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When it comes to data and analytics, many businesses in the U.S. have had their eyes on the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA). Those of us in the world of nonprofit fundraising are also keeping watch on the latest developments, including six new amendments that were just approved on Oct. 11.
Read on to learn more about the CCPA and the new changes to this important law.
WHAT’S THE BIG DEAL ABOUT THE CCPA?
In recent years, major data privacy laws have gone into effect in Canada and Europe. Much like those laws, the CCPA’s goal is to inform users at the point of data collection about what is being collected and why it is necessary in the marketplace.
Unlike the Canadian Anti-Spam Legislation (CASL) and the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), the CCPA is merely a state law. It only applies to California – however, its effects will be felt by many outside the Golden State.
The CCPA is also significantly different in how it is applied and how organizations need to prepare for it.
WHAT’S IN THE LAW?
It is important to note that the CCPA does not ban or prohibit the collection, use or sale of consumer data, given the proper notice controls. Consumer data can still be used for marketing purposes.
The law requires organizations to inform people about how their data is used and to provide consumers a way to “opt out” of data collection. CASL and GDPR go one step further by requiring consumers to “opt in” to data collection of any kind, including email addresses.
Nevertheless, the CCPA accomplishes three major goals, according to Californians for Consumer Privacy:
- It gives Californians ownership of their personal information
- It gives Californians control over what information is collected
- It gives Californians security by holding businesses responsible for data breaches
WHAT DID THE AMENDMENTS CHANGE?
Since the CCPA’s inception, many organizations have expressed concern over some of the vague language in the law. California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed six amendments to clarify some of the provisions, especially in terms of defining what types of personal data can be collected.
Thanks to the amendments, the law no longer covers personal data collected from non-consumers like job applicants, employees, contractors, etc., until at least 2021. It also creates a one-year exemption for some forms of B2B communication, and it removes information collected for vehicle warranties or recalls from enforcement.
Some businesses who only operate online also complained about the requirement of a toll-free number for consumers to call for questions about their data privacy. AB-1564 now offers those businesses a second option of providing an email address.
WHO DOES THE CCPA APPLY TO?
The main targets of this law are large tech corporations based in California, like Facebook, Apple and Google. And California state attorney general Xavier Becerra recently offered guidelines for how organizations must follow the law, which could cost companies up to $55 billion in compliance costs.
First and foremost, for-profit businesses that collect any data of California residents should pay attention. For the CCPA to apply, the business must meet only one of the following three thresholds:
- Their annual gross revenue exceeds $25 million.
- They buy, receive, sell or share the personal data of at least 50,000 California residents each year.
- They get 50% or more of their annual revenue from selling the data of California residents.
This means nonprofits are technically exempt from the CCPA, but that doesn’t mean your organization can simply ignore this law. Stay tuned for more information on that front.
Note: The above content is informative in nature and is not intended as legal advice. As a company that provides professional fundraising consulting services, we retain counsel to ensure compliance with fundraising laws in each applicable state. Questions related to the California Consumer Privacy Act of 2019 (CCPA) for U.S.-based nonprofits should be directed to counsel that is competent to address such matters.


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Study identifies what makes chocolate smell so good
Published : Thursday, 9 May, 2019 at 5:42 PM Count : 804
The cause of dark chocolate's mouth-watering smell has finally been discovered as scientists pinpoint the exact chemicals responsible for the aroma.
A host of chemicals, including one which also gives roses their unique fragrance, is the guilty party, according to a new study.
Roasted cocoa beans are rich in beta-ionone, also found in perfume and essential oils, which contributes to its scent.
The breakthrough explains why the smell of chocolate is so alluring - and could lead to even tastier snacks being custom made in future, suggests the research.
Now a German team has identified the substances that make up this heavenly aroma - opening the door to unique 'designer chocolates'.
They bought two types of dark chocolate, each with a distinctive aroma, from a local shop.
Chemicals within the smell of chocolate were analysed using a technique called extract and stable isotope dilution analyses.
it found various volatile compounds are directly involved responsible for the smell.
These are chemicals that transform into gases easily at room temperature - and are inhaled along with the air we breathe.
That brings them into contact with more than 900 receptors in the upper half of the nostril - making us crave chocolate.
Some, such as beta-ionone, have never been identified in chocolate before.
Using the data, the researchers then reconstructed the aromas of both chocolate varieties. These smelled very similar to the original bars, a trained sensory panel decided.
The findings, published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, may help manufacturers control and improve the flavour of chocolate bars.
Dr Carolin Seyfried, of the Technical University of Munich, said: 'Chocolate is one of the most-consumed treats around the world.
'Flavour is more than just what the tongue tastes - smell also plays a key role, with many compounds working together to create a unique sensory experience.
'Although nearly 600 compounds have been identified in chocolate over the last century, only a fraction of them are known to contribute to the aroma.'
Previous studies have identified compounds responsible for the scent of milk and dark chocolates.
But it has been unclear how much of each component is needed to make something smell specifically like dark chocolate.
So Dr Seyfried and co author Dr Michael Granvogl decided to build the scent from scratch for the first time.
They said: 'In summary, this study is the ﬁrst to successfully characterise the key aroma compounds in dark chocolate.
'Owing to its production with fermentation and roasting steps, the aroma of chocolate and cocoa products is very complex, containing a relatively high number of odorants, and thus more than 25 compounds were needed to simulate the overall aroma.'
The researchers were funded by the Research Association of the German Food Industry through the German Federal Ministry of Economic Affairs and Energy.-Daily Mail

domain: news


text: Room Key, a hotel search engine founded by six of the largest hotel companies, came out of beta testing last week. Along with the launch, several new features were introduced, including integrated consumer reviews, a "shortlist" tool geared toward interactive feedback and a Facebook page (facebook.com/roomkey). "With website traffic reaching nearly 2 million visitors per month in our first 90 days," noted Room Key CEO John F. Davis III, "we're thrilled with the consumer response and will continue to expand our offerings as part of our ongoing commitment to helping travelers search, book and relax." The shortlist tool facilitates property comparisons among multiple locations, and allows hotel shoppers to collaborate with family and friends on the decision via e-mail, Facebook and Twitter. Room Key's founding hotel companies are Choice Hotels International, Hilton Worldwide, Hyatt Hotels Corp., InterContinental Hotels Group, Marriott International and Wyndham Hotel Group. In the coming months, connections to Best Western, Loews Hotels, Preferred Hotel Group and World Hotels will be added. Also, a number of independent hotels and chains will be bookable through upcoming integration with Sabre Hospitality Solutions, TravelClick and Trust International.


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Recent news reports and informal messages from several publishers suggest that Amazon is taking more steps to wring money from its publisher suppliers. In the U.K., Amazon has notified many publishers that if they don't meet Amazon's delivery targets, they will be charged 3%-10% of the cost of goods, the Bookseller reported.
"Under the new rules, publishers will be charged 3% of the cost of the goods if fewer than 90% of shipped titles a month arrive to a fulfilment centre within the expected delivery window, or if fewer than 90% of collect orders are ready for pickup by Amazon during the expected ship window," the Bookseller wrote. "The 3% charge will be deducted only for the noncompliant units under the stated 90% threshold."
In addition, Amazon will charge 10% of the cost of goods "if below 95% of 'confirmed or back-ordered products' per month are not delivered before Amazon's system automatically cancels the items."
In a nicely timed twist, around the same time Amazon was notifying accounts about how it will penalize them, it was delaying payments to Advantage customers--those who sell to Amazon on consignment--causing a cash-flow disaster for some publishers. Amazon said this was the result of a technical glitch that has been corrected.
In Germany, Amazon subsidiary Audible, which has an estimated 90% of the German market for digital audiobooks, has told some smaller publishers that they must sell to Amazon on a flat-rate model, according to Der Spiegel. If they don't agree, their titles will be delisted from Audible.
A group of audio publishers are filing a complaint with the German cartel office, a complaint that the Boersenverein has said it would support.
In the U.S., at least one distributor recently received a notice from Amazon that it must lower the prices on several backlist books or Amazon "may reduce or discontinue ordering those items," the company wrote. The titles have been sold to Amazon at 20% and 25% discounts; the company is requiring new discounts ranging from nearly 30% to nearly 50%.
The Bookseller also reported that Amazon.co.uk and Penguin Random House U.K. "are in a dispute over terms" for a new contract. As is customary with these kinds of situations, neither side would discuss terms under negotiation, but Amazon spokesman Tarek El-Hawary wrote in an e-mail to Re/code, "I can say that we have long-term deals in place already with the other four major publishers and we would accept any similar deal with Penguin Random House U.K."
The negotiations do not include Penguin Random House in the U.S.
But sometimes Amazon has to cooperate with others. In a striking change in its approach to taxation in Europe, starting this month, Amazon has begun booking revenue on sales made in some countries--the U.K., Germany, Italy and Spain so far--in those countries rather than in its head European office in Luxembourg, where tax rates for the company are much lower, the Wall Street Journal reported.
The European Union and national governments have complained about and launched investigations of tax-avoidance structures used by several U.S. companies, including Amazon, Apple, Google and Starbucks. The U.K. recently passed a budget increasing taxes for companies that appear to be avoiding paying taxes.
The Journal commented: "Amazon's move marks a sea change in its approach to tax in Europe. Depending on how the company allocates costs, it could significantly boost the firm's tax bill in many EU countries. It could also put pressure on other companies to do the same."
In January, the E.U.'s antitrust office said in a preliminary finding that the tax deal Luxembourg gave Amazon in 2003 that has allowed it to pay much lower taxes on its European operations than otherwise expected appeared to amount to "unfair state aid."


