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Napa Humane offers free microchipping to celebrate National Pet ID Week
Napa County residents can get their dogs, cats, and rabbits microchipped for free on Friday, April 19, as a celebration of National Pet ID Week.
Locals can drop by 3265 California Blvd. between 9:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. for free microchipping and chip registration, as well as low-cost vaccinations.
Napa Humane encourages all local pet owners to microchip their companion animals, and keep their contact information up to date in the microchip registry. You never know when a disaster—or just a faulty screen door—may cause your pet to disappear into the world.
Just one of every five lost dogs will reunite with their owners without a microchip, but chipped dogs make it home more than half the time. Not even two lost cats in 100 will find their way home without a microchip, but chipped cats are more than 20 times more likely to be reunited with their people.
A microchip is a small rice-sized device with a unique identifying code that can be read with an electronic scanner. Veterinarians inject microchips under the skin, between the animal’s shoulder blades. The process is quick, permanent, and virtually painless for your pet.
For more information about Napa Humane’s microchipping services, please visit www.napahumane.org/program_microchipping.html or call 707-252-7442 x 200.


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#TrickOrCovid Korea Embracing Covid Surge From Halloween
It's the ratchets vs the world
Why anyone would like to ratchet out for a holiday made up to sell tootsie rolls during a pandemic are beyond me but Korea is currently amping up their police pretense in locations prone to 'tricks and treats'. Currently Korea is embracing large gatherings for Halloween. Essentially Hondae, Gangnam, and Itaewon will be on strict lockdown. Stay safe, don't be stupid.

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Getting your awesome invention from scribble to prototype to store shelves is often no simple task, but one company that promised to help amateur inventors patent and market their creation has been shut down by a federal court after being accused of bilking millions of dollars from its clients.
The Federal Trade Commission announced today that a U.S. District Court judge in Florida granted the government’s request to halt the operations of World Patent Marketing. The FTC alleges that the company deceived customers and threatened them with lawsuits if they filed complaints about the business.
According to the FTC complaint [PDF], since Feb. 2014 Florida-Based World Patent Marketing and Desa Industries, Inc. — owned by Scott Cooper — marketed and sold research, patenting, and invention-promotion services to inventors who wanted to profit from their ideas for inventions.
The company allegedly used bogus “success stories” and testimonials in order to promote their ability to market prospective customers’ inventions.
However, the FTC claims that many of the inventors featured in the company’s success stories wrote the testimonials shortly after signing on with the company, before they actually had time to evaluate World Patent Marketing’s business.
Potential World Patent customers who saw these ads would contact the company, where a sales rep would ask for a description of the invention. The FTC claims that, regardless of what the customer said, the rep would invariably praise the idea before explaining that a “board” or “team” needed to give their approval to move forward.
At this point, the company would direct prospective customers to submit written descriptions and drawings of their inventions.
The salesperson would then call the customer back with the news that the company wanted to move forward with the product. But to do this, says the FTC, the customer would be required to spend up to $1,295 for a “Global Invention Royalty Analysis” or similar report.
Several weeks later, the report would materialize describing the product as patentable and marketable.
Salespeople would then sell customers “packages” ranging from $7,995 to $64,995 for varying levels of patent protection and invention-promotion services, including 3D renderings, website design, exhibiting inventions at trade shows, and on-going support from a personal licensing agent.
The sales process, the FTC claims, would drag on for months or even years, with the company never delivering what they promised.
When customers attempted to complain about World Patent Marketing’s business practices — such as posting complaints on the internet, with the Better Business Bureau or law enforcement — the company would respond by threatening to file a lawsuit for extortion, defamation, and other causes of action.
In one case, a customer who sought a refund and filed a complaint with the Better Business Bureau received a letter from the defendants’ lawyer.
The letter stated that seeking a refund was extortion under Florida law and, “since you used email to make your threats, you would be subject to a federal extortion charge, which carries a term of imprisonment of up to two years and potential criminal fines.”
The FTC is seeking to permanently halt World Patent Marketing’s operations and return funds to consumers.


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There is nothing particularly sporting about it but the Olympic podium model for providing future subsidies looks the best option for specialist Scottish beef producers, according to Scottish Rural College beef specialist Douglas Bell.
The move to area support payments after January 2015 under the next common agricultural policy is causing angst in every sector of Scottish farming but none more so than in the beef sector where the sweeping away of historic subsidy payments will see many cattle producers lose out financially.
In future, the support will be based on land use and type. Under what is described as an Olympic podium model of support, weightings can then be introduced to these land types which would favour livestock production.
“This could see less money going to arable land and more to grassland,” said Bell.
“I am sure the arable farmers will want a bigger share of the cash but as far as livestock farming is concerned, and especially beef production, this option looks better than the rest.
“It does depend on the level of additional money that would be given to the various categories but I believe it is as good as we will get for beef production.”
Just how the land will be classified has still to be decided but Bell said there seemed to be a bit of a head of steam behind using existing information on the integrated administrative control system forms that farmers have filled in for the past decade.
Bell was speaking at Thainstone at the first of a series of meetings organised by the Scottish Beef Association (SBA) which association chairman Scott Henderson said were designed to check out members’ views on future support.
So far, SBA policy has been based on extra support linked to cattle numbers, so called coupled support, but this has received little support from the UK government who are the primary negotiators in Brussels.
Henderson said they were not abandoning the coupled support policy but pointed out that, when the Scottish beef calf scheme – which is the only current example of coupled support – was introduced at the last CAP, a number of producers took exception to it.
“We have not shifted our position but we wanted to make sure we were on the right lines,” he said. “If we are pushing for enhanced coupled support we want to make sure that is what producers want.”
He disputed a suggestion that, with beef prices reaching new heights, the call for additional support had been weakened.
“Although beef prices have improved, margins have not. Store prices are in line with last year,” he concluded.


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Posted on May 6, 2014 AT 07:39am
Microsoft’s E3 2014 media briefing will take place on June 9 at 9:30 a.m. PDT, Microsoft’s Larry “Major Nelson” Hryb has confirmed.
The media briefing is titled “Xbox: Game On,” and during it viewers will be “treated to everything from in-depth looks at previously announced games to trailers for our unannounced games coming in 2014 and beyond.”
A livestream of the event, plus pre-show, will be available from 9:00 a.m. PDT on June 9 via Xbox.com, Xbox Live, and Windows Phone. The actual event is also available on Spike TV in the U.S. and Canada from 9:30 a.m. PDT.
“We’re also planning a number of fan-centric events both before and after Xbox: Game On for those fans that are in LA and for those who are watching around the world,” Hryb added. “Stay tuned for more details on those activities as we get closer to E3!”
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Published: 2020-12-01 09:48
Last Updated: 2021-04-22 17:34
Sales in restaurants and cafes in Jordan have declined 65 percent, said the spokesperson for the affected sectors of restaurants and cafes, Adel Jaber on Roya's Nabd Albalad Monday.
Jaber added that restaurants and cafes should be permitted to serve shisha again, noting that there is no life for these sectors without serving shisha.
Additionally, Jaber called for canceling Friday lockdown, and reducing curfew hours.
However, the Head of the Parliamentary Health and Environment Committee Issa Khashashneh said that shisha increases the spread of the coronavirus, stressing that he is against serving shisha in restaurants and cafes.
The Head of the Restaurant Owners Syndicate Omar Al-Awwad said that restaurants and cafes have been destroyed due to the decisions made by the government.
Awwad told Roya that the Friday lockdown has affected the restaurants sector by up to 90 percent.
He added that there are approximately 4,000 restaurants that closed, and about 6,000 restaurants were put up for sale in Jordan.
Awwad said a suggestion has been made to the government to keep the delivery service until after 9pm.


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SPORT AUTHORITY INCREASES WOMEN’S MIX
Byline: Katherine Bowers
LAS VEGAS — The Sports Authority will increase the women’s portion of its apparel mix to 50 percent and greatly expand women’s apparel’s visibility in remodeled stores this year.
Marty Hanaka, chairman and chief executive officer of The Sports Authority, told an audience at the Super Show that the company, which has traditionally carried 65 percent men’s apparel and 35 percent women’s apparel. To help bring the ratio to 50-50, a new private label women’s basics line will be available in stores for fall.
Hanaka highlighted the retailer’s aggressive plans for women’s apparel as it focuses on renovation, rather than construction, during a presentation Monday as part of Financial Day, a Goldman Sachs-sponsored event at the Super Show. The show closes a four-day run Wednesday at the Sands Expo.
Hanaka said the Fort Lauderdale, Fla.-based operator of 198 sporting goods stores returned to profitability this past year by closing 28 units and remodeling existing stores. “The industry was overstored and certainly we were a part of it,” he said.
For fiscal 2001, there are no plans to open any new stores, but 12 stores are slated for renovation with women’s wear a centerpiece of those efforts. Comp-store increases are projected to be in the low-single digits.
He cited women’s apparel as a key growth driver for the firm.
As of the fourth quarter of 2000, “for the first time, women’s [apparel] is beating men’s day after day,” he said.
Led by Nike, Adidas and Reebok, sales for women’s apparel climbed slightly more than 20 percent. Danskin, Everlast, Columbia and Marika also turned in strong performances, he said.
The Sports Authority plans to incorporate new merchandising to improve presentation. “Women’s [apparel] comes front and center [in remodeled stores.] We’ve added tables to fold [clothes] and size better,” Hanaka said. “We’ve moved out dressing rooms to the front of the store, so women don’t have to walk a hundred yards back to some dark closet.”
The Sports Authority had been hurt by larger market trends, such as declining sports participation and retail oversaturation. A recent shakeout in retailers that carry sporting goods — including Bradlees, Wards and Nevada Bob’s — has eased those pressures, Hanaka said.
For fiscal 2000, comp-store sales rose 1.5 percent, the first such increase in four years. Earnings before interest, taxes, debt and amortization will be slightly more than $60 million and earnings will exceed 15 cents per share, according to chief financial officer George Mihalko.
Hanaka said the company’s all-time high of $80 million EBITDA is “within our reach for 2001.”
For the 39 weeks ended Oct. 28, The Sports Authority had a net income of $12.5 million on sales that were up slightly to $1.08 billion, versus a prior-year loss.


