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Highly popular RPG The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim is already up and running – but a release is far from certain.
That’s because the game was ported as part of the development of Fallout 4 in an effort to get Bethesda Game Studios up to speed with working on Microsoft’s newest console.
"The first thing we did was port Skyrim to Xbox One," the studio’s Todd Howard told Game Informer, before quickly adding: "Don’t get your hopes up yet." Note the ‘yet’, although apparently Howard suggested that there’s certainly no intentions to remaster the game for current machines at the moment.
The report added that work on Fallout 4 started before Skyrim was complete after both Sony and Microsoft gave them advance word of the new hardware they had in development, although Bethesda decided against rushing development and making he game a launch title.


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With the recent shift to virtual school and telecommuting to work, many people feel that it’s benefiting the environment because we are reducing global carbon emissions used by vehicles; but a new study sheds light on how we aren’t off the hook. We could, however, help continue to reduce the impact of all of the internet data that is being stored and transferred by one simple move next time we log into a virtual meeting.
A study from Purdue University highlights that the world’s extra demand for internet since the pandemic hit the world in 2020 has not come without its costs to the environment. It’s the internet data being stored and transferred around the world that is still a cause for environmental concern. Easy to dismiss because it’s invisible and we don’t see evidence of it as we do with smoke or emissions from cars or accumulating trash, it has proven to be just as harmful to the earth.
Internet usage dramatically increased by at least 20% in most countries since March 2020, and the amount of electricity needed to keep up with a world constantly data streaming is beginning to take its toll.
Using the video camera for only 1 hour on a conference call or streaming causes an emission of its own. Video conferencing produces between 150-1,000 grams of carbon dioxide—still lower than a single gallon of gas used by a car which clocks in at 8,887 grams. The video conferencing also needs 2-12 liters of water and all of the internet data and transference needed to log you into that Zoom meeting actually requires land—around the same size as a small tablet.
If the world continues to require this level of data, the heavier demand for internet will emit so much carbon that it need a 71,600 square mile forest to handle the extra carbon. The extra water that is needed to continue to keep up with us will fill 300,000 Olympic swimming pools and leave a footprint on land equal to the size of the city of Los Angeles, California.
It’s shocking to discover that the use of video streaming actually requires physical energies and takes up physical space to operate, but we can reduce the load on the environment simply by turning off our cameras during a Zoom meeting when it’s not absolutely necessary. This simple habit can reduce the carbon footprints caused by the internet/video calling by 96%.
If this got you thinking about how much internet your work or family is going through during recreational time, another simple switch can reduce the carbon emissions by 86%: streaming in standard definition instead of HD.
Obringer, R., Rachunok, B., Maia-Silva, D., Arbabzadeh, M., Nateghi, R., & Madani, K. (2021, January 08). The overlooked environmental footprint of increasing internet use.

domain: news


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O'Neill's Rising sales on back of 1916 jersey
GAA jersey maker O'Neill's clocked sales of over €2m from "by far the biggest selling jersey" of the company's 100-year history - a special commemorative green jersey made to celebrate the 1916 centenary.
The special edition jersey easily outsold jerseys for the Dubs, Cork, Kerry, Mayo and Tyrone in the past.
The finance director and co-owner of O'Neill's, Paul Towell, credited sales of the green jersey with the harp on the front and 1916 proclamation of the back as the main factor behind the company's pre-tax profits tripling to €1.85m in 2016.
The special jersey, released ahead of the 1916 centenary celebrations, was the brainchild of Mr Towell and his brother, Andrew.
In an interview, Paul Towell said: "We just got lucky with it. We were pleasantly surprised by how well it did."
Commenting on new accounts for 2016 filed with the Companies Office, Mr Towell said yesterday that he thought initially if the company sold 5,000 of the jerseys, it would be doing well.
"We had no idea how it was going to go but we sold 1,000 on the first night they were put on sale online. That is unheard of," he said.
"It became by far the biggest jersey selling jersey we have sold in our 100 years and we nearly had to wait for 100 years for that to happen."
The company is this year celebrating a century in business and Mr Towell said that revenues from the jersey topped €2m.
The bumper sales of the jersey was also the main factor behind the gross profit at O'Neill's firm, Balbriggan Textiles Ltd, increasing by 14pc in 2016, from €9.7m to €11m. He said: "It was a great success and 100pc the reason why our profits increased during the year."


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When you have to open an arena that seats a crowd of 18,000 skeptical New Yorkers, there’s really only one person you can call to give you advice — dear old Mickey Mouse. The House of Mouse entertains visitors with extreme robotic precision and that’s what the Brooklyn Nets are looking to emulate. According to The New York Post, the owners of the Barclays Center, the new home of the Brooklyn Nets, are working closely with the Walt Disney employee training division to make sure their workers are well versed in perfect customer service. The Nets are even thinking about using 4-D sensory technology that could even make Walt’s frozen face change into a grin.
About that 4-D technology, The Post says:
The sensory experiences could be basketball-related or for something as simple as buying ice cream, officials said.
For any skeptics of the arena’s plans, this must be a giant red flag. Although it seems that Disney is just influencing employee training, just take a look at pictures of what they can do to a little Floridian town.
This part of The Post piece is probably the most chilling:
And while you won’t see an usher dressed as Goofy leading you to a seat, Disney officials want to create staff attire that patrons will be drawn to.
“You don’t wear a uniform — you wear a costume,” said Tom D. Thomson, a content specialist with Disney Institute.
Sounds demeaning! Now go order us some ice cream, all this smell-o-vision has got us worked up.


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After nearly a decade of development, Volocopter is ready for its fleet of air taxis to finally take flight. And the brand is so confident that day is near that it’s already selling tickets for those early rides in the sky.
On Wednesday, the German aviation startup announced that it is now taking reservations for its very first flights. Each “VoloFirst” ticket comes with a 15-minute flight aboard one of the company’s VoloCity aircrafts, a video of the trip and an official personalized certificate from the startup.
While Volocopter, which has been on our radar since 2016, is still waiting on certification from authorities, it has decided to start selling tickets for public flights because of successful tests in Germany, Finland and Singapore, according to a press release. Because it is still waiting on full approval there are no set dates for the flights, though the company expects to commercially launch in the next “two to three years.”
Founded in the early part of the last decade, Volocopter is one of a handful of aviation companies working to make the flying car a reality. During that time, the company has developed five aircrafts, the most recent of which which, the VoloCity, will be the basis for its air taxi fleet. That 18-rotor eVOTL has room for two passengers, has a range of over 21 miles and can reach a top speed of 62 mph.
“Based on our public test flights and regulatory achievement record, we have paved the way to make electric flight in cities common in just a few years,” CEO Florian Reuter said in a statement. “With the start of reservations, we now invite our supporters and innovators around the world to join us and be amongst the first to experience this new and exciting form of mobility.”
Aviation enthusiasts have until December 31 to reserve a spot on one of Volocopter’s “VoloFirst” flights. Tickets cost €300 (about $355), meaning you’ll pay around $24 for every minute in the air, and can be reserved through this website with a 10 percent deposit. The company announced that only 1000 seats would be made available, of which only 641 remain as of press time.


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'Lanky thief intent on bulking up his physique' is hunted by police after stealing £50 tub of muscle building formula
- Essex Police released CCTV footage of man they want to speak to
- The bodybuilding powder was stolen from a Boots store in Westcliff
Police want to speak to this man about the theft
A 'lanky'thief intent on bulking up his physique' for free by stealing muscle building powder is being hunted by police.
Essex Police said the man took the £50 tub of formula from a Boots store in Westcliff, Essex.
CCTV footage released today shows a man strolling through the store with the tub crudely hidden in a plastic bag.
The powder was dropped in the empty EE bag before the man left the store without paying.
A force spokeswoman said: 'This thief appears to have been intent on bulking up his physique and was prepared to resort to stealing a tub of muscle powder to do so.'
The theft took place at about 11am on Tuesday, August 6.
In the footage the man is seen wearing dark shorts, a dark jumper with a white t-shirt underneath.
He has short hair and appears to have a receding hairline.
Anyone with information should contact PC William Chung at Southend police station on 101.
The powder was stolen from the Boots store in Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex (pictured)
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UPDATE: Capcom has brought the servers live for Street Fighter V, and explained issues may still come up intermittently. Director Yoshinori Ono has also expressed his apology for the issues on Twitter.
My sincerest apologies again about SFV server situation.
I think that we need to improve on this problem the most.Could you check @SFVServer
— Yoshinori Ono (@Yoshi_OnoChin) February 16, 2016
Our servers are up, but some may experience intermittent disconnects. We apologize for the inconvenience.
— SFV Server (@SFVServer) February 16, 2016
Street Fighter V has launched on PlayStation 4 and PC. Unfortunately, the launch was hit with server issues, affecting online play.
On the official Street Fighter V Server Twitter account, they explain that they have identified the cause of the server issues, and will be bringing them back up shortly. Still, this mars an otherwise successful launch.
Capcom has not been lax in testing their servers, with an extensive beta period that started since October last year. They just did final maintenance as well around sixteen hours ago.
As explained in reviews, online is a big part of Street Fighter V. At launch, it has less modes compared to other fighting games at release. Most conspicuous is a lack of a full cinematic story mode, with a smaller arcade style story mode available for now.
On the other hand, the online portion has been extensively prepared, with features such as match customization, matchmaking, global rankings, and others. For now, fans who have the game can at least ensure they register their preferred names for online play before anyone else.
Read more Gameranx coverage for Street Fighter V. Learn more about the character mode story outfits and the paywall for some costumes. It will also be coming to SteamOS, making it the first Street Fighter available on open source. Capcom is hoping for huge sales for the latest in this venerable series. With this in mind, they plan to support it for five years, and they are making changes to appeal to a broader audience.


