco Chemical – is active in cathode material production for electric car batteries. Posco is also building up capacity in battery recycling.
Along with a contract already concluded last year, Posco is now to supply the Hyundai Group with a total of 10.38 million motor cores for electric and hybrid models, according to media reports. The Hyundai Motor Group wants to be among the top three electric car manufacturers worldwide by 2030. The South Korean group wants to invest up to 24 trillion won (equivalent to about 16.6 billion euros) to increase production and exports.
The Hyundai Group wants to offer a total of 31 electric models by 2030 with the brands Hyundai Motor, Kia and the supplier Hyundai Mobis (Genesis is considered a brand of Hyundai Motor in this case). Part of the aforementioned 24 trillion won is to be invested in the development of a new e-platform. For the electric cars, the platform is called eM and is expected to debut in 2025.
According to an earlier announcement, the eM platform will serve as the basis for electric cars “in all segments”, from small cars to five-metre-long sedans and SUVs, and offer a 50 per cent longer range than the group’s current electric cars. Measured against the Ioniq 5 and Ioniq 6 e-GMP vehicles, this would mean around 750 kilometres for the mid-size crossover and 900 kilometres for the mid-size sedan – based on the WLTP ranges of currently 507 and 610 kilometres respectively.


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Xiaomi recently sent out invites to those who are willing to take part in Android Oreo beta testing for the Android One Xiaomi Mi A1 phone.
While the latest update has nothing to do with Android Oreo, it’s an equally important update for those using the Xiaomi Mi A1. Equipped with December’s Android security patch, the update also brings a bunch of bug fixes as well as system stability and performance enhancements.
Being a monthly security patch, the update isn’t so big, weighing about 150MB. With this in mind, don’t expect any sudden changes to the interface or new features after installing the new software. This doesn’t mean it’s less important, especially because it’s meant to seal any security holes that may be exploited by hackers and malicious users. Hackers are always looking for ways to exploit your device and to counter them, Google is always rolling out monthly updates to fix any discovered loophole.
The Xiaomi Mi A1 is getting December’s Android security patch the same week as the Google Pixels and Nexuses, which is precisely what it means to own an Android One device. While the story might not be the same when it comes to receiving major OS upgrades, it’s certainly a welcome idea to be at the forefront when it comes to getting monthly security updates.
Since the rollout has just started, it might take some time before all Xiaomi Mi A1 Android One devices get the OTA notification. If you can’t wait, you are welcome to try a manual update via the Settings menu, but do make sure you have enough data bundles or get a stable Wi-Fi connection.


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When the Chase Bank vacated the spot in front of the Oak Forest library in December, the speculation began as to what would take its place. Now Edge Realty Partners has a sign out in front of the library and is taking offers.
On Edge’s website, the bank is listed as available for lease. However, Edge’s Culver Stedman said that the owner would consider a sale for the right price. The price for lease is under wraps, except for serious inquiry.
Edge associate Travis Waltmon said that the building’s owner recently purchased it from Chase, although HCAD still lists the bank as owner. The space is being marketed for office, retail or medical use, but Walton said the use is unrestricted.
“It’s a freestanding building,” he said. “It could be used for just about anything if someone can make it work.”
It is across the street from Oak Forest Elementary so it would seem beer and wine sales would be prohibited.
Leader readers Carolina Chavez and Laura Tilley said that they hoped the building might become an expansion of the library.
“They could offer more interactive things for kids to do, like a Lego center,” said Tilley.
Stedman did say that Edge had not heard from the library.
The marketing flyer lists the building at 3,603 square feet and the land at 19,325 square feet. There are 16 parking spaces. The total population within five miles is 378,559 and the average household income is $83,523.
There is no shortage of reader ideas of what someone might do with the property. A coffee shop, a small boutique or gift shop, a kid friendly spot like a Mad Potter and a community center all got votes.
Lucy Cain wants an Oak Forest Cafe that serves an old fashioned breakfast.
“I wish we could do a co-op cafe for the neighborhood,” she said. “Other cities have been successful, I think it could work in our community too.”
“I think it would be great to have an afterschool place for kids from Black Middle School to walk to,” said Jason Holcombe.
“One of my dreams is a place where elderly could hang out during the day and children and pets could visit so that children have some exposure to the amazing patience and life experience of mature folks and so that elderly can enjoy the bursts of life giving laughter and joy that come from spending time with young children,” said Elizabeth Villarreal. “No real kitchen needed – just a community gathering place.”


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The move might be aimed at “conserving the planet”, however, the in-box accessories like the charger, the USB-C cable and the TPU case are still there.
MOBILE NEWS - page 3
Apple's latest software update, iOS 14.1 for iPhones has tons of bug fixes. The software update is now available to download and install.
The iPhone maker seems to have an issue with how Stadium is “extending WebKit with native APIs to connect with Bluetooth.” This is the same reason how the service ...
The Galaxy M02 is powered by an octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon processor with a frequency of 1.80GHz. This means that the upcoming smartphone should have ...
When it comes to brands, Lava and Samsung are the preferred brands for consumers in choosing an Indian alternative.
Huawei will be hosting a special launch event on October 22 wherein the company will be launching its Mate 40 series smartphones.
The design, besides introducing a new form factor, will also amplify the sound and make it louder.
Nokia 225 and 215 feature phones come with 4G VoLTE support, FM radio, internet browsing and more.
Early Pixel 5 buyers are reporting a small gap between the display and the frame. Google has not commented about this yet.
The Vivo V20 Pro is going to be powered by the Snapdragon 765G and comes with a 6.44-inch screen and dual selfie cameras housed in a notch.


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Elisaveta Moskova’s hot-dog cart business has made news recently for health violations, but she is also at the centre of a heated street-food turf war.
When Elisaveta Moskova’s hot-dog cart business ended up on the front page of the Toronto Star last Monday, it led to a flurry of disgust: The Star reported that her four carts have long been among the worst health-inspection violators in town. And customers didn’t even know it, because street-food carts aren’t required to post inspection notices. (According to Toronto Public Health spokesperson Kris Scheuer, the paper signs “would not withstand weather conditions if posted on hot-dog carts.”)
At Moskova’s Front Street spot this week, she was feeling a different kind of heat. She’s at the centre of a street-food turf war on the hotly contested block in front of the Rogers Centre.
Her nearest competitor, Ted’s Gourmet, has had a prime spot at the foot of the stadium’s pedestrian ramp since 1984. With a less advantageous position down the street, Moskova has taken to selling ultra-cheap dogs at $1.50 each to lure customers away. But such price wars, said the Ted’s vendor (who declined to give her name) are far from kosher in the food-cart community, where prices are mostly standard across the board.
Recently, Moskova exacerbated the situation by posting extra-large, orange “$1.50” signs on her cart as well, which is, said the vendor at Ted’s, “like a cardinal sin.”
Marianne Moroney, executive director of Toronto’s Street Food Vendors Association confirmed that price undercutting is unusual. “This is a vendor that’s been really hard on the rest of the industry,” she said. “I think it’s sad that somebody does that to everybody else.” And Sal Saleh of Champs Food Supplies, a popular downtown hot-dog supplier, said that no one could turn a profit selling one of their dogs for $1.50.
Moskova herself declined comment, except to say, “Everyone is out to get me.”


