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One of the major trends in modern office designs is that they’re all about sustainability. As more people continue to spotlight eco-friendly products and lifestyles, our office spaces have begun to follow suit. Here are three of the ways that eco-friendly designs, and specifically eco-friendly manufacturing practices, are influencing the workplace.
An Emphasis on Eco-Friendly Office Furniture
Every office space is going to be full of furniture. Desks, couches, chairs, cabinets; the list goes on. Unfortunately, according to an article on Inc.com, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) claims that “8.5 million tons of office furniture finds its way into landfills every year.”
However, the growing accessibility and popularity of eco-friendly manufacturing has opened the door for countless companies to start their own sustainability initiatives. One of the more popular ways this has manifested in the workplace is through sustainable furniture.
You can’t have an office space without furniture, and it doesn’t make sense to promote an eco-friendly office design if the furniture you fill it with will end up contributing to the statistic above.
“Sustainable may have started out as a buzzword,” Inc.com says, “but today it's a cornerstone of ecologically friendly thinking. You want to work with manufacturers who think sustainably, too.” So, when you’re considering the different options available to you and your modern office designs, look into sustainable furniture and help set a new, environmentally friendly precedent for the workplace.
Eco-friendly manufacturing is sending ripples across countless industries and exposing people to the benefits of an environmentally friendly outlook—not just in manufacturing, but everywhere in the business. If you were going to implement a modern office design that makes use of sustainably made furniture, for example, wouldn’t it make sense to embrace that eco-friendly mindset in other ways, too?
This is why so many companies are embracing digital paperwork. While printers and physical documents will never go away, there are plenty of ways to cut down on the amount of paper your office uses on a day-to-day basis. Entrepreneur offers a few ideas:
- Decrease the number of printers you keep in the office
- Start using paperless statements
- Get rid of those fax machines
- Implement a digital signature policy
It’s no secret that office buildings consume a lot of energy. It may not be possible to stop using energy entirely, but it is possible to cut down on how much of it your office needs on a given day.
For example, instead of keeping the lights on all day long, why not take a page from the eco-friendly manufacturing handbook and either rely on natural light—which can have physical and mental health benefits for employees—or swap out your traditional light bulbs with some eco-friendly alternatives.
Not all modern office designs have the best windows, though. Sometimes your window may be looking out at a parking lot, and while it lets in that beautiful sunshine, the view can be distracting. This is where office window graphics like LINTEC’s ECO-2000 ZC can help.
With incredibly high-optical clarity, long-term reliability, and one-piece removability, this product can be fully customized to match any office aesthetic or style and won’t take away from that all-important sunlight. It’s also one of the ways LINTEC takes part in eco-friendly manufacturing practices, as the facestock is made out of no less than 80% recycled material.
Modern office designs are always changing, but that doesn’t have to be a bad thing! With eco-friendly manufacturing more accepted than ever, you can outfit your existing office—or design an entirely new one—in a way that’s visually beautiful and creatively inspiring but also environmentally friendly.


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How to protect worker psychological health during stressful periods
Mental wellbeing is a concern for all sectors, however, in some industries, it’s more common to see psychological health dwindle. Take the retail sector, for example.
According to data from the Retail Trust, 84% of retail employees say their mental health has deteriorated over the last year – especially post-pandemic.
Which is why Best Buy Canada takes the mental wellbeing of their people so seriously. Speaking to HRD, CHRO Chris Taylor says this commitment is embedded into everything they do.
“In our retail cycle, we have huge peaks followed by more stable times throughout the year,” he says.
“We don’t want to wait for those ‘drive times’, we want to make sure we have an ongoing effort to support employee wellness. From an overall health perspective, mental wellness is very important and can sometimes take the spotlight – however, we also believe in a total health approach. That’s important to us.”
‘Culture of support’ embedded quality with leaders
To enable this, Taylor starts with a culture of support at Best Buy Canada.
“And what I love about this is it isn’t just an HR initiative,” he tells HRD. “Over time, it's just become such an embedded quality of our leaders to make sure that the wellbeing of their staff is paramount – and that’s alongside having to deliver on things like financials and sales.”
This is where training comes in. It’s all well and good to talk the talk, but mental health leaders need to lead by example. According to data from Forbes, 70% of employees say their manager has more impact on their mental health than their doctor or therapist, with 62% adding that they wished their leadership teams would speak more openly about mental wellbeing.
"We enable all of our initiatives thorough education and a lot of training,” says Taylor. “Making sure that if for some reason a leader can’t be involved, then there’s the proper resources that employees can reach out to – particularly in times of crisis. And we take an ongoing approach to this – a yearlong approach — so that when we do enter those stressful times, the holiday seasons, we ramp up our efforts to increase employee resilience and self-care.”
This, according to Taylor, heavily involves the leadership team – taking time out to check on people more frequently.
“At the end of the day,” he says, “allowing people to bring their best selves to work during those busy times is where we start.”
Leveraging resources for mental health in hybrid models
Resources are a key component of building out a successful mental health strategy – especially in remote and hybrid work. For retail staff, having easy access to this support can make the world of difference – and be the breaker between staying with a company and leaving. In fact, according to the Retail Trust report, one in five retail workers are currently considering quitting the sector entirely.
“In terms of resources, we do a lot and curating to find the right mix,” says Nikhil Rattan, senior manager, health, safety and wellness at Best Buy Canada. “We have quick tools and tips for our leaders on how to have those important conversations in the workplace. We also have a Microsoft Teams group for the entire workforce where we can share a lot of those best practices.”
Running alongside this mental health package is Best Buy’s health coverage and commitment to local communities – which has been helping employee mental health inadvertently.
“During the holiday season, we really ramp up our give back and community giving,” says Rattan. “Which we have found to be a huge psychological booster for our people. At our corporate office we do the holiday hamper program with BGC Canada.”
What’s more, a lot of Best Buy Canada stores participate in the Toy Mountain campaign during the holiday season collecting toys at Montreal stores, as well as having people volunteer at Ronald McDonald House Charities.
“That element of giving back really helps drive that sense of wellbeing,” adds Rattan. “And it makes the holiday season great fun for our people.”

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He explained to Vogue: “I wanted to do something else, even bigger, more global… I really hope that the audience has enjoyed what we have done and appreciated our push to democratise high fashion, not only through the enjoyment of clothing but also through a total, inclusive fashion experience.”
WWD announced that it wouldn’t be long before we had confirmation that Formichetti had gone to Diesel to be the brand’s first artistic director… and sure enough:
“I want him to do bigger things, different things. This is the right man to take the next step for a young company and a brand for people who are young of mind… I finally met somebody as crazy as I am. I have replaced myself and can go on vacation.” Renzo Rosso of Diesel confirmed the union yesterday morning, going on to explain that Formichetti isn’t just designing for the brand (though we’re all salivating at the thought), he will also be involved in the product, marketing and communication areas of Diesel.
Although we have to wait until AW’14 before the first of the designs will be coming down the catwalk, we can expect to see Nicola Formichetti’s stamp much sooner, with his first advertising campaign rumoured to be coming in September this year.
What do you think of Nicola Formichetti going to Diesel?


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Thank you Austin for the biggest and best “Give 5% to Mother Earth” campaign yet! By shopping, eating, playing, and more at the generous participating businesses this year, YOU helped us raise over $100,000!
A huge thank you this year to our amazing sponsors Green Mountain Energy, Reagan Outdoor, Thundercloud Subs, Heritage Title, Balcones Resources, AT&T, Subaru, Enterprise, McCarthy Print, Silicon Labs, and Christie and Bill Nalle! The marketing and publicity around the campaign this year was fantastic thanks to all of our sponsors, partners, and the community! Read our full press release here, and see a KVUE segment here!
It’s not too early to get involved for 2014! Are you a non-profit interested in participating? Click here! A businesses interested in becoming a participant? Fill out this form, or simply sign up online here!
Questions, comments, or need more info? Email Rachael Garbowski from Texas Land Conservancy!
About “Give 5% to Mother Earth”
Consider Austin without its beautiful trees, without open space, without Barton Springs, without Zilker Park, without beautiful Lady Bird Lake, Barton Creek, and other flowing creeks and springs. If that was our Austin, how would it affect YOUR business? Conservation organizations like Texas Land Conservancy, Austin Parks Foundation, and more work tirelessly to make sure that Austin never happens. But it takes work, and it’s not cheap!
Good news is, you can help! “Give 5% to Mother Earth” is a collaboration between Hill Country Conservancy, Texas Land Conservancy, Austin Parks Foundation, Tree Folks, Friends of Barton Springs Pool, Urban Roots, and Clean Water Fund. It is a campaign designed to encourage local businesses to commit to donate five percent of gross sales on Earth Day to these non-profits that dedicate their time and energy into making Central Texas a better place. In return, the participating non-profit partners encourage the local community to celebrate Earth Day by supporting these businesses throughout Earth Day weekend.
Each year since inception, the campaign has doubled in profits! In all, the campaign has raised over $300,000 for our local environmental non-profit community!
If you’d like your business to participate, sign up here!