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SAN FRANCISCO (CBS.MW) -- Shares of both Macromedia and AtHome slipped Tuesday even though the two companies launched an effort to get jazzier online advertising to Web surfers.
Also, the companies will allow AtHome subscribers to easily access Shockwave.com, Macromedia's new Web entertainment center announced Monday. See related story.
The announcement comes as Macromedia MACR, +15.70% is set to open its annual users' conference. The chief executives of both companies addressed the conference in San Francisco on Tuesday.
Shares of Macromedia, which have gained more than two-thirds in value since the beginning of the year, but fell 3 15/16 to 42.
AtHome stock fell 2 5/8 to 112 13/16 on trading of 5.5 million shares, compared to average daily volume of 3.5 million shares.
Advertising is a key push for AtHome, which supplies "broadband" technology that allows super-fast online access.
In the most-recent quarter, AtHome ATHM, -2.55% signed up 33 advertisers, including Federated Department Stores' FD, -11.11% Macy's, privately-held Visa International and Ford F, +1.98%. The media division of AtHome currently accounts for about 15 percent of total revenue.
The second half of the year promises to be an eventful one for Redwood City, Calif.-based AtHome. The company expected to turn in the fourth quarter, reversing a $7.6 million loss, excluding charges, posted in the same quarter last year.
The number of AtHome subscribers by the end of the year is expected to triple to 1 million from the level at the beginning of 1999.


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Nov 15, 2011 - Canadian solar photovoltaic (PV) products provider Day4 Energy Inc (TSE:DFE) on Monday reported a net loss of CAD 9.3 million (USD 9.1m/EUR 6.7m) for the third quarter of 2011, wider than the CAD-2.3-million loss recorded a year earlier.
In the second quarter of 2011 the company made a net loss of CAD 5.6 million.
Third-quarter revenues plunged 65% year-on-year to CAD 14.5 million, of which CAD 2.4 million was contributed by Day4 Ecotec GmbH, the equipment manufacturing business that the company bought in November last year.
Day4 Energy said the fall in sales was due to the downturn in the wider solar sector and its transition to a new business model based on technology licensing, as part of which it stopped producing its PV modules.
Gross margin swung to negative 20.4% from positive 4.2% in the corresponding quarter last year, with the company blaming the result mainly on the costs of exiting its long-term manufacturing contract and associated fees as well as additional inventory writedowns. It said that excluding those items, it would have booked a third-quarter gross loss of CAD 978,000.


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BENTONVILLE, Ark. — Wal-Mart Stores said last week increased productivity and improved inventory management resulted in a better customer experience and contributed to improved financial results for the fiscal third quarter.
Mike Duke, president and chief executive officer, said Wal-Mart is optimistic going into the holidays.
“While the economy remains challenging for our customers and therefore to Wal-Mart sales, I continue to be encouraged by both our traffic and market-share gains across the operating segments,” he said in a conference call with analysts last week.
“The stores are running better than at any time in our history, and customer satisfactions are at record highs.”
Net income for the 13-week quarter, which ended Oct. 31, rose 1% to $3.2 billion. Sales increased 1.1% to $98.7 billion, and comparable-store sales for U.S. operations, excluding fuel, fell 0.4%.
For the 39-week period, net income was up 1% to $9.7 billion on a sales decline of 0.3% to $292.1 billion. Comps in the U.S., excluding fuel, rose 0.6%.
The company said it pro-jects earnings per share of $1.08 to $1.12 for the fourth quarter and $3.57 to $3.61 for the fiscal year.
Eduardo Castro-Wright, vice chairman responsible for Wal-Mart stores in the U.S., said third-quarter sales for his segment rose 1.2% to $61.8 billion, with comparable-store sales dropping 0.5%, due primarily to price deflation.
However, customer counts continued to increase, he noted, “because our customer experience has gotten even better, and customers trust the Wal-Mart brand for price leadership.”
Castro-Wright said grocery comps rose in the low single digits, and despite deflation in fresh categories, “overall unit sales were up,” with grocery prices actually declining for the first time since last year.
Inventory management helped drive the stores' financial performance, he said, with inventories down 6.2% during the quarter. “Having the right level of inventory in the stores and throughout our logistics system is a key factor in our strong operating expense management, and it is also critical to providing a clear merchandise presentation and improving the customer experience,” Castro-Wright said.
The company projects fourth-quarter comps for Wal-Mart's U.S. stores to be plus or minus 1%, Castro-Wright said. He also said deflation is likely to abate by the end of next year's first quarter.
Brian Cornell, president and CEO of Sam's Club, said sales, excluding fuel, declined 0.7% to $11.6 billion due to lower fuel sales related to a 28% drop in fuel prices per gallon and to deflation in produce, meat and dairy; comps, excluding fuel, declined 1.9%, he added.
|Inc./Share||84 cents||80 cents|
|*Comparable-store sales, excluding fuel, in the U.S. only|


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Thursday 9 March
Peugeot’s takeover of Vauxhall represents a unique opportunity for British manufacturing.
PSA Peugeot Citroën’s £2.2bn takeover of General Motors’ flagging European operations under the brands Vauxhall and Opel has generated the now familiar speculation of what it will mean in the context of Brexit. The first question should really be, what does it mean for UK manufacturing?
Britain is home to two Vauxhall plants at Ellesmore Port and Luton, employing more than 3000 people. The initial signs are not encouraging. Peugeot made a swoop for Vauxhall not long after undergoing an extremely painful efficiency programme which saw the French government rescue it with the acquisition of a 14 percent stake.
The emerging business is leaner and meaner. Upon confirmation of the takeover earlier this week, PSA’s chief executive Carlos Tavares said that, “the only thing that really protects them [staff] is their ability to be at the right level of performance.”
Jobs are secure for now, but without the types of changes that helped keep Peugeot itself afloat, they are far from guaranteed, even if the French manufacturer finds a way of using up Vauxhall’s chronically low spare capacity – usually around 65% rather than the recommended 80% – jobs are likely to be shed.
German plants look the most vulnerable. Thanks to the country’s powerful unions, redundancies are rare. From a British perspective, one thing is for sure, any negative consequences will not be down to Brexit. Mr Tavares said so himself: “a hard Brexit from UK plants will be a nice opportunity in terms of business. This is something that the UK government completely understands.”
A telling remark. Clearly, the Peugeot executives have taken heed of both of Theresa May’s key gestures towards the car industry: her January speech more or less confirming a clean departure from the EU single market, and her assurance to Nissan, owner of the UK’s most productive car plant, of continued preferential access to the single market.
The obvious conclusion to make is that in the unlikely event the Prime Minister fails to secure an EU trade deal that keeps duties on imported vehicles at zero instead of the EU’s external rate of around 9%, the government will subsidise UK exporters’ added costs.
The supplier base
But the Brexit car question, as Remain campaigners will all too gladly point out, is not limited to duties on vehicles, but also on parts. 40% of the parts used to manufacture Britain’s cars are imported from the EU. What Remainers will not tell you is that duties vary between only 3 and 4.5%. But Mr Travares is not distracted by that part of the discussion, quite the opposite:
“The supplier base [will] need to be developed…It is important that we source parts from the UK, so that the cost structure will be more in pounds.”
The big issue for manufacturers operating outside and selling into a currency bloc, namely the Eurozone, is holding onto margins in the face of undulating exchange rates. British manufacturers have of course, always been in this position.
No doubt Tavares would like to have seen an allocation made in this week’s budget to boosting the supplier base as recently suggested in a letter to the Government by Nissan, £120 million to be precise. Nissan plans to almost double the amount it spends on parts from the UK, its current outlay stands at £2.5 billion.
The UK’s supplier base has seen better days, both a reflection of its former dominance and subsequent decline. The case of the British car industry demonstrates that the great future awaiting the British economy is not only about going global in the sense of signing fancy trade deals in marble halls, but exploring forgotten potential at home, where human capital and infrastructure are world class and easily accessible.
The M4 corridor was once the envy of the world. The EU preferred the idea of spreading supply chains across continents, but Britain proved that this could be done in a single country. The appetite is there, the major manufacturers want to set up in the UK – Nissan’s Sunderland plant is the most productive in Europe, the fifth most efficient in the world – All the government needs to do is to help provide the skills and leverage a bit of investment and a much a bigger car industry will emerge from behind the shadow of EU Membership.