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Aung San Suu Kyi's detention is only temporary and for "her own safety." No, that's not the latest statement from the generals in Rangoon who are still holding the Nobel peace laureate in supposedly "protective custody." Instead it came from Thai Foreign Minister Surakiart Sathirathai, who took on the role of unofficial spokesman for the junta last week, approvingly citing a letter from his Burmese counterpart.
Even by the standards of Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra's long-standing policy of "constructive engagement" -- which means putting logging and other contracts ahead of support for human rights -- Bangkok's reaction to the latest wave of repression in Burma has been particularly disgraceful. Mr. Thaksin initially insisted it wasn't clear what happened in the May 30 violence that the junta used as an excuse for detaining Ms. Aung San Suu Kyi, and refused to call for her release, even disowning an appeal from Thai parliamentarians to this effect.
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List of Contents
Source: The post is based on the article “One-stop centres for zero waste to be launched in cities” published in The Hindu on 16th May 2023
What is the News?
The Central Government will soon launch one-stop centres called “Reduce, Recycle and Reuse” where citizens can deposit old clothes, shoes, books, toys and plastic that can be reused or recycled.
What are Reduce, Recycle and Reuse(RRR) Centres?
Reduce, Recycle and Reuse(RRR) Centres are being launched to reduce waste generation in Urban India.
These centres will serve as a one-stop solution for citizens, institutions, commercial enterprises, etc to deposit unused or used plastic items, clothes, shoes, footwear, books, and toys.
The items will then be given to different stakeholders to be refurbished for reuse or would be made into new products contributing to a circular economy.
The centres would be set up as part of a nationwide campaign ‘Meri LiFE, Mera Swachh Shehar’.
What is the Meri LiFE, Mera Swachh Shehar campaign?
Meri LiFE, Mera Swachh Shehar (‘My Life, My Clean City’) campaign has been launched under the aegis of the Swacch Bharat Mission – Urban 2.0 (SBM-U 2.0).
The objective of the campaign is to take collective action for the protection and conservation of the environment by adopting sustainable daily habits.
The campaign will culminate on 5th June 2023 with the Pledge for LiFE, that will be undertaken by everyone on the occasion of World Environment Day as well as large-scale cleanliness drives across all cities.


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Tech hub 1871 merges with ITA; Illinois Technology Association's CEO stepped down in Dec.
Chicago's marquee tech hub, 1871, has acquired Illinois Technology Association in an effort to broaden the resources available to its member tech companies.
1871, which was co-founded by J.B. Pritzker in 2012, offers programming and support for startups and helps connect them to corporations, giving those early stage companies exposure to a larger audience. Illinois Technology Association, or ITA, focuses on slightly larger companies that have 25 to 1,000 employees and are trying to grow.
"For us, it's a total complement," said Betsy Ziegler, CEO of 1871. "We've got different memberships and it's an opportunity to connect all the ...


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03 April 2020
Asda has announced the addition of 300,000 slots to its online delivery operation, as demand for home deliveries increases due to the coronavirus pandemic.
700,000 slots a week
As a result of the move, the number of delivery slots available on a weekly basis has now risen to 700,000, split evenly daily.
Roger Burnley, Asda’s CEO, commented: “ We have been working around the clock to expa...


