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Ascend Fort Lee will be open for recreational weed order pick-ups on Thursday, NJ Advance Media has been told exclusively by the multi-state operator that owns the dispensary.
This dispensary received its site approval from the Fort Lee Planning Board late Monday, the last step the firm needed to begin adult weed sales and become the 21st store in New Jersey to offer recreational adult weed.
Consumers can order online at letsascend.com starting Wednesday, Nov. 16, and can pick up on appointment-only basis at the Fort Lee store beginning this Thursday, said Caitlin Fleishman, Vice president of Public Affairs for Ascend.
Ascend had already received state approvals from the New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory Commission months ago to expand to adult weed sales at the 461 West Street location. The dispensary, located in a former Staples store, began selling medical marijuana on Aug. 12.
After Thursday’s soft launch, an official grand opening is scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 19. Currently, the store will only offer on-line pick ups, but Fleishman said the dispensary could eventually open to the public for walk-in traffic.
Ascend Fort Lee will be the company’s flagship location in New Jersey and its third dispensary to open. The company also has stores in Rochelle Park and Montclair.
Medical marijuana patients will continue to get priority treatment as mandated by the CRC with a dedicated medical express lane, direct access to the front entrance, private consultation rooms, designated parking spots and medical cannabis shopping hours, said Fleishman.
Exclusive hours for medical patients will be: Sundays from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. to 8 p.m.; Mondays from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. to 8 p.m.; Tuesdays through Fridays from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.; and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m.
Located in densely populated Bergen County, Ascend Fort Lee, will be the closest dispensary to New York City.
“Ascend Fort Lee is a uniquely positioned flagship location, only a 9-iron away from the George Washington Bridge, which will greet existing medical patients and incoming recreational consumers with exceptional product and service,” said Frank Perullo, interim co-CEO, president, and co-founder of Ascend Wellness Holdings.
Perullo was equally optimistic during last week’s company earnings call.
“The team has been preparing and gearing up for the highly anticipated start of adult-use operations at New Jersey’s closest dispensary to New York City,” Perullo said during the call on Thursday.
Fort Lee’s proximity to the New York border is significant as the Empire State is still on track to open the first of its recreational marijuana dispensaries by the end of the year, barring any additional delays. New York is expected to compete with New Jersey for adult weed buyers in the northernmost counties, like Bergen.
Adult recreational weed sales in New Jersey generated $79.7 million in total sales between April 21 and the end of the fiscal year on June 30, according to the state Cannabis Regulatory Commission. The state’s cut was $4.65 million in tax revenue.
On Monday the CRC announced it was hosting a second round of three virtual meetings to listen to public suggestions on how funds raised from fees and fines of legalized adult weed should be used for social equity projects as stated in the new cannabis law. The first of three Social Equity Excise Fee (SEEF) hearings was held Tuesday, Nov. 15, for South Jersey. The hearing for Central Jersey is on Wednesday, Nov. 16, and for North Jersey on Thursday, Nov. 17, both starting at 7 p.m. Similar regional hearings were held in the spring.
“New Jersey has always been incentivized (from a tax perspective) to maximize the amount of time that its adult-use program is operational prior to the launch of the New York market,” said cannabis attorney Robert DiPisa of Hackensack-based Cole Schotz.
“What I think will play into New Jersey’s favor is the fact that New York has already experienced some hurdles with the launch of its program,” including funding for its social equity cannabis investment fund and litigation matters, said DiPisa.
So far, 20 locations have sprung up throughout New Jersey that are all owned and operated by Multi-State Operators, including Ascend. The most recent store to open was Curaleaf Bordentown on Nov. 1.
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Suzette Parmley may be reached at [email protected] or follow her on Twitter: @SuzParmley


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Google is apparently shopping around for an investment bank to work on a Google IPO.
Google IPO search seen awakening dot-com IPO talk
Reuters, 10.24.03, 8:14 AM ET
LONDON, Oct 24 (Reuters)
“The firm, whose austere Web site redefined the way people search the Internet, is auditioning dozens of banks for an initial public offering, possibly in the first half of 2004, people familiar with the situation told Reuters on Thursday.”
More Google IPO News.

domain: news


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The Wi-Fi Alliance today announced that the Wi-Fi Zone program has been adopted by over six thousand public access service locations in almost fifty counties. The Wi-Fi Zone program began in March of this year, and has participating locations ranging from hotels and coffee shops to RV parks and McDonald's restaurants.
The goal of the program is to help travelers find and stay connected when they travel -- whether they are down the street at the local cafe or on the other side of the world. The Wi-Fi Zone program has two primary elements -- an online database of Wi-Fi Zone locations and a common visual indicator -- the Wi-Fi Zone logo, which is displayed at locations and Web sites. There is no cost for providers to join the program and the signup process is online, but services must be based on Wi-Fi Certified equipment.
Many different types of service providers from around the world have joined the Wi-Fi Zone program because it provides them with association with Wi-Fi -- the world's dominant wireless LAN brand. Locations benefit from displaying this brand on their Web sites and their venues because customers already familiar with the Wi-Fi CERTIFED logo on their products will easily recognize the Wi-Fi Zone logo when entering or passing by a location. This is intended to be a clear indicator of service availability regardless of geographic area of the world -- much like international symbols for access telephone services, restaurants or hospital facilities. In fact, of all of the issues that are tracked by the program, the single most common complaint is that there is not a visual indicator of service availability at the location (e.g., a sign, banner or decal).


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LOS ANGELES: Walt Disney Co is exploring more licensing of its films and television series to rival media outlets as pressure grows to curb the losses in its streaming TV business.
The Burbank, California-based entertainment giant is seeking to earn more cash from its content library, according to sources.
The move would represent a shift in strategy, as Disney has in recent years tried to keep much of its original programming exclusively on its Disney+ and Hulu streaming services.
A spokesperson for Disney declined to comment.
Disney is under pressure to improve its financial performance and change its streaming strategy.
Last year, the company turned in its worst stock market results in decades.
After Disney reported a US$1.5bil (RM6.4bil) loss for its online video business in the third quarter, the board fired chief executive officer Bob Chapek, replacing him with Bob Iger, who had previously held that job for 15 years.
Among his many challenges, Iger must also cope with a proxy fight by activist Nelson Peltz, who’s seeking a seat on Disney’s board and pushing for better performance.
Iger, 71, will share more of his plans when the company reports financial results on Feb 8, but he has has already taken steps to reverse decisions made by his predecessor.
He offered free photos and more lower-price tickets to theme-park guests irked by rising fees.
The longtime media executives has promised to redesign the company’s organisational structure, in particular an unpopular move by Chapek that put decisions on where and when to release films and TV shows in the hands of distribution executives that don’t make the programmes.
Iger has said he wants to return more decision making to creative executives, and put the restructuring in the hands of his chief financial officer Christine McCarthy, ESPN boss Jimmy Pitaro, Disney studios head Alan Bergman, and Dana Walden, who chairs Disney’s general entertainment group.
Pitaro, Bergman and Walden all lost authority under the old structure.
The reorganisation will also result in personnel cuts, the sources said, although it is unclear how many will lose their jobs.
The company has already frozen new hiring.
Iger retired as CEO in 2020 with the company seemingly well-positioned for the future.
His acquisitions of Pixar, Marvel and Lucasfilm had given Disney the most valuable trove of characters in entertainment, while the company’s new streaming service, Disney+, was adding millions of customers a month.
Although Disney already licenses some titles to other platforms including Amazon.com Inc’s Prime streaming service, it began to hoard content with the launch of Disney+ in 2019.
Disney curtailed licensing of its own programmes to third parties to boost that service.
A deal that had Disney films running on Netflix Inc was phased out, and the company touted how much of its new programming came from its own in-house studios.
Wall Street cheered at the time because it meant the company was entirely focused on building out the streaming business.
The shift was costly, however, as Disney surrendered billions of dollars from home video sales and licensing deals with other networks.
The pandemic forced Chapek to lean into streaming even more, releasing original movies on streaming services, and offending talent in the process.
As the global economy slowed, and Netflix subscriber growth along with it, investors have raised concerns about how much money companies like Disney are spending on unprofitable streaming services.
Selling more content to third parties would follow similar moves in the media industry such as at Warner Bros Discovery Inc, where CEO David Zaslav has taken shows off of his HBO Max streaming service and resold them to rivals like Roku Inc and Fox Corp’s Tubi.
Lions Gate Entertainment Corp is separating its studio business from its Starz streaming service, and has said its films and TV series would be made for a number of platforms.
Disney executives have discussed selling more titles to third parties and are in the process of shopping certain titles right now. It remains to be seen if they keep them in-house at Hulu or they sell them to an outside bidder. — Bloomberg