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Dell’s Net Income, Revenue Drop for Second Quarter
By Agam Shah
PCWorldAug 27, 2009 5:24 pm PDT
Dell on Thursday reported a drop in net income and revenue during the second fiscal quarter of 2010 compared to the same period last year, but said that it anticipates that the global economy will improve and IT spending will be strong in the second half of this year.
The PC maker reported net income of US$472 million for the quarter ended July 31, a 23 percent drop from last fiscal year’s second quarter. Earnings per share were $0.24, which beat estimates of $0.23 based on projections of analysts polled by Thomson Reuters.
Net income and revenue improved from the immediate prior quarter, Dell said. Net income grew by 63 percent from the first quarter of 2010, while revenue grew by 4 percent.
Dell reported revenue of $10.6 billion, a year-over-year drop of 22 percent and short of analyst expectations of $12.6 billion.
The company’s revenue dove year-over-year across all segments, including the mobility market, which includes laptops, and in the desktop PC category. Mobility revenue was $3.9 billion, a 21 percent yearly drop, and recorded no sequential quarterly gains. Desktop PC revenue was $3.3 billion, a 33 percent yearly drop, but 5 percent growth sequentially.
CEO Michael Dell expressed optimism about the upcoming quarters. If current trends in demand continue, the company expects revenue will be better in the second half of the fiscal year than it was in the first, he said in a statement.
Desktop unit shipments were down 23 percent year-over-year, while laptop shipments were flat due to the weak environment and a change in Dell’s product mix.
The company’s profit margins on consumer products were affected by pricing pressure and the high cost of components.
Dell is focusing on profits, not market share, Michael Dell said during a conference call. “If we wanted [market share], we’d go and sell a whole bunch of netbooks,” he said. Netbooks carry lower profit margins for vendors.
Instead Dell is relying on enterprise sales to increase its profit margins, the CEO said. Wary of the economy, companies have held back on purchases, but Dell saw demand for enterprise products stabilize during the quarter, he said. Product orders improved during July and August and could continue to rise into the upcoming months, he said.
Dell saw big revenue gains from its EqualLogic storage products in particular, the company said. EqualLogic revenue was up 42 percent year-over-year, though overall storage revenue was down by 19 percent.
“The EqualLogic platform is big for us,” Dell said. During the quarter, the company launched the EqualLogic PS4000 iSCSI line of storage area networking (SAN) arrays for small businesses.
Dell already has a relationship with storage vendor EMC, but the emergence of EqualLogic won’t hurt that relationship, Michael Dell insisted. EMC serves a different customer base looking to implement storage based on the Fibre Channel platform, he said.
Enterprise Growth Seen
The strong demand for enterprise products will continue into the next calendar year as IT administrators look to upgrade hardware, Dell said. The upgrades will be driven by new processors like Intel’s Nehalem chips and the continued growth of server and client virtualization, he said. Upgrades in client hardware could be triggered by software like Windows 7, Microsoft’s next OS due for release in October.
“We see a lot of old machines out there that are going to be replaced,” Dell said. He admitted that assuming Windows 7 will be a big success could be risky, but early feedback is positive, he said. Some customers may also upgrade hardware for Office 2010, due in the first half of next year.
About 44 percent of Dell’s revenue during the quarter was from outside the U.S., with the BRIC countries (Brazil, Russia, India and China) making up 10 percent. Revenue in those countries declined 17 percent from a year ago but was up 16 percent sequentially. Dell’s revenue in the U.S. and the Asia-Pacific grew 11 percent sequentially, but revenue in Japan dropped 24 percent.
In July, the company said that demand for products was stabilizing. Dell also has undertaken a plan to cut costs by $4 billion by the end of fiscal 2011, a change from $3 billion in cost cuts it had announced in May.


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This iPhone 12 concept video shows us things that aren't likely to happen, including a new 360-degree transparent screen technology.
This concept envisions an iPhone that has two displays with a sliding mechanism in play. That’s similar to Android phones of years gone by, but they had a physical keyboard that appeared when the mechanism was used. In this concept, a second screen would appear instead.
We’ve been hearing iPhone XI, iPhone XI Max, and iPhone XIR leaks for months and while we don’t yet know all the fine details, we do believe we know the broad strokes. And now someone has created a concept video showing it all.
Now that the Galaxy Fold is all official, it's clear that the foldable phone is still a way from becoming mainstream, but that doesn't mean that we aren't going to see a clamor for Apple to do something similar. It also means we're going to start to see concept images for a foldable iPhone, like these.
Following on from a report that claimed Apple is considering producing an iPhone with a curved display that takes advantage of "hover" gestures, designer Martin Hajek has released a number of renders in which he gives some ideas of what this could look like should a real product be announced.


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Food products in our community are being genetically modified or being grown next to or transported with none genetically modified food. The United States doesn’t require the distributers to put labels on their food product that contain genetically modified organisms. Also the foods originally grown without genetic modification are still being contaminated by GMOs during transportation and production. This is a problem because GMOs have been proven to increase the risk of cancer and can cause other unknown medical problems. As big as this controversy is becoming many people are completely clueless of the topic. They are simply uneducated. Many people do not know the risks involved, what they are in, or how they’re used. It is unethical to not inform consumers about what they are eating. But how are people suppose to stand up for this if they don’t even know about it.
Alex Rich defines genetically modified food as, “food in which, at some point during the production process, molecules and proteins are chemically altered to give the food more nutrients, a better appearance, or a longer shelf-life.” However in an article called “What Does ‘GMO-Free’ on Food Labels Really Mean?,” genetic modification literally means “changing hereditary traits by altering the genetic material of a plant or living thing.” This could include traditional plant breeding but instead it mostly refers to foods with genes altered by biotechnology.
Genetically altering plants is done for a reason though. Cost can be reduced and flavor and nutrition can be increased. In fact a recent study done by the National Center for Food and Agriculture has found that “farmers in the United States investing in biotech products harvested 5.3 billion additional pounds of crops and realized $22 billion in increase income.” (Rich). “It also makes it possible to use less water, which means that the crops have a higher resistance to drought and it actually uses less land. (Coleman)
“ GMOs are a way to produce higher yields of crops. It’s also believed that GMO plants can produce higher yields in hungry countries such as Africa where the climate is harsh.” (Hedges). As someone starves to death every 3.6 seconds, Coleman argues that “the real problems causing hunger… are poverty, lack of education and training, unequal land distribution and lack of access to markets…distribution, not production, is the key to solving hunger.”
One thing you can find frequently on a food product is a label that simply states “GMO Free”. This really has no meaning what so ever. Distributers are not required to put these uncertified labels on their products. Studies have actually proven that the supposedly GMO fee products are still containing small amounts of genetically modified material. This happens by seeds from a genetically modified plant being carried through the air by wind. This also happens when the two are stored and transported together. “This is even true for “Certified Organic” products that must contain no GMOs.” (Rich) My solution to this problem is that first, we need to educate people about GMOs most people don’t even know what they are much less what harm they can cause. One way this could be done is stores could put a pamphlet stand that has brochures giving off information about GMOs. Letting people know what they are, what harm they can cause, and how they can contaminate other foods. The pamphlets shouldn’t just contain the information that would upset the consumer though. How they can help and the good things they do should be included in their as well. Info on GMOs also needs to be broadcasted on the news or in newspapers giving the same information that the brochures do. Food products that are genetically modified need to have warning labels. Just like cigarettes have a warning label for cancer, GMOs should too. Other food products that are specifically made with GMOs still need to have warning label stating that they could possibly be...
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Following the October release of Android 12 on the latest Google Pixel devices, the TV version of Android 12 is finally out of Beta testing. On November 30, the official release of the Android TV 12 was announced for developers, indicating that the update may soon go live on your smart TVs.
New features That made it to the stable Android TV 12
The Android TV 12 focuses on improving user interface elements when viewing the interface on the 4K TVs. Till now, the main interface was only rendered in 1080p and when selecting something to watch, it switches to 4K, causing some “lag.”
The new update brings new background blurring to “easily enhance the visual separation of different UI layers.” There’s also a new refresh rate setting for a “smoother viewing experience.” Applications can also check playback settings and change the frame rates based on what’s being viewed. Google is also including support for HDMI CEC 2.0.
Another significant feature coming with this new update is related to privacy control. Google is now implementing microphone and camera indicators that appear on TV. These are the same indicators found on smartphones when an app uses a camera or microphone. This feature is for those who don’t want the microphone or a connected camera always being active and will grant complete control over them.
Beyond Google’s announcements, we did find a few more minor tweaks to Android TV and Google TV that will come with Android 12. The biggest of these is a feature called “Quick Connect.” Available under the “Network and Internet” section, Quick Connect for Android TV generates a QR code that mobile users can scan. The scanned code on the phone will lead to the Android TV’s Wi-Fi connection page allowing users to handle the text input from the mobile itself.
If you are interested in trying out the Android TV 12, You’ll need an ADT-3 — Google’s development box for the platform — to get it up and running today. The update is available for manual download here.
Unfortunately, there’s no word of this update hitting Google’s Chromecast dongle, which is still running Android TV OS 10 and hasn’t seen any updates in a few months.


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WASHINGTON–DC (ANCA)–The Armenian National Committee Of America (ANCA) voiced disappointment over the Senate’s failure to include a key US-Armenia trade provision in a larger trade bill that cleared the body earlier on Friday.
The provision–adopted by the House last November–would grant Armenia Permanent Normal Trade Relations (PNTR) status. Adoption of this measure would ensure lower tariffs on Armenian imports to the US and give greater Armenian access to US government credit facilities on a permanent basis.
"We are disappointed that the Senate missed this excellent opportunity to expand trade between the US and Armenia," said ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian. "We are hopeful that–as the trade bill moves through the legislative process–supporters in both houses will be able to ensure the inclusion of the Armenia-PNTR provision."
An Armenia-PNTR resolution–S.1557–was introduced by Senators Mitch McConnell (R-KY)–Paul Sarbanes (D-MD)–and Barbara Boxer (D-CA) on August 1–2003–and currently has 15 cosponsors. A companion measure–H.R.528–which was adopted by the House in November of last year–was introduced by Congressional Armenian Caucus Co-chairmen Joe Knollenberg (R-MI) and Frank Pallone (D-NJ).
In a letter last March to the House Ways and Means Committee–Hamparian noted that: "In order for Armenia’s economic growth to continue and for its benefits to reach more people–Armenia needs to increase investment and trade. Armenia is dedicated to expanding its economic relationship with the United States–but–without PNTR–Armenia loses its ability to attract viable export markets in and investment from the United States. At the same time–without PNTR–American entrepreneurs who see Armenia as an emerging economy with potential for investment and trade–hesitate to establish ventures that cannot be protected by WTO rules or to import Armenian goods at higher–non-MFN tariff rates."
The Trade Act of 1974 excluded all Soviet countries from having normal trade relations (NTR) status with the United States. One provision of the Act–known as the Jackson-Vanick amendment–required the President to deny NTR to those countries that restricted free emigration. The policy was adopted–in part–in response to Communist government restrictions on the repatriation of Jews. According to the terms of the Jackson-Vanick amendment–when the President determines that freedom of emigration rights have been reinstated in a country–normal trade relations may be granted. To maintain NTR–the President must report to Congress twice a year that Jackson-Vanick requiremen’s have been met. While successive Presidents have waived the Jackson-Vanick Amendment restrictions on Armenia during the past decade–the passage of the Knollenberg bill–would grant Armenia permanent NTR (PNTR) status–without the need for bi-yearly Presidential determinations.
Permanent normal trade relations (PNTR) status ensures lower duties on Armenian imports to the US–creating incentives for increased trade and investment opportunities between the two countries. As such–the measure strengthens bilateral relations between the two countries and helps reinforce the enduring friendship between the American and Armenian peoples. Increased US-Armenia trade and investment also helps to offset the impact of the Turkish and Azerbaijani blockades–estimated by the World Bank at up to $720 million a year.