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Sixteen years after a combination of the somewhat irrational decision of the Ibrahim Babangida military government to ban importation of barley, and poor management on the part the Abia State government, coupled with a fire incident that burnt its facility, brought its production to a halt in 2003, former Eastern Nigeria brew giant, Golden Guinea Breweries is back. This time, however, as a midget in the midst of giants.
The 1987 Babangida government ban on barley import, like the new wave of bans that Nigerians are having to contend with under the President Muhammadu Buhari administration, was meant to encourage, if not force local production, and indeed save forex. But it delivered a devastating blow to the country’s once thriving indigenous beer industry, paving the way for Diageo’s Nigerian subsidiary, Guinness Nigeria and Heineken, which were the only players that had the capacity to invest in the R&D needed to produce drinkable beer out of locally cultivated grains, to take up more than 90 percent of the market share.
Indigenous brands such as Life – produced by Life Breweries, Onitsha; Trophy – produced by International Breweries, Ilesha and Goldberg – produced by Sona Breweries, Ota and Kaduna, as well as Golden Guinea, saw their fortunes plunge rapidly. They never quite recovered. Heineken and Guinness consolidated their positions as the two dominant players.
The market has since witnessed the entrance of a third giant in the world’s largest brewer, Anheuser-Busch InBev (AbInBev), which with Heineken, now Nigerian Breweries Plc. (NB) and Guinness, have nearly 100 percent of the market share, having shared the local breweries amongst themselves by way of acquisition. The return of Golden Guinea will make it the only local player of note in the industry. But with little capacity in relative terms, the critical question is: what will be its strategy to survive in a market dominated by three giants, even in an economy that continues to struggle?
Golden Guinea is, in a sense, a child of promise. Founded by the Eastern regional government of Dr. Michael Okpara in 1963, it had strong presence in the region through the 70s and 80s, struggled in the 90s before collapsing finally in 2003 following a fire incident.
The company’s collapse marked another major highlight in the deterioration of the once vibrant Eastern economy. It was often listed among the companies that once made the region thrive, but whose collapse was emblematic of a regrettable new order. Although NB which eventually took over the region, set up a brewery in Enugu, reputed to be the largest in Africa, in addition to a few others, it is not an indigenous company and the people had little emotional attachment to it.
When therefore, it became public knowledge a few months ago, that Golden Guinea was being revived by a private investor, Pan Marine Investment Limited, promoted by Chief Okey Nzenwa, the news was welcomed with fanfare, particularly in Abia. Pan Marine Investments had won a bid to acquire the brewery and had put in months of intense hard work which eventually paid off a few weeks ago when the brand hit the market in Abia.
The return had coincided, too, with the renewed campaign for Easterners to invest at home to revive the regional economy and create the much needed jobs. And at a time when for some reasons, Eastern solidarity was growing.
The brand will hope to ride on this sentiment, and has indeed begun to do so. Since it hit the market two months ago, it’s been widely accepted in Abia, promoted as the people’s own brand.
The revival is in some ways, a win for the government in Abia. Whilst it had little to do with it, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, governor of the state did not hesitate to cite it as one of the milestones of his government.
“This (Golden Guinea return) is clear evidence that our policies are working. I don’t want to go into details about what we did to support Golden Guinea to come back, and the things we are going to do make sure that International Equitable comes back. But let me say that whereas new companies are springing up gradually, the ones people thought had died are also coming back. Aba is coming back to the role it played in the post civil war era,” the governor told BusinessHallmark last week.
The company, as noted earlier, has started well in Abia, helped by its status as an indigenous brand. It has, without a doubt, put the giants on notice. But still, the question remains whether it has the capacity to sustain the fight.
The company has said it plans to spread, from Abia, to other Eastern states in a few weeks. And will subsequently push into other regions.
“We are working on getting to other states gradually. You know we just started. We are trying to build traction,” Chief Nzenwa, the company’s chief executive told Business Hallmark.
“I’m sure we will get to Enugu and other states in the East before the end of the year. We are going to cover everywhere.”
In a sense, the prospect of Golden Guinea’s acceptance in the East will be a particularly bad news for NB, which although still maintains about 50 percent of the market share in the country, is witnessing increasing pressure from AbInBev, with Guinness still pushing not to be outdone.
Yet, the brewery market is facing some challenges such as declining profitability market due to poor economy as a result of low purchasing power of consumers; as well as the rise of Pentecostal Christianity. There is also the prevailing insurgency in the north east which has largely excluded the area from the beer market.
The period between 2000 and 2010 was a golden era of sorts, for NB. Its Star, Gulder and Heineken were choice beers for almost everyone. Harp introduced by Guinness challenged Star, but couldnt sustain the challenge. Guinness Stout still maintained strong presence, however.
Star and Gulder dominated the value category nationwide, while Heineken was first choice premium brand. Life and 33 Export before they were acquired by NB were also in the market, but a combination of price and taste put them in a position where they had no chance. They were sold cheaper and everyone regarded them as brands the low class. 33 Export was particularly denigrated as the masons brand, which caused headache.
But the scenario changed in the Eastern market in 2012 with SABMiller introducing its signature brand, Hero. Hero was strategically positioned as the brand for Easterners. Its logo bore the image of a rising sun, a feature of the Biafras flag. And it was released on the day of Chief Emeka Ojukwu, the late Biafra leaders funeral.
The brand was quickly accepted, believed then by many to be owned by former Anambra State governor, Peter Obi. Such sentimental attachments proved impetus to its huge success. It broke the class barrier. Although it was sold at N150, N50 less than the price of Star and Gulder, almost everyone preferred it. Star and Gulder, which had until then, dominated the market, lost appeal. They have not recovered since.
At the same period, SABMiller took over Trophy, a popular brand in the West, originally launched in 1978 by International Breweries. Promoted also as the people’s own brand and it had similar effect as Hero in the East. NB suddenly found itself struggling to maintain its dominance in the beer market.
It acted fast. In 2012, it acquired, re-branded and relaunched Life for the Eastern market while also buying over and re-branding 33 Export as a response to Hero. For the Western market, it bought over Sona’s Goldberg to counter SABMillers Trophy.
In the East, NB promoted Life sold then at N150, same as Hero; both brands now go for N200, while Star and Gulder go for N250 as an embodiment of Igbo progress. Its motto became Progress with popular musicians, Flavour and Phyno as brand ambassadors. The new look Life became accepted. It has continued to rival Hero in the value category, but Hero still maintains an edge, remaining dominant in Abuja and other areas of the North Central, particularly areas with sizeable population of people of South East origin.
The market was yet to witness another huge development in 2016 with AbInBev completing £79billion merger with SABMiller, becoming the worlds biggest brewer. The company has since begun an aggressive push for greater market share with brewery plants in Port Harcourt, Rivers State and Shagamu, Ogun State, in addition to Onitsha and Ilesha plants inherited from SABMiller.
Speaking a few months ago at a briefing in Johannesburg, the company’s CEO, Carlos Brito noted that he expects $400m total investment in its new $250 million brewery plant at Sagamu, as according to him, Nigeria is becoming a more important market.
“Nigeria (is) becoming a more and more important market as we grow in that market,” he had said.
“I mean were growing double digits, we didnt grow in the past as fast because we were lacking capacity and now that we have capacity, strong brands and (a) great group of people were challenging the status quo there.”
With Budweiser, AbInBev is challenging NBs Heineken and Guinness Nigerias Guinness Extra Stout, all of which are sold at between N300 and N350 in the premium category, while still looking to introduce Stella Artois, Becks and Corona.
However, it is in the value segment that the real battle is. AbInBev has largely edged out NB in the South West with its Trophy brand. Nonetheless, the country’s leading brewer has seen its standing in the zone improve significantly of late, with its Goldberg and Tusk brands which are now among the top brands in the value category in the region. Tusk is doing particularly well in Ibadan.
Yet, with greater outlets, highest number of breweries, at about eleven, and an array of products: Heineken, Star, Gulder, Legend Stout, Tusk, Goldberg, 33 Export, Williams Dark Ale, Turbo King Stout, More Lager, Star Radler, Star TripleX, Star Lite, Tiger and Stella, NB dominates the market with about 50 percent share. However, AbInBev is placing it on notice, particularly in terms of revenue.
Guinness on the other hand, with its own varieties: Guinness Stout, Harp, Satzenbrau, Dubic, and Royal Kingdom. And an array of spirit, alcoholic and non alcoholic beverage brands: Origin, Smirnoff, McDowells, Baileys, Johnnie Walker and Gordons Dry Gin, comes second in terms of product numbers, but it’s about getting displaced by AbInBev in revenue.
In its 2018 annual report, ended December 32, 2018, International Breweries, the arm of AbInBev listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange, recorded N120.6 billion in revenues, up 230 percent from N36.5 billion recorded in 2017.
On the other hand, NB recorded N324.4 billion in 2018, which represented a 6 percent decline from 2017 figure of N344.5 billion. In its half year 2019 report, ended June 30, NBs revenue declined 1.43 percent to N170.1 billion from N172.6 billion in 2017.
But International Breweries posted 29.2 percent increase in revenue in its own half year 2019 report, to N68.6 billion from N53.11 billion in the corresponding quarter of 2018.
Meanwhile, in Guinness half-year ended December 2018, the companys reported revenues declined to N67.79 billion from N70.5 billion in the same period a year earlier.
Golden Guineas entrance could yet change the entire landscape despite it being a dwarf in the midst of giants. It will present a slightly different challenge in what is already an intense beer war. It is indigenous and has deep historical connection with particularly, the Igbo.
“Obviously, we are jittery. You know Golden Guinea is an indigenous brand. The people have accepted it. They have since longed for it,” NB staff, who preferred anonymity because he doesn’t have permission to speak for the company told Businesses Hallmark.
“But we can’t say yet whether the acceptance is because it is indigenous or because it’s new. You know there is always an excitement associated with a new product. Between eight months and one year, we will be able to say.
“It is difficult to say that this is the key driver at the moment. But I think it’s a combination of the fact that it’s new and indigenous. They keep saying it’s their own. It’s very well accepted at the moment. It’s shifting into every part of Abia State. Some say they are even in Port Harcourt now, but I’m not sure. I know they don’t have the capacity yet to expand so fast now.”
It’s possible acceptance in the East would be significant. Nigeria has a huge beer market. Figures from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) show that in 2016, Nigerians spent about N208 billion on alcoholic drinks.
The contagious zones of South East and South South which mostly made up the defunct Eastern region, accounted for more than 60 percent of this figure. The South South accounted for N74.4 billion, making it the biggest beer consuming zone in the country, followed by the South East which accounted for N44 billion. The South West came third at N37 billion, the North Central, N30 billion and the North East, N19 billion.
The South East and to a large extent, the South South are the potential catchment market for Golden Guinea. If, therefore, it is able to sustain current push to penetrate the rest of the South East and sections of the South South, it would have taken a chunk of the market, to NB, AbInBev and Guinness’ detriment.


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Australian lender Commonwealth Bank has partnered with MasterCard to use its MasterPass technology and launch a new online payment service for mobile phones.
The new service will allow the bank’s customers, who shop online with CommBank Checkout, to make purchases at over 200 MasterPass-enabled retailers including Event Cinemas, The Iconic, Ozsale, and Booktopia through tablet, mobile device or desktop.
Commonwealth Bank cards, payments, analytics and retail strategy executive general manager Angus Sullivan said the bank’s focus is to offer their customers the latest technology and innovations that simplify payments regardless of the channel they are transacting in.
"CommBank Checkout is a convenient and secure way for customers to complete their online purchases in Australia and worldwide which will be particularly handy with Christmas fast approaching," Sullivan added.
"This is of course all underpinned by our 100% money back guarantee for any fraudulent transactions."
MasterCard market development and innovation head Matt Barr said they know consumers prefer the comfort and convenience that dealing direct with their own bank gives them.
"Studies show the connection to your own financial provider is particularly important when it comes to embracing digital payments," Barr added.