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Bainbridge GIB celebrates its 60th year
Published 4:04 pm Friday, July 3, 2009
During a recent tour of the Georgia Industries for the Blind factory in Bainbridge, a fuse blew and the lights went out in the main warehouse.
“It’s a funny thing,” said Mike Jackson, the plant manager. “The lights can go out, but employees keep on working.”
This may have to do with the fact that 75 percent of the employees are visually impaired.
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The local factory, and first plant, went into business in 1949 in a warehouse close to the old air base. In 1952, they relocated to the Faceville Highway, where they are now celebrating their 60th year of successful business.
According to Jackson, some of the products they manufacture for the government are safety vests, culinary kits such as the j-spoon, and one-time-use pillows for hospitals. They also manufacture and, sometimes, directly ship pillows to soldiers in the military.
“Last year, we shipped several thousand pillows to Iraq,” Jackson said.
They also produce items such as folders for distribution to Office Max, Office Depot and Staples. For local events or family reunions, they manufacture personalized T-shirts, tote bags and hats.
“We use actual paint,” said Jackson. “Not the iron-on stuff that peels off. Ours doesn’t peel.”
According to Jackson, GIB produces around 35,000 folder leaves, 18,000 standard pillows and 12,000 folders a day. GIB recognizes that most of their employees have a specific need. One way they honor that need is by assigning a standard amount of folders to produce.
“Nobody gets paid under minimum wage,” said Jackson. “They are paid for each folder they produce. If they go over their standard amount, they get paid overtime.”
According to Kevin Kelley, Director of Manufacturing, people who work at GIB are state employees, which means they receive benefits such as 12 paid holidays annually, annual leave and sick leave, retirement plan, health and life insurance, vision and dental insurance, short- and long-term disability insurance, deferred compensation and spending accounts.
Most of their business is provided by the Javits-Wagner-O’Day Act, which, according to Kelley, orchestrates that the government must purchase products and services provided by nonprofit agencies that employ people with disabilities throughout the country.
“But, we have to stay competitive,” said Kelley. “Also, we must maintain a 75 percent blind-to-sighted ratio.”
In order to stay competitive, they must bid.
“When the Federal Government want’s something made, they are required to put it up for bid,” said Kelley. “We have to watch for this and bid.”
When the state wants something produced, they must also put it up for bid but, according to Kelley, this process is a little different than the Federal Government.
According to Jackson’s 2008 total sales estimate of $8.2 million, they are having no problem staying aggressive. Jackson also said they are expecting about the same for their 2009 fiscal year.
Bainbridge GIB also has a learning center for its employees. According to Jackson, there are tools such as zoom-tech and jaws screen reader. An instructor, who happens to be legally blind, conducts a class in order to educate other visually impaired employees on the use of spreadsheets and the Internet.
Over the past 60 years, the Bainbridge GIB has won and been nominated for several awards. A few of these include the Government Safety Award, Georgia Manufacturer of the Year (since 2004), and, recently, the 2008 Collaborative Partner Award. From 2005-08, GIB actively participated in the Bainbridge Relay for Life.
They also recognize employees hard work through employee of the month and employee of the year. For an employee to win an award, several things are taken into consideration, such as attendance, volunteer work and outside activities. At the end of the year, they choose two employees, one blind and one not, from employee of the month for the employee of the year.
The Bainbridge Plant has been around for 60 years, but there are two factories that are celebrating something new. Just last year, a ribbon-cutting ceremony was held celebrating the opening of a new plant in Albany. On Tuesday, senators and U.S. representatives, along with several representatives of the GIB, gathered in Griffin to recognize the completion of a multimillion-dollar project that added 10,500 square feet of warehouse space.
“We thank our employees and customers for 60 years of service, and hope for many more,” Kelley said.
To celebrate their 60 years of successful business, along with recognition of July 4, employees and managers held a fish fry on Monday.


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MAKE’s Ultimate Guide to 3D Printing hits newsstands on Nov. 20. Join the editors of MAKE live, this coming Monday, Nov. 5 at 2pm PST and 5pm EST.
During the Google+ Hangout on Air, we’ll be talking about the issue and the 3D Print Shop Weekend we held at MAKE headquarters to test over 15 3D printers. This first-of-its kind publication will tell you what you need to know to stay ahead of this rapidly growing technology. Own a 3D printer? Thinking of buying a 3D printer? Have no idea what a 3D printer is? This is the issue for you.


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With Greater Sydney’s lockdown to continue for another fortnight, Lion has announced it will credit pubs and clubs for full, unused kegs nearing the end of their shelf life, putting cash back into the pockets of struggling hospitality business operators across the city.
Lion Managing Director James Brindley said the latest outbreak was another devastating blow for an industry already on its knees.
“Beer is fresh and needs to be enjoyed within its short shelf life,” Brindley said.
“Our thoughts are with everyone in the hospitality industry across Greater Sydney, and the most important thing we can do is stick together and support one another.
“We hope this initiative will go some way to easing some of the unimaginable burden that many pubs, clubs, bars and restaurants will currently be facing. It truly feels like Groundhog Day.
“We never wanted to be in this situation again, after having had to tip the equivalent of 11 million schooners last year. Once again there will be a large volume of beer in kegs that will sadly never get to see a schooner.
“With the Sydney lockdown now entering its fourth week, our focus will now turn to preparing for re-opening, and we will be ready with the freshest kegs in the state to welcome their communities back with open arms. We’ll continue to monitor the NSW Government’s response and adjust our support if needed.”
On 23 March 2020, Lion announced it would refund customers for any unused, full, capped kegs nationally – which totalled more than $30 million. To mark the one year anniversary of the original lockdown, Lion declared 23 March 2021 the inaugural National Local Day, and offered consumers a $15 Digital Mastercard to spend at their local on a cold beer or two with family and friends, which saw $600,000 spent in pubs and clubs across the country.
Lion will refund any kegs bought on 1 June 2021 or after, that have a best before date at the end of July and will review the situation again at that time.


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Some people insist they have to stop at Starbucks or a competitor to start their day. It may seem extreme to equate coffee consumption with other addictions, but scientific evidence supports it. People who find themselves craving coffee can look to their parents (or at least their genes) to assign “blame” for the desire.
There are genetic predispositions for alcoholism, breast cancer, depression, heart disease and, according to new research, coffee consumption. Researchers have found six genes that are linked to someone having cravings for coffee consumption, particularly how their body responds to caffeine consumed.
The research team indicated that the genes were not ones they would have assumed to be tied to coffee drinking. However, they show the genetic basis for people’s coffee consumption habits, according to Marilyn Cornelis, a nutrition research associate at the Harvard School of Public Health, who was the lead author on the study. The team believes that the genes could help explain why some people really like coffee and others do not.
The study analyzed information on 120,000 coffee drinkers. The researchers looked at 28 previous studies on genetics, specifically the participants in those studies who were regular coffee drinkers.
The team identified the six “coffee” genetic variants that impacted their caffeine metabolism and data on the quantity of coffee each of the subjects consumed daily. Published in Molecular Psychiatry, the analysis credits genetics with the side effects that can result from drinking caffeinated coffee. Those include the memory boost and mental acuity some coffee drinkers experience as well as the distractedness, per the study’s authors.
One finding was that individuals who drink considerable quantities of coffee seem to metabolize the caffeine faster than others do. The researchers theorized that could be due to their genes.
Two other genes appeared to be linked to the “kick” that people receive from caffeine. The team determined that those genes are tied to the brain’s pleasure centers, and likely influence the enjoyment that caffeinated coffee provides to many drinkers.
The final two genes identified were “unexpected,” according to the researchers. The duo were previously known to impact the metabolism of fats and sugars, but now are suspected of being tied to how the body reacts to coffee as well.
The researchers caution against concluding that coffee consumption is driven solely by one’s genes. There are many other factors, besides the body’s reaction to caffeine, that influence how much coffee people drink, from socialization to taste preferences to desire to stay awake. But how much those things impact consumption may be genetic in nature.
The researchers plan to conduct further analysis into the genes pinpointed in the study and see if they are tied to a person’s risk of certain diseases. Previous studies have indicated that coffee consumption may reduce one’s risk of Parkinson’s disease, liver disease and type 2 diabetes. Conversely, other research tied coffee to heart disease.
Coffee is popular worldwide, as evidenced by the proliferation of coffee houses. Starbucks alone is in 65 countries. Americans who drink coffee generally consume an average of two cups a day. In parts of Europe, four cups daily is often the norm. For those with a regular coffee habit, it may be a genetic predisposition to blame that makes the craving so strong that they cannot start the work or school day without a fresh cup of coffee.
By Dyanne Weiss


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Dragon Ball Fusions continues its solid sales figures three weeks into its release on the Nintendo 3DS in Japan.
According to the Media Create sales list for the reporting period of 15 August 2016 to 21 August 2016, the game pushed another 18,343 copies, which brings the game’s sales up to 127,652 total copies.
Fusions‘ third week sales far exceed last year’s Extreme Butōden (also on the Nintendo 3DS), which pushed 98,789 copies by its own third week. Fusions is also currently trending higher than 2014’s Dragon Ball Heroes: Ultimate Mission 2, which sold 119,689 copies by its third week.
Dragon Ball Fusions, developed by Ganbarion for Bandai Namco, is the latest Dragon Ball franchise video game and is exclusively available on the Nintendo 3DS in Japan. Check out Episode #0409 of our podcast for our first impressions with the game.


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In a season dotted with notable earnings misses among retailers, Target bucked the industry trends by reporting strong earnings on Wednesday, its bottom line lifted by brisk apparel and home goods sales as well as intensive cost-cutting.
The retailer reported adjusted earnings per share of $1.22 for the second quarter, beating analyst forecasts of $1.10 and the company’s own expected range of $1.04 to $1.14. Target’s stock rose 4 percent before falling into negative territory in morning trading at $79.49 on the news.
The company also said it would raise its annual outlook to earnings of $4.60 to $4.75 a share, compared with a previous forecast of $4.50 to $4.65 a share.
Sales at stores open for at least a year grew 2.4 percent, in line with company’s expectations. Online sales jumped 30 percent, contributing 0.6 percentage point to the sales increase, Target said.
The retailer’s cost-cutting drive appeared to be bearing fruit. Under Brian C. Cornell, who became chief executive last August, Target has embarked on an effort to save $2 billion over two years from corporate revamping, leaner supply chains and more efficient product sourcing.
Read the full story here.


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BOULDER, Colo. — Purely Elizabeth, based in Boulder, is recalling some gluten-free granola and bar products sold by major retailers because they might be contaminated with foreign matter, including glass, plastic or rocks.
The voluntary recall includes Coconut Cashew Grain-Free Granola, Banana Nut Butter Grain-Free Granola or our Pumpkin Spice + Ashwagandha Grain-Free Superfood Granola.
No injuries or illnesses have been reported. All of the products have cashews and have best-by-dates beginning in November and going through the end of this year.
The company said it has replaced its cashew supplier.
The products are sold at Target, Walmart, Costco, Whole Foods, Amazon and on the purely Elizabeth website.
Purely Elizabeth said it was working with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on the recalls.
The company is offering free replacement products. Anyone who has one of the packages listed on the company’s website is asked to take a photo of the front and back and email them to the company.
Anyone with questions should email the company or call 720-242-7525 ext. 106 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.


