text:
WITH the new 18-registration due on 1 March, Northampton's Mitsubishi dealership is gearing up for the big day by offering the region's drivers a host of special offers across the manufacturer's model range.
Westaway Motors in Moulton Park is making an 18-registration Mitsubishi even more appealing with the availability of tempting 5.9 per cent APR representative* PCP and 0 per cent APR HP* finance packages on everything from the Mirage supermini to the award-winning L200 pickup.
The offers come at an exciting time for the dealership with the recent launch of the new Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross SUV, which is now available for test drive, and the arrival of the new seven-seat Shogun Sport just weeks away.
Daniel Rodgers of Westaway said: "With the Mitsubishi range being stronger than ever, now's the perfect time for drivers to treat themselves to one of our 18-registration models. What's more, with our limited time finance offers, customers may find that upgrading to a new Mitsubishi is more affordable than they may have imagined."
All versions of the new Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross can be bought through the 5.9 per cent APR representative* PCP offers, which also benefit from a £750 deposit contribution. With the 37-month PCP deal, the generously-equipped Eclipse Cross 2 can be purchased for only £199 per month, following an initial deposit of £4,550 and an optional final payment of £11,244*.
Voted the most reliable large SUV by What Car? the Mitsubishi Outlander comes with deposit contributions of £2,500 on the PHEV petrol/electric hybrid - the UK's best-selling 'plug-in' vehicle in 2017 for the fourth consecutive year - and £5,000 on diesel versions when purchased via the 5.9 per cent APR representative* PCP deals.
For customers of the versatile Mitsubishi ASX compact crossover, there are finance deposit contributions of £3,000 on diesel versions and £2,000 on petrol variants when purchased via the 5.9 per cent APR representative* PCP offers.
The multi award-winning Mitsubishi L200 pick-up, which now has a towing capacity of 3.5 tonnes and is the only pick-up that can tow at this weight on tarmac in four-wheel drive, comes with a £2,000 deposit contribution through the 5.9 per cent APR representative* PCP deals. Extra strengthening has been added to key load-bearing areas of the chassis with the result that the 3.5-tonne towing capacity is now possible with three-axle braked trailers, while a towing capacity of up to 3.1 tonnes is possible with one- or two-axle braked trailers.
Completing the offers, the iconic go-anywhere Mitsubishi Shogun comes with a £2,000 deposit contribution, while customers of the well-equipped Mirage Juro benefit from a £700 deposit contribution when either model is financed via the 5.9 per cent APR representative* PCP offers.
No matter which Mitsubishi they choose, customers benefit from the reassurance that their new vehicle comes with a comprehensive five-year/62,500-mile warranty package.
To experience the full Mitsubishi model range, customers are invited to visit the dealership at Boughton Green Road, Moulton Park, Northampton, or call 01604 494121.
* Terms and conditions apply.


text:
Ricky Flowers, 20, was fleeing on foot from Cleveland police when he climbed a 30-foot barbed-wire fence. Problem was, it was a fence surrounding a state prison. Apparently, police attempted to pull over Flowers's car. He and his passengers eventually stopped the car and ran. From AOL News:
Police say that they found seven bags of marijuana in the vehicle, and that Flowers told them he fled because he was driving with a suspended license.
Fleeing Police, Man Hops Fence Into Women's Prison
Flowers, who cut his right arm on the barbed wire as he scaled the fence at the Northeast Pre-Release Center for Women, was taken to a local hospital, where he received 36 staples and stitches, police said.
Paul Horner says he made more than $10,000 month writing fake news on Facebook that was widely shared by Trump supporters and picked up by the real press — for example, hoax stories about protesters being paid to turn out against Trump — and that he targeted Trump supporters as an act of “satire” to […]
As U.S. headlines bombard us with proof of how low humanity can go, here’s a look at a happy, peaceful, and prosperous country — The Netherlands — to remind us that it is actually possible for the human race to get it right. If people want to change present circumstances through liberal ideals, it’s helpful to look […]
The BBC reports that Canada’s immigration info website has been intermittently unavailable through the night and early morning. Experts are trying to discern what on Earth might have caused a great many people to visit the website all at once, straining its resources. I get the above appropriately blurry, tantalizing view of gros morne national […]
The Boing Boing Store’s Gift Guide is full of ideas for pretty much anyone in your life like hipster ice cub trays, Xbox controllers, Halo Boards, and even diamond necklaces. As always, all products in the Boing Boing Store come at great discounts, too. Shop by price bucket starting at under $20. Under $20:Bloxx Jumbo Ice Trays […]
Unlike traditional lighters, the SaberLight features an electronic plasma beam that’s both rechargeable and butane-free. This sleek lighter is even approved by TSA, so you’ll never be stuck buying lighters you’ll just have to throw away partially used. For some people, like me, this is a pretty big game-changer. The SaberLight’s beam is actually both hotter and cleaner […]
Holiday shopping is in full swing, and the Striiv Touch is one of the best gift ideas I’ve landed on. Its simple design works for females and males, and its wide range of features makes it suitable for even the non-fitness enthusiasts in your life.Unlike traditional fitness trackers, the Striiv Touch also acts as a smartwatch. It […]

domain: news


text:
What are you looking for?
Catalan company Peroxfarma takes economic hit from coronavirus outbreak
For the third time in a row, FT's 'fDi Magazine' recognizes country's economic potential and strategy for attracting foreign investors
ACCIÓ Director of Internationalization Cristina Serradell on nature of UK-Catalan trade, and post-Brexit concerns
What does UK leaving EU mean for Catalan businesses and Brits living in Catalonia?
World's largest mobile industry fair draws to a close in Barcelona with 2,000 more attendees than last year
Thirty years on, the Catalan government has opened 40 offices abroad and managed 20k internationalization projects


text:
Meghan is the State Breastfeeding Coordinator for DPH.
Controversy over consumption of high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) versus sugar has been a hot topic in the news for as long as I can remember. Recently, HFCS found itself back in the spotlight when the Corn Refiners Association petitioned the FDA to change their products’ name from HFCS to ‘corn sugar.’ Their goal is to clarify that HFCS is still sugar.
Hot on the heels of their request is PepsiCo’s introduction of natural soda beverages. To comply with consumer demand trends, PepsiCo has reformulated some of its popular sodas to eliminate HFCS. Recent research has shown that over half of US consumers would “avoid products that list HFCS as one of the first ingredients.” The launch of PepsiCo’s Sierra Mist Natural aims to embrace consumer demands and encourage other popular soft drink brands to switch from HFCS to the use of natural cane sugar or other natural sweeteners in their formulation.
The real question is: are natural sugars healthier for the body than high fructose corn syrup? To make high fructose corn syrup, sugar from cornstarch is modified from glucose to a mixture of glucose and fructose (another type of sugar), a product that is more stable and has a longer shelf life. Although past research showed an association between HFCS consumption (in beverages and fruit juices) and obesity and type-2 diabetes, recent research shows that HFCS are not unhealthier than other sweeteners, like sugar.
The bottom line is, dietary guidelines ask us to avoid or reduce consumption of sugar for better short- and long-term health. Therefore, healthy adults and teens should follow the rules of moderation when it comes to consumption of HFCS and sugar-sweetened beverages. Products made with either are high in calories and have limited nutritional value.
What do you think of the name change from high fructose corn syrup to ‘corn sugar?’ Will this merely make you more aware that you are consuming excess sugar or will it help you make better beverage choices the next time you are thirsty?
Share on Facebook.
Weekly Flu Report, November 21, 2014 posted on Nov 21
This week’s flu report indicates that rates of flu-like illness remained relatively stable as compared to last week’s numbers. It’s safe to say that we’ll see these rates rise in the coming weeks and months – and with the holiday season approaching, now’s a great time …Continue Reading Weekly Flu Report, November 21, 2014
The Holidays Are Fast Approaching! posted on Nov 18
The holiday season brings a lot of fun, but can be stressful at times. Try focusing on seeing things through your child’s eyes. Chances are the traditions and memories you make are what children will grow up to remember, not the gifts or fancy meals. …Continue Reading The Holidays Are Fast Approaching!
Weekly Flu Report, November 14, 2014 posted on Nov 17
The latest weekly flu report shows an increase in the rate of flu-like illness in Massachusetts over the past seven days. This is to be expected at this time of year in New England, and it’s a great reminder that if you haven’t gotten vaccinated yet, there …Continue Reading Weekly Flu Report, November 14, 2014


text:
‘Daytona Day’ back with new activation MLS sponsor loyalty: Coke bubbles up Baker to chair sports group at O’Melveny Suns’ strategy? Take a look (in VR) IndyCar steers marketing toward digital NBPA bets on power of its stars Coast to Coast How Clemson nails it on social media Fewer seats mean greater value in Miami CFP notebook: More Culpepper
Upcoming Conferences and Events
May 31 - Jun 1
SBJ/20100628/This Week's News
Magic signs PepsiCo for Amway Center
Published June 28, 2010
The Orlando Magic has signed PepsiCo as its third founding partner for Amway Center, the team’s $480 million arena opening in October.
The five-year deal is valued at seven figures annually, said Alex Martins, the Magic’s chief operating officer. It’s on par with deals the club signed with the first two founding partners, AirTran and technology provider Harris Corp. The Magic calls them Champions of the Community partnerships.
PepsiCo has been a team sponsor with pouring rights for all 21 of the Magic’s seasons in the NBA at Amway Arena, the team’s old facility.
The previous deal fluctuated in value over the years, Martins said. At one time, PepsiCo was a major media sponsor when the Magic controlled its television rights before surrendering them to the local Fox regional sports network.
Over the years, the Magic also had separate agreements with Gatorade, a well-known PepsiCo brand, Martins said.
Moving forward, the new deal ties all PepsiCo brands, including its Frito-Lay snack line, together into one joint partnership with exclusivity in the hydration, carbonated soft drinks, bottled water, carbonated caffeine-based energy drinks and packaged salty snack foods categories.
The deal places equal value on PepsiCo as an arena partner with all its brands on display 365 days year at Amway Center. Previously, there were events outside of Magic games at the old arena where Pepsi could not display its brands, Martins said.
The soda maker and other founding partners’ exposure extends outside Amway Center on a 2,800-square-foot video screen attached to the east wall. The screen faces Interstate 4 in downtown Orlando, where thousands of motorists will pass the building every day.
The Magic expects to sign four more Champions of the Community deals by the time the arena opens, team officials said. Those agreements do not include the 10-year, $40 million naming-rights deal that Amway Global signed last summer.
The Magic handled the sponsorship sale in-house.


