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JOOR is using software to make the journey from runway to retail stores as smooth as walking down a catwalk. The company is on track to do more than $350 million in transactions in 2013, which is more than three times the amount from 2012.
stories by Rebecca Grant
New Zealand based Vend raises $6.5 million for its software that integrates with existing point-of-sale systems to bring them into the cloud.
Stained Glass Labs is a group of entrepreneurs, mentors, and early adopters who are forming an incubator program for companies building on wearable computing like Glass.
Back in 2009, Apptio was famed venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz's first investment. Today Apptio announced closing a $45 million fifth round of funding, bringing the company's total to $136 million.
Berlin-based Versus IO has closed its first round of $2.8 million. The comparison engine represents McClure's first investment in a German startup.
Ticketfly unveiled its latest product Fanbase, a suite of customer analytics products that founder Andrew Dreskin said is a first of its kind. Venues and event promoters can use Fanbase to identify their top fans and offer them rewards for loyalty.
Online art gallery UGallery announced today that it now has over 500 artists in its community and 6,000 original pieces of art in its marketplace- "the biggest numbers today for an all-original art focused startup."
Founded by Google's former Head of Products, Collegefeed is a social network that brings together students and employers to improve the hiring process.
Loop launched today to help businesses get customer feedback in the moment using quick, five-question surveys.
Mobile Monday, an international organization that supports the mobile community, Momentum debuted its program today that offers a free twelve week program to support promising mobile startups.
Today, car sharing startup RelayRides announced that it has acquired competitor Wheelz to accelerate its growth.
Today at HAXLR8R's demo day, ten hot hardware startups presented their products after completing a 15-week accelerator program in Shenzhen China.
Intuit published an infographic today presenting the top cities for female entrepreneurs, as well as some interesting statistics about the state of women-owned businesses in the U.S.
Rocket Internet announced Namshi, its Middle Eastern online fashion retailer, has raised $13 million led by Summit Partners to sustain growth.
Grotech Ventures announced the close of its eight fund at $225 million. The Vienna-based firm invests in early-stage companies along the East Coast and in Colorado.
Big data startup LucidWorks has raised $10 million to help enterprise companies "turn multi-structured data into business gold."
Zoobean launched a curated catalog of children's books today to make it easier for parents to find books that are the most relevant for their children.
EarthRisk Technologies has developed a new model for predicting extreme weather events based on 60 years of data and 82 billion calculations.
Points of Light has selected the second class of startups for its civic accelerator program. The program is entirely focused on 'civic ventures' and entrepreneurs working to strengthen communities.
Whether you are closing a round of funding or pretending to live in the 1920s, champagne is in order. Check out today's 12 funding stories.


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For the 8th time, the international conference on Digitalization & Sustainability will be organized. Il will concern with the UN Sustainable Development Goals like e.g. quality education, industry innovation & infrastructure, responsible consumption & production. The upcoming event will be a two-day online format on the 8th & 9th of March 2023, focusing on:
Challenges for Europe´s future production
IPEC 2023 aims to promote networking and knowledge exchange between companies from Bavaria and international companies, start-ups and research institutions.
Participation is free of charge and will be broadcasted to you via GoToWebinar (08.03.) and MS Teams (09.03.).
Due to the international orientation of the event, the conference language will be English.
Topics at IPEC 2023:
AI, Assistance Systems
Human-centered production technologies
Supply chain resilience
Corporate social responsibility (CSR), corporate digital responsibility (CDR)
… and many more

domain: news


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Google Search is going to make it easier to call customer services with its own version of "Hold for Me"
Apple's next developer conference isn't too far away – and it could be a big one with significant plans for AI afoot.
Microsoft has seemingly confirmed Windows 12 will not launch in 2024 — instead announcing a feature update to Windows 11.
Here are the best Android games for your phone or tablet. Some games are free, others are paid, but every one of them is awesome.
iTunes for Windows is officially splitting off features into 3 new apps — which could mean the end of the road for the software.
Don't get caught out in the rain. Get up to date forecasts with the best weather apps for Android and iOS devices.
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Upgrade your life with the Tom’s Guide newsletter. Subscribe now for a daily dose of the biggest tech news, lifestyle hacks and hottest deals. Elevate your everyday with our curated analysis and be the first to know about cutting-edge gadgets.


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When it comes to architectural innovation, implementing forward-thinking design cornerstones takes time. Designers are using 3D printers now, however, and it’s blowing the world of architecture wide open. The race to create the world’s first 3D-printed house is already underway. Where widespread 3D printing solutions are considered, the impact of 3D printing technology has only just begun.
3D Printing as a Foundation
Dutch studio Universe Architecture has come to be known as the foundation upon which 3D printing has grown. In January of this year, it revealed several designs for a winding, two-story house. Soon after, UK architects from Softkill Design unveiled plans for Protohouse 2.0—which is a single-story home boasting a fibrous structure.
While these kickoff designs certainly demonstrate 3D printing’s base potential, groups like MIT’s U.S. research team have been experimenting with 3D designs crafted by robotic arms. Thus far, many 3D design solutions have yet to be tried. Between structural and environmental performance needs, architects simply have a lot to consider.
Still, technology can be scaled up. At the moment, 3D printing seems to be directed at simpler objects that don’t demand—or define—the environmental or structural performance of buildings. Architects exploring these areas are convinced, however, that it won’t be long before innovations in additive manufacturing transform the architectural world.
Experts like Neri Oxman of the MIT Media Lab considers digital fabrication to be the leading force of third-era construction technology. Before the industrial revolution, hand-production design methods ruled the industry. Craft, rather than optimization, defined architectural design.
Currently, the very same craft cornerstone has contributed to rapid fabrication via machines. We’ve already witnessed the power of grand-design fabrication in the China-based WinSun Decoration Design Engineering project: a five-story apartment block.
Where Concepts Become Full-Scale Models
Make no mistake, however: 3D printing is still utilized to generate and develop structural models at the moment. This isn’t insignificant, however, as the physical representation of a structure surpasses current virtual representations by quite a lot.
We’re likely to see full-scale building models in the near future, too, which will help designers work with a building’s skeleton before implementing overarching design solutions. Larger structures and objects can be created with a variety of prefabs. A commercial building, for example, can even be printed on a room-to-room basis.
As it stands, engineers and developers are working on new ways to contribute to on-site design installation. While some companies are crafting 3D printed building solutions piece by piece, others are exploring the options provided by on-site installations. Between the digital construction economy’s self-perpetuated growth, the popularity of crowdsourcing and 3D printing’s many cost-effective solutions, new business opportunities are steadily rolling in.


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Published on Nov 24, 2009
On November 9th, 2009, Western Union launched it's Random Acts of Giving promotion celebrating the holiday season. In doing so, Western Union teamed up with artist and designer Chase, who designed a custom wrap for an RV and sent it out across the country with filmmaker Julian Rad to spread the news and to give out $50 Western Union Visa Gift Cards to the people they meet. The second stop was in Queens, New York.
To find out more information about the tour, purchase a Visa Gift Card for the holidays or to send $50 in cash within the U.S. for just $5, visit http://www.westernunion.com


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Want to join the conversation?
Auto parts manufacturer $GPC reported 2Q16 earnings of $191.4MM, slightly down from $195.4MM it posted a year ago. Revenue fell to $3.90Bil from $3.94Bil a year ago. The company said its automotive sales along with other distribution businesses were impacted by challenging sales environment in the quarter.
Any idea why some investors are happy about the disastrous $UA results??
Wow! GM killed it with earnings today! Did not expect this after $F gave the feeling it will eclipse the Chevy maker completely!
Oil rebound starting to show up in energy stocks. $XOM $CVX
I have a feeling "CLOUDy" days are ahead, with $AMZN leading the pack.
$AAL is giving pay hikes to its employees but investors are sulking.


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01 Sep SBC's new online payment service collects cash to fight breast cancer
MILWAUKEE—Consumers who switch from traditional paper phone bills to SBC eBill will help raise awareness—and money—for breast cancer research.
Through the “Save a Stamp—Help Save a Life” campaign, created in conjunction the Susan G. Komen Foundation, SBC Services Inc. will contribute $1 dollar for every SBC customer that signs up for SBC eBill from Sept. 1 to Nov. 15, 2004.
In 2004, an estimated 216,000 new cases of breast cancer will be diagnosed in American women, according to the foundation. Although the number of new incidences of breast cancer has increased over the past 30 years, the mortality rate has decreased. This is due in part to the efforts of organizations such as the Susan G. Komen Foundation in raising awareness and making great efforts to raise funds for breast cancer research. In recognition of the work still to be done in fighting this disease, SBC Services has committed to donate a minimum of $25,000 to the cause.
SBC eBill is a free online billing service offered by SBC Online Services. It allows customers to sort and organize the bill by numbers called, length of call, place, date,or cost; check on unrecognized phone numbers by clicking on a number in question to view the name and contact information of the person dialed; archive up to six months of billing history, decide if and when monthly payments are made from checking or savings accounts or credit card and help protect against fraud by eliminating the delivery of paper bills to unsecured mailboxes.


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Keycard allows you to pair your iPhone or other Bluetooth enabled device with your Mac to lock and unlock your computer.
CloudPrime announced QuickDrop, a safe way to communicate and send files of any type between mobile devices.
Good Technology introduced Good Vault, built on the Good Trust mobile identity and access management (IAM) platform.
AVG updated its AntiVirus for Android and launched the new AVG Safe Browser for iOS.
Dell announced enhancements to its PocketCloud app portfolio, which enables users to easily create a “personal cloud” to search, view, organize, and share content among mobile devices and computers.
By subscribing to our early morning news update, you will receive a daily digest of the latest security news published on Help Net Security.
With over 500 issues so far, reading our newsletter every Monday morning will keep you up-to-date with security risks out there.


