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Sainsburys has asked couples and families not to shop together in supermarkets.
With one day left until the second lockdown commences, the leading supermarket is asking shoppers to send only 'one adult per household' - wherever possible.
The store explained that the rule is to help shoppers keep a safe distance apart, as well as reduce queues waiting for the supermarket.
Any groups coming in are asked to select one adult to do the shopping - everyone else will need to wait.
Of course, this will not be possible in every case, and the supermarket has said children are welcome if they are not able to stay at home.
In a statement on their website, they said: "We are asking everyone to only send one adult per household to our shops where possible.
"This helps us keep people a safe distance apart and also helps to reduce queues to get into stores.
"Our store teams will be asking groups with more than one adult to choose one adult to shop and will ask other adults to wait.
"Children are welcome if they are not able to stay at home."
What other rules does Sainsbury's have?
- Greeters will be outside all supermarkets and busy convenience stores to remind customers to wear face coverings when they enter the store. If you do not have a face covering when you arrive at a store, their colleagues will help you find one.
- All Sainsbury’s colleagues have been provided with face coverings and all colleagues now wear face coverings when they are working on the shop floor and not behind a safety screen.
- They're continuing to offer priority access to home delivery slots for the most vulnerable customers, and based on information received from the Government, they've been able to contact over 600,000 customers and offer priority access.
- They’ve increased the number of home delivery and Click and Collect slots available and are offering 700,000 weekly slots.
Check how many cases of coronavirus there are where you live:
- They are now able to accept new customer registrations online for home delivery and Click and Collect slots. They are also now accepting new Delivery Pass registrations.
- For vulnerable customers who have been offered a slot and are unable to place their order online, they are offering a telephone ordering service and we now have five times the number of colleagues on hand to help with this.
- To reduce queuing times both inside and outside our stores, they have extended many of our stores opening hours.
- Customers are now welcome to shop with us at any time during store opening hours, however, NHS and care workers will still have priority entry from 7:30am to 8am Monday to Saturday and elderly, vulnerable and disabled customers will still have priority entry from 8am to 9am Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
- Customer sanitiser stations are in place so that customers can sanitise their hands, baskets and trollies at the front of our stores. This is in addition to our colleagues regularly sanitising all of our baskets and trollies before use.
- They have installed perspex safety screens in our petrol filling station stores and have extended our opening hours in many Convenience stores to 10pm or 11pm.
- They have launched a Volunteer Shopping Card to enable people to shop for others easily in-store.


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Mum and daughter to take the stage at fashion show with a difference
- Credit: Archant
It has been two years since Donna Cossey found the courage to have breast reconstruction surgery after attending a fashion show with a difference.
And now the 50-year-old and her daughter Luella Cossey, 18, from Sea Palling, are getting ready to take part in the More Than Just Fashion event themselves.
Luella said she would perform a dance number at the October 3-4 show, which is run by breast cancer charity Keeping Abreast, and her mum would be one of the models there.
She said going to the More Than Just Fashion event in 2016 had given a boost to both her and her mum, who was diagnosed with breast cancer about two-and-a-half years ago. Luella said: 'People going there can meet people who have been through the same experience, and get support. It was going to the first show that also gave my mum the confidence to have reconstruction.'
The show takes place at Norwich's Open, visit opennorwich.org.uk for more.

domain: news


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“Reuters” (http://macte.ch/y6t3o) reports that Apple CEO Tim Cook and Google CEO Larry Page have been holding behind-the-scenes conversations about a range of intellectual property matters, including the ongoing mobile patent disputes between the companies.
Quoting unnamed “people familiar with the matter,” the article says the two CEOs had a phone conversation last week. One source told “Reuters” that a meeting was scheduled for this Friday, but had been delayed for reasons that were unclear.
All this is part of an ongoing battle between the two companies. Apple has previously alleged that Motorola infringes 24 of its patents (21 of them with Android-based phones, the remaining three with set-top boxes and DVRs), while Motorola previously asserted 18 patents against a variety of Apple products (mostly but not exclusively iPhone, iPad and iPod). Litigation between the two companies has taken place in several different federal courts.
In November 2010 Apple sued Motorola, alleging that the company’s smartphone lineup and the operating software it uses infringe on the iPhone-maker’s intellectual property. The two lawsuits came after Motorola sued Apple in October 2010 for patent infringement. Motorola claims that Apple’s iPhone, iPad, iPod touch and certain Mac computers infringe Motorola patents.


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A coalition of 16 gambling regulators from Europe and the United States have joined forces to address issues related to skins gambling and loot boxes in video games.
A statement from the UK Gambling Commission explains the regulators have signed a statement of intent to “work together to address the risks created by the blurring lines between gaming and gambling.”
The statement further explains:
“Tackling unlicensed third-party websites offering illegal gambling linked to popular video games is a priority and the regulators are calling for the video games industry and technology platforms to play their part in helping crack down on these websites. Games providers must also ensure that features within games, such as loot boxes, do not constitute gambling under national laws.”
What’s the Problem?
There are two main issues at hand that have gotten regulators to sit up and take notice over the past couple of years: skins betting and loot boxes. Both issues are related, but both are unique.
Skins betting is most famously associated with an update to Counter-Strike: Global Offensive released in 2013 that introduced decorative skins for players’ weapons. Skins do not impact gameplay in any way other than to change the way the weapons look; they’re a purely cosmetic upgrade.
Skins, like beanie babies, have no inherent value aside from most being common and easy-to-find and others being extremely rare and highly sought-after.
CS:GO was developed in part by the Valve Corporation, which also runs the Steam Community Marketplace where players can trade skins with one another. The highly collectible nature of skins combined with a vibrant marketplace for skins led to the emergence of a virtual economy with varying skins being valued based on their rarity.
The one catch with all this buying, selling and trading of skins was that players had no way to convert their rare items into real money. Any money deposited onto the Steam Marketplace is converted to Steam credits, which are then used to buy skins. And when skins are sold, players receive Steam credits in return. Furthermore, there is no way to convert Steam credits back into real currency.
Thus, it wasn’t long before third-party trading sites began popping up to allow players to buy and sell skins directly between one another for significant sums of money. This is how skins became a virtual currency.
Eventually, the first skins betting and gambling sites appeared on the scene. Through these sites, players could wager skins on the outcomes of eSports matches and win skins. Traditional casino-style gambling sites also sprung up allowing players to win and lose skins. Any skins won through these gambling sites could then be sold off to someone else for real money.
In short, skins became a stand-in for actual money. Players (often times young players) simply used skins to gamble online. All these skins betting sites were completely unregulated and ultimately, that led to the skins betting scandal of 2016. Gambling regulators have since stepped in and many are looking to put an end to what amounts to unregulated online gambling.
Loot boxes have generated controversy because the concept shares certain elements with gambling. In an increasing number of video games, players can purchase loot boxes (sometimes called loot crates or booster packs depending on the game) to unlock cosmetic skins or in-game items that enhance gameplay in some fashion.
The issue with loot boxes is their contents are unknown until the player buys and opens one. In most cases, loot boxes contain mundane items of low value. However, players occasionally hit the “jackpot” when a high-value item is revealed.
Although loot boxes do not fit the legal definition of gambling in most jurisdictions, officials associated with a wide range of gaming regulators have expressed discomfort with the idea. Essentially, players are gambling by paying money to open a loot box with no guarantee of what they’ll get.
Over the past year, regulators have increasingly used the word “gambling” in association with loot boxes, expressed concerns regarding the addictive nature of loot boxes and pointed to the risk of children being exposed to something that is akin to gambling.
The UK Gambling Commission addressed loot boxes last year and determined they do not meet the definition of gambling as long as items acquired via loot boxes remain confined for use in-game and cannot be traded for real money.
However, the UKGC also noted at the time that “many parents are not interested in whether an activity meets a legal definition of ‘gambling’” and that it is “concerned with the growth in examples where the line between video gaming and gambling is becoming increasingly blurred.”
The UKGC made it clear it would be taking a closer look at loot boxes and other issues surrounding near-gambling activities in the future. That day has now come.
Gambling Regulators Joining Forces to Address These Concerns
Gambling regulators from Washington State in the USA plus 15 European countries have signed a declaration to work with one another and with game developers to address the risks associated with skins betting and loot boxes in video games.
UK Gambling Commission Chief Executive Neil McArthur put it this way in a statement on Monday:
“We have joined forces to call on video games companies to address the clear public concern around the risks gambling and some video games can post to children. We encourage video games companies to work with their gambling regulators and take action now to address those concerns to make sure that consumers, and particularly children, are protected.”
Details regarding how regulators will address these concerns have yet to be worked out, but the letter of intent explains regulators will be looking at the issue closely and taking action as necessary.
The letter also subtly warns game developers that it would be “in the interest of these companies whose platforms or games are prompting concern, to engage with [gambling] regulatory authorities to develop possible solutions.”
And here’s the complete list of countries whose regulators have signed on to deal with these concerns:
|Isle of Man
|Washington State, USA
Wes Burns has more than a decade’s worth of experience as a writer, researcher, and analyst in the legal online betting industry and is co-founder of OnlineBettingSites.com. Wes approaches his work from the viewpoint of players.