text:
Seattle, WA – June 14, 2022 – Rover.com (Nasdaq: ROVR), the world’s largest online marketplace for loving pet care, today unveiled a report, The Future of Work: Dog Friendly Companies, detailing how increased rates of dog adoptions during the pandemic are affecting pet parents’ willingness to return to the office.
The report, which surveyed 1,000 US-based dog parents in May 2022, uncovered key areas of concern for pet parents as they return to work, and what they want in a pet-friendly benefits package. Topics include employee loyalty, recruitment, separation anxiety, and advocacy for additional benefits. An astonishing 80 percent of pet parents who welcomed home a new dog during the pandemic are willing to leave their current job for a more dog-friendly company and more than half agree the ability to bring their dog to the office is an important factor in their decision when looking for a new job. For companies trying to entice workers back into the office, pet parents said the top motivator would be being able to bring their dog – more than catered lunches, free snacks, fast internet and other in-person perks.
“With millions of pets welcomed into our families over the last couple of years, it’s understandable that folks are genuinely concerned about returning to the office and what that means for their pets—from separation anxiety to finding pet care they can rely on,” said Kate Jaffe, Trend Expert at Rover. “Employers that are struggling to recruit, retain and convince employees to shift away from remote work need to understand that our pets are true members of our families—and there’s strong evidence that companies can effectively leverage dog-friendly policies.”
Topline findings from the report include:
Dog-friendly workplaces drive employee loyalty
- 74 percent of pet parents are more likely to feel loyalty toward a dog-friendly company.
- A majority of respondents (59 percent) rate bringing their dogs to work as a better motivator to return to office than free snacks, faster internet, or catered lunches.
- However, more than half (58 percent) of pet parents would leave their job to work for a more dog-friendly company.
- 29 percent of pet parents said they quit or changed jobs during the pandemic because of their dog. That number jumps to 36 percent for pet parents who welcomed home a new dog during the pandemic.
Concerns over separation anxiety keep pet parents home
- The #1 reason dog parents are worried about returning to the office is their pet’s potential anxiety or loneliness. This is most true for the 58 percent of pet parents who welcomed a dog home during the pandemic, 45 percent of whom are worried about their own anxiety.
- 53 percent of pet parents are worried about their dog’s behavior at home while they’re away at work.
Pet parenthood empowers employees to request pet-friendly benefits
- Compared to pre-pandemic, 37 percent of pet parents feel more empowered to request or demand in-office policy changes including those related to pets.
- This is even higher for both new pet parents who welcomed home a dog during the pandemic (42 percent) and for Gen Z employees (43 percent).
For more survey data and expert insights, see Rover’s complete Future of Work: Dog Friendly Companies Report. Looking to create a pet-friendly workplace? Rover’s new Guide to Becoming a Dog-Friendly Company includes tried and true best practices for fostering a dog-friendly culture—in and out of the office. Plus, if you’re looking for a new job where you can bring your dog to work, check out Rover’s list of dog-friendly companies hiring right now.
In celebration of canine co-workers across the nation, Rover is on the hunt for “America’s Top Office Dog”. The #AmericasTopOfficeDog contest will run until June 17 via Rover’s Instagram, with an opportunity to vote daily. Each canine contestant represents their company as featured in Rover’s Best Dog-Friendly Companies list. The winning dog will receive a pet-and-people-friendly ice cream party for their office. For more contest information, head to the Rover Blog and don’t forget to follow along on Instagram to cast your vote!
Founded in 2011 and based in Seattle, Rover (NASDAQ: ROVR) is the world’s largest online marketplace for pet care. Rover connects pet parents with loving pet care providers who offer overnight services, including boarding and in-home pet sitting, as well as daytime services, including doggy daycare, dog walking, and drop-in visits. Millions of pet parents have booked a service on Rover, with more than 500,000 pet care providers across North America and Europe.
Kristin Sandberg, Rover


text:
LeBron James defended the price of his expensive signature shoe that was released by Nike recently.
Curt Schilling’s financial struggles have been well-documented since his video game company, 38 Studios, filed for bankruptcy back in June.
ESPN’s outstanding 30 for 30 series made a noteworthy return on Tuesday with the airing of “Broke,” a documentary about athletes losing their money.
Robert Griffin III isn’t the only NFL quarterback concerned about protecting his sponsor. Tom Brady is in the same position.
Last season, Alex Smith enjoyed showing his support for San Francisco’s baseball team by wearing a Giants hat to some of his postgame press conferences.
For the past five years, LeBron James has been represented by the same agency as teammates Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade.
The NFL was not pleased with Robert Griffin III’s decision to cover up the Nike swoosh on the warm-up shirt he was wearing before last Sunday’s game against the Saints.
Robert Griffin III is such a dedicated adidas endorser that he will go to great lengths to ensure he’s not associated with other brands’ products.


text:
Falling freight rates are seasonal, not structural
Blank sailings will hold up freight rates as China slows
Spot rates for container cargoes have fallen sharply since the beginning of the year. But this has more to do with China’s lockdowns than a significant change in the market
If content does not display, please refresh your browser.


text:
Hand & Stone Massage and Facial Spa plans to enter the St. Louis market this fall when husband-and-wife franchisees open a location in Des Peres.
Christy and Tony Burke plan to open a massage and facial salon in a shopping center in November, with four or five other area locations to follow.
Bob McQuillan, a vice president of franchise development for the Hamilton, N.J.-based company, said Hand & Stone picked St. Louis for its expansion because it wanted to add new time zones and locations in the Midwest. Other targets for expansion are Chicago and Indianapolis, he said.
The company has 32 stores but plans to have 50 by the end of the year, McQuillan said.
Franchisees can expect to invest $300,000, including $50,000 in working capital, for a 2,500-square-foot salon, he said. They must have a minimum net worth of $400,000.
The $16 billion massage and skin care industry has experienced a 15 percent annual growth rate since 2006, McQuillan said.
“People are traveling a lot more for business and need to de-stress,” he said. “They also are taking smaller ‘daycations’ to treat themselves. We offer a service and product that’s cheaper. It used to be hundreds of dollars for rich people at resorts but now it’s $49” per visit.
Hand & Stone, founded in 2005 by physical therapist Jon Marco and now led by CEO Todd Leff, had $10 million in revenue in 2009 and expects $16 million in revenue this year.


text:
We are committed to helping businesses and residents of the communities we serve in their recovery efforts and will provide free delivery to New Jersey residents for the rest of the week.
Wallington, NJ (PRWEB) November 01, 2012
Hurricane Sandy hit the ground running just south of Atlantic City on Monday night, racing up the Jersey Shore with 96 mph winds and causing some of the worst damage the Garden State has ever seen. By Tuesday morning New York and New Jersey had been declared federal disaster areas. In an effort to aid the massive restoration effort, Pump Express will deliver sump pumps and dewatering pumps to New Jersey customers free of charge until Friday, November 2.
Pump Express's Bergen County headquarters were spared from major flooding and the company's stock of sump pumps and dewatering equipment remains robust.
"We built up our inventory of primary and battery back-up pumps and dewatering equipment to supply the pre-storm rush and we're now among the few vendors with viable stock as the bailout process begins," says Pump Express Sales Manager Fred Hettinger.
By adding free delivery to remediation services including pump repair and water damage assessment, Pump Express is in league with countless area businesses working to meet the demands of New Jersey residents and businesses in the storm's aftermath.
"Our e-commerce site has remained online and Pump Express has continued to process pump orders as long as the shippers we use have been able to move freight," says General Manager Ed Drejman. "We are committed to helping businesses and residents of the communities we serve in their recovery efforts and will provide free delivery to New Jersey residents for the rest of the week."
Customers in the Tristate area are encouraged to visit Pump Express's sales counter for immediate pick-up whenever possible.
Pump Express service technicians will be available to troubleshoot dewatering equipment and to test, start-up and repair heating systems experiencing water damage as a result of flooding.
Pump Express is a stocking distributor and national service center for the world's leading manufacturers of industrial pumps and pump parts. Through our determined and factory trained professionals, we are able to provide our customers with the most innovative and cost effective products on the market today. Whether you need system advice, pump parts or a new pump, our dedicated pump experts will be able to help you with even the most complicated pump system issues. With over 500,000 sq ft of fully stocked warehouse space, we are able to ensure quick delivery times. For more information call the Pump Express Pump Hotline 1-800-298-4100


text:
In May, the World Health Organization (WHO) warned that long-term use of mobile phones might cause cancer. The decision to make that announcement came after years of research and countless studies were reviewed and found inconclusive. Now, reports are beginning to surface that there may be another side effect of prolonged use of mobile phones: male infertility.
Recent studies conducted by Queen’s University in Canada have found that mobile phone usage appears to increase the level of testosterone in its user. It also may lead to what it phrased as “low sperm quality and a decrease in fertility.” Other similar studies have found that sperm counts in men who frequently use mobile phones may drop as much as 30 percent.
So, what steps can you take to avoid mobile phone radiation?
- Limit your use to important calls.
- Use speakerphone instead of holding the phone to your ear when possible. If you’re in a quiet, private place, there is no harm in putting the phone down in close proximity and speaking that way.
- Wait until the call connects before putting the phone up to your ear. This is important because the phone uses a lot more power to grab a good signal from the tower as it begins to initiate the call.
- Put your phone in a shoulder bag instead of your pocket when possible.
- Make sure you have a good signal before placing a call. When the signal indicator indicates a poor connection, your phone is actively adjusting its transmitting power in order to establish a solid connection.
- Choose a phone with a low SAR (Specific Absorption Rate). This is a measurement used to determine the amount of energy absorption which you can experience during use.
- Text when you can. If you can get away with sending a quick text to someone instead of a full-on phone call, you might save more than a few minutes.
- Connect to Wi-Fi when you can. By sending data requests through Wi-Fi instead of the cell network, your phone will have an easier time making a connection and receiving your latest email and updates.
With mobile phones becoming our primary mode of communication and source of information, there is no question we’re becoming more and more connected to our devices. Until science catches up to the technology and gives firm answers on exactly what influence they have on our health, it’s never a bad idea to make at least a couple minor adjustments to our usage habits, just in case.
Here is some response from our community to this subject:
Adam Eivy – Not saying radiation is good, but mobile phone radiation is electromagnetic radiation, which is the same low level radiation your car stereo puts out when you listen to the radio. — granted, you usually don’t put your ear directly to the antenna 🙂
Travis Fields – When I was in the Air Force, we were warned to stay well away from HF transmitters when they were operating…they emit microwaves that can literally cook you. I can’t imagine cell phones are 100% harmless.