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L’Oréal has reported strong sales growth of 7.7 percent, to 7.55 billion Euros, or $8.47 billion at current exchange rates. Notably, at a regional level, the highlight is Asia Pacific, which is up 23.2 percent, despite China’s slowing economy, outpacing growth in L’Oréal’s home market of Western Europe. The zone not only experienced strong sales in China, but also in India, Indonesia and Malaysia, which have all posted double-digit growth. Yves Saint Laurent and Giorgio Armani, along with premium skin care brands, are reporting the strongest growth in the region. Stylenanda, a South Korean makeup brand acquired by the company in June 2018, “is making significant progress” and is already bolstering growth in the Consumer Products Division.
“Asia has become the number-one region for L’Oréal. This is the first time this has happened in the history of the company,” Jean-Paul Agon, Chairman and CEO of L’Oréal, said on the company’s earnings call. He noted that Chinese consumers, especially millennials, have a strong appetite for luxury brands. Furthermore, there aren’t many local luxury players experiencing strong momentum, allowing L’Oréal’s Western brands the ability to gain market share.
Performance among L’Oréal’s various divisions continues to be highly differentiated. The Luxe Division performed well, led by its four major brands: Lancôme; Yves Saint Laurent; Giorgio Armani and Kiehl’s, all of which posted more than 15 percent growth, and showed strong development in Asia. Fragrance also experienced solid performance, most notably with Atelier Cologne. The Active Cosmetics Division posted double-digit growth at 13 percent, growing in every region of the world. Top performing brands include La Roche-Posay, Vichy and CeraVe.
“Asia has become the number-one region for L’Oréal. This is the first time this has happened in the history of the company.” — Jean-Paul Agon, Chairman and CEO, L’Oréal
Growth in the Consumer Products Division, which houses brands such as Garnier and Maybelline, is gradually improving and is up 3.3 percent. L’Oréal Paris had a strong start to the year, thanks in particular to face care, including Revitalift Filler and Age Perfect, as well as the very successful launch of Rouge Signature in makeup. Garnier is continuing its acceleration that began in the fourth quarter of 2018. Growth in hair care led the way, boosted by the success of Fructis Hair Food and the strength of Ultra Doux. Face care and a strong start for Garnier Organic in Europe were factors as well. The Professional Products Division’s performance is up 2.2 percent, growing in the U.S. at a steady pace, while the Asia Pacific Zone posted a strong increase, reinforcing its role as a growth driver.
“Despite a volatile, uncertain and contrasted economic environment, this positive start to the year gives us confidence in our capacity to outperform the market in 2019 and see another year of growth in sales and profits,” said Jean-Paul.


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EASTHAM -- Emerald Grove, the Harwich company that already has a host agreement with Eastham to operate a medical marijuana dispensary, has filed a new petition seeking to sell retail pot from the same location, at 3 Main St.
Emerald attorney Philip Silverman, of Vicente Sederberg, said the facility plans to open next summer. A meeting with the board of selectmen will be scheduled in February.
In the existing host agreement, the town will receive two percent of gross revenue in medical sales from Emerald Grove. The outfit verbally agreed to give three percent of its gross revenue in recreational sales to the town if an agreement is reached for that. The town will also receive three percent sales tax from recreational sales.


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The second installment of Publicis Sapient's Digital Life Index Report reveals a growing consumer inclination for green energy, and fuel-efficient, high-tech vehicles. Furthermore, the industry is facing the challenge of intensifying the relationships with its customers in future mobility.
Future mobility is transforming everything, including the way we buy cars. E-commerce is already common in many buying scenarios, and even when purchasing a new vehicle, customers will be able to buy cars online. In an expert interview with Philip Beil of Publicis Sapient, we gain insights into what will change for car sellers and car customers.


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Cute robots, anti-coronavirus technologies, speakers, lamps, toothbrushes and various electric and autonomous devices were presented on Monday, as a preview of the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas.
The consumer electronics high mass opens Wednesday with fewer exhibitors and attendees than expected, with many companies canceling their attendance due to the spread of the Omicron variant of the coronavirus. Selected pieces.
Masque hi-tech anti-Covid
The French start-up Airxôm brought its prototype mask from Lyon, which protects against pollution, bacteria and viruses, including SARS-CoV-2.
Its white plastic shell, which covers the nose and mouth, evokes the imperial soldiers of “Star Wars”. Connected to a box to be worn on the belt, it contains an “active” filter capable of destroying fine particles and volatile organic compounds, that is to say pathogens or pollutants.
“It’s a fantastic tool to fight the Covid crisis, because with this mask you won’t need to do a fourth vaccination, a fifth and a sixth, depending on all the variants of the virus and all the new viruses that will arrive in the future ”, promises Franck Glaizal, co-founder of Airxôm.
“Classic masks are not 100% waterproof, the air passes on the sides. Our mask is completely waterproof and very comfortable, ”assures Trong Dai Nguyen, who is difficult to hear through the thick mask.
This Airxôm engineer specifies that the company is working to improve the sound for the next version. The current model is to be marketed in the spring, “for around 300 euros”.
“If we change our (surgical) masks every four hours, after three years it is more expensive than our mask,” says Trong Dai Nguyen.
Tired of suffocating under his anti-Covid mask, Eric Fouchard has developed a mini-ventilation system that is placed under the paper protection.
Called Aeronest, the micro ventilator from the start-up NewPadMaker holds in place thanks to a double magnet and is powered by a tiny battery, attached to a cord that runs over the user’s neck.
“When you take the plane or the train, it allows you to breathe normally”, indicates the entrepreneur to AFP. “It can also be used when you are working and want to prevent fogging from forming on your glasses.”
The speed can be adjusted as needed, he adds.
The robot that nibbled
In Japanese, the expression “amagami” means “soft bite”. “It’s a very nice feeling that we want to share with the world,” says Japanese entrepreneur Shunsuke Aoki.
Its plush robot, which looks as much like a cat as it does a small dog, gently nibbles the finger that comes under its muzzle.
The start-up sought to replicate this instinctive gesture of baby animals, with the idea that people could find comfort in it.
Shunsuke Aoki, for example, says he uses the companion robot while he is driving. “With the Covid, when people spend their day at home, it’s very comforting,” he notes.
Unmanned racing cars
Artificial intelligence technologies are replacing the steering wheels and the humans at the controls in the Formula 1-type cars that will compete on Friday in an unprecedented race.
“They are completely autonomous. It’s the software that runs the car, ”explains Paul Mitchell, boss of Energy Systems Network, the race organizer.
The computer system “takes the information from the sensors and orders the automobile to turn, brake, accelerate or pass,” he adds.
The machines will compete in pairs on the Las Vegas circuit at speeds of up to 260 km / h. The idea is not only to entertain, but also to test and improve this software, with a view to using it one day on the highway.
“Racing cars and racing in general are a perfect way to push technology to the absolute limit,” says Mitchell.


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|Our Goal Is 2% Inflation|
Warnings stated by former and current bankers and contained within their talks adds an air of thoughtfulness and caution to the discussion reinforcing their image of being prudent. The fact is all these heads of central banks, past and present, seem to say the same thing. and tend to reinforce the impression that any real problems ahead should be out at least a year. This allows the speaker to hide in clear sight by simply appearing cautiously optimistic. More notable than the musings of the former ECB President were statements from FED Chairman Powell in a speech recently which was considered a bit more hawkish than the market preferred.
|Our Goal Is 2% Inflation|
The manageable inflation goal of 2%. has become the "holy-grail" of central bankers, however, the 2% inflation target central banks have deemed optimum is not economically valid and is "based only on their opinion" of what conditions will best allow the economy to flourish. For a long time, the ECB and other central banks have claimed deflation drives or allows their QE policy to remain and is central to their ability to stimulate. The moment inflation begins to take root and become solidly entrenched to where it becomes a self-feeding loop their flexibility in policy is lost. What makes the future inflation argument more relevant than usual is that the average American has witnessed in the last 30 years, a growing gap between government reporting of inflation, as measured by the consumer price index (CPI), and the actual cost of living.
What the central bankers have conveniently brushed aside is that the formula that generates the numbers governments pump out was skewed in the 1990s when political Washington moved to change the nature of the CPI in an effort to reduce the federal deficit so nobody in Congress would have to register a vote that would harm the image of Social Security. For proof as to the real cost of inflation just look at the surging replacement cost resulting from recent storms and natural disasters. I further contend that inflation would be much greater if more money was flowing into tangible goods rather than paper investments and promises.
It might be wise not to become too trusting or complacent to the idea that inflation can be contained at 2% especially while deficits explode, debt builds, and central banks continue to stimulate the economy by printing money or that the economy looks good for the next year or so. In the past, I have put forth the theory that inflation could rule the day even if central banks are unable to keep the wheels on the bus and the economy suddenly collapses which is in truth beyond their control. If inflation does not become the flavor of the day the future may unleash, its sister, the powerful force known as stagflation which is also a threat to the average citizen and will devastate those improperly invested for its arrival.
Footnote; Links for the two articles related to this subject, the first about the CPI and the second focusing on inflation can be found below.