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Silver Fern Farms, in a new partnership with Gourmet Direct, launched its e-commerce platform in May offering a full retail range of its premium red meat products.
While SFF has been working on an e-commerce strategy over the past two years the covid lockdown presented the perfect opportunity to bring it all together, marketing manager Nicola Johnston said.
Gourmet Direct is a Napier business specialising in sending premium meat products around the country via its e-commerce platform.
“SFF has an established reputation as one of NZ’s most trusted meat brands and by joining forces with Gourmet Direct we can bring our farmers’ world-class meat products to more Kiwis’ plates.
“This has been a natural fit with online shopping becoming more popular than ever following the covid-19 lockdown.
“Having our products on Gourmet Direct’s online platform also means we can gain valuable insights direct from our customers about what they want to see from SFF as a quality grass-fed lamb, venison and beef brand,” Johnston said.
Covid-19 has proved the worth of SFF’s aspiration for e-commerce.
“Consumers have demonstrated they want choice and they want options.
“Covid-19 has removed the barrier, particularly in chilled and fresh food.
“People are prepared to take more risk and try the experience.”
Johnson said key trends show a third of New Zealanders want to continue to cook more at home with the convenience of ready-to-cook products delivered to the door.
“In online shopping trends we are seeing growth.
“Prior to covid there was an estimated 13% of people shopping online, post covid there’s another 23% started so there’s a really good number who e-commerce has attracted.
“Online, we are much closer to our consumers and we can innovate our products to what they desire. That’s all part of our plate-to-pasture strategy putting the consumer first to provide from the farm what consumers want to buy.
“We can provide a much better service to our own suppliers in a much broader product range and the plan for that is to have the farmer portal up and running before Christmas,” Johnston said.
The initiative has increased Gourmet Direct’s product range and helped SFF products get further and faster around the country.
Gourmet Direct owner Kate King said showcasing Kiwi farmers and their exceptional meat products with her customers, who value quality and convenience, is at the heart of her business.
“SFF presented us with the opportunity to expand our range and work with a partner that shares our values.
“This is a truly exciting partnership for us as we reached the point where we wanted to get bigger in a changing and new, modern environment with a premium product that hails full traceability.”
Gourmet Direct was the first online food company in NZ, initially started by Richmond 30 years ago when King was Richmond’s marketing manager.
Gourmet Direct is now owned by King and her Hawke’s Bay farming husband Perry.
Timing has also been perfect for Gourmet Direct.
“This is a very natural and cutting-edge partnership that is about us being able to scale with executive strength and knowledge in terms of intelligence, market resource and content.
“It lands well with our current and new consumers who are seeking new eating experiences.
“It’s also at a time when demand for online shopping has soared and when NZ’s food producers are so important in helping drive economic recovery post lockdown,” King said.
Sales lifted 500% during the lockdown and sales since are 100% up on the corresponding time last year.


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US-based daily deals website LivingSocial is looking to pull its operations out of the Middle East, just under a year of entering into the market. The firm acquired local deals site GoNabIt back in June 2011, but since then has faced stiff competition from a barrage of similar websites launching in the region.
According to a report in The National, anonymous sources say that LivingSocial is rumored to be in talks to sell its 750,000-strong subscriber list, which is predominantly based in UAE, Egypt and Lebanon. The closure follows up from the Netherlands operations closing down earlier this year, a mere six months after launching. Its other business LivingSocial Adventures which caters to activities such as skydiving also shut down in around thirty markets that it was operating in.
Read the entire report here.


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Digital Signage Expo 2014 Declared a “Success” by Exhibitors
Atlanta – Digital Signage Expo® (DSE), the world’s largest and longest running International Conference and Tradeshow dedicated exclusively to digital signage, interactive technology and digital out-of-home networks (DOOH), has been declared a success by exhibitors, many of whom wrote business at the show.
The conference and trade show, which ran February 11-13, drew just over 4,000 attendees, of which over 42% were end users, the primary prospects that DSE’s exhibitors want and need to see. 1,813 exhibitor personnel attended, bringing DSE’s total attendance to over 5,800.
Of that combined total, 29.85%, or 1,195 traveled to DSE from outside the US, attracting total attendance from 67 different countries including: Canada, Mexico, Brazil, South Korea, Japan, Columbia, China, the United Kingdom, Australia and Taiwan.
Among the over 200 exhibiting companies, 56 were exhibiting for the first time and 44 were from international markets, expanding the show floor to just over 70,000 net square feet, an increase of 13% over 2013.
Exhibitors reported that attendees were high quality decision-makers from a broad variety of end-user business categories, a profile that has become the hallmark of this leading international event since its inception in 2004. Comments included:
“DSE is such an important event for Samsung, both as an opportunity to listen to and network with industry leaders on the latest trends, as well as to share our latest display technology. We’re really coming away from DSE with some strong momentum to head into the rest of 2014.”
– Michael O’Halloran, Product Manager for Commercial Displays
Samsung’s Enterprise Business Division
“DSE is a great venue for generating partnerships and sharing information with other forward thinking people and businesses. Beyond providing the opportunity to meet face to face with a great number of potential clients, DSE offers the perfect setting to interact with others in the digital signage community.”
– Morgan Henderson, Director of Marketing Capital Networks Limited
“DSE 2014 was the ideal platform to introduce our cloud-based digital signage service to the North American market. The quality of the attendees and the new contacts gained from the exhibit are excellent.”
– Andy Reinhard, CEO, Wondersign
“This was our first time at DSE, and it’s safe to say it won’t be our last. Between the New Products Pavilion, Apex Awards, and our actual Booth – DSE presents incredible opportunities to connect with the major players that are driving innovation and shaping interactive experiences.”
– Dave Aichele, Executive Vice President, Sales & Marketing, T1Visions
“This was our second year exhibiting at DSE. I immediately noticed was how much busier the traffic was from 2014, even with additional staff in our booth. For us specifically, our direct interaction with target profile clients was more than double 2013. We are ‘all in’ for 2015 and we give many thanks to the great DSE team who helped us experience a worthy investment of time and expense.”
– Scott Reese, VP Sales & Marketing, Actineon, Inc.
“We consider DSE to be an invaluable tradeshow that gives us exposure to broadcast our message to the right audience every year.”
– Joey Zhao, CEO, 22Miles, Inc.
Chris Gibbs, President & COO of ExpoNation LLC, which produces Digital Signage Expo said, “In spite of extreme weather that suppressed attendance, many of our educational conferences sold out and the trade show floor were busy both days.” He added, “Weather is the reason that DSE 2015 will be held March 10-12 next year, which will also allow us to expand our educational offerings for 2015.”
Mark your calendar now: Digital Signage Expo® 2015, co-located with the Digital Content Show, is scheduled for March 10-12, 2015, with access to the Exhibit Hall March 11 & 12 at the Las Vegas Convention Center in Las Vegas. To reserve exhibit space contact Jeanne Phillips, (770) 817-5903. Or, for more information, visit www.digitalsignageexpo.net. You can follow DSE on Twitter at DSExpo, or for all DSE 2015 updates, use #dse2015. For year-round news and information on digital signage, visit DSE’s new Digital Signage Connection web portal at www.digitalsignageconnection.com.
About Digital Signage Expo
Digital Signage Expo, held at the Las Vegas Convention Center, Las Vegas, NV, USA, is the world’s largest and longest running conference and trade show exclusively dedicated to the digital signage, interactive technology and digital-out-of-home (DOOH) industries. Launched in 2004, DSE was the first event dedicated to the digital signage market and has been a significant contributor to the growth of this fast-paced industry. Professional end user attendance represents decision-makers from key industry categories such as retail, restaurant, healthcare, education, hospitality and transportation, as well as other key stakeholders, including advertising executives, brand marketers and systems integrators.
Over 200 exhibitors feature technology and services including hardware, software, network, delivery and content from around the globe. DSE also offers the largest and most diversified digital signage and digital out-of-home educational program anywhere in the world, with more than 125 educators and the largest variety of educational opportunities, including a live installation tour and structured curriculum leading to professional re-certification in seven educational tracks. The 2015 program will be comprised of pre- and post-show educational events, general conference seminars, as well as targeted Industry Roundtable Discussion Groups and free presentations staged in on-floor theaters.