text:
The best of EcoWatch, right in your inbox. Sign up for our email newsletter!
Nearly 1,000 Sustainable Corporations Encourage You to ‘B the Change’
The 900-plus Certified B Corporations already embrace social and environmental responsibility on a daily basis, so this week they decided to encourage the rest of the world to do so.
The companies and Wayne, PA-based nonprofit B Lab launched the "B the Change" campaign this week to celebrate and reward those who use business for good, but also raise additional awareness. For the next year, the campaign will be supported by full-page advertisements in publications like Mother Earth News, inviting people to "Take a Deeper Look into the Products You Buy."
Instead of encouraging watchdogs, the deeper look B-Lab suggests is meant to applaud those with sustainable practices. Examples include California-based Indigenous, a Fair Trade fashion designer that uses 100-percent organic materials, and The Honest Co., a seller of eco-friendly baby diapers, wipes, bath and body care products co-founded by Golden Globe-nominated actress Jessica Alba.
The advertisements are expected to reach about 5 million people.
“It’s inspiring to see nearly 1,000 companies speaking out with one, unified voice, all in an effort to celebrate and reward people using business as a force for good,” B Lab Co-Founder Jay Coen Gilbert said in a statement.
Sixteen B Corps, including BlueAvocado and Pacific Northwest Kale Chips, have created special edition products in "B the Change"-enhanced packaging. The food, jewelry, t-shirts, notebooks, personal care items and home furnishings will be sold online and at large retailers like Whole Foods, Target and Barnes & Noble.
“Through the leadership of these sixteen companies, more people will learn about a better way to do business,” Coen Gilbert said, “and be invited to join a global movement to redefine success in business.”
EcoWatch joined the growing number of B Corps in 2013. “B the Change" is the first joint communications effort by the entire B Corp community, which also includes companies like Ben & Jerry’s, Patagonia, Etsy and Method.
Click here to join the movement.
EcoWatch Daily Newsletter
By Coral Natalie Negrón Almodóvar
The Earth began to shake as Tamar Hernández drove to visit her mother in Yauco, Puerto Rico, on Dec. 28, 2019. She did not feel that first tremor — she felt only the ensuing aftershocks — but she worried because her mother had an ankle injury and could not walk. Then Hernández thought, "What if something worse is coming our way?"
President Trump has long touted the efficacy of walls, funneling billions of Defense Department dollars to build a wall on the southern border. However, when the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) released a study that included plans for a sea wall to protect New Yorkers from sea-level rise and catastrophic storms like Hurricane Sandy, Trump mocked it as ineffective and unsightly.
By Tim Radford
The Texan city of Houston is about to grow in unexpected ways, thanks to the rising tides. So will Dallas. Real estate agents in Atlanta, Georgia; Denver, Colorado; and Las Vegas, Nevada could expect to do roaring business.
What happens when a famous school striker meets a renowned campaigner for education rights?


text:
Airbnb will offer free rooms for athletes as part of a sponsorship deal with the Olympic Games, as organisers grapple with the massive costs of hosting the world’s biggest sporting contest.
The $500m (£385.7m) deal will include a substantial payment to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and also takes into account the cost of services Airbnb will provide, including free accommodation for athletes and executives.
It will mean that athletes' families can stay in Airbnb properties during the games, as well as participants who head to host cities before they start.
The San Francisco-based company said the partnership will cover five summer and winter games over the next nine years until 2028, including next year’s event in Tokyo.
Other cities due to play host include Paris and Los Angeles – two of Airbnb’s largest markets.
The sponsorship deal is the first Airbnb has signed and comes as the $38bn rental company prepares to float next year.
The IOC said the agreement includes accommodation deals that will slash costs for organisers and reduce the need for building work.
IOC president Thomas Bach said the tie-up will help the Olympic Games become sustainable .
In 2016, locals in Rio de Janeiro staged protests because of the cost of hosting the event while Brazil was mired in recession.
Other major sponsors include Coca-Cola, Alibaba and Samsung.


text:
A specification for the digital camera market from chip giant Intel could push the market into the arms of standards set by Kodak, Microsoft and Hewlett-Packard.
Last week, to little fanfare, Intel released a specification called the Portable PC Camera 98 design guideline. The specification incorporates the Flashpix file format, codeveloped by Intel and Eastman Kodak, and Hewlett-Packard's Internet Imaging Protocol (IIP).
That could push companies like Philips and Asian camera makers such as Sony into either fighting Intel with rival standards or joining forces.
The so-called 'complementors' of the Intel standard include Polaroid, Samsung, Toshiba, Umax, Fujitsu and Hyundai.
Intel's prime interest is in promoting the specification to fit with its future technology including the universal serial bus (USB), according to the company. But it is also understood to be interested in leveraging its position as a flash memory maker. If the spec becomes the de facto standard, it could lead to an explosion in demand for Intel's Flash range.
Latest Tesla news: Tesla stock price tanks amid reports of 'widening probe' by SEC and claims the base Model 3 loses money
SEC 'probe' takes its toll on Tesla as new research suggests that Tesla loses $6,000 on every $35,000 Model 3
10nm Cannon Lake Core i3-8121U CPUs make a rare outing with Intel's NUC mini PC
'Notorious' Australian child hacker thought he had executed 'flawless' hack
The former employee says that Tesla fired him for bringing the accusations to management internally


text:
New doco shows the importance of accessible travel
The film follows the journey of the first quadriplegic and paraplegic to traverse an 11-kilometre section of the Inca Trail in wheelchairs.
“Adventure is for everyone”: PEAK DMC’s Gary Cohen talks accessible travel
by Ali Coulton
The accessible travel market is too big to ignore. That’s why PEAK DMC have teamed up with Wheel the World to create active itineraries tailor-made for travellers with disabilities. Here’s why the rest of the industry should follow suit.
PEAK DMC opens Bali base to meet sustainable travel demands
Intrepid’s destination management company hopes to encourage travellers to travel beyond Bali and check out the other destinations Indonesia has to offer.
Nepalese government cracks down on Everest rescue fraud
PEAK DMC’s managing director has spoken out against “dodgy” trekking companies putting local tourism and travellers at risk.
Register or sign in to create events, jobs and access premium features.


text:
How dangerous are electric scooters for road safety?
In France, as elsewhere in the world, the electric scooter is considered a challenge to road safety.
The majority, 82%, believe that electric scooters are a road safety hazard.
The world is also looking for the best solutions, which vary from country to country and must be taken into account by travelers planning to use a scooter abroad.
In an online survey conducted by the Department of Transport, 82 % of respondents indicated that electric scooters pose additional road safety risks, while 65 % do not consider electric scooters to be a safe means of transport.
The survey results show that public attitudes have not changed much over the past two years, as in a survey conducted in spring 2019, 87 % of the population considered electric scooters a threat to road safety.
At the same time, as the popularity of electric scooters increases, more and more people have a positive attitude towards the purchase and use of this means of mobility. Approximately 36 % of respondents indicated that they were already using or considering purchasing an electric scooter, which is significantly higher than in the survey conducted two years ago, when approximately 20 % of respondents said they were considering such a mobility option.
With the electric scooter, traffic and driving habits change.
More and more people are choosing to travel by scooter, but the first thing you need to do to travel safely without endangering yourself or others is to know the rules of the road. Secondly, you must follow the rules and thirdly, you must have good driving skills on an electric scooter. Those who plan to travel and use an electric scooter in other countries should also familiarize themselves with the regulations of those countries, as they are different in the EU and other countries.
The government has approved changes to the road traffic regulation, which defines the rules for electric scooters. At the same time, the regulation of electric scooters is still under development, not only in EU countries, but also in other countries around the world. There are no common guidelines for the use of electric scooters in EU countries to ensure their safety in traffic.
Experience from countries around the world shows that different solutions have been incorporated into the regulatory framework, such as applying specific rules for bicycles to electric scooters, developing specific rules and classifications for new electric mobility devices, and even banning the use of electric scooters in road traffic altogether.
Most European countries treat electric scooters as pedestrians, allowing them to travel on paths and sidewalks at speeds lower than pedestrians, and bicycles on bike paths at speeds lower than bicycles. There are countries where electric scooters are subject to the same regulations as bicycles.
In many countries around the world, the helmet and reflective vest for the driver are additional safety features that are required by regulation. It is also stipulated that the scooter must be equipped with lights, brakes and reflectors. In many places, there is not only a speed limit but also an age limit for the use of electric scooters on the road.
Countries around the world have the following approach to speed limits for electric scooters: in countries where scooters are allowed on bicycle paths, the maximum speed is set at 20-25 km/h. However, if scooters are allowed on footpaths in some cases, the speed of travel is aligned with that of pedestrians to avoid endangering pedestrians on foot.