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BHS stores in Llandudno and Wrexham could be under threat unless rents can be reduced.
Department store chain BHS said it may close dozens of stores in a step to revive its ailing business.
The under-pressure retailer is cutting 150 staff from its head office and 220 from its shops, while more jobs could be lost if it decides to roll out store closures.
Under a proposed Company Voluntary Arrangement(CVA), BHS would seek a reduction to rent to "market levels" for the Parc Llandudno store.
They said the store was still viable.
The future Wrexham outlet is in a category of stores at greatest risk of closure.
They said under the CVA proposal it will continue to trade for a minimum period of 10 months whilst negotiations with landlords are undertaken to reduce the rents substantially, 50% or 75%.
BHS said: "Where rent reductions are achieved, these stores will remain open."
BHS last year closed its store at Broughton Shopping Park with Primark set to move into that unit next week.
It comes after BHS warned that dozens of its stores could be shut unless landlords slash the rents on more than half its UK shops.
The fashion and homewares retailer - which has 164 shops - has pinpointed 47 stores which could continue to trade if monthly rents were cut.
It said another 40 stores may close after 10 months unless landlords agree to cut the rents "substantially".
However, the retailer said it would pay the rent at the current rate at 77 of its "most viable" stores, but would now make monthly rather than quarterly payments for the next three years.
The move to drive down the costs of its rental bill is part of proposals outlined in a company voluntary arrangement (CVA), as its owners attempt to restructure the loss-making chain.
Struggling companies try to agree a CVA with creditors in order to turn their business around while paying off debts. Creditors will vote on BHS' CVA on March 23.
Will Wright, restructuring partner at KPMG and proposed "supervisor" of the CVA, said: "For almost 90 years, BHS has been one of the most iconic brands on the UK high street, but in recent years has seen its profitability decline as it has sought to respond to changing customer behaviours, increased competition and the rise in omni-channel retailing."
He added: "The CVA proposals are one facet of a wider turnaround plan, and specifically tackle one of the business' largest fixed costs, the onerous lease arrangements across its UK-wide store portfolio."
The retailer said it hoped to keep store closures to a minimum.
BHS was sold by billionaire retail tycoon Sir Philip Green for £1 to Retail Acquisitions in March last year, as losses widened to £21 million in 2013-14, up from £19.3 million the year before.


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TV and Movie News (page 10)
Posted: July 20, 2015 @ 1:32 am PST Topic: Ant-Man, Trainwreck By:
"Ant-Man" won the box office this weekend, but didn't perform well by Marvel standards.
Posted: July 20, 2015 @ 1:20 am PST Topic: Trainwreck By:
You won't regret seeing "Trainwreck."
Posted: July 17, 2015 @ 12:13 pm PST Topic: Inside Amy Schumer By:
See photos from the GQ spread that had Lucasfilm and Disney quick to distance themselves from Amy Schumer!
Posted: July 16, 2015 @ 11:32 am PST Topic: Game of Thrones By:
Check out the full list of 2015 Emmy nominees!
Posted: July 16, 2015 @ 10:57 am PST Topic: 19 Kids and Counting By:
The Josh Duggar scandal has led the network to finally pull the plug on the show.
Posted: July 15, 2015 @ 12:50 pm PST Topic: Game of Thrones By:
You have to have a pretty sharp eye to catch this reference from Sansa's wedding. Sophie Turner let the subtlety slip at Comic-Con.
Posted: July 15, 2015 @ 11:57 am PST Topic: Zombieland By:
Jesse Eisenberg offends when he says it's "horrifying" to be surrounded by so many fans.
Posted: July 14, 2015 @ 10:46 am PST Topic: Game of Thrones By:
Isaac Hempstead Wright has confirmed that Bran Stark will be back for the next season of the hit HBO show.
Posted: July 12, 2015 @ 5:04 pm PST Topic: To Kill a Mockingbird By:
Early reviews of Harper Lee's sequel are out... and the news is not great. Will Go Set a Watchman entirely ruin Atticus Finch for us?
Posted: July 10, 2015 @ 2:05 pm PST Topic: The Walking Dead By:
The first trailer for the sixth season of "The Walking Dead" has Rick looking about as scary as any zombie.


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Kylie Jenner caused controversy last week when she posted a Snapchat video in which many believed she said she was 'high'. As Jenner later clarified she was just really enjoying some fried chicken and her family have seemingly poked fun at the outrage surrounding the video by posting a series of Instagram pictures.
Kylie Jenner's family appear to have poked fun at the outrage she inadvertently caused when, in one of her Snapchat videos, she sounded like she was admitting to being high. In a video, which has poor sound quality, Kylie eats a piece of fried chicken and closes her eyes in delight before seemingly saying "F**k, I'm high".
Kylie Jenner's family appear to have made fun of the outrage caused by the 17-year-old's Snapchat.
A few days after seeing the comments and articles about her alleged comment, Jenner responded via Twitter and denied any wrongdoing. Jenner claimed commentators had misheard what she had said and she was in fact praising fried chicken!
"I did a snapchat saying my chicken was "good as f*ck" eating Popeyes for the 1st time and apparently people think I said high as f*ck," Jenner wrote. "I DID NOT say that. Sorry to disappoint everyone who thinks I'm this wild child."
Members of her family, including her elder sister Khloe Kardashian and mother Kris Jenner, seemingly poked fun at the outrage by taking some pictures in which they all enjoy fried chicken. The food Jenner was eating in the controversial video.
Kylie and Khloe shared two different pictures on Instagram which happen to include chicken. 17-year-old Kylie shared a picture of herself, carrying a bag of Popeyes friend chicken, and Khloe boarding a plane. A second picture, posted on Khloe's account, showed Khloe, Kylie, Kris and two of their staff posing with pieces of chicken.
However, not all of the Kardashian-Jenner family's fans have been happy about their eating habits. According to reports on E!, Khloe was accused by some of her fans of 'trying to be black' as she was eating fried chicken. For people who are blissfully aware of this stereotype, black people are supposed to particularly enjoy eating fried chicken.
Fortunately, Khloe responded directly to Twitter and Instagram trolls and called them up for referring to this racial stereotype.
"How is any one 'trying to be black' because they are eating food?" Khloe wrote on twitter. "I wasn't aware that food was limited to a certain skin colour... I thought food was not specific to skin colour but to humans in general."
Seeing some of the stories/comments in regards to my Instagram. How is any one "trying to be black" because they are eating food?— Khloé (@khloekardashian) May 15, 2015
I wasn't aware that food was limited to a certain skin color. I thought food was not specific to skin color but to humans in general.— Khloé (@khloekardashian) May 15, 2015