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Wine Spectator’s July issue on Napa Valley travel includes the latest in food and wine culture in America’s leading wine region. Plus, our coverage of California Chardonnay features profiles of legendary winemakers along with our report on the newest releases. And don’t miss our perfect menus for summer entertaining.
Wine Spectator’s June 15 & 30 issue spotlights Dave Phinney, creator of The Prisoner, Orin Swift and other quality affordable wines. Tasting reports cover the outstanding 2017 vintage for Brunello di Montalcino and Cabernet Sauvignon from Washington. Plus, don’t miss our feature on global sparkling wines.
Wine Spectator’s May 31 issue focuses on red Burgundy, featuring Domaine Armand Rousseau, a longtime shining light. Plus, our tasting report on the region covers the 2019 vintage, which delivered stunning Pinot Noirs. Finally, 15 wine professionals reveal their picks for by-the-case deals.
Wine Spectator’s April 30 Italy issue will delight and inspire, with 101 things we love about the country. Don’t miss this insider’s guide to tasting and touring, from Veneto to Sicily and everywhere in between. Plus, the issue’s tasting reports cover recent vintages from Piedmont and the latest releases of California Sauvignon Blanc.


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It's the same bottle of booze, but you'll have to pay more for it depending on what state you're in.
Less than a week after hard alcohol went on sale in major grocery stores across Washington, liquor stores in Oregon are reporting a big boost in business. They say customers are pouring in across the border from Washington to get cheaper liquor in Oregon.
"It's ridiculous," said Heidi Porter, a customer who traveled across the state line to buy booze.
Porter lives in Longview, WA, but she drove to Rainer, OR, to buy liquor Wednesday afternoon.
She said it has been too expensive to buy hard alcohol in her home state since the new liquor law went into effect last Friday.
The Rainer Liquor Store said customers just like Porter have been pouring into the store.
"It's been amazing," said Diana Heston, who works at the store. "Absolutely amazing!"
The store says alcohol sales are up 15 to 20 percent since last week because people who live in Washington want to save money on hard liquor.
"Sometimes it's just $3 to $5," said Heston. "Other times it can be as much as a $10, $20 or $30 difference."
FOX 12 did some price comparison at stores in Washington and Oregon.
At the Rainer Liquor Store, a 25-ounce bottle of vodka was on sale for $19.95, or 80 cents an ounce.
At a Fred Meyer in Longview, the same bottle of vodka was also on sale for $19.99. But after the state's taxes, it came out to $26.92, or a $1.07 an ounce.
At a Safeway in Hazel Dell, the same bottle was on sale for $18.99. After taxes it was $25.71, which breaks down to a $1.02 per ounce.
Despite what some have heard, state taxes did not change with Washington's new law.
The Washington State Liquor Control Board attributes the price increase to new fees that came with the voter-approved initiative which privatized liquor sales last Friday.
Those fees include a 10 percent distribution fee and a 17 percent retail fee that ultimately get passed on to the consumer.
And while being able to buy a bottle of booze at a big grocery store is convenient for some, others say they'll keep crossing the state line to stock up.
Possibly the cheapest option to save money on liquor in Washington is to buy in bulk.
Costco, the big chain that was behind the new Washington liquor initiative, sells a much bigger bottle of the vodka for $46.35. That actually breaks down to 79 cents an ounce.
Copyright 2012 KPTV (Meredith Corporation.) All rights reserved.
Tuesday, June 18 2013 11:11 PM EDT2013-06-19 03:11:45 GMT
A former Sherwood High School teacher is facing charges of sex abuse, the alleged victims three students. Washington County deputies say Denise Keesee turned herself into detectives today after monthsMore >
A former Sherwood High School teacher is facing charges of sex abuse and police say the victims are two former students.More >
Tuesday, June 18 2013 9:43 PM EDT2013-06-19 01:43:17 GMT
A fisherman drowned Tuesday in the Columbia River after diving into the water from his boat to try and retrieve his fishing pole. The Multnomah County Sheriff's Office said the man, who has not yet beenMore >
A fisherman drowned Tuesday in the Columbia River after diving into the water from his boat to try and retrieve his fishing pole.More >
Tuesday, June 18 2013 8:22 PM EDT2013-06-19 00:22:22 GMT
Police have identified two men accused of stealing thousands of pounds of watermelons from local grocery stores. Beaverton police were called out to the WinCo Foods store on Cedar Hills Boulevard theMore >
Police have identified two men accused of stealing thousands of pounds of watermelons from local WinCo Foods stores.More >
Tuesday, June 18 2013 9:23 AM EDT2013-06-18 13:23:30 GMT
A 5-year-old girl set up a lemonade stand across the street from the Westboro Baptist Church compound, and now the group is targeting her. Jayden Sink raised nearly $200 on Friday while she sold lemonadeMore >
A 5-year-old girl set up a lemonade stand across the street from the Westboro Baptist Church compound, and now the group is targeting her.More >
Tuesday, June 18 2013 9:56 PM EDT2013-06-19 01:56:11 GMT
A man wanted by police for exposing himself inside a Beaverton shopping center was caught after detectives said he exposed himself to a female passenger on a MAX train. Beaverton police first took a reportMore >
A man wanted by police for exposing himself inside a Beaverton shopping center was caught after detectives said he exposed himself to a female passenger on a MAX train.More >


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Samsung is an innovator in the creation of high-performance image sensors that increase photo and video quality. Samsung recently held their Tech Day 2022 event, where they discussed the most recent advancements and future goals for numerous System LSI-related technologies, including the image sensor.
The Galaxy S23 series is expected to be announced at Samsung Unpacked, and Samsung Colombia may have jumped a little, releasing the Unpacked page announcing the Galaxy S23 launch date early. The Galaxy S23 was supposed to be released in late February, but according to Samsung's official Colombia website, the event will take place on February 1st.
Samsung delivers the industry's first 'UDR (Ultra Dynamic Range)' brightness performance after being verified by UL Solutions, a worldwide safety science organisation. Samsung smartphone OLED with UDR certification has proven to be an ultra-high-brightness device capable of up to 2,000 nits of brightness.
OnePlus is preparing to launch its flagship OnePlus 11 in China. The gadget, along with the OnePlus Buds Pro 2, will be available in the nation on January 4th, and the brand has been teasing the device's characteristics and capabilities for quite some time.
The previous year has been hard, but we must remember that trials bring out the best in us and help us grow! As we turn the page, we are ready to meet the difficulties and celebrate the happy times of…
The Xiaomi 12T Pro features a distinctive design to a collaboration between Xiaomi and artist Daniel Arsham. Pre-orders for this edition, which is only offered in limited quantities, are currently open and will remain open through December 11 at Midnight.
It might be difficult to choose a smartwatch or fitness tracker. Numerous aspects need to be taken into account, including design, robustness, connectivity choices, battery life, and the kinds of data being recorded. Additionally, the number of models is overwhelming. It might be challenging to determine whether Black Friday offers are worthwhile.
You've been waiting to buy one of Samsung's newest flagship phones for a long, hoping that the desired Black Friday would arrive and drastically reduce the cost of most items. Well, your hopes have been realised!
Unsurprisingly, the Galaxy A34 appears to share design cues with the Galaxy A54 in the first renders that have surfaced. In other words, it has three rear-facing cameras, each with a circular cutout, a flat back panel, and a frame similar to the Galaxy S22.


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HONG KONG (MarketWatch) -- Nissan Motor Co. 7201, -0.68% will cut the weight of its vehicles by an average of 15% over the next seven years as it seeks to improve fuel efficiency, according to reports. The weight reduction will be gauged against the automaker's 2005 model year, the Nikkei business daily reported Wednesday. Nissan will seek to trim the weight by rethinking vehicle design, using light weight materials and encouraging parts suppliers to also pursue the new efficiency targets.
Have breaking news sent to your inbox. Subscribe to MarketWatch's free Bulletin emails. Sign up here.


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Jaguar Land Rover's New Tech Will Find Potholes and Warn Other Cars
Jun 11, 2015 12:44
Here's a technology all cars need. One that can find potholes. They're the meanest menace on the road, all over the world. Jaguar Land Rover believes that instead of waiting for the government to fix them, cars should be able to detect them, and then build a database to share that information to other cars.
The company is working with the Coventry City council on this project.
We already collect lots of data which we monitor very carefully ourselves but having this kind of extra information might allow us to further improve our maintenance programs which would save the taxpayer money.
Microsoft Office is still the number one office suite used by companies and students alike. With programs such as Word, Excel, Powerpoint, and OneNote, collaborating and working on important files has never been easier. Read more
Every year, brands are looking for a new strategy on how to level up their email marketing campaign, simply because it leads to constant retaining of customers as well as important conversions. However, in the marketing cliché retaining old customers is far harder compared to acquiring new ones. Nonetheless, it would be possible to acquire more and more permanent customers if a marketer has a successful email marketing campaign. Read more
Only a small number of online casinos are creating their own games. Most of them are using software developers and providers that are focused on casino games. The popularity of online gambling has led to an expansion of this industry. This means that there are many casino software developers today, but not all of them are equal. Read more


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The original guide touched on topics including operating costs, product quality, production output rates, manufacturing flexibility and yield. The latest article offers an updated perspective on some of the same issues, as well as addresses some new points.
For example, robots are now "an even better value" and offer "still more choice." While robots can also "ease recruitment worries," the article also argues that there are "no ethical dilemmas" regarding concerns over robots taking work away from humans.
David Patterson, known for his pioneering research that led to RAID, clusters and more, is part of a team at UC Berkeley that recently made its RISC-V processor architecture an open source hardware offering. We talk with Patterson and one of his colleagues behind the effort about the opportunities they see, what new kinds of designs they hope to enable and what it means for today’s commercial processor giants such as Intel, ARM and Imagination Technologies.