text:
Car repossessions surge
Thomas Webb, chief economist for a unit of Atlanta-based Manheim told the USA Today that vehicle repossessions are set to rise about 10% this year to 1.6 million -- that's about a third higher than number that got a visit from the repo man 10 years ago.
The culprit? You guessed it: easy subprime loans that let people with bad credit and no money buy cars they had no business owning.
The best part? A lot of the cars being repo'd are flashy cars in expensive neighborhoods where people overextended themselves, thinking that it was their divine right to have real estate that appreciated in the double digits every year.
Hell hath no fury like a bubble burst.


text:
- TFI International will acquire DLS Worldwide, a business unit of R.R. Donnelley & Sons, for $225 million, according to a Tuesday news release from the Montreal-based carrier.
- DLS, based in Bolingbrook, Illinois, (outside of Chicago) focuses on LTL, TL, freight forwarding, expedited service, parcel delivery and intermodal, according to TFI. Its shippers focus on manufacturing, retail and wholesale consumer products, technology and print or mail products. In the next four quarters, TFI expects the DLS acquisition to generate $22.5 million in operating income.
- TFI's acquisition continues its 12-year buying streak, scooping up about 80 North American companies. In August, TFI acquired Keith Hall & Sons Transport, an Ontario-based carrier of milk, liquids, dry foods and freight, and Apps Transport Group, another Ontario-based carrier that provides LTL, TL, warehousing and distribution in Canada.
The Canadians are coming. And it's bigger than just TFI, the largest Canadian carrier and the 11th largest North American carrier.
Canadian carriers have been eyeing the U.S. transport market for the last few years. The COVID-19 pandemic slowed M&A activity, with volume and value of deals declining in the first half of 2020, according to PwC. But TFI's deal-making shows M&A from the north is picking back up.
With Keith Hall & Sons, TFI picked up an Ontario carrier that also does business in the United States. Other recent acquisitions have been located in the American heartland.
Comcar provided opportunities for TFI to expand into the United States. This month, TFI closed on CCC Transportation, a TL carrier in Auburndale, Florida, and a former part of Comcar Industries, which filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.
In June, TFI acquired MCT Transportation, formerly Midwest Coast Transport, of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, for $9.6 million. MCT Transportation was a refrigerated and dry van subsidiary of Comcar. At the same time, TFI bought another Comcar subsidiary, CT Transportation, a flatbed company located in Savannah, Georgia, for $15 million.
TFI has Canadian rivals for American businesses. One is Manitoulin Global Forwarding, which bought N/J International of Houston in November 2018. It was, at the time, Manitoulin's first in a planned series of acquisitions south of the border. It bought Demark Global Logistics of Miami in October 2019.
To one analyst, it's not surprising Canadian companies look south for opportunities.
"Most Canadian companies that have strong balance sheets and got some cash, they want to expand in the United States, because the U.S. economy is 12 times bigger," said Nikhil Sathe, managing director of Logisyn Advisors. "California GDP is more than Canadian GDP ... The Canadian population is less than the state of Texas. The growth opportunities are more south of the border."
Sathe said 36,000 heavy-duty trucks cross the U.S.-Canadian border every day, traveling to cities and warehouses. But for Canadian companies flush with capital, opportunities in America are hard to resist.
"It's a tremendous market," said Sathe. "I think it's logical that if you have the money and the capital, you will expand in the United States."


text:
Came across this article today. It's so encouraging to me to see this type of article... I try to be an optimist, and maybe things are starting to change in the food industry.
I like this quote: "...the USDA's findings on the matter are all the more remarkable considering that it's only in recent years that the agency has acknowledged there's a type of agriculture besides industrial agriculture, and it’s called sustainable." Apparently they've been doing many studies on sustainable and organic farming, with every study showing in favor of the more traditional practices.
I also found this really interesting and surprising: "Each confined cow produces 22,000 pounds of milk a year, while the pasture-raised cow produces only 13,000 pounds. However, the total amount of milk protein and fat in the milk produced was essentially the same, because “the foraging cows produced milk with far more fat and protein,” explains Rotz. Even more important in the argument, Rotz says, is that 130 grass-fed cows can produce the same amount of milk as 80 confined cows on the same amount of land. That's because amount of land needed to raise feed (grain) for the 80 confined cows is the same as the amount of land needed for grazing 130 cows."
My question is this- How many studies like this do you think it will take for things to really turn around in the US? Will it ever be enough to make a difference?


text:
Jan 5, 2024 07:00 EST
Revolutionary Auto-Tracking, Auto-Framing, new API, and More Set to Transform Video Production
LAS VEGAS, January 5, 2024 (Newswire.com)
At CES 2024, PTZOptics introduces the Move SE camera line, starting at $999. This launch marks a significant step in making professional live-streaming technology more accessible across industries such as education, entertainment, healthcare, and industrial manufacturing.
Paul Richards, Chief Revenue Officer at PTZOptics, states, “Our vision extends beyond just advanced cameras. We’re committed to providing industry-specific solutions, with the Move SE and 4K camera lines democratizing professional video technology for enhanced audience engagement across various sectors.”
PTZOptics announces over ten new features for their PTZ cameras at CES 2024. Key enhancements include:
- Enhanced Presenter Tracking: Upgraded with new composition modes, dynamic zoom, and auto-tracking capabilities within the camera’s web interface.
- New Auto-Framing Feature: Automatically adjusts to capture all subjects, ideal for group interactions.
- PTZOptics API G3: Expanded with five times more API options, including new auto-tracking and framing functionalities.
- Privacy Mode: Prioritizes privacy by turning the lens away, entering standby for quick reactivation.
As we showcase our latest innovations at CES 2024, PTZOptics is proud to highlight the significant strides we’ve made in transforming the world of video technology. From our acclaimed Move SE Camera Line to our recognized impact on the consumer electronics industry, here are the key highlights:
- PTZOptics Move SE Camera Line: The Move SE, recognized for its affordability and professional-grade capabilities, opens new horizons for entry-level live-streaming professionals, offering top-tier technology at an unparalleled price point.
- Industry Recognition: PTZOptics has been awarded the ‘Best PTZ Camera’ for the Move SE by VideoMaker Magazine, reaffirming the brand’s commitment to quality and innovation.
- Legacy of Excellence: After winning the ‘Best Live Streaming Webcam’ at last year’s CES for the Studio Pro camera, PTZOptics continues to lead and shape the future of video production.
- Impact on Consumer Electronics Industry: PTZOptics’ contributions go beyond product innovation. The brand’s commitment to affordability and versatility reshapes how professionals approach live streaming and content creation.
- Visit Us at CES: Experience PTZOptics’ groundbreaking technology firsthand at booth 23228 in the Central Hall of CES 2024.
With a keen focus on versatility and affordability, PTZOptics is setting new benchmarks in the consumer electronics industry. The company’s diverse range of solutions illustrates its commitment to enhancing video production and live streaming across different market verticals.
PTZOptics is at the forefront of broadcast-quality PTZ cameras and professional live-streaming equipment. Renowned for its innovative and accessible solutions, PTZOptics is dedicated to empowering various industries with superior video technology, from broadcast media to healthcare.


text:
Just Eat trials reusable packaging to reduce takeaway plastics pile
Just Eat is stepping up to the plate to put a dent in a mammoth plastics mountain of half a billion takeaway containers discarded every year.
Teaming up with the ClubZero reusable packaging system, the delivery service is trialing the introduction of a more environmentally-friendly alternative that uses up to 50% less CO2 than existing methods and is fully recyclable.
The three-month trial will see customers of six participating restaurant partners in London offered a convenient return system that permits packaging to be collected using the ClubZero app or dropped off at a designated collection area.
Since merging with takeaway.com last year, Just Eat has conducted an analysis of its carbon footprint
The partnership aims to make a dent in the estimated 500m plastic takeaway boxes that pile up in landfill across the UK each year, even if they are reused multiple times, by rolling the program out nationwide if successful. This follows a successful pairing with sustainable packaging provider Notpla in a pilot project utilizing seaweed-lined compostable packaging.
Robin Clark, senior director of global partnerships and sustainability at Just Eat Takeaway.com, said: “We want to use our reach to support our network to adopt more environmentally-friendly products and practices. We’ve already taken a number of positive steps to drive this change, from pioneering the use of seaweed sauce sachets and boxes to increasing the number of electric vehicles we use in food delivery.”
The latest marketing news and insights straight to your inbox.
Get the best of The Drum by choosing from a series of great email briefings, whether that’s daily news, weekly recaps or deep dives into media or creativity.Sign up
Safia Qureshi, founder and chief executive officer of Clubzero, added: “We’re giving consumers the right to choose an alternative to single-use packaging. In the same way as we’ve seen choices for consumers beyond meat and beyond dairy, we’re giving consumers the option beyond landfill packaging.”
Content created with:
the best cafeFind out more