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News and Articles About Gamification
BetterWorks, which just raised a $15.5 million Series A round, merges the concepts of game mechanics and the quantified self to motivate and manage employees' goals.
Turning business processes into games -- the idea behind the trendy buzzword gamification -- encourages frequent participation and makes mundane tasks entertaining.
Stephen Gillett, Symantec's chief operating officer and former Starbucks CIO, says the skills he learned playing the online game have helped him professionally.
By tapping into employees sweet spot of challenge and reward, they'll feel more motivated to get things done.
The Merriam-Webster dictionary has added 150 new words, many of which have been around for a surprisingly long time.
The approach nets more engaged applications when integrated into a challenge-based hiring process.
New technology tools could provide an education method that can prepare us for any future.
From more education apps to iBeacons exploding on the market, 2014 will be a year where mobile will see massive disruption. Here are 10 predictions.
The Seattle-based tech giant has scooped up Irvine, Calif.-based Double Helix Games.
Your game is being an entrepreneur. And here are your badges.
In addition to helping business owners solve problems around customer engagement and retention, gamification can enhance staff relations.
Gamification, a principle for applying gameplay mechanics and theories to everyday problems, is growing in popularity. Here's how your small business can start playing.
True Office gamifies the way companies train their employees, with its founder insisting it's cheaper and more fun than hiring an expert.
One-time customers aren't going to fuel the continued growth of your business. Retaining customers is crucial to your long-term success.
The video game of the future just might remind you of toys of the past. Sifteo cubes give tactile appeal to technology.
It's hard to resist the latest digital marketing craze -- from Facebook to gamification to Vine. Before launching into a new online marketing tactic, figure out if it's the right strategy for you. Here's how.
The video-game pioneer recounts his startup story, pointing out common pitfalls of aspiring entrepreneurs.
From gamification to local to analytics, a look at what's going to move the needle in marketing this year.
The appeal of gamification, how to avoid legal pitfalls, search engine optimization, and more top our list of your favorite videos offering fast fixes to your business challenges.
Expert Gabe Zicherman on how 'gaming features' can increase engagement on the social web.
Making it big in the fashion world has always been a tall task. Here's a look at how three startups are using technology to find an 'in' with customers and brands.
Expert Gabe Zichermann on how 'gamified' programs can be better than standard rewards-based strategies.
Expert Gabe Zichermann on using gamification to hire, innovate, recruit and create performance among your team.
Expert Gabe Zichermann explains how adding gaming features to your site can surpass traditional loyalty programs when it comes to generating new business.
Connect with Entrepreneur
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Please contact Scott Hall at email@example.com or 202-463-5817.
On the Tenth Day of the Holidays a Counterfeiter Gave to Meee…
These fakes aren’t just duping consumers, they’re tricking store owners as well. With counterfeiters affixing fake safety labels onto complex electrical products, it seems that the best line of defense against this dangerous crime is to shop at well-respected and trusted stores.
Global Innovation Policy Center (GIPC) @globalIPcenter 2d
The actions at the WTO set a harmful precedent that won’t help achieve global vaccination and could undermine the ability to respond to the next global crisis. @pjkilbride and an expert panel explain. Tune in: https://t.co/9zmzMqwcSZ


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10/02/2020 – Country Focus / Food Production / Food Security / Saudi Arabia
Vision 2030: KSA’s food security in focus
Alongside reducing the Kingdom’s dependence on oil and diversifying its economy, Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 earmarks significant funding towards dramatically bolstering the country’s food production and processing power.
Spanning 2.15 million square kilometres, Saudi Arabia is geographically the largest sovereign state in Western Asia, and the largest in the Gulf region. Despite such a sprawling landmass, the arid desert that covers much of it means that the Kingdom has long imported the lion’s share of its food (over 80 per cent, according to 2014 World Bank figures) to feed its residents – 29 million and rising.
Indeed, Saudi Arabia already boasts the largest population in the GCC, and the number of people in the Kingdom is expanding at a rate of 3.3 per cent per annum, meaning demand for food products is only set to rise in the years ahead. All of this poses a challenge for Saudi Arabia’s rulers, alongside a golden opportunity: As the country strives to diversify its economy away from oil, the potential to scale up local food production and processing would serve two purposes – both dramatically driving down the cost of food by reducing imports, and creating a thriving F&B sector in its own right, to generate the non-oil revenues and in-Kingdom value-add that are so integral to meeting Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 goals.
According to data from Foodex Saudi, total consumption of organic, gourmet and health products were expected to total more than US$27 billion in the Kingdom in 2019. And in response to this growing demand in the high-value organic segment, last year the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture signed a 12-month contract to support small farmers in switching to organic farming as well as to produce safe high-quality food, preserve the environment and natural resources, streamline consumption and irrigation water, and promote and support organic production.
Through a new investment – worth SAR 750 million (US$200m) – the Ministry aims to increase organic production by 300 per cent, along with other objectives including providing safe food and sustainable, highly profitable farming as an important resource for the national economy. The Saudi Organic Farming Society has said that it will implement guided field visits, qualify farms that wish to convert to organic agriculture, and prepare them for inspection and certification.
In line with the plan, it has been just over a year since King Salman inaugurated the Sustainable Agricultural Rural Development Program at Al-Yamamah Palace in Riyadh. The programme aims to boost production, processing and marketing of fruit, fish, livestock, Arabic coffee and cultivation of rain-fed crops, with a focus on helping small producers across the country, alongside enhancing food security and sustainable development.
The initiative will support farmers in various regions of the Kingdom, with financial allocations amounting to SAR 7.35 billion (US$1.78bn) for a period of seven years, in addition to SAR 1.5 billion (US$360m) as the capital cost for the project. In addition, the government’s Agricultural Development Fund (ADF) has allocated SAR 3 billion (US$730m) to finance the programme though soft loans to SME farmers.
Expected not only to boost investment in the agriculture sector, the programme is also projected to diversify the sector, improve the incomes of small farmers, create job opportunities and contribute to food security and sustainable development. Such developments would also significantly support the Kingdom’s food security initiatives by fulfilling an estimated 43 per cent of the total food required in target areas, as well as a forecasted 19 per cent of the total food needs of the country as a whole.
Currently, aquaculture in Saudi Arabia – along the shores of the Red Sea – produces roughly 77,000 metric tons per year, accounting for just over half of Saudi Arabia’s total current seafood production (140,000t). Yet there is expected to be a significant market deficit of 800,000t in 12 years, according to state estimates.
In response, the country’s National Fisheries Development Program (NFDP) – a division of the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture – is investing US$400m to develop the necessary infrastructure, support and development of the country’s seafood sector in order to boost its total aquaculture output to 600,000t over the next five years, with shrimp set to account for one-third of the volume by 2025.
This capacity boost should reduce the need for imports, says Mosleh Fayez Alzobidi, Vice CEO of the NFDP, which aims to have successfully localised 65 per cent of the Kingdom’s total seafood production requirements by 2030. In accordance with such ambitions, in September the NFDP selected 16 potential greenfield sites along the country's western shores that it said are on “a fast track for investment” – with no special prioritisation for either international or local investors.
The country is also seen as ideal for establishing recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) farms, according to Muhammad Basil Mughal, NFDP’s Business Development Manager, who told us that “huge areas” are available in the Kingdom for land-based developments. Indeed, in August last year Vikings Label – a Norwegian startup specialising in RAS technology – announced plans for a salmon farm in Saudi Arabia. The US$90m project would be KSA’s first salmon farm, with a target to supply Saudi consumers with as much as 5,000t of the cold-water fish each year by 2023.
Given that value-adding is a key tenet of Vision 2030, it follows that the government is also attempting to turn six of the Kingdom’s cities into hubs for fish processing and infrastructure. Top priority will be the port of Jeddah, although Yanbu, Jazan, Sudair Industrial City, Dammam and Jubail will also form part of the national development scheme.
And at the other end of the value chain, the Saudi government plans to develop new feed mills to supply specialised hatcheries. One such company, Riyadh-based ARASCO, is already one of the largest shrimp feed producers in the world, according to Mr Mughal. “The goal is to localise the value chain,” he added.
A destiny with dates
One key crop that has long been a focus for the Kingdom is dates. Holding deep cultural connotations, these holy fruits of the Middle East continue to gain popularity worldwide – particularly given the growing momentum of the health-conscious consumer, with dates viewed as a more virtuous sweet snack and also increasingly used as an alternative natural sweetener in a wide array of products.
According to the National Palms and Dates Center (NCPD), Saudi Arabia produces an estimated 1.1 million tons of dates per year – around 15 per cent of the world’s date production – and export of dates from Saudi Arabia grew by 11.7 per cent in 2018, marking this out as a promising market segment for further development and investment.
As such, the so-called ‘Palm Tree of the Homeland’ (Nakhlat Watan) programme was launched last year to establish specialised centres for serving the needs of the dates and palm sector. It seeks to improve agricultural practices and enhance the quality of dates to increase exports to new global markets with competitive prices. In January this year SABIC and the National Center for Palm and Dates (NCPD) laid the foundation stone for the first comprehensive service centre in Madinah – aimed at promoting date crops in the local market, raising production quality and increasing exports.
Part of SABIC’s national initiative Nusaned to support and develop palm trees, dates and agricultural innovation, as well as enhance co-operation between public and private sectors, and in-line with the objectives of Vision 2030, the programme aims to make the Kingdom the top exporter of dates in the world.
Waste not, want not
While farming initiatives, major infrastructural developments and value-adding projects will undoubtedly prove instrumental when it comes to augmenting Saudi Arabia’s food production and processing capabilities, there is one other area where the Kingdom could make significant strides towards improving its food security – and without the need for multi-million (or billion)-dollar projects. That area is waste. This is particularly true when it comes to water – an obviously key component to growing the Kingdom’s agricultural activities. Saudi Arabia currently consumes 263 litres of water per capita per day – double the daily world average – and KSA’s government aims to reduce that figure to 150 litres by 2030.
Regrettably, when it comes to food the country’s record on waste is even worse: In the Kingdom – and indeed, across much of the GCC – lavish displays of food are considered a cultural totem of generosity and hospitality. Yet much of what’s offered ends up as trash: The average Saudi wastes up to 250kg of food annually, compared to a global average of 115kg – and according to the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture, this costs the country approximately US$13 billion a year. In many ways, food waste is seen as a relic of the oil boom era – as the world edges away from oil dependence, and the Kingdom transforms its economy in tandem, driving down conspicuous consumption could become a crucial (and cost-effective) piece in the food security puzzle.
Latest issue – Vol 1/23
– Health & Nutrition focus
– Gulfood 2023 Special
– Next level legume – The rise of the chickpea
The Hotel & Hospitality Show 2023
Sandton Convention Centre, South Africa


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Press previews for the LA Auto Show begin November 16th. WWJ AutoBeat Reporter Jeff Gilbert will be covering the show.
Jeff will be “tweeting” instant updates from Los Angeles starting Monday, November 14th. You can follow his twitter feed (@jefferygilbert) here.
Here’s a video recap of Jeff’s coverage of the 2010 show.
VIDEO: 2010 LA Auto Show, Day 1
VIDEO: 2010 LA Auto Show, Day 2
VIDEO: 2010 LA Auto Show, Day 3


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Second Samsung NYC event is planned for May 24th - possibly related to the Galaxy Tab
0. phoneArena 04 May 2011, 16:35 posted on
Knowing that Samsung is having a press event in New York City tomorrow, possibly in regards to the Samsung Infuse 4G, it’s interesting to find out that they are sending out another round of teaser invitations to various media...
This is a discussion for a news. To read the whole news, click here
6. daniel_bargs (Posts: 325; Member since: 27 Nov 2010)
galaxy s II has been announced last last last month idiot!
2. doubler86 (Posts: 320; Member since: 26 Jan 2011)
It will probably be the Galaxy Tablets and the Galaxy Players
3. BreakerNine (Posts: 3; Member since: 02 May 2011)
I hope it's actually the S II. It's actually close to when the original galaxy s was announced albeit a month earlier.
8. ryq (unregistered)
i believe it will be both the new tab and galaxy s 2 that will be announce. samsung has been slashing the price of their 7" tab and the galaxy s.