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Two gun safety groups and the father of a mass shooting victim asked the Federal Trade Commission to stop firearms manufacturer Smith & Wesson from using “deceptive and unfair” marketing to promote assault-style rifles, the New York Times reports. Fred Guttenberg, whose 14-year-old daughter, Jaime, died in the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School massacre in Parkland, Fl., joined with Brady and Everytown for Gun Safety to send a complaint to the Federal Trade Commission. Guttenberg and the gun control groups said Smith & Wesson mimicked first-person-shooter video games in its advertising materials to attract adolescents and young adults. They said the marketing of the company’s AR-15-style guns “attracts, encourages and facilitates mass shooters” and “played a significant role” in the Parkland shooting.
Smith & Wesson made the M&P15 .223 rifle used by the 19-year-old shooter in the 2018 Parkland massacre. The complaint urged the federal agency to require that the company include warnings in some of its marketing materials. The complainants argued that the commission should prohibit the M&P (“military and police”) brand from making use of imagery associated with the military and law enforcement to sell its products to civilians. M&P rifles have been used in several mass shootings, including Aurora, Co., in 2012; San Bernardino, Ca., in 2015; and in Poway, Ca., last year. The FTC has dealt with few cases involving how guns are advertised.


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The 7th edition of the show will provide a myriad of possibilities for both new and existing players in the LED industry, and will offer them a platform to increase their market visibility.
BANGKOK, Thailand – Nov. 26, 2018 – PRLog — Over the years, LED Expo Thailand has carved out a niche for itself in the industry. Now, the show is coming up with yet another exciting edition that will open up the doors of opportunity for various stakeholders in the area of LED lighting. This year, there is one more reason to participate as the exhibitors have added a new chapter labeled ‘Light ASEAN’ to the annual exhibition.
The newly christened LED Expo Thailand + Light ASEAN attracts visitors from varied spheres including government agencies and state enterprises, architects, lighting industry professionals, real estate companies, manufacturing companies, hospitality players, signage companies etc to explore the use of LED for various applications in commercial space.
The Expo is aimed at showcasing innovations in lighting around the world as well as various applications of lights and lighting products integrated with smart technology & entertainment. It will feature LED technology & products, solar products, LED signages, LED technology for agriculture etc.
The LED industry is very dynamic as new technological innovations keep happening at a rapid pace. In such an industry, one needs to be constantly updated and connected to outdo their rivals. Thus, LED Expo Thailand acts as a great place for networking that enables companies to generate new sales leads, achieve closures, seek local partners, and maximise their business potential.
At LED Expo Thailand, exhibitors would be able to increase their presence by gaining access to ASEAN markets. It would offer a fantastic opportunity for companies seeking to enter South East Asian market to congregate and partner with LED players in that region. There is a huge market potential in ASEAN region, and by being a part of this Expo, companies can easily tap into it.
The 2018 edition of the event witnessed the presence of 243 exhibitors from 12 countries showcasing their products to 12,347 visitors from 47 countries along with 656 business meetings, establishing a multitude of new trade partnerships. Also, the Thailand LED Summit was attended by 938 delegates & iLight Connect International Summit was attended by 100 delegates. The 2019 edition is expected to welcome 250+ exhibitors catering to the sourcing needs of more than 15,000 visitors from all across the world.
The global LED lighting market is expected to reach USD 54.28 billion by 2022; growing at a CAGR of around 13 percent between 2017 and 2022. Thailand’s LED lighting market accounts for 12 percent of the total lighting market share with a projected growth rate of CAGR 30 percent during 2015-2020.
This zone highlights high performance Solar LED products, services and technologies for housing, commercial and industrial sectors.
A special pavilion for new technologies that would bring forth smart lighting innovation for factory, building and streets, displaying latest innovations and system applications, as how technology can play part in making smart cities.
It is a conference on LED lighting products and technology, steered by a committee of experts. The topics will cover trends in LED lighting technology, lighting standard, government support policies and design solution.
A platform to facilitate the display of innovative and trending LED signage with applications in retail, hospitality and government sectors.
A specific zone highlighting high performance PCB technology, products and services.
About The Organisers:
MEX Exhibitions Pvt. Ltd.
MEX Exhibitions Pvt. Ltd. is an international exhibition company with a strong presence of over four decades in the advertising industry, over 20 years in publishing & 16 years in exhibitions. The company has produced more than 100 market-leading trade exhibitions for various segments in addition to publishing various magazines & advertising trade directories of repute. Successful exhibitions are conducted all over India, Dubai, Singapore, Thailand and now in Africa.
IMPACT Exhibition Management Co., Ltd.
IMPACT Exhibition Management Co., Ltd. is the leading exhibition organiser in Thailand. IMPACT organises and manages professional trade and public exhibitions, conferences, meetings and trainings, working hand-in-hand with international trade associations, organisers and corporations across a broad spectrum of industries.
IMPACT creates effective market platforms and offers a comprehensive range of turnkey event management solutions ranging from market research, exhibition and visitor promotion and sales, advertising and promotion, public relations, operation to on-site logistic management for exhibitions and conferences of all sizes and industries. It also specialises in business matching programs.


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San Diego, CA (PRWEB) October 16, 2008
Targa Trophy, an unprecedented road rally featuring exceptional luxury automotive vehicles, cutting edge event venues and a diverse demographic of social tastemakers, automotive enthusiasts and luxury brands rolls into Los Angeles on Saturday October 25, 2008 for its second annual Southern California appearance. Produced by Overell, Inc., the event was conceived to honor the world's most prestigious road rallies and is distinguished by its emphasis on connoiseurship, excellence and luxury. For this installment, the Targa Trophy is comprised of a one-day driving extravaganza from Los Angeles to Santa Barbara and back, combining the experience of driving some of Southern California's most challenging roads and the opportunity to showcase the world's most well-appointed, road rally worthy automobiles.
Event festivities will commence at the renowned Fred Segal store on Melrose, a high-end lifestyle shopping experience known for its trend setting merchandise and A-list clientele. Outside of the boutique, exotic cars and an impressive array of luxury lifestyle and premier auto-industry companies will be on display for public view as drivers and their entourage prepare for the rally's 9 a.m. shotgun start. Amongst the brands that have joined forces for the rally are: Symbolic International, a world leader of dealers specializing in vintage and historic sports and competition vehicles; Global Motorsports Group (GMG), the West Coast's top performance tuner for Porsche, Ferrari, Audi, Lamborghini and BMW; Sparco, the world leader in racing safety equipment and performance after market parts for sports cars, and Quintessentially, a worldwide luxury concierge for unique individuals and businesses.
Once the shotgun sounds, over 100 supercars will wind northward on a pre-determined and formidable road course towards their midway destination: the sprawling, beachfront Bacara Resort & Spa in Santa Barbara. This three-hour stop allows ralliers optimal time to enjoy the lavish grounds and hotel amenities before embarking on the final leg of the rally back to Los Angeles.
Drivers will finish in style as they cruise back into Los Angeles, ending at West Hollywood's posh Mondrian hotel. Rally participants and guests will be wined and dined poolside at the Sky Bar for an intimate after-party complete with summer-inspired fare and cocktails. Here, the motorist who beats a previously determined, undisclosed time will be announced and awarded with a one-of-a-kind diamond ring from the LUZ Collection created by Houmon of Coronado, CA. The ring's four-sided, ergonomic design, as with all of Houmon's jewelry, was guided by passion and emotions. The magnificent LUZ Collection has accessorized recent Fashion Weeks and is donned by celebrities such as Kid Rock.
For more information on or to register for the Targa Trophy Road Rally, please visit Targa Trophy.
About Overell, Inc.
Building upon over a decade of industry knowledge, Overell Inc. has established itself as a leader in the nightlife marketing and lifestyle event planning industry. Nightlife visionary Jason Overell founded the company in 2002 and has since established a steady following of thousands of top tier, influential businesspeople and tastemakers who he regularly packs into Southern California's finest venues. Beyond the masses, it's Overell Inc.'s relationships with the foremost luxury brands and imagemakers -- such as Revlon, Lamborghini, Moet Chandon and W Hotels -- and creativity in identifying underserved, niche markets and an array of services including image branding, lifestyle marketing and event conceptualization, planning and implementation that keeps the client roster full. Overell, Inc.'s newest venture, the Targa Trophy, a one-day road rally that debuted in San Diego in late 2007, will make its first appearance in Los Angeles and Santa Barbara in October 2008. For more information on Overell Inc., visit http://www.overellinc.com .
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NASCAR officially banned the Confederate flag on Wednesday. It will no longer be allowed to appear in regard to any of its corporate properties and fans won’t be able to bring any iconography that might stoke racial tensions or a suspect “yee-haw” from the crowd.
For years, the sport has made unsuccessful efforts to broaden its appeal, so this is hardly a surprise given everything else that’s going on. In fact, an unofficial initiative attempted to ban the flag back in 2015. It never went anywhere, though, and fans continued to arrive with the Stars and Bars in roughly the same numbers.
This time around, the corporate stance is much stronger, and with more public support behind it. Additionally, NASCAR has decided that racing teams will no longer be obligated to stand for the American flag (the supposedly better one) during the national anthem.
Dave M.I will say this generation styling has grown on me; previously I thought the Fiat version was far better looking. Miatas have always been pure joy to drive.
KendahlA Tesla feature has been free, periodic, over-the-air, software updates that add new features or improve existing ones. Owners brag that their x-year-old car is better today, because of the updates, than it was brand new. Will Tesla start charging for these updates after a few years? Teslas hold their value very well. I suspect losing free updates will do serious damage to that.
BklynPeteWhen I was a kid, the joke about Nissan choosing the name Datsun goes like this:Nissan execs were uncomfortable with the World War 2 connotations of their name in the North American market. Seeing how successful VW was over here, they went to VW's most-recent German ad agency. The Japanese told the Germans they needed a new name. The Germans agreed. They asked the Nissan execs when they wanted a review of potential names. The execs said two weeks. The German ad people said, "dat soon?"I will be crucified.
KendahlModern cars are better mechanically in every way compared to cars from the 1960s. But, and my age is probably showing here, the older ones are prettier.
Master BaiterI like the references to Red Barchetta. My fun car is a spiritual cousin to this Miata: 2001 BMW M Roadster--green with tan leather; five speed.