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Consumers may be about to get more options for the color natural wool products as Chinese scientists have used gene editing to alter the coat colors of sheep.
The researchers in Urumqi, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, have bred five sheep with different colors with the technique, known as CRISPR-Cas9.
At the Xinjiang Academy of Zootechnical Science, the sheep are eye-catching: Two of them carry black and white fur like cows, two of them are black with white spots like spotty dogs, while the other is brown and white like unstirred cappuccino.
“The lambs, born in March, have become our lovely pets,” said Liu Mingjun, head of the research team.
According to Liu, this is the first time that scientists have altered the coat colors of large animals via CRISPR-Cas9. Previous experiments on color alteration have been limited to mice.
With CRISPR-Cas9, consumers may purchase more wool products of various colors with no dye needed, and pet keepers can also order their pets with customized fur coloring, he said.
Liu’s team selected ASIP, a key gene affecting the color of sheep fleece, to edit for the desired colors.
CRISPR, short for clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats, was chosen as the 2015 Breakthrough of the Year by the U.S. journal Science as it acts as a type of molecular scissors able to selectively trim away unwanted genome parts and replace them with new DNA stretches. Cas9 is a specific kind of CRISPR-associated protein, with which genetic patterns can be altered by genome modification.
“The application to large animals indicates more strains of animals, not limited to livestock, will be developed via the approach, with different patterns not limited to coat colors,” according to Liu.
“Compared with traditional gene mutation approaches in which researchers take decades to breed a new strain, gene editing is more much effective,” he said.
His team last year designed 38 sheep that outperformed ordinary ones in muscle and wool growth. These sheep will be further studied for genetic stability during reproduction this fall.


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Emerging Technology News
Emerging Technology news continually updated from thousands of sources around the net.
43 min ago | The Winnipeg Free Press
Group tours sound easy: Choose a destination and the tour company plans your trip, delivering you to hotels, restaurants and attractions.
2 hrs ago | SiliconValley.com
Facebook turned in another strong financial performance in its second quarter, as profit soared and revenue beat Wall Street expectations for the ninth consecutive quarter.
5 hrs ago | Network World
Mozilla yesterday released Firefox 31, patching 14 vulnerabilities, debuting a search box on the new tab page and adding a Google-provided service that detects and blocks known malicious files before they're downloaded.
10 hrs ago | The News
Canada's biggest telecom company, BCE Inc., is buying the stake in Bell Aliant that it doesn't already own for $3.95 billion in cash and stock, but will keep the brand's presence in Atlantic Canada.
10 hrs ago | National Public Radio
But the tech industry warns the measure could threaten the privacy of the deceased.
13 hrs ago | ComputerWorld
Wireless broadband subscriptions now outnumber people in seven countries as consumers continue to snap up smartphones and tablets, according to a new report.
Eliminating cash crunches for companies with slow-paying customers has been big business for Taulia Inc .
By PAUL ANDERSON City News Service The proof that a 55-year-old man murdered his roommate because "if he couldn't have her no one could" lies in his online searches for information on the time it takes for a body to decompose and the location of the victim's grave in Modjeska Canyon, a prosecutor told jurors today.
Yahoo Japan launched a new service uniquely designed to serve the country's large population of elderly people, by tidying up their digital footprints after they die.
Google is trying out a new Google Maps feature said to provide users with more information about their destinations, or about nearby points of interest, reports say.
Powered by Quantenna's award-winning QSR1000 4x4 Multi-User Multiple Input Multiple Output chipset, the ASUS RT-AC87 offers unparalleled speed and range for a superior wireless experience.
AppDynamics, which logs activity in computer applications used by millions of people each day, has locked down $120 million in financing as it looks to expand its online application monitoring and analytics platform globally, the company said.
San Francisco-based Flurry, led by CEO Simon Khalaf, is reportedly being paid hundreds of millions in an acquisition announced by Yahoo.
Google recently announced a new networking protocol called Thread that aims to create a standard for communication between connected household devices.
Email encryption startup Virtru has launched a version of its service for businesses using Google Apps, a market segment that the company thinks is showing increased interest in secure communications.
In its quest to help enterprises seek out and neutralize all threats to their Wi-Fi networks, AirMagnet is now looking to the skies.
Google may be among the hopefuls vying to turn the New York City phone booths of the past into "communication points" of the future with free Wi-Fi and cellphone charging.
Updated: Wed Jul 23, 2014 05:30 pm
Copyright © 2014 Topix LLC


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Google TV to come with OnLive as standard
Cloud gaming service partners with internet giant
All Google TVs will come with integrated cloud gaming service OnLive as standard, the two companies have announced.
The OnLive viewing app is already available for Google TV, with on-demand gaming to be integrated shortly, along with support for the OnLive controller.
"We're excited that OnLive will be making the highest-quality videogames available to all Google TV users," said Shanna Prevé of Google TV content partnerships.
"OnLive's groundbreaking instant-play service truly demonstrates the versatility and power of Google TV."
The move comes in the same week that rival cloud gaming firm Gaikai announced a similar partnership with LG Electronics.
"OnLive integration into Google TV is a huge leap forward for videogames," said Steve Perlman, OnLive founder and CEO.
"Consumers have come to expect instant gratification with music, movies and video. Now, with OnLive, players in the US and soon in the UK can just as easily stream the highest-quality games to their Google TV devices for play instantly on demand, without discs or downloads."


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Apple is working on bringing the new and improved iPhone 7 this fall, and Foxconn and Pegatron have already started mass hiring workers to begin production. But before the unveil, the iPhone 7 has been leaked heavily, and now back cases have been leaked attesting to some interesting rumours. There are also reports of a new colour variant.
The leaked back cases come from a company called Olixar (via MobileFun), and they reiterate a iPhone design form and structure similar to the the iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus. The alleged iPhone 7 iPhone 7 of the do not see any significant changes from the iPhone 6s/6s Plus. The iPhone 7 Plus back cover renders do reveal the dual camera setup at the back, fuelling rumours further. There is also an opening at the bottom, with three connection pins, hinting at the much rumoured Smart Connector. The Smart Connector was first introduced with the iPad Pro for connecting the Smart Keyboard Cover and other accessories like charging docks. This leak, however, suggests that the Smart Connector will only be exclusive to the large variant.
There's another flaky rumour that claims that Apple might do away with the Space Grey colour variant, in favour of Deep Blue. Macotakara reports that the Cupertino giant will kill the Space Grey variant altogether, and introduce the Deep Blue variant. It has even managed to gather an image of the Deep Blue variant for more credibility. If this turns out to be true, many Apple fans will be disappointed, as the Space Grey was the safest bet for many. Adding a Deep Blue variant might sound like a possibility, but at the expense of the Space Grey variant would have many fans frowning. In any case, this is just a rumour and should be taken with a pinch of salt.
The iPhone 7 is expected to come in three variants - iPhone 7, iPhone 7 Plus, and iPhone 7 Pro/Plus Premium. The base variant will finally see a bump up to 32GB, and Apple will offer as much as 256GB storage option with the new iPhone devices. Apple is expected to shift the antenna bands to the edges, and get rid of the 3.5mm audio jack. There's also an expected 3GB RAM bump on the large variant, to accommodate the dual camera setup.


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The Interior Design Society (IDS) gathered on August 6 at the Blackstone Hotel in Chicago, IL to honor the winners of the 2022 Designer of the Year competition. Emceed by Jonathan Adler, the event was lively, inspiring, and full of impressive design.
Interior designer Kathryn Crisp Greeley’s new book has quickly been elevated to Amazon’s Best Seller list. The book has more than 400 beautifully portrayed images that will take you on an intimate tour inside a curated cottage with its cherished collections and then out into its garden overflowing with the changing blooms of the passing seasons.
AmericasMart Atlanta and the Atlanta Decorative Arts Center (ADAC) are collaborating for the fourth consecutive year to create a dual-venue design destination, September 19-22.
The HMI Group segment of Hooker Furnishings has announced it will be rolling out its first ever warehouse stocking program, Portfolio, at the October 2022 High Point Market.
Full-line North American wholesaler and retailer Moe’s Home Collection has announced the launch of its user-focused wholesale website and improved customer journey experience alongside Robert Pearson, the company’s new CDO.
Furniture and mattress retailer City Furniture has been recognized as Transparency Certified by Transpaency Global, a company with a mission to accelerate the world's adoption of transparency.
Dallas Market Center and ART, the creative home furnishings network, have announced the finalists for the 33rd ARTS Awards. The ARTS Awards is the premier international awards program dedicated to the home décor industry.


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The music industry’s business model has always been broken. For over 100 years artists have been paid a fraction of the earnings their music makes.
CoinStaker is giving away TWO tickets for the Blockchain Expo Europe, RAI, Amsterdam. The event will take place in Amsterdam between 27-28 June, 2018.
Fake News are everywhere. Most people have begun to hear about this just recently. What can be done to combat the mass spread of disinformation?
Have you heard of DApps? DApps are decentralized applications. They are applications that run on a peer to peer network of computers rather than a single computer.
Last year’s bitcoin run was nothing short of phenomenal; in just under one year the currency came from just under $1000 to a record-setting $20,000. Now what the world believed was legit trading and an incredible run from the currency might just have been manipulated by cryptocurrency exchange Bitfinex and digital currency Tether. A 66-page […]
The Bahamas is set to host the country’s first cryptocurrencies and blockchain conference to be held on June 20-22 at the Grand Lucayan resort. The island country has shown much interest in the industry with the Minister of State for Grand Bahama, Senator Kwasi Thompson, confirming the event. He has also encouraged Bahamians to sign […]
CoinStaker is giving away TWO tickets for the F50 Synergy Blockchain Summit, Palo Alto, CA. The event will take place in Palo Alto on June 25th, 2018.
The market turns into a Bears Market when prices fall, due to fear, uncertainty and doubt (FUD), also pessimism and extreme hold of assets. When a market…


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Boursin has unveiled its first ever plant-based alternative to cheese - Boursin Plant-Based Garlic & Herbs.
Boursin Plant will be available to retailers nationwide from February 2022 in cases of 6 x 130g (rrp £3). The launch will be supported by integrated marketing and PR activities, including strong shopper marketing activities both in-store and online to drive visibility at the point of purchase and unlock trial.
Senior brand manager at Boursin Celina Leroyer said: “The plant-based market has grown substantially in the past year, and Boursin Plant-Based has been developed following the identification of a gap in the market for speciality options. The launch fuels Boursin’s NPD pipeline with products meeting ever-evolving consumer needs; delivering a brand-new taste experience for those seeking plant-based alternatives to cheese, Boursin Plant-Based delivers the delicious Boursin-inspired taste consumers know and love, without compromising on indulgence and delicious flavour.”