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Nitro-Net.com – Internet Marketing Services – A Global Marketing Group Company
Rand Fishkin came out with yet an eye popping study, saying that based on SimilarWeb data “64.82% of searches on Google (desktop and mobile combined) ended in the search results without clicking to another web property.” The previous year he used Jumpshot data which showed 50.33% of all Google searches ended without a click to any web property in the results.
Jumpshot is no longer around, so he was unable to use their data this time, but Rand said that the “number is likely undercounting some mobile and nearly all voice searches, and thus it’s probable that more than 2/3rds of all Google searches are what I’ve been calling zero-click searches.”
Now, a lot of folks in the industry are now asking for Rand to break down the data. What percentage of the data are queries for weather, sports scores, math questions (5+5), time (what time is it in X), what is today’s date, definitions or spellings, or fact based questions like how old is Obama. Heck some of those queries Google decided to show no search results at all on mobile. And if you look at Rand’s published data, on mobile searches his number goes from 65% to 77%!
Maybe there is a sign there? Maybe people are searching for local stores or restaurants, clicking on the local panel results, clicking get directions or clicking on a store’s phone number but not going to the local store’s website? Maybe people are searching for recently released videos that the publisher hosted on YouTube, which is a Google property? Maybe people searching on mobile are looking for basic definitions or spelling help?
It would be wonderful to get a break down on query intent here but Rand said he just wanted to show “all searches,” and not break it down because he wanted to show data for all normal searches. But again, do all searches warrant a click?
Here are some of the folks questioning the study but don’t get me wrong, I am grateful Rand did the study. It shines a light on Google and maybe, just maybe Google can give us more data – especially on featured snippet Search Console tracking. But anyway, here are some important tweets (note, the embeds are broken so I am including screen shots of the tweets, you can click on the screenshots to see the original tweet):
So just keep this in mind but I am glad Rand published this, it gets us all thinking about Google, fairness, studies, what data they look at, and so on.
Ultimately, I think Google needs to release more filters in the performance report in Google Search Console. At least for the featured snippets section, I’d love voice break downs, and heck, maybe even show by category what gets clicked on. Again, for most local businesses, restaurants, local stores, people going to their local listing in Google and clicking on a phone number or driving directions is the desired response.
Forum discussion at Twitter.


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If the numbers in a preliminary federal study hold true, U.S. highway deaths continued to plunge last year – when measured in terms of fatalities per 100 million miles driven - to the lowest level since the government began keeping records in 1921.
A number of factors have contributed to the decline, which has seen traffic deaths dip 25 percent just since 2005. These include better roads and signage and a crackdown on drunk drivers. But another significant factor is the continuing improvement in the safety of the vehicles we drive.
By using the latest in computer-aided design technology, manufacturers have learned how to shield motorists and passengers from the deadly forces of even the most serious crashes. Equally significant are the various high-tech safety devices that are finding their way into the industry’s newest models and which can help motorists avoid accidents in the first place.
“Our research shows that some of the newest forward collision avoidance systems, such as Volvo’s City Safety, are reducing collisions by as much as 20 percent to 30 percent,” said David Zuby, chief research officer for the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.
The 2013 model year will see some of the most sophisticated systems yet developed – and in many cases technologies once limited to only the most expensive models are migrating down to even entry-level vehicles.
It’s been more than 40 years since federal regulations began mandating improvements in automotive safety, with the seat belt being one of the first devices written into law. In 2011, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration added electronic stability control – which is designed to keep a car under control on slick surfaces or when it makes an overly aggressive maneuver – to the list. And the NHTSA may soon add rear back-up cameras to the list.
Credit ever faster microprocessors, along with the overall drop in the price of electronic hardware, for making it possible to mandate such technology. But where industry planners routinely resisted new federal regulations in decades past, these days manufacturers are likely to introduce new features – often as standard equipment – without pressure from the government.
“There’s an expectation on the part of customers for more and more safety equipment,” explained General Motors designer Bob Boniface.
The challenge these days, he said is to find a place to put all the various controls and sensors. The front ends of some of GM’s most advanced models. are “covered” with radar and laser sensors, he said, with many new models also introducing advanced video cameras as well.
The latest safety technology roughly divides into two separate categories: active and passive systems. Passive systems are those designed to reduce injuries if an accident occurs. An air bag is such a system. Expect to see some models, such as the 2013 Chevrolet Malibu, offer as many as 10 air bags. The new two-seat Scion iQ microcar is offering the first air bag designed to protect a passenger in the event the vehicle is struck from the rear.
Ford’s is expanding the use of its new inflatable rear seat belts, now found in several models, including the recently redesigned Explorer. According to just-retired Ford safety chief Sue Cischke, the devices are particularly well-suited for use by the very young and the very old because they can suffer internal injuries from the forces acting on standard seat belts in severe collisions.
The 2013 model year will also see a number of new applications of the most advanced active safety systems, which are designed to prevent accidents. A wide range of new mainstream products will add forward collision avoidance, blind-spot monitoring and active lane-keeping. The 2013 Ford Fusion will not only warn drivers that they are drifting out of their lanes but will also help steer the car back into the lane. If the system detects that the driver might also be drowsy, it will sound an alert warning the driver to pull over and rest.
Significantly, many of the most advanced technologies are migrating down-market. Cross-traffic alert was introduced only a few years ago on the redesigned BMW-7 Series. The system, which uses radar to monitor oncoming traffic as a driver backs out of a parking spot, will now be offered on a wide range of midline models, such as the 2013 Nissan Altima.
The redesigned midsized sedan also features blind-spot monitoring, lane departure warning and other systems as part of an optional technology package. The trick, explained Nissan product manager John Curl. was to use a single wide-angle rear camera instead of an assortment of much more expensive radar and sonar sensors.
Subaru will take a similar approach in 2013 with its new EyeSight system, technology it has been tweaking for almost a decade. The system uses a pair of stereoscopic cameras mounted on either side of the rear-view mirror to look out onto the road ahead. It’s a lower-cost alternative, the maker claimed, compared to the radar-based safety systems currently in use by luxury makers such as Mercedes-Benz and BMW.
According to IIHS research, the new technologies are paying off. The basic Mercedes forward collision warning system has reduced accident rates by approximately 6 percent. And the maker has introduced a more advanced version of what it calls Distronic, which can apply the brakes if it senses the driver is not reacting in time to a potential collision.
Cadillac is now working on a prototype system that could also steer a vehicle around an obstacle without a motorist’s involvement. And a number of makers – as well as tech giant Google – are working on fully autonomous vehicles that some proponents believe could be ready for sale before decade’s end.
The good news is that even the features now on the road are saving lives, but IIHS research chief Zuby stressed that because the typical American car remains in use for a decade or longer, it will be close to 2020 before most vehicles in the U.S. fleet have advanced technologies such as electronic stability control, let alone collision warning and blind spot detection.
On the other hand, he added, “As older vehicles retire and these technologies come into a broader segment of the fleet, we can expect to see the death rate continue to decline.”


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British video game developer Rocksteady Studios and Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment are developing a "Justice League" video game, according to Variety.com.
The game, which will revolve around Batman's first encounter with The Joker, will serve as a prequel to Rocksteady's hit video games "Batman: Arkham Asylum" and "Batman: Arkham City," according to the site. "Arkham City" sold more than 6 million units in the first month of release last year, according to the site.
A release date has not been set, although it would likely drop at the earliest in 2014, according to the site.
Warner Bros.' recently announced "Justice League" ensemble film is set for a 2015 release. The script is being penned by "Gangster Squad" screenwriter Will Beall.
The Justice League -- which includes Superman, Wonder Woman, Green Lantern and The Flash -- is featured in the video game "Lego Batman 2: DC Superheroes," released in June, and in the upcoming "Injustice: Gods Among Us" game, due out in 2013.


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Dropbox teamed up with Microsoft back in 2014, and since then many of the new features the company has introduced have focused around that partnership. You can now access files stored in Dropbox through Office apps, create Office documents right in the Dropbox iOS app and you can edit your Office docs right through the Dropbox web interface. Most of these features benefitted users regardless of what platform they used, but today's announcement is specifically for Windows users: Dropbox is releasing a native Windows 10 app.
To be clear, you could already use Dropbox with Windows 10 -- the standard utility that keeps a particular folder and its files in sync across all your devices already existed. Dropbox is targeting this new app towards tablet users who might not necessarily keep every single file in their Dropbox synced to their device.
By default, the app gives you a look at everything stored in your Dropbox, regardless of whether or not it's actually stored locally on your Windows 10 device or not. In that way, it's not dissimilar to the Dropbox apps for iOS and Android. What is notable here is how well the Universal Dropbox app integrates with the Windows 10 explorer -- you can drag and drop files from Explorer into this app to save them to your cloud storage.
If you're not running the app, you can still get interactive notifications when someone shares a folder with you; you can click the notification to accept the invite. Right-clicking the Dropbox taskbar icon automatically brings up a list of your most recent files. And you can use the "Windows Hello" face, fingerprint and iris detection features to unlock your Dropbox.
There's also a "quick search" feature in the app -- just start typing and Dropbox will show you files related to your query. And lastly, Dropbox is bringing some a feature that typically live only in its web view to Windows 10: you can add comments to your files and @ mention a shared user to bring their attention to something you're working on together.
While this app can run on any WIndows 10 device, be it a traditional desktop or a tablet, it seems like it'll make sense to run it on a device that doesn't already have the standard sync utility installed. Indeed, it's a bit confusing that there are now two apps you can use to manage your Dropbox for Windows, which probably explains why Dropbox is targeting this release to tablet users.
The company also says that this new app will be updated to support Windows 10 smartphones in early 2016; it will essentially support the same features as you'll find in Dropbox's iOS and Android apps. That's good news, though not a big surprise given how closely Microsoft and Dropbox have been working lately.
Update: This post originally said that Dropbox would have three apps for the Windows 10 platform when it launches its Windows 10 moblie app later this year. It'll actually just have two: the sync client and the new app detailed in this article. That new app will receive an update so that it supports Windows 10 mobile as well as the full desktop version.