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On the 21st of July the top 10 Start-ups to watch 2016 will be presented at De Oude Rechtbank in Eindhoven. They were preceded by twenty other start-ups in 2014 and 2015. We wrote down the names of previous winners, threw them in a box and picked seven random names to check up on.
Intrinsic-ID creates technology that allows computerchips to recognise each other through their own ‘DNA-profile’. They were already working on this in 2014, when they were awarded a spot in the top 10. The difference between then and now is that Intrinsic has expanded, since 2015 they occupy an office in Silicon Valley as well as in Eindhoven. Co-founder Pim Tuyls said the following in this article: “Over here (Silicon Valley), business seems to cost less effort. What takes up a years time in The Netherlands, can be done here in a matter of months. California was built to do Big Things.”
EFFECT Photonics and SMART Photonics, in the top ten in 2014 and 2015, by now are looking for serious investments, varying from ten to fifty million euro. The growth of both photonics start-ups coincides with the opening of the Institute for Photonic Integration by Photon Delta. At the European Photonics Venture Forum at High Tech Campus in Eindhoven, it became clear that photonics are starting to take up an increasing part in Dutch economy. Yet, landing an investment, sometimes can seem difficult. “That’s due to the branch we work in”, says EFFECT Photonics CFO Dennis Maas in this article. “Research is expensive and takes a long time. We are working on hardware solutions to problem that seem to be in the future still.”
Civolution was one of the winners in 2014 was awarded an Technology & Engineering Emmy in 2015 for their watermark technology in films. Founder Alex Terpstra split up the company in three parts: Syncnow, TeleTrax and Nexguard, this July, the third part of the company was sold, concluding a trilogy of sales from 2014 to 2016. “That there would be a consequence on the business side of this became very clear. Both the investor as us as a business it seemed wise to come up wiht multiple exit-strategies. In our case, that resulted in getting an exit for two out of three companies within a year”, Terpstra said in this article. By now, the third company has also been sold.
No Food Wasted has contracted ten super market chains to join their app which signals which supermarkets are selling their food against a discount because it is going past its due date. Among others, Albert Heijn, Plus and Coop have joined No Food Wasted. “The next step is going abroad, we are currently talking to parties in Belgium as well as Germany”, co-founder August de Vocht says.
Tip 10’s that developed
GenKey was among the companies that were tipped in the 2015 edition, they didn’t make it to the top 10 however. Since then, GenKey worked on further developing het afgelopen jaar aan biometrische technieken die onder meer ingezet zijn in de Ghanese verkiezingstijd. Het bedrijf heeft inmiddels een kantoor in Eindhoven, Ghana en Chicago.
LifeSense Group was also among those companies that were tipped. Since 2015 they have been working on the further development of Carin, the wearable that helps women defend themselves against unwanted urine loss. LifeSense collected over a million of investments last year, expanded to Asia and has started to built a start-up fund to help new companies in Eindhoven get of the ground. Co-founder Valer Pop: “I’m surrounded by people with great ideas and ambition. However, the one thing young companies seem to lack is capital. That’s were we want to come in. At LifeSense Group we have been working on a startup-fund, which helps young businesses progress through a cash injection. It’s up to them what they want to do with it, we do not demand any shares of the company and don’t interfere with the way they do business.”
Not all prediction become reality
Start-up Avular builds drones that do maintenance and inspections on farms and oil-tankers per example. In this article they predicted that the first inspection drone would take flight at the end of 2015. It didn’t. Avular is about to deliver the first drones on a project basis. The product is not finished yet. The software to the drones is still in a trial-phase.
2016’s top 10 will be presented on thursday the 21st of July. Starting the 22nd of July, the first of a series of portraits on the new winners will be featured on the site.


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Once the king of the high street, Topshop parent company Arcadia would be the biggest corporate collapse during the time of the pandemic if it goes into administration.
With its 500 store portfolio its closure would create giant craters in the high street leaving unfillable gaps.
Questions about what will happen to Arcadia’s 350 million pound deficit will remind of owner Sir Philip Green’s similar fiasco of the BHS collapse, selling the ailing department store chain for one pound to Dominic Chappell in 2015.
No longer the retail tycoon that once secured Kate Moss as its face, Topshop and its Arcadia contemporaries have been struggling for years. Richard Lim, chief executive at Retail Economics, said that while all clothing shops had been adversely affected by the pandemic, Arcadia’s “demise has been accelerated because of an online proposition that falls way behind that of their competitors”.
“Years of underinvestment in the digital channel has severely restricted their ability to trade successfully through this hugely difficult period,” he said. Last year Arcadia implemented a ‘rescue’ plan which saw the closure of 50 stores and 1,000 job losses.
Not digital first
Retail analyst Kate Hardcastle told the BBC Topshop “lost relevance with their consumers.” Customers want to have conversations with brands and Topshop “dipped out of that.” Primark and Boohoo took marketshare, selling discounted goods which appealed to Arcadia’s price conscious customer. Arcadia was never a digital first business, with perhaps too many stores and not enough prowess online.
Less apparent are the hundreds of suppliers and smaller businesses in Arcadia’s supply chain that will also suffer. A ripple effect that could potentially force other companies into bankruptcy.
Yet while Arcadia is about to go bust, Sir Philip Green has been photographed aboard his super-yacht in Monaco. Green’s wealth comes primarily from a tax-free 1.2 billion pound dividend paid out to his wife Tina Green in 2005, who is the official owner and a domicile of Monaco. The colossal sum remains the biggest pay cheque in British corporate history.
More than 13,000 jobs are at risk if Arcadia goes into administration.
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Photo credit: FashionUnited


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By Keri Algar
SYDNEY, NSW: Haier has launched a new website with a new URL, saying that the internet is a vital part of the company’s marketing strategy.
The revamped website can be accessed using www.haierlife.com.au or www.haierappliances.com.au or www.liveahaierlife.com.au and is targeted at generation Y consumers especially, according to Yvonne Hong, Haier brand manager.
“The new site features imagery from the latest Haier advertising campaign, which deliberately targets Gen Y,” said Hong.
“We want to reach young people who many have just moved out of home who want stylish, reliable appliances, but want to have some money left in their pockets to do the things they enjoy.”
“The internet is an integral part of Haier’s marketing strategy; we believe that the new website offers a cleaner presentation and easier navigation for consumers.”


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The global virtual Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011 launch event happens on Thursday, January 20th, 2011 at 9:00 am PST. Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer will be riffing all thangs CRM and this release. Register for the virtual launch event here: http://crm.dynamics.com/2011launch/.
There will also be a number of local launch events happening around the US. If there is one happening in your area, register, attend, and enjoy the event. I am so starting to feel the buzz.


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For release: May 31, 2018
Download as PDF
Media Contacts: Rick Hummell, 608-224-5041 firstname.lastname@example.org
or Bill Cosh, Communications Director, 608-224-5020 email@example.com
MADISON – The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) and Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin (DFW) invite Wisconsin dairy companies to attend a one-day seminar to hear about global opportunities for exporting cheese and other dairy products, as well as state resources for reaching new markets.
Scheduled Tuesday, June 19 in Tomah, the Cheese Export Seminar will be held in advance of a “reverse buyers’ mission” with cheese buyers from Mexico, Chile and the Middle East to be held later this summer (date and location to be announced). Lisa Stout, economic development consultant with DATCP’s International Agribusiness Center, said the June 19 exporting seminar has been planned in advance of the reverse buyers’ mission so Wisconsin dairy companies “can be best positioned to take advantage of the export opportunity” later this summer.
According to the U.S. Dairy Export Council, U.S. dairy export volume reached an all-time high in February, 2018 led by strengthening ingredient sales to Southeast Asia, record lactose exports to China, and broad-based increases in overseas sales of cheese.
To further support Wisconsin dairy exports, DATCP and DFW have developed a new Wisconsin International Dairy Export (WIDE) initiative. The seminar and reverse buyers’ mission are part of that initiative.
Topics to be covered at the Cheese Export Seminar include: Global Dairy Outlook and Opportunities; Financing Your Exports; Getting Your Cheese Overseas; A Company’s Experience in Exporting; and Export Resources. The targeted audience is Wisconsin dairy companies, including owners, executive management, business development personnel, and others involved in identifying new market opportunities.
The seminar will be held Tuesday, June 19, 8 a.m.- 4:30 p.m., at the Best Western Hotel in Tomah. The registration fee: $50/person. Registration information is here.
For more information, contact Lisa Stout, DATCP, 608/224-5126, firstname.lastname@example.org


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Keurig CEO Bob Gamgort decided Monday the single-serve coffee machine maker had no grounds to wade into politics. On Nov. 11, the company announced on Twitter that it had stopped airing its ad during “Hannity,” a Fox talk show.
Keurig and other advertisers pulled ads due to show host Sean Hannity’s coverage of a politician accused of sexual assault against a minor. Keurig, however, announced the decision on Twitter, which enraged show fans enough that they created videos of themselves destroying their coffee makers. Then they posted the videos on social media with the tags #BoycottKeurig #KeurigSmashChallenge.
As of Monday afternoon, Keurig’s tweet to “Donna” (@dtcav) about pulling the ad remained on @Keurig.
However, the sentiment did not remain with Keurig.
The Washington Times reports on Monday:


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Elle Australia has become the first Australian magazine to shoot both its cover and fashion editorial using Apple’s iPhone 7 Plus.
Australian creative and influencer Margaret Zhang is the cover star for the June issue which was shot by leading fashion photographer Georges Antoni at sunset on Sydney’s Bondi Beach using iPhone 7 Plus in Portrait mode.
Justine Cullen, editor-in-chief of Elle Australia, said: “Since launch, Elle Australia has always been the place where fashion meets pop culture and innovation, and nowhere is that junction more apparent than with this beautiful cover. Our phones these days are not only the truly ‘must-have’ accessory, they’re also an extension of who we are. We are thrilled to bring this Australian first to life.”
Fiona Legdin, general manager, fashion, health and beauty at Bauer Media, added: “The iPhone 7 cover is the latest publishing advance from Elle Australia. Whether it’s creating innovative commercial executions or developing our own unique ways to excite and connect with our audience, Elle continues to lead the market.”
The June issue of Elle Australia goes on sale today.