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Chinese brands took their largest ever slice of the $10-billion Indian smartphone market in late2016, accounting for more than one in every two phones sold - a growing market share that ate into sales from top-selling Samsung Electronics.
Samsung, the single most popular smartphone brand in India, commanded a roughly 30 percent market share just over a year ago. That slipped to 21 percent in November,according to tech research firm Counterpoint, the last month for which data is available.
Thanks to low cost, improved technology and an advertising blitz, Chinese brands like Oppo, Lenovo,OnePlus and Gionee took a combined share of over 50 per cent, compared with just 19 per cent a year ago.
“Chinese brands are offering quality that is at par with Samsung, at a better price,” said Manish Khatri, who owns two multi-brand smartphone outlets in Mumbai. “Of every 10 phones I sell, almost six to seven are now Chinese brands.”
Celebrity endorsements from Bollywood actors like Hrithik Roshan and Ranveer Singh, along with huge sponsorship campaigns by brands such as Oppo and Gionee of the wildly popular Indian Premier League cricket franchise have helped improve perception of Chinese brands — once derided for their low quality.
“In a country like India, there are two religions — one is Bollywood and the second is cricket,” said Arvind R Vohra, Gionee's India head, noting that both avenues have helped popularize its brand.
Chinese brand executives said innovative product features such as powerful selfie cameras with flash, quicker charging and longer-lasting batteries have helped them thrive in India, one of the world’s fastest growing smartphone markets.
In the large and ultra-competitive $120 to $440 mid-market smartphone segment, Chinese vendors have more than doubled their market share to 68 per cent, while Samsung has lost 14 percentage points since November 2015, according to Counterpoint.
“Being a global company is Samsung's biggest curse,” says Neil Shah of Counterpoint, adding Samsung cannot compete on price like their Chinese rivals, who are focused more on low-cost markets. He said Chinese vendors’ access to low-cost components and their expertise in designing metal casing for cheap phones has let brands like Oppo, OnePlus and Lenovo offer better quality products than Samsung. — Reuters


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1. HOW THE TONY AWARDS' PRODUCTION DUO MAKE THE CEREMONY HAPPEN: Ricky Kirshner and Glenn Weiss have produced the Tony Awards for more than 15 years. The duo recently discussed what goes into planning the ceremony, which will take place Sunday at Radio City Music Hall. Broadway News: “One trick: adding a false proscenium to reduce the size of the 100-foot-wide stage, so that the musical numbers do not look dwarfed by their surroundings. With that issue behind them, Kirshner and Weiss are concentrated on overseeing more than 700 people inside the house, from stagehands to production staff and cast members, in addition to nailing down the running order and making sure hosts Sara Bareilles and Josh Groban have moments to shine. Weiss, who is also directing the Tony Awards show, and Kirshner have been preparing for the awards show all season, as they both try to see every Broadway show when it opens to pick out a possible number for the broadcast. Broadway News: What are the particular challenges of producing and directing the Tony Awards?“ Weiss added: “I direct the Oscars. I directed the Emmys. Those shows have a much longer period of time between nominations and shows, and on top of that, those shows are not necessarily performance-dependent on the nominations. So this is really a unique vehicle where there’s a really concentrated time period to mount pretty large scale productions, and the challenges are not just in us sitting here coming up with what song or what order, but the bigger part of it is the huge, huge logistics surrounding this, and getting casts in and out of the theater, having them change at their theater, but be bussed to Radio City." https://bit.ly/2LllHGU
2. SEPHORA TO LAUNCH BEAUTY CONVENTION: Makeup brand Sephora is launching its own beauty convention this fall. Business of Fashion: “The massive LVMH-owned specialty multi-brand retailer is constructing a multi-room 'House of Beauty' over two days in October in Los Angeles with installations from over 50 brands for consumers willing to pay between about $100 and $500 to explore and shop. The beauty events market is dominated by Beautycon, the festival for beauty obsessives that brings together shoppers, digital influencers and celebrities, sponsored by up-and-coming and major brands. Originally an industry event, Beautycon opened to consumers in 2014. Chief executive Moj Mahdara has since turned the event into the foundation of a media company that helps brands connect with younger generations of consumers. Beautycon Media has raised $9 million and its investors include A+E Networks, CAA, Hearst Media and Hong Kong-based entrepreneur Adrian Cheng. While Sephora cannot confirm which brands will participate in Sephoria, the retailer will likely draw on the many prestige brands in its portfolio, especially the LVMH-owned ones such as Rihanna’s Fenty Beauty. Sephora is also joining a host of retailers in creating experiences for customers that go beyond shopping in a conventional store. The goal with Sephoria is to build community and give customers a fun, interactive experience—'lots of juicy experiences that she’s can snap and share and wow her social community with,' said Deborah Yeh, senior vice president of marketing and brand at Sephora. 'We’ve been dreaming about something like this for awhile.' Just as beauty brand conglomerates are facing competition from upstart digital brands that are winning consumers through fresh approaches to marketing, distribution and product development, so too is Sephora facing market pressure to cement its status as a leading specialty beauty retailer with a splashy large-scale event." https://bit.ly/2JsbRWt
3. SUPREME COURT RULES FOR COLORADO BAKER WHO REFUSED TO MAKE SAME-SEX WEDDING CAKE: The Supreme Court ruled 7-2 in favor of a Colorado baker who declined to bake a cake for a same sex couple, citing his religious beliefs. CNN: “The court held that the Colorado Civil Rights Commission showed hostility toward the baker based on his religious beliefs. The ruling is a win for baker Jack Phillips, who cited his beliefs as a Christian, but leaves unsettled broader constitutional questions on religious liberty. ‘Today's decision is remarkably narrow, and leaves for another day virtually all of the major constitutional questions that this case presented,’ said Steve Vladeck, CNN Supreme Court analyst and professor at the University of Texas School of Law. ‘It's hard to see the decision setting a precedent.’ The ruling, written by Justice Anthony Kennedy, held that members of the Colorado Civil Rights Commission showed animus toward Phillips specifically when they suggested his claims of religious freedom were made to justify discrimination. The case was one of the most anticipated rulings of the term and was considered by some as a follow-up from the court's decision three years ago to clear the way for same-sex marriage nationwide. That opinion, also written by Kennedy, expressed respect for those with religious objections to gay marriage.” https://cnn.it/2J82g7P
4. SEE THE DECOR AT THIS YEAR'S C.F.D.A. AWARDS: For the first time in its 37-year history, the C.F.D.A. Fashion Awards took place in Brooklyn at the Brooklyn Museum. The decor at the event Monday night was eye-catching and eco-friendly. Vogue: “The graphic black and white textile, created by Aquafil and Eco Age, was woven with what was once waste from our oceans and landfills. 'The carpet on the floor tonight came from fishing nets and used carpets,' explained Giulio Bonazzi, CEO of Aquafil. The fiber, called ECONYL® regenerated nylon (now in use by brands like Gucci, Stella McCartney, and H&M), can be recycled infinitely without ever losing its quality. And Aquafil intends to do just that. 'After the ceremony, the intention is to reuse it,” Bonazzi continues. “To walk on it for just a few hours and not repurpose the product does not make sense, ethically.' After arrivals, showgoers, which included the likes of Diane von Furstenberg, Edward Enninful, Virgil Abloh, Aurora James and Thom Browne, made their way to the museum’s Beaux Arts Court for the evening's dinner and awards ceremony. The decor at the awards was spirited and colorful and was inspired by much of the artwork in the museum's nearby galleries. On the tables, organic-shaped resin placemats in shades of blue and green were inspired by Calder and Matisse and centerpieces evoked Dutch still lifes as Stefan Beckman, the Awards Creative Director of Stage Design & Décor, explained. 'The decor for the tabletop was a giant fruit bowl with summer fruits like cherries, clementines, and kumquats crystallized by Swarovski,' said Beckman. ... Another artist was called upon in the creation of the awards; Brooklyn-based Christina Zimpel provided all the graphics throughout the night. On the stage, in lieu of photographic representations of all the nominees and honorees, Zimpel's expressive drawings were projected. Her artful portraits of Tom Ford, the Brock designers, Donatella Versace, and more added a touch more playfulness to the night." https://bit.ly/2sIyong
* LOCAL NEWS *
COAST TO COAST: Mystery Science Theater’s 30th Anniversary Tour will take place October 9-November 17, with 42 shows hitting 29 cities including Portland, Maine, Boston, Washington, New York, Dallas, Los Angeles, Seattle, Chicago, and Minneapolis. The comedy TV series tour will bring back original host and creator Joel Hodgson for the first time in 25 years.
DETROIT: The National Black MBA Association’s 40th annual Conference and Exhibition will take place September 25-29.
HOUSTON: Hospitality company Benchmark has made an investment in United Kingdom-based non-residential meetings company Etc.Venues, which has 15 properties in London, Birmingham, and Manchester. The investment has expanded Benchmark’s reach to more than 80 locations across North America, the Caribbean, Japan, and the U.K.
LOS ANGELES: Limited Runs, an independent seller of vintage posters, photography, and pop culture art, will host the inaugural Pop Art Photo Show September 27-30 at Barker Hangar.
For information on upcoming events in Los Angeles, visit Masterplanner: http://www.masterplanneronline.com/losangeles
MIAMI/SOUTH FLORIDA: East, Miami hotel is celebrating its two-year anniversary tonight with a party inviting guests to wear all black or all white.
NASHVILLE: Live music event platform Bandsintown announced a partnership with CMT on Monday, which will involve CMT hosting free music events in Nashville this week that will lead up to the CMT Music Awards on Wednesday. Fans can track the free shows through an in-app guide from Bandsintown.
NEW YORK: Sing for Hope—a nonprofit that offers arts outreach programs to under-resourced schools, hospitals, veteran centers, refugee sites, and more locations in need—launched its Sing for Hope Pianos event on Monday, running through June 24. The event will bring 51 pianos to public spaces across the five boroughs, including a colorful piano on wheels provided by title sponsor Mini.
GalaPro, a developer of automated accessibility and translation technology for live events, has been chosen as the official accessibility provider for the 72nd annual Tony Awards. The ceremony takes place June 10 at Radio City Music Hall.
Miami-based event designer and wedding planner Guerdy Abraira is expanding her services to Manhattan, Brooklyn, and the Hamptons beginning this month. To launch her New York presence, Abraira will collaborate with David Beahm for a wedding on June 16 at the 1 Hotel Brooklyn.
Kyma Flatiron, a Greek restaurant from restaurateur Reno Christou, has opened. The new restaurant features a Greek Islands-inspired design aesthetic similar to its original location in Roslyn, and has a second floor available for full buyouts.
For information on upcoming events in New York, visit Masterplanner: http://www.masterplanneronline.com/newyork
PHILADELPHIA: Nicki Minaj, Post Malone, Janelle Monáe, and Miguel will perform at year’s Made in America festival, taking place September 1-2.
TORONTO: L’Oreal Professionel’s Hair Fashion Night will take place Thursday at the Symes. The event will feature a backstage-inspired hair styling experience, along with a makeup station from YSL Beauty, a photo booth, cocktails, and more.
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Blackhawk Engagement Solutions survey: Americans aware of energy-efficient products, need more information on the incentives for buying. Consumers are more likely to choose energy-efficient products if they know how to save more money by purchasing them. The survey asked 2,870 Americans about their awareness of and reasons for choosing energy-efficient products and services.
Nearly all U.S. consumers are familiar with energy-efficient products like light bulbs, appliances and heating and cooling equipment. However, only about half of Americans are aware of the additional savings that can accompany their purchases of these products, according to new shopper research from Blackhawk Engagement Solutions.
ÛÏUtility companies and retailers should place a larger focus on educating consumers on the many incentives and rebates available on energy-efficient products,Û said Rodney Mason, global vice president of marketing with Blackhawk Engagement Solutions, an international incentives and engagement company. ÛÏAlthough consumers feel good about doing the right thing for the planet, todayÛªs shopper is most highly motivated by price and value. The more consumers understand the many ways to save money by purchasing efficient products, the bigger the opportunity for increased sales and adoption.Û
Key findings from the energy efficiency shopper research include:
- Consumers know that energy-efficient products are available: 93% of shoppers are familiar with LED and CFL light bulbs and 84% are familiar with the government-backed ENERGY STAR label.
- Cost savings is the biggest purchase influencer: The top reason that consumers have or would purchase an energy-efficient product is because they are interested in long-term savings (81%). A significant, but smaller percentage reported that the top reason is that saving energy is important to them (71%).
- Awareness of energy-efficiency incentives is lacking: Although more than 4 out of 5 shoppers know about the available products, 53% of them are not aware of the additional savings that can accompany their purchases. Since saving money and energy is important to these consumers, the opportunity to save even more is sure to be appealing.
The research was conducted in late 2014 and surveyed nearly 3,000 Americans representative of U.S. demographics in both regulated and competitive utility markets.
AudienceSCAN data reveals that 18.5% of U.S. homeowners plan to buy major kitchen appliances (refrigerator, range, etc.) in the next 12 months. These home improvement/restoration-lovers (40%) are influenced by TV commercials they've seen in the past year (82%) but blogs incited 28.5% to start online searches.
Here's what likely major kitchen appliance buyers use to compare prices: Emailed news/offers (13.5%), Newspapers (11.7%) and Blogs (10.1%). Nearly 68% of this audience prefers to buy from a locally owned business when prices/products are the same. Hello, price-matching strategies!
AudienceSCAN data is available as part of a subscription to AdMall for Agencies. Media companies can access AudienceSCAN data through the Audience Intelligence Reports inåÊAdMall.