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The highly anticipated Porsche 911 GT3 RS has been spied undergoing testing at the Nürburgring circuit. After its numerous appearance testing on public roads, the GT3 RS finally gets some track action.
Originally planned for a late 2014 release, the hardcore version of the 911 GT3 is not expected to arrive until 2015. This was due to the company temporarily halting sales of the GT3 earlier this year after at least two examples caught fire in Europe due to engine failure.
The standard 911 GT3 is powered by a normally aspirated 3.8-litre flat-six engine developing 354 kW (475 hp). The RS could see well over 387 kW (520 hp). Expect 0-100 km/h acceleration in less than 3.3 seconds and a top speed in excess of 310 km/h.
Apart from the significantly larger rear wing and air intakes behind the doors, the GT3 RS also gets a larger front lip spoiler, modified rear fender and widened track with wider wheels and tyres.
Like the Porsche GT3 it is based on, the track-focused RS will almost certainly come exclusively with a PDK dual-clutch transmission.
In line with previous RS, the new one will be put on a strict diet to shed all unnecessary weight, including a plastic rear windscreen and basic interior, making it even lighter than the GT3’s 1,429 kg curb weight.


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American based social media and social networking company, Facebook has unveiled a feature that allows users to snooze some keywords. When users don’t want to see posts about a current event, or a show, or even just something you don’t want to look at for a while, you can simply snooze posts which contain words related to that topic.
This was first noticed by Chris Messina and pointed out by TechCrunch, it’s a variant of Facebook’s option to snooze people and pages you didn’t want to see, which was introduced last year. The period of quiet time is the same, too: 30 days.
The option is fairly simple to use: if you see a post with the offending keyword — say “Infinity War” or “Game of Thrones” — you can select the option to snooze keywords from the post in the drop-down menu on the top right. When you select the option, you’re given a list of keywords pulled from the text of the post, and can select which ones you want to snooze.
One downside is that you currently can’t un-snooze a keyword once you’ve set it. So if you’re seeing the latest episode of Westworld a few days after it premieres and you’ve decided to hide any posts about it until then, you won’t be able to turn off the snooze option once you’ve done so. You’re just going to have to wait out the 30 days until you can see posts about it again — by which time new ones aren’t likely to be made anyway.
That said, a spokesperson said the company is working on options for different snooze times, as well as an off button.
At the moment, the snooze option is being tested among a small group of users. Facebook hasn’t said when it’ll roll it out to the rest of us, but a spokesperson did say the off button would be hopefully added to the feature within the next few weeks.


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Embark-HP Pilot to Test Electric, Autonomous Trucking Processes
September 14, 2021
Embark Trucks, which develops self-driving software for the trucking industry, has announced a joint initiative with HP to combine electric and autonomous truck technology to create a more sustainable distribution network.
The two companies launched an electric truck drayage (short-distance transport) pilot in the Los Angeles area, where local loads are hauled to and from Embark’s highway-adjacent transfer points using BYD 8TT electric trucks operated by human drivers, while the longer middle segment of the haul is completed autonomously by trucks equipped with the Embark Driver software.
The companies said the drayage pilot gives the ability to leverage electric trucks, which currently have a driving range best suited for short-transport operations, in a meaningful way within its supply chain. This complements the efficiencies provided by Embark-equipped autonomous trucks, which are 10% more fuel-efficient than human-operated trucks. Adopting both long-haul autonomous trucks and EV drayage will enable HP to remove up to 50,000 tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) and other pollutants from its distribution network over the next 10 years, according to preliminary research by Embark.
The companies said the greater Los Angeles area is a leading emitter of greenhouse gases, and is especially affected by harmful diesel emissions. San Bernardino, home to much of Southern California’s trucking and warehouse infrastructure, had 130 bad air days for ozone pollution in 2020, the companies said. In the South Coast Air Basin, heavy-duty vehicles like trucks contribute 32% of mobile source nitrogen oxide emissions that react in the atmosphere to form ozone and particulate matter.
The pilot will be working with regional drayage providers like 4 Gen Logistics to help make Southern California cleaner, safer, and healthier. “We’re combining the best of both worlds with this partnership, pairing the middle-mile strengths of autonomous trucks with the sustainability benefits of electric trucks in urban road settings,” said Alex Rodrigues, CEO of Embark. “Autonomous and electric trucks represent a powerful tool for companies like HP to help the trucking industry reduce harmful diesel emissions while continuing to deliver goods to the businesses and consumers who need them.”
HP is a member of Embark’s Partner Development Program, which Embark launched earlier this year. Since announcing the partnership, the two companies have delivered weekly hauls of hardware between HP’s Los Angeles and Phoenix distribution facilities.
Why this matters
Self-driving trucks makes sense for the middle part of long-haul journeys, where there is less of a chance for distractions or other types of accidents that could happen in urban environments. It makes sense to develop the system in this way, as well as use electric trucks in dense urban cities to reduce the carbon footprint.
Embark said its transfer point model, with short first-mile and last-mile legs in urban environments, offers the perfect opportunity for shippers to utilize electric trucks to eliminate pollution in cities.
“BYD is excited to be part of this creative solution to decrease emissions from freight movement that pollute the air and harm vulnerable communities,” said Vincent Pellecchia, strategic account manager at BYD Motors. “By working with Embark, we’re giving storied companies like HP the tools they need to create sustainable supply chains end-to-end.”
The pilot program is part of Embark’s goal of commercializing autonomous trucks by 2024. The company unveiled its go-to-market strategy in June 2021, and entered into a definitive business combination agreement with Northern Genesis Acquisition Corp to become a publicly traded company on Nasdaq (EMBK). The combination deal is expected to close in the second half of 2021.
For more details on the company and its technology, visit the Embark website here.


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Tech Five: Apple launches the iPhone SE
There's a new, smaller smartphone on the market. Meanwhile, Amazon is expanding its Dash service.
Let's look at tech stocks to watch Thursday:
Apple. The iPhone SE launched Thursday, as Apple hopes a smaller touchscreen will spur smartphone sales. The device features a 4-inch touchscreen, compared to the iPhone 6S and 6S Plus with 4.7-inch and 5.5-inch screens respectively.
Amazon. Add Doritos, Charmin toilet paper and -- ahem -- Trojan condoms to the list of items consumers can quickly order using Amazon Dash buttons. The retailing giant rolled out more buttons featuring several brands including Energizer and Red Bull.
Microsoft. During the company's Build developers conference, CEO Satya Nadella says bots and artificial intelligence will soon replace apps as a way for people to get things done. "It’s about taking the power of human language and applying it more pervasively to all of our computing," says Nadella.
Micron Technology. Shares of the chip maker slid in early trading after reporting a loss of 5 cents a share during the second quarter. Micron reported revenue of $2.93 billion, down 30% from last year.
BlackBerry. The smartphone maker will report quarterly earnings before the markets open on Friday. BlackBerry is expected to report a loss of 10 cents a share on revenue of $564 million, according to S&P Global Market Intelligence.
Follow Brett Molina on Twitter: @brettmolina23.


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NEW YORK (AP) – Ranbaxy Laboratories Ltd. said that it is now selling a generic version of Pfizer’s drug Caduet, a treatment for high blood pressure and high cholesterol.
Caduet is a combination of the cholesterol drug Lipitor and the blood pressure drug Norvasc, and it is marketed by Pfizer Inc. Ranbaxy said U.S. sales totaled $339 million over the year ended in September.
Ranbaxy’s drug is an authorized generic. In September the company struck a deal with Pfizer that allows it to sell a generic version of Caduet before the patents supporting the drug expire. Lipitor lost U.S. patent protection on Nov. 30, and Ranbaxy is now selling its own generic version.
Date: December 6, 2011
Source: Associated Press


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We can tell the last ten items a consumer bought on our site and we can tell the open rate of our email marketing campaigns, but few of us can say how long any one visitor at our event booth spent there and what they picked up.
The swag, a brochure, your business card, your hot intern’s telephone number, which was it?
This not-knowing is weird, says Liz Miller, overseer of daily operations at the CMO Council (CMOC), a global affinity network of top brand marketers. “Since when did a marketer get shy?” she asked recently.
The posh set may still lord their smart handbags, pricey silks, and Ibiza getaways over the masses in the offline world, but in digital it’s a different story.
Online, luxury retailers struggle to keep up with the Kmarts and J.Crews of the world. In fact, according to a recent study by L2, one in five luxury brands still lack ecommerce capability, and 30 percent of them have yet to incorporate basic site search.
Representatives from Abercrombie & Fitch, Saks, and Maxymizer, a multivariate testing, personalization, and optimization firm, gathered last week at Econsultancy’s JUMP event in New York to discuss how retail can solve the riddles posed by today’s technological advances and changing consumer habits.
As retailers try to connect the shopping experience over multiple channels, this was a perfect discussion for all those looking to create a better retail journey for their customers.
How quickly fortunes change. Just eight years ago Nokia was the world’s leading smartphone manufacturer. Today it’s so far behind the competition that it trails beleaguered Blackberry in shipments to retailers.
A “challenger brand” is what Tejal Patel, global head of social commerce and performance for Nokia, now calls the company.
Son of the late and venerable historian Eric Hobsbawm, Andy Hobsbawm may make history, not write it. That’s because he, along with technologist and serial entrepreneur Niall Murphy, as well as computer scientists Dom Guinard and Vlad Trifa, are making great strides with EVRYTHNG, a software company bent on connecting objects to the Internet — making them “smart,” as it were.
Powered by the EVRYTHNG Engine, the technology makes real the “Internet of Things,” a concept first named in 1999. In that schema, objects are given virtual identities (perhaps through RFID tags, maybe through a barcode or QR code) and connected in a Web-like structure.
As if anticipating items we'll find on coffee tables in living rooms across the country this Super Bowl Sunday, last week's Social Business Index featured climbs from sandwich, soda, and sports brands: Subway, Dr. Pepper, and the NHL.
The index, produced by The Dachis Group, offers a real-time performance ranking of 30,000+ multinationals in social. Each week we take a look at the top twenty listings and call out those that made moves worth noting.
By now you've probably heard that it's Community Manager Appreciation Day, but did you forget to get them something? We understand. You're probably still in the sugar trough from Chocolate Cake Day on January 27.
So now that you're thinking about it, doesn’t it make sense to reward that patient colleague who responds to the company’s Twitter devotees, comes up with sweetly snarky posts that attract thousand of “Likes,” and gently mollifies cranky YouTube commenters...and does the hard work of analytics around social?
We honor the social media mavens among us by offering Leveraging the Community, the last in a four-part series we call Online Communities. It’s free, it’s short, and it’s good — the perfect gift for your favorite social media expert.
“The field isn’t level, but it’s more level than other playing fields,” said Erin Rackelman, CMO and cofounder of Portland-based Night & Day Studios, last week.
She was talking about the app marketplace, which offers more than 700,000 products in the Apple store alone and where previously unheard-of companies like Zynga and PopCap have bested more established brands with their sales volume.
Part of their success can be attributed to the newness of the mobile market, less than a decade old and forced to address constant technological change in that time.
Last week brands in the spirits and auto industries moved up in The Dachis Group's Social Business Index, a real-time ranking of 30,000+ multinationals' performance in social.
We take a look at the top twenty listings and focus on those brands that performed especially well: Chrysler, Carlsberg, and Diageo, fine purveyor of libations.
Following the NFL championship games via Twitter on Sunday was a lot like trying to match the cherries on a slot machine that never stops spinning. It hurt the eyes, those rapid-fire tweets.
Now imagine that experience replicated on a global scale when the World Economic Forum (WEF) Annual Summit begins tomorrow, and international leaders in business, politics, and education, as well as top journalists, touch down in Davos, Switzerland. Imagine the social media frenzy.