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CRAVING PESTICIDE SUGAR CORN AND GENETICALLY ALTERED MEAT
Fast food is mind control, according to research, and McDonalds, Burger King, Wendy’s, Taco Bell, Chik-fil-A, and the like, they’re all GUILTY! They’re BRAINWASHING an entire generation.
Research teams at the University of Missouri-Kansas City and the University of Kansas Medical Center suggests that a child’s brain can be imprinted with logos.
Remember Joe Camel, the cigarette logo that nearly every child recognized and thought was COOL?!
Yes, it’s just like that, but worse. Kids think fast food is a treat. Some kids eat happy meals, or deal meals, and leave the toxic meat and potato stores with a belly full of cancer causing, obesity causing toxic, hormone laden, hfcs laden, antibiotic laden, GMO pesticide laden food “product.”
A current television commercial from the Corn Refiners Association touts the equality of high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) to cane sugar. It claims, “When it comes to corn sugar or cane sugar, your body doesn’t know the difference. Sugar is sugar.” True, sugar is sugar, but it certainly is not HFCS, a highly processed sweetener that is linked to obesity and a host of other health problems. This, undoubtedly, is the reason for the marketing strategy of changing its name to corn sugar, an attempt to have consumers believe that all sugar is created equal.
FOOD PRODUCTS FOR CANCER:
This study called the “Neuro-economics of Controversial Food Technologies,” found that so-called reward processing centers and regions of the brain devoted to driving and/or controlling appetite jumped with activity when the kids saw the fast food logos! It’s like Pavlov’s dogs, just ring that bell!
This is pathetic. Kids beg for the sugar too. They beg for the radiated salt. “It tastes good!” it’s subsidized by the U.S. Government. George W. Evil Bush subsidized GM corn so every farmer who bought into the scam could feed their livestock sugar corn cheaply! Hey, now kids are eating pesticide sugar and their brains are addicted to it too, not just their bodies. Obama hired the Vice President of Monsanto to run the FDA a few years ago too.
The one man who may be responsible for more food related illnesses and deaths than anyone in history, Michael R. Taylor, was promoted from US Food Safety Czar to Senior Advisor to the Commissioner of the FDA, a position which would enable the giant biotech company Monsanto to silently and legally feed cancer causing vegetables to every living person who is not 100% strictly organic.
I just love when I have a discussion with someone about toxic food or toxic medicine and they say, “But it’s approved by the FDA?!”
EATING PESTICIDE SUGAR CORN AND GENETICALLY ALTERED MEAT:
“The brains of children are ‘imprinted’ with food logos. Without the necessary inhibitory processes to aid in decision-making, youth are particularly susceptible to making poor choices about what to eat.”
These EVIL FAST FOOD COMPANIES are spending over $1.5 BILLION a year to market TOXIC FOOD specifically to kids, mostly teenagers. Makers of carbonated drinks spent the most; they were followed by fast food chains and breakfast cereal producers. Television was the dominant marketing vehicle.
Follow Natural News and the Health Ranger for updated info on this and more about corporate takeovers of good and bad food industries. Make decisions about smart food. Think about organic food. Do not let the advertisements and logos fool your kids. Educate your kids about how some evil people just want to make lots of money and trick kids into eating cancer causing food. Show them pictures and articles. They will read what is intelligent and interesting.
Show them this blog. Show them the truth. Tell them where organic food is. Teach kids how to garden. Start a private garden just for your children and let them take care of it, planting organic seeds and eating fresh, natural, pesticide free food! They’ll thank you for it, and you’ll be around to see your grand kids and probably their kids too. http://www.naturalnews.com/035038_permaculture_gardening_how_to.html


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Emerging from a Securities and Exchange Commission-mandated "quiet period" last month and on the heels of its $165 million IPO in June endovascular technology developer ev3 (Plymouth, Minnesota) now has plenty to say. Over the past five years, ev3 has been acquiring and developing a variety of catheter-based technologies used in the treatment of coronary, neurological and peripheral vascular diseases. Its cardiovascular products include the SpideRx, the X-Sizer, the Diver C.E. and the PLAATO. It also is developing a variety of stents used in the peripheral vasculature, including its family of Prot g devices and a family of balloon angioplasty catheters.
President and CEO Jim Corbett was eager to discuss the many new products his company has recently released, as well as ev3's future direction. "We have built what we think is a competitive advantage," Corbett told Cardiovascular Device Update when asked how his company has managed to thrive in a highly contested arena with many very large companies, including Boston Scientific (Natick, Massachusetts), Guidant (Indianapolis), Medtronic (Minneapolis) and Johnson & Johnson (New Brunswick, New Jersey) providing hefty competition.
"On the one hand," he said, "we're small enough that we're really innovating in fields [peripheral vascular, neurovascular and cardiovascular] that have not gotten significant innovation." But he noted also that the company is not so small that it should be considered a "one-product wonder."
Indeed, ev3 has been very busy, with 22 product launches around the world in the past nine months alone. "Over 80% of our sales will be on products that we've developed in the past four months," Corbett said, adding that for his company, "it's all about product flow." In the first five months of 2005 alone, the company has been on a roll. In May, it received the CE mark for its Prot g Rx self-expanding stent and delivery system for use in carotid interventions. The first human uses of that system were performed in conjunction with the EuroPCR meeting that same month. Also in May, ev3 received FDA clearance and the CE mark for the Prot g GPS large-diameter stents. These stents are 12 mm and 14 mm in diameter and come in a range of lengths.
In April, ev3 completed its PLAATO registry, a multi-center, single-arm registry designed to demonstrate safe, ongoing and effective use of the Percutaneous Left Atrial Appendage Transcatheter Occlusion (PLAATO) device for left atrial appendage closure in high-risk patients with atrial fibrillation who are not candidates for long-term warfarin therapy. In March the company received FDA clearance for the Diver C.E., a hydrophilic coated low-profile aspiration catheter for use in thrombus management.
ev3 was founded in 2000 by Dale Spencer, former president and CEO of Boston Scientific's Scimed division, with primary funding from Warburg Pincus (which formerly owned more than 92% of the company) and The Vertical Group. Since then, the company has been busy on the acquisition side, buying 11 other companies with endovascular technologies, including its majority-owned Micro Therapeutics (Irvine, California) subsidiary, which develops treatments for neurovascular disorders of the brain associated with stroke.
The company also has had dramatic growth in staff, from 12 employees four years ago to just over 800 today. And it's not just employee numbers that are growing quickly. In early July, the company reported 2Q05 revenue of $31.5 million, up 53% over the prior-year period, and $59.2 million in revenue for the first half of fiscal 2005, a 44% gain over the prior year. The growth was generated internally and reflected net sales growth in each of its reportable business segments and geographic markets. As an example of what ev3 says is its global reach, half of its 200 direct sales representatives are outside the U.S., and its wholly owned ev3 International (Paris) subsidiary gives the company a sales channel for products not yet approved in the U.S. while facilitating clinical trials abroad.
As part of its initial business strategy, the company decided to evenly distribute its resources between the U.S. and international markets because it found that roughly half the endovascular market was outside the U.S. In 2004, the business was split almost exactly 50/50 between those two distinct geographic areas. Because of this mix, Corbett said ev3 is "able to get quicker market feedback on our new designs. We're also able to get quicker commercialization which helps our bottom line."
Unlike firms that try to ramp up revenue at any cost in order to sell out to a larger company, ev3's goal, Corbett said, is to build a "vibrant, thriving, profitable enterprise." He noted that while the company could one day be sold, it was developed to be a stand-alone entity. Indeed, he noted that the company, thanks to Warburg Pincus and The Vertical Group, already is debt-free. "The story for ev3 is really about innovation through product flow and growth," Corbett, said, adding: "That's what ultimately will make us successful."
Stents, ICDs prominent in earnings reports
Boston Scientific reported acquisition-related issues last month, with deals already made. Its 2Q05 profit fell more than a third amid both deal costs and moderating sales growth for its coronary stents, but the company still managed to match Wall Street expectations. The company reported net income of $205 million, or 24 cents a share, in the April-June period, compared with a profit of $313 million, 36 cents a share, in the year-ago period. Sales rose 11% to $1.62 billion from $1.46 billion a year ago.
The company said results were hurt by one-time expenses, including charges totaling $199 million in costs related to its acquisitions of TriVascular (Santa Rosa, California), CryoVascular Systems (Los Gatos, California) and Rubicon Medical (Salt Lake City). Excluding those charges, Boston Sci said its profit was $404 million, 48 cents a share, up 7% from an adjusted profit of $377 million, or 44 cents a share, in the year-ago quarter. The most recent quarter's performance matched the consensus estimate of analysts surveyed by Thomson Financial.
Worldwide sales of coronary stents rose 7% from $652 million a year ago to $700 million, a much more modest gain than the 345% increase in stent sales for all of 2004 compared with 2003. Worldwide sale of the Taxus paclitaxel drug-eluting stent (DES) systems were $663 million, an increase of 11% over a year ago. U.S. sales of the Taxus Express systems were $460 million.
Paul LaViolette, chief operating officer, said during an analyst conference call that the next-generation DES, the Taxus Libert , continues to perform "extremely well" in a limited release outside the U.S. He noted, in most cases, a very rapid conversion to the Libert from the older Express models, and predicted CE-marking for the Libert later this summer.
In the U.S., the company completed enrollment in its ATLAS clinical trial in April, a study designed to support FDA approval of the Libert system. It anticipates U.S. approval in mid-2006, LaViolette said, with the company recently commencing its modular submission to the FDA for that system.
Johnson & Johnson also reported 2Q results in mid-July, recording higher growth in its medical device sector than in pharmaceuticals which were hurt by competition from generics and the Cypher drug-eluting stent taking market share from Boston Sci's Taxus DES. Cypher moved from a share of somewhat over 30% to about 40% in that market, the company said. Sales of the Cypher DES from J&J's Cordis (Miami Lakes, Florida) unit rose 53% to $1 billion, with quarterly U.S. sales of $320 million.
Overall, sales of medical devices and diagnostics by J&J companies rose nearly 20% to $4.9 billion, with strong performance across all major products, including Cypher, orthopedic and spinal devices, wound care products, blood glucose monitoring devices and contact lenses. J&J has bucked the recent trend among drug-makers of divesting businesses to focus solely on highly profitable prescription drugs. Its decades-long philosophy borne out, it said, by the 2Q report is that the expanded performance of medical devices and consumer goods will buffer drug sales slowdowns.
J&J raised its full-year earnings forecast to a range of $3.44 to $3.47 a share, up as much as 12% from 2004. It previously forecast 2005 profit of $3.41 to $3.43 a share.
St. Jude Medical (St. Paul, Minnesota) reported higher-than-expected quarterly earnings last month and raised its outlook for the full year, citing continued robust sales of its implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs). During an earnings conference call, President and CEO Daniel Starks said the company secured 17% of the global market for ICDs in 2Q05, up from 11% a year ago. He forecast ICD sales growing some 20% and that the company would continue to win share in this important and fast-growing market. St. Jude competes with Medtronic and Guidant, both having to recall certain of their ICDs during the first half of the year because of various problems.
"Our guidance does not assume some huge shift in competitive dynamics tied to any of our competitors' special circumstances," Starks said, adding that 2Q05 ICD sales surged 92% over year-ago levels. And he added that the company faces no constraints should it need to increase ICD production.
In the latest quarter, St. Jude reported net earnings of $101 million, or 27 cents a diluted share, compared with $99 million, or 27 cents a diluted share, a year ago. An increase in discretionary spending and acquisition related charges offset the jump in ICD sales. The company also took a charge of about $14 million for in-process R&D in conjunction with the April completion of its acquisition of Velocimed (Maple Grove, Minnesota), a company that makes specialty interventional cardiology devices.
Pelak moving to CRM start-up
After nearly 30 years in the medical device industry with increasing levels of responsibility it would seem almost counterintuitive for a man of Dan Pelak's stature to leave an established company that was being bought out by one of the biggest players in the business to join a small start-up company that hasn't even begun clinical work yet.
But that is exactly what Pelak, currently CEO of Closure Medical (Raleigh, North Carolina), is planning on doing after his duties for that company which was acquired early last month by Johnson & Johnson through its Ethicon (Somerville, New Jersey) subsidiary in a deal valued at $370 million end on Sept. 2. Pelak has been named CEO of a little-known medical device start-up, Interventional Rhythm Management (IRM; Durham, North Carolina), which has developed what it said is a "disruptive" technology platform for cardiac rhythm management (CRM) devices using interventional technology. He will join that company on Sept. 26
According to Pelak, the reason he is leaving the proverbial "sure thing" with Closure and its well-established new parent company to sign on with IRM, which currently has only 16 employees, is because of what he sees as the company's great potential. "This technology, once successfully commercialized, will save thousands of lives each year by offering therapy to patients who need a defibrillator but are not receiving one," Pelak told CDU. "It's one of the more novel, breakthrough concepts I've seen and I'm just delighted to be a part of it."
Prior to his three years at Closure, Pelak spent 26 years with Medtronic. During his career there he progressed through several positions of increasing responsibility in sales and marketing and ultimately served as vice president of cardiovascular marketing. His general management assignments spanned several divisions within Medtronic's Neurological and Cardiovascular businesses.
IRM was founded in 2003 and incubated by Synecor, which has offices in Durham and Menlo Park, California, to focus on the management of patients with arrhythmias, or abnormal heart rhythms. Getting a bit more specific about the nature of the technology, but still keeping things close to the vest, Pelak said that IRM is "developing a replacement for a standard defibrillator as we know it." He said that although "over time" the technology can be used to address patients who need standard pacemaker technology, "at the moment, the company has focused exclusively on developing a defibrillator type of product."
CryoCor IPO raises $41 million
Cryoablation specialist CryoCor (San Diego) last month raised $41 million in its initial public offering, selling 3.7 million shares at $11 each, at the bottom of the range anticipated. Proceeds from the offering will be used, the company said, to continue development of its cryoablation technologies, including support for ongoing trials, build sales and marketing capabilities, provide working capital and for other corporate purposes. CryoCor makes catheter-based products that treat cardiac arrhythmias, its cryoablation system involving the insertion of a catheter into a blood vessel that connects with the heart. The catheter then delivers extreme cold to help the heart function normally. The cryoablation system has been approved in Europe; the company is conducting clinical trials in the U.S. for the treatment of atrial fibrillation and atrial flutter.