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When it comes to lingerie brands, there are not many in the world that are much bigger that Ultimo, which has given us some stunning models as the face of the brand over the years. The current face of Ultimo is the stunning British model Abbey Clancy, who recently took part in the latest Ultimo shoot and looked absolutely stunning in the latest lingerie range.
Abbey Clancy was modelling the new Olivia range, which Ultimo have decided to launch to celebrate the beginning of the festive season, in time for plenty of people to get some gorgeous lingerie in for the holiday period. The Olivia range boasts the innovatine Ultimo OMG cup, which is said to boost the cup size by two whole sizes. Nice!
Ultimo founder Michelle Mone said of the new range, "There’s no better way of enhancing your lingerie drawer than with a splash of colour – and this gorgeous new set is the perfect way to get into the festive spirit! Picking the right lingerie is as important as choosing the perfect party dress. It will ensure that you feel sexy and most importantly, comfortable and well supported. Good lingerie creates the perfect foundation underneath any outfit and will make the world of difference to how you look and feel."
As for Abbey Clancy herself, the model was sporting a new, darker blonde look that we are used to, while showing off her fantastic body, with washboard abs and legs that any model in the world would love to have. Abbey is up there with some of the most beautiful women in the world and Ultimo certainly chose wisely when making her their latest face of the brand.


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The list of members of the Board of the Exchange has trickled out into the public realm today. Although our wonderful Healthcare Advocate, Vicki Veltri, is automatically on the Board, of all of the appointed members -- both Democrat and Republican -- there is NOT ONE consumer representative -- not one.
The federal Exchange regulations say, in the preamble, as follows: "Exchanges are intended to support consumers, including small businesses, and as such, the majority of the voting members of governing boards should be individuals who represent their interests." 76 Fed. Reg. 41872 (7/15/2011). I don't know about you, but that surely reads to me as though there should be -- oh, I don't know, maybe ONE consumer representative on the Board? Maybe one public official could have appointed someone who would join Vicki Veltri in expressing the consumer point of view?
Even worse, although the statute says flat out that insurance company representatives cannot be on the Board of the Exchange, in fact, there are three (slightly) former insurance industry executives on the Board. Nobody on the Board is in favor of a public option, although here in Connecticut, the SustiNet Board is supposed to be studying the feasibility of a public option. In short, the deck is stacked against consumers. Apparently, nobody in Connecticut's government read the federal regulations.
In short, those who had the authority to appoint members of the Board of the Exchange have betrayed the trusts and undermined the interests of Connecticut consumers, thousands of whom are going to be purchasing their insurance through the Exchange. Nobody (besides Vicki Veltri) on the Board knows the obstacles consumers face and will speak for them. This is a travesty.
For those of you Connecticut consumers out there, now would be a really good time to get mad. Jennifer


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The world can be moving speedily towards virtual technology, numerous companies and institutions currently exploring the choices. In commercial real estate investment, VR may play an enormous role. The technology can be utilized both on-site and on the online world, and it could possibly show potential https://techspodcast.com/how-to-upgrade-avg-license-with-the-activation-code/ tenants what a space might appear like or simply how much a certain furniture piece would cost. It’s also changing the way people live in and use their homes. Luxurious properties may be advertised throughout the world with VR, and buyers can see what they’re obtaining before restoration begins.
VR is being employed in medical training, immersive writing, and advertising. It can also offer potential customers a chance to try on clothing and other items just before they order them. Police are also using VR in their training, letting them experience a real-life circumstance without starting the class room. This is showing to be a highly valuable tool in helping train long term law enforcement officers.
The biggest benefit for virtual technology is that it is typically easier to take care of and more protected than other technology. Most of the concerns people have regarding virtualization derive from a misunderstanding of the technology. As a result, it is necessary to educate yourself about electronic technology before making the move. You should also remember that migrations do not damage the source equipment. You should allow a virtual machine to sit down in place no less than a day to ensure everything is operating correctly.