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Dead Pixel Films powers health brand's first video campaign
Dead Pixel Films has worked with Manchester-based health brand Go Nutrition on its first video campaign.
Go Nutrition wanted a new high octane advert to promote its new pre-workout powder Up Your Game.
Manchester-based Dead Pixel pitched five very different video concepts before one was chosen.
Go Nutrition wanted the video to feature Manchester and utilize local crews, actors and locations where possible. It was shot in Manchester city centre and Stockport over the course of one long day.
Josh Burke, Go Nutrition's digital channel manager, said: "From concept to execution, it was an absolute pleasure working with Dead Pixel. Their professional nature and ability to take the lead on the project made the whole process very seamless.
Cal Thomson, director at Dead Pixel Films, added: "We were thrilled to be offered complete creative control over the video campaign for Go Nutrition. To have the trust and support from a brand makes our job so much easier.
"We are very pleased with the final video and look forward to more social media campaigns in the future."


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A team of geeks has devoted 5,000 man hours over six months to building a van-sized contraption designed to do nothing more complicated than pop a single balloon. Because, well, why not?
Their record-breaking Rube Goldberg machine, shown off on YouTube this week, involves 300 steps, which run in an automated chain reaction lasting for two minutes. It includes an orange juicer, a burger-assembly station and pencil sharpener.
When a comedy hand pierces the balloon, the reaction of the competitors in an annual Rube Goldberg Machine contest at Purdue University in Indiana could only have been more fevered had they landed their device on the moon.
But who was this Rube and why do garage dwellers as well as ad men with million-pound budgets get so excited about machines whose point is to be pointless?
Goldberg was America's Heath Robinson. His cartoons showed complex devices completing simple tasks. After his death in 1970, the devices leapt from the page into three dimensions. Purdue launched its contest in 1987 and in 2003 Goldberg inspired Cog, the award-winning Honda advert that featured dozens of moving car parts.
See the balloon: ind.pn/watchrubeReuse content


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For LG and Suppliers, 'Win-Win' During Recession Is A Realistic Outcome
During a time when many global companies are laying off employees and pressuring suppliers to cut prices even more, LG’s unique solution is to become even more collaborative with its partners. LG, a global leader and technology innovator in consumer electronics, announced this business strategy at the second LG Electronics Global Suppliers Day where the company’s executives met with over 400 representatives from supplier companies in Changwon, Korea.
This annual event allows LG to forge closer relationships with global partners and helps shore up the competitiveness of all companies involved. This is especially important during an economic downturn. Along with LG Electronics CEO Yong Nam, Chief Procurement Officer (CPO) Tom Linton, the heads of LG Electronics’ five business units and major suppliers such as Qualcomm, Toshiba Semiconductor Company Group and Hitachi Media attended the event.
“Fair and transparent management and trade are an essential to building a strong company,” said CEO Yong Nam. “Collaboration and partnerships are more important these days as those are ways to allow us to get through the economic downturn and to be fully prepared for the future.”
CPO Linton added, “Our partners’ competitiveness is directly related to LG Electronics’ competitiveness. We will continue to invest in technology, innovation and manpower to strengthen the competitiveness of LG as well as our business partners.”
At the event, LG and partner companies discussed ways to strengthen respective capabilities by establishing win-win collaborative strategies for each business unit. They also agreed both LG and its partner companies would proactively address environmental issues and collaborate on the development of eco-friendly products. LG presented eleven awards to its best suppliers, including Taiwan-based MStar Semiconductor Inc., which received the top global supplier award for its contribution to enhancing LG’s display products. LG and partner companies also came together to hold a silent auction fundraiser to raise money by auctioning donated memorabilia from LGE Global Suppliers Day guests with proceeds being donated to UNICEF.
# # #
About LG Electronics, Inc.
LG Electronics, Inc. (KSE: 066570.KS) is a global leader and technology innovator in consumer electronics, mobile communications and home appliances, employing more than 84,000 people working in 115 operations including 84 subsidiaries around the world. With 2008 global sales of USD44.7 billion, LG is comprised of five business units –- Home Entertainment, Mobile Communications, Home Appliance, Air Conditioning and Business Solutions. LG is the world’s leading producer of flat panel TVs, audio and video products, mobile handsets, air conditioners and washing machines. LG has signed a long-term agreement to become both a Global Partner and a Technology Partner of Formula One™. As part of this top-level association, LG acquires exclusive designations and marketing rights as the official consumer electronics, mobile phone and data processor of this global sporting event. For more information, please visit www.lg.com.


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K&W Carolina Kitchen in Bordeaux to open April 18
K&W Cafeteria on Village Drive is so 2017.
Say hello to K&W Carolina Kitchen, a 2018 reboot of the iconic family restaurant, scheduled to open in the Bordeaux Center on April 18.
The shopping center location gives the cafeteria an additional 3,200 square feet of space, and also allows for the addition of a new takeout concept with the conventional serving line and dining room that K&W's loyal patrons have come to expect.
"It's really a restaurant within a restaurant," said Jeff Loken, the regional vice president and district manager for the Winston-Salem-based cafeteria chain.
On April 18, the business will open at 11 a.m. for lunch and dinner only.
Thirty minutes earlier, at 10:30, a ribbon-cutting ceremony officially launches the opening of the new location.
On April 19, K&W will resume its regular hours, serving breakfast from 6:30 to 10:30 a.m., and lunch and dinner continuously from 11 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., seven days a week.
"It's not so much we've outgrown it," Loken said of the restaurant's long-time Village Drive location. "But we've needed a quality building that we're going to be put in for so many years. It will be exciting to give them (customers) that. It's long past due."
The existing restaurant is expected to close on the night of April 15.
Customers will notice that the new Bordeaux Center site offers the Carolina Cafe, an express to-go area with a salad bar. This part of the establishment will have seating for more than 40 people.
"We do have the express to-go in some of our stores," Loken said. "This will be one of the first that has actual dining and a salad bar."
He compared the new K&W salad bar to those found in such supermarkets as Publix and Harris Teeter.
Apart from the Carolina Cafe, the K&W Carolina Kitchen will offer the restaurant's regular service. The only difference, Loken said, will be beverage self-service in the dining room.
"We have built in a grill for grilling our breakfast eggs, cooked in front of the guests," he said. "We're also doing pancakes and waffles in front of the guests. Fresh, made to order."
Seating for the dine-in customer in the Carolina Kitchen side of the business will be comparable to the existing location with the addition of a 40-seat banquet room for meetings and reservations.
The current location seats about 270 people.
This marks K&W's 81st year in business. The family-run company owns and operates 30 cafeterias in the Carolinas and Virginias.
According to the Chick-fil-A Hope Mills Facebook page, it is now official.
"Chick-fil-A is going in across from Lowe's on Main Street in fascinating Hope Mills. Our town," reads a Monday night post on the Facebook page.
Strictly Business was excited for those who have longed for one of the fast food restaurants inside their city limits. But after a Thursday evening conversation with Hope Mills Mayor Jackie Warner, it seems the people of Hope Mills might better hold their horses.
"It's tentative," she said.
"Right now, we're in that stage of where there's a few things that have to be done," Warner said. "One thing is the property. Some of it is in Hope Mills and some's in Cumberland County. It has to be zoned commercial. There is preliminary work in getting a Chick-fil-A in Hope Mills. We're excited about the possibility of getting a Chick-fil-A."
The Hope Mills Board of Commissioners and the Cumberland County Board of Commissioners would each have to approve the rezoning of the property that appears to be under consideration. Currently, part of that parcel is zoned commercial, and part, residential.
The proposed site would be on North Main Street, Warner said, directly in front of Lowe's.
"It's where I call hamburger hill," she said, alluding to an area where a cluster of restaurants operate, including McDonald's, Bojangle's, Arby's and Smithfields Chicken 'N Bar-B-Q. "You would have access to that traffic signal there."
The mayor said she didn't know the name of the potential owner: She has not seen any paperwork on it.
"I got an email from the town manager saying there had been a request for the land. To make sure the land is zoned commercial. We know someone is looking," Warner said. "It's something that people have asked for. You know, Chick-fil-A is a favorite for a lot of people. There's been a lot of excitement around it."
Perhaps this time, it won't merely be rumor.
We'll keep you posted.
See something sprouting up, have tips, questions or comments for Strictly Business? Contact staff writer Michael Futch at firstname.lastname@example.org or 486-3529.