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Hewlett-Packard has stepped up investments in cloud computing, prompting some analysts to speculate that it could make a big move such as acquiring Rackspace Hosting.
That, however, would require HP (NYSE:HPQ) to ratchet up its spending significantly, since Rackspace (NYSE:RAX) could sell for $6 billion or $7 billion.
HP in May said that it plans to spend $1 billion over the next two years to develop cloud products and services. At an annual conference for business customers in Las Vegas this month, the Palo Alto, Calif.-based HP said that it will expand from two data centers to 25 by the end of 2015. The data centers will be packed with servers and data-storage systems that customers rent via the cloud.
HP CEO Meg Whitman has plans to spend $1 billion over the next two years developing cloud products. View Enlarged Image
HP is playing catch-up to Amazon Web Services, part of Amazon.com (NASDAQ:AMZN), in the cloud field known as Infrastructure as a Service. Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT), Google (NASDAQ:GOOGL) and IBM (NYSE:IBM) also are IaaS leaders.
As in the case of IBM and other traditional IT suppliers, HP's sales of hardware and software could slow as more companies opt to rent computing technology rather than build new data centers of their own. That's why expanding into IaaS and related cloud products and services is a good move for HP, analysts say. HP stock is up nearly 25% in 2014 as the company is two years into its turnaround plan.
Rackspace sells cloud services, including extra customer support and custom tools, as well as self-serve, on-demand IaaS products. The company is a co-developer, with NASA, of the open-source OpenStack cloud operating system.
Would acquiring Rackspace, which has a market cap of $5.2 billion, boost HP's cloud strategy? Views are mixed.
"It's possible that HP will decide to do something foolish, but I don't think Rackspace is a logical acquisition. Rackspace really hasn't been successful selling OpenStack to the enterprise," Lydia Leong, an analyst with market-research firm Gartner, told IBD. "It would be a $6 billion to $7 billion acquisition."
And if HP were to spend so much on an acquisition, it could get a lot more for that money, Leong says.
HP, IBM and Red Hat (NYSE:RHT) are among companies that have embraced OpenStack, which helps companies connect private data centers to the public cloud.
Large companies, though, have been slow to move big computing workloads to OpenStack. Amazon and others, meanwhile, have different cloud software.
Some Pluses To Merger
"An HP/Rackspace combination could drive favorable top-line synergies by combining Rackspace's strong brand in the cloud/hosting segment with HP's established enterprise sales channels as well as greater momentum in OpenStack, which both companies are actively sponsoring," Jonathan Atkin, an RBC Capital analyst, said in a recent research report.


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Top 12 Financial Services Cybersecurity Regulations to Know in 2023
6 Min. Read | April 4, 2023
Financial services are one of the most targeted industries in the world for cyberattacks, suffering nearly 20% of all attacks in 2022. This is understandable considering the high-value outcomes of successful attacks and the fact that, despite supposed security improvements, attacks are still relatively successful, with over eight million records breached in the field in Q3 of 2022.
Data breaches don't just affect the institution that's compromised but also affect confidence in the sector as a whole. The International Monetary Fund has highlighted the significant threat that weak financial services cybersecurity poses to the industry and the world. Potential outcomes range from a loss of confidence in financial services to widespread economic instability.
That's why global cybersecurity regulations have been ramped up over recent years, as they strengthen the security posture of individual firms and the industry overall. Here we'll look at the most important financial services cybersecurity regulations in 2023.
New York — NYDFS Part 500
One of the US's most important pieces of cybersecurity legislation is the New York Department of Financial Services cybersecurity bill, technically known as 23 NYCRR Part 500. The bill affects any firm that operates under the Banking, Insurance or Financial Services laws out of New York, which will be most financial services firms in the US.
It requires firms to implement a cybersecurity policy over data governance, access controls and consumer privacy. It also obligates the introduction of more robust security methods, such as the deployment of multi-factor authentication (MFA) for protecting non-public information.
US — Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX)
The original Sarbanes-Oxley Act was instrumental in codifying the disclosures companies must make to current or potential investors, as well as the penalties that are due for breaches (with executives being directly on the line for up to $1 million and ten years in prison).
It has since been updated to include cybersecurity considerations. It now obligates all publicly traded companies in the US and their wholly-owned subsidiaries to declare adherence to cybersecurity best practices in areas such as authentication and data safety. They are also required to report any data breaches publicly.
California — California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA)
Introduced to help protect the privacy rights and consumer protections of Californians, the CCPA affects any company which does business with Californians and meets one of the following:
- Has a gross revenue of over $25 million
- Buys, sells or receives personal data on 50,000 consumers
- Makes over half its revenue from selling consumers' personal information
The fines can be up to $2,500 for unintentional violations and $7,500 for intentional violations, which will be multiplied per record stolen in the case of a data breach.
US — Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (GLBA)
The GLBA has a specific Privacy of Consumer Financial Information Rule that directly affects financial services cybersecurity. This concerns non-public personal information (NPI) that a company will collect when informing about or providing a financial product or service. Fines for non-compliance can be up to $100,000 per violation and five years in prison for complicit directors.
EU — General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)
All companies processing the data of European Union citizens are affected by the GDPR. The law determines how data is used and protected and governs how consent must be used for collecting it. Along with data usage, timely reporting of breaches is also obliged if it affects EU citizens.
For financial services cybersecurity, adhering to GDPR in 2023 is essential. Failure to do so can lead to fines of $20 million or 4% of global revenue, with Amazon receiving the biggest fine so far of $888 million.
UK — Data Protection Act
After the UK left the EU, it kept the GDPR which it passed into law as the Data Protection Act (2018). It is roughly the same as the EU-GDPR (just amended for UK citizens) but still carries the same requirements around data safety, consent and reporting, and fines for non-compliance.
EU — Payment Services Directive 2 (PSD2)
The PSD2 was introduced to make it easier for financial services companies to integrate and securely share data while making payment systems safer. In addition, the law set specific technical standards for strong customer authentication and improving security measures.
The measures affect all companies catering to consumers in the EU and any payments that start, travel through or end in the EU. This puts clear obligations on financial services cybersecurity, even for firms outside the EU.
Global — Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS)
The PCI DSS covers the processors of payments from major credit and debit card companies. To achieve compliance, financial services cybersecurity programs must meet several obligations, such as protecting cardholder data, encrypting data in storage and transmission, and authenticating access to all system components. Breaches of the PCI DSS may result in fines and restrictions in using major credit cards.
Singapore — Monetary Authority of Singapore Notices on Cyber Hygiene
The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) regulates financial institutions in the banking, capital markets, insurance and payments sectors. The MAS has issued a collection of notices on cyber hygiene, which are a set of legally binding requirements that financial institutions must take to mitigate the growing risk of cyberthreats. The cyber hygiene notices cover six key areas, which include securing administrative account access, regular vulnerability patching and mitigation controls for systems that cannot be patched, written and regularly tested security standards, perimeter defense systems, malware protection and multi-factor authentication for any system used to access critical information.
Canada - Bill C-11
Expected to be passed into law in Canada in early 2023, Part 1 of Bill C-11 will introduce the Consumer Privacy Protection Act (CPPA) into law. The regulations are heavily based on the NYDFS Part 500 and give recommendations on securing systems and data, as well as obligations on the collection, usage and storage of data.
US — FFIEC Standards
The Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council (FFIEC) is an interagency body that sets standards for all federally supervised financial institutions, including their subsidiaries. The FFIEC cybersecurity best practices includes guidance on effective authentication and access risk management practices. The FFIEC authentication standards emphasize multi-factor authentication (MFA) as a critical security control against financial loss and data compromise, similar to the PSD2 Strong Customer Authentication mandate. It includes references to NIST standards SP 1800-17 and SP 800-63B, which provide implementation guidelines for passwordless MFA based on FIDO specifications.
US — FTC Safeguards Rule
The FTC Safeguards Rule requires non-banking financial institutions, such as mortgage brokers, auto dealers, and payday lenders, to implement a comprehensive security program to keep their customers’ information safe. The FTC Safeguards Rule was recently updated, with the compliance deadline set for June 9, 2023. Among the new provisions is a mandate for multi-factor authentication for anyone accessing customer information. It should be noted that this includes MFA for desktop and server access, not just applications.
Protect Data and Systems with Strong Authentication
The financial services sector is at high risk of cyberattacks due to the value of successful data breaches or account takeover attacks. To combat this, state, national and supranational governments and industry groups have introduced several financial services cybersecurity regulations to ensure best practice is deployed throughout the industry.
A common thread throughout much of the financial services cybersecurity regulations worldwide is the protection of data and stronger authentication systems. HYPR's True Passwordless MFA solution uses FIDO2, the "gold standard" of phishing-resistant MFA, to help companies secure their systems and achieve regulatory compliance. To learn more, read more here or schedule a custom demo.