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Amazon invited an agency executive to learn Alexa’s product road map at the company’s Seattle headquarters last spring. The major themes from multiple meetings with Alexa product managers throughout the day were how Amazon could direct individuals to discover and further use Alexa skills through the conversational interface; and what a paid model for skills promotion should be, according to this agency executive, who prefers anonymity given the business relationship with Amazon.
Three other agency executives agreed that skills discoverability is top of mind for Amazon in 2018, based on their conversations with the company. Two of them said Amazon is also looking to earn revenue from Alexa users through advertising, but the e-commerce giant hasn’t yet figured out how to inject advertising into a voice environment without compromising user experience.
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“Amazon has been working on a scoring and paid model for skills on the Alexa app for at least nine months,” said Michael Nicholas, co-founder and partner of artificial intelligence agency Born. “But the problem is how to make paid work. Amazon is rightly very protective of user experience — it won’t introduce any advertising on Echo until it is perfect.”
It’s hard to make paid voice-based search work because unlike a website page that lists many search results, a voice assistant like Alexa only presents one result at a time, said Nicholas. For instance, if an individual asks, “Alexa, how do I cook steak?” If Alexa only surfaces a paid option, it may come across like a hard sell. If Alexa recommends a mix of paid and unpaid yet relevant options concurrently, it would be too cumbersome for users. Either way, it will impair the Alexa user experience, according to Nicholas.
“If the first and only brand position is paid, why do I trust Alexa? Meanwhile, a paid result is not necessarily the most relevant, so you can’t rely on Alexa to make the decision,” he said. “There may be a way to do voice search, but as far as I know, Amazon hasn’t yet found a balance between what brands want to pay for versus what is natural to Alexa.”
Thomas Stelter, vp of emerging solutions for agency Possible, echoed that sentiment. “It’s a house of cards situation for Alexa,” he said. “There’s a strong [ad] demand, while consumers don’t want marketers to interrupt their experience.”
An Amazon spokesperson said that the company is not bringing advertising to Alexa.
It may be too early for Amazon to introduce ad products on Echo, but Amazon has focused on and will put more effort into skills discoverability this year, according to agency executives. There are tens of thousands of Alexa skills, but there’s no way for brands to advertise their skills on Echo or the Alexa app and further direct people to install their skills.
“As far as I know, Amazon is working to find ways to make discovery [of skills] easier, but a paid model is not the solution,” said Gela Fridman, managing director of technology for Huge. “The value proposition of Alexa is not an advertising platform — it is a voice assistant that provides utility on how brands engage with consumers.”
Nicholas, on the other hand, thinks Alexa could promote skills discovery by directing users to the Alexa app, where search advertising occurs. For instance, if an Echo user asks Alexa to order a pizza, Alexa could say, “Should I enable the Domino’s pizza skill, or do you want to order from other restaurants?” If it’s the latter, Alexa would direct the person to select a pizza skill on their mobile phone.
“Based on my conversations with Amazon, ultimately I think a lot of [search advertising] will happen on the phone,” he said. “[The Alexa app] will then be optimized like an app store with organic rankings and paid placements.”
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Zacks Investment Research cut shares of EnPro Industries (NYSE:NPO) from a buy rating to a sell rating in a report issued on Wednesday.
According to Zacks, “EnPro Industries, Inc. is a diversified manufacturer of proprietary engineered products used in critical applications. EnPro Industries are a leader in sealing technologies, metal polymer and filament wound bearings, components and service for reciprocating compressors, diesel and dual-fuel engines and other solutions that meet the needs of industries worldwide. EnPro Industries commitment to innovation, quality and value has propelled our brands to wide recognition and leading positions in their markets. EnPro businesses manufacture high quality products and provide high quality services to the customers. These products and services are sold into more than 40 distinct industries with thousands of applications, ranging from jet engines to chemical plants, oil wells to semiconductor clean rooms and Navy ships to tractor-trailer trucks. EnPro operates manufacturing facilities in North and South America, Europe and Asia. “
A number of other research firms have also recently commented on NPO. KeyCorp reiterated a hold rating on shares of EnPro Industries in a research report on Friday, October 20th. B. Riley set a $100.00 target price on EnPro Industries and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Tuesday, November 21st. Oppenheimer lifted their target price on EnPro Industries from $85.00 to $100.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research report on Thursday, December 14th. Finally, FBR & Co set a $100.00 target price on EnPro Industries and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Tuesday, October 31st. Two analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating and five have given a buy rating to the company’s stock. The stock has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $99.17.
EnPro Industries (NYSE:NPO) last posted its earnings results on Tuesday, February 13th. The industrial products company reported $0.67 EPS for the quarter, topping the Zacks’ consensus estimate of $0.65 by $0.02. EnPro Industries had a return on equity of 9.40% and a net margin of 40.39%. The business had revenue of $362.50 million for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $348.10 million. analysts anticipate that EnPro Industries will post 3.53 earnings per share for the current year.
EnPro Industries declared that its board has initiated a share buyback program on Monday, October 30th that authorizes the company to buyback $50.00 million in outstanding shares. This buyback authorization authorizes the industrial products company to buy shares of its stock through open market purchases. Shares buyback programs are typically an indication that the company’s leadership believes its stock is undervalued.
The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, March 21st. Investors of record on Wednesday, March 7th will be issued a dividend of $0.24 per share. This represents a $0.96 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.29%. This is a positive change from EnPro Industries’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.22. EnPro Industries’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 3.63%.
Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. California Public Employees Retirement System grew its holdings in shares of EnPro Industries by 0.3% during the second quarter. California Public Employees Retirement System now owns 71,500 shares of the industrial products company’s stock worth $5,103,000 after buying an additional 200 shares during the last quarter. Louisiana State Employees Retirement System grew its holdings in shares of EnPro Industries by 7.0% during the fourth quarter. Louisiana State Employees Retirement System now owns 9,200 shares of the industrial products company’s stock worth $860,000 after buying an additional 600 shares during the last quarter. Koch Industries Inc. grew its holdings in shares of EnPro Industries by 19.8% during the fourth quarter. Koch Industries Inc. now owns 3,837 shares of the industrial products company’s stock worth $359,000 after buying an additional 634 shares during the last quarter. Mutual of America Capital Management LLC grew its holdings in shares of EnPro Industries by 0.6% during the fourth quarter. Mutual of America Capital Management LLC now owns 111,577 shares of the industrial products company’s stock worth $10,434,000 after buying an additional 673 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Rhumbline Advisers grew its holdings in shares of EnPro Industries by 1.7% during the third quarter. Rhumbline Advisers now owns 44,106 shares of the industrial products company’s stock worth $3,552,000 after buying an additional 750 shares during the last quarter. 93.12% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.
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About EnPro Industries
EnPro Industries, Inc is engaged in the designing, developing, manufacturing and marketing engineered industrial products. It operates through three segments. The Sealing Products segment includes three operating divisions: Garlock, which designs, manufactures and sells sealing products; Technetics, which designs, manufactures and sells metal seals and elastomeric seals, among others, and Stemco LP (Stemco), which designs, manufactures and sells heavy-duty truck wheel-end components and systems.
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The Russian equipment rental market increased by 18 percent in 2013, according to RusRental, the Russian Rental Association. According to RusRental, the number of equipment rental companies is also growing. In December, RusRental published the Russian Rental Directory, which estimated close to 4,000 rental companies are doing business in the country, compared to about 1,000 in 2010.
Trends in 2013 included increasing competition in the rental market, with the growth of the small equipment and tools rental sector and the increasing interest in Russian rental companies on the part of equipment dealers and manufacturers. Also, 2013 was noteworthy for the increasingly active participation on the part of Russian rental companies in large infrastructure projects such as construction of the Olympic facilities in Sochi.
Small- and medium-sized Russian rental companies have started creating cooperative business unions to be able to take part in large projects and be more competitive. Russian rental companies from various regions of Russia have formed a RENTARUS Russian rental alliance. More information about the group is available at www.rentarus.ru.
The business union has enabled Russian rental companies to build relationships with dealers and manufacturers and organize joint equipment purchases. Some dealers, such as Komek Machinery, a Komatsu and Bomag dealer, have announced willingness to cooperate with the Rentarus alliance and provide its members with favorable terms for equipment purchases and re-rents.
RusRental expects continued growth and development in the Russian rental market in 2014.