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Yamaha Marine in May launched its XTO Offshore platform by introducing the XF425, a 425-horsepower, four-stroke outboard that is the company’s highest-horsepower offering to date.
“This is an integrated outboard system, designed to push the heaviest offshore boats and yachts,” said Ben Speciale, Yamaha Marine Group President. “The new Yamaha V8 XTO Offshore has 5.6-liters, tremendous thrust and 425 horsepower. The V8 XTO Offshore provides extreme performance for the biggest boats.”
The XF425 features a number of industry firsts and innovations, including the highest-ever compression ratio (12.2:1) in a four-stroke outboard, the first direct-injection system in a four-stroke outboard, a first-of-its kind integrated electronic steering system, Iridium spark plugs and plasma-fused, sleeveless cylinder liners. Also new is a clever exhaust system that directs exhaust gasses away from the propeller, resulting in a 300 percent increase in thrust over the company’s previous horsepower king, the F350.
Other notable features and improvements include a four-thermostat cooling system (two per cylinder bank) that ensures even cooling of internal components, a quick-connect hose bib that allows the lower unit gear lube to be changed while the boat is still in the water and an additional 3.25 inches of clearance when tilted fully up when compared to the F350.
The XF425 will be available in August in gray, pearlescent white or unpainted, for owners who want to customize. Available shaft lengths include 25-, 30- and 35-inch models. The XF450 starts at $44,000. yamahaoutboards.com
This article originally appeared in the August 2018 issue.


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Alleged iPhone 6 dummy hints at a very slim handset
posted by Daniel P. / May 08, 2014, 9:40 AM
Yet another purported iPhone 6 dummy has surfaced, but this time the rumor has a bit more meat to it, as the picture of the alleged design for Apple's upcoming handset comes courtesy of Sonny Dickson, who's leaked many an iPhone or iPad before with a good track record of hitting the mark. The picture reconfirms for the upmteenth time a svelte iPod touch-thin chassis, which rumors pegged to be a hair over 6mm. Such thickness would be a rather impressive achievement, especially if the iPhone 6 is made of premium materials like metal and glass.
lands a 4.7" display panel, as speculated numerous times before. The camera on the back seems to be accompanied by a single LED flash opening, but let's not forget this is a purported dummy unit, plus a two-tone flash can still be fit in this circular slit. All in all, it looks like a very thin and light device, in sync with Apple's current design paradigm. What do you think about this one?The power/lock key has been moved to the side, to facilitate one-handed operation that will inevitably become a tad harder if the iPhone 6 indeed
source: SonnyDickson (Twitter)
Posts: 3535; Member since: Dec 21, 2012
I guess that's the final design then. So many leaks already.
posted on May 08, 2014, 9:41 AM 5
looks like the Iph5c too me
posted on May 08, 2014, 10:49 AM 0
Posts: 1527; Member since: Nov 12, 2012
Does apple and HTC sharing ideas on design?
posted on May 08, 2014, 9:44 AM 13
Posts: 3902; Member since: Feb 04, 2013
Nop, but apple going to sue them, If someone made before or after apple, because apple is always first. U know ABCDEFG..... A for apple is first.
posted on May 08, 2014, 10:44 AM 7
Posts: 2540; Member since: Sep 03, 2013
Actually yes. They have a patent agreement with one another. That's the reason the HTC One has beveled edges like the 5/5S. On that note though, other than the antennas on the back, this phone looks nothing like an HTC One.
posted on May 08, 2014, 11:40 AM 1
Posts: 1527; Member since: Nov 12, 2012
That what im thinking also..if im not mistaken they have ten years of agreement that apple will get 1dollar on evry htc phone that sold on all the phones that covered on the patent trial..just correct me if im wrong
posted on May 08, 2014, 3:40 PM 0
Posts: 29; Member since: Jan 25, 2013
since when is glass a premium material??? and what exactly is a premium metal? zinc is a metal but it's the exact opposite of premium... now titanium would be an extremely premium material and i wonder why no smartphone makers have tried that material yet...
posted on May 08, 2014, 10:25 AM 0
Posts: 3269; Member since: Nov 15, 2013
Titanium has high temperature melting point than aluminum, steel etc, which makes it cost slightly higher than aluminum, iron, steel etc... still its not that higher not to be use in flagships but company's wants to earn more profit so they are keeping manufacturing cost low by not using titanium
posted on May 09, 2014, 1:49 AM 0
Posts: 5498; Member since: Aug 05, 2011
HTC M8! Is it you? :D
posted on May 08, 2014, 10:31 AM 0
Posts: 328; Member since: Aug 15, 2012
guess that means apple sue HTC for obviously copying their design now... -.-
posted on May 08, 2014, 10:51 AM 1
Posts: 264; Member since: Aug 28, 2013
For all those people who are saying that HTC will sue Apple because of this design , this will never happen , both companies agreed a 10-years deal in which they can't sue each other
posted on May 08, 2014, 11:19 AM 0
sue for some things not all, if htc did a home button like apple and a carger port like apple, then apple would sue. apple made a deal saying i will not sue you every year and take your money if i can make my next phone look like yours.
posted on May 08, 2014, 3:24 PM 0
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The secret’s out from the ruffled feathers of Victoria’s SecretFeather wings, A-list models and pop music performances: it can only be the return of the annual Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show. The American lingerie and sleepwear giant brought the show back to New York’s Pier 94, after spending the past few years in London, Paris and Shanghai with the aim to make the brand a global name. From their first show in 1995, Victoria’s Secret have gone from strength to strength, bagging some of the best models in the industry to model for them. This year, however, there was a lot left to be desired.
“While the models may have made an impressive list of names, the same couldn’t be said for the performers”The Victoria’s Secret catwalk welcomed both new and returning Angels to the show this year, all gracing the stage in the Victoria’s Secret runway range. New faces to the spectacle this year included Winnie Harlow and Australian-Sudanese model, Duckie Thot. Harlow has been making waves in the fashion world over the last four years, such as modelling for Vogue Italia and London Fashion Week. Thot already has impressive credentials to her name, such as being a model for Yeezy and modelling at Rihanna’s Fenty X Puma show in 2017.
“It is unclear if Razek was aware that similar speciality brands have catered to representing plus size models in lingerie on the runway, with major success”While the models may have made an impressive list of names, the same couldn’t be said for the performers. This year the budget stretched as far as The Chainsmokers and Bebe Rexha, a far cry from Lady Gaga performing in ten-inch heels just two years ago. Swedish model Elsa Hosk was given the honour of modelling the Victoria’s Secret “Fantasy Bra”, a handmade piece created from Swarovski diamonds worth over $1 million. Executive producer for the show Ed Razek told the media that 2018’s show would be the “most ambitious yet”.Following the diverse range of models at Rihanna’s Savage X Fenty show back in September, all eyes were on the Victoria’s Secret show if they would follow in her footsteps. Despite selling underwear for bigger sizes, Victoria’s Secret did not include plus size models in their runway segments. Before the show got underway, Razek announced that there were no plans to feature plus size or transgender models anytime soon. Following up his statement, Razek added that Victoria’s Secret was a “speciality brand”. It is unclear if Razek was aware that similar speciality brands have catered to representing plus size models in lingerie on the runway, with major success. If Victoria’s Secret want to be “ambitious”, taking a leaf out of their peer’s book might be a good start.In February 2019, there was more bad news for Victoria's Secret. The company behind Victoria's Secret, L Brands, announced that 53 Victoria's Secret stores will close by the end of 2019. In recent years the lingerie chain had been closing at least 15 stores a year, as well as dealing with declining sales. While other lingerie brands have adapted to new consumer needs, Victoria's Secret remained hesitant on changing the status quo. A few famous faces and a Fantasy Bra in small sizes are no longer enough to fit the bill.