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The second wave of coronavirus infections is coming to an end and the vaccination strategy is being rolled out. Time to catch our breath and look back on an exceptional year, that came with its own, unique challenges. The healthcare sector almost buckled under the strain but the food industry also made an unprecedented effort to keep the food supply chain running. Belgian meat companies managed to navigate the first and second wave fairly well, without too many problems. Were they lucky? No. A good preparation, the resilience to step up to the plate at the moment of truth and good collaboration at the social level proved instrumental in the results that they achieved.
Belgian Meat Office discussed the past year’s events with Michael Gore, managing director at FEBEV and the man behind the meat industry contingency plan, that served as a guideline for coping with the exceptional crisis that his industry faced.
We travelled back in time with Michael Gore, to the early months of 2020. Everyone remembered the moment when the realisation hit that “something” was going on in China. However, nobody could surmise that this health crisis would soon hit Europe.
And why should they. The Chinese have a lot of experience controlling an epidemic like this one. Everyone thought they’d pull it off again.
But suddenly the virus entered Europe and although the meat industry is used to dealing with changing situations, this unknown threat was a cause for concern. Company executives immediately realised how serious the situation was and were determined to prevent the virus from affecting their company. It is worth remembering that the pig industry was in the throes of ASF around the same time. A real nightmare for the meat industry, in other words. While many people’s hearts would sink at the thought, Michael Gore is quite proud that Belgian meat companies took it in their stride and rose to the occasion.
Well-prepared at the start
“To be prepared is half the victory”. Perhaps that is one of the few rules of thumb that remained valid during this crisis. The risks associated with the outbreak of an infectious disease are certainly not new. Manpower is a foremost concern. When a lot of employees fall sick, the continuity of business activities is compromised. Taking into account the fact that the meat industry relies on a complex network of human interactions, ranging from livestock farmers and road hauliers to meat companies, it goes without saying that the outbreak of an infectious disease can quickly lead to a significant reduction in manpower.
But the Belgian meat industry had made a timely assessment of this risk. The industry association FEBEV took the initiative to draw up a contingency plan, to be used as a guideline to cope with the effects of an outbreak as effectively as possible in and/or during an epidemic or pandemic.
Belgium announced a lockdown on 13 March 2020. From day one, the roadmap provided guidance, helping companies to quickly draw up a plan that was tailored to their own operation. In hindsight, the precautions that were taken, i.e., the timely drafting of a roadmap, saved the Belgian meat industry from many problems.
A powerful government-industry partnership
From the outset, the roadmap provided a framework in which basic guidelines were combined, with an emphasis on containing the outbreak and implementing precautionary measures. As challenges presented themselves, the roadmap was adapted and companies actively participated in the process, along with their customers and suppliers. The initiative got a lot of support, because it was industry-driven and the objective was very clear from the outset: to guarantee the continuity of business activities. During the first wave, the fact that the government was working towards the same purpose proved a great advantage, paving the way for valuable interaction between the industry and the government, in particular with the FASFC. This type of collaboration is typical of the Belgian approach and it undoubtedly proved key in managing the risks.
The FASFC initially became the ideal counterpart for supervising the implementation of government measures. This duty was later transferred to the FPS WASO (the Federal Public Service for Employment, Labour and Social Dialogue). Feedback was given about any infringements, in order to raise awareness among companies in a more targeted manner. The government’s task force understood early on that it also had to take on board signals from the field where possible. FEBEV offered to act as a single point of contact, ensuring that all the complaints from the animal sectors got to the economic task force and were also followed up. The result was a powerful social work field, that increased the effectiveness of measures and ultimately also contributed to achieving the common goal, namely to guarantee economic continuity and the restocking of food for the population. The meat industry’s roadmap soon found its way to other industries where it served as an example. This was largely inspired by then Minister Ducarme’s request to make available good practices to other industries that were still finding their way.
But the meat industry also learned from others during this crisis. In the summer of 2020, our neighbouring countries were hit by serious outbreaks, which even led to the temporary closure of production sites and export restrictions to countries such as China. Other countries wondered by Belgian companies had been spared from such outbreaks. They soon concluded that this was largely due to the rapid start that the Belgian meat industry had taken. We were always one step ahead of the competition, a gamble that paid off.
Examples from neighbouring countries also forced us to think about housing, transports ... and led to continuous updates of the plan. In retrospect, we must conclude that the number of clusters and the impact of the coronavirus on the Belgian meat industry remains limited. While there were a few outbreaks, food supply was never at risk.
A new standard for customers
Finally, we also discussed the customers of Belgian meat companies with Michael Gore. The meat industry is characterised by a customer-oriented business culture. Companies apply a custom approach, they also think about what their customers want and capitalise on the needs of the present and the future. This ability to adapt is quite typical. It could be argued that the approach that was implemented to deal with this crisis is a perfect illustration of this.
Like many other industries, the meat industry will not return to the situation before 13 March 2020. Instead the efforts made towards improving hygiene and food safety have set a new standard, which will serve as the norm from now on. Under the “new normal”, they will continue to take these additional guarantees on board when serving customers. Ultimately customers thus also stand to benefit.
“How Belgian companies dealt with the coronavirus pandemic is a perfect illustration of the resilience and flexibility with which they give the best of themselves every day, to supply a product to their customers’ satisfaction, with which we have again raised the bar in the current zeitgeist.”
The contingency plan for the Belgian meat industry was published on the website of the High Council for the Self-Employed and SMEs. You can find more information at www.hrzkmo.fgov.be
It serves as a guideline for meat companies for the implementation of a contingency plan in the event of an epidemic or pandemic. Depending on the situation, measures are proposed that build up from level 1 with a focus on personal hygiene to level 5, whereby a totality of measures are proposed, including vaccination. The aim is always twofold: on the one hand to protect the continuity of business activities and on the other hand to protect the well-being of employees and third parties who enter the company.
Meet Michael Gore, managing director at FEBEV (the federation of the Belgian meat industry) since 2016
Michael Gore is a food safety expert, with wide-ranging experience in the industry. He gained his experience through various positions within the food chain, ranging from quality assurance manager in the meat industry to auditor in quality systems, certification manager of self-checking systems and auditor for BRC, one of the largest standards in existence. He headed his own consultancy firm for more than 10 years and successfully managed it until he returned to the meat industry. Michael Gore currently represent the fresh meat industry in Belgium on behalf of FEBEV. He works with stakeholders throughout the food chain and with the federation’s members, to facilitate the dialogue between the different actors and respond to the new challenges that the industry faces.


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Scheduled to launch in Q4 2010, The New York Times’ Press Engine is a new digital platform that enables publishers and other media organizations to distribute content across mobile devices, including the Apple iPhone and iPad. The genesis of Press Engine was when other publishers, including The Dallas Morning News, asked for the code that the Times had used to develop its iPad/iPhone apps. Press Engine essentially offers the coding infrastructure of its apps, allowing other publishers to populate it with their own brand and content.
The Times’ move signals its belief (or, perhaps, hope) that tablet devices spells the way forward for monetizing newspapers. It’s also a savvy business move; publications that adopt Press Engine pay a one-time fee and an ongoing maintenance and licensing fees. The first customers of Press Engine include The Dallas Morning News (owned by A.H. Belo) and the Telegraph Media Group, which publishes the UK’s Daily Telegraph.
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Final DLC pack announced for BioShock 2
2K Games has announced the final pack of DLC for the underwater sequel BioShock 2.
The final DLC pack named Minerva's Den is a narrative-led single-player pack that will give a bit more back-story to Dr Tenenbaum's bizarre stranglehold over the denizens of Rapture.
Minerva's Den introduces a brand new area of Rapture called Rapture Central Computing, which conceals some dark secrets of Rapture founder Andrew Ryan.
The DLC will also add new hi-tech weaponry, plasmids and new enemies including electricity armed security bots and a new kind of Big Daddy.
2K's president Christoph Hatrmann said: "Minerva's Den is a substantial addition that will give players more of what they're looking for: more story, more narrative, more gameplay and more of Rapture. The core team has created an exciting product that further enhances the mystery and allure of the world of Rapture. Minerva's Den will be a fitting conclusion to the BioShock 2 saga."
- Valve's Chet Faliszek has been confirmed as the first developer session for EGX Rezzed 2015
- One area from Zelda Wii U is as big as the entirety of Skyward Sword
- Telltale's new collaboration is with Mojang, on a Minecraft story game
- Franklin voice actor indicates GTA V story DLC is on the way
- Red Dead Redemption, LA Noire and Bully sequels will come when the time is right says Rockstar
- Telltale teases another collaboration with another game developer
- New Company Of Heroes 2: Ardennes Assault trailer recognizes the 70th anniversary of the Battle of the Bulge
- New Call Of Duty: Advanced Warfare trailer focuses on character customization
- Splash Damage's free-to-play shooter Dirty Bomb coming to Steam in the new year


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Enable Business Pte LTd (“Enable Business” or “the Company”) announced today the official release of its Mandarin interface for QuickHR (“QuickHR” or “the Software”), the Company’s first cloud-based HR payroll software, to enhance its overall user experience.
QuickHR’s Mandarin interface will now enable Mandarin-speaking users to navigate their HR workflow in a language they are comfortable in. Not only will the new function translate existing modules, it is also capable of issuing itemized pay slips in Mandarin.
Besides 70 per cent of Singapore’s population being Mandarin-speakers, the language is also the most widely spoken language in the world, with a record of 1.2 billion speakers as of today.
The launch of the Mandarin interface will kick start developments for other languages such as Bahasa Melayu, Tamil and German. Since its launch in May 2017, QuickHR has undergone significant updates, underscoring the Company’s efforts to build the most optimized interface for users.
Hosted on Amazon Web Services, QuickHR’s cloud-based solution offers access for employers and employees. It includes HR modules such as dashboard, profile, leaves application, claims application, timesheets, payroll, reports and settings and a mobile app.
Not bound to any system, QuickHR allows cross platform compatibility. It can be accessed on any operating systems and any number of devices; giving users the option to work anytime, anywhere.
Mr. Sukheer Bajaj, founder and CEO of QuickHR said: “We spent the last few months putting together this new interface with the goal of eliminating all user problems and create the most optimized user interface. Today, the number of people looking to technology as enablers has increased and QuickHR wants to be the catalyst for change. It is indeed an exciting time for HR tech and QuickHR will continue to work hard to bring more innovations to you.”
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QuickHR is a holistic cloud-based HR solution established in May 2017 to simplify HR workflow. Hosted on Amazon Web Services, it secures information with multi-tier encryption technology offering world-class data protection security. QuickHR is a software that offers cross platform compatibility, allowing users to access the system through any smart device and operating systems anytime, anywhere without compromising security. It also integrates and streamlines all HR workflow onto a single interface. With just a few mouse clicks, users can now automate their HR workflow complying with ISO 9001:2015 standard for excellence.
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The British College Signs MOU with IME Digital
The British College has signed an MoU with IME Digital Solution Ltd. - Nepal’s first licensed company to provide digital payment solutions.
Since they launched in 2017, they have brought out the incredibly successful mobile money service, “IME pay”, and gained over three million users. In partnering with them, TBC will now be using their knowledge and skills to inspire the students and provide them with some great opportunities through internships and placements.
The MOU was signed by Rajen Kandel, CEO and Founder of TBC, and Amod Bhattarai, Acting CEO of IME Digital Solution Ltd, on 22nd April 2022. Both parties are very excited about the partnership to come.