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Shares of the following companies are having unusual moves in U.S. trading. Stock symbols are in parentheses and prices are as of 10:10 a.m. in New York.
Solar shares declined after Credit Suisse Group AG cut the industry’s recommendation to “market weight” from “overweight,” saying subsidy-driven demand can’t keep up with surging supply. First Solar Inc. (FSLR US) fell the most in the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index, losing 3.8 percent to $125.73. Renesola Ltd. (SOL US) dropped 7.1 percent to $9.12. Suntech Power Holdings Co. (STP US) slid 7 percent to $7.76. JA Solar Holdings Co. (JASO US) dropped 8 percent to $7.22. Trina Solar Ltd. (TSL US) retreated 5 percent to $22.51.
Bob Evans Farms Inc. (BOBE US) gained 6.7 percent to $31.81 after advancing as much as 7.7 percent, the most intraday since Dec. 4. The restaurant owner and sausage maker reported second- quarter sales that missed some analyst estimates, according to a Bloomberg survey.
Booz Allen Hamilton Holding Corp. (BAH US) jumped 9.9 percent to $18.69 on the first day of trading. The government- consulting firm acquired by Carlyle Group in 2008 raised $238 million in an initial public offering.
Chico’s FAS Inc. (CHS US) rose 7.3 percent to $10.81 after climbing 9.2 percent earlier, the most intraday since Sept. 14. The women’s clothing retailer reported third quarter earnings of 16 cents, beating the average analyst estimate by 1 cent. Sales were $483 million, higher than the $476.6 million projected by analysts.
China Digital TV Holding Co. (STV US) advanced 7.5 percent to $7.32 and increased 9.4 percent earlier, the most intraday since Oct. 14. The vendor of digital television software forecast fourth-quarter sales of at least $20.8 million. That beat the average analyst estimate of $16.1 million in a Bloomberg survey.
Comerica Inc. (CMA US) rose 2.1 percent to $37.51 and added 3.5 percent earlier, the most intraday since Nov. 5. The Dallas- based bank that posted annual profits throughout the financial crisis doubled its quarterly dividend to 10 cents and authorized the repurchase of up to 7 percent of shares outstanding.
CVR Energy Inc. (CVI US) fell 8.9 percent to $10.05 after dropping as much as 11 percent, the most intraday since November 2009. The Sugar Land, Texas-based oil refiner said shareholders including Goldman Sachs Group Inc. and Kelso & Co. will sell 15 million shares in a secondary public offering.
Duoyuan Global Water Inc. (DGW US) jumped 6.1 percent to $12.80 and climbed 11 percent earlier, the most intraday since Sept. 28. The Chinese water-treatment equipment supplier posted fourth quarter earnings of 55 cents a share, exceeding the 48- cent average estimate by analysts.
GameStop Corp. (GME US) rose the most in the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index, climbing 5.3 percent to $21.95. The world’s largest video-game retailer was boosted to “outperform” from “neutral” at Credit Suisse Group AG, which cited the company’s improving earnings outlook and “strong cash flow.”
The stock rallied earlier after winning a U.S. advisory panel’s backing together with GlaxoSmithKline Plc (GSK US) to sell the first new lupus drug, Benlysta, in more than 50 years. While the Food and Drug Administration isn’t required to follow its outside recommendations, it usually does.
Ladish Co. (LDSH US) had the biggest gain in the Russell 2000 Index, surging 56 percent to $45.74. The maker of products for jet engines agreed to be bought by Allegheny Technologies Inc. (ATI US) in a cash-and-stock transaction valued at $778 million. Allegheny slipped 1.9 percent to $49.
Merck & Co. (MRK US) rose the most in the Dow Jones Industrial Average, climbing 1.9 percent to $34.76. The company’s experimental drug, anacetrapib, raised levels of good cholesterol, slashed bad cholesterol and may have helped patients avert heart complications, without the safety risks that prompted Pfizer Inc. (PFE US) to abandon a similar product four years ago, according to a study funded by Whitehouse Station, New Jersey-based Merck.
Petroleum Development Corp. (PETD US) fell 6.8 percent to $34.03 and slipped to $33.96 earlier, the lowest intraday price since Nov. 3. The oil and gas company said it will offer $100 million of convertible notes due 2016 and 3 million shares. Proceeds will be used to fund an acquisition.
Rino International Corp. (RINO US) slumped 15 percent to $6.02 after tumbling to $5.68 earlier, the lowest intraday price since May 2009. The provider of water treatment systems for steelmakers postponed a conference call originally scheduled yesterday to discuss third-quarter earnings, without giving a reason. Faruqi & Faruqi LLP, a New York-based securities firm, said it’s investigating the company on behalf of shareholders on possible violations of the federal securities laws and breaches of fiduciary duties by its officers.
Target Corp. (TGT US) rose 3.1 percent to $55.21. The second-largest U.S. discount retailer posted a profit, excluding a tax gain, of 68 cents a share, matching the average analyst estimate.
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Piaggio are stepping up their efforts in the two-wheeler market, unveiling the Caponord 1200 Rally and now the 2015 Moto Guzzi V7 II too.
The 2015 V7 II does get a few geometrical changes which includes a further 4º degree tilt to the capable 744cc engine along with a 10mm drop in height giving the rider more leg-space. Safety too has been beefed up with dual-channel ABS brakes and traction control.
The other highlight is the all new close-ratio 6-speed gear box and a revised clutch, enhancing the bikes response and performance.
The 2015 Moto Guzzi V7 II will be available in all the three previous variants- Stone, Racer and Special and will be seen in the European showrooms by November 2014. While the company has not revealed the price yet, one thing’s for sure, the V7 II shall be showcased at the upcoming INTERMOT.
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Who wouldn’t want to live in Kansas? It’s a beautiful state with gorgeous scenery, baseball’s Royals and football’s Chiefs, the Museum of World Treasures, the Great Plains, stunning landscapes and, most importantly, very, very nice people.
But let’s face it: most of the state is rural. Kansas isn’t exactly Silicon Valley, New York, Austin or Miami or any number of places that routinely attract new businesses. And when existing businesses shut down oftentimes they are not replaced. As business owners in Kansas grow older (like the rest of the country), many desire to retire and sell their companies. Unfortunately, many of these would-be sellers–particularly the ones in the more rural parts of the state–are having a hard time attracting good buyers, let alone brokers to represent them. This is not good for them or the state’s economy.
But there’s hope. As reported in Yes Magazine, a non-profit organization supported by the University of Kansas is playing a growing role in matching those Kansasans who want to sell their business with would be buyers. Best of all – the matchmaking service is free.
Doug Funk, for example, has run his pharmacy in Concordia, Ks. (population 5,000) since 1985. Now in his 50’s, Funk is considering retirement. Unfortunately, Funk found it tough to hire a traditional business broker, who tend to stick to larger, more populated areas. Potential buyers of his business were, to him, undesirable.
“They basically wanted to steal it from me,” Funk says in Yes Magazine. “They wanted to pay a lot less than what it was worth.”
That’s when he stumbled on to the RedTire (it stands for Redefine Your Retirement) program. The organization helped bring together Funk and Robb Rosenbaum, who eventually bought the pharmacy. RedTire helped Rosenbaum smooth the transition of moving his family from a much larger city to small town Kansas life.
That’s what RedTire does – they help with appraisals, vetting the buyer and offering counsel on a deal with the goal of brokering the fairest transaction possible for both sides. The organization brokered 27 business deals through last December–deals that have effected 200 employees. Their growth has been significant.
According to Steve Kelly, vice president of economic development at the Chamber of Commerce in Lawrence, Ks., some of those businesses would have disappeared. “Not only do you have a business owner that’s in a bad spot, you potentially put the whole community in a position of loss,” he told Yes Magazine.
The University of Kansas provides support but it’s not all altruistic. RedTire is offered as a free service to the university’s alumni and its business students participate to get real-life experience in business management. The university would like to share its model with others.
Seems like a pretty good idea for other states looking to keep its rural small businesses in business.


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Woman's Exchange to move after nearly 40 years in the same location
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The Woman’s Exchange, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, had total revenue of $1.06 million in its fiscal 2011 that ended Jan. 31, 2012, according to the organization’s most recent IRS filing. Total expenses were $899,520. The Woman’s Exchange had 37 employees in 2011 and 140 volunteers. It paid $279,703 to 82 consignors during the year, according to the filing.
The Woman’s Exchange recently hired a new general manager, John Bantle, who started Jan. 2. He is the first male general manager for the nonprofit.
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BRISTOL, Tenn. (WJHL) – Brunch isn’t just for Sundays anymore — that’s the motto that the owners of Bristol’s newest food truck live by.
The Brunch Box is run by husband and wife duo, Steven and Lo Fiducioso and opened in July. However, the couple said the idea has been brewing for over a year.
“One of our love languages is food,” said Lo Fiducioso. “We love cooking food and we love feeding our friends and family, so it’s just a big passion project for us.”
The two and their son run the truck and cook up some different options for your brunch time.
“We are as sustainable as possible; we try to source locally when we can, and our food will rotate seasonally so we want to cook with the seasons and really bring fresh food and a new spin to the food truck industry,” she said.
“Our love bombs have been really popular — it’s stuffed french toast and it’s seasonal,” said Steven Fiducioso. “We already have like three different flavors so far in the last two months that we’ve been open.”
They said the sweetest part of this new family business is the community support and the support of other trucks in the Tri-Cities.
“The food truck experience has been amazing,” she said. “We’ve had so much great support from the community and our other local food truck friends that we’ve made.”
Look for The Brunch Box rolling through a town near you. Right now, they’re based mostly in Bristol.


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"The implementation of GST will make doing business in India tax neutral, irrespective of location. This means that there will be a seamless integration of goods and service transaction across the states which will have a positive impact at different stages of the value chain," Jasmine Singh, head, industrial & logistics services – India, CBRE South Asia Pvt Ltd, exclusively told Fibre2Fashion.
Talking about the effects of GST on retail and e-commerce sectors, Singh said "The implementation of GST will also result in cost saving, both at the back end and on rentals. Supply chain efficiencies are expected to improve with standardisation of tax structures across states. This is expected to have a positive impact on retailers."
GST will be beneficial for retailers as it will drive demands for various goods and services and will make supply chain dynamics a deciding factor for companies.
"GST will result in reduction of the overall tax burden on products and services, propelling demand. Warehousing decisions will no longer be dictated by the comparative tax advantages of various states, thereby enabling companies to make decisions based on supply chain dynamics. With no state boundary hurdles, the concept of large mother hubs will increase. This would result in improved efficiency and economies of scale," explained Singh.
Besides being beneficial for retailers, the GST bill will also be of advantage for consumers.
"With the GST being implemented, a common market for all goods and services will be created. The removal of several state level taxes will result in a transparent taxation system and reduce the overall cost of handling goods and services. For e-commerce consumers the resulting supply chain efficiencies will lead to faster delivery of products and improved market outreach," concluded Singh.
The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has already approved the four GST bills – Central GST (CGST), Integrated GST (IGST), Union Territory GST (UTGST) and the compensation bills. The bills were approved by the GST Council after thorough, clause by clause, discussion over 12 meetings held in the last six months. (KD)
Fibre2Fashion News Desk – India
Global Organic Textile Standard
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Minority-owned Hawaii businesses find an edge
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- Linda Chiem
- Pacific Business News
More Hawaii minority business owners are seeking out certification under a little-known national program that will allow them to better compete for lucrative contracts with the government and corporate America.
As more corporate companies set their sights on doing business in Hawaii, including recent additions such as Target and The Walt Disney Co., the national nonprofit group that heads up the certifications is recognizing Hawaii’s potential given that more than 80 percent of its businesses are minority-owned.
The Northern California Minority Supplier Development Council is one of 37 regional offices nationwide that certify companies as “minority business enterprises.” It recently established a new Hawaii chapter and has seen certifications double in the past year.
Of the more than 15,000 companies certified as minority business enterprise suppliers nationwide, just 22 were based in Hawaii as of July 2009. At least 10 more companies were certified by the end of 2009, and more than 50 companies are certified as of today, according to council President Scott Vowels.
But that still represents only a sliver of the more than 30,000 businesses in Hawaii. That’s why the council launched the Hawaii chapter, with a Hawaii Web site and phone number, in the hopes of one day opening a regional office here.
Hawaii has been part of the Northern California regional office only since 2007. Before that, it wasn’t even part of the network because of what council leaders initially thought was a lack of interest in the state by global companies.
The certification is a golden ticket in that it gives minority-owned businesses (defined as being at least 51 percent minority-owned) an edge with corporate giants, most of which have procurement requirements that a certain percentage of their contracts be given to minority-owned businesses. There are 3,500 corporate members throughout the network, including most of America’s largest publicly owned, privately owned and foreign-owned companies, as well as universities, hospitals and other buying institutions.
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Available Now: CLIQ XT For $129.99
T-Mobile’s latest handset, the Motorola Cliq has officially gone on sale today for 129.99 with a 2-year agreement. The touch-only MOTOBLUR smart phone features Flash-enabled software for web browsing, pinch and zoom multi-touch, and Swype. Specs include a 3.1-inch screen, a 5 megapixel camera with LED flash, FM radio, and a touch navigation pad. Rounding out the phone are the standard Android fare of GPS, WiFi, and Bluetooth.
You can head to your local T-Mobile store to pick up a CLIQ XT today or order yours online!
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Samsung marked it’s step out of the plastic design market and into the premium handset range with the Galaxy Alpha – a 4.7-inch metal chassis device aimed directly at competing
When the Nexus 5 was announced the launcher looked a bit different from what people are used to seeing on a stock Android device.We’re used to seeing the same launcher