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A Moroccan MP has charged some Moroccan businesses with falsifying receipts and import documents for Russian oil in order to make it seem as though their energy goods originated in the US or the US Gulf.
Rabat – Concerns have been raised in several studies about the role played by North African energy firms in blending Russian oil with other energy products for re-export.
Russia has been turning to broadening its partnerships within Africa as a result of Western sanctions over its invasion of Ukraine.
Several reports state that before the wave of Western sanctions on Russian energy goods, the Russian government had been boosting its energy supply to Morocco.
The Wall Street Journal noted on January 25 that concerns have been raised about Russian oil cargoes “being blended with other oil products and re-exported,” but that the EU ban on Russian oil products “appears to have created a new market of exporting back to Europe Russian products via third countries.”
The Wall Street Journal stated that this technique “complicates Western efforts to eliminate Russian fossil fuels from their economy” and conceals the products’ true provenance.
MOROCCAN ENERGY COMPANIES FALSIFY IMPORT PAPERWORK IN ORDER TO PROFIT GREATLY
Late last month, a Moroccan Lawmaker expressed similar worries, criticizing what he called Moroccan energy corporations’ manipulation of the sources of the goods being offered on the Moroccan gasoline market.
Abdelkader Taher, a Socialist Union of Popular Forces (USFP) member, asked the Ministry of Economics a question in which he urged the government to launch an investigation into the matter and accused some businesses of fabricating import paperwork, including receipts.
Taher claimed that while certain Moroccan businesses involved in this “manipulation” scheme acquire Russian gas, which is 70% less expensive than goods from other nations, they also falsify import documentation to make it appear as though their goods are coming from the US or the GCC. The MP outlined how doing this allows the businesses to sell their energy products for significantly more money in order to generate “staggering revenues.”
The MP urged the Ministry of Economics to launch an investigation to find out where fuel imports come from and how much they cost. “All of this happens with the explicit complicity of the firm controlling the fuel store in the port of Tanger Med,” the MP stated.
DYSFUNCTIONAL MARKETS AND MONOPOLIES
The news comes as Moroccans around the nation continue to protest the skyrocketing costs of necessities, especially fuel.
Low-income Moroccans have repeatedly criticized the government’s inaction and alleged unwillingness to act by enacting measures that could address the deteriorating situation over the past few weeks, particularly in light of the recent publication of several reports proving the existence of “dysfunctions and manipulations” in the Moroccan energy market.
The government of Morocco was roundly criticized in a report earlier this year for its “refusal to address the problem of monopoly” in the hydrocarbons sector, according to the report published by Morocco’s Government Work Observer.
The Observatory specifically criticized the government for ignoring the Competition Council’s unambiguous warnings, which were made in a recent research that made evident that a network of domineering corporations had monopolized the Moroccan petroleum market.


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Luxury prices are going up, and that’s good news
By Fabio Bonavita26 juin 2020
Canadian hair salons and the luxury industry have one thing in common: both responded to the virus containment strategies by raising their prices. For the former, this was to compensate for the financial consequences of the pandemic – much to the chagrin of their customers. As far as luxury brands are concerned, the logic is different. The higher the price of a product, the greater its desirability (also known as the “Veblen effect”). So, last month when Chanel announced price increases of between 5 and 17% on its iconic 11.12, 2.55, 19, Boy and Gabrielle handbags, few were surprised. Likewise, in South Korea, economic media site Pulse News Korea’s report that Bulgari, Tiffany&Co and Louis Vuitton brands have increased their prices by an average of 3 to 11% was met with a collective yawn. It seems that the market shrugs off these price increases as being justified by higher raw material costs and unfavorable exchange rates.
What might sound like consumerist elitism is actually good news for the sector. Increasing desirability, and therefore rarity, puts more distance between luxury players and their premium segment competitors, and moves them closer to the ultra-luxury category that caters to only a handful of hyperwealthy customers. In other words, there is hope for the luxury industry gradually returning to what it was. However, this process was underway well before the coronavirus pandemic. According to a study conducted by IFOP, luxury goods prices rose by more than 80% between 2012 and 2019, with the most iconic products in the sector leading the way – leather goods, watches, and fashion. This strategy is expected to have consequences on the upcoming financial figures for the major luxury groups. And while the strategy may be sound in terms of image-building, it could also be putting the brakes on very short-term purchases, especially at a time as tumultuous as the one we have been experiencing for the past few months…
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A new restaurant opens in Canal Walk.
Content to include playable WWE, NXT, WCW and WCCW characters; a playable WWE Hall of Fame Class of 2016 match showcase and access to a wide variety of new moves; and unlockable content and player progression features.
Run the streets of New Bordeaux from your mobile device, with 2K and Cat Daddy’s new mobile battle RPG, Mafia III: Rivals.
After a year of tireless practice and dedication the White Rabbit Gaming Dota 2 team managed to defeat their biggest rivals in a fantastic showcase of South African eSports.
The LG Curved UltraWide gaming monitor represents significant advances in display innovation and makes gaming better than ever.
MSI and Evetech are offering great gaming laptop and motherboard deals at rAge 2016.
MSI will be offering an exclusive experience to gamers with the MSI GAMING Workshop at the rAge Expo on October 7th – 9th, 2016 in Johannesburg.
Well, there have certainly been worse sex-related games released.
Leading South African sports betting site, World Sports Betting have this week announced the launch of their Live E-sport streaming service for events from around the world.
Whether you’re a casual gamer looking for that competitive edge, or a music lover looking to unwind, the right headset can make all the difference.
Amazon’s self-published stories can make for a good laugh, but very few venture past the digital world of e-books into the physical realm – and with good reason.
When building a perfect rig, the cherry on top is often the monitor which will showcase it all.
Buy MSI Z170A MPOWER GAMING TITANIUM in August and get Corsair VENGEANCE 16GB DDR4 Memory for only R349.99.
Next-gen performance with per-key RGB backlighting.
F1 2016 is available for pre-order for Xbox, PS4 and PC ahead of the launch date on 19 August 2016.
MyGaming is getting a new logo, and we want you to help us select one.
Orena has partnered with ASUS and EGE to host the qualifying round of the E-Sports World Convention 2016 CS:GO Tournament at EGE 2016 in Cape Town.
Setting up a safe and secure private cloud for your business is easier than you might think.
Get great deals on cool consoles, bundles, accessories, laptops, and more from DionWired until 2 August.
MSI is offering a free 12-month XSplit premium license worth $60 with select MSI Performance and Arsenal GAMING motherboards.


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The Wine and Spirit Trade Association (WSTA) is on the lookout for new board members, as it seeks to diversify the line-up. The WSTA is recruiting four new members, “chosen for their different business expertise and perspectives”.
The WSTA, which is a not for profit organisation, said it wants “fresh thinking volunteers”, to apply to join the board for a two-year term. New members will contribute to discussions and be a source of information and advice for members of the WSTA team.
WSTA chief executive Miles Beale, said: “I am very pleased that the WSTA board has taken the decision to boost the skillsets around the table, by opening up places for fresh thinking from experts or highly trained individuals within our membership who will bring new disciplines to the board.
“We believe that our member companies have within their ranks a source of untapped talent that could help drive the WSTA at a time when the industry is focused on recovery and rejuvenation during what continues to be a turbulent time.”
Mark Riley, chair of the WSTA board, said his focus is for the WSTA to continue to meet challenges and opportunities.
“By removing the requirement that WSTA board members must hold the most senior role in their alcoholic drinks business, we can introduce new perspectives and skills which will ensure the board benefits from – and can promote – greater diversity and inclusion,” Riley added. “We also hope that many of them will go on to be future leaders in the wine and spirit trade.”
The WSTA wants to hear from individuals working at companies within its membership who feel they can bring fresh skills, experience and perspective, preferably from the following categories: SMEs, UK wine and spirit producers, importers/exporters, wholesalers or merchants with skills and qualifications, including qualified lawyers or procurement, HR, communication, ICT training, data and education specialists.
Nominees must be employed by a WSTA member company. To apply, click here.


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Shinola already makes a host of premium bags, wallets, and belts, as well as high-end watches. But the Detroit-based company is diving even deeper into a yet another product category — audio.
Shinola had started turning its attention to audio products with the Runwell turntable, followed by the launch of a pair of bookshelf speakers. Now the company has introduced a full line of headphones, including in-ear, over-ear, and on-ear options.
As you would expect from Shinola’s other products, these headphones are unquestionably high-end, with stainless steel, interchangeable lambskin leather cushions, and top grain leather headbands. They were developed with the help of audiophiles at Portland-based Campfire Audio, ensuring they sound as good as they look.
Shinola’s new headphones are available now through their online store and start at $195.