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Kodak has just reported that they will release their own cryptocurrency by the end of January. A virtual currency that will be exclusively for photographers. Kodak has released a statement saying that their new cryptocurrency will build a foundation for a encrypted, digital ledger of rights ownership for photographers.
Kodak’s new blockchain can be used by photographers to submit their photos. The KODAKCoin will work as a means for individuals to exchange within the platform. Furthermore, the company has reported that users will not only be able to receive payments in the cryptocurrency, but also purchase rights.
The KODAKCoin is groundbreaking for the company as this is the first time they’ve shown interest in cryptocurrency. One would have never predicted this seeing as the recent evolution of photography has seen Kodak struggle to keep its head above water within the last few years. That said, they have recovered completely from a 2013 brush with bankruptcy and now focus primarily on digital film and printing.
“For many in the tech industry, ‘blockchain’ and ‘cryptocurrency’ are hot buzzwords, but for photographers who’ve long struggled to assert control over their work and how it’s used, these buzzwords are the keys to solving what felt like an unsolvable problem. Kodak has always sought to democratize photography and make licensing fair to artists. These technologies give the photography community an innovative and easy way to do just that.” Said Kodak CEO, Jeff Clarke.
When it comes to the ICO it still isn’t clear what Kodak is aiming for, but the company has assured that the token sales will be open to accredited investors in Canada and the United States on January 31. That said, Market data predicts that Kodak is experiencing a bit of luck at the moment due to this recent announcement. They have risen by 37% since they’ve come out about the KODAKCoin.


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Local Agencies Act Following a Spike in Fruit Theft
MISSION – Local agencies said fruit theft is happening much earlier than in previous years.
Texas Citrus Mutual, an association which represents the interests of citrus growers, tells CHANNEL 5 NEWS fruit thefts in the Rio Grande Valley are an ongoing issue, with them starting to pick up this year they are trying something different.
"It's been surprising again. It's early September so the fruit on the trees are still green and just my office has received at least a dozen reports of fruit theft already which is surprising this early in the game," said Dale Murden, president of Texas Citrus Mutual.
Murden is no stranger to fruit thefts especially in his own groves.
"We use to deal with it all the time and tree theft believe it or not when we would have young trees planted in the ground they would disappear," said Murden.
Murden also said these thefts are starting much earlier than expected, "Typically you have a theft problem before Thanksgiving and before Christmas."
Murden said their agency is making moves now.
This year, Texas Citrus Mutual is using proof of ownership for citrus fruit.
When fruit is stolen from a grove, Murden explained in some cases the spoils are resold elsewhere, this is to help stop that.
"We have several compliance officers go up and down the Valley checking the flea markets to find out where the fruit came from or the road side stands or what have you to try and slow the fruit theft down a little bit," said Murden.
Thieves can cost a grower thousands in potential profits.
"Growers spend a lot of money caring for the crop and for it to just walk off without any opportunity to sell it, it's a loss any way you look at it," said Murden.
In the meantime, Murden added they are also working with local sheriffs to try and prevent the thefts from happening in the first place.
According to the Texas Department of Agriculture, stealing a crop from a farmer is a misdemeanor and can land you a fine up to several hundred dollars.
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Deal of the Week: The Force Unleashed Jedi Temple Mission Pack
Written Monday, July 20, 2009 By Jason Debelyak
Last week, we learned that there will be new DLC hitting Star Wars: The Force Unleased, along with five brand new achievements. So what better way for Microsoft to celebrate this? Well, available this week only on the Xbox Live Marketplace is the Jedi Temple Mission Pack for 400 MSP ($5), which is half the price that is typically goes for.
Not a horrible deal, but one has to wonder how many people that have played The Force Unleashed and were interested in the DLC haven't downloaded it already. Either way, if you've been waiting for a lower price on the pack, now's your time to jump on it!


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Stand up for the facts!
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If Your Time is short
- In a tweet introducing a campaign television ad released on Sept. 14 Iowa congressional candidate Zach Nunn blamed his 3rd District opponent, Cindy Axne, and President Biden for a spike in inflation.
- Nunn is correct that Iowans are paying the equivalent of $5,000 more this year for the same goods when compared with last year.
- Nunn blamed Democrats for inflation. This isn’t entirely true. Spending by Democratic legislation including the American Rescue Plan Act in 2021 and the Inflation Reduction Act in 2022 have added some pressure on inflation. However, many economic experts point at external factors for inflationary pressure — such as the war in Ukraine, the lagging effects of COVID-19 and the Federal Reserve’s fiscal policy during COVID-19.
Republicans have blamed Democrats a lot for rising inflation this past year. Democrats, after all, are in power at the White House and both chambers in Congress and this is an election year.
Thus, Rep. Zach Nunn, R-Bondurant, who is seeking a seat in Congress, brought it up in a recent tweet that introduced a campaign ad that attacks his opponent in Iowa’s 3rd District race, incumbent Democratic U.S. Rep. Cindy Axne, for out-of-control spending in Washington, D.C.
"Iowans are paying $5,000 extra for everyday goods under Biden and Axne’s inflation," the tweet stated.
We examined a couple of things in that statement: that Iowans will pay an extra $5,000 this year because of inflation and that Biden and Axne can share some of the blame for that inflation.
We start with the numbers. Contacted by Politifact Iowa, Nunn’s campaign said they were taken from a March report by Bloomberg News. The report states that by, Bloomberg’s calculations, Americans would pay $5,200 more on average this year for goods using the Personal Consumption Expenditures index. This number is an estimate of inflation throughout 2022 and could be different at the end of the year.
Inflation can be measured across other time periods so other measures exist, depending on where you live and from when you measure the rise in consumer good prices. A July report from the Republican side of Congress’ Joint Economic Committee went back to January 2021 — when Biden took office — to state that Iowans were projected to pay $7,997 more this year than they would have for the same goods back then, for a state inflation rate of 13.7% since the start of 2021.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, whose announcements get widespread news coverage, reports Consumer Price Index inflation every month, measuring against the past 12 months. The bureau reported an August rate of 8.1% in the Midwest region for the previous 12 months. That would amount to a yearly increase in costs from August 2021 to August 2022 of $4,176, using the Consumer Price Index report from the Bureau of Labor statistics for the Midwest region.
Next, who's to blame. Nunn’s campaign, when contacted by Politifact Iowa, stood by its claim that Democrats are to blame for inflation. The campaign ties Axne to Biden by pointing out accurately, according to the FiveThirtyEight data analysis website, that Axne has voted with Biden 100% of the time during Biden’s term as president.
We have looked previously at claims that tie inflation to Biden. Sources in an April 2022 Politifact story said that, although the American Rescue Plan Act, a stimulus package passed in 2021 that cost about $1.9 trillion, added 2 points to inflation, international pressures and supply chain issues had a greater impact on inflation.
Marc Goldwein, with the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, a group that promotes lower deficits, said in that PolitiFact story: "With no American Rescue Plan, we would still have inflation above the Federal Reserve’s target of 2% to 3%."
None of the experts PolitiFact talked with for the April story, liberal or conservative, said Biden’s actions were responsible for all of the inflation.
Sources cited in other PolitiFact stories have said that supply chain disruption, low supply of goods and international market pressures have contributed to inflation. Financial experts in a June New York Times story said strong demand, supply shortages and the aforementioned factors on the service industry also are major pressures on inflation.
In a letter to congressional leadership, 126 economists wrote that the Inflation Reduction Act will have a downward pressure on inflation after a short-term upward pressure when the bill was first passed. The letter was obtained first by CNN.
Stanford University economist John Taylor and others have said that the Federal Reserve’s fiscal policy during the COVID-19 pandemic could be a factor. That policy aimed to artificially stimulate the economy by keeping interest rates lower than usual. However, the Fed operates on its own, not by Democrats or, when they are in power, Republican partisans.
Democrats blame inflation on international pressures such as the war in Ukraine. President Joe Biden said in May blamed inflation on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The war is affecting supply chains but the full impact will not be known for a while. Some countries have higher rates of inflation than the United States, with Turkey having an inflation rate of 54.8%, according to the Pew Research Center.
Wendy Edelberg, director of The Hamilton Project and a senior fellow in economic studies at the Brookings Institution, said in a Politico story that the supply chain disruption caused by the war in Ukraine is impactful but not the whole story of why inflation is rising internationally.
Nunn’s campaign said Iowans would pay $5,000 more this year because of inflation, and that Democrats were to blame.
Bureau of Labor Statistics data shows that Iowans will pay $4,176 more on household goods this year because of inflation, based on a bureau report for the Midwestern region going back to August 2022. The $5,000 figure comes from an estimate that Bloomberg News analysts predict for 2022. But it is an estimate. We must wait to see how close the prediction was to what happens.
The effect the American Rescue Plan ultimately will have on inflation has yet to be determined but it is having some effect, analysts said. But, solely blaming Democrats for inflation does not take into account the whole picture. Supply shortages and strong demand for products, supply chain problems and international market pressures combine with federal monetary policies to affect inflation. We rate the statement Half True.
Email exchange with Lydia Hall, Zach Nunn’s campaign
Whitehouse.gov, Statement by President Biden on April inflation data, May 27, 2022.
Bloomberg, "U.S. Households Face $5,200 Inflation Tax This Year," March 29, 2022
Factcheck.org, "Stimulus spending a factor, but far from whole story on inflation," June 30, 2022
Politifact, "Blame Joe Biden for inflation? Most government spending came earlier," July 29, 2021
Politifact, "Jen Psaki incorrect in saying no economist thinks Biden bill will boost inflation," Nov. 18, 2021
Politico, "Inflation blame game: Sorting out the culprits," May 27, 2022
Pew Research Center,"In the U.S. and around the world, inflation is high and getting higher," June 15, 2022
H.R.1319 - American Rescue Plan Act of 2021
Stanford News, "What causes inflation? Stanford scholar explains," by Melissa De Witte, Sept. 6, 2022
Politifact, "Biden’s American Rescue Plan fueled inflation. So did post-COVID shortages," April 20, 2022
New York Times, "Here’s What You Need to Know About America’s Super-Hot Inflation," June 11, 2022
Joint Economic Committee, State Inflation Tracker
FiveThirtyEight, "Does Your Member Of Congress Vote With Or Against Biden?" for Cindy Axne
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Consumer Price Index, Midwest Region – August 2022 and overview of BLS statistics and on inflation and prices
Deloitte Insights, "European CFO Survey – Spring 2022"
Read About Our Process
In a world of wild talk and fake news, help us stand up for the facts.