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GE makes 100-watt-equivalent LED
BOSTON - General Electric Co. says scientists have developed a prototype LED bulb that incorporates jet-engine cooling techniques to cast as much light as a 100-watt halogen lamp while using one-third as much energy.
The LED bulb gives off the benchmark 1,500 lumens, the halogen-bulb standard, and it's half the weight and size of a 600-lumen LED light marketed today, GE said in a statement. The bulb was developed by GE's global research and lighting units with the University of Maryland, using a two-year Department of Energy grant.
GE, the world's largest jet-engine maker, focused on reducing temperature, noise and size, said Mehmet Arik, principal investigator on the LED project for six years.
"It's a big issue," Arik said. "We have to make it as small as possible, as quiet as possible, minimum power consumption and something that also makes no noise."
LEDs, or light-emitting diodes, rely on semiconductors to create light, rather than heating a filament. Current LED bulbs, usually encased in a ceramic or plastic housing, burn one-fourth of the electricity of a comparable incandescent and last 25 times longer, GE has said.
The new bulbs are cooled by tiny bellowslike devices, which GE calls "dual cool jets," that provide high-velocity jets of air. Lowering the temperature reduces the number of LED chips needed to provide light, lowering the cost of the bulb as well as its size and weight, GE said.
Federal legislation will bring an end to production of 100-watt incandescent bulbs in 2012, prompting consumers to switch to other types including halogen and compact fluorescents. Lower-wattage incandescent bulbs will be phased out later.


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Personally, this is one of the bike I was the most excited about. Since early in 2019, there were speculations of a new Africa Twin in the works at Honda’s. In addition to its thorough upgrade, the new Twin was expected to receive a new, bigger engine.
The launch in September of the new CRF1100L proved that the rumors were true. The model received a fresh new design built on a revised chassis and a subframe inspired by the CRF450R’s. This allowed the model to shed a few pounds, now tipping the scales at 498 lb. Its height has also been reduced by a little less than an inch which, combined with the bike’s lighter weight, makes the model more accessible. The new 1,084cc twin now produces 101 horsepower and 77 lb-ft of torque.
There are six available driving modes including tour, urban, gravel, and off-road as well as two customizable settings. Pricing for the 2020 Africa Twin starts at $14,399.


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By Dr. O. A. ClevelandClick here to see more...
The nearby New York December appears headed for another 63 cent plus close void of any excitement, volatility or increased open interest.
Mills remain cash market buyers trading generally only hand-to-mouth and being fully satisfied with their needs. Chinese mills continue to appear to scramble to find high quality cotton and have all but depleted the non-Chinese supplies that were stored in country.
I will get to the price outlook, but for now allow me a small sliver of freedom. Where is Jerry Calvani when I need him? Getting fat on pecans out in Carlsbad I suppose, and not sharing any. Jerry was about the only one that could decipher through my writings when I was struggling with the market. I seem to be struggling now, and he is a no show.
Early last week, I was about to throw in the towel. Now I am a bit more excited about prices moving at least a nickel higher. No, I am not bullish. But I am a ton more bullish than bearish!
The bottom is in. The year-long 61-69 cent trading range remains very dominant and, given the status of demand, will remain strongly entrenched at least through March.
The Northern Hemisphere is not yet 50% harvested, but the crop is getting smaller around the globe, notably in India, China and the U.S. The second crop in Brazil, fast becoming the more important of the two – absence exceptional Divine intervention – will be smaller than expected, as will be the Australian crop.
Trick or Treat. It is November now, past the time for a new seasonal low. It is time to move higher but it will take several trips to the dental office and a few 20 Mule Teams to pull cotton prices back above 66 cents, let alone the 68-69 cent top of the trading range.
Demand finally appears to be showing up at the retail shelves. But mills should not be expected to find themselves more active in the market until March. It will take active mill buying at that time to force the trade toward long positions friendly enough to pump up the speculative fund long activity.
U.S. export commitments are some 39% behind the 2014-15 pace, while commitments to China are 42% behind the same time year ago pace. Obviously there is a correlation. However, export sales to Vietnam are near making up for the difference.
One is tempted to conclude that it is the decline in Chinese imports that is the burden on demand and, therefore, prices. However, yarn imports into China continue to increase and offset what initially appears to be a decline in cotton demand by all Chinese textile activity. It is the declining demand by spinning mills that is measured by these statistics, not the demand for cotton that requires further processing before hitting the retail shelf. That is, it is a mere measurement of the decline in Chinese spinning and is not representative of a decline in the demand for cotton by the Chinese textile industry.
World cotton demand is increasing, just not at the pace needed to pull prices higher during the glut of the harvest season. Additionally, one should not be overly worried by the slow pace of USDA exports compared to the prior year. World trade is simply less than it was a year ago.
The November world supply demand report remains over a week away, but USDA enumerators are walking the fields as this is being written, collecting data for the November U.S. crop estimates. My guess is that the U.S. cotton crop will come down another 300,000 bales, down to 13.0 million bales.
However, whether USDA buys into it or not in the November 10 report, the Indian crop has already been severely diminished. Look for that crop to be between 26.25 and 27.0 million bales, compared to the current USDA estimate of 29 million bales. Granted, India has not yet completed the first picking of their 2015 crop, and USDA historically is somewhat reluctant to make significant changes until the first pick is completed.


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NHTSA Opens Investigation into 31,000 Ford Taurus, Mercury Sable Models for Stuck Throttles
The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration has opened an investigation into 31,000 Ford Taurus and Mercury Sables made for the 2000 to 2003 model year. The cause for concern stems from complaints of a sticky accelerator pedal which can result in the dreaded unintended acceleration. In all, the NHTSA has received 50 complaints that both owners of the Taurus and Sable have experienced this issue. Both models concerned in this investigation only feature an overhead-cam 3.0-liter V-6 Duratec engine; the other engine variation isn't affected by this investigation and potential recall. The problem at hand features a fractured speed-control cable, which is responsible for holding a set speed when cruise control is engaged. If the cable severs, unintended acceleration can occur, which has cost automakers like Toyota more than a pound of figurative flesh. Ford too, is no stranger to these speed-control cables coming apart as the same type of issue bothered close to 500,000 Escape and Mazda Tribute SUVs earlier this year. The NHTSA says that the fractured cables allow the throttle to run at around 26 percent open without the driver doing anything. With the Ford Escape and Mazda Tribute recall, the Blue Oval boys had to create space between the cruise control cables which controls the throttle. This latest investigation involves these same cables to splitting altogether but the result is the same, nevertheless. Consumer Reports recently named Ford and its luxury arm Lincoln as the No. 2 and 3 most unreliable brands for the 2012 model year. At one point, Mercury was a part of the Ford-Lincoln group but it has since dissolved. Just two years ago, Ford was sitting atop the domestic brand pile but with all the recent recalls it has faced, the Blue Oval's reputation has taken a hit.The NHTSA is still in the infant stages of its investigation into both the Ford Taurus and Mercury Sable but stay tuned as more details unfold. Source: Consumer Reports
There are just two reasons to buy a V-12 full-size luxury car: exclusivity and cache.


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Following her steamy ads for Hudson Jeans last season — including posing topless (with strategically placed hands) on top of a Union Jack flag — the 18-year-old rock heiress is starring in another racy campaign for the company.
“Georgia May Jagger being the face represents all of that — British, superedgy, supercool girl.
“With her mom [model Jerry Hall] being American and her dad Mick Jagger being British, she is the perfect fit for us since the Hudson brand DNA is about being born in California but rooted in London.”
Plus, Taverniti notes, “Georgia is one of the funniest people I know.”
In the sizzling new ads, Jagger — who recently signed on as the face of Rimmel cosmetics and appears in Versace‘s Spring 2010 campaign — is shown falling off a bed in unbuttoned, superskinny white jeans and a sheer white bra.
In another, the teen wears a denim vest (with nothing underneath) and tugs suggestively at her lace-up jeans — which we can totally see her Rolling Stone papa rocking.
Taverniti says his inspiration for the new collection comes from his “couture background in European design.”
“[The] collection is for everybody,” he told us. “You put your own DNA into it and you feel like you are the collection. You can have the same style denim worn by five girls and it can be totally different. That’s my goal.”


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Companies operate more efficiently by employing a range of security measures — from encryption services to cloud-based antivirus solutions.
Cyber-robbers are using ginned-up e-mail messages to con financial advisers into wiring cash from clients' online investment accounts.
Security firms say some on Web are reluctant to add tough user authentication protocols.
Consumers can determine if their information is out there and push to get it removed.
"The Internet has become the new battleground for freedom of expression" as governments quash discussions of corruption, human rights abuse.
Microsoft on Monday is expected to unveil new software features crafted to jazz up Office 15, the next major upgrade of its office programs.
Yahoo on Thursday confirmed the theft of 450,000 Yahoo users' e-mail addresses and passwords.
Analysts warn that Internet users should remain vigilant because other malware infections abound.
After a year of warnings, FBI will shut down a backup system that has held a computer virus in check.
Security firm gets $21 million grant from DARPA to make smartphones and PC less prone to attack.
Software giant paid $1.2 billion for social-networking site for business in bid to catch up with Oracle, Salesforce.com.


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Post Holdings Inc. officials announced Tuesday that the company intends to raise $175 million by selling a new series of convertible preferred stock.
The company expects to grant initial purchasers of the stock a 30-day option to buy up to an additional $26.25 million of the Series B Cumulative Perpetual Convertible Preferred Stock.
Post officials said the company plans to use net proceeds from the offering to repay in full its outstanding term loan, which had a principal balance of $168.4 million as of Dec. 31, and use the remaining proceeds for general corporate purposes that could include financing acquisitions.
Earlier this month, Post Holdings Inc. reported net earnings for its fiscal first quarter ended Dec. 31 of $7.6 million, down 41 percent from the same period in 2011 on increased costs primarily related to its February 2012 spinoff from Ralcorp Holdings. The maker of branded ready-to-eat cereals reported net sales of $236.9 million in its first quarter, up 8 percent from the prior year period.


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Contactless fare collection system provider Modeshift has embarked on a partnership and the launch of a new digital fare collection system with Marin Airporter, which provides Marin County with airport shuttle services to and from San Francisco International Airport (SFO).
Modeshift planned, designed and implemented the new Marin Airporter app and online system, which has been created to enable users to plan, track and pay for a ride quickly and easily. The digital solution will also provide valuable data insights to Marin Airporter and simplify back-end operations so the local service can continue to provide effective transit options for those commuting to and from SFO.
“Using Modeshift’s technology, Marin Airporter users will experience an intelligent transport system that simplifies the process of managing travel,” said Miroslav Katsarov, CEO of Modeshift. “The new service streamlines the steps for customers to plan and pay for a ticket with a few clicks on a mobile or online device and enables them to track their ride on the mobile app for smart trip planning.”
Features of the Marin Airporter mobile app and online system include mobile ticketing, a web portal, data collection and point of sale and validation systems.
Modeshift’s technology means that Marin Airporter passengers can purchase single-ride and 30-ride passes through the new app and website, which generates a unique QR code for each fare. Users can redeem this fare by scanning their tickets at electronic validators installed on the Marin Airporter shuttle fleet. The app is available to download in both Apple and Google Play Stores.