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Experts provide ideas and advice on how to improve a bar’s business, from service and cost controls to technology and marketing
Good service is vital to a successful business. More than three-quarters of consumers have left a bar, pub or restaurant earlier than planned because of poor service, according to a new report from customer research specialist Market Force Europe. The most common reasons for consumers feeling this way was not poor food or drink quality but slow service and lack of attention – both addressable by focusing on training and employee motivation.“This should be a real wake-up call to the industry,” says Tim Ogle, chief executive of Market Force Europe, formerly Retail Eyes.
Tim believes that gaining feedback from customers is the best way for a bar operator to understand what they are looking for, using methods such as mystery visits and customer satisfaction surveys. “It’s often very small things that do not take time and effort to change that can make a huge difference, such as not enough bar staff or the glasses are not very clean,” he explains.“Once you have the feedback, the next and most important step is to react to it.There is no point investing in this information if you’re not going to use it to have a positive impact on the business. Don’t forget to communicate the results to your staff too – after all, they are the people who will have to action the changes so it’s important they understand why they’re making them.”
Many of the initiatives to improve service need not be expensive,Tim adds – a message that will resonate with operators who have seen the cost of running a bar or pub rise over the past few years. According to the latest annual Benchmarking Report from the Association of Licensed Multiple Retailers (ALMR), operating costs as a percentage of turnover have climbed steadily over the five years during which the ALMR has carried out the annual survey, peaking at 51 per cent at the height of the recession. According to the 2011 report, this percentage stood at 45.9 per cent, suggesting that the licensed trade is back on track with better cost control.
One of the biggest concerns for bar owners is the rising cost of utilities, with the ALMR’s Benchmarking Report saying this was, on average, equal to 3.6 per cent of turnover. Lynx Purchasing specialises in helping hospitality operators to save money by getting the best deals on utilities and other products and services.With oil prices still at relatively low levels, but increasing as tensions in the Middle East and Africa continue, Lynx believes that businesses should be looking at signing up to multi-year utility contracts to guard against volatility in the market.
The warning comes in the newly-published Lynx Purchasing Market Forecast, an overview of market and pricing trends for hospitality operators.“Utility prices are driven by events, and predicting how they will behave is never simple,” says managing director John Pinder.“With utility prices currently as low as they’ve been for a couple of years, but expected to rise, we believe it is the time for operators to look at longer-term, two- to three-year utility deals.The savings on existing deals can run into thousands, even for a single site, and increase significantly for multiple operators.”
Expanding Mexican restaurant and bar chain Benito’s Hat, which has opened its fourth London site at the high-profile Kings Cross redevelopment, has agreed a new energy supply contract negotiated by Lynx. The restaurants’ founder Ben Fordham said: “Finding the best energy deals is time-consuming, and a huge challenge for a business. Lynx provides us with the certainty we are getting a good deal without needing to trawl through all the suppliers out there.”
Lynx has also worked with bar group Snug Bars which expanded to six sites at the end of last year with openings in High Wycombe in Buckinghamshire and Godalming in Surrey. It helped the management team with buying supplies for the bars, from serviettes, table sauces and food ingredients to one-off purchases such as outside tables, umbrellas and decking at one of its sites.“By analysing our spend by outlet and across the board, Lynx was able to help us consolidate our purchasing and identify where we could save money,” explains Snug Bars managing director Giles Fry.“It helps me protect our margin, which is more important than ever in these challenging trading times. It also saves me personally a lot of time and hassle, so I can focus on growing the business and bringing a great Snug Bars experience to even more people.”
With Euro 2012, the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee and the Olympics ahead this year, now is the time to check whether investment is needed in epos systems, warns David Broom, chief executive of Retail Fix which provides technology advice to operators.“No succession of events that will impact on volumes of trade and weight of transactions has been seen before in this country,” he explains.“Businesses have been planning their promotions, tackling the logistics and ensuring supply of staff, but many operators are overlooking the demands that will be made on their outlet IT systems and central infrastructure that could mean the difference between operating a winning business or heading straight into a technical meltdown.The big companies have IT teams and support, but it’s the smaller independents that are more exposed.”
Retail Fix has teamed up with IT consultancy Centrality to offer “IT health checks” to businesses to help them identify if their systems can cope with increased demand over the summer. David points out that many visitors from overseas will not have credit and debit cards enabled with “chip and pin” so bars need to be ready to have manual systems in place to deal with this, particularly at busy times. He also points out that many of the outlets he visits are missing out on business benefits by not making the most of the full capabilities of their epos systems.“Our smaller clients are probably using only 30 per cent of what their tills are capable of.”
Having a till system fail at a busy time can be a nightmare for bars, leading to the slower service that consumers particularly hate. J2 Retail Systems has addressed this by building hardware-performance monitoring into its PC-based touchscreen tills. Using a traffic light system, it highlights if a till is about to malfunction. Without user intervention, this information is communicated electronically to the J2 portal, where specialist reporting software fires out messages, despatches technical patches or initiates jobs with the client’s support and maintenance provider.“We see the failure before the client does, and can take remedial steps before a till stops working,” says J2’s managing director Moray Boyd.
Thanks to the new software, J2 has also been able to move from fixed-fee to incident-based maintenance, helping licensees to minimise the total cost of owning and running epos hardware.“Our goal is to keep clients up and running with no impact on point-of-sale transactions, so causing the least inconvenience at the least cost,” Moray adds. “That has a real ‘bottom line’ value in business terms, as does moving to incident-based maintenance.”
Tim at Market Force Europe says that, while summer is only just round the corner, it is not too late to make sure a business is ready. “This summer, millions of people will leave their homes to soak up the sporting atmosphere.These people will all be searching for places to eat, drink and be merry.What a fantastic chance to show customers the best your business can offer – not only with the food and drinks served, but also by giving customers a memorable experience from the service they receive.
Bars are hoping the summer events will help to increase footfall as customers flock to watch and celebrate the occasions and, because of this, it’s more important than ever for owners to be aware of the perfect opportunity to build on relationships with existing customers and retain new ones.”


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Chicago, IL (PRWEB) February 10, 2006
Capitalizing on the latest high-tech trend, http://www.musicexplosion.biz/Unlimited-PSP-Movies/phc/ is providing the owners of Sony PSP with something irresistible — free PSP movie downloads.
“We have given extensive study to this rapidly growing market. These are the same people who download music and games. They do not like to pay for downloads one at a time, so that is why we have created a membership site. They want to pay once and then come back for downloads as often as they like,” explained Tim Foss, creator of the site.
The company, which also owns a PSP game download site at http://www.musicexplosion.biz/psp-game-downloads/phc/, has found great success offering PSP games, music, and now movies through a one-time membership.
“We carefully studied what the consumers of PSP products want, and what they do not want. Our study revealed that they want a download site with a huge selection, a simple download process, and like most Internet shoppers, they want a good price. We studied market trends and realized that consumers would rather pay a one-time fee than pay monthly subscriptions or pay-as-you-go,” said Foss.
The result of the market analysis is that http://www.musicexplosion.biz/Unlimited-PSP-Movies/phc/ delivers on all counts. Consumers can pay a one-time fee and then have access to over 100,000 movies, television shows, and other entertainment downloads.
Consumers can even get a combination membership to download unlimited movies and games as well. The marketing approach seems to be paying off.
Gamers who purchased a PSP to enhance their gaming have discovered there is now much more for them to enjoy. The demand for PSP movie downloads is expected to grow rapidly as more and more consumers purchase the device.
In a recent survey by Ziff Davis (http://sev.prnewswire.com/computer-electronics/20060117/NYTU18017012006-1.html) 36 percent of gamers said they plan to buy a PSP in 2006. Foss said that trend will increase, and the demand for all forms of downloads will increase as well.
Unlimited PSP movies provides access to the largest PSP DVD quality movies collection with over 100,000 updated movies available for members. With millions of games and music selections as well it is no surprise that traffic to the site is increasing daily.


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2020欧洲杯体育投注软件The designer’s extensive history—along with arts and crafts that inspire his work—are on display.
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2020欧洲杯体育投注软件Every pair of kicks has a story.
Amex and Just Don joined forces to celebrate this year’s NBA All-Star event.
2020欧洲杯体育投注软件The designer’s second collaboration with the British stalwart has a result that’s rugged and refined.
2020欧洲杯体育投注软件A newly unsealed report reveals that U.S. authorities seized vast quantities of counterfeit footwear last year.
Nike’s latest collab is with the cult sneaker purveyor.
These shoes will complement experimental looks––without going over the top.
2020欧洲杯体育投注软件Treat yourself to some employees-only kicks.
2020欧洲杯体育投注软件The latest high-fashion sneakers represents the first time a couture house has partnered with the legendary sneaker brand.


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Consumers are embracing AI and will reward organizations that offer more human-like AI experiences
While consumers prefer engaging with organizations through a mix of AI and humans, they would like AI to have more human-like qualities
Paris, July 9, 2018 – New research from Capgemini’s Digital Transformation Institute has revealed that artificial intelligence (AI) is no longer alien to consumers, with close to three-quarters (73%) indicating they have interacted via AI, and 69% of those who have used AI being satisfied with those interactions. The report, “The Secret to Winning Customers’ Hearts with Artificial Intelligence: Add Human Intelligence” reveals that 55% of consumers prefer interactions enabled by a mix of AI and humans, and 64% want AI to be more human-like. These human-like qualities can generate significant goodwill and drive a greater propensity to spend for nearly half (48%) of consumers. However, many organizations are failing to take consumer pain points and preferences into account when applying AI technology to their customer experience (CX), focusing more on traditional metrics such as the cost of implementation and expected return on investment (ROI).
The report, which surveyed 10,000 consumers and over 500 companies across 10 countries, found that 63% of AI-aware consumers like AI because of its 24/7 availability and how it provides greater control over their interactions. Consumers are also opening up to the possibility of digital alter egos - 48% say the opportunity to be able to delegate tasks to an electronic personal assistant is exciting, with another 46% believing it will enhance their quality of life.
Consumers want human-like, not human-looking AI
Consumers’ growing comfort in using AI is also increasing their reassurance in AI having human-like attributes. More than three in five consumers (62%) are comfortable with human-like intellect. Nearly half (49%) say they would have a higher affiliation to a company if their interactions enabled by AI were more human-like. Surprisingly, this preference transcends the generations. Across all age groups between 18 and 55+ years, consumers prefer interactions to be enabled by a mixture of human and AI.
However, customers want their AI to be heard, and experienced, but not seen. While they are keen for AI to have a human-like voice (62%) and the ability to understand human emotions (57%), physical features are deemed ‘creepy’. Over half (52%) of customers are not comfortable when AI is set up to look like a person. The report also finds that two-thirds of consumers (66%) would like to be made aware when companies are enabling interactions via AI.
Businesses fail to prioritize customer experience when implementing AI
Despite consumer appetite for AI-powered customer experiences, businesses are prioritizing traditional metrics over customer preferences. The report found that 62% of organizations are prioritizing cost and 59% of organizations are prioritizing ROI as the most important factors when implementing AI technology. Just 7% of organizations rank solving known consumer pain points, and 10% rank impact on customer experience as important factors in implementing AI-enabled use cases. That is a clear oversight, details the report, given that consumers are willing to spend more when the experience is positive. The report found that 38% of shoppers have purchased more following a good AI-enabled experience, with a quarter increasing their spend by up to 10%. In addition, AI-enabled interactions also foster more loyalty to and higher trust in the company.
Mark Taylor, Chief Experience Officer, Digital Customer Experience Practice, at Capgemini said, “It is somewhat ironic that natural language processing and machine learning provides organizations with the opportunity to build deeper, more human relationships with their customers. By focusing their AI implementations to reimagine, streamline and simplify customer interactions, organizations can boost customer spend and loyalty. To see the biggest bottom-line boost, firms need to make both artificial intelligence and customer experience a strategic priority.”
This research surveyed 10,000 consumers and over 500 executives at leading organizations across 10 global markets. All organizations had revenue above $1 billion in FY17. The global survey took place in May 2018 and was supplemented with three virtual focus group discussions with 8-10 consumers per focus group in USA, France, and Germany. The research also included interviews with several key industry stakeholders and academics.
With more than 190,000 people, Capgemini is present in over 40 countries and celebrates its 50th Anniversary year in 2017. A global leader in consulting, technology and outsourcing services, the Group reported 2016 global revenues of EUR 12.5 billion. Together with its clients, Capgemini creates and delivers business, technology and digital solutions that fit their needs, enabling them to achieve innovation and competitiveness. A deeply multicultural organization, Capgemini has developed its own way of working, the Collaborative Business ExperienceTM, and draws on Rightshore®, its worldwide delivery model.
Learn more about us at www.capgemini.com.
Rightshore® is a trademark belonging to Capgemini.