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Lindberg Corp., an old-line heat-treating company in Rosemont, is under attack by its largest shareholder, a Miami businessman who is offering to buy the company for $9 a share, or about $44 million.
Investor gives firm the heat treatment
Ira Sochet, 62, who was a senior vice-president at New York-based Drexel Burnham Lambert Inc. when the firm was rattling Wall Street by financing hostile takeovers, says he doesn't want to run Lindberg.
Though the company rebuffed his bid earlier this month, Mr. Sochet says he hasn't given up on his strategy to boost Lindberg's undervalued stock. His campaign could galvanize shareholders and make it difficult for the 76-year-old firm to remain independent.
"Whatever I do, I can't remain a passive investor," says Mr. Sochet, who works either from his Florida office or from his home in the Bahamas' Elbow Key. He plans to disclose his plans in an upcoming Securities and Exchange Commission filing, but declines to offer details, noting, "The Japanese didn't tell us when they planned to drop a bomb on Pearl Harbor."
Lindberg, meanwhile, says it isn't for sale, and that it plans to increase shareholder value through future acquisitions.
"Ira Sochet can follow his course of action as he chooses," says Lindberg President and CEO Leo G. Thompson. "But the board's decision is that the company is not for sale, and it's appropriate to follow the best plan the one that is in place."
Mr. Sochet has been pushing Lindberg's management to boost shareholder value since 1996, when he increased his stake in the company to 9.2%. At that time, he contended that Lindberg's stock, which he'd purchased for $9 to $9.81 a share, was "significantly undervalued."
With the price dipping as low as $5.50 earlier this year and now hovering in the $8 range, Mr. Sochet says the company must do more than follow its current plan to expand its customer base and boost profits. Some options: merge with another company, buy back stock or take the company private.
"They've not been able to execute any strategy to unlock shareholder value," Mr. Sochet says.
Lindberg, North America's largest commercial heat treater, has been selling unprofitable facilities and buying smaller heat-treating companies. Last, year it sold its remaining foundry. The company's heat-treating services are used by the aerospace, automotive and defense industries to improve metals' hardness and strength.
Most manufacturers handle their own heat treating, leaving commercial firms with less than 20% of the domestic market. Slowdowns in the defense, aerospace and other industries resulted in a 1.6% drop in revenues for commercial heat-treating companies nationwide in 1999. But industry experts expect sales to rise as more manufacturers turn to commercial providers.
Mr. Thompson attributes current troubles to a downturn in the aerospace, oil-field machinery and agricultural industries. In 1999, Lindberg's revenues dropped 4% to $120.5 million, while earnings fell 20% to $7.6 million, or $1.27 per share.
Though its stock hit $25 in 1998, Lindberg like other old-line manufacturers is now out of vogue on Wall Street.
Earlier this month, the company announced it is buying Massachusetts-based heat treater Thermo Terratech Inc. for $17 million, and Mr. Thompson says Lindberg will continue to acquire smaller companies.
But acquisitions will take awhile to complete, and shareholders could get restless.
Robert E. Killen, chairman of Pennsylvania-based Killen Group Inc. Lindberg's fourth-largest shareholder with a 6.5% stake says the company needs to do more to enhance shareholder value, but is worth considerably more than Mr. Sochet's offer.
"If (Lindberg's strategy) increases the stock price, I think the shareholders won't have anything to complain about," Mr. Killen says. "But the longer the stock languishes, the more pressure there will be to do something."
Mr. Sochet could indeed pressure Lindberg to do something. The Miami investor has developed a practice of investing in smaller companies he considers undervalued, such as Quincy-based compressor manufacturer Gardner Denver Inc. and East Rutherford, N.J.-based specialty chemical company Cambrex Corp.
In 1995, he waged an unsuccessful proxy fight for Arizona-based Homeplex Mortgage Investments Corp., in which he owned a 6.2% stake. The company ended up merging in 1996 with Arizona's Monterey Homes, the stock price more than doubled and Mr. Sochet then sold half his shares.
"Even though I lost the proxy fight, they did what I wanted," he says. Former Homeplex CEO Alan Hamberlin declined to comment.
But Cambrex Corp. President and CEO James Mack has nothing but good things to say about his dealings with Mr. Sochet. When Mr. Sochet began investing in Cambrex in 1990, its stock was trading between $5 and $10. Adjusting for splits, those shares are now worth more than $100 each, Mr. Mack says.
"Ira has a pretty sophisticated financial screening tool to manage investments, and we appeared on one of his scans," he says. "He's never had a board seat or role in management, but he's made a lot of suggestions."
©2000 by Crain Communications Inc.


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RMB usage in Australia up 248 percent
(31 March 2014 – China) SWIFT’s renminbi (RMB) Tracker revealed that Australia’s RMB payments value increased by 248 percent between February 2013 and February 2014, placing Australia at number six in the world for RMB payments value, excluding China and Hong Kong.
In February 2014, 14.2 percent of payments between Australia and China/Hong Kong were in RMB versus 7.7 percent the previous year and only 1.9 percent in February 2012.
Bill Doran, Head of Oceania for SWIFT, said; "98 percent of these payments in value are institutional, as opposed to payments sent by banks on behalf of their customers, which makes up the remaining 2 percent.
“This is most likely a reflection of the RMB mainly being used for investments and foreign exchange activities, rather than trade settlement.
“Given the strong trade relationship between China and Australia, we expect to see direct customer payments in this country grow as well. There are real benefits for Australian companies to use the RMB,” Doran said.
“Some of these benefits include faster settlement of payment between suppliers and buyers, savings on invoicing costs, reduction of exchange rate risk and reach to more Chinese customers and investors who prefer to trade in their currency."
Doran also pointed out that the recent announcement between the Australian Stock Exchange (ASX) and Bank of China (BoC) to establish an RMB Settlement Service in July 2014, meant Australian companies trading with China will be able to pay and receive in RMB for cross-border transactions just as they do with the Australian dollar.
“As a result, we expect to see further growth of RMB usage in Australia.”


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SEATTLE, Wash., USA –The path to creating and implementing effective marketing strategies in today’s world of multiple media platforms is so much more complex than ever before. Maintaining business relevance requires in-depth knowledge about a breadth of fields far beyond traditional advertising and marketing communication skills – from behavioral economics to marketing strategy to customer psychology.
One of the most important ways that members of the ICOM network stay at the top of their game is by sharing experiences and success stories with like-minded peers at regular global and regional meetings, such as the North American event, to be held here Sept. 13-16. ICOM is a leading global network of independent marketing and advertising agencies with more than 80 members in 60-plus countries.
The upcoming meeting is hosted this year by ICOM member, DNA, a full-service agency with strengths in brand strategy, planning and integrated campaigns. “Being an agency born in Seattle, so much of the Seattle culture is built into who we are and how we do it,” said Alan Brown, DNA co-founder and CEO. “There is a synergy between the agency and our home town, a city that has inspired innovation and risk-taking. Our thinking for this meeting was to share some of what’s in the air and water in Seattle – to inspire new, innovative and creative thinking.”
For some eighteen years, DNA’s dna has been reflected in the slogan: ART. SCIENCE. TRUTH. LUCK., created to signify everything that goes into the work DNA does. And that catchphrase that ties in tightly to Seattle’s culture, a city proud to claim as its own innovators as Jimi Hendrix, Jeff Bezos, Bill Gates, Howard Shultz and Dale Chihuly, has shaped DNA’s philosophy and spirit.
While it may sound like much frivolity, Brown explains how it’s serious business. “There is both art and science to our work,” he said. “It is an art to create meaningful ideas through words, images and music as well as an art to work with people; then there is a science to understanding consumer behavior and gleaning insight, a science to knowing where and how to reach people in ways that are engaging, rather than offensive, and a science to analyzing and evaluating our efforts, optimizing and monetizing to improve results for clients.”
But that’s not all. “Truth is how we approach what we do. And there is power in truth,” Brown said. “And no matter what, you need a bit of luck,” he added.
Long before there was a “dot-com anything,” another ICOM member, Phelps/Los Angeles, found that implementing an effective marketing strategy required an innovative non-traditional organizational approach, which today is more important than ever. “Because of the expanding number of media platforms — organic SEO, paid search, paid social ads, social content, broadcast, etc. — maintaining a consistent brand across channels that also works for the platform requires specialists constantly collaborating and informing,” said agency Founder-CEO Joe Phelps. That’s why Phelps/Los Angeles has been organized in client-based teams for a number of years.
Atlanta-based Morrison Chairman-CEO Bob Morrison, who also serves as ICOM chairman, noted that for many in the marketing communications field, just keeping up with constant dramatic and rapid changes is a challenge. “Getting ahead can be a real differentiator,” he said. “And to stay ahead, agencies must continually invest in new infrastructure and services to future-proof clients’ brands. Communications options today are vast and complex. Tomorrow they’ll be even more ubiquitous. ICOM member agencies have the luxury of sharing ideas, processes and best practices with each other to enable them to better serve clients.”
The three days of the meeting are full of panel debates and guest speakers, including Scilla Andreen, an award-winning producer and Emmy-nominated costume designer and filmmaker, and Jody Hall, who oversaw Starbucks’ growth from 30 to 3,000 stores, then left to start Cupcake Royale, the first cupcake bakery outside of Manhattan that is now baking one million cupcakes a year in seven locations. There will also be industry training and discussion groups, all focused on how to maintain business relevance by innovating and creating new opportunities and exploring how the principles of behavioral economics, marketing strategy and customer psychology should be applied to agency pricing.
There is a special extended learning session, hosted by the EFFIE organization, that will review the best examples of effective marketing and simulate the EFFIE judging experience, offering valuable insight.