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Carpetright chief quits as trading deteriorates
Shares fall 15 per cent as company predicts profits ‘significantly below’ projections
Carpetright chief executive Darren Shapland stepped down after informing the company he couldn’t commit to staying until the end of his five-year contract. Photograph: Visual Media/PA Wire
Carpetright Plc said chief executive Darren Shapland quit amid a further deterioration in sales that will cause profit to be “significantly below” the UK retailer’s projections, sending the shares down 15 per cent.
Mr Shapland, who returned to the business in May last year to succeed founder Philip Harris, stepped down after informing the company he couldn’t commit to staying until the end of his five-year contract, Mr Harris said on a conference call yesterday.
The departure leaves Mr Harris (71) back in charge of the company he started in 1988 with a store in London’s East End.
Mr Shapland’s exit is “highly surprising,” though “appears to be unrelated to the deterioration in trading”, John Stevenson, an analyst at Peel Hunt in London, said in a note. – (Bloomberg)


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Rebuilding is Underway at Caffrey’s in Forked River
Back in September, Caffrey's, the popular Forked River restaurant burned to the ground from an accidental fire that officials believe started in the kitchen.
Five months later...Rebuilding is underway!!
According to their Facebook page, the new construction will include an outside bar!!! (Caffrey's Backyard)
The owners hope to open the doors once again for their customers this Fall! Click HERE for the full story


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Posts tagged Morgan 3 wheel
Whilst visiting England to enjoy the sights, sounds and petrol fumes for the annual Goodwood Festival of Speed, Jay Leno has found the time to visit Malvern and take the 2011 Morgan 3 Wheeler for a spin (not literally, although Jay does seem to have a tussle with a grass verge at one stage: UK Grass 1, Mr. Leno 0!)
Despite his detour, Jay gives the latest vehicle from MMC a big thumbs-up and from his conversation with Charles Morgan, he has joined the queue of customers for this exciting trike. Enjoy…
Today, Jayne Jones of the Morgan Motor Company confirmed the launch of a new Morgan 3-Wheeler at next year’s Geneva Show. She went on to say that the maker of fine British sports cars, whose business was founded on the design and production of 3-wheeled vehicles, anticipates the price tag to be “under £30,000″. Enthusiast and potential customers do not have long to wait for more information as she added that details of the car’s design and power plant would be revealed in November 2010.


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ATLANTA – A woman got the shock of her life when she received a bill for more than $7,000 after ordering some toilet paper on Amazon.
Barbara Carroll reached out to WSB-TV in Atlanta after Amazon told her the company couldn't reverse the charges because she made the purchase from a third-party seller.
Carroll told the TV station that she bought three cases of toilet paper for $88.17, but was charged $7,455 for shipping. Carroll works as a building manager and buys cleaning supplies for her job.
Carroll said she shared her story with the station to warn other customers about potential abuse from third-party sellers. She said she would continue to fight the charge.


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CnEVPost Newsletter: China EV insurance registrations; Zeekr's refreshed Zeekr 001
In the February 1-25 period, Nio was at 5,100, Xpeng at 3,000, Li Auto at 16,200, BYD at 81,000 and Tesla at 24,300.
Upgraded specifications and lower prices are expected to keep the Zeekr 001 competitive amid fierce price competition, thus helping Zeekr achieve its goal of doubling sales this year.
BYD presented the Seal U DM-i at the Geneva auto show and plans to launch the model in Europe in the second quarter.
Xiaomi Group president said the formal release of the SU7 will come "very soon," and indicated that domestic deliveries will begin as soon as the second quarter, according to CNBC.
China's off-road NEV market has a lot of room to grow, with steady-state monthly sales of the Tank 700 Hi4-T expected to reach 3,000 units, analysts say.
Saloon unveiled the Mecha Dragon at the Guangzhou auto show in November 2021, but no new developments on the all-electric sedan have been released since.
Production of the Polestar 3 has begun in Chengdu, China, with additional production expected to begin in the US in mid-2024, Polestar said.
Arcfox has shipped vehicles to several countries and will accelerate its overseas sales and service network this year, it said.
Thanks for reading CnEVPost Newsletter! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.


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Just as the dust seemed to be settling from two announced telecom deals — Richardson-based MetroPCS’ combination with Deutsche Telekom unit T-Mobile USA, and Japan-based Softbank’s agreement to buy Sprint — things are getting interesting again.
“We believe (MetroPCS) could receive a bid from Sprint within the next one to four weeks, likely in the $12-13 per share range,” writes Guggenheim analyst Shing Yin in a Friday research note.
The likelihood of a Sprint bid has increased for two reasons, Yin writes.
“With (MetroPCS) shares around $10, we believe Sprint could acquire the company at an attractive valuation,” the note says. “We believe Deutsche Telekom would have significant difficulty countering a $12- to $13-per-share bid from Sprint. Judging by (MetroPCS)’ stock movement since (the Oct. 3 T-Mobile announcement), investors appear unenthused with the T-Mobile merger.”
A Sprint spokeswoman said the company does not comment on rumors and speculation. Spokespeople for T-Mobile and MetroPCS weren’t immediately available Friday.


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PAS Group outlined restructure efforts that could see more stores close and a bigger focus online.
Half-year EBIDTA is expected to land between $3.5 and $4 million.
Fashion group CEO shares his thoughts on where the focus should lie for businesses in 2020.
Online sales are for the most part cannibalising traditional retail, not providing new sales.
Canningvale, Beacon Lighting and PAS Group weigh in on the e-commerce giant.
Eric Morris will become a non-executive director after 13 years.
Fashion retailers to ramp up omnichannel business.
Fashion firm confirms lower full-year EBITDA expectations.
There are common threads for organisations that have moved the needle from poor customer experience towards industry leading.
From speedy delivery to consolidation, here’s what’s on the agenda for major retail executives this year.


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AT&T leaders have been promising for months to increase content spending at HBO to give it a boost in the premium content wars. That money is finally starting to flow into HBO’s coffers in order to greenlight projects that have long been in development, according to WarnerMedia CEO John Stankey.
Speaking on AT&T’s second-quarter earnings call Tuesday — AT&T’s first earnings since closing its acquisition of Time Warner last month — Stankey said the goal was to give HBO more programming to drive more subscriber engagement and reduce churn. He noted that data mined from HBO’s digital platforms indicates that some viewers drop in and out of their subscription to HBO depending on the shows are airing fresh episodes at any given time.
“We have a tremendous amount of great projects already in the funnel,” Stankey said. “They’ve not been in a position to say yes to because of constraints on certain resources. We’re attempting to open up those constraints on high-quality top projects.” The goal is to “balance out the schedule in way that creates a more engaging consumer experience over the course of the year,” he said.
Stankey was asked during the call with Wall Street analysts about a New York Times report earlier this month that AT&T would push HBO to reach for a broader audience and change its programming mix — based on Stankey’s comments from a private town hall session with HBO employees that the Times obtained. Stankey said the report had not “effectively characterized what we are about,” but he did not elaborate.
Stankey did not give a round number for the increased content spending at HBO. He assured the analysts that they would pursue “a very responsible investment” in more shows at a time when HBO faces a huge increase in competition from Netflix, Amazon and a host of other new players in the premium content arena.
The team at HBO “feels comfortable that we can flex up on development in a way that rounds out the schedule very nicely,” Stankey said.
Stankey and AT&T chairman-CEO Randall Stephenson emphasized AT&T’s vision of harnessing the appeal of HBO and other WarnerMedia brands under a broad umbrella of a direct-to-consumer streaming offering that takes advantage of AT&T’s wireless network. AT&T has some 170 million customer relationships around the world that should be a strong platform for WarnerMedia’s HBO, Turner, and Warner Bros.
Stankey said in considering the future for WarnerMedia brands, the operating principle is “it’s better together.”
“There are a lot of very strong brands in the family that generate interest on a standalone basis but are not as powerful as they are when brought together,” he said.
(Pictured: John Stankey)