text:
Etsy sets up Irish subsidiary to reduce taxes while touting transparency
Meanwhile, Etsy has been keen to find ways to satisfy investors after posting slowing revenue growth and stagnant international expansion. Markets outside of the U.S., which the company has identified as one of its most promising opportunities, make up about 30% of gross merchandise sales. Etsy shares traded at $16.99 at the close Thursday, just above the $16 IPO price in April."As we continue to grow and expand our international business, we are generating an increasing amount of revenue and intellectual property outside of the U.S.," Etsy said in an e-mailed statement. "After careful consideration and consultation, we have evolved our tax structure to accurately account for the value of that property. We pay taxes at the local rate and make all required filings in the jurisdictions in which we operate."The company declined to answer specific questions on its tax planning.
Etsy isn't a typical company. The company's initial public offering was among the first for a "certified B Corporation," an entity that has passed rigorous standards set up by the not- for-profit B Lab by showing it benefits the community, environment, employees, consumers and suppliers.Etsy has even said transparency is one of its central values. The online marketplace, where sellers offer artsy goods ranging from cuff links made from sixpence coins to knit iPhone cases, serves as a test of whether investors accept a business that doesn't squeeze out every dollar of profit it can."As a public company, we will be able to provide a higher level of transparency and accountability to a broader number of people," Chief Executive Officer Chad Dickerson said in a letter to prospective public investors in a filing before the initial public offering. "If we succeed, then other companies might replicate our model. We think the world will be a better place for it."In filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, the company provided sparse details about its global reorganization."Our new corporate structure changed how we use our intellectual property and implemented certain intercompany arrangements," Etsy said in its most recent quarterly report. "This may result in a reduction in our overall effective tax rate."
When companies move the rights to valuable intellectual property, such as software patents, to Irish units, it allows them to attribute future profits to that low-tax division.The Irish government last year announced it would gradually abolish the popular tax shelter used by Google and others called the "Double Irish," which routes profits through an Irish subsidiary and then to another Irish unit headquartered in a haven like Bermuda. However, Ireland still offers other incentives that permit multinationals to get their tax rates on profits overseas down to the low single digits.Beginning in January, Ireland made tax deductions related to intellectual property more generous, a big benefit for companies like Etsy."We don't employ a Double Irish structure," the company said in an e-mailed statement.In a July 29 e-mail to buyers and sellers, Etsy said the legal contract for users outside of North and South America would now be between those users and Etsy Ireland, instead of the parent company. Users won't notice any difference in the services, Etsy added.One visible change comes at the bottom of e-mails confirming purchase for international buyers or transactions in foreign currencies. It shows the name and Dublin address for Etsy Ireland rather than the parent company's Brooklyn address, according to e-mails from shoppers reviewed by Bloomberg."It's the reality of being a publicly traded company that you have to report earnings every quarter," said Gil Luria, an analyst at Wedbush Securities Inc., who has the equivalent of a sell rating on the shares. "The notion that you're accountable to the broader society and not just to the owners is pretty much out the window at this point."


text:
A new bot scam on Tinder is tapping into users ' desire to become "verified" are now using verification as a lure to sign up people to fake “ safe dating ” websites. desire to eliminate the safety concerns that come with online dating. The spam bots then link to a fake verification website that claims to offer.
Tinder may be the hot new dating app for regular folks and beauty that it had come across fake Tinder profiles, which spam people and direct them to According to the blog post, the fake accounts only chat with you if you chat them first. The bots use stunted language, and Symantec even found a few.
Connect blogs tinder safe dating spam uses safety scam users money -- triThe Secret Sauce Behind Online Dating? TINDER Tinder users are being warned to stay alert to new scams Tinder users have been warned about a major new scam that is conning some customers by promising fake services. The editorial team does not participate in the writing or editing of BrandPosts. When Tinder is dead, will we still 'swipe right? Why Dating On Facebook Is Better Than Dating On Ti... Cupid Media Utilizes SDL Machine Translation to Tr...
Travel fast: Connect blogs tinder safe dating spam uses safety scam users money
- HIDDEN MASSAGE PARLOR INDIA
- DICH THUE NHAN
- Lindfieldsc scripts download file idoyuahzpdqvxibm
"NFL 2017" — A Bad Lip Reading of the NFL
Connect blogs tinder safe dating spam uses safety scam users money -- flying fast
Recent Journal of Research in Personality Articles. Zoosk copycats Tinder wit...
Connect blogs tinder safe dating spam uses safety scam users money - tri
Michael Kan covers security for IDG News Service. SYMANTEC The scam was spotted by security firm Symantec, which saw that the spam accounts send a link to a malicious website to the victim, which then asks for personal and financial information. The Secret Sauce Behind Online Dating? Tinder safe dating spam uses safety to scam users out of money via Symantec Official Blog.


text:
Savills Research and Consultancy in their Quarter 4 sales briefing on Singapore Residential Sales Briefing said that that non-Singaporean buyers purchased 1,324 non-landed private residential units in Quarter 4. The non-Singaporeans’ (who included permanent residents and foreigners), transaction volume inched down 0.7 percent quarter-on-quarter but their market share increased by 2.0 percent quarter-on-quarter (QoQ) to 25 percent.
Pointing to a check of caveats downloaded from the URA’s Realis, Savills said that top foreign buyers came from China, Malaysia, India and Indonesia, and acquired a total of 869 units. In addition, foreigners that did not specify their nationalities also bought 173 units in the reviewed quarter.
“These non-Singaporean buyers were quite active in the new sales market, taking substantial number of units at Parc Botannia (57 units), Sophia Hills (34 units) and Martin Modern (34 units). In spite of the higher additional buyer’s stamp duty (ABSD) imposed on non-Singaporeans, the above-mentioned sales numbers indicated that the buying interest from non-Singaporeans has gradually returned, especially in the high-end market.”
Savills Singapore senior director Alan Cheong said, “In spite of the higher additional buyer’s stamp duty (ABSD) imposed on non-Singaporeans, the above-mentioned sales numbers indicated that the buying interest from non-Singaporeans has gradually returned, especially in the high-end market.”
The report also made the following observation about its outlook on 2018: “Supported by better-than expected economic growth, the outlook for the Singapore private residential market in 2018 is promising. Prices have started to recover from a slump which has lasted since late 2013 and will continue their upward trend in 2018, driven by bullish prices paid by developers for both private residential sites and GLS sites.”
“The return in buying interest may overwhelm the slate of new launches this year leading to an over-spill in demand for resale properties,” it added.
The report also forecasted a 12 – 15 percent year-on-year price increase in the non-landed private residential property market.
Previous reports have suggested that foreign funds (especially from China) are driving up en-bloc sale prices to new heights. It remains unclear if the price increases in the private residential property market will have a knock-on effect in the public housing market.


text:
HP’s new architecture, dubbed The Machine, has reached the prototype phase. While the hardware and software platform is still under active development, the company’s claims about memory-driven computing (and the performance advantages of its new model) are starting to shape up.
The DoE is partnering with a group of diverse American firms to share supercomputing time and find ways to optimize manufacturing and design processes. If the program works, it could be the beginning of a new type of performance scaling based on expanding shared knowledge rather than transistor frequency.
Yesterday, Top 500 released the updated list of the world’s fastest supercomputers, and it revealed a rather worrying trend: Supercomputer performance is slowing down, rather than speeding up. When most of the world’s computing superpowers have announced their intentions to create exascale (1000 petaflops) supercomputers by 2020, this would appear to be a bit of a problem.


text:
Fans of Ubisoft’s Assassin’s Creed series of video games knew that the Unity edition, set in 18th-century Paris, included the ability to explore iconic monuments, including Notre-Dame. When Notre-Dame de Paris was nearly destroyed in a devastating fire in mid-April 2019, online discussions about the video game surfaced and the number of people playing the game surged, with players sharing images.
The media noticed the connection between the game and the fire. All this interest led the Paris-headquartered game developer, Ubisoft, to mobilize internally to respond to players and contribute to the cathedral’s restoration. The quickly-launched campaign has earned top prize in the “Corporate Social Responsibility Campaign” category of the PR Daily Awards.
Ubisoft first shared the message with its 17,000 employees so they could serve as ambassadors to their gaming communities. The message was reiterated on the Ubisoft blog and through its social media channels, encouraging others to donate while announcing that the game would be available for free download for one week; Ubisoft also donated €500,000 to restoration efforts.
The team drafted a statement and scheduled interviews with the historian who led the Notre-Dame research and the Assassin’s Creed brand director. The effort led to 34 local and national broadcast segments (including the “Today” show) and 164 articles in the U.S.
The campaign produced an all-time peak of active players in the online game (a 2,142% increase from the previous week) and social media delivered more than 18 million impressions and 1.2 million engagements.
For conceiving and executing a CSR campaign in crisis mode, congratulations to Heather Haefner, Arnaud Antoine and Nicholas Ross-Edwards.


text:
61 Unexpected ‘Forever Chemicals’ Found in Food Packaging
A global study identified 61 PFAS chemicals in food packaging that are not authorized for use in such products
Food packaging from around the world contains at least 68 “forever chemicals” that can seep into what we eat, a new study finds. And 61 of them are not even supposed to be used in such products. This kind of packaging may include coated paper wrappers, plastic containers and aluminum foil. Scientists behind the paper say it’s not clear why the latter chemicals, which are not on lists of those authorized for use in food containers, are in such packaging.
“It’s very hard to explain where they come from,” says the study’s senior author Birgit Geueke, senior scientific officer at the nonprofit Food Packaging Forum Foundation in Zurich. That’s especially concerning because her team was only able to find data on potential hazards for 57 percent of the chemicals the researchers found in food packaging.
The study, published on Tuesday in Environmental Science & Technology, focused on a class of chemicals called perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs). For decades, these substances have been used in a wide range of consumer products, from cookware to pesticides to cosmetics, because of their ability to repel water and grease.
On supporting science journalism
If you’re enjoying this article, consider supporting our award-winning journalism by subscribing. By purchasing a subscription you are helping to ensure the future of impactful stories about the discoveries and ideas shaping our world today.
PFASs are sometimes called “forever chemicals” because they don’t break down readily in the environment or in the body. That’s because their characteristic carbon-fluorine bond—part of what makes them so useful in the first place—is one of the strongest in nature. PFASs have been found in human blood and breast milk, drinking water, soil and other startling places around the world. In March 2023 the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced a drinking water standard for six PFAS compounds. Exposure to some of the most studied PFASs has been associated with cancer, reproductive problems and lessened responses to vaccines. “There’s an incredible body of scientific evidence linking these chemicals to health harms,” says David Andrews, a chemist and toxicologist at the Environmental Working Group, a nonprofit environmental advocacy organization, who was not involved with the new study.
The paper adds to recently growing concerns about the prevalence of PFASs—and about an overall dearth of knowledge as to what chemicals are found in many everyday products. “Food packaging may not be the only way we are exposed to PFAS, but food packaging could contribute” to these exposures, Geueke says.
She and her team found a mismatch between what they detected in actual products and a database of chemicals assembled by compiling information on PFAS that regulatory agencies (including the U.S. Food and Drug Administration) have authorized for use in food packaging, and PFAS that industrial manufacturers have listed for use in food packaging. About 140 PFASs are known to be used in food packaging, but only seven of the 68 chemicals in the study were on this list. Geueke says it’s unclear how or why the other 61 chemicals turned up. Andrews suggests that it’s possible that unknown impurities emerged during the manufacturing of the authorized chemicals or that the authorized PFASs degrade over time. This class of chemicals includes many long-chain molecules, and they can break into shorter chains that are simply different types of PFASs.
Some of the PFASs found in the study are known to have adverse health effects. One such chemical is perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), which was banned under the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants in 2019. PFOA was found in the blood of nearly every person in a large study conducted in the U.S. by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In animal studies, PFOA has caused developmental problems and liver injuries and has affected reproduction.
On February 28 the FDA announced that paper and paperboard food packaging coated with grease-proofing PFASs would no longer be sold in the U.S. Anderson says it’s likely paper packaging materials were targeted before metal or plastic because the FDA has studied them extensively. He cites a 2020 study by FDA researchers that found that a PFAS impurity found in fast-food packaging was potentially toxic. FDA-authorized PFASs can be used on other kinds of food packaging and in other items that contact food—such as nonstick cookware and gaskets used in food-processing equipment. The European Union’s European Chemicals Agency is evaluating proposed restrictions of PFASs in food packaging and other applications.
Chemical industry representatives have advocated for dealing with PFASs as individual chemicals. Scientific American reached out to the American Chemistry Council (ACC), a chemistry industry trade association, about this new study, but the organization did not reply before publication. On its dedicated PFAS webpage, ACC notes that “all PFAS are not the same. Each individual chemistry has its own unique properties and uses.”
Andrews and Geueke both say the presence of unknown PFASs in food packaging is good reason to regulate these chemicals as a single class—a position shared with many other scientific experts and environmental protection groups. There are more than 12,000 known PFASs, and scientists don’t know much about most of them. “Only some PFAS have ever been tested for toxicity,” Geueke says. And “there are probably other ways to produce food packaging.”