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25 years ago, Apple's board of directors pushed out CEO John Sculley
The CEO who famously won a power struggle with Steve Jobs in 1985 surrendered the chief executive position a quarter-century ago, placing the executive in a unique, strange purgatory.
The CEO of PepsiCo during the "Cola wars" of the early 1980s, Sculley was famously lured to Apple in 1983 with Steve Jobs' pitch "do you want to sell sugared water for the rest of your life? Or do you want to come with me and change the world?" Unlike many Jobs quotes that frequently circulate, that one was real and not apocryphal.
Scully's initial hiring was an early example of what's known in Silicon Valley as "adult supervision"- an upstart company bringing in a veteran CEO to oversee its young, inexperienced founders.
Despite a positive start, Jobs and Sculley soon clashed over everything from the fate of the Macintosh division, to how much to focus on education, through Jobs' supposed insubordination. In 1985, Jobs attempted a coup against Sculley, which failed, leading to Jobs' banishment and resignation later that year.
Sculley and Jobs never reconciled prior to Jobs' death in 2011.
"He never forgave me for that," Sculley told Business Insider in a 2015 interview. "No. [The friendship was] never repaired. And it's really a shame because if I look back, I say what a big mistake on my part."
Sculley remained CEO of Apple for another eight years after the battle and for ten years altogether, a pretty long tenure by most standards. But, Sculley has long been defined in the public imagination by his clash with Jobs, with his departure mostly seen as an event that started a chain of events that led to the co-founder's eventual return.
That, at least, comprises an outsized percentage of what Sculley has been asked about over the years in interviews.
The CEO years
John Sculley came to Apple in order to apply his "Pepsi Challenge"-era marketing wizardry to the computer business, while also giving the company some experience and veteran expertise. At the time that Sculley became CEO of Apple, Steve Jobs was 28 years old, and Sculley was 44.
Sculley's tenure spans the introduction of the Macintosh in early 1984, including its legendary marketing push that included the 1984-inspired Super Bowl commercial. Other successes included the launch of the PowerBook and the addition of color to the MacOS operating system interface, both in 1991, which is remembered as a period of significant innovation in Mac history. Sculley emphasized desktop publishing and other new functions of the Macintosh.
As for Sculley's failures, he was present for the introduction of numerous failed products, most notably the Newton personal digital assistant, and a switch to the PowerPC microprocessor which Sculley later acknowledged as a mistake. By early 1993, things had clearly gotten ugly for Sculley at Apple.
As a result of PC price wars that hurt Apple significantly, the company made only $86 million in profit in fiscal 1993, as opposed to $530 million the year before. The drop in profits led to significant layoffs inside Apple.
Sculley resigned at CEO of Apple on June 18, 1993 with Michael Spindler stepping in as his replacement. Sculley, however, remained the company's chairman for an additional four months.
During that time he took a sabbatical and began spending more time with his wife in Connecticut, with Fortune reporting that Sculley had lobbied the incoming Clinton Administration for a nomination as Secretary of Commerce.
Sculley would resign from the board in October of that year, following another terrible quarter. Mike Markkula would replace him as chairman.
A lawsuit at the time from ousted board member Albert A. Eisenstat, The Los Angeles Times reported, alleged that the Apple board had misrepresented the circumstances of Sculley's deparature as CEO. The suit was dismissed in late 1993.
Things for Apple would get much worse in the ensuring years, under Spindler and his successor Gil Amelio, leading up to Jobs' return to the company in 1997.
Sculley after Apple
Sculley's first position after Apple was as CEO of Spectrum Technologies, an early wireless telecommunications firm. That was a job that ended in acrimony within a year.
In the last two decades Sculley has mostly been known as a serial entrepreneur. He founded or invested in a wide variety of companies in the years since, including MetroPCS, NFO Research, Hotwire.com, PopTech, and even a wine accessory called The Wine Clip, which he had enjoyed as a customer and later decided to invest in the company.
His most recent ventures are the data company Zeta Global, the emerging market smartphone company Obi Worldphone and the healthcare firm RxAdvance.
A strange purgatory
Despite all of his other ventures, the now 79-year-old John Sculley is in a position different from just about any other executive in the history of American business. Despite a long and relatively distinguished career, nearly all of the frequent interviews Sculley gives are about a job he had three decades ago that didn't ultimately work out, and his clash with the man who is seen as a legendary figure.
A 2013 piece in Forbes stated that "after years of silence, former Apple CEO John Sculley ">has recently been moving more into retrospective mode,"
">has recently been moving more into retrospective mode,"citing a talk Sculley had given at a conference in Indonesia, although Sculley had been giving interviews about Jobs as early as CES in January 2012. In 2010, in fact, Sculley called it a "big mistake" that he was even hired at Apple.
The timing of Sculley's media tour wasn't exactly coincidental; Jobs had passed away in late 2011, and a wide variety of books and movies, most notably Walter Isaacson's bestselling authorized biography of Jobs, had brought the late CEO's legacy and the details of his biography to the forefront of public attention. In the Ashton Kutcher Steve Jobs movie, Sculley was portrayed by Matthew Modine; in the Michael Fassbender version, he was played by Jeff Daniels, as he and Jobs had an intense confrontation that very much did not actually take place:
More recently, however, there's been a new interview with Sculley on a seemingly monthly basis, and the main topic of nearly all of them is Sculley's relationship and history with Steve Jobs.
Sculley talked about Jobs with C-Suite TV Insights in late 2017, with Forbes last October and then again the following month, and with CNBC in May of this year.
Sculley is also sometimes asked in interviews about present-day goings-on at Apple, general business topics, or even his current ventures. Sculley also made news earlier this year for purchasing a home in Palm Beach for nearly $15 million, indicating that whatever else you can see about the man, his career has made him fantastically wealthy.
It must be odd for Sculley to constantly have to answer questions about a not-very-comfortable period in his professional life more than 30 years ago.