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Apple rolls out new Safari browser
Apple Inc. released a faster version of its Safari browser on Monday with a new feature that makes it easier to read multi-page documents.
The new Safari Reader detects a multipage article and formats it into a single page with options to enlarge, print or e-mail it. A byproduct of this feature is that it strips out ads and some graphical content such as slide shows, which some publishers might not see as an attractive advantage but users might like because it strips out what they may think of as clutter.
The new Safari also allows users to choose between Google Inc.'s (NASDAQ:GOOG), Yahoo Inc.'s (NASDAQ:YHOO) or Microsoft Corp.'s (NASDAQ:MSFT) Bing as their default search engine.
The update can run on either Intel or PowerPC machines, and requires OS X 10.5.8 or later.
There is a Safari 4.1 version for those who use OS X 10.4 "Tiger."
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China Drafts "Humane" Standards for Animal Slaughter
The central province of Henan has already adopted the measures, which include stunning the animals before killing them, and herding pigs with plastic prods instead of electric ones.
"Since the quality of meat from China has drawn international attention, the Chinese government has conducted special treatment on this issue," the report quoted an official from the Administrative Office of Livestock Slaughtering as saying.
China, the world's biggest pork producer and consumer, has been under scrutiny over the safety of its food exports and food production standards after a series of health scares both at home and abroad.
It has also been widely criticised by rights groups for its inhumane treatment of animals, including bears farmed for their bile and dogs for their meat.
The draft recommended several methods to make the slaughter process more humane, including shortening the time between stunning and killing and setting unloading platforms at proper heights for pigs to disembark from trucks without being hurt.
"This is to reduce the degree of suffering. Animals, like human beings, can also get extremely scared," said Mi Yali, an expert in livestock slaughter.
(Reporting by Beijing newsroom, Editing by Nick Macfie and Sanjeev Miglani)


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NEW YORK – Macy's (M) shares tumbled Wednesday after the retailer reported weaker sales and slimmer profits, highlighting the broader challenge facing the country's embattled department stores.
Macy's results fell short of Wall Street expectations, and the nation's largest department store chain warned sales will fall further this year.
The retail climate is a big challenge for Macy's new CEO Jeff Gennette, who succeeded longtime chief executive Terry Lundgren in March. "[T]hese are unusual and challenging times for retail, especially for mall-based department stores," Gennette said in a conference call to discuss Macy's results, noting the impact of ecommerce on retailers.
"As for the retail industry overall, we've known for some time that the United States is over-retailed compared to other markets," he added. "So it's not surprising to see the contraction in retail square footage. And it will take some time to tell how the consolidations and the closure of stores and, in some cases, entire brands, will impact us."
In afternoon trading, Macy's shares lost $4.41, or 15 percent, to $24.93. The stock is down more than 30 percent on the year.
Sales at the company's stores fell 5.2 percent, the ninth straight period of declines for the important metric. Macy's, like other traditional department stores, has been hurt as online leader Amazon (AMZN) and off-price rivals like TJ Maxx take business away.
Strength in categories like women's clothing, fine jewelry, fragrances, women's shoes, and furniture "was more than offset by persistent softness in handbags, fashion jewelry, and watches," analysts at Jeffries said.
After a disappointing holiday season, Macy's announced in January that it would shed more than 10,000 jobs and move ahead with a plan to close 68 stores.
Gennette said Thursday the company would invest to aggressively expand its digital and mobile business and continue integrating its online and brick-and-mortar experiences.
"The first thing we have to do is we do have to stabilize the core brick-and-mortar business because still, the bulk of our business is being done in our stores. While we do that, we need to continue the high growth that we're experiencing in mobile and digital."
Neil Saunders, managing director of GlobalData Retail, called the results "gloomy."
While Macy's has a clearer sense of direction and a "rudimentary" map, "the distance it needs to travel over the next few years is enormous," he wrote. "We question whether the company is bold, nimble or healthy enough to cover such ground."
Under Lundgren, the Cincinnati-based chain had promoted more exclusive merchandise. Macy's has also tested an off-price strategy and new ideas like self-service in some of its shoe departments.
Gennette said Macy's has been encouraged by the performance of the changes they've tested in areas like women's shoes, fine jewelry, and furniture and mattresses. Saunders cited the changes in the shoe and home departments as signs Macy's thinking is on the right track.
But some new services have flopped. Earlier this month, Macy's and Tailored Brands said they'd terminate a two-year-old tuxedo rental partnership with Men's Wearhouse.
Macy's brand still has around 700 stores, though it has been aggressive about closings. Shareholders have pressured Macy's to get more value out of its real estate holdings, which are worth an estimated $21 billion according to activist investor Starboard.
For the quarter, Macy's said its profit slumped 39 percent to $71 million, or 23 cents per share. Adjusted earnings were 24 cents per share, well below analyst forecasts. Revenue fell 7.5 percent to $5.34 billion, also below Street forecasts.
Other major retailers are floundering, especially large department chains such as JCPenney (JCP) and Sears, which said in March that its deteriorating financial performance might force it to shut down.
"It's a tough time to be a (department) store," Citi said in an analyst note.


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Meandering through a Mill Valley supermarket on Monday, Carter Collins shovels a slice of pizza from the hot food bar into a to-go container and then, when nobody is looking, slips a 1952 half-dollar coin between packs of organic corn tortillas.
He hides another, from 1964, behind a hunk of cheese, and a third, from that same year, on a shelf among cartons of lactose-free milk. He wends his way to the checkout line and pays for his dinner with a wad of bills that has been around since Harry Truman was in the Oval Office.
If they’re paying attention, a few lucky shoppers will stumble upon the rare, old money and walk away from their grocery outings with a sense of excitement — or so Collins hopes.
The “Great American Coin Hunt” officially launched on Sunday. Over the course of a week, the U.S. Mint and hundreds of collectors nationwide will put old coins into circulation. For some, the goal is to attract new customers. For others, it’s an excuse to have some fun.
“Why not?” Collins explained. “It sparks interest. People are always curious.”
Collins, who opened Collectible Coins and Jewelry in Mill Valley 26 years ago, has been doing this for decades. He buys, sells and sometimes hoards rare items at his storefront on Shoreline Highway and has a habit of hiding old money in unexpected places. But this week, he’s not the only numismatist who’s scattering treasure.
“It’s an innovative idea and it’s a win-win for everybody,” said Don Kagin, a collectibles dealer with an office in Tiburon. “We need to find ways to bring a new generation into our hobby.”
Kagin’s plan on Monday was to visit a variety of stores on the Tiburon Peninsula and spend old money. He was prepared to spend at least one coin worth upward of $100.
“Keep your eyes open,” he said, “for anything that looks different or shiny.”
Roger Tobin, owner of San Rafael Rare Coin Co., was still formulating his strategy for the coin hunt on Monday.
He, too, spends old money “from time to time” with the hope of generating new interest in his hobby. The organized hunt, which is the first of its kind, is a great excuse to get into the spirit, he said.
“It’s always good to get young people involved,” he said.
The value of most old coins comes from the metal they’re made with, according to Collins. Dimes, quarters and half-dollar coins made before 1964 are 90 percent silver, he said, as an example. At his shop, the dimes and quarters sell for around $3 and the half-dollars sell for $7.
“In 1964, this bought about a gallon of gas,” he said, holding up an old quarter. “Today, it’s still worth a gallon of gas.”
Coins and bills that are especially rare may be worth more because of the value that collectors place on them, Collins said.
Occasionally, a customer will come into the Mill Valley store to sell a coin that Collins himself put into circulation. But that’s becoming increasingly rare, Collins said, despite him doling out old change as much as he always has. He wonders whether the average person’s attention to detail has shrunk. He asks: Do kids these days look up from their screens?
Whatever the reason, he’s not sweating it. Coin sales amount to pocket change for his business, which focuses on larger items, like pocket watches, vintage handguns, sterling silver kitchenware and jewelry.
He collects just about anything — “if it tickles my fancy,” he said.
Among sacks of old pennies, he stores a 17th century Persian battle helmet and shield inside a glass cabinet in his shop. The $3,200 set isn’t for sale.
“I have the stupidest stuff sometimes,” he said. “But it’s just fun to own.”


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(AP) — AutoNation Inc., the largest car dealer chain in the U.S., says it expects shortages of Japanese-brand cars in the spring and summer following last month's earthquake and tsunami.
CEO Mike Jackson says his company expects disruptions at factories to limit the availability of vehicles from Japanese automakers.
Even so, Jackson expects the U.S. auto market to keep recovering through the end of this year. He says AutoNation, headquartered in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., will manage through any shortfalls.
More than half of AutoNation's new vehicle sales last year came from cars and trucks made by Japanese manufacturers. About two thirds of those vehicles were assembled in North America.
Jackson says that the situation in Japan is still developing and the impact is difficult to predict.