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Recreational Marijuana Sales Starting July 1 Still The Plan In Nevada
On July 1, Mesquite residents who so choose can casually jot down “weed” on their shopping lists as they head out the door.
That’s the start for Nevada’s “early start program” for recreational marijuana sales.
As the Silver State enacts the will of its voters — Nevadans approved recreational marijuana with 54 percent of the vote on Question 2 last November — it will initially be done in limited fashion allowing only existing medical marijuana establishments who are found to be in good standing and operational to sell recreational marijuana on July 1.
By early 2018, the Nevada Department of Taxation, the state’s recreational marijuana governing entity, will reopen the application process as regulations become more permanent.
“We’re kind of rolling out the known players who have a track record of following the rules and they’re in compliance, kind of opening in that limited way and then kind of expanding from there,” said Stephanie Klapstein, public information officer for the department of taxation.
That includes Deep Roots Medical, Mesquite’s medical marijuana dispensary, which has applied for a retail license with the department of taxation. Dispensary manager Scott Bowles told the Desert Valley Times that Deep Roots is prepared to begin selling recreational marijuana next month.
“I don’t foresee any hang-ups at this point,” Bowles said. “We’ve done everything we could to be ready for July 1st, and we’re anticipating July 1.”
Establishments applying for retail licenses were required to submit applications by the end of May. Klapstein said the department has 90 days to decide on an application upon receiving it, but added she doesn’t foresee approving licenses as a hurdle for the July 1 rollout.
“Essentially, anyone who meets the requirements that we’ve laid out in the regulations, we’ve defined ‘in good standing’ and ‘operational,’ if they meet those requirements they will be issued a license,” Klapstein said.
Continue reading this article at thespectrum.com
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When a group of former Nokia employees grouped up to make a relevant competitor for Android and Apple, we had high hopes for them. They picked up the abandoned Maemo OS and built Sailfish OS, but sadly, the venture hasn’t turned out well for them.
Earlier this year, we reported that the company is almost dead, but it appears they’re not giving up yet, as they launch a new phone (pictured above). Only 1000 units of this phone was made, and it is only available for interested developers and enthusiasts. The phone will be shipped to owners in July 2016, and sadly it comes with no form of warranties. Here’s the specs of the Jolla C phone:
- 5.0″ IPS, /293 PPI/ HD (720 x 1280)
- 16 GB storage /2 GB RAM /MicroSD slot up to 32 GB
- 1.3 GHz quad-core Qualcomm/ Snapdragon™ 212
- Pure Sailfish OS 2.0 compatible with Android™ apps
- 2500 mAh li-on User-replaceable battery.
- Price: $188


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The trade union UASA agrees with economist Mike Schussler's observation that manufacturing production is currently at 2006 levels.
The uneven playing field in respect of import/export is a huge challenge for manufacturing production in South Africa.
South Africans exporting goods are taxed up to 60%, while the same is not true in respect of for instance imports from China. UASA is a direct witness to the effects of this situation and we regularly have to deal with the resulting liquidation of companies, leading to job losses and many UASA members being put on short time when companies have no choice but to cut back on production.
UASA believes government has been too quick and too liberal in allowing Chinese imports flooding our country. Our local manufacturing sector simply cannot compete against the extent and pricing of imported goods.
Government needs to intervene and provide protection for our own.


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Oahu’s new bicycle-sharing program is getting ready to launch.
You should be able to start renting bikes on June 28.
Bicycle stations, or Biki stops, have started to pop up around town, and will be available for rent between Diamond Head and Chinatown.
“You can only ride it in our service area, and our prices are designed for short trips of one to two miles,” said Lori McCarney, Bikeshare Hawaii CEO.
But we’ve learned that Biki has already hit some road blocks. Not everyone’s loving the idea, or at least where the Biki stops are being placed.
One Biki stop is in front of Chase Hawaii Rentals, which also rents bicycles.
“They just installed a big kiosk here,” Brent Chase told KHON2.”Earlier this morning, we had a little bit of a standoff, because we really were objecting to having this thing installed right in front of our location.”
He’s worried it’ll take away customers from his business.
“Like every day, we have at least 50 customers a day renting our bicycles going to Diamond Head,” Chase said.
But the city calls it a win-win situation for those businesses.
“As it relates to bike sales and rentals, other cities have done studies — New York, Chicago — that have shown that bike share actually improves and helps those shops, because it brings people to their shops that otherwise wouldn’t have been coming there.”
“We’re like a fast food restaurant with one hamburger, and they’re like a full-service restaurant with a lot of things,” McCarney said.
“I totally disagree. I don’t see how them renting bike share across from me is going to be good for me,” said Larry Valle, Big Kahuna Motorcycle Tours and Rentals.
Others are worried about the potential impact to traffic and hazard for bicycle renters.
“My main concern is the way they’re setting it up,” said Waikiki resident Nolan Tallett. “First of all, the bikes are going to be out on the street and sticking out on the street, so as people pull out the bikes, they’ll be in the middle of the street.”
The city says it checked on the proposed sites and made sure they’re safe and won’t interfere with traffic.
“For the most part, most of the stations have gone in without anybody having any issues or any concerns,” McCarney said.
McCarney adds that changes will be made if needed.
“All the bike stations will be out by next Thursday. At that point, after we start operation, then we’re going to be able to assess the situation at each of these bike stations and see if we need to make adjustments,” she said.
Bicycle rentals start at $3.50 for a single half-hour ride. There are also price plans, like a $15/month pass for unlimited half-hour rides.


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Viber today announced the release of Viber 5.0 for Android and iOS, along with new versions of its desktop application for Windows, Windows 8 and OS X. Viber 5.0 delivers new features and enhancements, including the ability to make video calls from smartphones.
“We’re delighted to bring video calling to mobile,” said Talmon Marco, Viber CEO. “Now that you can make video calls from your phone as well as on your PC and Mac, you can always talk in the way that’s most convenient for you, wherever you happen to be.”
In addition to video calls, Viber 5.0 also includes an easier way to manage contacts by simply adding their Viber number or scanning a special QR code, along with a number of OS specific enhancements:
- iOS: Users can manage sticker packs more easily, turn sticker packs on or off, reorder sticker packs, as well as easily forward photo messages.
- Android: Users can enjoy a fresh new redesign, making it easier and more fun.
The new version can now be downloaded from Google Play Store and Apple App Store.
The company also announced enhancements to its desktop application for Windows, Windows 8 and OS X:
- Desktop v4.3: Includes a new and improved design, a fun backgrounds gallery and many improvements and bug fixes.
- Win 8 v3.2: Features a new and improved design, an updated snap mode with stickers, emoticons and notifications. Other highlights and bug fixes include an easier way to search contacts, the ability to see online contacts from the home screen and PNG support for photo messages.
Viber is an application that allow users to send free text messages, fun stickers, photos, videos and doodles, share locations anywhere in the world, make free HD-quality phone and video calls and communicate with Push-To-Talk. With Viber Out, users can make low-cost calls to any phone number around the world.
The Viber app is available for iPhone, Android phones and tablets, Windows Phone, BlackBerry, Blackberry 10, Windows, Windows 8, Mac, Linux, Symbian, Nokia S40 and Bada devices over 3G/4G or WiFi connections.
With over 400 million unique users and 608 million registered users in 193 countries, Viber is constantly innovating by introducing new platforms and adding fun new features. Viber is a Rakuten Group company.