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Does size really matter? It does when it comes to your sandwich: Two men sue 'Subway' over size of their 'Footlong'
Company initially issued a statement saying that the sandwich lengths can vary a bit when franchises do not bake to the exact standard
It's often said that size doesn't matter, but apparently that's not the case when it comes to Subway sandwiches.
Two New Jersey men are set to sue the sandwich maker after they claimed the fast-food company shorted them on their 'footlong' sandwiches.
The men, John Farley, of Evesham and Charles Noah Pendrack, of Ocean City, are taking legal action in order to claim compensation and try to bring about a change in Subway's practices.
The New York Post reported yesterday that the attorney for the two men Stephen DeNittis carried out a test on 17 of the company's 'footlong' sandwiches and found that each one was less that a foot long.
The suit, filed earlier this week in Mount Holly, follows embarrassment for the company last week when someone posted a picture of a footlong on the company's Facebook page showing the sandwich was not as long as advertised.
At the time of the first complaint, the company issued a statement saying that the sandwich lengths can vary a bit when franchises do not bake to the exact standard.
The company has since removed the statement, after the Buzzfeed website pointed out it was incompatible with the fast-food company's earlier advertising.
In the statement Subway also claimed that a footlong sub wasn't necessarily meant to be exactly a foot long in the first place: "With regards to the size of the bread and calling it a footlong, "SUBWAY FOOTLONG" is a registered trademark as a descriptive name for the sub sold in Subway® Restaurants and not intended to be a measurement of length."
"The length of the bread baked in the restaurant cannot be assured each and every time as the proofing process may vary slightly each time in the restaurant."
The explanation was slammed by Stephen DeNittis, the lawyer for the plaintiffs, who said the missing bite is worth 45 cents per sandwich: "The case is about holding companies to deliver what they've promised," he said.
The company said in a statement issued earlier this week: "For 47 years, customer satisfaction has been our top priority. We regret any instance where we did not fully deliver on our promise to our customers," the company said.
"Our commitment remains steadfast to ensure that every Subway Footlong sandwich is 12 inches at each location worldwide."
Subway has 38,000 stores around the world, nearly all owned by franchisees, and the footlong sandwich has been a mainstay of the company's advertising for many years.
Stephen DeNittis argues that the missing half-inch of sandwich adds up over time: "It would be like cereal company promising a net weight and giving less for the price," DeNittis said. "It doesn't sound like a big deal to every person, but it adds up at the bottom line."
DeNittis argues that customers could be losing out on around 40 to 60 cents per sandwich, which he claims could translate to $50-$60 a year to regular customers.
Following the initial Facebook postings lookalike pictures appeared all over the internet and over 100,000 people 'liked' or commented on the original, which ran on the site with the caption 'Subway pls respond.'
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Car enthusiasts and industry analysts have already been claiming that diesel cars have too much emission issues which is why plug-in hybrids are the future.
When the same statement comes from a credible source, in this case, the Chief Executive Officer of Aston Martin one of the most beloved luxury car manufacturers in the world, no one can refute it. The automobile industry is undergoing a major change and industry watchers are quite aware of it all.
Almost every manufacturer has a plug-in hybrid at the moment, but the problem is their reduced mileage and reliance on gasoline motors. On the other hand, a relatively new maker Tesla entered the competition like storm and beat every century old company to become the top player in the electric car segment.
Taking these things into account, Andy Palmer, CEO of Aston Martin, speaking to Bloomberg, said that he strongly believes in the concept of electric cars and opined that they are going to be the future for the automobile industry. Diesel cars face criticism from every angle, especially after Volkswagen rigged their cars to pass emission tests and this might probably be the end of these cars as customers will start avoiding them in their future purchases.
“Instead of reducing the capacity of a gasoline engine in order to comply with emission regulations, it is a better option to go with an electric motor powered by a battery. It will allow Aston Martin to reduce carbon emissions without having to compromise in terms of performance”, added Palmer.
The CEO spoke in-depth about adopting this brand new technology and confirmed that Aston Martin will always be a V-12 engine company. They have no plans to downgrade and in order to sustain at the same position, he explained that going with electricity is the best way to acquire that power. It gives the required amount of torque for the car to function as expected.
The predicted price tag for the car is at $200,000 to $250,000 which is not just expensive but a price tag that will simply push most buyers to some other brand. But, the CEO clarified that the team has no idea to compromise in this regard because creating an electric car takes a lot of investment. Besides, they have the task to deliver performance, comfort and reliability of a gasoline car in a brand new technology which is possible only when investments are made.
He added that diesel cars will die a slow death.


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Want to crush your challenges and kill scores in the games you play every day? Try these dexterity games to improve your speed and coordination. Read more →
Zynga Stocks Hit All Time Low
Things aren’t looking good for Zynga. Their profits have been steadily declining for months, and today the value of their shares fell to $5, the lowest they’ve ever been, according to Reuters. Nasdaq has put an automatic temporary ban on the company, which occurs whenever a stock falls more than 10% in one day. Ouch.
It isn’t a coincidence that this drop mirrors the decline in Facebook gaming, which had been a gold mine for Zynga. “We believe that interest in Facebook-based gaming may have reached a negative inflection point,” Cowen & Co analysts Doug Creutz and Jason Mueller wrote, “as more casual gamers migrate to mobile platforms.”
Zynga had hoped to capture the mobile space as well, and achieved success with the wildly popular app Draw Something. Unfortunately interest, and playtime, for Draw Something has waned considerably as of late, dropping almost 30% in the last month. Analysts point to this as more proof of the diminishing social game landscape, but warn that you shouldn’t count Zynga out.
I never got into Facebook gaming, but I had a lot of friends who did, and some who still do. Overall though, it seems the trend has calmed down significantly. I hate to see any video game company go down, but if this means the end of those bloody CityVille requests, then so be it.


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NBN Co wants a broadband product to attract renters
New head of AustCyber Node named
Big four banks back high school security 'challenges'
Ahead of EU polls, Facebook voids accounts targeting Moldovan election
Coles preps another big tech overhaul as online growth dilutes profits
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Telstra plans to sell $5bn in future NBN revenue
Warns future CVC charges will bite.
Aug 17 2017 9:55AM
Carsales debuts new classifieds site Pitchi
Video targets enterpreneurial millenials.
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Telstra to sell stake in Hong Kong's CSL
Talks up a $600m net gain.
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Another fire sale brewing?
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NBN, the Blowhole and other political analogies
Comment: Is Malcolm Turnbull's latest broadband policy real or more playing politics?
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Available within a fortnight.
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Turnbull: NBN gets harder to 'unpick'
A Coalition government would now find it tough to sell down the network.
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Thursday, 14 June 2012 10:40
HANOI: Coffee output from Vietnam's current 2011/2012 crop would reach 20 million bags, up 2.7 percent from the previous season, the International Coffee Organization said, raising its estimate by around 9 percent from 18.3 million bags previously.
Following the revision for Vietnam, the world's second-largest producer after Brazil, the world production estimate in the current crop year was also lifted to 131.9 million 60-kg bags, from 131.4 million bags, the London-based ICO said in its May report.
The ICO's revision for Vietnam, an ICO member, came after many traders already revised up their own estimates for the country's output to between 22.5 million and 23.3 million bags.
Rising supplies from Vietnam could put downward pressure on robusta prices on the London futures market, where the September contract closed up at $2,099 a tonne on Wednesday from$2,070 a tonne the previous day.
Vietnam Customs said on Thursday the country's actual coffee export loading in May rose 21 percent from the previous month to 203,500 tonnes, or 3.39 million 60-kg bags, far above market expectations.
Exports between October 2011 and May 2012 reached 19.38 million bags, up around 12 percent from the previous season, based on customs data and government statistics.
In early May, coffee traders in Vietnam forecast the monthly export volume at 110,000-130,000 tonnes, while Vietnam's General Statistics Office on May 25 estimated the shipment at 150,000 tonnes.
The customs' export data for May will be included in a report of the statistics agency to be released late this month.
For the whole of calendar 2012, Vietnam could export 1.29 million tonnes, or 21.5 million bags, the farm ministry said.
HIGHER OUTPUT IN BRAZIL
World production prospects for the 2012/2013 crop, which has begun in several exporting countries, would be good, the ICO said, adding that Brazil was expected significant increases" in line with the biennial cycle for arabica production.
Brazil would produce at least 50.4 million bags in 2012/2013, up 16 percent from 43.48 million bags in the current 2011/2012 season, the ICO said.
It kept unchanged its estimate for Indonesia, the world's second-biggest robusta producer, at 8.25 million bags for 2011/2012.
The ICO revised production in Asia and Oceania incorporating Vietnam to 37.06 million bags, up 2.9 percent from the previous 2010/2011 season, from an earlier estimate of 35.43 million bags.
Output from South America was revised up to 58.97 million bags, partly after higher production in Ecuador, while Africa produced a combined 17.14 million bags in the current crop, a downward revision from 18.49 million bags in earlier estimated.
Production in Mexico and Central America was kept unchanged at 18.68 million bags when compared with the ICO's report for April.
Copyright Reuters, 2012