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Low Wage Workers Resuscitate NY’s Organized Labor
With New York’s barbell economy destroying traditional middle class employment, fast food workers aren’t the only ones fed up with low wages and unfair labor practices. Others rising up to fight for fair pay include workers from:
• Farm Country in East New York – 63 current and former workers at Farm Country in East New York will receive a total of $500,000 in back pay as a result of being underpaid hourly as well as being shorted on overtime. Workers voted to unionize and will be getting 50-cent raises over minimum wage, overtime, and paid days off.
• Golden Farm in Kensington, Brooklyn – Since 2008, workers from Golden Farm have been fighting for fair pay, overtime, and paid sick leave…and they’re winning. After contacting the Dept. of Labor, suing the owner for back pay, organizing a community-wide boycott that has resulted in a 20% drop in revenue, and voting to unionize, employees are just 2 negotiations away from signing a fair labor contract.
• Astoria Car Wash and Hi-Tek 10 Minute Lube Inc – In September of 2012, workers at Astoria Car Wash and Hi-Tek 10 Minute Lube became the first car wash employees in NYC history to vote for unionization. This came after a 2008 investigation by the state labor commission found that nearly 8 out of every 10 car washes in NYC violated minimum wage and overtime laws. Since September, 4 other car washes have voted for unionization.
• Hot and Crusty – After nearly a year of organizing against a fiercely anti-union boss, workers at this NYC chain went on strike, formed their own independent union, and are helping to educate and inform other chain restaurant workers of their rights.
• Retail Action Project (RAP) – RAP is an organization of retail workers that is fighting to improve workplace standards. In October of 2012, they launched the Sustainable Scheduling campaign. This is an effort to curtail corporate retailers’ unpredictable, part-time scheduling practices. Their goal is give workers stable hours that produce a sustainable income.
• Air Serv and Global Elite Group – Security workers at JFK airport threatened to walk off the job before the holiday rush in December of 2012 unless their demands for higher wages and safer working conditions were met. The Port Authority asked them to call off the strike and strongly urged their contractors, Air Serv and Global Elite, to work out an agreement with employees. The employees are also considering unionization.


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Virgin Media Player on Nokia N8
October 25, 2010
Virgin Media has announced the launch of the Nokia N8, the first handset to come preloaded with its own video-on-demand software. The Virgin Media Player app will also give access to content from 4oD, Comedy Central, MTV and Nickelodeon.
Virgin says: “The brand-new Nokia N8 is the first handset to come pre-loaded with the ‘Virgin Media Player’ app which gives customers the ability to watch their favourite programmes from Virgin Media’s growing library of mobile TV content whenever they want, wherever they are.”
“The Virgin Media Player app will also be available to download free from the Nokia Ovi store for any Nokia N8 customers on any mobile network.”
The Virgin Media Player launched earlier this year, and the company is keen to expand the usage and sees the N8 as an ideal device.


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NEW DELHI: The proposal of allowing foreign direct investment (FDI) in multi-brand retail has been so far supported by only four States and Union Territories (UTs).
With this, global retail chains like Walmart and Carrefour will have to wait to enter into the Indian markets.
“Till date, written communications, indicating support for foreign direct investment (FDI) in multi-brand retail trade, have been received from the governments of Delhi, Manipur and from Daman & Diu and Dadra Nagar Haveli,” Minister of State for Commerce and Industry Jyotiraditya Scindia informed the Rajya Sabha today in a written reply.
On June 19, the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP) had written to governments of all states and Union Territories to present their views on the contentious issue.
Last year on November 24, the Union Cabinet had decided to allow 51 per cent FDI in multi-brand retail, but the government failed to give a final shape to the proposal in the face of strong opposition from UPA-ally Trinamool Congress and several state governments.
However, the minister said that there was no proposal to allow 100% FDI in multi-brand retail.


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Vail Daily column: Let’s talk traction
The Grand Junction office of the National Weather Service issued a winter storm watch for Avon and Vail on Monday. It may be snowing as you read this.
The forecast was apparently well-watched, as local tire shops quickly filled up with requests for either new tires or customers coming in for their semi-annual summer/winter tire swap.
But this week’s forecast also coincided with a couple of interesting developments in the continuing effort to ensure Front Range drivers have the right equipment for their weekend ski trips.
These steps were taken in the wake of monster storms in early 2014 that snarled Interstate 70 for hours on end.
The first development is the return of a bill that defines the requirements for “winter traction” devices motorists need while driving on I-70 through the mountains. The bill clarifies existing legal definitions of adequate tires and other equipment and requires the Colorado Department of Transportation to educate drivers about those requirements.
The bill is co-sponsored by Rep. Diane Mitsch Bush, a Democrat of Steamboat Springs who represents Eagle and Routt counties, and Rep. Bob Rankin, a Republican from Carbondale.
That bill passed out of the Colorado House of Representatives in the 2015 session but was ultimately derailed in the Senate, bafflingly enough, by Republican Randy Baumgardner of Winter Park.
For its second shot, the bill this week received the blessing of the Legislature’s Transportation Legislation Review Committee, which might give it a better shot at success.
The bill might help remind motorists of the need to be prepared before venturing into the mountains in the winter, but it wouldn’t provide its legal boost until the winter of 2017 at the earliest.
For this winter, the I-70 Coalition — a nonprofit consortium of local and regional governments and businesses along the corridor — this week announced it had struck a deal with the distributors of a device called the Auto Sock to provide those devices at several stores along the corridor, including a location in Vail.
The Auto Sock is a reusable fabric tire cover that appears far easier to install than tire chains. The socks aren’t cheap, but the asking price— about $100 per pair — is far less expensive than new tires, or the price of being towed.
Back when far few people ventured into the mountains on winter weekends, those who did venture out — in cars and trucks far less suited to snow driving — were usually well-equipped with snow tires, tire chains, shovels and other essentials. Those are still good things to have. But a reminder to have the right gear, combined with easy availability of relatively inexpensive go-in-the-snow devices, might help ease the traffic jams sure to come on future Sunday powder days.


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Soulskill from the just-in-time-for-halloween dept.
Several readers sent word that Microsoft has selected a release date for Windows 8: October 26th. Steven Sinofsky made the announcement today at the company's annual sales meeting. The new version of the operating system will be sent to manufacturers next month, giving them plenty of time to prepare for general availability.
The tree of research must from time to time be refreshed with the blood
of bean counters.
-- Alan Kay


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Magical Christmas Toy Drive: Butler Land & Timber Co. Goes on Shopping Spree
This year, Butler Land & Timber Co. is joining Alabama News Network for our 8th annual Magical Christmas Toy Drive. Our drive collects toys for The Salvation Army of Montgomery.
Company officials recently joined us for a shopping spree. They bought more than $1,000 worth of toys at the Walmart Supercenter on Chantilly Parkway. Those toys will be placed inside the Magical Christmas toy vault at Eastdale Mall for everyone to see.
“We have been very blessed,” Brad Butler of Butler Land & Timber Co. said. “We want to give back to those communities that have helped us, the places our customers and clients come from.”
While we thank Butler Land & Timber Co. for its support, we still need your help to make the toy drive a success. Drop off a new, unwrapped toy at any of our sponsor locations between now and Friday, Dec. 10. Those toys will go to registered families right here in our area.


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BMW announced today that its new BMW M5 will be the 2017 car of its brand, becoming the first car of a BMW brand since the M1 was introduced in 2005.BMW said it will celebrate the milestone in its new M5 car, the M5X.
The brand is celebrating the 100th anniversary of the M4, the first M car to be produced in a BMW factory, and the 100-year anniversary of its M model.
The brand said it is making the car a bit smaller, using more aluminium to achieve a “more compact and modern” design.BMWs M model, introduced in 2015, has been lauded for its aerodynamic prowess and durability, and has become a symbol of BMW’s design ethos.
Its first iteration was the M3, which was sold to the public for $23,400 in 2016, but it was discontinued.
It was replaced by the M6, which launched in 2021, but was discontinued in 2019.BMD will show off the new M 5X at the 2018 New York auto show.


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IHOP offered a free short stack of Buttermilk pancakes to customers today, Feb. 5, in celebration of National Pancake Day. Here are some photos of people who are really excited about their free pancakes.
More in Lifestyle
The restaurant-butcher shop combination was a Bay Area first.
Walnut Creek gets new burritos while San Jose sandwich shops expand.
Weekly listing of pet and animal events and adoptions.
If you visit Oak Meadow Park, you can catch a ride on the Holiday Train.


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Meta is running a billboard ad that pitches its WhatsApp as the superior privacy option over Apple’s iMessage app. iMessage has encrypted end-to-end messaging, but it may store backups of messages on its servers that are not encrypted and therefore obtainable.
Zuckerberg noted in an Instagram post that WhatsApp introduced encrypted backups last year, and also highlighted a feature that allows WhatsApp users to set new messages to automatically delete.
Tracking in the VR world. In a related story, Meta seems to be taking an entirely different stance on privacy with its recently launched Quest Pro VR headset.
The headset has five inward-facing cameras that watch a person’s face to track eye movements and facial expressions, ostensibly to let your avatar reflect expressions like smiling, winking, or raising an eyebrow in real time.
A Meta product manager said that the raw images and pictures used to power these features are stored locally on the headset and deleted after processing. But, according to Meta’s own eye-tracking and facial-expression privacy notices, it appears that insights obtained from those images may be processed and stored on Meta servers. Such granular data could be used to figure out a person’s interests or reactions to content.
Easy peasy to share this story with your peeps


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An Indian-origin CEO has been ranked fourth on a list of top 25 overpaid CEOs in the United States, according to a new report.
Sandeep Matharani, who is the CEO of General Growth Properties, a Chicago based company, has been listed fourth on the list of top 25 overpaid CEOs in the United States, according to the report from the nonprofit 'As You Sow'.
The non-profit organization promotes social corporate and environmental responsibility and takes a close look at CEO pay.
According to the report, Matharani, with a total compensation of $39.2 million in 2016, is overpaid by $26 million.
Using a regression study that ties CEO pay to performance and other indicators such as the portion of pay that is offered in options and returns on corporate capital, 'As You Sow' has determined which CEOs are paid above and beyond their performance.
The gap between CEO’s performance to his pay is the criteria for the rankings.
Leslie Moonves, the CEO of CBS, is the most overpaid CEO in the United Sates. Moonves earned compensation worth $57.6 million in 2016.
Marc Benioff, the CEO of Salesforce is ranked second on the list with a total compensation of $33.6 million.
David Zaslav of Discovery Communication came in third with a compensation of $32.4 million.
Not only CEOs are overpaid, but the report says that their companies did not perform well on the S&P 500 last year, so there may also be a drag on shareholders return.
Matharani joined the General Growth Properties, at the time it was emerging from bankruptcy in 2010 and refocused the mall owner to high-end shopping centers.
Matharani has been mentioned many times as a potential candidate for a position in the Donald Trump’s administration.
General Growth Properties operates 126 retail properties across 40 states. With its HQ in Chicago, the company has 1,800 employees.