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PUMA and Dunkin’ have teamed up to create a special collaboration inspired by America’s favorite iced coffee, which includes two limited-edition footwear versions.
The legendary GV Special and the Triple basketball sneaker are included in the all-new PUMA x Dunkin’ collaboration. Bold co-branding, unmistakable bursts of pink and orange, and elements reminiscent of Dunkin’s signature iced coffee cup characterize the silhouettes.
The designs will be available on PUMA.com, as well as at the PUMA NYC flagship store and Dick’s Sporting Goods, beginning on Dunkin’s “Iced Coffee Day,” Wednesday, May 25.
Dunkin’ Donuts Ice Coffee Day was developed to offer delight to children in local hospitals around the United States. To commemorate the occasion, the companies have donated PUMA x Dunkin’ sneaker models to hospitals across the country.
You can see the new sneaker below.


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Continental has laid out plans to lay off thousands of employees in its automotive division. The job cuts will take place worldwide to reduce costs by about $428 million. The German manufacturer is yet to confirm the exact number of jobs that will be lost but they did hint that it will be in the mid-four-figure category.
Most of the layoffs will take place in its auto division a year from 2025. The division produces makes safety feature technology, software, autonomous driving, and digital technologies for vehicles. This will be part of the company’s reported restructuring and sale of its ContiTech division.
According to the German publication Manager Magazin, the number could be anywhere around 5,500 with about 1,100 employees losing their jobs in 30 locations within the country. Continental Tire has more than 200,000 people working in its sites in 57 countries.
The tire manufacturer is yet to confirm the numbers reported by the publication. However, it has indicated that this will be done to help simplify and streamline its business and administrative structure across all divisions, including sales, production, and R&D. The Smart Mobility division will be dissolved and merged with other areas.
It’s good to know that the company has reported profit in its third quarter in its automotive business. It predicts that business will keep growing as demand for Continental tires grows next year.


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Carhartt WIP Store Zurich: Grand Opening
- Date published
Tonight we will celebrate the grand opening of the new Carhartt WIP store in Hirschenplatz, Zurich.
The former location closed it’s doors last week with our new store taking it’s place almost next door.
RSVP on Facebook.
For this sepcial occasion, a limited edition T-shirt will be exclusively available on the night.
Image #76324Image #76325


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Respawn announces the next pack of Titanfall DLC, Frontier's Edge
Respawn has announced some details of the next pack of downloadable content to drop for Titanfall.
Frontier's Edge will bring another three maps that takes the battle between the IMC and the Militia right to the very edge of known universe.
Frontier's Edge will ba available to buy on PC, Xbox One and Xbox 360 for 9.99 USD on its own or as part of the 24.99 USD season pass that includes all three packs of DLC for Titanfall. There's no release date as yet though.
- Left 4 Dead 2 finally gets an uncensored release in Australia
- Starting Destiny from a “blank canvas” was liberating says Bungie
- Driveclub PS Plus Edition will be an added extra for PS Plus subscribers in October
- Chris Roberts: Star Citizen does have potential on next-gen consoles
- Rockstar explains the delay to the PC version of GTA V
- The plan is to bring PSOne, PS2 and PS4 games to PS Now in the future says Sony
- Major Nelson reveals three new Xbox 360 hardware bundles coming this week
- Markus 'Notch' Persson: “I didn’t have the connection to my fans I thought I had”
- Microsoft purchases Minecraft devs Mojang for 2.5 billion USD, Markus Persson and other founders to leave