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Google has unveiled the first fully working road-legal prototype of its self-driving car. If all goes to plan, Google hopes to partner with a real car maker to bring a self-driving vehicle to market in the next five years. Whether the commercialized driverless car will look like the overly cutesy Google prototype remains to be seen.
A pair of researchers have identified the most potent security threats to self-driving cars and offered possible solutions. Basically, it might take a little longer than expected until you can take a nap on the way to work.
At an event last night, Elon Musk finally gave us the D: A dual-motor, all-wheel-drive version of the Tesla Model S. On the top-of-the-line P85D, that second motor brings the max speed up to 155 mph and 0-60 mph down to 3.2 seconds — firmly in supercar territory. Musk also announced a new ‘autopilot’ system for all new Tesla cars, which can automatically change lanes when you push the turn signal stalk, automatically reduce your cruise control speed when its forward-facing camera spots a new speed limit sign, and other self-driving functions.
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Anup Baral, Executive Member, NADA Automobiles Association of Nepal
The automobile industry is on the verge of collapse as the government has imposed a ban on the import of passenger vehicles, classifying them as ‘luxurious’.
Not only has the import ban hit the automobile sector, but the entire automotive industry, from dealers to distributors, spare parts businesses to workshops.
The government and the central bank think that automobile import is the main culprit behind the depletion of foreign currency reserves, However, the passenger vehicle segment has just a one percent contribution to the total imports of Nepal. But this sector generates 14 to 25 percent of revenue for state coffers.
Being a member of the World Trade Organization (WTO), the government can’t even ban imports of items that have a positive impact on the economy. But it is an irony that people in the government think that all the problems such as the depletion of forex reserves and liquidity crisis have been brought upon by automobile importers.
In the last one year, the business of tires, lubricants, batteries, and other auto components has declined drastically. In such a difficult situation, the government is completely mum about lifting the ban. It doesn’t have any idea of how the businesses are surviving.
In the last fiscal year, Nepal imported vehicles worth Rs 70 billion. The continuation of import restrictions clearly shows the incompetency of the government as the sector that has a huge contribution to state coffers is demotivated.
The ongoing liquidity crisis and exorbitant interest rates on bank borrowings have further hampered our business. The interest rate, which used to be at 7-8 percent a year ago, is now up to 18 percent. When there is no business, how can we just repay loans at such high interest rates?
The government has levied 250 to 350 percent tax on various headings on passenger vehicles, and 105 to 193 percent on two-wheelers. In the last fiscal year, the government collected Rs 74.83 billion in revenue from automobile imports. A major source of revenue has dried up. Still, the government is not worried.
The Nepali automobile sector survived the past economic slowdowns, the 2015 Gorkha Earthquake and the Covid-19 pandemic. It feels to us that those were not as difficult compared to the situation we are in right now.
Lately, the perception of vehicle manufacturers has also changed towards the Nepali auto market. How can they trust a market where imports are blocked for nine months? It seems the manufacturers have put Nepal on their list of least priority countries.
The importers that don’t import electric vehicles are the hardest hit. As the import for EVs is open and the government has also provided subsidies, the business is growing. But there are caveats to consider for the growth of the EV market.
The prices of EVs are excessively high. It is only cheap in Nepal as the government has provided subsidies on imports. Also, the government is yet to build infrastructure for EVs. Even the charging stations are installed by the private sector.
The Nepali automobile sector has an overall investment of Rs 100 billion. But the government is reluctant in protecting the investment of the private sector. If this sector collapses, what will happen to the Nepali economy? Even in the rating of the financial sector, the automobile businesses are the least loan defaulters.
Currently, Nepal has 1,000 automobile dealers, 25,000 workshops and 10,000 spare parts shops operating across the country. Also, the automobile is one of the largest employment-generating sectors for almost two percent of the working population in the country. But ironically, the government has termed vehicles as ‘luxurious’ and ‘unproductive’.


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TMI are pleased to announce that we are once again shortlisted in the prestigious UK Search Awards, with the possibility of following up on last year’s victory.
When attempting to update an ad in one of our accounts this morning, we were pleasantly surprised to find that the Expanded Text Ads Beta have finally become available
With their ever increasing focus on mobile devices, Google has recently announced an upcoming ad innovation which will have major implications to paid search marketers.
In the highly competitive vertical of Best Financial Services Campaign – PPC we have been shortlisted for our work with AZIMO.
Ever since we spotted Google ditching the right hand side ads in their SERP shakeup in February, we started losing sleep about the possible implications this could have on activity during arguably one of the most competitive sporting events of the year – the Cheltenham Festival.
The finalists for the 2016 iteration of the IAB Bookmark Awards were announced on the 16th of February and we are excited to announce that two of our submissions in the Paid Search Marketing category have been selected by the judges as finalists!
With the rise of people using mobiles and tablets as opposed to desktop computers for Facebook and Twitter, social media marketers are adapting their strategies to cater to mobile device users.


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August 2, 2008
US pork exports soar thanks to weak dollar and China demand
US pork exports have broken records in the past two months as a weaker dollar prompted more buying while increased demand caused pork purchases fro China and Hong Kong to rise more than five-fold compared to last year.
Exports to these two destinations have already surpassed last year's levels just five months into the year.
So far this year, overall US pork export has grown 60 percent in volume and 50 percent in value over the same period a year ago, all thanks to the weakened US dollar.
A weak dollar has propelled pork export volumes to Hong Kong and China to four-times to volumes previously, while values to these two destinations rose five-fold, according to the US Meat Export Federation US Meat Export Federation (USMEF).
In just the first five months of 2008, pork exports to China/Hong Kong have already surpassed the total for all of 2007.
Monthly USoverall pork exports hit a high of 196,118 tonnes in May 2008, valued at US$452 million. This was almost double that of May 2007 and 12 percent above the April 2008 record.
Pork exports for the first five months of the year (including variety meat) was at 825,800 tonnes valued at US$1.86 billion, up 60 percent and 51 percent respectively from the same period last year.
In May, China and Hong Kong together accounted for 55,293 tonnes, or a quarter of the month's overall exports, up five-fold from just 10,706 tonnes in May last year.
For the first five months, exports to China/Hong Kong totaled 200,093 tonnes valued at US$343 million, up 336 percent and 410 percent, respectively, surpassing annual exports for the whole of 2007.


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By CultureBanx Team
- Consumer prices surged 8.6% in May to a 41 year high
- 60% of Black small business owners have increased the prices for products or services
The country’s financial health doesn’t seem to be turning a corner as the federal government released data indicating that inflation rose at a pace not seen in more than four decades. Consumer prices surged 8.6% last month from 12 months earlier, faster than April’s year-over-year surge of 8.3%. Even though the unemployment rate nationwide is falling, it stands at 6.2% for the Black community, which is the highest for any ethnic demographic. Price increases affected a range of goods from gas, food and other necessities jumped in May, giving American households no respite from rising costs, and all of this could further stagnate the economic recovery for people of color.
Why This Matters: Black consumers and business owners are also getting hit hard by inflation. The latest figures dashed hopes that the worst of inflation, which has spiraled out of control in the last year, was behind us with low unemployment and strong jobs numbers stoking some optimism that the worst of inflation has passed. However, with gasoline prices up 50% year-over-year, rent prices having increased by 31%, and food prices rising at their steepest rate in more than 41 years during the same period, the economy was dealt a cold dose of reality.
Census data shows that there are more than two million Black-owned businesses in the United States. Newly released survey from Goldman Sachs found that 60% of Black small business owners have increased the prices for products or services in comparison to 68% of an overall population of business owners.
What’s Next: For an economy finally starting to roar back from the pandemic recession, higher inflation poses a major potential risk. Since inflationary pressures are still coming from the supply side, which the Fed cannot control, what matters most is how long these higher prices will actually last.
CBx Vibe: “One Way or Every N***a With A Budget” Saba


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MUMBAI: In what is touted as the largest commercial transaction of 2010 in Mumbai suburbs, a brand new office building at Kalina has been sold for Rs 407 crore. Market sources said the deal was signed sometime last week.
The buyer, Edelweiss Broking Ltd, is believed to have paid around Rs 20,000 per sq foot for over two lakh sq ft space in the 14-storey building, Lotus Midtown, located outside the Bandra-Kurla Complex. The building has been constructed by Anand Pandit of the Lotus Group.
A real estate analyst said demand for commercial properties was once again picking up. However, he said it is mainly coming from Indian companies rather than multi-nationals as was the case earlier.
Last February, a four-storey commercial building at Worli was sold for Rs 640 crore, one of the costliest of its kind in the country.
The Wadia Group sold its property to Axis Bank, which is planning to shift its headquarters to the building.
The building, Wadia Tower A, located on Bombay Dyeing Mill compound on Pandurang Budhakar Road, has a saleable area of over 4 lakh square feet.
It worked out to Rs 16,000 per square foot.