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(To see if Surface is just another Zune, click here.)
Currently referred to as the Xperia Sony Tablet, the device will reportedly be thinner, lighter and more powerful than its predecessor. While these updates are common for tablet upgrades, The Verge reports that the new device will also include a Tegra 3 Processor from NVIDIA (NASDAQ: NVDA), support Android 4.0 or a more recent iteration, come with a wide arrange of storage options (16GB, 32GB, or 64GB), contain 3G connectivity and offer 10 hours of Wi-Fi battery life.
Pricing for the new tablet has not been confirmed, but Sony reportedly plans to undercut Apple's (NASDAQ: AAPL) iPad by $50, selling the 16GB model for $449.99, the 32GB model for $549.99 and the 64GB model for $649.99. This is an interesting strategy considering we do not yet know how much Microsoft's tablet, Surface, will cost.
Sony intends to compete head-on with Microsoft as well as Apple. According to The Verge, Sony is preparing a special cover that doubles as a keyboard for the Xperia tablet. The cover could retail for as much $100, though Sony is apparently planning to release two cheaper covers that will not include a keyboard.
Whether or not the keyboard cover will feature buttons or a flat, touch screen setup is unknown. In any case, Sony will have a difficult time avoiding comparisons to Microsoft's first tablet.
Unveiled in June, Surface is a Windows 8 tablet that will launch with two different keyboard covers; one that is flat and senses touch, and another that features actual buttons. The device, which will reportedly be released on October 26, has received a ton of buzz since its mid-June reveal. Microsoft has yet to announce the price of the new tablet, but analystsexpect it to cost as much as $800.
Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer recently said that he expects Surface to sell a few million units in the next year. That is a far cry from the more than 30 million iPads that Apple is expected to sell in 2012.
Google (NASDAQ: GOOG) has not revealed specific sales figures for its first tablet, the Nexus 7. Much like the iPad, the Nexus 7 was faced with shortages when it was first released. However, those shortages ended rather quickly.
Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN), which released the seven-inch Kindle Fire in November 2011, is reportedly developing three new tablets that will be released before the end of the year.
(For the fastest financial updates, subscribe to Benzinga Pro.)
Follow me @LouisBedigianBZ


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DUBLIN--Power management company Eaton (NYSE:ETN) today announced that Craig Arnold, Eaton chairman and chief executive officer, will participate in the Goldman Sachs Industrials Conference in Boston on Wednesday, November 2, 2016. Arnold will be making comments at 10 a.m. United States Eastern time, discussing the company’s business prospects with securities analysts and institutional investors.
A real-time audio web cast of the presentation will be available at www.eaton.com. An audio replay will be available following the presentation at the same link.
Eaton is a power management company with 2015 sales of $20.9 billion. Eaton provides energy-efficient solutions that help our customers effectively manage electrical, hydraulic and mechanical power more efficiently, safely and sustainably. Eaton has approximately 95,000 employees and sells products to customers in more than 175 countries. For more information, visit www.eaton.com.


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- Toyota's new and highly anticipated mid-sized sports car borrows many parts from BMW.
- That caused an online uproar, with Supra fans denouncing the new car because the Toyota engine was such a beloved feature of the old model.
- Sales data shows that actual buyers don't seem to care.
- Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.
The Toyota Supra, whose fame rose exponentially thanks to the "Fast and Furious" film franchise, has been an automotive icon for years. But when Toyota revived the car last year after a nearly two-decade absence from the market, many in the automotive community weren't happy.
They argued the new Supra wasn't the pure, power-friendly Toyota they fell in love with from the late 1990s to early 2000s. Instead, the new car was built on the bones and with an engine of a BMW, leading many to dismiss it as inauthentic and blasphemous.
But what matters about a product isn't an enthusiast fanbase screaming about its purity or so-called adherence to tradition. It's the money, and US sales figures for both the Supra and the two-seater BMW Z4 it shares many parts with evidence a strong preference for one over the other.
Since the new Supra finally came to market last year, Toyota has sold 3,897 models, whereas BMW has sold 2,253 Z4s in the same time frame. It's proof that perhaps aspects such as "tradition" and "purity" don't matter as much as online mob mentality would have you think.
"Honestly, maybe I'm in the minority, but I was actually pretty attracted to the Supra specifically because of its [BMW roots]," Tom Burns, who picked up a new Supra recently, told Business Insider. "And being the age I am, I am dead center in the group of people who were of driving age when Vin Diesel and the late Paul Walker hit the big screen in 'The Fast and the Furious,' so having a car say 'Supra' on it has always been a bit of a halo to me, too."
Burns really likes the "weird styling" of the car and said it was comforting to know it was built on a proven platform.
The new Supra: A Toyota badge with BMW bones
It's not unusual for different automakers to collaborate with each other. Benefits from collaboration often include reductions in cost and production time and shared technologies and resources. Toyota has done it with Subaru, Ford's teamed up with Mazda before, and BMW is currently working with Jaguar Land Rover for electrification technology. BMW also has an ongoing partnership with Toyota, which recently resulted in the latest generation of the hallowed Supra, Toyota's legendary midsized sports car.
On the surface, the new Supra, now in its fifth generation, looks nothing like the BMW Z4 it shares its parts with. It has pointy-looking headlights and interesting shapes, while the Z4 takes a curvier, more rounded approach. The Supra's proportions, if daring, can appear a little strange at certain angles. It also has a striking front fascia, whereas the Z4's is a safer, more conventionally BMW style.
And while they're both two-door sports cars, the Supra comes with the hardtop while the Z4 is strictly a convertible.
But, underneath, the new Supra has a significant number of BMW-stamped parts. The inline-six engine, for example, is sourced from BMW — although Toyota's engineers tuned it specifically for the Supra. The eight-speed automatic transmission is also from BMW, and the chassis is the same one found in the Z4. Both cars are built at the Magna Steyr plant in Graz, Austria.
Financially and culturally, the partnership makes sense. Toyota, wanting to stick with the tradition established by previous generations of the Supra, knew it had to give the new Supra a straight-six engine.
The problem is, Toyota doesn't currently make a straight-six engine. BMW does.
So, Toyota decided to skip out on all the time and money it would have taken to develop and build a new straight-six of its own, and instead went with BMW's.
For BMW, the costs associated with developing the next-generation Z4 by itself would have been too great to justify bringing a new version of a low-volume convertible to market, according to Motor Trend. With Toyota shouldering some of the financial burden, BMW was able to launch the new Z4 last year alongside the new Supra.
'The very people who should love this car seem to hate it with the fury of a thousand suns'
The current Supra has big shoes to fill.
The market hasn't seen a new Supra model since the fourth-generation car ceased production in 2002. The gen-four Supra is a particular favorite among the aftermarket tuning crowd.
That car's turbocharged straight-six engine, internally named the 2JZ, responded extremely well to tuning. Owners were able to coax at least two to three times more power out of the 2JZ engine — up from around a stock output of around 300 horsepower — easily and without blowing anything up from the added strain.
The fourth-gen Supra also played the role of the hero car driven by Paul Walker in the 2001 film "The Fast and the Furious." Viewers and fans of Japanese domestic market cars alike watched a Supra beat a Ferrari in a drag race on the Pacific Coast Highway.
It was a tuned Supra, but it was a Toyota that could take on a Ferrari nonetheless. Power and performance wasn't exclusively reserved for the expensive Italian exotics anymore.
That pretty much cemented the Supra's street cred in the eyes of the enthusiast community. And for nearly 20 years, there was no replacement — until last year, when the new Supra was finally, finally unveiled at the 2019 Detroit Auto Show.
But countless enthusiasts and purists alike couldn't let go of the BMW aspect of the car. To them, it wasn't a Toyota product. It was a BMW. They dismissed it immediately and ferociously.
The fact that the new Supra is a BMW Z4 just makes it look bad— Carmemes (@Carmemes5) February 29, 2020
It could have been a new legend. But it's essentially a rebadged bmw Z4. What made the supra great and all classic JDM cars for that matter is Japanese style and Japanese engineering. But in the end the new supra is just another car shame really.— Justin Powell (@Osprey_SSJ4) February 25, 2020
Us JDM folk, its either a full fledged Toyota Supra or a full fledged BMW Z4, you cant have both.— Stewart Kirby (@Stewart__Kirby) October 11, 2019
Its a nice looking car if you take away the badging but until a Toyota made supra comes out, this is a Z4 with an identity crisis
Still, though, having an opinion on the internet isn't the same as voting with your wallet. The new Supra is proof of that.
The Supra officially went on sale in July of last year. From then until the end of December 2019, Toyota sold 2,884 Supras. Over the first quarter of this year, Toyota sold another 1,013 Supras, bringing the total number of Supras sold so far to 3,897.
Conversely, sales of the BMW Z4 in the same period of time yield a different picture. From July to December 2019, BMW only sold 1,628 Z4s. During Q1 of this year, it sold 625 models — bringing the total number of Z4s sold to 2,253, or less than two-thirds the number of Supras sold by Toyota.
That's despite the two cars starting at roughly the same price of $50,000.
It's worth noting that convertible and coupe sports cars are notorious low-volume sellers, and that Q1 for most people takes place during cold, winter months — not exactly a time when you'd want to buy a convertible such as the Z4.
Plus, the COVID-19 pandemic wreaked havoc on the car market in March, with several automakers' sales down 40 percent year-over-year that month.
But people who actually went out and bought the new Supra, like Burns, don't seem to be bothered by its BMW nature.
"I've only owned two cars in my entire life — a '97 four-door Acura Integra and a 2009 BMW 335i coupe," Burns said. "Both great driver's cars, and I wanted to keep that going, so the Supra being a 'known quantity,' so to speak, was nice."
Burns also doesn't understand the hate for the new Supra.
"It's crazy, the more I look around in the Supra community the more I see of that, like, the very people who should love this car seem to hate it with the fury of a thousand suns," Burns said. "Having a relatively established engine and platform is a good thing."
I’ve been working over 60 hours a week for months now and it’s time that it all paid off! When I heard the new Supra was coming out all I thought about is wrapping it just like @paulwalker in the fast and the furious movie and making it into a real tribute car for him. I couldn’t of done this without @metrowrapz THANK YOU for making my dream come true!! This car is AMAZING!!! #supra #fast9 #supramk5 #supramkv #fastandfurious #toyotasupra #supraculture #jdm #f9 #thefastandthefurious #custom #blessed #greatful #dreamcar #paulwalker #brianoconner #thanksgod
Another Supra owner, Josh Bader, echoed similar sentiments.
"I love the platform of the car," Bader said. "Very easy to upgrade parts, the styling is amazing, I have over 9,000 miles on it and have only had it since mid November.
"I've done a 2,000-mile road trip and no problem at all. It's comfortable and has great power. One of the main reasons why I bought it is it's a sports car with a big trunk. I can fit lawn chairs, coolers, and a big umbrella for the beach in it."
Pragmatically, he went on to say he was also looking for a car that would be reliable and wouldn't cost a fortune to take to a dealership if anything went wrong. After all, it is a Toyota — an automaker with a reputation of selling reliable cars.
Nostalgia also had a role in Bader's decision. His first car was a 2001 Toyota Celica that he and his father built for when he turned 16.
"Full body kit, 'The Fast and the Furious' decals, rims, spoiler, and carbon fiber hood with blue underbody lights," Bader said. "When the new Supra was coming out last year I told my friend that I was going to buy one and make a tribute car out of it for Paul Walker, and that's exactly what I have done."
While the new Supra was more of a debate than a debut when it arrived, the numbers show people actually in the market for a sports car don't seem to take much issue with the BMW collaboration — especially after having driven the car.
"I do get a lot of people who call it a BMW, but those are the haters," Bader said. "It's quite annoying how much this car gets hate when they have never driven it."