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More and more information about China's legal digital currency (DC/EP) has surfaced. Compared with the low-profile research and development in the past five years, this year, especially since August, the central bank seems willing to reveal more information. This is undoubtedly a hint that we will usher in a change in cash, and the "digital renminbi" will gradually become more and more Clear.
However, the "Digital Renminbi" pilot and even the full implementation will not be as rapid as some media have described. On September 24, Yi Gang, governor of the People's Bank of China, clearly stated in response to a reporter's question that the central bank “has no timetable” for the introduction of legal digital currency, and that “there will be a series of research, testing, pilot, evaluation and risk prevention. ". Industry experts pointed out that before the "digital renminbi" is ripe, it needs sufficient and meticulous preparation.
The central bank frequently voiced the "digital renminbi" cautiously
Two years ago, at the beginning of the establishment of the Research Institute of the People's Bank of China, the legal digital currency was still a relatively illusory concept, and did not enter the public's field of vision too much. With the increasing availability of relevant information in recent times, the face of legal digital currencies is becoming clearer.
- Viewing the Supervision of Global Encryption Industry from the Regulations of Hong Kong Virtual Assets Trading Platform
- Li Lin talks about “industry anxiety”: How do we face uncertainty?
- Hong Kong's anti-acquisition new deal will take effect, and the "coin stock" of the fire currency will be renamed as a risk
- Market Weekly | Equity financing market is booming; XRP mid-week rose by nearly 25%
- Experts say that the blockchain is in the 2.0 phase of four aspects to empower the manufacturing industry
- In the past week, the total amount of Bitcoin’s large transactions plummeted by 97%. What does this mean?
Mu Changchun, director of the New China People's Bank of China Digital Currency Research Institute, is regarded by the outside world as one of the important signals of the "digital renminbi". In the past month, the central bank has intensively mentioned the legal digital currency, and this new thing has been pushed to the cusp of public opinion.
After August this year, the central bank repeatedly mentioned the legal digital currency. On August 2, the central bank held a video conference to deploy key tasks in the second half of 2019, referring to “accelerating the pace of research and development of legal digital currency in China”, and on August 10, Mu Changchun and the People’s Bank of China The Deputy Director of the Payment and Settlement Department gave a keynote speech on the legal digital currency at the China Finance 40th Yichun Forum and said:
"Since last year, the relevant personnel of the Digital Money Institute have done related system development, which is already 996."
On August 21st, the official WeChat public account of the central bank published the full text of Mu Changchun’s speech on digital currency. The simultaneous publication of a speech by Fan Yifei, deputy governor of the People’s Bank of China, was published in January 2018. The article on currency considerations. The ideas revealed by the two are highly consistent, and outline several important characteristics of the central bank's digital currency: the current central bank digital currency is M0 (cash) replacement, not M1, M2 replacement; the central bank does not directly issue digital currency to the public. The two-tier operation system will be adopted, that is, the People's Bank will first convert the digital currency to the bank or other operating agencies, and then exchange these institutions for the public. In this process, the centralized management mode will be adhered to.
More interesting information is that Mu Changchun started the course with the title of “Libra and Digital Currency Outlook” in the APP course, and told the public about the “unpredictable” digital currency in a more popular language.
At present, in addition to China, central banks such as Singapore, Canada, and Sweden are also conducting research on legal digital currencies, but the connotations and research paths of their respective legal digital currencies are not the same. From the current public information, only the digital currency e-krona proposed by Sweden and China's digital currency DC/EP have similarities in terms of attributes, all of which are substitutes for M0 (cash), but the difference is that China The central bank's digital currency is a two-tier operating system, while e-krona is a single-tier operating system, that is, the central bank issues digital currency directly to the public.
The central bank has been studying digital currency since 2014. The progress of related work has been very low-key in the outside world. Recently, the exposure of many important information has triggered high expectations for the introduction of legal digital currency. "Digital currency began to conduct closed-loop testing" and "7 market institutions participated in the issuance" and other news from time to time, but according to the "Economic Information Daily" reporter, some rumors are not accurate.
Yi Gang made a clear statement in response to a reporter’s question a few days ago:
"We don't have a timetable right now. I think there will be a series of research, testing, piloting, evaluation and risk prevention, especially if digital currency is used cross-border, there are anti-money laundering, anti-terrorism financing, anti-tax haven and 'know Your client's wait for a series of regulatory requirements."
According to industry analysts, Yi Gang’s statement is actually cooling the market expectations. The introduction of legal digital currency will be more cautious. The speed of promotion will be “faster or slower” and the rhythm needs to be grasped in the hands of the central bank.
No need to bind bank accounts without network
From 2014 to the present, the research on the central bank's digital currency has been going on for five years. “Maintenance of the centralized management model”, “M0 replacement”, “two-tier operation system” and “satisfying high concurrency performance” outline the general outline of “digital RMB”. However, such wording is too embarrassing for the public. The interpretation of the old and the younger is that it is as easy to circulate as cash, can be anonymous, does not need to be bound to a bank account, and does not require a network, "as long as the phone has electricity."
According to Mu Changchun's description in early August, the legal digital currency is “loosely coupled to the account”, which can realize the value transfer from the traditional bank account, and the transaction link is greatly reduced. The central bank's digital currency can be easily circulated as cash, which is conducive to the circulation and internationalization of the renminbi, while at the same time achieving controllable anonymity.
Fan Yifei’s article “Some Considerations on the Digital Currency of the Central Bank” describes the central bank’s digital currency in more detail. According to the article, at this stage, M1 and M2 have been electronically or digitized based on commercial bank accounts, and there is no need to digitize them again with digital currency. In contrast, the costs of issuing, printing, returning, and storing existing banknotes and coins are relatively high, and there are many levels of circulation systems, and they are inconvenient to carry, easy to be forged, anonymous and uncontrollable, and illegal for money laundering. The risk of criminal activity and the need to digitize it are increasing. In addition, non-cash payment instruments, such as traditional bank cards and Internet payments, are based on the “tightly coupled” model of the account and cannot fully meet the public demand for easy-to-use and anonymous payment services. It is impossible to completely replace M0, especially in accounts. In areas where services and communication networks are poorly covered, people’s dependence on cash is still high. The central bank's digital currency maintains the attributes and key features of cash, meeting the needs of portability and anonymity, and will be the best tool to replace cash.
"You can imagine a scenario like this: As long as you have a DC/EP digital wallet on my mobile phone, even the network does not need it. As long as the mobile phone has power, the two mobile phones can touch one person and can put a person in the digital wallet. Digital currency, transferred to another person."
Mu Changchun recently said in the APP course.
For example, Mu Changchun said that if you go to the underground supermarket to buy things, there is no cell phone signal, WeChat, Alipay can't use it, or you can pay for a flight on a cheap airline. In the future, you can use the central bank's digital currency to pay. The more extreme situation is the big earthquake. "Communication is broken, and electronic payment is of course not good. There are only two possibilities left at that time, one is banknotes and the other is the central bank's digital currency. It (the central bank's digital currency) We don't need the network to pay, we call it 'double offline payment', which means that both the payment and the payment can be paid offline. As long as the mobile phone has electricity, even if the entire network is broken, payment can be realized.
Zhou Tong, CEO of Jingtong Technology and co-founder of MOAC Blockchain, told the Economic Information Daily that the management of cash has three characteristics: one is anonymity, the other is to protect user privacy, and the third is that third-party verification is not required. The central bank's digital currency is an alternative to cash and will also reflect these characteristics. "In the case of anonymity, I went to the breakfast booth to buy things and pay with Alipay. Because it is a real-name account, my information is left. But if I pay in cash, the boss receives my money, but I don't know who I am. Zhou Sha said that the central bank's digital currency should be consistent with the anonymity of cash, but at the same time it must guarantee "three anti-", that is, anti-money laundering, anti-tax evasion, anti-terrorism financing.
Mu Changchun recently talked about how the legal digital currency guarantees "three oppositions" and said that these tasks can be solved by means of big data.
"That is, although ordinary transactions are anonymous, if we use big data to identify some behavioral characteristics, we can still lock the person's true identity."
Zhang Zhijun, chief information security architect at the World Bank, said in an interview with the Economic Information Daily that electronic payments are common in China, but the privacy of users is currently not protected. If the central bank's digital currency can protect the privacy of users, it will become the first choice for many people in the daily application of micropayments.
Technical "horse racing" business organizations are eager to try
For digital currencies, commercial organizations and the public have different concerns: the latter is curious about how the payment experience will be different. The former is more concerned about the “no pre-set technical route” made by the central bank, trying to capture the participation in the legal digital currency. Opportunities for research and development and even operations.
In public perception, digital currency is often tied to blockchain technology. However, according to the statement of the central bank, the central bank does not presuppose the technical route in the process of promoting the legal digital currency, which means that it does not necessarily depend on a certain technical route. The blockchain is just one of the underlying technologies of the central bank's digital currency alternative.
"We will adhere to centralized management, do not presuppose technical routes in research and development, and can compete in the market for fair competition. We can consider blockchain technology or adopt new ones based on existing electronic payments. Technology, fully mobilize the enthusiasm and creativity of the market, we have also established a mechanism compatible with the incentives of market institutions." Yi Gang said at the press conference on the 24th.
“Like the promotion of POS cash registers across the country, this is a big project. If we adopt a holistic approach that allows many private organizations to participate in the construction of this ecosystem, then the country needs to develop appropriate technical standards and In compliance with the requirements, participants must meet these requirements before they can enter the market. If the work is done well and the legal digital currency is just replacing cash, the financial risk it brings should be relatively small." Zhang Zhijun said.
As mentioned above, the central bank encourages technology “horse racing”, market competition is preferred, and the bottom line and standards are also defined. Mu Changchun said, "Any kind of technical route, the central bank can adapt, the premise is that your technical route must meet certain thresholds, such as at least to meet high concurrent demand, at least 300,000 pens / second." Mu Changchun said that such The threshold requirement is to meet the high concurrency performance required by retail.
Zhang Zhijun said that the standard of 300,000 pens per second of concurrency should be said to be quite high. He said that such a high speed general blockchain technology can not be achieved, because the blockchain needs to pass a consensus mechanism to record transactions into the books. Consensus takes time, so it is necessary to sacrifice speed in order to reach consensus. Some consensus algorithms in the coalition chain can reach thousands of transactions per second. Such a high speed of 300,000 per second is either a centralized solution or a relatively unique distributed ledger technology that is likely to approach such a large capacity.
Zhou Xiaochuan, former president of the People's Bank of China and president of the China Finance Association, also said in a special lecture at the Wudaokou Finance College of Tsinghua University in May this year that the blockchain did not achieve a sufficiently large number of transactions per second (TPS) at the speed of imagination. It is far from supporting the payment system of retail transactions, but it can be used for piloting small-scale financial market transactions or other applications. It is understood that the blockchain currently being promoted by the People's Bank of China is used in two low TPS trading markets: one is a ticket transaction and the other is a letter of credit financing transaction.
The central bank did not publish a complete white paper on the operation plan of the digital currency. Some technical details are not known, but the reporter found in the interview that some private organizations with technical research and development capabilities have a high participation enthusiasm.
“I think that in the second layer of the central bank – commercial banking structure, the commercial banking sector, the private sector has the opportunity to participate.” Zhou Sha said that the general blockchain technology can not meet the relevant technical requirements, but in the blockchain Building some structures on the basis of technology, it is possible to meet the requirements of the central bank's concurrency.
Real landing is not that simple
The introduction of legal digital currency is unstoppable. It is an inevitable outcome of the development of digital technology and also meets the needs of the internationalization of the RMB. However, the landing can not be rushed. On the balance between change and tradition, innovation and security, the “digital renminbi” that “calls out” needs more time to prepare.
Shao Fujun, chairman of China UnionPay Co., Ltd., said that the statutory digital currency of the central bank will have a huge positive impact: first, to improve the efficiency of currency operation monitoring and enrich the monetary policy; second, to improve the intelligence level of the transaction process; The third is to effectively improve the efficiency of payments, especially cross-border payments, and establish an open payment environment.
The external pressure on China’s “cash change” stems from the fact that many central banks, including the Bank of England, the Bank of Canada and the Swedish central bank, are working on the development of legal digital currencies, while some commercial giants are accelerating the launch of cryptocurrencies. .
In June, social networking giant Facebook published a white paper on its virtual currency Libra project. According to the white paper, this cryptocurrency, which is anchored to a basket of currencies and promised to be exchanged 1:1 with fiat currency, is intended to be issued by Facebook with 2.7 billion users. Giants in different fields such as Visa, MasterCard and Uber will support it. It said that the payment scale will reach nearly 700 billion US dollars. In August, the US Patent and Trademark Office disclosed documents that retail giant Wal-Mart is applying for digital cryptocurrency patents. Although the cryptocurrency of these commercial organizations is still very difficult to settle in the short term, it has caused tensions in global central banks.
"More and more people think that one of the root causes of global economic problems is the dollar hegemony. There is a voice in the world that uses an official super-sovereign currency (such as the IMF's eSDR) to counter the dollar hegemony, and some unofficial Institutional companies, such as Facebook's Libra, have seized the market space after the weakening of the US hegemony." Zhou Sha said.
The landing of "Digital Renminbi" is obviously not so simple, and it needs to be prepared adequately and meticulously.
Fan Yifei’s article pointed out that the issuance of central bank digital currency by large countries is a complex system engineering. China has a vast territory and a large population. The economic development, resource endowment and population education of different regions vary greatly. In the process of designing and placing (issuing) and circulating central bank digital currency, we must fully consider the diversity faced by system and system design. And complexity.
"Can't be innovative for innovation, the introduction of legal digital currency, the need to build an overall support system, the cost of the public to Chen Yingxin must be carefully calculated." Deloitte Asia Pacific investment management industry partner Qin Yi told reporters that efficiency and The cost calculation should be a comprehensive consideration of the regulator after measuring the relevant gains and losses, explicit and hidden benefits.
"Security" is one of the challenges. Zhang Zhijun said that because the number of units and individuals involved is very large, the security of the various components of the system, especially the digital wallet, will become very important. Qin Yi also said that in the electronic age, personal privacy and data security are the top priorities. The implementation of the EU's GDPR last year and the huge fines imposed by EU and US regulators on Internet giants such as Google and Facebook highlight the importance that European and American regulators attach to personal privacy and data security in the Internet age. "When the People's Bank of China tries to implement digital legal currency, consumer rights protection, especially data security and privacy protection, should also be the highest standard in the world." Qin Yi said.
Wang Yongli, the former deputy governor of the Bank of China, recently wrote the article "The Challenge of the Central Bank's Digital Money Landing Operation", saying that if it is from the "digital currency exchange mechanism", "the preservation and use of digital currency", "coordinated operation of digital currency and electronic money", etc. Analysis of the details, it may be found that the central bank's digital currency is still running a big challenge.
As Yi Gang said, “There will be a series of research, testing, piloting, evaluation and risk prevention”. The “Economic Information Daily” reporter has previously learned that the statutory digital currency will be piloted in the early stage or in some scenarios, until more mature. Further promotion, from a sound perspective, will be a design for the pilot exit mechanism.
Zhou Sha believes that RMB cross-border payment and cross-border e-commerce may be a trial scenario because “this is urgent, and it is possible to try to push the RMB in some countries along the “Belt and Road” and some countries with unstable currency values. Stabilizing coins."
□ Economic Information Daily reporter Zhang Mo Zhang Xiaojie reported in Beijing
Source: Economic Reference