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Wayne Barrow released a 3,000-piece NFT collection on Tuesday afternoon, first to a list of dedicated fans and then to the general public. The collection uses algorithms to bring back the late icon’s signature looks. The Notorious NFT is based on the idea that the best way to keep an artist alive is to keep them in your digital wallet, not in your heart.
For those who support it, this is a chance to show what Biggie was all about in a way that even the most raw bootleg can’t. However, as with so many things on the web3, not everyone will see the upside.
Wayne Barrow, a longtime friend of the rapper who now helps manage his estate, said, “This is a chance to give fans a piece of his legacy instead of just pushing the legacy on them.” “Web3 is great because you can take part instead of just buying what someone else is selling.”
Barrow said that the big deal of the drop isn’t even the digital art. It’s membership in a collective that will give people the power to decide what happens to the “Fulton Street Freestyle.” This is a famous viral video of 17-year-old Christopher Wallace making up lyrics on a Brooklyn street corner while crowds cheered.
The show has never been licensed to anyone else. But the 3,000 people who own NFT will get to decide if anyone who pays to use it as a sample or in other works that are based on it can do so. Members might even make money from this sale, but the details haven’t been worked out yet.
The drop is called “Sky’s the Limit,” which is a reference to Biggie Smalls’s posthumous 1997 hit about dreaming big. It’s also a subtle nod to how far technology has come since the song’s time, when he was the only person with a cell phone.
Biggie died 25 years ago. He was shot after a party for people in the music business in Los Angeles. This was because of a feud with Tupac Shakur, who had been killed months before. The after-death party and market economy started almost right away, with the release of “Life After Death” going diamond (10 million copies).
Since then, it hasn’t slowed down much. A few years ago, that famous crown sold for a record $600,000, which gave it a boost. This year, when Biggie would have turned 50, the Empire State Building was lit up in his colors, and Combs’ record label put out a deluxe box set of “Life After Death.”
But nothing gets people to buy like a web3 commercial. Barrow, businessman Elliot Osagie, and Biggie’s mother, Voletta Wallace, recently got together with OneOf, an NFT company co-founded by Quincy Jones that has already auctioned off an NFT of an unreleased Whitney Houston demo track.
OneOf took a number of Biggie’s well-known looks and changed them to fit the NFT. It is a “generative drop,” which means that an AI takes a few templates and makes small changes to them to make new images. For example, it might change the color of the background. The organizers worked with the animation company Seriously Fun, so there is no artist in the traditional sense.
To figure out who gets to go first, fans who showed how much they cared made a “allow list” for the two-hour presale. Backers say they didn’t want too many speculators who would drive up the price in the future, but they admit that this is almost certain to happen (and perhaps desirable).
Biggie was known for his laid-back, deep-voiced rapping style, in which he talked about his struggles, praised his goals, and celebrated his successes (and excesses). His music said things about class, crime, wealth, death, and other things that had never been said in rap before. This is one reason why the Source and many others called him the best rapper of all time.
Even simple pictures, like one of Biggie holding a bag of cash, say something about his music, say the organizers.
The creative director of OneOf, Christopher Sealey, said, “Everything has a story, and it’s not always the story people understand.” “We have one of Biggie holding a bag of cash. We included it not because he was talking about money, but because if you talk to his neighbors even now, they’ll all say how generous he was in the community.”
Voletta Wallace said that the NFT was a way to “honor my son Christopher.” It will give fans “a chance to show how much they love him and his music,” she said in a previous statement.
The Whitney Houston demo that OneOf made was sold to a single buyer for almost $1 million. Grimes also sold a collection for almost $6 million, but the value of that collection went down afterward. At $100 each, this will bring in $300,000, which is less money and maybe less trouble.
Not every musician NFT gets off the ground right away. Just 3% of the singer Chris Brown’s new album sold in the first week after it came out last month. But on Tuesday night, Sealey said that the amount of Biggie’s NFT that was available to the public sold out in 10 minutes.
The NFT release is related to a project called “the Brook,” which is a Biggie “metaverse” where people can take on avatars and move around a world made up by his songs. It might seem like the future or a new way for people to tell stories together, or it might seem like too much brand promotion that takes away from what made so many people fall in love with an artist in the first place.
At least, those in charge say it’s a perfect fit for the rapper.
Barrow said, “When I think of Biggie, I picture a man sitting in his house and looking out the window, giving you a view of what he saw.” “He brought you into the story by putting himself in it. He also brought you into the story. So Biggie thought that the metaverse was already there.”
But what about the bubble of speculation that comes with NFTs? Is this a unique tribute? Or just a way to make more money with a lot of code?
Sealey said that the Biggie drop shows a way forward and stays true to the roots of hip-hop. “The whole point of hip-hop is to mix different parts of culture,” he said. “We’re letting fans decide how the most famous freestyle of all time should be made.”
He said that tech tools like digital watermarking, AI art, and the blockchain’s central idea can be used to do much more than re-release albums. They can be used to remake an artist’s work in the present tense.
Sealey said, “This isn’t a drop after my death.” “It makes everything happen right now.”


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Last year, many manufacturers had production and delivery issues due to different global industry disruptions. Some of them managed the crisis better, which gave them an advantage over their competitors. It seems that Toyota got all the little details right and this helped the Japanese automaker retain its global sales crown in 2021.
Toyota has just announced its results for last year and they are pretty impressive given the current chip shortage situation. The manufacturer managed to deliver a total of 10,495,548 vehicles globally last year, comfortably beating Volkswagen Group with its 9,305,000 sales from all brands. These numbers represent a healthy 10.1-percent increase for Toyota, while VAG saw a 4.5-percent drop in its deliveries.
In an official press release, Toyota explains “the effects of the spread of COVID-19 were less severe than in 2020,” which allowed the company to significantly increase its production and sales last year. However, at this point, it is difficult for the automotive industry to forecast how the parts supply trends will develop during the next 12 months.
Volkswagen Group, in turn, emphasised the number of electric vehicles it delivered last year. Through all its brands, VAG nearly doubled its BEV deliveries year-on-year to 452,900 units, which represents a 5.1-percent share of the German conglomerate’s total deliveries last year.
Gallery: Toyota GR GT3 Concept And GRMN Yaris
It is probably too early to give Toyota the crown for the world's largest automaker by the number of cars sold in 2021, though, as there are no final and full numbers from General Motors and Stellantis yet. Seeing how Toyota beat GM in the United States for the first time in nine decades, however, probably signals the way things are on a global level.
Stellantis sales in the US were also down last year by 2 percent to about 1.8 million vehicles, which probably means Toyota’s leadership is safe. However, we will wait for the full numbers from GM and Stellantis until we can make a final conclusion.


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While the election campaigns continue to rage on, the Pound Sterling has steadily strengthened. Looking back over the last four months, to the low point where the pound reached 1.07 against the Euro, there has been a 9% rally. Furthermore, against the dollar, it has risen by 7%. While the UK currency remains at depressed levels, suppressed by the ongoing political turmoil, the international perception appears to be improving. Investors now believe that the end is in sight, and with the fair value of the pound likely higher than its current level, bargain hunters are keen to open positions. Nevertheless, the currency remains volatile, highly connected with the political commentary and is not for the faint hearted. For currency markets, the election is another binary event, with a Conservative majority expected to be positive and a minority government or labour victory negative.
US GDP Growth
Data out last week on the US economy continues to point to steady and robust growth. The second Q3 estimate for annualised GDP growth came in at 2.1%, ahead of the 2% previously reported and the 1.9% expected. Furthermore, a surge in durable goods orders and strong jobs figures indicates that business investment and confidence is improving. Better business investment will be key to sustaining growth over the coming years, as it has been the US consumer that has held up the economy during this period of weaker global growth. As ever, analysts will now be turning their attention to the crucial holiday spending period which many retailers will be relying on. Struggling bricks and mortar retailers will be nervously hoping that shoppers will be visiting physical stores rather than continuing to shift spending online. However, with Amazon hiring 200,000 additional workers for the season, clearly significant online spending is still expected.
November’s Purchasing Manager Indices (PMIs) for the Chinese economy were released over the weekend. These indicate that growth in both the manufacturing and non-manufacturing sectors of the economy accelerated in the month. The manufacturing PMI increased from 49.3 to 50.2, suggesting that the sector returned to growth and was above a consensus of 49.5. A reading above 50 indicates an expansion in activity. The Chinese economy is important for global growth and these figures will be a relief for those fearing a recession was approaching. An improving Chinese economy will also stimulate other South East Asian countries with close trading ties as well as Europe, particularly Germany, which has significant exports to the country.
|Europe ex UK


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It’s been estimated that people with vaginas spend more than $24,000 of sanitary products in their lifetimes. Stigma surrounding periods is one thing, however, what is even more surprising is the fact that many people starve during that time of the month because they can’t afford sanitary products.
A 24-year-old artist and single mother Zoe created a piece of art from her menstrual blood.
To draw attention to this problem, she titled the piece, An Expensive Habit.
“Let’s be honest, people would not have been so offended, disgusted and outraged if I had used red paints,” she said. “Now that I have your attention, let’s direct this outrage at the issue at hand.”
“We live in a society where access to almost anything relies on your socioeconomic position,” Zoe said. “People are already struggling to access basic needs, such as food and shelter.”
Not wanting to give up on her studies to work, Zoe had no choice but to skip meals to pay for tampons. As a struggling university student, found herself in a particularly difficult position when she had to survive a period that endured for six months time.
She said “Regardless of one’s financial position, be it a result of bad choices or not, everyone should be able to access these basic necessities,” .
“Mothers should be able to go to work without having to resort to rolled up socks and toilet paper.”


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Tourism campaign touts safe, open Greece as anti-pandemic restrictions expand
Tourism professionals are finding fault with Greek National Tourism Organization’s (GNTO) expensive campaign on international media and social media.
They say its depiction of Greece as an open and safe destination is at odds with new restrictions being imposed almost daily to deal with the second wave of the coronavirus pandemic.
GNTO has budgeted nearly €3 million to promote its "Greek summer" campaign in media such as Google (€458,800), Bloomberg (€396,800) LinkedIn & Twitter (€272,800), CNN & Travel Channel (€719,200 together), Expedia (€372,000), National Geographic (€272,800) and Trip Advisor (€223,000).
The campaign is targeting 12 European countries plus Israel.


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Nepali farmers, agriculture experts attend training on organic farming in India
February 22, 2019 07:29 PM NPT
Photo courtesy: Indian Embassy in Kathmandu.
KATHMANDU, Feb 22: As part of India-Nepal new partnership in agriculture, the second group of 20 Nepali farmers and agriculture experts are currently undergoing a month long training at the National Centre of Organic Farming (NCOF) Ghaziabad in India from February 1 to March 2.
The first group of 20 Nepali participants had successfully completed their training at NCOF, Ghaziabad from November 15 to December 14 last year. According to Indian Embassy in Kathmandu, the main objectives for the training are – to promote certified Organic Farming for improvement of soil health; to share impact of organic farming on produce quality, productivity, soil health and environment; to ensure supply of organic input through establishment of bio-fertilizer and bio-pesticides production unit; capacity building in soil testing and organic certification through human resource development (HRD) of Nepali experts and farmers.
The India-Nepal New Partnership in Agriculture was launched by the Prime Ministers of India and Nepal in April 2018 during the visit of Nepali Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli to India.
Later in June 2018, Minister for Agriculture and Livestock Development of Nepal Chakrapani Khanal visited the Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI) at Pusa, in New Delhi and the National Centre of Organic Farming, Ghaziabad as well as held delegation level talks with his counterpart Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare of India Radha Mohan Singh.


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In a bizarre move T-Mobile has hacked the fair usage data allowance on its ‘unlimited’ tariff by over 80%. It’s a cut that even affects customers on an existing contract, and let’s just say, there’s a lot of unhappy bunnies.
How many times have you rifled through a mass of tangled cables looking for the right charger? Wouldn’t it be so much easier if all gadgets came with a universal charger – so just how far off that day are we?
Wow, it’s 2011. While you’re recovering from your New Year partying excess, have you thought about any resolutions for the coming months? Which? Tech has and they’re here to help make 2011 your best ever.
Hands up if you’ve made a New Year’s resolution yet? We all have our own goals and aspirations, but research into consumer trends for the year ahead suggests we have more in common than you might imagine.
We recently chatted with Facebook and Privacy International to weigh up the values and risks of location-based services. They’re all the rage at the moment, but is there a danger in sharing your location online?
It’s finally time to say goodbye to my brick of a mobile phone. Although you lasted a good eight years, it’s sadly time for you to be replaced by one that is younger, shinier, slimmer and more capable than you.
Ofcom says that, as a nation, we’re early adopters. Not only do we rush out to buy the latest smartphone, we’re also prolific mobile social networkers. And I think that means we’re ahead of the curve in life.
Apparently Brits are early adopters of communications technologies, like smartphones. But, for me, I think that this means many of us are paying a high price for such faith in new devices.
You get what you pay for when it comes to tablets, and £500 is a price worth paying for one of life’s computing luxuries. Just make sure you avoid the cheap imitations.
Stylish and slick, but overpriced. Wallet-friendly, but lacklustre. The current dearth of tablet PCs that can combine looks and functionality with affordability will put many people off buying one.
Contracts, tariffs, web data, specifications… choosing a new phone is a complete headache. But nothing hurts more than calling your mobile phone provider’s sales team for ‘advice’.
Don’t be fooled by claims of unlimited mobile phone internet or unlimited texts by many mobile operators. You could actually be left paying a fortune for exceeding your ‘unlimits’.
Getting a smartphone will change your life for the better even if, like me, you thought you never needed one. But now I’ve got apps in my life there’s no going back to my old mobile ways.
Poor battery life, frustrating interfaces and rising internet costs – smartphones are little more than an expensive gadget to weigh down your pocket. To me, this brave new world just isn’t that smart.


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Big Egg Scrambles To Beat Vegan Mayo
Newly revealed emails show that the U.S. egg industry sees a “major threat” in eggless mayo maker Hampton Creek.
In August, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration ruled that vegan food startup Hampton Creek must change the name of its Just Mayo spread (which does not contain eggs) because, the FDA said, products labeled “mayo” or “mayonnaise” must contain eggs.
The Guardian on Wednesday reported on a series of emails that revealed the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s national supervisor of shell eggs communicated with Joanne Ivy, outgoing head of the American Egg Board, about Hampton Creek’s product. The USDA employee suggested that Ivy approach the FDA about her concerns related to Just Mayo.
One email from Ivy to Missy Maher, an exec at Edelman PR, in August 2013 reads: “Missy, I am getting a lot of emails about this product from egg producers … (it) would be a good idea if Edelman looked at this product as a crisis and major threat to the future of the egg product business.”
The AEB reportedly attempted to have Just Mayo taken out of Whole Foods (which is still selling the products). In the emails, members of AEB also made joking threats of violence against Hampton Creek founder Josh Tetrick.
Speaking to The Guardian about the emails, Tetrick said, “I’m not entirely surprised that some industries that are lost in the past a little bit are fighting so hard.”
So why is Big Egg so threatened by eggless mayo? Mayonnaise is the most popular condiment in the U.S. by sales, and the U.S. mayonnaise market was worth about $2 billion in 2014, compared to a relatively paltry $800 million for ketchup, according to data from Euromonitor. Mayonnaise, in all its eggy glory, is used in everything from sandwiches to desserts.
The Guardian writes that AEB could be in violation of the federal law that created it, which says, “No funds collected by the Egg Board under the order shall in any manner be used for the purpose of influencing governmental policy or action.”
At the time of the FDA ruling in August, Hampton Creek provided this statement to Fast Company:
We had a good call with the FDA…. They get the import of what we’re doing — and why it matters to our food system. This is larger than a conversation about mayo, as innovation, especially when it has a positive impact, is important to them. We’ll sit down with them shortly, and are excited to talk with them about our approach. They get it much more than folks realize.
Fast Company named Hampton Creek one of the world’s top 10 most innovative food companies of 2015.


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Blockchain Association of Kenya (BAK) has filed a petition to challenge the legality of the Digital Asset Tax which comes into effect today 1st Sept 2023. The petition by BAK has been filed at the High Court.
Consequently, the court has set the 28th of September 2023 as the date for the mention of the interim Application.
The Digital Asset Tax 3% tax was introduced by the Finance Act 2023. The tax shall be imposed on the gross value of any transfer or exchange of Digital Assets. According to the Finance Act 2023, crypto, Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs),e-tickets, and potentially any digital asset holding value is subject to taxation.
Moreover, the tax will be due even when the exchange is via a barter system.
Digital Assets Tax Stifles Growth
The core focus of the petition is to thoroughly examine the legal and constitutional dimensions surrounding the imposition of this tax on digital assets.
In fact, BAK deems the tax a setback that may have a negative impact on the nascent sector and innovation in general.
“We are deeply committed to advocating and lobbying for a conducive environment for innovation while ensuring legal clarity. Our petition aims to address concerns about the DAT’s impact on both our industry and the broader economy.” : reads part of the press release.
In BAK’s view, the digital assets tax would stifle the cryptocurrency sector in Kenya. Kenya is yet to regulate the sector.
However, the introduction of the digital assets tax indicates the government may be warming up to the growing industry.
Currently, it is estimated that about 4 million Kenyans hold cryptocurrencies. In fact, Kenya leads in Web 3 adoption across the East African region. The speedy growth of the sector and the implementation of Blockchain has spurred economic development.
Notably, Blockchain technology funding in Africa grew by 1,668% in 2022.


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Online Orders, Last-Minute Shopping Could Make This The Best Holiday Season In Years
Want to get a jump-start on upcoming deals? Meet the major players at one of our upcoming national events!
This holiday season started out slow, but a surge of online orders and last-minute shopping looks set to make this year’s sales the best in a long time.
Estimates from research firms suggest sales from Nov. 1 to the end of December could grow by 4.9%, above the initial estimate of 4.1%, making this the best year for holiday sales since 2005, the Wall Street Journal reports. Experts say the boost may stem from higher wages, rising stocks and lower gas and food prices.


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The Piaggio Group took the wraps off its latest scooter, the Aprilia SXR 160 at the Auto Expo 2020 in New Delhi, India. The Piaggio Group specially selected this event as it is one of the top international motor shows.
This new model is specially-designed for the Indian market. The SXR 160 will be offered above Aprilia's current top-end scooter, the SR150 and hopes to broaden the product range also occupied by Aprilia's sister brand, Vespa.
The SXR160 features an ergonomic riding position, oversize saddle, and flat footboard. It's fitted with LED lights, and a multi-function digital display.
It comes with a choice of 160cc and 125cc engines with 3V Tech FI Engine technology. These engine's are compliant with India's Bharat Stage VI (BS-6) emissions standards.
It rolls on 5-spoke, 12-inch alloy wheel rims and is goverened by ABS.
The SXR 160 will be manufactured at the Baramati factory in India. It will be on sale in India in the third quarter of 2020.
Before even being sold, the scooter already attracted enthusiastic response from the international media and visitors at the Auto Expo. It was named “Best Auto Expo 2020 two-wheeler”, for its innovative sporty personality, premium technology and comfort.
“Significant changes have taken place in Indian consumers’ preferences and requirements in the last few years,” said Piaggio India CEO, Diego Graffi. “At Piaggio we have performed extensive analysis and design work to understand and anticipate developments, and we proudly present the new Aprilia SXR 160, a scooter destined to set a new benchmark in its segment.”
Unfortunately, this model will not be made available locally.


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EUR/USD FUNDAMENTALS AND TECHNICAL
Pair closed last week’s trading session higher on the lack of any high impact events from the US. A comment from ECBs Klass Nnot saying that the central bank will tapper its bond buying program earlier than expected and it is time for the central bank to normalize its monetary policy, was taken as hawkish from Euro traders and pushed the pair higher.
As for this week we are entering into 2022 sessions with the holiday’s season ending and the return of liquidity and volatility back to normal. We are expecting huge volatility and new price set up for the pair this week as the first FOMC minutes of 2022 will be released and definitely will guide investors on the FED’s path during 2022. As it is widely expected the FED will hike rates 3 times in 2022. At this meeting no rate hike is expected, although, trader should be alert on the comments and points of the minutes. Non-farm payrolls are due to be release on Friday showing an increase in employment. From the European side Inflation is the main actor behind any price move.
On the economic calendar we have on Monday, US Markit manufacturing PMI pointing lower at 57.7 on Tuesday, German retail sales lower at -0.5% and US ISM Manufacturing lower at 60.2 On Wednesday, European Markit PMI to remain unchanged at 53.3, US ADP employment expected lower at 438K and FOMC will release the December minutes. On Thursday, German Harmonized index of consumer prices expected lower at 5.6% and US ISM services PMI lower at 67 On Friday, European consumer price index expected lower at 2.3% European retail sales higher at 5.6% and US nonfarm payrolls expected to show an increase of 400K new jobs
Technically, the picture is negative as pair continues to trade below 38.2%. If pair continues to trade on the downside this week and breaks and closes below 1.1300 (23.6%), will accelerate losses down to 1.1200 Alternative if pair trades on the upside, a close above (38.2%) will change the picture back to neutral and open the road to 1.1450. Our traders took profit on all their long position opened at 1.1435 1.1300 and 1.1232 and they are on a wait and see mode. We are expending short sellers to appear above 1.1435 targeting profits at 1.1200 and bulls to appear below 1.1300 targeting profit at 1.1450
GBP/USD FUNDAMENTALS AND TECHNICAL
Pair closed last week’s trading session firm higher on the lack of any high impact economic events and on the UK’s decision, not to impose any lock-downs. Although this remain to be cleared this week, as the surge in new cases is adding pressure on NHS.
As for this week traders will be focus on the FOMC minutes due to be released on Wednesday, and nonfarm payrolls on Friday. From the UK side traders will weighing on UK’s rapidly increase of infections and on any surprise decisions on adding any new restrictions.
In the economic calendar we have on Monday, US Markit manufacturing PMI pointing lower at 57.7 on Tuesday, UK Markit manufacturing to remain unchanged at 57.6 and US ISM Manufacturing lower at 60.2 On Wednesday, US ADP employment expected lower at 438K and FOMC will release the December minutes. On Thursday, UK Markit service PMI to be higher at 53.4 and US ISM services PMI lower at 67 On Friday, US non-farm payrolls expected to show an increase of 400K new jobs
Technically the pair is neutral after last week’s break higher and closed above 50%. In this week’s trading session if pair continues on the upside and breaks and close above (61.8%) will open the road to 1.3700, alternatively, if resumes downside and close below (50%), will change the picture back to negative and open the road down to 1.3300 Our traders closed all their long positions opened at 1.3546 and 1.3412 maintaining a neutral stance for now. We are expecting short sellers to appear above 1.3600 targeting profits at 1.3300 and bulls to appear below 1.3400 targeting profits at 1.3600
For more detailed economic calendar events please visit our live economic calendar on:
*The material does not contain an offer of, or solicitation for, a transaction in any financial instruments. TEN.TRADE accepts no responsibility for any use that may be made of these comments and for any consequences resulting in it. No representation or warranty is given as to the accuracy or completeness of this information. Consequently, any person acting on it does so entirely at their own risk. CFDs are leveraged products. CFD trading may not be suitable for everyone and can result in losing all your invested capital, so please make sure that you fully understand the risks involved.


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GameStop, Electronics Boutique Merge19 Apr, 2005 By: John Gaudiosi
There's a new video game retail giant nipping at Wal-Mart's heels.
Specialty video game retailer GameStop will acquire its only direct rival, Electronics Boutique, for $1.5 billion in cash (70 percent) and stock (30 percent). Once complete, the merger will make GameStop the leading global specialty video game retailer, with annual revenue of $3.8 billion from 3,200 stores in the United States and 600 international stores. It will also be a strong No. 2 in the game market at large.
“We estimate that a combined retail presence will have market share in the low 20 percent range, which would make it the No. 2 video game retailer behind Wal-Mart,” said Michael Wallace, video game analyst for UBS. “Strategically, we think this is a great deal.”
Headquartered in Grapevine, Texas, GameStop operates 1,826 retail stores in the United States, Puerto Rico and Ireland. Electronics Boutique owns 2,000 stores in the United States, Canada, Australia, Denmark, Germany, Italy, New Zealand, Norway, Puerto Rico and Sweden under the EB Games and Electronics Boutique banners.
GameStop, with $1.84 billion in sales during its last fiscal year, and Electronics Boutique, with $1.98 billion sales during its 2005 fiscal year, each account for 10 percent to 15 percent of new game sales in the United States.
“This merger ... will enable us to enter new international markets and allow us to compete more effectively in the highly competitive U.S. video game industry,” said GameStop chairman and CEO R. Richard Fontaine.
“This transaction makes a tremendous amount of sense from an operational, cultural and synergistic perspective,” said Electronics Boutique CEO Jeffrey Griffiths, who will remain with the new company in an unidentified role.
The post-merger company, which will focus exclusively on the sale of new and used video games, will have an upper hand in reaching the hardcore gamers ages 8 to 34 years of age, whereas Wal-Mart targets the more casual mass market gamer.
The merger also will result in significant cost savings.
“We expect that the combined operations could generate pretax savings of $30 million to $40 million per year,” said Michael Pachter, director of equity research, Wedbush Morgan.
Pachter expects that the Federal Trade Commission will review the proposed merger, since the two retailers have much of the domestic brick-and-mortar used-game market. That market, which allows gamers to trade in old games and systems for in-store credit to purchase new games, has seen rapid growth over the past few years, much to the chagrin of video game publishers. Analysts don't believe the government will block this merger because of used game sales.
Pachter said there are several areas that could contribute to efficiency gains.
For example, the combined entity will be able to consolidate store locations.
“Prior to the merger, each of the companies tried to capture market share from one another, and stores were not always located so as to minimize competition,” he said.
Another advantage, he said, would be more efficient use of co-op advertising dollars.
Also, the two chains will no larger have to compete with one another to chase a sometimes scarce supply of used video games, especially now that the movie rentailers have entered the business. He expects that the combined entity will be more efficient in its purchases of used product from consumers and that gross margins from used game sales will increase.
On the video game publishing front, video game enthusiast magazine Game Informer, which GameStop owns and already has more than 1 million subscribers, will now get an even larger audience with Electronics Boutique store customers.


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Microsoft is generating $2 billion per year in revenue from Android patent royalties, says Nomura analyst Rick Sherlund in a new note on the company. This money, says Sherlund, helps Microsoft hide the fact that its mobile and Xbox groups are burning serious cash. Sherlund says that if you back out the Android profits, Microsoft is probably losing $2.5 billion on Skype, Xbox, and Windows Phone. Of that, $2 billion in losses are attributable to the Xbox platform.
Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/microsoft-earns-2-billion-per-year-from-android-patent-royalties-2013-11#ixzz2jueGSIJn


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After 36 years of owning Stony Pike Livestock Auction, Ron Bullard ran his final auction Friday afternoon.
“I’m 70 years old and it’s time for me retire and enjoy life,” he said.
His sons, Butch and Kevin Bullard, take over the business at 830 E. Main St. today.
Butch never imagined his father would actually retire from the livestock auction business.
“I thought he would run it forever,” said Butch.
Ron originally decided to sell the business about a year ago.
He finally discussed the idea with Butch and Kevin, who own a sales barn in Boswell. Since their father purchased Stony Pike Auction, Butch and his brother had always hoped to own it one day.
While Butch expected his father to announce he would be moving to Florida, Ron and Marsha, his wife and business partner, decided to stick around and manage Bullshippers Cafe, the restaurant located next to the auction barn.
“It is still ours,” Ron said. “We did not find a buyer for it and we weren’t necessarily looking for a buyer. We enjoy that and we’re not going to just crawl over and die.”
Ron felt it was important to sell the auction barn, as opposed to just closing the business for good. Livestock auction barns for smaller cattle feeders are difficult to find, which made it even more important to ensure the business remained opened, he said.
“I think the community needs this,” he said. “It’s a place to sell their livestock.”
Ron added that Logansport doesn’t need to lose another business.
“We’ve lost enough already,” he added.
Marsha has been very active in operating the business. and has dealt with all the headaches dealing with the business.
“She’s been responsible for operations,” he said. “She was a farm girl, born and raised in Jaspar County. She’s been very helpful.”
Ron has been working in the livestock auction business for a number of years. Before purchasing Stony Pike Livestock Auction from Lester Murtha, its original owner, he worked at auction barns in Claypool and Topeka.
“In November 1974, I had a chance to buy this one and we‘ve been here ever since,” he said.
Ron estimated the auction barn opened close to 50 years prior to him purchasing the business.
Since he took over, Ron has made several changes, including a new arena, expanding the barn and building new offices.
Stony Pike conducts its weekly auction on Friday afternoon and it usually lasts into the evening. Each auction features a variety of animals being sold, including cattle, sheep and goats. Hogs, however, aren’t sold at Stony Pike, Ron said.
Selling nearly 500 animals at each auction, Stony Pike attracts livestock from around the state as well as Ohio, Michigan and Illinois Butch and Kevin have no plans to make any changes.
Ron is pleased his sons decided to buy him out.
“It’s very important to both of us that the boys are taking over,” he said.
Butch couldn’t imagine anyone else purchasing the business, which he said has become part of the family’s history.
“I can’t imagine if someone else bought it,” he admitted. “That would have bothered me if someone else took over.”
Ron hopes to spend more time with his 32 grandchildren with the extra time he will gain.
“I’ve not been able to spend much time with them,” he said. “I’m looking forward to going to ball games and cheerleading camps. I might not spend much time with my kids, but I will with the grandkids.”
• Denise Massie is a staff writer at the Pharos-Tribune. She can be reached at 574-732-5151 or email@example.com


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Final Fantasy XV: Your Lingering Questions Answered
We replace the regular Game Informer Show this week with the last big Final Fantasy XV info blow-out. After spending a week at Square Enix for our May cover story on Final Fantasy XV, we asked the community about what they want to know about the lore, gameplay, and the development studio. While Joe Juba and Ben Hanson discussed their impressions of their exclusive hands-on time with the game weeks ago on the show, there are still a lot of details to go into and they're joined by Kimberley Wallace this time around to dive into the deep end.
You can watch the video below, subscribe and listen to the audio on iTunes, or listen to this episode on SoundCloud.
To learn more about Final Fantasy XV, stay tuned to our month of exclusive content by clicking on the banner below.


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SEOUL, Sept. 11 (Korea Bizwire) – Starbucks is under criticism for releasing a healthy snack series of items that are two to 10 times more expensive than their commercial costs.
Starbucks has a history of creating controversy over coffee prices that were significantly more expensive than the price of the beans used to make them.
Starbucks’ new snack, named Pro.tein, consists of 125 grams of soft tofu, 50 grams of hardboiled egg, 18 grams of string cheese and 8 grams of soy sauce. The snack is priced at 4,900 won.
However, if one buys the same products at a supermarket or convenience store, 125 grams of soft tofu costs 750 won, 50 grams of hardboiled egg 800 won, and 18 grams of string cheese costs from 410 to 945 won. All together, the Pro.tein snack could be put together for less than 3,000 won.
As if Starbucks was also concerned about controversy created over the price, the company held a campaign that offered customers who bought the snacks a tall sized drip coffee worth 3,800 won.
Customers commented that they would not buy the snacks because of the expensive price if the campaign ends. But Starbucks is still sticking to their 4,900 won price.
Starbucks is also selling a 100-gram Greek yogurt for 3,700 won, which is two to eight times more compared to other distributors, and an 80-gram half-dried yam package priced at 3,800 won. The yams are six to 10 times higher in price compared to online and offline vendors.
Starbucks explained that prices are higher because the yams have to go through a half-drying process, and the costs of distribution are also added. In addition, labor costs must also be factored in for the soft tofu and hardboiled egg packet.
However, customers point out that even if they consider additional costs that occur, prices that are almost 10 times higher than commercial costs are simply an act to take excessive profits.
Starbucks officials say that the prices include not only the retail price, but also the costs of distribution, production, service and management. “Through Starbucks we are helping to promote consumption of domestic produce, and by enlarging the circulation network, we are playing a role in income creation for the farmers. To cooperate for coexistence, we are buying produce from the farmers at a higher price.”
By Francine Jung (email@example.com)


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FDA Announces Yet Another Recall on Enoki Mushrooms Due to Listeria Concern
On April 20, 2021, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced a recall on Guan’s Mushroom Co Enoki Mushrooms for a potential Listeria monocytogenes contamination. Unfortunately, this is not the first time that Enoki Mushrooms from this source have been connected with a listeria contamination. On June 9, 2020, Enoki Mushrooms from H&C Food Inc., Guan’s Mushroom Co, and Sung Hong Foods, Inc., were declared the source of an extended Listeria Outbreak, comprised of a total of 36 connected cases, in 17 different states, resulting in 31 hospitalizations, and 4 deaths. The Outbreak began on November 23, 2016, with the first reported cases of illness linked with Enoki Mushrooms and lasted until the closure of the investigation, on December 13, 2019.
The current Listeria contamination has not yet had any reported cases of illness linked to contact with Guan’s Enoki Mushrooms. The potential contamination was discovered in a routine testing conducted by the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development which revealed the presence of Listeria monocytogenes in a 200g package of Guan’s Enoki Mushrooms. The distribution of the product was discontinued as soon as this contamination was discovered. Nevertheless, some amount of recalled product had already been distributed in various grocery and food markets in CA, NY, and PA.
The recalled Enoki Mushrooms include all Guan’s Enoki Mushrooms sold in 200g/7.05ounce bunches in clear plastic packaging with the description “Enoki Mushroom” in English, Korean and French. All recalled products bear the UPC code: 810023170303 and product code RY3428A or RY3434A in the front bottom of the packaging. Pictures of the packing can be viewed here.
Listeria monocytogenes are a type of bacteria which when ingested, can infect your gut, causing mild to severe gastrointestinal illness and in extreme cases, even death, as seen in the 2016-2019 Enoki Mushroom Listeria Outbreak. Listeriosis is most dangerous to people with weakened immune systems, the elderly, and fetuses in Utero. The best ways to avoid contracting listeriosis are to be aware of the most common foods which carry listeria monocytogenes, to properly heat and cool foods, and to avoid cross-contamination.
Health officials will continue to monitor the current situation, as well as to investigate the underlying issue of Guan Mushrooms Co’s repeated Listeria contaminations.


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(Pocket-lint) - A new report has described an upcoming Alexa feature that suggests the Echo Buds can track workouts.
Amazon launched its $130/£120 earbuds in October. It now reportedly plans to add a fitness-tracking feature to them via a software update. Amazon has not never mentioned that its earbuds could track health or fitness, but CNBC said it "discovered" a Track Workouts feature on a "test unit" of Echo Buds (that Amazon sent the publication). The feature appears to be in the "testing phase".
CNBC paired the review unit Echo Buds to an Amazon Fire HD 10 to listen to music, and while using the Alexa app on the tablet, it saw - where you would manage equaliser settings for the Echo Buds - a new Fitness section. CNBC claimed it couldn't yet track workouts; however, the app specifically showed an option to track a workout, plus a fitness profile, and a Workouts heading.
Under Workouts, the app suggested a user start tracking a workout by saying, “Alexa, start a workout." CNBC did just that and then walked around, at which point the app appeared to have tracked their steps, as it said the following: “You’ve worked out for 1 minute and 37 seconds. You’ve logged 0.04 miles with an average pace of 44 minutes and 13 seconds per mile. You took 114 steps.”
In other words, the Echo Buds can be step trackers and this feature could come soon! We've contacted Amazon and will let you know if we learn more.


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The world’s fastest-growing airline is now also the Best Airline in the World for passenger customer service
Based on annual rankings of airlines worldwide, Qatar Airways has been announced as the Best Airline in the World, by AirHelp Worldwide, based in New York City. Qatar Airways captured the number one spot over 77 other airlines ranked by AirHelp internationally. Using data collected from worldwide travellers who look to AirHelp for support, the rankings indicate which airline tops the charts in helping travellers when an issue arises.
Qatar Airways is renowned for its customer service and Arabian hospitality; striving to make every trip a pleasant and memorable one. Qatar Airways’ on-board service features sophisticated meals designed by celebrated chefs, up to 3,000 entertainment options and Wi-Fi via Oryx One as well as some of the most spacious seats in the air; all delivered by award-winning Cabin Crew. Likewise, Qatar Airways’ luxurious service in the air is complemented by exceptional ground staff across its global network, all Qatar Airways’ lounges and at customer service centres worldwide.
Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker, said: “Qatar Airways’ Best Airline in the World award from AirHelp is truly an honour and a credit to the thousands of men and women that work for Qatar Airways around the world. Qatar Airways staff are dedicated to delivering the highest levels of service, which brings passengers back to Qatar Airways again and again.
At Qatar Airways, we believe that your trip – be it a holiday with your family or business travel with colleagues – begins the minute you travel with Qatar Airways.”
“As passengers worldwide see customer service being diminished by many major airlines, they are instead being driven to choose carriers that offer more than just a seat from A to B. An airline such as Qatar Airways, who understands the importance of putting the customer first, is setting the bar high and is an example for the rest of the industry of how to put the customer experience at the forefront of the airline product,” AirHelp Chief Executive Officer Henrik Zillmer said.
AirHelp was formed in 2013 to assist passengers worldwide who have experienced delays, cancellations or overbooking. Passengers without the time or the knowledge to address airline service gaps look to AirHelp to help to support them. To date, the company has helped over 1.2 million passengers resolve their air travel-related issues.
Qatar Airways has received a number of accolades this year, including Skytrax’s Best Staff Service in the Middle East, World’s Best Business Class 2016 and Best Business Class Airline Lounge as well as Best Business Class from Business Traveller Awards. Last month Qatar Airways was awarded three prestigious honours at the 2016 Travel Weekly Magellan Awards held in New York: Gold, the highest honour, was awarded to Qatar Airways for its International Business Class experience on the A350 aircraft, and Silver was awarded for its International Economy Class as well as for its ‘Going Places Together’ brand campaign.


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We have just a little less than three weeks to go until Samsung unveils its Galaxy S7 series at MWC 2016, but the smartphone was already featured in a variety of rumors and leaks that not only showed us the final design of the handset but also revealed everything there is to know about it in terms of hardware and potential features.
However, if you’re really interested in this particular device, a brand new report offers us the most extensive look at the handset we’ve seen so far.
This pre-release review comes from Russian publication Mobile-Review, home of mobile blogger Eldar Murtazin, who leaked quite a few details about unreleased devices in the past, including the Galaxy S7. Murtazin apparently had access to a treasure-trove of information about the Galaxy S7 series, and while he was not able to test a real device, he shared a ton of details about it.
According to him, the Galaxy S7 will be virtually similar to the Galaxy S6 when it comes to overall design. However, the handset will get IP68 water and dust certification, and will feature a more durable screen. In fact, it looks like Samsung will offer some promotion for screen repairs in the first year after purchase.
The Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge will feature 2K Super AMOLED screens measuring 5.1-inch and 5.5-inch respectively.
The screens have a couple of tricks, Murtazin teased, both hardware and software, which have not been leaked, but he did not reveal them. He did say that the edge version will receive additional features and edge-related functionality.
When it comes to chips, the Exynos 8890 will be the dominant version of the Galaxy S7, and should be the superior option, when compared to the Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 powering some units. A new graphics GPU (the Mali T880 MP12) provides 80% better performance than the Galaxy S6’s GPU, and it’s 40% more efficient.
The phone will ship with 4GB of RAM and an improved RAM management system – the fact that the Galaxy S7 will employ fast 14nm chips should come in handy as well, improving overall app load times and system performance.
The handset does come with support for microSD cards – up to a theoretical 2TB of storage – and packs a microSD port rather than a USB-C chip. Samsung is tipped to have improved microSD card performance, this being one reason the feature is returning to the Galaxy S series. The other, being, of course, the backlash from fans.
The Galaxy S7 will pack a 5-megapixel front camera, but the real star will be the 12-megapixel shooter on the back that incorporates Britecell technology. According to Murtazin, the Galaxy S7’s main camera will take even better shots in low-light condition and will have an almost instant auto-focus feature – so fast that turning on the camera app takes more time than the deployment of AF. The camera features increased clarity and brightness, and better HDR than previous units.
Battery-wise, the Galaxy S7 is supposed to offer an even better performance than the predecessor, featuring a 3,000mAh non-removable battery. That’s the battery that Murtazin said a few days ago that it’ll get you 17 hours of video playback at full brightness. The Galaxy S7 edge will have a 3,500mAh battery.
Responsible for a much better battery autonomy is not just the increase in capacity but also the even more energy-efficient chips and software improvisations. On top of that, the Galaxy S7 comes with support for wireless charging and fast-charging technology that will get you to 100% in 100 minutes, and half a charge in less than an hour.
Finally, Murtazin says that Samsung’s new TouchWiz is even easier on the eyes and further optimized than before, sitting on top of Android 6.0.1.
The handset should go on sale in April, according to the blogger, and cost as much as the Galaxy S6 before it, meaning around $650 for the 32GB version, and slightly more for the 64GB.


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The Berlin Gigafactory has recently unveiled an extraordinary development: the first Tesla Model Y equipped with BYD’s groundbreaking bladed LFP battery. This intriguing collaboration combines American car manufacturing, a Chinese battery technology, and German production. How did this unlikely alliance come to fruition? In this article, we delve into the details and shed light on this remarkable partnership between two industry giants.
The Unlikely Alliance: Tesla and BYD
While Tesla and BYD have never officially partnered, they are fierce competitors and dominant players in the global New Energy Vehicle (NEV) market, encompassing Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEVs), Extended Range Electric Vehicles (EREVs), and Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs). Both companies have been vying for supremacy in China and other international markets.
Despite their rivalry, recent reports indicate that BYD has become a supplier of bladed LFP battery packs to Tesla. These innovative batteries are manufactured by FinDreams, a subsidiary of BYD. The collaboration gained attention when German media announced that Tesla’s German plant had commenced production of the Model Y utilizing BYD’s LFP Blade battery. As a result, the first BYD-powered Model Y has been successfully manufactured.
The Revolutionary Product: Tesla Model Y with BYD’s LFP Battery
On May 20, just 16 days after confirming production, the Tesla Berlin plant rolled out the first Model Y equipped with BYD’s LFP battery. Although still in the prototype stage, the entry-level Model Y boasts a 55 kWh LFP battery, providing an impressive range of 440 km. In comparison, the entry-level Model Y in China utilizes a 60 kWh CATL battery, offering a slightly higher range of 455 km.
Testers in Germany have uncovered fascinating insights into the performance of the new BYD-powered Tesla Model Y. Notably, this variant can maintain a remarkable 170-kW charging power, enabling it to charge from 11% to 71% in just 15 minutes. This charging speed significantly outpaces its conventional battery-powered counterpart.
Furthermore, the LFP batteries employed in the BYD-powered Model Y demonstrate superior charging capabilities compared to the CATL battery variant. While the CATL battery loses charging power rapidly after reaching 50% charge, the BYD battery retains its efficiency for longer periods. This groundbreaking technology positions the Tesla Model Y with BYD’s LFP battery as a faster-charging and more efficient option.
Despite the lack of clarity regarding its market availability, the partnership between Tesla and BYD serves as a testament to Tesla’s commitment to strengthening its foothold in the ever-expanding EV market. By leveraging BYD’s innovative bladed LFP battery technology, Tesla aims to further solidify its position as a leader in the electric vehicle industry.
The collaboration between Tesla and BYD has resulted in a groundbreaking development at the Berlin Gigafactory—the production of the first Tesla Model Y equipped with BYD’s remarkable bladed LFP battery. This unlikely alliance highlights the shared pursuit of innovation and dominance in the NEV market. With its impressive charging capabilities, extended range, and potential market release, the BYD-powered Tesla Model Y sets a new standard for electric vehicles. As Tesla continues to forge partnerships and incorporate cutting-edge technologies, it reinforces its position as an unrivaled force shaping the future of sustainable transportation.


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CSPI on Mad Cow Disease Found in U.S.
Statement of Food Safety Director Caroline Smith DeWaal
The discovery of a BSE-infected cow in Washington state means that the USDA urgently needs to improve its protection of the human food supply. USDA needs to take several immediate steps to reduce the risk to consumers and the beef industry.
The largest gap in protection results from the government's failure to ban spinal columns and neck bones from the human food supply. The central nervous system tissue and nerves that exit the spinal cord (called the dorsal root ganglia) can carry the infectious agents for mad cow disease. USDA has found that certain ground beef products contain central nervous system tissue. That meat comes from machines called Advanced Meat Recovery (AMR) Systems that squeeze meat and soft tissue off the neck bone and spinal column. CSPI petitioned the USDA in 2002 to ban the use of these cattle parts in meat production, but the USDA has failed to act.
Another critical gap is the lack of a mandatory animal identification system for cattle that tracks animals from birth to slaughter. These systems are widely used in other countries, including Canada, where it was instrumental in speeding the Canadian response to the discovery of mad cow disease.
While the risk from this single cow is minimal, the possibility that other cattle have been exposed and may be ill is not. Consumers can safely eat boneless cuts of beef. Bone-in beef is slightly higher in risk. The products that trigger greater concern include beef brain, and meat that contains the AMR ground beef products. These include ground beef (unless ground from whole muscle cuts), hot dogs, sausages, pizza toppings and taco fillings.
The discovery of one infected cow should trigger an aggressive response from USDA. To close existing gaps in consumer protection, steps are needed to track cattle from birth and better protect the food supply. USDA's willingness to delay action until an infected cow was discovered is a product of their conflicting mission: They must protect consumers while at the same time promoting U.S. beef internationally. Consumer protection has certainly fallen short.
Contact Jeff Cronin (jcronin[at]cspinet.org) or Ariana Stone (astone[at]cspinet.org).


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We'd never say Sebastiani has gone to the dogs … unless of course it had. The Sonoma winery held its second annual Sebastiani Winery Canine Festival earlier this month. The weekend began with a vineyard dog walk, led by Rubee Sebastiani, Boston terrier and unofficial winery mascot. The dog-friendly events included adoption opportunities, dog crafts, a rescue demonstration, a fashion show and a dog "beach," where overheated pooches could cool down in old, water-filled wine barrels. Visitors could come for the wine, and stay to bob for hot dogs. Woof.
Taking a page from PDQ Bach as well as Bacchus, Australian composer Tony King has put a new spin on harmonious wine. His new album, titled Wine Music, was created solely from sounds made by wine and its accessories. King spent two years popping corks, blowing air across the tops of wine bottles, drumming on oak barrels at Brookland Valley Winery and gently tapping the sides of Riedel glasses filled with wine. "The Champagne flutes made sounds like violins and organs, [and] the barrels sound like African drums," says King, who then wrote music he describes as something he would want to listen to while having a candlelit dinner. "It had to transport me or I threw it out." Just tuning the glass instruments probably transported King, as that required him to take sips of his favorite Chardonnays, Leeuwin Estate Art Series and Petaluma. We guess the idea of drinking on the job sure sounded good.
Grapes aren't the only cash crop in Sonoma. Few visitors to wine country may realize it, but the same areas selected by winegrowers are also popular with pot growers. As part of a summer-long crackdown, Sonoma County Narcotics Task Force agents raided six sites in the Healdsburg area last week and turned up a total of 5,300 marijuana plants--with a street value of $15 million. While these plants were discovered in remote areas high in the hills, detectives will be flying reconnaissance over the county's vineyards, said Sheriff's Department Sergeant Chris Bertoli, because often marijuana is found planted near them. And it isn't just for the terroir. Bertoli said the pot growers often steal farming equipment from the vineyards and even tap into their irrigation. So if drinking a Sonoma wine makes you crave Pop-Tarts and pizza at midnight, maybe there was a mix-up at the crush pad.
|Who needs New York or Napa if a wine from North Carolina can sell for $8,500?|
In an age when the divorce rate is around 50 percent, a ray of hope comes from France. Yes, the country that's long been on the receiving end of jokes about chain-smoking, insouciance, gluttony and infidelity has brought us retired teachers André Debray, 107, and his wife, Marguerite, 101, who celebrated their 81st wedding anniversary last week in their home village of Chateauroux. Their secret to long life and happiness? Drink a glass of wine with lunch every day. Well, that and the usual stuff, like avoiding arguments and eating well. "We never fought," Marguerite told Le Parisien newspaper. "We lived together so long that we have the same tastes." Those included just about everything, as Marguerite said she didn't believe in dieting. Essentially the Debrays have taken to heart the proverb "eat, drink and be merry." For reminding us of that, Unfiltered wishes the couple many more happy years.


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Apple's iPhone 4 is "significantly more prone to physical damage" than last year's iPhone 3GS, a company that provides after-sale warranties said today.
AT&T announced Friday that it will sell all three iPad Wi-Fi + 3G models directly to business customers at a discount for wireless service starting Oct. 28. The news comes one day after AT&T announced in-store sales of the popular tablet.
AT&T isn’t just going to make the Apple iPad available in retail stores on Oct. 28, as it announced yesterday. It’s also going to start selling the popular tablets to businesses that day.
Gartner estimates worldwide sales of iPads and other tablets will total 19.5 million units this year and nearly triple that number next year as the devices win over both consumers and business customers.
In the wake of the success of the Apple iPad, there seems to be a virtually endless line of competing tablets on the horizon. Most of the attention is focused on the operating system platform that drives the tablet, but the battle for the processor t...
The first three Australian internet service providers (ISPs) to sign up to Internet Protocol TV (IPTV) service FetchTV now face increased competition in the form of Apple's newly revamped Apple TV service.
The New York Times today updated its app for Apple's iPad, and said it would start charging readers for access to the digital content early next year.
Apple's new anti-"sexting" patent was approved this week and despite the uproar, it may make perfect sense for businesses scared of sexual harassment lawsuits or just wanting to keep a closer eye on employee shenanigans.
You wouldn't normally associate aircraft-grade aluminium, anodised stainless steel finishes, and designs milled out of a single block of billet aluminium with a mobile phone case, but that's exactly what is on offer with three of the latest iPhone 4 ...
Apple jumped into the third spot in U.S. sales for the third quarter, in part because of the "halo" effect from its iPad tablet, industry research firm IDC said today.
Verizon Wireless will start selling the Apple iPad packaged with a separate mobile Wi-Fi portable hotspot device on Oct. 28 at 2,000 Verizon stores, the carrier and Apple announced Thursday.
Ever since it unveiled the new mobile OS in February, Microsoft has been cagey on whether its new Windows Phone 7 would support direct synchronization with Apple's Macintosh computers. Now a spokeswoman confirms that Microsoft will offer a Mac OS X t...
With all the features of Microsoft's Windows Phone 7 now out in the open -- along with details about the handsets available on AT&T and T-Mobile here in the U.S. -- comparing the new mobile platform to Apple's iOS 4 is a natural. The long-running deb...
It looks like Steve Jobs' dream of family-friendly technology might just come true. On Tuesday an Apple patent for an "anti-sexting" device was approved by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
After a UK exec spilled the beans, Microsoft officially announced that it will be releasing a tool to allow phones running its Windows Phone 7 software to sync some content with Apple Macintosh computers. The official announcement lacked the promise ...
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Your mama always told you to say “please,” and yesterday at Pizza Patrón being polite benefited customers even more.
The Dallas-based restaurant chain gave away 120,000 free pizzas and coupons for free pizza to customers who would order in Spanish, or at least say the simple phrase: “Pizza, por favor.”
That number far outshone the company’s expectation of giving away 80,000 pizzas.
The company’s “Pizza Por Favor” promotion ran from 5 to 8 p.m. at its more than 100 locations nationwide. A goal of the company is to represent Hispanics and deliver the message that it's OK to speak Spanish in the U.S. The company has 32 stories in the Dallas-Forth Worth area.
Andrew Gamm, brand manager for Pizza Patrón, said about 30,000 pizzas were likely given away in the D-FW area. The Dallas location that gave away the most pizzas was the original Pizza Patrón at 1401 S. Buckner Blvd.
“In Dallas, we were expecting 50 to 100 people at each store and we would have been really happy with that,” Gamm said. “We had multiple thousands lined up around our Dallas locations.”
If locations ran out of pizzas, the company gave away coupons for one free pizza instead.
Carlos Gonzalez, a district manager for Pizza Patrón, said the turnout for the promotion was “unbelievable.”
“I feel grateful for all of those people who stood in line for three or four hours and who didn’t take a pizza home, they took home a coupon,” Gonzalez said. “So, we’re taking care of them today.”
Gamm said that at one Dallas location, about 100 people were lined up around 10 a.m. to redeem their coupons.
“So, people are quick to cash in,” he said.
While thousands of pizzas were given away to happy customers, not everyone was thrilled. Before the promotion began Tuesday, the company received a number of complaints by phone, email and online, Gamm said. Some said the promotion was discriminatory against non-Spanish speakers.
More ominously, envelopes containing a white powder substance were delivered to several Pizza Patrón locations throughout Texas, Georgia and in California on Tuesday and today. Police hazmat teams in those areas examined the powder and found it to be harmless, either wallboard or ceramic tile powder.
“You know, we were concerned,” Gamm said. “If all of the stores were going to receive similar envelopes, the police could shut the store down until they were able to confirm one way or another.”
This latest promotion isn't the first time the company has made news for catering to Hispanic consumers. In 2007, Pizza Patrón began its “Pizza Por Pesos” promotion, in which locations would accept peso bills for pizza. Customers received change in U.S. currency.
The company is also planning to have another promotion in October. While details have not been released, Gamm said it will be a “twist” on “Pizza Por Pesos.”


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TROY, Mich. As a leading manufacturer of OE diesel injection and engine management technology, Delphi Product & Service Solutions (DPSS) has announced it will showcase its commercial vehicle heavy-duty aftermarket diesel program including EUI injectors, feed pumps and high-pressure oil pumps at Heavy Duty Aftermarket Week (HDAW) on Jan. 22-23 in booth No. 1309.
Philippe Desnos, vice president, global diesel aftermarket, will be on hand to answer questions regarding Delphi’s North American product offering, as well as its Hartridge equipment for testing and diagnostics. In-booth, interactive touchscreens also will be available highlighting Delphi’s complete diesel system solution including pumps, injectors, filters, ECU and other key system components, as well as the latest OE diesel technologies.
Attendees can also tweet up with Delphi at the show, using #DelphiHDAW and the company will retweet it live.


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Why CEOs of socially responsible companies face a higher risk of getting fired
Thursday, October 19, 2017
As a consumer, you may feel a little better knowing that stores where you shop pay their workers a fair wage, hire a diverse workforce and avoid polluting the environment. But if you’re a CEO trying to run your business in this way — known as practicing corporate social responsibility — you may actually be taking on an unexpected personal risk, a new study finds.
Indeed, CEOs of socially responsible companies are actually 84% more likely to be fired than counterparts at less socially responsible companies — if the firms in question suffer similarly poor financial performance, according to a paper in Strategic Management Journal from researchers at the University of Oregon, University of Georgia and University of Notre Dame.
Now, the study found this trend can cut both ways: CEOs of financially successful CSR companies are indeed less likely to be dismissed. But that effect is not as strong — giving those CEOs whose firms do good and do well only a 53% decrease in firing likelihood.
Photo courtesy of miuenski miuenski.
Source: Mic (link opens in a new window)


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Using its own chips could help OpenAI manage costs associated with running its products in addition to addressing GPU shortages. Each ChatGPT query costs Bernstein Research about 4 cents, according to Stacy Rasgon’s analysis. Although the service lost users for the first time in July, it did reach 100 million monthly users in its first two months, which translates to millions of queries per day. According to Radigon, if ChatGPT queries are a tenth of what Google receives, it will initially require$ 48.1 billion in GPUs and will eventually spend$ 16 billion annually on chips.
The Microsoft supercomputer OpenAI, which was used to develop its technology, currently uses 10, 000 NVIDIA GPUs, indicating that the company currently dominates the market for chips intended for AI applications. Because of this, other businesses— larger players in the tech sector— have decided to begin creating their own. According to The Information, Microsoft, the biggest supporter of OpenAI, has been developing its own AI chip since 2019. Athena is the name of the product, and OpenAI is reportedly testing it.
According to Reuters, OpenAI has not yet made up its mind whether to carry out its plans. Even if it decides to proceed, it might take years before it can begin powering its products with its own chips.


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Rebellion, an independent UK developer, today announced that gamers will be able to return to the demon-ridden ruins of Berlin during World War 2 this Halloween when Sniper Elite: Nazi Zombie Army 2 launches...Read more →
Microsoft has announced that it will carry on giving two free Xbox 360 games to Xbox Gold subscribers every month after the end of the year. This has come around after they received an "overwhelming response"...Read more →
To celebrate the release of Call of Duty®: Ghosts, there will be Double XP on Launch Weekend! From Friday, 8th November (6am GMT) to Monday, 11thNovember (6pm GMT), players that get the game during launch...Read more →
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