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This post is sponsored by Media Prima Digital.
For those who grew up in a time when the internet had not made its mark on the world, sport meant having to physically be on an open field, a court or in a pool. However, in this day and age when individuals are so reliant on the internet, there is a different meaning to sports. Sports can now be played on electronic devices such as a PC or console with state-of-the-art accessories in the comfort of one’s own home. Thus, the term electronic sports, or more commonly known as e-sports.
E-sports has undoubtedly been thriving and has become one of the fastest growing industries in the world. In an annual report by Newzoo, the e-sports industry is predicted to hit US$950 million in revenue in 2018, which is a 38% increase from 2017. In fact, the industry is growing so rapidly it is projected to be a billion dollar industry by 2019.
The number of e-sports fans has also been increasing steadily from 143 million in 2017 to 165 million in 2018. By 2021, this number is estimated to reach 250 million worldwide. If the number of occasional viewers are added in, the numbers would represent growth from a total of 335 million in 2017 to 557 million in 2021.
This soon-to-be billion dollar industry has attracted many big brands to make an entrance into this market because of the wide reach of audiences they are able to tap into. What was once thought to be just a trend is now a force to be reckoned with.
To further reinforce this notion, Malaysia’s Ministry of Youth and Sports has recently been allocated RM10 million to further develop the local e-sports industry and Media Prima, as the largest integrated media company in Malaysia, has taken up the challenge to spearhead this initiative.
The inception of MyGameOn
One of the first steps Media Prima Digital took when entering this industry was to create a portal named MyGameOn (MGO) that focuses on gaming and e-sports while adding a local twist to it. This portal recently celebrated its one-year anniversary and has bridged gamers and built communities since its inception.
It has reached out to more than 200,000 monthly active users by providing the latest e-sports updates, live event coverage, reviews and sponsored content. MyGameOn has also organised e-sports tournaments and gaming events in line with the Youth & Sports Ministry’s goal to grow e-sports within Malaysia and has given out more than RM145,000 worth in prizes.
Collaborating with industry experts
As an organisation whose strength lies in the media, Media Prima Digital recognised the need to work with industry experts that could help in building a stronger presence in the gaming and e-sports industry. Thus, the decision to sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between Media Prima Digital and Kitamen Resources, a lifestyle brand for e-sports and a community hub with a group of young and vibrant individuals that aim to promote “healthy gaming” nationwide.
On top of having the right expertise and the passion for e-sports, Kitamen also organises e-sports tournaments and brings with them the best-in-class equipment to cater to the high-definition graphics in these games.
Last March, Media Prima Digital collaborated with Garena Malaysia at the League of Legends Championship Malaysia with the hope to make e-sports more accessible on multiple platforms for all Malaysians and to ensure that the talent in the gaming scene were able to showcase their passion in this promising industry.
In line with this goal, Media Prima Digital also took a huge step by signing a MoU with the Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation to be an exclusive partner in championing local game development. This symbiotic partnership aims to promote and build the ecosystem of gamers in Malaysia.
Level Up KL is also another premier industry event for game developers in Southeast Asia to come together and share the latest gaming updates in the region. This year marks Media Prima Digital’s third year as the partner for Level Up KL and we have seen an influx of talent in the region in the past three years.
On ground participation
In line with the goal to bring e-sports to the masses, Media Prima Digital has participated in various local e-sports events through MGO to create awareness and introduce Malaysians to the potential of the gaming industry. Together with Kitamen, they have joined forces in several events: Gegaria, Moh Skor, Asia Comic Con and MyDigitalMaker to enable individuals to experience e-sports first hand.
Through these on-ground events, individuals ranging from children to adults are introduced to games such as League of Legends (LOL), FIFA Online 3, and VR games. The stereotype that games are only targeted at kids is slowly diminishing, and they should be viewed as an activity that can be enjoyed together as a family.
E-sports, a gold mine for advertisers
E-sports has allowed advertisers to be more creative in their brand placement approach. Through partnerships, branded content, strategic media buys and sponsoring the live-streaming of the e-sports events themselves, there are always interesting approaches for every brand to be part of this explosive growth.
One example of our recent collaboration is when they had the opportunity to work with Acer for their Moh Skor eSports tournament during Asia Comic Con 2018, one of the largest comic fans events in Asia. Visitors got to experience playing FIFA Online on one of Acer’s most impressive gaming laptops, Acer Predator. Not just that, audiences were also able to spectate and support their favourite players by watching them live on Acer’s monitor and screen.
During the award-winning Gegaria festival, Media Prima Digital also worked closely with one of Malaysia’s leading e-wallet services, Boost, to reward Boost credits to winners of the e-sports tournaments. Instead of just putting up standard banners on the website, e-sports and the gaming industry have allowed brands to be more creative in their marketing approach. Branded content in e-sports is still relatively new, but through YouTube channels and Facebook pages, specific content can be created to ensure the advertiser’s brand placement is visible and appeals to the brand’s desired target audience.
For the first time in Malaysia, Media Prima Digital and Celcom Axiata will be organising the XPAX Kejohanan E-Sukan Kampus (KEK) 2019, Malaysia’s first e-sports championship that will showcase local talent from top higher learning institutes’ e-sports teams, who will compete for a cash prize pool of RM 180,000. This is an example of a synergy collaboration between a brand and our in-house gaming portal MyGameOn, together with our partner Kitamen, to accelerate the e-sports and gaming industry in Southeast Asia.
With the recent coverage and emphasis on e-sports, there is no doubt that e-sports will surpass traditional sports events in terms of viewership and revenue as the community has been growing rapidly, not just in Malaysia, but around the world. The advancement of technology has also given developers a whole new challenge to continuously work on new content and games that will keep players engaged.


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Food lovers out there who cannot (or do not want to) cook can still make it big in the food industry. Chefs arent the only career you can build around food. Here are some other ventures people can explore.
The term game birds is defined as "a bird that is hunted in the wild for sport and/or food". In San Diego, aside from being a sport, these game birds are then turned into local delicacies served in local restaurants.
City living has been the way of life for many. Small space can be very restrictive especially to those who wanted to own a garden. And just like how the Swedish Furniture brand, Ikea, solved the problem of small space living with their space saving DIY furnitures, they now offer a portable garden where people can grow real food.
California lawsuit recently sued Starbucks after the coffee giant served lattes 25% less than its standard described.
Kosher food or prepared food allowed by Jewish law is now part of America’s culture especially in New York City. Kosher restaurants are popular in NYC as Timeout observes that these kosher eateries abide by orthodox Jewish policies, ensuring that their standards are never compromised, even in the busy kitchens.
According to the National University of Singapore's (NUS), its team of food scientists is partnering with a local food manufacturer called Y G C Group (S) Pte Ltd to launch its new healthy and tasty seaweed drink.
The release of Mars Inc.'s Twix Spread had created a stir over the weekend. The beloved chocolate can now be enjoyed as a spread and it has already threatened to take the spotlight from Ferrero's Nutella.
Maple syrup production is now largely developed in Vermont. Back in the day, maple syrup was just a side venture helping citizens to pay taxes. Today, with the increased demand for alternative sweeteners, large companies and corporations are investing in the Vermonts and maple syrup production.
General Mills, maker of Cheerios, will start labelling their GMO-containing products.
Everybody has their habits with regards to coffee. Yet the same goes for hygiene, so in the event that it's not alright to pick your nose, it shouldn't be alright to choose terrible espresso.
Beers are somewhat stress reliever, individuals go on partying just to taste different varieties of alcoholic drinks however you should be alert since are numbers of fake beer bars.
Rum can be an untimely idea for some drinkers like a little boost to transform a glass of juice into a pleasant mai tai and offer you some assistance with justifying sitting in a thatched bar listening to Jimmy Buffett. However, rum can be as fulfilling all alone like a glass of whiskey. You simply need to pick wisely.
Global warming has been an advancing debate for quite a while. It's the overall ascent of worldwide temperatures most importantly around the globe we live in. It's not all enjoyment in the sun during the middle of January the same number of individuals might think. One more serious note this is creating numerous not all that fun occasions on the planet such as droughts and plants and creatures to be out of rhythm with the seasons. All individuals around the world should do preventive measures to control its effect including restaurant’s owners.
Taco Bell keeps pulling a boundary when it comes to belt-busting, quick food mashups producing this one of a kind cheesy and slimy new burrito.
Pizza Express has today announced plans to start selling a gluten-free version of the popular carb bombs, Dough Balls, making fans with celiac disease so much happy.
A recent Mintel study shows that a quarter of American no longer ordering soft drinks in restaurants compared to a year ago.
A new McDonald's concept outlet has to dining area. Instead, it offers a 'walk up" window to serve customers on foot. Food from this particular McDonald's store are all ordered to go.
Raintree Nursery has launched pineberries (or pineapple flavored strawberries) and bubblegum flavored strawberries in Australia, which are absolutely "fabulous".
A new app wants you to find your perfect match solely based on burrito preferences.
Feeling responsible for the planet, Pellegrini decided to make an app that could prevent leftover foods in eateries from making a trip to the landfill.
Cosmic mythologist and medical astrologist Laura Magdalene Eisenhower, posited that our diet as humans play an important role in attracting alien life into Earth.


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Halloween is Friday, and among all those candy-collecting ghosts, goblins and ghouls, there will be much scarier trick-or-treaters on the prowl for a certain type of goodie that won't fit in a pillowcase — your car. According to the Des Plaines, Ill.-based National Insurance Crime Bureau, Halloween is the top holiday in the U.S. for vehicle theft, with 2,328 incidents reported in NICB's most-recent Holiday Theft Report. That's over a quarter more car thefts than the average for all other holidays measured.
Related: Vehicle Thieves Don't Take a Holiday
Vehicle-recovery device manufacturer LoJack offers the following tips to help keep you from becoming the victim of car theft this Halloween:
- Even if you're just traveling around the neighborhood, never leave valuables in the car.
- If you leave your car, never leave your keys inside, or the car running.
- Park in well-lit, populated areas, as thieves are inclined to target cars in dark, unattended areas.
- Protect your car with an alarm and recovery system.