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Google generated $181.69B in revenue and is still going!
Updated: Aug 8, 2021
Despite everything that happened in the world in 2020, Google generated 181.69 billion dollars in revenue. Yes, BILLION!
It doesn't matter how uncertain the future can be, businesses are constantly investing in their brand and looking ahead with undying resilience. As if to say, "sticks and stones may break my bones, but a pandemic won't stop me." 🚀
If this is also your point of view and you believe that the future is full of opportunities, then comment "💯" below!
Statistics source: statista.com


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JERICHO, N.Y. -- Purolator USA has appointed David Borchik as sales manager of the company's Eastern District. Borchik will have overall responsibility for sales operations and account relationships, as well as for ensuring consistency of...
JERICHO, N.Y. — Purolator USA has appointed David Borchik as sales manager of the company’s Eastern District. Borchik will have overall responsibility for sales operations and account relationships, as well as for ensuring consistency of processes throughout the Eastern region.
Borchik has more than 25 years of experience in the global logistics and supply chain industries, most recently serving as president of Link Logistics NA, an independent transportation company specializing in export/import services. Prior to that, Borchik held a senior position with Maersk Line shipping company with emphasis on sales, operations and building account relationships in the global transportation and logistics arena.
“Dave’s tremendous experience in the logistics field will be a great asset both to Purolator and to our customers,” said director of sales John Jensen. “He has great insight into current practices in global supply chain solutions that will ensure Purolator’s status as the ‘go to’ provider of solutions for service to, from and within the Canadian market.”
Purolator officials say reliable access to the Canadian market has become critical, with US businesses increasingly looking to Canada as a source of economic growth.
“The Purolator name is synonymous with Canada, with excellence and with dependability,” Jensen added. “Dave Borchik is exactly the right person to steward our operations and help grow our brand in the vitally important eastern region.”
Truck News is Canada's leading trucking newspaper - news and information for trucking companies, owner/operators, truck drivers and logistics professionals working in the Canadian trucking industry. All posts by Truck News


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Server market grew at its fastest rate since 2010, say Gartner's mystics
Boxes fly out of the doors in North America, but sales still moping in Japan and LatAm
Hard-pressed server slingers have finally got some news they want to report – sales are growing at the fastest rate since 2010 and the value of them is up by double digits too. Has the world gone mad?
The worldwide market expanded by almost 18 per cent in calendar Q1 to $13.39bn, as unit shipments bounced 13 per cent to 2.66 million, according to preliminary estimates from Gartner.
Output equated to the “second-largest-volume quarter ever”, said Adrian O’Connell, research director, who attributed this to hyper-scale build-outs, particularly in North America.
The abacus wielder told us that service and bit barn providers stocked up on commodity x86 systems and there was also an element of a wider refresh taking place – Windows Server 2003 goes end-of-life from 14 July.
Intel-based server grew 13.2 per cent year-on-year, representing the lion's share of shipments, while revenue grew 14.5 per cent. RISC/Itanium Unix server shipments and revenues declined 2.9 and 3.1 per cent respectively.
The mainframe segment was up 95.1 per cent in terms of revenues, the stats show.
HP remained top dog in the global server stakes, despite growing slower (10.4 per cent) than the industry average – it still accounted for 23.8 per cent of total market revenues, albeit down from 25.5 per cent.
After knocking IBM down the pecking order last year, Dell kept hold of second spot with revenues up 14.4 per cent and market share dropping to 17.1 per cent from 17.7 a year ago.
As for Big Blue, which sold its System x division to Lenovo last October, revenues dropped 15.9 per cent and market shares came in at 14.1 per cent versus 19.8 per cent. Lenovo's market share grew by 6.5 times to grab a 7.2 per cent share of spoils.
The bounce in North America was tempered by declines in Latin America and Japan. EMEA was up one per cent in shipments but a richer mix of higher-margin products led to a 6.6 per cent hike in vendor revenues to $3.23bn.
“After a challenging 2014, the first quarter of 2015 marked a positive, if slightly tepid, start to the year for the server market [shipments] in EMEA,” said O’Connell.
He said cloud, digital business and installed refresh base helped out, “but the reality is that we are not seeing significant budget increases. In that context, and particularly with exchange rate pressures leading to price increases, a 6.6 per cent revenue growth is a strong result for the market”.
Locally, HP revenues declined 0.6 per cent, Dell grew 13.7 per cent, IBM was down 27.7 per cent, Lenovo grew from $7.8m to $231m, and Cisco was up 56.4 per cent.
The currency impact was clearly felt by some more than others. ®
Sponsored: Becoming a Pragmatic Security Leader


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President Trump has “indefinitely suspended” his threat to levy tariffs on goods from Mexico, after claiming a deal has been reached on immigration into the US.
Last month, the US President tweeted plans to introduce a 5% tariff on “all goods coming into our country from Mexico” on 10 June (today). The levies were set to rise throughout July and August if Mexico had not moved to “alleviate” what Trump called in a further statement “the illegal migration crisis”.
The warning surprised markets, coming seven months after the US, Canada and Mexico agreed on a new trade deal to replace the NAFTA agreement that had run since 1994.
However, on Friday evening US time, Trump tweeted a deal had been struck between Washington and Mexico City.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 8, 2019
According to data from the Office of the US Trade Representative, the value of US imports of goods from Mexico stood at US$346.5bn in 2018.
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US imports of agricultural products from Mexico totalled $26bn in 2018. The USTR says “leading categories” include: fresh vegetables (some $5.9bn were shipped from Mexico to the US last year, according to USTR data), other fresh fruit ($5.8bn), wine and beer ($3.6bn), snack foods ($2.2bn), and processed fruit and vegetables ($1.7bn).
On Saturday, citing unnamed officials from both countries, The New York Times reported the new deal with Mexico touted by Trump “largely” included actions Mexico City had in recent months already promised to take, such as using its national guard on the border with the US. Trump used Twitter to rebut the NYT story.
According to a report yesterday on the website of UK-based newspaper The Guardian, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, the President of Mexico, told a rally in Tijuana his government was “celebrating yesterday’s important agreement because it was putting us in a very difficult situation with these tariffs because we would have had to impose the same measures on US products”.


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Broccoli's Popularity Sprouts With Publicity
WASHINGTON - Watch out, George Bush! Broccoli is making a comeback.
After lackluster sales in the early 1990s, the vegetable once deemed by the former president as his least favorite is gaining in popularity.
One factor may be well-publicized studies showing broccoli sprouts may help prevent cancer because they are loaded with a concentrated form of sulforaphane, a powerful cancer fighter.
A second explanation is convenience, says Gary Lucier, an economist with Agriculture Department's economic-research service.
Full of vitamins and nutrients, the pre-cut and packaged fresh broccoli products fit right into the schedules of busy families.
"People are time-pressed," Lucier said. "They're always looking for ways to save time. Because broccoli growers recognized that, they came up with a range of convenience items, broccoli florets, broccoli cole slaw."
The Agriculture Department says revenue for the broccoli industry has risen 24 percent in recent years.
Retail prices for fresh broccoli in 1998 were about $1.10 a pound, a 12 percent increase from the previous year. Because of the renewed demand for broccoli, the fresh market price has jumped 27 percent since 1995, the USDA says.
The average American ate 5.6 pounds of fresh broccoli last year compared with 3.4 pounds in 1992, as well as 2.1 pounds of frozen broccoli products. The combined total of 7.7 pounds compares with 5.8 pounds in 1992.
The department reports 84 percent of broccoli consumers said they had purchased pre-cut broccoli florets in the past year.
Making healthy foods convenient has worked for other vegetables too, such as lettuce and carrots.
Lettuce, once sold just by the head, now can be found in convenient pre-cut packages. Baby carrots are packaged for that consumer wanting a fast but healthy snack.
In 1998, Americans ate about 13.6 pounds of carrots each and 7.4 pounds of leaf and romaine lettuce, compared to 8.3 and 4.7 pounds in 1992, Lucier said.
Vegetable grower Boskovich Farms in Oxnard, Calif., which leads the states in broccoli production, has seen its business for pre-cut broccoli grow in the past five years, company officials said. The prepackaged product at Boskovich Farms is sold to restaurants and institutions.
Copyright (c) 1999 Seattle Times Company, All Rights Reserved.