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Paradox Interactive has added the third update to Surviving The Aftermath, bringing in a slew of new updates to your nuclear survival plans.
Paradox Interactive Archives
Following PDXCON, Paradox Interactive gave us a bit of an update in the form of a video and a dev diary for Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines 2.
Paradox Interactive has introduced a new DLC pack into Cities: Skylines, as you can now download the Modern City Center set.
During PDXCON 2019, Paradox Interactive revealed that Stellaris would be getting two new expansions, each with their own unique content.
Ever since Paradox Interactive took over the rights to Prison Architect, we've been curious as to what they had planned for the game.
Paradox Interactive and Triumph Studios announced today during PDXCON that Age of Wonders: Planetfall would be getting its first-ever expansion.
Some cool news from PDXCON 2019 this morning, as we learned that Surviving The Aftermath has been launched into Early Access today.
Today during PDXCON, the devs behind BattleTech: Heavy Metal revealed there would be a new content update coming in November.
This week during PDXCON, we finally got an official announcement for Crusader Kings 3, along with a proper reveal trailer for the game.
Today during PDXCON 2019, Cyanide showed off a proper reveal trailer for their upcoming game, Werewolf: The Apocalypse - Earthblood.
A fun announcement during PDXCON today as Big Bad Wolf Studio revealed the next VTM game, Vampire: The Masquerade - Swansong, is coming in 2021.
This morning, Paradox Interactive announced that their upcoming release of Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines 2 is getting pushed back.
Paradox Interactive released a brand new update to Surviving Mars this week that fixes a few lingering issues across a few additions to the game.
Paradox Interactive announced today that Werewolf: The Apocalypse - Earthblood will get an official reveal during PDXCON 2019.
Paradox Interactive has revealed the last faction coming to Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines 2 as we get a look at The Unseen.


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Hankook has held its ‘Design Insight Forum’ at its global R&D centre Technodome in Daejeon, Korea. The company has been holding the forum every year since 2004 under the theme of future driving. Interactive seminars are held between external and internal experts on creativity and innovation. This year, the forum saw the unveiling of the award-winning works of ‘2018 Design Innovation’ under the theme of ‘Extending Future Life Beyond Mobility’.
The Design Innovation is an R&D project held every two years in collaboration with the world’s design universities to propose a vision for the future driving and provide a solution through tyres. This year, 19 industrial design students from the UK’s Royal College of Art (RCA) worked with Hankook Tire to suggest a tyre system that can generate value and is fit for future driving in 2035.
In January 2018, two pieces of work were selected from the students’ final entries – the ‘Aeroflow’, a futuristic one-person race car tyre with maximised downforce and ‘Hexonic’, a tyre with smart sensors that provide an optimal driving solution for autonomous cars to be used for car sharing services. In addition, ‘HLS-23′, which will be responsible for the future logistics system, was introduced.
The works will be exhibited globally to display the innovative design technology of Hankook Tire starting from RCA students’ graduation exhibition in 2019, the Frankfurt Motor Show, the Essen Motor Show, and Cologne Tire Exhibition in Germany.


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As Dealernews staff oracle Dr. Paul Leinberger has been calling for the past couple years, the “ominchannel” is here! "With our pending business combination with RideNow, we are creating the only omnichannel solution in the powersports industry — offering an unparalleled customer experience for outdoor enthusiasts across the country,” explained RumbleOn CEO Marshall Chesrown in the company’s Q1 earnings call.
RumbleOn claims to be eliminating direct-to-consumer powersports sales in favor of a dealer-driven sales structure. “Our 'buy direct from consumers' strategy and our new B2B redistribution capabilities through DealerDirect means supply imbalances that would be headwinds for other business models, are tailwinds for RumbleOn,” Chesrown added. “RideNow's significant physical retail platform provides another piece of a 'bricks and clicks' strategy for RumbleOn, enabling us to reach consumers wherever and most important however they want to shop, whether online, offline, or both."
Q1 Report Highlights
• Total vehicle unit sales were 3,500, a 32.2% increase from 2,647 in Q4 2020 (Note 2/3 of the total units were in the automotive space). Powersports unit sales was 1,006, up 17.0% from 860 units
• Total revenue was $104.3 million, a 48.1% increase from $70.4 million in Q4 2020 (again the bulk of which was in the car sector). Powersports revenue was $10.9 million, up 27.7% from $8.5 million
• Powersports gross profit per powersport vehicle sold was $2,961
• Operating loss was $(2.8) million, an improvement from $(4.0) million in Q4 2020
• Net loss was $(4.5) million, an improvement from $(5.5) million in Q4 2020
• Positive Adjusted EBITDA of $0.02 million, an improvement from an Adjusted EBITDA loss of $(2.8) million in Q4 2020
While still a work in progress as RumbleOn pivots to DealerDirect, the bottom line is that the Omnichannel is here. "RumbleOn is making powersport ownership accessible to everyone - from the first time rider to the life-long enthusiast - and we are thrilled to give consumers the easiest and most transparent process to Buy, Sell, Trade or Finance available in Powersports today. We have high ambitions and are excited about the next chapter for RumbleOn," concluded Chesrown.


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Your pet is ruining the planet, says UCLA study
Its carbon paw print is bigger than you realize
You may drive a hybrid car, recycle every plastic bottle and obsessively compost food scraps, but if you own a cat or dog, you're feeding the world's greenhouse gases, according to a new UCLA study.
And if you're a millennial who has a cat or dog, you're likely making things even worse. More on that later.
The study "Environmental impacts of food consumption by dogs and cats", published Wednesday in the journal PLOS ONE, found that the nation's pooches and felines each year indirectly account for some 64 million tons of methane and nitrous oxide, two powerful climate-warming gases, mainly because of their meat-heavy diet. That's roughly equivalent to driving 13.6 million cars for a year.
The environmental impact of meat production is well-known. It "requires more energy, land and water and has greater environmental consequences in terms of erosion, pesticides and waste," according to researchers. But the study notes that furry consumers of agricultural products are rarely included in calculations of the environmental impact of dietary choices even though more than 60 percent of U.S. households have pets.
The study estimates pets are responsible for 25 to 30 percent of the overall environmental impact.
Millennials are exacerbating the problem because they tend to demand better quality chow for Fifi than older Americans.
UCLA geography professor Gregory Orkin, author of the study, explains:
"As a possible consequence, there is a trend toward increasing meat quantity and quality in pet foods, which results in further increases in consumption of animal products by pets. There is evidence that this trend may continue as younger people are more likely to purchase premium pet food that includes more desirable cuts of meat."
With an estimated 77.8 million dogs and 85.6 million cats (2015 figures), the United States has more pets than any other nation. Orkin does not dispute the social or emotional benefits of pet ownership. He says the study is aimed at building awareness of the impact that pets have on meat production and its environmental effects.
In terms of dietary energy, the nation's pets consume about as much as one fifth of the U.S. human population.
"It is clear that a transition to pets that eat less meat, and therefore have less environmental impact, would reduce the overall U.S. consumption of meat," Orkin wrote.
The study also examined what was coming out the other end: U.S. dog and cats produce 5.1 million tons of feces a year. That's about the same as the total amount of garbage produced in a year by everyone in Massachusetts.