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Stocks of Sq. are up greater than 6% nowadays after the American fintech corporate reported a staggering $5.06 billion in income in its Q1 2021 profits document, a ways forward of an anticipated tally of $3.36 billion.
Through posting the massive income beat, Sq. grew 266% in comparison to its year-ago Q1. As a result of that’s any such expansion that we most often be expecting to look from early-stage startups as an alternative of maturing public firms, some exploration is so as. Briefly, bitcoin revenues from Sq., and the way they are compatible into its accounting, are answerable for a lot of its oversized expansion.
And that’s one thing we want to discuss.
The Trade explores startups, markets and cash.
Learn it each morning on Further Crunch or get The Trade publication each Saturday.
Sq.’s efficiency aside from its bitcoin-driven effects had been robust. However its bitcoin earning underscore no longer most effective emerging client sentiment relating to bitcoin, but additionally an enchanting perspective at the query of Coinbase and its long-term price construction.
Combine within the massive expansion in bitcoin funding job that Robinhood has observed and we will be able to simply needless to say, a minimum of within the American marketplace, customers don’t seem to be beholden to conventional cryptocurrency arguments referring to coin possession. And the tempo at which non-Coinbase entities are accreting buying and selling quantity may level to extra festival on the now-public crypto change than some fanatics, backers and believers expected.
So nowadays, we’re speaking Sq. profits and its bitcoin base, particularly in the way it pertains to the result of different entities that provide bitcoin gross sales. Our broader query is whether or not customers are going to act as many be expecting, or if the fewer crypto-focused on-ramps to bitcoin and its brethren will end up extra standard than many crypto-enthusiasts await.
A bitcoin increase
If we take away the bitcoin most sensible line from Sq.’s quarter, the corporate posted $1.55 billion in income, a determine that was once up 44% in comparison to its year-ago length. That’s spectacular.
However the corporate’s bitcoin-related income expansion was once way more so. From $306.1 million in Q1 2020 bitcoin income to $3.51 billion in Q1 2021, Sq. wrote in its document that it noticed “vital expansion in bitcoin income 12 months over 12 months,” up “roughly 11x.”


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Poco X5 5G: Poco’s upcoming smartphone could be a toned-down version of the recently launched Poco X5 Pro. The company will soon launch this phone in the Indian market. See the details of its possible features here.
Poco X5 5G Launch Date in India: smartphone maker Poco The new handset is ready to launch. The company will soon launch the upcoming phone Poco X5 in the Indian market. Poco’s country head Himanshu Tandon has confirmed the launch of the new 5G phone with the official Twitter handle. At present, it is not known that on which day this phone will be launched. It is believed that Poco X5 can be introduced in India next week. Let us tell you that this phone is already present in the international market.
Poco has recently launched Poco X5 Pro. The upcoming smartphone could be a toned-down version of the Poco X5 Pro. It is estimated that Poco X5 will be launched at a lower price than the Pro version. The price of Poco X5 Pro in the Indian market is Rs 22,999. Here you can see the possible features of the upcoming handset.
Poco X5: Possible features
This phone is already present in the international market. Information about its specifications and features is also available. However, how the features and specifications of this phone will be in the Indian market, it has not been officially disclosed.
- Expected Display: This phone can be offered with 6.67 inch AMOLED FHD + display. It is expected to get a refresh rate of 120Hz and 1200 nits.
- Expected Chipset: The upcoming phone can be launched with the support of Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 chipset.
- Expected Camera: There is a possibility of getting triple rear camera setup in it for photography. Users can get 48MP primary camera, 8MP ultra-wide camera and 2MP macro in it. At the same time, a 13MP front camera can be given for selfie.
- Expected Battery: Poco’s new phone is expected to get a 5,000mAh battery. Apart from this, support of 33W fast charging can also be given.
- Expected Price: Talking about its possible price, Poco X5 can be launched in the market with a cheaper price than Rs 20,000.
The price of Poco X5 Pro 5G is less than Rs 25,000. Therefore, it is possible that the company may launch the Poco X5 at a price less than Rs 20,000. More details of the upcoming phone are expected in the coming days.


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It has a 823 MHz processor, Android Gingerbread, 5 megapixel onboard camera and dual SIM slot.
Samsung has announced its latest smartphone, Galaxy Ace Duos, for the international markets. The smartphone is an upgraded version of the Galaxy Ace Duos i589 which is available in India for around Rs 14,000. The new upgraded Ace Duos brings along dual SIM slots (GSM+GSM) for cellular connectivity as compared to the GSM+CDMA combination of the older Ace Duos i589.
Building on the success of the popular Galaxy Ace, the new Galaxy Ace Duos comes with a premium design, high-end features, and provides a rich smart experience with a Dual SIM support system, allowing users to manage their work and personal lives with one smartphone. Users can also use the device to carry two SIM cards with different billing plans, switching when convenient or cost-appropriate.
The 3.5 inch display bearing Galaxy Ace Duos GSM comes with HSDPA 7.2 connectivity that delivers fast data speeds with minimal lag-times. Additionally, users can take advantage of the integrated 5 megapixel camera to take and share stunning photos and videos.
Samsung's Touchwiz user interface has been incorporated in the device that lets users navigate the phone easily and fluidly. An onboard 3 GB of storage will enable users to store sufficient videos, music, and images for entertainment on the go. Also Samsung's ChatON communication service also comes preinstalled on the device and lets users connect to any phone platform into a single community
The Galaxy Ace Duos GSM will be rolled out from June in Russia first but would be gradually rolled out in Europe, CIS countries, Latin America, Southeast and Southwest Asia, Middle East, Africa, and China.
Samsung has not revealed its price yet but is expected to do so shortly.
Samsung, had unveiled the Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona earlier this month and both the phones are completely different from previous Samsung smartphones.
Both the phones come in three storage variants – 32 GB, 64 GB, and 128 GB.
Both the phones are completely different than previous Samsung smartphones with S6 Edge has a strikingly different curved display on two sides.
Samsung is expected to unveil the handset at the Unpacked event which starts from March 1.
The listing on Snapdeal doesn't speak anything about its LTE feature but many media reports claimed that the handset has 4G connectivity.
All these phones have 4G connectivity and are set to be launched in India in the second week of March.
Check out the best alternatives of Samsung Galaxy J1 which has been launched for Rs 7,190.
Samsung has cited GfK data which it says is more accurate than that of Canalys's survey which tracks shipment data.
While Galaxy S6's existence is widely reported, there are not much information about the Galaxy S Edge and the smartwatch.
Tizen mobile platform is based on the Linux Kernel and is being backed by Samsung and Intel together.


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Credit card spending eased in January as consumer spending took a hit after states imposed restrictions to contain the spread of the Omicron strain of coronavirus.
Spending in January fell 6% on a month-on-month (m-o-m) basis to ₹87.7 trillion, according to Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI’s) data. Credit card spending stood at ₹93.9 trillion in December last year.
On a year-on-year (y-o-y) basis too, the growth in credit card spending slowed down to 35% against 47% in December.
That said, the spending in January continues to be higher than last year when it stood at ₹64.7 trillion.
The slowdown in spending comes after the industry saw ₹1 trillion worth of spending in October because of the festive season. The spending momentum has dropped, but this is a temporary blip, analysts said.
“Credit card spends are higher than the pre-pandemic days. The January data shows a monthly decline, which happened because of Omicron. That said, consumer confidence is back on track, and the data will show an improvement from the second half of February when the restrictions eased,” said an analyst with a foreign brokerage firm.
Among banks, HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank and SBI Cards saw a drop in credit card spending in January.
HDFC Bank saw a nearly 8% m-o-m fall in spending to ₹21.7 trillion, while ICICI Bank saw a 5% m-o-m fall to ₹18.8 trillion. Axis Bank was the outlier, with spending growing in January. It saw a 10% m-o-m rise to ₹7.6 trillion, while SBI Cards saw a 2% growth in spending to ₹19 trillion.
In terms of cards issued, banks added 130,000 new credit cards on a net basis in January, led by issuers such as ICICI Bank, Axis Bank, HDFC Bank, and SBI cards.
Among the top four banks, ICICI Bank was the most aggressive. It added 240,000 credit cards in January, taking the total credit card base to 12.5 million. ICICI Bank’s co-branded credit card with Amazon has been a huge success in the market, helping the bank gain market share to 17.9%.
Axis Bank, too, gained market share to 11.9%, adding 219,000 new cards during the same period. Its co-branded credit card with Walmart backed e-commerce major Flipkart has also performed well.
HDFC Bank added 209,000 credit cards in January, but it lost market share for the second straight month to 22.8%. SBI Cards, too, added fewer credit cards, resulting in a drop in market share.


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1. Apple Business Chat
Apple Business Chat was announced last week, just one of many updates coming with the release of iOS11. Apple Business Chat allows users to launch iMessage chat directly with a brand via their iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, and Mac’s Messages app.
Apple Business Chat integrates 3 handy sales and marketing features – Apple Pay, scheduling and product listings. Users can access Apple Business Chat via a Safari web browser, Apple Maps, Spotlight search and Siri. QR codes, where the iPhone camera scans a code to launch a conversation in iMessage, can also be integrated for offline access a well.
During their recent developer session, Apple presented the benefits of its new customer service feature by showing an example of an airline enabling a customer to select a seat from within iMessage.
Business Chat will be available to all users next year.
2. Instagram streamlines sponsored posts
Instagram has launched a new feature that will help users clearly communicate sponsored posts with their followers and help maintain authenticity across the board.
The new “paid partnership with” tags will replace the #spon or #ad hashtags that were fast becoming a popular way to disclose marketing partnerships within Instagram.
The tags will appear under the user’s name, where you would normally see a location. The posts not only make these kinds of partnerships more transparent they also offer creators and publishers the ability to track insights for each post to see just how well their sponsored posts are doing.
3. From Snap to Store
The thorn in the side of many digital marketers is being able to attribute an ad that a customer has seen, to in-store traffic which led to purchasing.
Although many attribution models already exist that successfully track a customer’s journey online from awareness through to purchase, the next step in attribution intelligence is being able to track who has seen an ad online, say within a social media site, and then walked into a store and purchased something. A US company, Neilson Catalina Solutions, has partnered with online platforms such as Snapchat, Spotify, Twitter and Pinterest to do just that. By matching data, they are working on being able to track and measure media exposure that resulted in an offline purchase. This is a huge win for platforms like Snapchat who are investing heavily in location-based marketing in the hope to carve out a niche for itself.
4. Twitter gets a makeover
If you are an iOS user, you may have noticed things look a little different on Twitter recently and hopefully if Twitter has been successful, it should feel ‘lighter, faster and easier to use’. A lot of the features were rolled out previously on Android and received such good feedback they are now coming to iOS.
Twitter’s blog lists the new features:
- Profile, additional accounts, settings, and privacy – all in one place! A new side navigation menu and fewer tabs at the bottom of our app = less clutter and easier browsing.
- Links to articles and websites now open in Safari’s viewer in the Twitter app so you can easily access accounts on websites you’re already signed into.*
- We’ve refined our typography to make it more consistent, and added bolder headlines to make it easier to focus on what’s happening. Also, rounded profile photos make it clearer to see what’s being said and who’s saying it.
- More intuitive icons make it easier to engage with Tweets – especially if you’re coming to Twitter for the first time. For example, people thought the reply icon, an arrow, meant delete or go back to a previous page. We switched to a speech bubble, a symbol most know and love. We also made the icons lighter for more seamless interaction.
- Tweets now update instantly with Reply, Retweet, and like counts, so you can see conversations as they’re happening – live.**
**Not available on twitter.com and Twitter Lite
5. Snapchat Custom Stories
Snapchat has launched custom stories, allowing users the ability to create Stories for specific events and locations. Custom stories allow the ability to decide who can add to the story and who can see the story.
The new feature will be great for holidays, special events, birthday parties or new babies – perfect for when you just want the family to see.
As with standard stories they disappear if no one has contributed in the past 24 hours.
Read More: https://www.snap.com/en-US/news/
BONUS 6. Facebook celebrates 30 years of the GIF
Facebook has celebrated 30 years of the GIF by allowing users the option of replying to comments with GIFs. (can we insert a whoo woo gif?)