text:
High Liner Foods, Canada, acquired Rubicon Resources, LLC, a Culver City, Calif.-based sustainably sourced frozen shrimp producer to the private label market.
"I am pleased to announce that High Liner Foods signed a definitive agreement to acquire Rubicon Resources, LLC, a significant player in the U.S. shrimp market," says Keith Decker, president and CEO. "Rubicon is an ideal acquisition for High Liner that will provide sales and earnings growth and expedite diversification of our product portfolio to aquaculture species, like shrimp, that are experiencing stronger growth rates in North America."
"Rubicon's business is built on a commitment to bringing U.S. consumers high-quality sustainable seafood products, and at the heart of our success are the long-term strategic partnerships we've built with our trusted suppliers," adds Brian Wynn, president and founder of Rubicon Resources. "We've focused on making seafood simple for our customers through innovation, collaboration and creativity, which aligns perfectly with High Liner Foods' mission to drive seafood consumption through innovative solutions that make it easy for North Americans to enjoy delicious and healthy seafood."
Wynn will continue as Rubicon's president.


text:
Imagine that, while dreaming up your next big travel adventure, you could slip on a pair of glasses and test out the views at a few different destinations. Or, while scrolling through a list of flights or hotels, you could take a virtual tour before making your purchase.
Virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) technologies were selected by Lonely Planet as one of the trends expected to take the industry by storm in 2019. Whether igniting the travel bug with a 360-degree view or enhancing a historic trip with augmented re-enactments, this technology has the potential to completely overhaul the travel experience.
Virtual reality technology has the potential to completely overhaul the travel experience
One country that is already becoming a hotbed of activity for VR and AR is the UAE. The market for these technologies is expected to grow at an annual rate of 55 percent from 2017 to 2023, according to market research firm 6Wresearch. Meanwhile, International Data Corporation has predicted that the market for VR and AR in the Middle East and Africa region will reach a value of $6bn by 2020.
Dubai has been positioned as the tourism hub of the Gulf region. The emirate – one of seven that make up the country – is well on its way to becoming one of the most visited cities in the world. According to the latest Mastercard Global Destination Cities Index, Dubai was the fourth-most visited city in the world in 2017, with 15.79 million travellers. The index predicted that tourism would grow by a further 5.5 percent in 2018.
Tourism has become an economic boon for Dubai, generating $7.6trn in 2016, or more than 10 percent of GDP, according to the World Travel and Tourism Council. The industry also supported 292 million jobs globally, equal to one in 10 jobs.
At the same time, the UAE has demonstrated its regional leadership in emerging technologies. Throughout the country, companies in retail, real estate and events drive innovation by embracing advances in technology, such as VR and AR. For instance, in 2018, the world’s biggest ever VR park was introduced in Dubai, offering numerous virtual experiences and games. The 7,000sq m VR Park Dubai, which is located in the Dubai Mall, was a first-of-its-kind attraction in the Middle East.
Shujat Mirza is a consultant and the Dubai Chapter President of the VR/AR Association, which aims to foster collaboration between innovative companies and people in the VR and AR sectors. Mirza told Business Destinations that these technologies have grown rapidly in the UAE, especially over the last 18 months. “I remember in 2015–16, very few people or brands knew about the technology, let alone [had] experience with it,” Mirza said. “But now we have VR/AR forums, we have conferences, we have locally generated content and, more importantly, major players like HTC Vive taking a keen interest in the market and initiating a lot of encouraging campaigns to enhance the VR/AR ecosystem and create sustainable growth.”
Mirza was first inspired by the possibilities of virtual and augmented technologies when he saw Nike using AR to enhance the shopping experience for its customers. From that moment, he saw just how widespread the disruption caused by VR and AR would be.
“VR [and] AR are game changers,” Mirza said. “[They are] changing how we collaborate, how we communicate and how we work or even shop.” But not only are these technologies changing the way we consume content and entertain ourselves, they are also transforming the way we interact with the world.
There is almost no segment of the travel industry that VR or AR could not disrupt. One simple way companies are bringing the tech into the mainstream is by slotting virtual or augmented attractions into popular tourist hotspots.
For instance, in the Dubai Mall, virtual and augmented technologies are not only being used in the VR Park, but also in the VRZOO at the Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo. This immersive experience allows consumers to take in 360-degree views of threatened species in their natural habitats, from gorillas in the Ugandan forests to whale sharks in the Maldives.
The Burj Khalifa – the tallest building in the world – is another prime example. AR and VR services company ARküb installed interactive telescopes in the building in 2014 to enhance the consumer experience of identifying landmarks from the 124th and 125th floors of the 828m-tall building.
Visitors can also take a VR adventure in the Burj Khalifa in which they climb to the top of the building before free-falling all the way down to the ground. The ride was borne out of a partnership between HTC Vive Pro and real estate company Emaar.
There are many ways in which virtual and augmented technologies could be implemented to personalise services and make them more immersive and helpful for consumers. Mirza explained: “In my opinion, not only can VR/AR enhance a passenger’s travel in terms of entertainment, but they can also be used as an efficient sales tool to showcase premium services and encourage them to upgrade, as seeing is believing.”
Major airlines such as Emirates and Etihad Airways have introduced VR services that allow flyers to preview the look and feel of an aircraft before stepping inside. The emirate of Ras Al Khaimah has used VR to promote one of its top tourist spots: the world’s longest zip line. The emirate’s tourism department brought the zip line to the UK by equipping Brits with a VR headset that would transport them to the UAE with 360-degree-views of the mountainous landscape.
At the time, Haitham Mattar, CEO of Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority, explained: “One of our key areas of focus is growing our global reputation as the adventure tourism hub of the Middle East, and we wanted to do something innovative to showcase the world’s longest zip line to thrillseekers in London.”
Closing the gap
With an increasing number of companies finding success in VR and AR technologies, Mirza said that now anyone with a decent 360-degree camera could create their own virtual worlds.
Hassan Kiyany, a visual storyteller from the UAE and the founder of immersive video production agency Kiyany, has become a leader in the creation of VR experiences. In 2015, Forbes Middle East named Kiyany as one of the leading media storytellers in the UAE, and he has won multiple awards for his films.
Speaking to The National, Kiyany said he hopes his VR films will open the UAE up to more of the world. “People want an authentic experience of a place,” he said. “We know the UAE has so much culture – it is all around us – and it’s up to us to tell this story of real people and real places so people want to visit and meet these people who inspire others and me.”
By inspiring people around the world to take a look inside a city they might not have ever considered visiting, Kiyany said virtual films could have a big impact on travel and tourism. “We can bridge a gap to make it easier for people to explore another culture. It can be eye-opening and very powerful,” he said.
The UAE has developed a modern approach to tourism that could soon pay dividends. If it continues to find innovative ways for VR and AR technologies to transform its tourism sector, it may one day achieve its dream of making Dubai the most visited city in the world.


text:
There are adrenaline junkies that thrive in the outdoors. And then there are the rest of us couch potatoes, for whom walking two blocks seems like an accomplishment. It is this group that might rejoice at The North Face’s latest campaign, which transports customers to Yosemite National Park as they shop comfortably in the company’s retail stores.
The outdoor apparel company has collaborated with cinematic VR company Jaunt to give viewers an immersive tour of California’s Yosemite National Park and the Moab desert in Utah, where they can trek the landscapes and rock climb alongside athletes Cedar Wright and Sam Elias.
“Every brand wants to forge an emotional connection with its customers,” Eric Oliver, director of digital marketing at The North Face, told Digiday. “Our brand mission is to inspire a life of exploration, so we felt like this was a great way to enhance our storytelling, use technology and transport people to the outdoors.”
Using Google Cardboard, the experience places viewers in the great outdoors, with the ability to look around in any direction, recreating the experience of actually being there. The footage was shot with Jaunt’s proprietary 360 degree, stereoscopic 3D cameras and advanced 3D sound-field microphones. Camp4 Collective, a group of athletes and filmmakers, also worked on location with The North Face and Jaunt to produce the content.
The North Face VR experience debuts on March 16 at the SXSW Interactive conference in Austin, after which it will be will be available for download by the public on Google Play. It will also be rolled out across North Face’s Flagship stores in three cities: Chicago, New York and San Francisco.
Virtual reality is no mere passing fad; both brands and technology companies have invested significant resources. HBO fans have virtually scaled the icy Wall from “Game of Thrones.” Marriott has whisked people away for virtual tours of Hawaii and London. Lexus and Volvo have given its customers virtual test drives of its cars.
Technologically, Oculus Rift was the first mover, but Google Cardboard and the Samsung Gear VR followed suit with more affordable tech. Sony and HTC are also developing headsets in a space that is getting increasingly crowded, with Morpheus and Vive respectively in the works.
“The more people you can reach, the greater VR is going to be,” said Scott Broock, vp of content for Jaunt. “The entry of all these players is making it accessible, democratic and increasingly inexpensive.”