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Ninjala reveals first anniversary events, including new Demon Slayer collaboration
Posted on 1 month ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in News, Switch | 0 comments
It’s officially been a year since the launch of Ninjala. To celebrate, GungHo has a few different events in store, including a new collaboration.
Revealed today is a partnership with the hit anime/manga Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba. Players will be able to get their hands on avatar outfits, Ninja-Gums, and more based on the series’ iconic characters like Tanjiro, Nezuko, and Rengoku.
GungHo has also shared the first details on Ninjala Season 7. It will include a new Featured Battle called Last Ninja Standing, which has you competing to be the last one standing in an 8-player battle royale. Season 7 is also adding a non-fighting Visual Lobby in beta that lets players climb walls and show off outfits and Emotes with up to eight players.
Here’s the full rundown on what’s planned for Ninjala:
Volta-X: Metaverse Update trailer
Posted on 1 month ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in Switch eShop, Videos | 0 comments
GungHo has readied a trailer to show off the new Metaverse Update in Volta-X, which is highlighted by a brand new Metaverse Mode, new Voltas, and new weapons. Watch the video below.
Volta-X’s Metaverse Update is now live on Switch. For additional information regarding what’s included, head on over here.
GungHo is promoting the start of Ninjala Season 6 with a new trailer. Have a look at today’s video below.
Volta-X reveals Metaverse Update
Posted on 1 month ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in News, Switch eShop | 0 comments
GungHo has announced a major Metaverse Update for its strategy game Volta-X. It’ll come with a Metaverse Mode, new Voltas, new weapons, and more.
Below are some additional details regarding what’s included:
In a new developer diary today, GungHo outlined what it has in store for Ninjala Season 6. It will be held between June 17 and September 9.
Ninjala Seasaon 6 will feature a new stage, new Gum weapons, new Shinobi Cards, body paint, Ninjala Pass Mini, and more. Get the full rundown in the video below.
Ninjala surpasses seven million downloads, 100 Jala up for grabs
Posted on 2 months ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in News, Switch | 0 comments
Ninjala has been downloaded over seven million times, GungHo has announced.
In celebration of the milestone, 100 Jala is being given out to all players. Note that the bonus expires on June 16 at 6:59 PM PT / 9:59 PM ET, so you’ll want to log in by then to claim it.
We recently published an interview with GungHo to discuss the game’s collaborations and more. You can read it here.
[Interview] GungHo talks Ninjala – Monster Hunter Rise and Sonic partnerships, future collaborations and plans, more
Posted on 2 months ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in Interviews, Switch | 0 comments
Ninjala is quickly coming up on its first anniversary. It’s been a busy year for the Switch title between various updates, collaborations, and more.
Nintendo Everything was recently given an opportunity to catch up with Kazuki Morishita, the president and CEO of GungHo Online Entertainment as well as the game’s executive producer. Morishita spoke about collaborations (including the ones for Monster Hunter Rise and Sonic the Hedgehog), future plans, and more.
Here’s our full discussion:
Ninjala – Monster Hunter Rise collaboration trailer
Posted on 2 months ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in Switch, Videos | 0 comments
A new trailer is in for Ninjala that shows off the brand new Monster Hunter Rise collaboration. Take a look at the video below.
We have more information about Ninjala’s Monster Hunter Rise collaboration here.
Ninjala reveals Monster Hunter Rise collaboration
Posted on 3 months ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in News, Switch | 0 comments
Ninjala has been no stranger to collaborations since launching on Switch last year. Today, GungHo revealed its latest partnership. Starting at the end of April, Ninjala will be introducing lots of collaboration content based on the recently-released Monster Hunter Rise.
Here’s the full rundown:
GungHo has shared a new Ninjala to promote the start of Season 5, which just started today. Have a look at today’s video below.


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Ubisoft games aren't strangers to crossovers with other franchises from within the company, and today arrived the announcement of a Prince of Persia event in For Honor. The multiplayer fighting game is hosting a surprise Blades of Persia event for the next two weeks, bringing along a new game mode and Prince of Persia-themed loot to grab.
The Ruler of Time game mode takes place in an alternate Harbor map where players will go through Dominion rounds infested with sand creatures. At certain times, however, the Prince himself will step out of a sand tornado to fight players on both sides while wielding the Dagger of Time. Beating him will earn the winner's side additional points towards winning the game, but it will be a difficult task considering the arsenal of moves he has at his disposal like teleporting and rewinding time.
This format will only last until March 12, which is when the second half of the event kicks off. During this period, the map will once again undergo a themed remodeling, and now the Dark Prince will be coming into the battlefield. More information about this second chapter will be unveiled once it is closer to launch.
The Blades of Persia event also delivers 26 new weapons that can be looted until April 2, a free event pass to earn 30 tiers of gear including Prince of Persia-themed cosmetics, outfits and executions to purchase from the in-game store, and more.
The first chapter of this For Honor event is now available to play on PC, Xbox One, and PlayStation 4.
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Great info for genealogy content providers. All the latest industry news based on press releases issued by genealogy vendors, societies, educators and other service providers.
FamilySearch Launches Mobile Indexing App
FamilySearch launched its much-anticipated mobile device for indexing. The device will expand the capability of volunteers to help make the world’s historic records searchable online. The mobile device app works on Apple iPads, iPhones, and Droid smartphones. To download the free app, search for the FamilySearch Indexing app in the Apple app store or Droid Market store online.


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From fuelling your car to feeding your family, no one is immune to the increases in the cost of living seen recently. Everything seems to be getting more expensive! With a potential recession on the horizon, Canadians are feeling the effects of rising inflation. But how will it impact your monthly insurance bill in the new year? Let’s take a look at some of the 2023 insurance predictions for Ontario.
2023 insurance predictions for the new year
According to the Fall 2022 Economic Statement, Canada will experience a mild recession in the first quarter of 2023. With a potential recession looming, in all likelihood consumers will have to re-examine the amount they are spending and where these funds will be allocated to. Experts have weighed in and made some predictions in terms of spending, as well as the cost of insurance for the coming year. Canadian consumers will most likely be impacted by inflation in three main ways:
1. Insurance premiums feeling the impact of inflation
With the rising cost of living, insurance premiums will surely see an impact. Both your auto insurance, as well as your home insurance, has seen increases since the fall of 2022. Let’s examine number one on our list of 2023 insurance preidictions, and the reasons behind the rise in car and home insurance premiums:
Reasons for auto insurance premiums rising
The October 2022 Consumers Price Index (CPI) saw an annual increase of 3.9% in passenger vehicle insurance premiums across Canada due to:
- Inflated cost of auto repair claims: October’s CPI revealed a 7.4% annual increase in the cost of passenger vehicle parts, maintenance, and repairs. To help cover the costs, auto insurance premiums follow with an increase, as well.
- Supply chain shortages: Supply chain issues and shortages for parts (such as semi-conductors, plastic, sheet metal and clear coats).
- Higher valuation of replacing new vehicles: Insurers paying for rental cars longer.
- Rising gas prices: Due to inflation.
Reasons for home insurance premiums rising
The October’s Consumer Price Index also saw an inflation rate of 7.6% YoY for home and mortgage insurance. As one of our 2023 insurance predictions, home insurance rates are expected to continue to rise across the country over the next year due to:
- Inflated costs of home rebuilds: Inflation is causing home rebuild projects to become more expensive. An increased demand for construction projects are being met with escalating material costs along with ongoing labour shortages.
- Increased number of claims due to climate change: According to the Insurance Bureau of Canada, $2.1 billion of insured losses were due to severe weather.
- Weighing the risks from a national perspective: Premiums may rise due to increased weather-related disasters in other parts of the country, such as flooding.
2. Slowing down or halting in consumer spending
One of the first casualties of a recession is the decrease in consumer spending. As such, big-ticket items – such as cars and homes – may not be on your radar. This will mean a decrease in demand for the Canadian P&C insurance industry. While owning a car offers a lot of convenience, it does come with unavoidable costs; gas, maintenance and auto insurance, to name a few. As a by-product of the pandemic and the recent shortages in both new and used vehicles, many Canadians have learned to become less reliant on their vehicles.
Similarly, the housing industry has also taken a hit over the past few years. A recent CTVnews.ca survey revealed that 19% of Canadians have either postponed or deprioritized home-buying since the start of 2022 due to cost-of-living pressures and high-interest rates. With a full 4% increase in just 2022 alone, holding off on home ownership may not seem like such a bad idea to you right now. As the housing market won’t bounce back right away, hesitancy to buy currently is having a direct impact on the home insurance market. If there aren’t any new homeowners, there won’t be any new policyholders, which is why this is number two on our list of 2023 insurance predictions.
3. Increase in online insurance shopping
Consumers are going to be looking for ways to save money during these unprecedented financial times. One of the best ways to lower your premium is to shop around and compare insurance quotes. Online insurance shopping will become much more popular in the year to come. There are several ways consumers can save on their insurance policies. Bundling your home and auto policies, loyalty discounts and clean driving records can all help lower costs. But according to Matt Hands, Director of Insurance at ratehub.ca, Canadians should first and foremost be prepared to shop the market.
“No two insurance companies will rate you the same – they may all look at similar pricing factors, but weigh them differently in their rating calculations,” stated Hands. “Insurance companies are always looking to balance their book of business against inherent risks associated with their customer base. Some insurers will be more willing to offer favourable insurance rates to you than others based on this ongoing risk-balancing exercise.” Comparing quotes from multiple insurers is essential to ensure you’re getting the best price for your unique needs.
Canada has pulled through the worst of the COVID-19 pandemic; society has reconnected, and businesses are back up and running. In order to succeed in 2023, Canadians will need to show the same grit and determination needed to navigate the uncertainties of the past couple of years. Debbie Coull-Cicchini, Executive Vice President at Intact Insurance believes that Canadians will be facing some headwinds in 2023 – especially as inflation continues to prolong the hard market. “In our current circumstances, the key question isn’t when the market will soften. It’s how can we provide our customers with greater stability, no matter what the future has in store?”
In order to help you navigate the coming year, discussing your plans for the year ahead with your isure broker is a great way to get ahead of the storm. We can help you offset rising insurance costs by offering suggestions to help lower your premiums, such as increasing your deductibles, managing limits and evaluating coverage terms and conditions. Call our office today to discuss 2023 insurance predictions for the new year, and how they may affect you.