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The 23,000 square-foot facility will be interactive and feature exhibits of marine animals, birds and reptiles from around the world. The project is expected to create 75 jobs.
Two sharks jumped on Prank-O’s pitch, but only one landed a deal. (Hint: The chosen shark also owns the Dallas Mavericks.)
The partnership, which involves the renaming of the program to Metro Target Retail Accelerator, aims to enhance the accelerator program’s reach.
Each company is claiming rights to their own sweater: Ragstock will sell the seasonal red sweater, while First Avenue will sell a black version.
Uptown business owners blame torn up sidewalks and reduced parking for lost revenues.
Ten event veterans share tips for planning a business meeting, conference, or celebration.
The 12,000-square-foot “Skate the Star” rink will be built around the entrance’s star sculpture. Rink use will be free, while a skate rental fee will benefit the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Twin Cities.
Holiday sales are expected to surpass $1.1 trillion, Deloitte says. But Minneapolis-St.Paul area shoppers are more frugal than most and likely to spend as much on experiences as gifts this year.
The financing came entirely from Bastion Capital and will go toward growing the Minneapolis-based company’s retail payments business.
North Local Market opens November 15 featuring 35 makers. Now under new management, City Center hopes to highlight the downtown opportunity for small retailers.
With the sale by Newell Brands, Jostens, known for its class rings, yearbooks and championship sports rings, gets its third new owner in three years.
The retail giant will equip employees with devices enabling customers to check out with any employee anywhere in the store. Black Friday hours and deals were also announced.
Lured by strong fundamentals, Brookfield Property Partners now owns malls in Rochester, St. Cloud, and Mankato.
More than 13,000 engineers are expected to attend the three-day professional event at the Minneapolis Convention Center, which kicks off Thursday.
About a quarter of the products being sold on the Amazon Handmade digital pop-up shop come from Minnesota businesses.
The Minneapolis-based grocer adds a new marketplace and increased on-demand capabilities through the partnership, for service in all of its 27 Twin Cities-area locations.
The company announced layoffs of 28 employees today as Minneapolis-based Softline Brand Partners takes over manufacturing operations for the leather goods maker.
As the Minnesota retailer opens its first Vermont location, it is celebrating its 50-state milestone with an online series highlighting Target’s history and current activities across the country.
Located in the back of MartinPatrick 3, Marty's is the barbershop of choice among executives.
Building a loyal customer base will be key.


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Oh, plus sumo wrestling. But since E. Honda is already a Street Fighter character, that's not as unusual as hadokening from a moving horse.
To promote the upcoming Japan Cup, the Japan Racing Association has teamed up with Capcom for a horse racing game with SF characters and real sumo wrestlers.
It's a rhythm game where you have to tap the up and down arrows on your keyboard. You can play it right here.


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Hacked! Business bank accounts vulnerable to cybercriminals
It’s a chilling moment when a small-business owner discovers hackers have stolen thousands of dollars from the company checking account.
Cybercriminals took an average $32,000 from small-business accounts, according to a December survey of owners by the advocacy group National Small Business Association. And businesses don’t have the same legal protection from bank account fraud consumers have.
The Electronic Funds Transfer Act, passed in 1978, states that it’s intended to protect individual consumers from bank account theft, but makes no mention of businesses.
Whether a business is protected depends on the agreement it signs with a bank, says Doug Johnson, a senior vice president with the American Bankers Association, an industry group. If the business hasn’t complied with any security measures required by the agreement, it could be liable for the stolen money, he says.
Any business is vulnerable, but small companies are less likely to have security departments and procedures to guard against online theft than big corporations do. They also don’t have big revenue streams that are better able to absorb losses from a theft. And even if they get the money back, they still have to spend time and money dealing with the hassles of closing accounts and opening new ones.
Sandy Marsico’s company accounts were attacked twice. Her bank contacted her in December 2014, saying a transfer of more than $50,000 to Mexico had been requested from her checking account. The thieves had obtained the account information; Marsico, owner of Sandstorm Design, a Chicago-based marketing company, still doesn’t know how. The bank did an investigation but didn’t share its findings with her.
Marsico didn’t approve the transfer, the account was closed and a new one opened. But the following November, someone began withdrawing money from the new account in increments ranging from $1,000 to $4,000, a total of $20,000 in the course of a month. Marsico didn’t discover it until she got her monthly statement.
“My stomach dropped when I wasn’t able to identify these as our charges,” Marsico says.
The bank, which again did an investigation but didn’t tell Marsico the results, again reimbursed Sandstorm. Marsico has since moved some of her accounts to another bank.
How it happens
Cybercriminals are increasingly using realistic-looking emails to trick companies into transferring money from their accounts with what’s known as wire transfers, says Avivah Litan, a security analyst with the research company Gartner.
Often, an employee receives an email purportedly from a company executive asking them to transfer the money from the company’s account into a specific external account. If workers don’t check to be sure the request is legitimate, they might go ahead and authorize a withdrawal.
The first attack on Marsico’s account was a wire transfer attempt but didn’t use an email to her company.
Criminals can also operate by planting malicious software known as malware on a company computer, often via an email that has a link or attachment. If the computer is used to log into a bank account, the malware can record the login and password and send it back to the criminals, who then withdraw funds.
Using a computer or smartphone connected to public Wi-Fi also can be risky, says Kevin Watson, CEO of Netsurion, a Houston company that provides cybersecurity for small businesses. Some Wi-Fi hotspots may have weak security, and savvy hackers know how to steal information that someone keys into their devices.
And some thieves do it the old-fashioned way, simply by copying account numbers and routing information from checks and then printing phony checks and depositing them. One thief made two withdrawals from the checking account at Mark Waring Ventures two months ago, one for $800 and another for $1,000.
“Someone can just look at a check and they’re a good part of the way to hacking into your account,” says Dave Waring, managing partner of the New York-based company that provides financial and other services to small businesses.
What can you do?
Business accounts are safer at banks that use what’s known as two-factor authentication, requiring unfamiliar account users or devices to supply additional information like one-time access codes, says Timothy Ryan, a managing director with the security company Kroll in New York. Sophisticated banks also have software that flags emails or attempted logins from unfamiliar Internet service providers, he says.
Additional steps owners can take:
•Everyone in the company must be hypervigilant about emails, being wary about clicking on links and attachments and checking the addresses that emails came from. Criminals may create email addresses that look familiar but that might have an extra letter like an “I’’ or “i’’ not apparent at first glance.
•In the case of wire transfers, put procedures in place so several managers must sign off before a transfer can made.
•Keep a close eye on accounts. If you can’t check your balance daily, get text alerts whenever there’s a withdrawal.
•Don’t log into your bank from an airport, hotel lobby, coffee shop or other public space that offers free Wi-Fi. Resist the temptation to log in until you’re home or in your office.


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Title: Caffeine Dependence
Key words: withdrawal symptoms, headaches, fatigue, physical dependence, children
Date: Aug 2000
Category: 4. Food Data
Author: DJE Candlish
A can of soda may do more than quench your thirst and satisfy your sweet tooth. A new study suggests that the caffeine in soft drinks can produce physical dependence and lead to headaches and fatigue - withdrawal symptoms associated with stopping caffeine use. In the study, researchers at Johns Hopkins University challenged the claims by the soft drink industry that adding caffeine to soft drinks is done purely for taste. They found that the majority of people who claim to be soft drink connoisseurs couldn't tell whether a soda contains caffeine or not. "Despite the claims to the contrary, the flavour of caffeine is relatively unimportant to the great majority of soft drink consumers," says Dr. Roland Griffiths, lead author of the study, and professor in the departments of Psychiatry and Neuroscience at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore, Maryland. According to researchers, Americans consume a huge quantity of soft drinks, which include any carbonated, flavoured beverage, and 70% of them contain caffeine. On average, each American consumes nearly 600 cans per year.
"People should recognize that caffeine is a mood altering-drug," says Griffiths. "A more likely explanation for the high rates of soft drink consumption is the central nervous system effect of mood-altering drugs that produces physical dependence that leads to and perpetuates the daily use." Researchers studied 25 adults who are avid cola drinkers. They found that only two out of the 25 could detect caffeine in cola at concentration of 0.1 milligram per milliliter, the concentration in Coca-Cola Classic or Pepsi. The rest of the group couldn't taste the difference between caffeine-containing and caffeine-free cola until caffeine levels were raised to much higher levels, beyond those approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Given the fact that caffeine consumption may often go undetected, Griffiths says, "People should come to know how caffeine affects them when they take it, and if they are chronic users, how caffeine affects them if they stop taking it, that is withdrawal." Griffiths says that he is not opposed to caffeine consumption. "It can be a useful drug and adults can make a decision about it," says Griffiths. "But some thought should be given to the aggressive marketing to children who are vulnerable and are less likely to make an informed decision."
Dr. Gail Berstein conducted a study in 1998 on "Caffeine Withdrawal In Normal School-Age Children," which was published in the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. Bernstein says that her study showed that children were at risk for withdrawal symptoms when switched from high daily amounts of caffeine to caffeine-free drinks. "We found that 24 hours after children discontinue their caffeine use, there is a change, specifically a deterioration in their performance on a computerized test of attention," says Berstein, associate professor and director in the Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at the University of Minnesota Medical Center in Minneapolis. "It is consistent with the possibility of them being in caffeine withdrawal."
Jeff Nedelman, a spokesman for the National Soft Drink Association in Washington, DC, says that there is no credible scientific evidence to back caffeine's effect on children. He says that caffeine plays an important role in the flavour of soft drinks and that it is listed in these products' ingredients. "Caffeine is on the ingredient statement," says Nedelman. "All of the major companies make their ingredients available either on their web sites or consumer hotlines." But researchers say they would like to see more prominent caffeine labeling on soft drinks. "Given that sodas are aggressively marketed to kids, manufacturers should openly say why the caffeine is there," says Griffiths. "We should tell what the caffeine dose is. It's a case of knowing what you're getting and why."
References: Archives of Family Medicine, August 14, 2000
Caffeine Withdrawal In Normal School-Age Children, Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. 1998


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The team that initially brought the first successful port of Android for the first generation iPhone has now done the same for the iPhone 3G.
David Wang posts on PC World that although their latest port to the 3G has a few rough edges, it resembles an important milestone for the Android on iPhone community as progress is continually improving. The port allows users to use any application on Android OS that doesn't require audio or send/receive SMS texts.
Though there are still some loose ends, the team has made many different improvements from their first release. The latest build includes a plethora of bug fixes, under-the-hood improvements, a better Wi-Fi driver, a new boot loader, and improved power and backlight management. Audio support is in the works and should arrive in the few days.
Wang states that users wanting to try it for themselves will have the chance within the next few days as they package the binaries and write up the instructions.