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Comic-Con is in danger of losing its non-profit status, the state says, just days after the giant tourist event was signed with IMG in a licensing deal amid reported $ 8 million loss in 2020 affected by COVID-19.
In a letter Thursday, California Attorney General Rob Boda warned organizers of the San Diego Comic Con that nonprofit 501 (c) (3) risks losing its tax exemption status if it does not meet a deadline or receive an IRS extension.
“An organization that is delinquent, suspended or withdrawn is not in a good position and is prohibited from engaging in conduct for which registration is required, including attracting or disbursing charitable funds,” Bonta wrote.
It was not immediately clear what the loss of nonprofit status would mean for the city or the hugely popular event, whose annual turnover exceeded 130,000 a year for the decade before 2020 and brought in hundreds of millions of dollars for nearby shops and hotels.
Comic-Con, who allegedly filed IRS 990 Form as of December 31, did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Neither the San Diego city officials, the tourism authorities, nor the San Diego Convention Center – which is hosting the next Comic-Con in late July.
But last November 18, Comic-Con submitted its annual registration renewal fee report, which reported gross revenue of $ 3.97 million in 2020, when a pandemic forced the suspension of Comic-Con. Its gross expenses that year were $ 11.98 million. (Her total assets were $ 42.4 million.)
The letter to Comic-Con stated that it had until May 15 to submit IRS forms or receive an extension. But the date may be wrong printing, as the letter mentions Sacramento Voice of the Youth Inc.
Boda said that if such forms are not sent to the state Register of Charitable Trusts within 60 days of April 7th – or June 6th – two things would happen:
- His office will notify the California Franchise Tax Council not to allow Comic-Con tax exemption. (“The Franchise Tax Board may revoke the agency’s tax exemption status, in which case the agency will be treated as a taxable company… and may be subject to the minimum tax penalty.”)
- Delay fees would be charged for each month or part of the month for which the reports were infringing. “Managers, managers, executives and refund preparers who are responsible for the failure to submit these reports on time are also personally liable for payment of any arrears.”
Boda’s letter arrives three days after agent in corporate & Hollywood stars IMG announced that it would work with Comic-Con to “identify partners who can develop products, retail destinations and experiences for the millions of fans who can not attend the Comic-Con’s annual experience.”
In a statement, “More than 50 years ago, the founders of Comic-Con just wanted to draw attention and recognition to the comics and other art forms they loved,” said IMG Licensing President. In this way, they discovered a common interest in it and the related content of science fiction, fantasy and genre wider than they could possibly have imagined. “
The official, Bruno Maglione, continued: “Today, this comic book culture is the dominant entertainment culture thanks in large part to the advocacy of this art form by Comic-Con and its outstanding creators, and Comic-Con is the premier brand of curators and guide in this area. , enabling it to secure consumer attention and offer consumer value in more ways. “
At least one Comic-Con observer thought the announcement meant the team would justify itself – to extract more Comic-Con.
Writing on bleedingcool.com, Rich Johnston said: “San Diego Comic-Con may be the most famous comic book conference in the world. “But there is only one of them.”
He said that while ReedPOPone for-profit venturehas big shows around the world, the San Diego Comic-Con “as long as it stays where it is, with only WonderCon in Anaheim” as a spin-off from the organizers Comic-Con International and its new museum in Balboa Park.
“The San Diego Comic-Con brand is big, but its true physical footprint is small,” said Johnston.
Lloyd Hitoshi Mayer is a law professor at Notre Dame Law School who has written extensively for nonprofits.
He says it’s hard to say if Comic-Con is trying to franchise.
“Comic-Con could only investigate the licensing of its name, other trademarks and other intellectual property for use by others for royalties, or it could investigate the establishment of subsidiaries that could be considered legal franchises (which would “It involved state franchise laws,” Mayer told the Times of San Diego.
An IMG licensing agreement is okay under IRS nonprofit legislation, Mayer says.
“A charity is allowed to hire a for-profit broker for a reasonable fee to explore generating revenue from its own name and other intellectual property, in the same way that it is generally permissible to hire third parties to work on its behalf, if any. “The fees paid are reasonable,” he said via email.
A charity is allowed to license its intellectual property to others if it receives reasonable royalties – and those royalties are generally exempt from federal income tax, he said.
“The issues that arise with such agreements tend to be not legal but public relations – for example,… a licensing agreement from the American Medical Association that broke out in them,” he said.
In 1997, the American Medical Association signed an approval agreement with Sunbeam Corp., the small home appliance company. AMA will receive large rights from Sunbeam in exchange for using its stamp on Sunbeam’s healthcare products.
But the agreement to place the AMA emblem (a snake curled on a stick) on healthcare products in exchange for a percentage of sales sparked reactions as a conflict of interest.
“Proponents of her case have been working to make the actual transcript of this statement available online. Proponents of her case have been working to make the actual transcript of this statement available online. “In addition, the agreement would be beneficial for patients because it encouraged people to monitor their health.”
However, the Sunbeam deal collapsed within days and the AMA admitted “mistakes in the crisis”.
Notre Dame’s Mayer noted that most charities are skeptical about licensing their names and other intellectual property to others because of the potential public relations problems it may create.
“Often the most valuable asset of a charity is its name and its relative reputation,” he said. “That being said, many charities enter into licensing agreements, but they are careful to limit those agreements to situations where their reputation will not be damaged.”
Many private colleges and universities license the use of their names and logos to credit card companies that then sell affiliate credit cards, he said. But schools must approve missions and other ads related to credit card credit.
“What Comic-Con is exploring here seems to be more extensive than what most charities believe, although Comic-Con has not yet committed to anything,” Mayer said.
Mayer suspects the IMG deal was the result of Comic-Con’s financial losses during the pandemic.
“Licensing his name and other intellectual property is a legal way for a Comic-Con, as a charity, to raise additional revenue,” he said. “The biggest problem Comic-Con faces when doing so is to ensure that it does not harm its brand by associating it with products, retail destinations or experiences that are of poor quality, inconsistent with its mission or create negative perceptions of Comic-Con. . . »
Many nonprofits have licensing agreements, including the American Heart Association (under the heart-Check mark), the American Red Cross, the US Scouts, the US Girl Scouts, the National FFA, and the National Wildlife Federation.
In an IMG press release, Comic-Con spokesman David Glanzer said the SDCC began talks with IMG about six months ago.
“During these discussions, we were struck by the fact that we were able to use our know-how to serve the growing community of fans in more ways, places and times than ever before.” He said. “In 2021 we launched the new Comic-Con Museum and now, with IMG know-how working with specialist partners to deliver authentic branding experiences, we can pursue an exciting new phase for the Comic-Con brand.”
Ricardo Yoselevitz, senior vice president of licensing, said IMG would work with Comic-Con to “identify products and destinations that create new ways and means to engage with this passionate community, while further strengthening Comic-Con’s position.” as the leading curator of this form of popular art and culture “.
He said: “Through its annual meetings, it is clear that Comic-Con has become a strong consumer brand without even trying.”
Comic-Con May Lose Tax-Exempt Status if IRS Forms Aren’t Filed by June, State Says Source link Comic-Con May Lose Tax-Exempt Status if IRS Forms Aren’t Filed by June, State Says


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Tapulous has been acquired by Disney. The iPhone gaming startup with several hits on its hands was founded by Bart Decrem, who will join Disney as a senior VP. COO Andrew Lacy is also joining Disney as a senior VP. Disney is very interested in social and mobile gaming, having recently invested in Playdom’s $33 million round.
Tapulous is a hot iPhone gaming startup which has raised only $1.8 million from angel investors including Marc Benioff, Jeff Clavier, and Andy Bechtolsheim. Legendary Silicon Valley mentor and Stanford professor Rajeev Motwani, who passed away last year, was also an investor. Its flagship game, Tap Tap Revenge, has numerous versions which have been downloaded millions of times. The basic game, which lets players tap to the rhythm of songs with their fingers is free, but players must pay for new songs. Its latest game is Tap Tap Radiation for the iPad.
Tapulous’ music-oriented games appeal to a younger crowd in particular. The company puts out versions of Tap Tap Revenge featuring the songs of specific artists such as Justin Bieber Revenge, Lady Gaga Revenge, Nickelback Revenge, and Nine Inch Nails Revenge. Its other mobile music, Riddim Ribbon is also a hit.
Disney Interactive Studios sells a slew of video games built around Disney movies and characters such as Toy Story, Cars, and Hannah Montana. Most of these games are for consoles like the Xbox, PS3, or GameBoy. Buying Tapulous gets it into the iPhone/iPod Touch/iPad gaming platform and gives it a strong presence in music-related games.
Update: And here is the Tapulous blog post by Decrem confirming the deal.
Today, we announced that we are joining Disney. We will be a key part of Disney Interactive Media Group, spearheading their drive to be the leader in mobile entertainment.
As part of Disney Interactive Media Group, we’ll develop more games, more quickly and with the resources of the world’s leading entertainment company. We will continue to develop apps that live at the intersection of music and gaming, but we’ll also push into new and exciting areas of mobile social entertainment.
He also notes that Tap Tap Revenge has been downloaded more than 35 million times and played 1 billion songs. The price was not disclosed.
Update 2: I spoke with Decrem on the phone. He will be the GM and senior VP in charge of mobile for Disney Interactive’s gaming group, but will remain in Palo Alto.
“We will be at the center of Disney’s mobile strategy,” he says. “They have 40 apps in the app store today. There is Disney, Marvel, ESPN, Pixar—the idea of combining what we know about games in the app store with Disney’s brand and ID is exciting. It is exciting to be in the driver’s seat.”
Decrem’s charter is to add social elements to all of Disney’s games over time. For now, he is focussing on keeping Tapulous humming, but he will influence mobile games across Disney Interactive’s portfolio. It also sounds like he is ready to hire in Palo Alto “We really want to build a big footprint here in the Valley,” he adds, noting that there is a lot of empty office space in the old Facebook headquarters.