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The Scaffolding Association is urging businesses to prepare for major changes to the way VAT is charged in the building and construction industry, following recent reports that 150,000 construction firms could be affected.
As of 1 October, HMRC will introduce VAT Reverse Charging on the majority of construction-related services. Companies who are VAT registered and Construction Industry Scheme registered will no longer pay VAT to the majority of their subcontractors.
VAT will only be paid to firms who supply labour only (employment businesses) and to the merchants and businesses that sell building materials only without any fix. The purpose of the change is to combat VAT fraud perpetrated by organised crime gangs.
Robert Candy, chief executive at the Scaffolding Association, said: “The majority of Association members will be affected. So it’s absolutely vital that they understand these changes and are prepared.”
The FMB is putting forward a letter to Government requesting to delay the VAT changes by 6 months, the SA have signed it, along with SEC Group and other large trade associations. The letter is due to be sent 02nd August 2019


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There has not been a single announcement made by Microsoft regarding the release of the next Surface Pro. Thus, the Surface Pro 5 might not likely show itself up until the spring of 2017.
It can be recalled that Microsoft Corp released the Pro 4 in 2015 October. Thus, the next big thing would likely be released last October 2016. After the event that happened in October though, it was a no show.
The success of the Pro 4 though has given people a reason to think that there should be a proper sequel for this brand. Therefore, it can’t be denied that there are rumors surrounding this update, which has been around for a while.
According to the revelation made by Microsoft in October, there should be a major update to Windows 10 Creators Update, expected to happen in April. This update was rumored to go with an unspecified hardware family. So as the hardware has been tied to the Creators Update, the release will consist of the Surface Book 2, the Surface Phone, and Surface Pro 5.
At the same time, it can’t be denied that people would want to see a new device to respond to their needs. For instance people would want to use a device with longer battery life. This is because of the battery life of its predecessor, which has a low performance lasting only 5 hours and 15 minutes.
What people want to see is a battery life that would reach at least 7 hours, which would put the device closer to the MacBooks, including the iPad Pro.
Sharper or Bigger Screen
The sharp performance of the Surface Pro 4 has given way for fans to speculate what is coming up next. For this reason, they are not limited to wonder if the screen resolution would be released in 4K. Perhaps the size of 13.3 might be a great improvement to its current look.
Stylus and Dial
A new patent was also filed by Microsoft regarding the new Surface Pen loop. At the same time, a Surface Dial might be a possibility, as the designer focused on the accessories, including wearable devices, dial, and headsets, among others.


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Intel is now moving not-so-subtly toward Android as the default operating system for handheld devices, as the chipmaker yields to market realities.
MeeGo operating system--which is not even a blip on the handheld device market-share radar screen--and is only staying in the public's eye because of Intel's stubborn support.according to calculations by Gartner (and other market researchers), the Google operating system has plenty of momentum. That's not the case for Intel's in-house
And Windows 7, which is not optimized for tablets, will never be a viable operating system for handheld devices (smartphones and tablets), despite attempts by some Asia-based device makers to market tablets.
Enter Android. On Tuesday, after Intel announced, CEO Paul Otellini described--during a conference call--pretty clearly to what degree Android 3.0 (Honeycomb) is now in focus at Intel. "We're actively doing the port" for Android 3.0 and "my sense is the bulk of the units, the [models], this year will be Android," he said, referring to tablets using Intel's Atom processor. Almost in the same breath he mentioned that Intel "lost Nokia," implying that the chipmaker also lost an important partner for phones based on MeeGo-- .
And that's not all Otellini said about the loss of Nokia and future smartphones. Intel is now "focusing on [telecommunications] carriers who want their own devices and also on handset manufacturers," he said. It's probably safe to say that more than a few of those handset makers will be using Android.
So, the question is, as Intel revs up its handheld push with future Atom processors--which should include dual-core variants of the "Medfield" chip--will this make Android phones an even more potent rival to Apple's iPhone and, down the road, result in compelling Android-based tablet designs that begin to chip away at Apple's tablet dominance?
We may not get the answer until 2012, when Intel is expected to put its best foot forward with highly power efficient but relatively speedy smartphone and tablet chips.


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We’re not sure how many miles have been logged on the 2013 Harley-Davidson that was presented to Pope Francis last June to mark the MoCo’s 110 years in business, but it’s safe to assume that its condition is divine. The Pope, who signed the tank at a special Vatican ceremony in November, donated the two-tone Anniversary Bronze Dyna to Caritas Roma, which works on behalf of the Roman Catholic Church to support those in need around the world. Now the machine, along with a certificate of conformity from Harley-Davidson, is to be auctioned by Bonhams at the Grand Palais on February 6, 2014.
The no-reserve auction will take place in conjunction with Rétromobile Week and funds raised by the sale will go towards the renovation of the charity’s Don Luigi di Liegro hostel and soup kitchen based at Rome’s Termini railway station. The hostel opened 30 years ago to help the homeless, jobless and the poor, and proceeds from the Harley-Davidson’s sale will allow it to continue providing food and accommodation to more than 1,000 people daily.
Ben Walker, head of motorcycles at Bonhams, said: “We are incredibly honored to be selling this item on behalf of Caritas Roma. We hope to be able to do both Pope Francis and Harley-Davidson proud by raising a significant amount of money for a very worthy cause.”
A full listing of sales is available on the Bonhams website.


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Thousands of people are sharing a coupon online that claims it is valid for one free meal at Chipotle, from now until March 20.
Chipotle restaurants across the country are reporting that people are walking into stores with the coupon, and asking for a free dinner.
Only problem: it's a hoax.
Chipotle is not offering a free meal to anyone who shares the coupon online. If it were, it would lose millions of dollars in business this month, handing out free dinner after free dinner.
The hoax preys on people's memory of an old Halloween promotion, where Chipotle used to give out free burritos to people who dressed like a burrito (they ended the promotion in 2010).
But that was just a one day deal, and did not offer a free"meal" with no questions asked.
No Restaurant Gives Out Free Meals
No restaurant gives out free meals, with no strings attached. Typically, you have to buy one dinner to get another free, or buy a sandwich to get a free drink. Restaurants are not charities.
Old time internet users (circa late 1990's) will remember the viral AOL messages that promised free money if you forwarded a message to all your friends. Millions of people forwarded those, and never got a penny.
So do your friends a favor and don't forward this one. Unless you like looking really dumb.
As always, don't waste your money.
Don't Waste Your Money is a registered trademark of the EW Scripps Co.
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Kellogg’s has awarded Zenith its $11 million media strategy, planning and buying account in Australia and New Zealand, following a competitive pitch. Mindshare had held the account for the past 35 years.
Nickie Scriven, CEO, Zenith, said: “Throughout the process, the Kellogg’s marketing and procurement teams have been extremely engaged, and committed to investing in an open and collaborative relationship.
“We’re delighted to start this journey with Kellogg’s and to being a trusted business partner focused on growing their much-loved household brands.”
Jonny Cordony, Sydney GM at Zenith added: “At Zenith Sydney, we’re very excited to be working with Kellogg’s. I’m personally proud of the agency and the team who deserve a huge amount of recognition for the quality of work produced.”
Kellogg’s has been in Australian homes for almost a century, with a growing and diverse portfolio of leading household brands including Corn Flakes, Just Right, Nutri-Grain, Special K, Coco Pops, All Bran and Pringles.
Kellogg’s director of marketing & corporate affairs ANZ, Tamara Howe, said: “We’re excited to partner with Zenith. The Zenith team should be proud of the work they brought to the table. They are a great group of people, and we look forward to collaborating with them.”