text:
From Ghana, with style
Ghanaian fashion designer Kofi Ansah, who passed away last week, leaves behind a legacy of timeless art on fabric. The designer put Ghana on the haute couture map and created clothes that exuded the joy and intrigue of his country on the catwalk
Ghanaian fashion was never the same after designer Kofi Ansah came to the scene in 1992. The designer, who is best known for putting Ghana on the catwalks of haute couture, passed away at an Accra hospital last week.
For Ansah, fashion was not about spinning fads, but about creating designs that tell a story about the wearer. In an interview, he famously said, ‘Without clothes, we cannot play our parts’.
Kofi Ansah’s many designs were inspired by the wild, vast landscape of Africa’s indigenous textiles and motifs. Pics/AFP
Ansah was born in 1951 and claimed that he owed his creativity to his parents, who had impeccable taste. He tasted appreciation early on after graduating from the Chelsea School of Art in London in 1979, Ansah’s claim to fame was bagging a chance to dress Princess Anne in a beaded top.
Ghanaian designer Kofi Ansah takes a bow at the end of his show during the AltaRomAltaModa event in February 2009 in Rome
In Ansah, UK’s catwalks found a refreshingly experimentative designer, and the designer soon became a force to be reckoned with. However, Ansah had more on his mind. In 1992, he decided to return to Ghana and his work there is known to be even more innovative. Ansah is rightly credited to have changed the face of the Ghanaian fashion.
He picked bold, indigenous textures and fabrics and his customer base was not limited to Ghana alone clients the world over were curious about his work and didn’t mind shelling out the money for truly unique cuts.
Ansah also loved deep, lush colours and, for a while, indigo was like his trademark. Irreverent and meticulous, Ansah claimed that no two shirts he ever made were the same. When Ghana celebrated 50 years of independence in 2007, Ansah designed the official anniversary cloth and when Ghana hosted the African Nations Cup football competition the following year, he designed the costumes for the performers at the opening and closing ceremonies.


text:
Doing What It Takes to Keep the Doors Open
Even if you’ve never watched a single episode of the CBS television show Survivor, most likely, you’re familiar with the concept. A group of very fit, competitive people faced with a barrage of difficult tests battle it out to be the last person standing on a deserted island. Naturally, the sole survivor wins. Minus the desert island, does this sound like your work life right now?
Just a few weeks ago, it seemed like we were making progress toward vanquishing the virus. The states and cities grappling with the highest incidents of hospitalizations and deaths, California and New York City, had successfully flattened the curve. Stringent shelter-in-place “red” restrictions were eased. But it was way too soon to declare victory. Infection rates soon began climbing in other parts of the country, and it wasn’t long before “green” cities turned red. To lessen the spread of the virus, many states issued strict guidelines limiting how alcoholic beverages could be sold on-premise (Please see sidebar for a brief rundown of NJ guidelines). Social distancing requirements, the added costs of personal protective equipment (PPE), and cleaning (on top of capacity restrictions) make it nearly impossible for full-service bars and restaurants to keep the doors open, let alone turn a profit.
The COVID-19 pandemic has been challenging for everyone. But for those whose livelihoods depend upon customers gathering in hypersocial settings – bars, restaurants, casinos, clubs, and catering venues – adapting to the needs of safety-conscious customers and ever-changing government restrictions is daunting, to say the least. But there are ways to mitigate financial damage and be a survivor.
Simplify, Simplify, Simplify
Trying to please everyone is a costly business strategy (Be honest now, how many IPAs do you carry?). Even before the pandemic, customers overwhelmed by too many choices tended to spend less. And now the pandemic consumer is even less likely to try new things. “During the shutdown, 69% of consumers reported buying brands they know and trust from off-premise accounts,” says Tim Miller, Director of Sales at Kramer Beverage. “In these uncertain times, consumers aren’t shopping. They are buying brands they know, and it’s wise to do away with slow-moving products. Stick to a select, limited assortment of the fastest selling brands. It’s easier on the consumer and your staff.”
What’s selling right now? Obviously, hard seltzers like Truly and Smirnoff are safe bets, as the category has doubled sales from 2019. But when placing your beer order, think great brands and category leaders. “Mature brands have experienced a rebirth,” says consultant Bump Williams. “Tried-and-true classics in all category segments are growing in a way we haven’t seen in years. National crafts like Sierra Nevada, Sam Adams, New Belgium, and Blue Moon – buoyed by the introduction of Light Sky, are responsible for much of the increased beer sales. In fact, during the pandemic, these category leaders accounted for 56% of that growth during the shutdown.”
Not to be forgotten are the local brands, which are as valuable as ever for craft drinkers. Most importantly, local brands appeal to younger legal age drinkers (ages 21 to 34 years) who are the consumers most likely to venture into bars and restaurants.
Get Reacquainted with Your Sales Rep
Now is the perfect time to meet with your Kramer Beverage Sales Representative, who is equipped with insightful information about the consumer and your situation. Your sales rep can do so much more than place an order. Lean on your rep for their expert knowledge of industry trends and top-selling beers. And they can also make sure you don’t miss out on available programs designed to maximize profits.
Coming Back Strong and Safe
As consumers slowly start to return to on-premise accounts, above all else, they’re looking to feel safe. It’s imperative to follow state and national guidelines and implement all social distancing measures to ensure your consumers know that you are making their safety a priority (Guidelines can be found online at covid19.nj.gov). Also, a strong digital and social media presence will communicate your commitment to safety. Adding photos and language detailing what consumers can expect upon visiting your business is very reassuring. And if you offer delivery and to-go services, you should know that nearly 60% of consumers say they use websites and social media to “pre-shop” meal and alcohol bundles before placing orders.
We May Not Be in the Same Boat, But We’re All in the Same Storm
As we went to press with this fall edition of Heady Times, it became obvious that the only constant in our lives right now is uncertainty. That is why we chose such an unusual graphic for the front cover. While we normally focus on a brand or prominent family of products, going the “business as usual” route just didn’t feel right when we are painfully aware of the challenges the pandemic presents to our valued customers, especially those in the on-premise. Please know that we are aware of the unprecedented challenges you are facing, and we stand ready to chip away at those challenges as best we can.
On a lighter, hopeful note, the National Restaurant Association reports that the number one activity people miss is going out to eat with friends and family. We look forward to a time when customers can gather at their favorite spots without fear of infection, but until then, please know that you can count on us to support you as best we can during our battle against COVID-19. Supplier Support Suppliers like Boston Beer were quick on the jump when it came to creating programs to support the on-premise during the pandemic. Boston Beer’s Restaurant Strong program supports 20 states across the US (including NJ) and has provided over $4 million in donations to bars and restaurants. And the Restaurant Employee Relief Fund, of which Boston Beer is a founding partner, has donated over $20 million to help during the shutdown. Kramer Beverage has made a donation that will provide $500 grants to an additional 30 restaurant and hospitality employees in Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester, Mercer, and Salem Counties.
“In the midst of chaos, there is opportunity.” — Chinese General Sun Tzu
About Kramer Beverage
Kramer Beverage is South Jersey’s largest beer wholesaler, owned and operated by four generations of the Kramer family since 1924. Kramer Beverage is based out of Hammonton, Atlantic County, and services eight counties in southern New Jersey with top brands from MillerCoors, Constellation, Yuengling, Boston Beer, Heineken USA, Pabst, Diageo, FIFCO, and more. Kramer Beverage also distributes a wide variety of craft beers, from suppliers such as New Belgium and Sierra Nevada, to local favorites including Flying Fish, Double Nickel, Evil Genius, Glasstown, Sly Fox, and 2SP. For more information on Kramer Beverage, please visit www.kramerbev.com.


text:
Whole Foods Market® Wheaton is pleased to announce the start of their personal shopping services beginning February 1, 2013. The much anticipated store program located at 151 Rice Lake Square, will provide a convenient and efficient way for customers to get their grocery shopping done. The Wheaton Whole Foods Market is the first in the city to offer a personal shopping service. Carl Gartner, Whole Foods Market Store Team Leader, said the convenience has been needed and Wheaton is uniquely suited for this service. "We are excited to offer our customers this new option, especially as the weather gets colder. Having our team of Personal Shoppers at the ready to shop for you, with the added convenience of curbside pick-up service, we have found another way to offer excellent customer service."
Customers who want to sign up for the program can email firstname.lastname@example.org or visit the website at http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/stores/wheaton. They can pick up orders curbside Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. A 10 percent surcharge will be added on each order, and there is no minimum on orders. The personal shopping service does not include alcoholic beverages and the store will be accepting orders via email only.
“We have people with special diet needs driving all the way from Elburn to get brands that we have available here at Whole Foods Market,” comments Gartner. “This convenience has clearly been needed for a while, we offer the widest selection of special diet products, so having our knowledgeable staff helping pick out products will be extremely helpful.”