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ISLAMABAD: Pakistani Ambassador to France Ghalib Iqbal has said that Pakistani Textile products have great potential of finding more space in European markets.
He was talking to Mr Michal Scherppe, the President of Taxworld Fair being held in Paris. The ambassador visited Pakistani Pavilion and Pakistani entrepreneurs’ stalls, according to a message received here from Embassy of Pakistan in Paris.
Iqbal discussed with the exhibitioners prospects of business development in France and assured them of continuation of full support and cooperation from the Mission. The exhibitioners told the ambassador that the response of the buyers was encouraging.
This is 35th edition of Taxworld being held in Paris, in which 881 exhibitors are participating from all over the world including China, Thailand, India, Indonesia, Turkey and Bangladesh. A large number of companies are exhibiting their products. There was substantial presence of Pakistani manufacturers and exporters of denim and cotton fabrics.
The Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) has arranged national pavilion in the exhibition. Nine Pakistani companies are participating under the TDAP while others are exhibiting their fabrics on their own. A total of 43 Pakistani companies are participating in the fair.
ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Planning Development & Special Initiatives Professor Ahsan Iqbal reviewed the progress of CPEC projects and preparation...


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The co-founder of Chinese smartphone maker OnePlus has seemingly left the company, according to a report Monday. Carl Pei was absent from an internal memo listing
' leadership, Android Police reported citing a screenshot by a Reddit user who suggested that Pei had either stepped down or was removed from the position.
The reported departure comes just ahead of the OnePlus 8T event, which is scheduled for Wednesday. Pei's is departing OnePlus to start his own venture, according to TechCrunch, although no details about that venture were immediately available.
OnePlus didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.
In 2019, OnePlus ranked eighth in the US market with just 0.6% market share, according to Counterpoint Research, but its phone sales more than tripled last year -- by far the biggest gain of any company in the US market, the analyst firm said.
The first OnePlus phone debuted in 2014, relying on high specs at a lower price point than
. Now it has a range of phones at mid- and high-tier price points, like the OnePlus 8 Pro, OnePlus 7T and the 5G OnePlus Nord. The company has grown its business from a mobile startup to a player with significance that's arguably achieved more buzz than established brands like Razr. And it's been able to break in to the US market unlike fellow Chinese brand Huawei.


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Trivia question: What state provided the inspiration for the song, “America the Beautiful”?
The Centennial State’s “beautiful, for spacious skies” are now being protected by six new solar projects constructed by SolarCity in partnership with Walmart
These solar-powered stores are expected to generate 3 million kilowatt-hours of clean, renewable energy each year, which is enough to power more than 225 homes, according to the EPA calculator. The projects will keep more than 5 million pounds of carbon dioxide emissions from entering the atmosphere, create local jobs, and ultimately help Walmart reduce its carbon footprint.
With the six stores – three in the cities of Westminster and one each in Lakewood, Highlands Ranch and Lafayette – Walmart reaches the milestone of 100 solar-power installations on U.S. stores, clubs and distribution centers, and moves the company closer to its long-term goal of using 100 percent renewable energy for all its U.S. retail and distribution sites. SolarCity and Walmart have now completed more than 75 solar projects, with 49 more in progress.
Speaking of sun rays, Katharine Lee Bates, the English teacher who wrote the first draft of her lyrics to “America the Beautiful” in 1893, did so while overlooking the Great Plains, standing atop the Rockies’ Pike’s Peak, which is within 125 miles of all six newly solarized Walmart stores.
SolarCity’s history with Walmart dates back to 2010 when it was selected to install solar systems on 20 to 30 sites in California and Arizona. Last fall, Walmart tripled the scale of this partnership by inviting SolarCity to install solar on 60 additional California stores.
SolarCity, which has operations centers in Denver and Parker, Colo., installed the systems for free and will own and maintain them through power purchase agreements. Walmart will only pay for the clean power produced at a rate at or below the current cost of electricity from the utility. Walmart’s leadership in adopting solar energy has proven that this model can work on a large scale and will hopefully encourage other companies to switch to solar.
In addition to installing solar on homes and businesses from coast to coast, SolarCity has also installed solar atop hundreds of schools, churches, affordable housing units and military housing communities, giving nonprofits and large corporations alike the opportunity to pay less for clean, renewable energy than they currently pay for electricity. All of this creates jobs, too.
And we think that is a beautiful thing.
Toby Corey is SolarCity’s chief revenue officer. He also serves on the board of directors of WildlifeDirect.org, Richard Leakey’s African Conservation Foundation, and NorCal Telehealth, an organization that provides health education to underserved communities.


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You'd think our pumpkin latte obsession would have to be pretty bad to warrant a study on their sales, but it turns out most of us like a taste only about once every season. Market research firm NPD Group reviewed fall and winter receipts from some 35,000 diners last year to find 72% of people who indulged in a pumpkin latte did so only once; 20% bought two, while 8% bought three or more, reports the Chicago Tribune. You might be surprised given that pumpkin flavor appears in everything from yogurt to beer and at places like Dunkin' Donuts and McDonald's. But it turns out the real perk to having a pumpkin drink on the menu is that it brings in new customers who keep coming back. Still, it doesn't hurt that those who do buy the limited-edition drink spend more than those who avoid it: Pumpkin latte buyers paid out $7.81 on average, compared to $6.67 for other consumers.
People who bought another seasonal beverage, the white mocha, spent even more: $8.37 on average as opposed to $6.84 for buyers who purchased something else. The higher tallies tended to involve food purchases, notes NPD Group. "We do see more chains trying to drive visits with these special limited-time offers," says Warren Solochek of NPD Group. "It gives chains a chance to talk about themselves." While the study focused on beverages, Solochek notes seasonal food items, like the McRib at McDonald's, likely enjoy similar success. While the short offer period limits how many times consumers will actually get a taste, "one thing the McRib does is generate a ton of positive press for McDonald's," he says. "It's one of those promotions that McDonald's does really well." (Until recently, Starbucks' pumpkin latte didn't include real pumpkin.)


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[Ed. – This is absurd. For one thing, the claim about American households throwing out $1,600 worth of food every year is not credible to me. Who are these people? That’s over $100 of food every month. But for another thing, in my home and every household whose routines I know personally, the leftovers from Thanksgiving make meals for weeks afterward.]
“Most people don’t realize how much food they throw away every day — from uneaten leftovers to spoiled produce,” the EPA website states. “More than 96% of the food we throw away ends up in landfills.
“Once in landfills, food breaks down to produce methane, a potent greenhouse gas which contributes to climate change,” the text states. “So, this holiday season, take steps to cut down your food waste.”
The video on the EPA website shows a family sitting down for a holiday meal.
“Before sitting down with friends and family this holiday season, consider the impact your meal can have on our planet,” the video, posted on Dec. 16, states.
“A typical American family of four throws out $1,600 of wasted food each year,” it continues.