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MIDDLETOWN, N.Y., Dec. 8, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Ani-Mall Veterinary Hospital announced three new pet spa promotions in conjunction with the upcoming holiday season. Pets that are boarded with the animal hospital for seven or more days will receive a free bath. If pet owners board two or more pets, the second pet will receive a $2 per day discount. As the third promotion, pet owners will receive a $10 "makeover" card after they book four appointments at the animal hospital's "Pet Spa." As an ongoing promotion, new clients who are referred to the spa receive a $12 credit towards future grooming sessions; current clients receive a $10 credit for each referral.
Ani-Mall Veterinary Hospital is making the holiday season even more festive for pet owners with the introduction of three different pet spa specials. The vet hospital provides full-service animal grooming and pet boarding, in addition to veterinary pet wellness care.
"The holiday season is the perfect time to treat pets to a special "spa day" at our animal hospital," said Middletown veterinarian Dr. Michael Barra. "Every pet deserves a special visit to the pet spa where they will be groomed and bathed. Regular grooming is good for a pet's health and overall well-being. After a day at our spa, your pets will be looking as great as they feel!"
According to Dr. Barra, pet grooming offers many important health benefits for pets. Regular grooming helps to reduce the risk for fleas and ticks, as well as help identify potential skin problems before a pet's health is compromised.
"As pet owners, it can be difficult to tell when a pet's scratching or itching is symptomatic of a health problem, or simply par-for-the-course," said Dr. Barra. "Grooming appointments are the perfect opportunity for your pet's skin to receive a quick 'checkup'. We also check for the symptoms of fleas and ticks during appointments."
In addition to bathing, the animal hospital provides full service grooming techniques, including nail trimming, anal gland expressing and coat trimming. Coat trimming is especially important for longer-haired animals. For example, many long-haired pets will benefit from a "lion cut," even during the winter months.
"Regular grooming and coat trimming helps to control a pet's coat and prevent it from becoming matted or dirty," said Dr. Barra. "This care is important to keeping pets healthy. We also recommend regular tooth brushing and nail trimming. All of our pet spa treatments are administered with a gentle, compassionate touch so pets feel and look their best."
During the upcoming holiday season, pet owners who refer another pet to the animal spa will receive a $10 spa credit for each referral. Pets that are boarded at the animal hospital for 7 days or longer will receive a free bath; if a pet owner boards two or more pets, the second receives $2/off per day.
For more information about the current promotions, visit the website: http://www.ani-mall.com/.
CONTACT: Ani-Mall Pet Hospital 888-667-5235Source:Ani-Mall Pet Hospital


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This is the new Argentina away jersey 2015/16, the new change kit for the Albiceleste for international games in the 15/16 season, including the upcoming Copa America tournament in Chile. This away strip, along with the new Argentina home jersey 2015, will be worn by the likes of Messi (Real Madrid), Aguero (Man City) and di Maria (Manchester United).
The jersey is predominantly navy in colour, with hints of white and light blue at the hem. One can also see “Argentina somos todos” printed on the jersey
Buy this Argentine away jersey online at World Soccer Shop


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iPhone 14 Could Save Your Life in a Car Crash a vital new safety feature that can identify a serious car crash and automatically call for help, in any event, when you can’t,” says Apple, in the video’s depiction. “Add this to the new 48MP Star camera and a totally reimagined display, and iPhone 14 Genius redefines what a smartphone can do. Again.”
With another dual-center accelerometer, barometer, and other sensors, Apple says iPhone 14 Star models can recognize a serious car crash and automatically dial crisis administrations in the event that a client is lethargic after a 10-second commencement. Apple says the feature depends on “advanced Apple-planned movement algorithms trained with north of 1,000,000 hours of real-world driving and crash record data” for increased accuracy.
The crash discovery feature is also available on the new Apple Watch Ultra, Apple Watch Series 8, and second-generation Apple Watch SE models. Selective to iPhone 14 Star models, the Dynamic Island replaces the traditional indent found on iPhone 13 models. Aided by software, the pill-shaped pattern transforms into various shapes and sizes for things, for example, incoming calls, alerts, notifications, Face ID authentication, clocks, turn-by-turn navigation, Live Activities, and more.
In the first place, the new iPhone 14‘s crash discovery framework means that your telephone will actually want to sort out that you have been in a car accident, and it can call crisis benefits automatically on the off chance that you don’t press a button on the screen within ten seconds of the impact.
iPhone 14 Could Save Your Life in a Car Crash
The updated car crash indicator on the Apple Watch Series 8 and iPhone 14 knows when you Run Your Laptop With the Lid Closed crashed and is happy to help, and won’t let anyone know if the accident is expected to texting while at the same time driving.
According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, approximately half of extreme car crashes happen in rural areas and about half also involve a single vehicle. So having something in your pocket or on your wrist that can find support for you is clearly in excess of a piece helpful than asking Lassie to make it happen.
Both the iPhone 14 and Apple Watch Series 8 feature a receiver that identifies impact commotion. An accelerometer that detects rapid deceleration. And a barometer that can mark a change in pressure steady with an airbag. One of those sensors will undoubtedly see you’ve crashed on the off chance that the other two are taking a short breather.
Specifically, a 3-axis spinner and a high g-force accelerometer allows the watch to sample movement at about 3,000 times each second so it can detect the exact snapshot of impact. Meaning it may know you’re in a car accident before you do. And it’s all highlighted by an algorithm trained on huge number of long stretches of crash data, according to Apple.
This isn’t the main gadget to contain this sort of feature. Ongoing models of the Apple Watch contained a basic fall identification feature. And more up to date Google Pixel telephones already have crash recognition. With the ability to utilize movement sensors. Your location and nearby sounds to distinguish a serious crash and transmit it to crisis administrations via Android’s Crisis Location Administration.
Can my phone detect an accident?
The car crash identification feature utilizes your telephone’s location, accelerometer sensor. And receiver to automatically recognize a car crash. On the off chance that it thinks you’ve been in a car crash. It will play a boisterous sound and ask in the event that you want any assistance. In case of no reaction, it automatically dials 911 and shares your telephone’s location.
In another help archive distributed today. Apple says the crash recognition feature is intended to recognize serious car crashes. Like front-impact, side-impact, and rear-end impacts or rollovers involving sedans. Minivans, SUVs, pickup trucks, and other passenger cars.
Crash Identification is on naturally. You can switch off alerts and automatic crisis calls from Apple after a serious car crash in Settings > Crisis SOS. Then switch off Call After Extreme Crash. In the event that you have outsider apps enrolled to identify crashes on your gadget, they will in any case be advised.
Where is the safest place in a car?
Basically stated, the center seat is the furthest from impact during a crash, as well as the furthest away from air bags. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) suggests that all kids younger than 13 ride in the back seat, ideally in the middle.
You can also open the Apple Watch app on your iPhone, tap My Watch, tap Crisis SOS, then turn on Fall Recognition. Note: On the off chance that you switch off wrist location, Apple Watch will not automatically attempt to call crisis benefits even after it has recognized a hard impact fall.


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Shares of Hyde-based online retailer Findel plc fell 4.5% after it said its revenue rose 11.3% to £457 million in the 53 weeks to March 31 — but it made a loss of £59.4 million amid a number of one-off charges.
Findel said adjusted profit before tax from continuing operations fell 10.5% to £22.2 million “following investment for future growth and digital transformation in both businesses.”
It said its Express Gifts business produced a strong sales performance driven by an increase in new customers, but Findel Education had a “challenging year in a difficult market.”
Findel shares fell to around 192p to give it a current stock market value of around £166 million, according to Bloomberg data.
Findel chairman Ian Burke said: “The group incurred individually significant charges totalling £82.2 million, primarily relating to the cost of refunding customers for their purchase of financial services products from us in the past, onerous leases, impairment of intangible assets and additional provisions from the adoption of our new bad debt provisioning model.
“As such, the loss before tax for the year was £59.4 million.
“It should be noted that the vast majority of the indivudally significant items recorded in the year do not lead to any incremental or accelerated cash outflows.”
Burke said the impact of higher input costs from the depreciation in sterling since the Brexit referendum would “feed its way through the sector” in the coming months.
“We are working hard with our suppliers and continue to review our internal cost-base to maintain Express Gifts’ proposition as a leading online value retailer,” said Burke.
“The general level of uncertainty arising from recent events and the start of the Brexit process, inevitably, is impacting consumer confidence.
“However, any weakening in this confidence would be expected to lead to value retailers such as Express Gifts gaining market share.
“Therefore, we remain confident in the opportunities for growth in our business.”


text: 25.11.2011 Category: Weekly Reads « Previous Next » What we read this week (25 Nov) Written by: Peter Tags: chilling effects, content, Facebook, freedom of speech, mobile payment, NFC, privacy, sharing, tech Payment isn’t the future of NFC, Facebook is ruining sharing, privacy online is hard (so here are a few pointers), the US are building a firewall and Amber Case shares her mind-blowing tech setup. Enjoy! Why payment isn’t the future of NFC Janne Jalkanen knows a things or two about NFC. Before becoming the CTO of the up and coming Finnish startup Thinglink, he worked for Nokia and was there known as ‘The Godfather of NFC’. Here he muses about why mobile payment is by far not the most interesting way to use NFC and what he hopes for that will come out of this technology. (➟ Instapaper) CNET: How Facebook is ruining sharing Molly Wood share a very good analysis of the new “frictionless” sharing mechanisms in Facebook. They might not be such a good idea after all, and it’s obvious already that they make us more hesitant to click on links inside the social network. (➟ Instapaper) Facebook is Gaslighting the Web. We Can Fix It Anil Dash with a scathing analysis of Facebook’s content sharing policies: Facebook has moved from merely being a walled garden into openly attacking its users’ ability and willingness to navigate the rest of the web. The evidence that this is true even for sites which embrace Facebook technologies is overwhelming, and the net result is that Facebook is gaslighting users into believing that visiting the web is dangerous or threatening. (➟ Instapaper) Debating Privacy in a Networked World for the WSJ Researcher Danah Boyd shares indepth insights into the way privacy works online, and gives pointers for companies to get it right. (➟ Instapaper) NYTimes: Firewall Law Could Infringe on Free Speech Rebecca MacKinnon, founder of Global Voices, summarizes the damage the so-called Stop Online Piracy Act would have – a bill discussed in the US House of Representatives that would emulate China’s system of corporate “self-discipline,” making companies liable for users’ actions. The burden would be on the Web site operator to prove that the site was not being used for copyright infringement. The effect on user-generated sites like YouTube would be chilling. (➟ Instapaper) The Setup of Amber Case True geeks that we are, we love to learn how our peers set up their technology infrastructure. UseThis asked UX Designer and Cyborg Anthropologist Amber Case about her tech setup, and it’s absolutely fascinating. Mind=blown. (➟ Instapaper) HBR: The Question That Will Change Your Organization Polly Labarre with a great reminder why questions rule. (➟ Instapaper) Everything is a service Service is kinda big these days, nothing new here. But Dave Gray of Dachis Group has written a big article, connecting a lot of dots and giving a great overview about the change in our economy. (➟ Instapaper) HBR: What I Learned Building the Apple Store Ron Johnson, CEO of J.C. Penney and former senior VP for retail at Apple, about how you don’t need Apple products to be successful in retail. (➟ Instapaper) On Systems and Strategy Clay Parker Jones, another brilliant mind at Undercurrent, “explores the features of adaptable systems and puts forward four key things that will help you design strategies that don’t suck.” He looks at a lot of real world systems and how their creators try to fail proof them (sometimes without success). (➟ Instapaper) Luddite legacy Technology is now killing jobs faster than it’s creating new ones. And more and more, the machines don’t even need workers to operate them. The only way to create new jobs today is to go for the things that “make people human”. (➟ Instapaper) Btw. we really like what Evernote has done with Clearly, a Chrome extension that, similar to Readability, allows you to read content on the web in a much more comfortable fashion. If you read the articles above in Chrome, we highly recommend using Clearly. 25.11.2011 Category: Weekly Reads « Previous Next » Stay up-to-date with what we do and what we read. Subscribe to our newsletter.


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The owners of two groups operating many of the video gambling establishments in strip malls and other locations across Illinois have sued the Illinois Gaming Board, arguing one board policy and two provisions of the state’s 2009 Video Gaming Act are unconstitutionally depriving them of the chance to negotiate better business deals for a larger share of the revenue they generate.
Illinois Café & Services Company LLC, which runs the Dotty’s Café chain, filed a complaint April 4 in Cook County Circuit Court along with co-plaintiff, Laredo Hospitality Ventures LLC, which operates the Stella’s and Shelby’s branded establishments. They say they own hundreds of small gaming cafes, among more than 5,800 Illinois establishments licensed to host video wagering machines.
The complaint says the state law forces establishments that want to offer video gaming to contract with “terminal operators” — companies that install the actual game machines — and mandates “they split the profits of video gaming without taking into account their relative investments, expenses and efforts; and then forbids them from freely negotiating the terms of their legislatively imposed joint venture.”
According to the complaint, the state law has two flaws — a prohibition on locations with gaming licenses from serving as their own terminal operator and a stipulation that post-tax profits be split 50-50 between licensees and terminal operators.
The board’s Feb. 1 advertising and promotions policy, the complaint contends, was “issued without following proper procedure and untethered to any actual legislative grant of authority (and) arbitrarily restricts the parties’ ability to share or negotiate business-essential costs.” They say the policy dictates how terminal operators and licensees can pay for “certain essential operating expenses” like free food and drinks for patrons, as well as advertising.
Further, they say the policy favors terminal operators by eliminating many types of business deals under which the parties used to share costs.
A press release the companies issued cited a revenue analysis indicating the law, which they argue violates due process and equal protections clauses of the state and federal constitutions, costs businesses as much as $150 million annually, about $25,000 a year for an average gaming bar or restaurant.
Unlike establishment owners and gaming licensees, terminal operators, the complaint states, don’t have a role in monitoring or ensuring the integrity of video gaming. Further, the state law “imposes no special or heightened licensing review on them” and the operators aren’t authorized to do repair work or maintenance on a terminal’s interior components without a Gaming Board representative present. So if a machine breaks, the establishment owner can’t fix it, losing potential revenue.
“I can think of no other industry where, by law, a business is forced to give up 50 percent of their profits and is strictly prohibited from even trying to negotiate better terms,” said attorney Dan K. Webb, of Winston & Strawn, whose firm filed the complaint, in the press release. “This law is not only unconstitutional, it provides a gravy train of unearned cash for big gaming businesses that make little investment in Illinois.”
The companies want the court to declare the dual licensure and profit diversion facets of the state law to be declared unconstitutional and to enact preliminary or permanent injunction on their enforcement. They also want the court to invalidate the advertising and promotions policy, both on the ground the board didn’t comply with the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act in installing the policy, as well as on the ground it exceeds the scope of the Video Gaming Act because the board lacks the statutory authority to enact such a policy.
Also at issue under that policy is allocation of revenue from automated teller machines that double as gaming winning redemption machines, a decision the businesses say was “arbitrary and capricious.”
The Dotty’s, Stella’s and Shelby’s branded gaming café-style establishments have sprung up rapidly throughout Illinois in recent years, beginning in Chicago’s suburbs about four years ago.
The business model, which sets video gambling terminals amid a café-like setting, allows patrons to wager on the terminal games while eating a light meal, or drinking coffee, soda, beer or wine.
According to published reports, the concept mirrors one established in other states, such as in Oregon, where the Dotty’s brand was cultivated by CEO Daniel Fischer under the corporate name of Oregon Restaurant Services Inc.
In Illinois, Fischer has run his Dotty’s-branded establishments under the corporate identity of Illinois Café & Service. According to state records, that company has enlisted the help of Michael Best Strategies, a lobbying firm associated with the Michael Best and Friedrich law firm, to lobby Illinois governmental officials.
According to Michael Best Strategies’ website, its Chicago office is led by Chip Englander, who served as campaign manager for Gov. Bruce Rauner. Others in the Michael Best Chicago office include David Ramirez, who also served in a leadership post on Rauner’s campaign, and Stephanie Vojas, who has worked for the Illinois Trial Lawyers Association and for Illinois Senate President John Cullerton.
As Dotty’s has expanded, so, too, have the Stella’s and Shelby’s brands under Des Plaines-based Laredo Hospitality Ventures.
That company is operated by CEO Gary Leff, who also founded and operates the Stir Crazy Fresh Asian Grill restaurant chain.
According to published reports, Leff received investments for the Laredo venture from at least two of his former college roommates, including Andrew Bluhm, son of billionaire Neil Bluhm, who operates Rivers Casino in Des Plaines along with other properties through his company, Rush Street Gaming, and Greg Carlin, Rush Street Gaming’s CEO.
When the investments were disclosed in 2015 by Unite Here, a labor union seeking to organize workers at Rush Street’s properties, Carlin told the Chicago Tribune the investments in Laredo represented a “personal and passive” transaction involving college roommates, even as they remained “totally committed to protecting Rivers Casino and… the industry and the Illinois Casino Gaming Association's work to curtail the expansion of casino cafes in Illinois."


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The ILSI Newsletter is designed to give readers updated information on recent ILSI activities, upcoming events and proposed programs.
June 2023 - The ILSI Federation just released its newsletter on food contaminants. With this edition of the newsletter, ILSI places food safety at the heart of the global discussion on healthy food for all.
March 2023 - The ILSI Federation just published a newsletter pertaining to sustainable nutrition, a complex concept at the crossroads of culturally relevant dietary habits, education, new technologies, the next generation of foods and personalized nutrition.
January 2023 - The ILSI Federation has released its first newsletter pertaining to risk analysis, an internationally accepted framework encompassing risk assessment, risk management and risk communication activities, and originally fostered by WHO to ensure that foods are safe.
September 2022 - The ILSI Federation has released its first newsletter on the Challenges and Innovations Impacting the Sustainability of Agri-Food Systems. From the landscape of sustainability in Brazil, Latin America and Australasia, to developing innovative digital technologies in Europe, this newsletter encompasses a variety of regionally relevant topics.


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Cheap gas could help pay for trips to France
Cheap gas bills could allow Britons who have felt strapped for cash to book themselves a summer holiday in France.
A break in France may be made even more affordable by those who decide to travel to the country by train.
The Association of European Rail Agents (AERA) has said many Britons will choose the train over other transport, especially because of the convenience of travelling directly from one city to another.
Money saved from cheap gas bills and from booking train tickets in advance could be put towards meals out to try the French cuisine, as well as day trips to old churches and cathedrals.
Toni Rixson, chairperson of AERA, said when holidaymakers fly they have to travel to and from the airport, which can add a lot of time on to journeys.
Cash-conscious consumers could save even more money by not having to worry about luggage charges and high-fare taxi rides to their accommodation.
Eurostar recently revealed more than 84 per cent of Britons would probably or definitely choose high-speed rail over air when planning their next visit to the continent.
Click here to run an energy price comparison, and see if you could be paying less for your gas and electricity.


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With the series' 50th anniversary in full swing, the BBC's iconic sci-fi franchise celebrates five decades as a global phenomenon and brand licensing juggernaut.
U.S. interior designer Emma Gardner has appointed Boom Licensing to develop her home décor brands in Europe.
LazyTown has teamed up with the American Heart Association for a character appearances at Heart Walks across the U.S.
Zodiak Kids has named Scholastic as the North American master publishing partner for its preschool show “Tickety Toc.”
FremantleMedia has announced a number of new licensees for its TV and fashion brands in France.
Major League Baseball Properties has teamed up with The Cloudbreak Group and Firmenich for a fragrance featuring the New York Yankees.
LIMA and Advanstar Licensing are bringing together four of licensing’s foremost experts for a keynote panel to kick-off Licensing Expo 2013.
Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment and DC Entertainment have launched the new console game, “Injustice: Gods Among Us.”
Dimensional Branding Group has appointed two new sub-agents for the app property Temple Run in China and Australia.
Consumer Strategies has signed on to build a merchandising program around celebrity chef and TV personality Susan Feniger.
SEGA Europe has announced a series of new partners for Sonic the Hedgehog in France.
Animal Planet has teamed up with Perfetti Van Melle to raise funds to save the black rhino with products featuring Chupa Chups and Mentos.
Sanrio has teamed up with Blik for a new line of Hello Kitty wall graphics.
Viacom has finalized a deal with LeapFrog Enterprises to bring Nickelodeon content to LeapFrog devices in the U.K., Ireland, Australia, New Zealand and Canada.
HBO Global Licensing is ready to debut a merchandising program for its hit series, "Girls."
DreamWorks Animation has partnered with D3Publisher for a video game inspired by its upcoming feature film, The Croods.
Ravensburger has signed on to create jigsaw puzzles featuring the preschool series "The Hive" in the U.K., in a deal brokered by Space Enterprises.
Twentieth Century Fox Consumer Products has appointed European Licensing Company to oversee its brands in Central and Eastern Europe and Russia.
Dimensional Branding Group has appointed Lisle International as sub-agent in the U.K. and Eire for Imangi Studios' mobile game, "Temple Run."
The Squaredy Cats toy brand has appointed Brandberry as its new global agent for all categories.
Flowers Foods has emerged as the "stalking horse" bidder for Hostess' bread brands in two new asset purchase agreements.
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