text:
Why We Shop Local, and Why You Should Too!
There has been a major shift in business campaigning over the last year. Whether it’s because peoples pockets are getting tighter or we’ve become accustomed to a new type of consumerism – but businesses are in need of local support and we can feel it!
The unpredictable industry of tourism is continuing to struggle, with many small towns still missing the pre-pandemic buzz that drove locals to hide away from the crowds for days on end.
For many, the dream of settling into a comfortable community focussed role as small business owner has ended prematurely, with the uncertainty of the economy and consumers leaning further in to purchasing from bigger corporations.
At WorkLife we take pride in facilitating events for creators and community organisations, using local talent to design and promote our spaces, and believe in using our platform to spruik the amazing businesses that also call the towns we operate within, home.
We have started to see more private, council, and government funded initiatives around us urging people to shop locally and support their local businesses. Initiatives such as Wollongong’s ‘We Shop the Gong‘ campaign, privately founded business ‘Why Leave Town‘, and the ‘Love Local Shoalhaven‘ encouraging locals to shop and play locally over winter.
Shopping local is one of the easiest ways you can ensure money continues returning into your community, sometimes referred to as the ‘boomerang dollar‘ effect. An American Express survey found that small businesses are re-investing 42 cents from each dollar made from annual turnover back into their local communities. This means more money being funnelled into provincial causes, businesses, and staff just by going local.
For 62% of consumers, they acknowledge and believe that small businesses are what give their community it’s charm and identity. To maintain this charm, it is integral that as local members of the community we are utilising the amenities within reach. With charm comes reputation and intrigue. For many small towns, the carefully curated cafes and boutiques are what keep tourists interested and spending more money at attractions and accomodation within the area which allows them to continue operating within the quieter and cooler months for locals to enjoy. With the domestic tourism market being affected by increasing interest rates and inflation, travellers are being limited with spending and disposable income, putting more pressure on us to ensure these charming businesses can continue to operate.
Although most small towns are seeing an increase in population, the severe shortage of workers essential to businesses depending on tourism continues to fall. It became standard to see businesses with signs saying “closed due to staff shortage” on some of the busiest days of the year. We are still experiencing a 20% decrease in employable labour since 2019. Many individuals chose less risky positions during the pandemic, often with better pay. By shopping local, businesses have more flexibility to pay staff a higher wage, and remain open.
So with winter still looming, and many still living their best Euro Summer lives, let’s take a moment to plan a staycation, a date night at the towns newest (or oldest) bar, take the kids to the local animal park, or go whale watching! It doesn’t have to be school holidays, or even an long weekend. But one day out can make a vast different to the lives and communities of local business owners trying to make it to another Summer trading.
If you’re unsure of where to start, here is a list of just some of our favourite local businesses. You can also find an extensive list of activities for you and the family over at South Coast Experiences.


text:
Foundry Group’s investment in Medialets
by Ryan McIntyre
At Foundry Group we’ve made investments in a handful of companies that participate in the online advertising ecosystem. But as we talk about how we think about these investments here on our blog and in other forums, we describe our efforts in this area not as “advertising” but as “glue.” Our interest lies in the intersection of advertising and our glue theme. Specifically we view advertising through the lens of connective technologies – those that help advertisers connect with users and remove friction from the overall system (both AdMeld and Lijit are examples of companies in the Foundry portfolio that fit into this line of thinking).
Today we’re announcing an investment in Medialets – a company that sits right at the intersection of new advertising technologies and our glue theme. Based in New York, Medialets is a mobile analytics and advertising company that helps mobile application developers track usage and other statistics about their applications and provides technology that enables them to monetize those applications via advertising.
Medialets has built out this rich media advertising and analytics platform for iPhone and Android with support for BlackBerry, Windows Mobile, Symbian and Palm Pre coming later this year. The company develops technologies that enable publishers to measure their audience and monetize their applications through advertising and that allow brands to leverage the unique capabilities of mobile platforms in advertisements in a way that is measureable whether the device is on- or off-line.
Founded in June of 2008 by a team led by multi-time entrepreneur Eric Litman, and launched concurrently with the iPhone AppStore in July 2008, Medialets quickly became a market leader in mobile analytics and advertising. By working directly with large brand advertisers and their agencies, Medialets has pushed the bounds on mobile advertising and has used its success with advertisers and agencies to more quickly grow the use of its analytics platform. To date, the company has seen over 70M downloads of its analytics code across 14M unique devices. In March of this year the company created the world’s first shakable advertisement, and in April it announced that it had processed its billionth event through Medialytics, the company’s analytics product.
We’ve been working with the company since shortly after their launch last summer and have had the opportunity to really dig into the business with Eric and the rest of the team at Medialets. We feel fortunate that they’ve chosen to work with us as a key partner in growing the business and are excited to go public today with our investment in the company.


text:
Masa Finance will get $3.5M pre-seed to construct its decentralized credit history protocol – TechCrunch
Masa Finance, a hybrid credit protocol and decentralized credit history bureau launched by Pngme CEO Brendan Playford in late 2020, has elevated $3.5 million in pre-seed funding. According to a assertion, the business seeks to “disrupt standard centralized credit infrastructure by delivering men and women, enterprises and builders with the applications to obtain credit” by means of blockchain technology.
The main principle for blockchain facilities on the ownership of assets, such as dollars and fiscal knowledge. The procedure considerably attempts to lower the management of standard monetary establishments these as banks and credit score bureaus which have, for decades, gathered and saved money facts of the world’s banked people today.
Decentralized finance’s premise transcends this section of banked people today. Analysts have argued that the engineering can arrive at places not protected by these money institutions. According to them, blockchain can enable the unbanked to have speedier accessibility to solutions these kinds of as lending, borrowing and buying insurance policies.
Still, there is even now place for collaboration between both worlds, or at the very least in Masa Finance’s case, even as it targets underserved individuals.
Masa Finance hyperlinks standard financial accounts and assets from credit score bureau units and financial institution knowledge to crypto holdings of consumers. This link permits the organization to produce non-fungible credit rating experiences for buyers, which they can use to obtain credit score and other economical instruments.
“The eyesight that I have had for a really prolonged time has been how do credit history bureaus evolve and what would they search like in the foreseeable future,” founder Playford advised TechCrunch on a simply call. “The future of the Masa protocol is to be completely decentralized, turning governance and management into a DAO composition.”
Right before setting up Pngme, an open finance startup that has raised in excess of $18 million in VC funding, Playford actively labored in the blockchain and crypto area for virtually a 10 years. Final February, he exposed that this involvement led him to offer brief-time period crypto loans to business people, especially in Kenya and Tanzania — and common financial loans through Pngme in advance of pivoting to an open up finance perform.
Masa Finance is the consequence of these collective ventures. According to Playford, the firm is designed on a few blocks: unlocking monetary information (which Pngme does), new resources of capital, and allowing for people to very own their credit background and share it with any lender on their own.
The startup’s world wide web3 infrastructure is effective with above 10,000 off-chain details sources from credit history bureaus, financial institution info aggregators, and choice details throughout 78 nations around the world allowing Masa to create on-chain credit scoring for its customers.
Consequently, by aggregating off-chain and on-chain data into a non-fungible credit history report, Masa states it gives creditors, and developers obtain to the tools essential to evaluate borrower chance and launch lending solutions for folks and enterprises globally.
“The earth we’re developing for is in which people’s information are owned themselves. This will link an off-chain entire world with centralized info to a new on-chain environment that will be growing about the up coming 10 to 20 decades,” remarked Playford, who runs Masa with the chief of workers Dusty Swartz. “So you can join distinctive knowledge sources to build a credit history profile stored on Masa in a decentralized way and have sovereignty above your decentralized credit rating profile.”
Masa suggests its on-chain information handles 26 integrations, from exchanges to wallets — opening up a 4.95 billion-particular person industry where by 67% are credit rating invisible. These wallets consist of Binance, Coinbase, FTX, Gemini and Metamask.
“The explanation why they are partnering with credit history bureaus is it raises protection for the most amount of users. Our mission is to convey the future billion folks to DeFi by delivering credit score bureau studies. And to do that, you have to aid present infrastructure and companion with these at this time in the industry,” said Playford when requested why Masa chose a hybrid product in its place of a complete decentralized design.”
Playford reported Masa is making on Celo and Ethereum, and the system, which is launching out of beta, has 36,000 individuals signed up previously. Most of its existing consumers are primarily based in sub-Saharan Africa — Nigeria and Kenya in individual. End users from these nations around the world, like Uganda and the Philippines, are dependable for the optimum volume of financial loans obtained in Goldfinch, a lending protocol Masa Finance hopes to husband or wife with soon that lifted $25 million from a16z and Coinbase Ventures in January.
Masa Finance claims it has more than 2,100 node operators on its dwell testnet, supporting zero-expertise personal transactions and wise contracts. There are also up to 300 developer registrations, with seven tasks registered to integrate. The first credit score goods launching on the protocol include a credit builder personal loan, uncollateralized financial loans and an SME line of credit history by means of its app, the firm said in a statement.
Aided by the new cash, Masa claims to have recorded double-digit progress each and every month considering the fact that the start off of the yr. The spherical, which has no direct investor, comes from classic and website3-targeted VCs. They involve Unshackled Ventures and Lateral Funds (backers of Pngme), executives from GoldenTree Asset Management, Flori Ventures, and GSR. Other collaborating investors are Decentranet Intersect VC, Peer VC, Alves Ventures and some angel buyers in the fintech/blockchain area.
“This is Unshackled‘s second time backing Brendan Playford, and it’s no accident,” claimed Manan Mehta, founding standard husband or wife of Unshackled Ventures. “What Masa demonstrates is a far more equitable long run that presents entry to funds to a world-wide inhabitants, mainly missed by standard finance.”
What is following for Masa is to increase a seed spherical, it claimed in a assertion. The subsequent funding will make it possible for the firm to retain the services of much more engineers, start the protocol’s generation release, carry out a community token sale, scale node operators, and provide developers and loan providers to the system.


text:
Volvo has announced plans to incorporate the popular chat portal Skype on the consoles in its high-end 90 Series cars.Read more ↓
A list of scheduled meetings and and a shortcut to people’s contact list will be available on a touch screen. Tapping once will take the user to a meeting summary, that will show the organiser, participants and ways in which they can join the call.
Volvo said in a press release that it is also exploring how it can use Cortana in its vehicles. Cortana is Microsoft’s personal assistant software. This would help Microsoft compete with Apple and Google, who have CarPlay and Android Auto in the the industry.
Source by news18….Share: