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PC makers need to stop treating gamers like children if they want to succeed, according to Lenovo VP of design Brian Leonard.
Leonard made the claim during a press briefing at IFA 2018 in Berlin, arguing the gaming market has matured and that the hobby is no longer a niche one.
“Nearly all the gaming devices you see kind of ugly. They all look like they’re designed for a 12-year-old. A lot of people don’t want a gaming device like that,” he said.
“Gamers aren’t just kids who live in their parents basement. They’re doctors, lawyers – regular people.”
Related: Best gaming laptops
He said the company worked hard to learn from competing companies’ mistakes when designing its latest Lenovo Legion Y730 and Y530 gaming notebooks.
“Legion should speak to a different type of gamer. We wanted to make something that you could take to a coffee shop and not get stared at, but then when you take it home and into the bedroom it becomes a savage,” he said.
“We wanted it to be stylish but have the power of a proper game station. We thought of it like a car. The experience comes from the dash, but the engine gives it the performance. I don’t need to see the engine, but I need to know it’s there and has the power I want.”
The notebooks were unveiled at E3 earlier this year and a marked step away from the company’s 2017 Legion laptops which Leonard said “used the old design”.
Related: Best PC games
Despite the change Leonard was vehement the Legion brand would always put performance first. When asked if the company would every push lower specced Legions with APUs, like Intel G-Series, or bottom end dGPUs Leopard told Trusted Reviews:
“One thing we want to do is make sure Legion has a certain bottom it won’t go below. We may put products like that elsewhere [with things like Intel G-Series], but Legion will always be about top-end gaming at its core.”
Intel G-series is a new CPU family that pairs the company’s CPU architecture with AMD Radeon graphics. The chips are surprisingly capable for gaming and easily run light titles, like Overwatch, at 60fps-plus in 1080p.
Lenovo isn’t the only company working to refine it’s gaming notebooks designs. Razer launched its new Razer Blade 15 laptop with similar aspirations earlier this year.
Agree with Lenovo or do you want your mobile gaming rig to have all the RGB lighting? Let us know on Twitter @TrustedReviews.


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Industry Vice President
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(Black PR Wire) – Norwalk, CT – JIS Miami opens its doors to the jewelry trade for the famous October Show, welcoming the largest attendance ever expected in its thirty six year history – for both the number of exhibiting companies and attending retailer buyers. Held at the Miami Beach Convention Center October 15-18, 2015, the October Show is the most important buying event of the year for jewelry retailers from Latin America, the Caribbean, Florida and many parts of the United States.
The growth and scale of the October 2015 Show is not by chance. With the acquisition by Reed Exhibitions – the world’s largest global trade show company and producer of all JCK Events - earlier this summer, the show has undergone a massive overhaul while maintaining all of its best characteristics that attract buyers and exhibitors; like its ideal South Florida location, timing, and the 18K Club for exhibitors offering 18K gold product. In addition to these fundamental attributes that have driven JIS success for years, a new list of features and amenities the jewelry industry has been craving for years - plus a number of things they couldn’t have imagined - have already been added to JIS by the new management team.
As stated by Reed Exhibitions’ Yancy Weinrich, Senior Vice President of Reed Jewelry Group, “Adding the JIS Shows to the Reed Jewelry Group portfolio is strategic in purpose, as we now have the ability to leverage our reach into expanded markets. With the acquisition, our access to Latin America, South America and Mexico has grown exponentially. With our increased resources we are able to bring key retailers from these regions to Miami for JIS while being able to provide dedicated programs for these markets at JCK & LUXURY in Las Vegas. Between the JIS events, JCK and LUXURY Shows, JCK Magazine and the new JCKOnline website, we are well-positioned to serve the jewelry industry year round with their buying and news related needs.”
Jordan Tuchband, Industry Vice President of JIS, is exceptionally excited for the JIS October Show and what the future holds now being a part of Reed Jewelry Group. After being with JIS for more than sixteen years, “JIS Miami has never seen a jewelry trade event of this magnitude with so many enticing new additions. Since the acquisition by Reed Exhibitions earlier this year, we have already witnessed a staggering amount of growth in the show. JIS Miami has always been a staple trade event in the jewelry industry, but now we are seeing more and more interest to attend and exhibit from our core regions of Latin America, the Caribbean, Florida, and many others from across the United States and beyond. It’s really impressive to watch the excitement spread in the industry about the show, and I’m counting down the minutes till we open the doors and welcome everyone to the greatest show in JIS Miami history.”
A sampling of the new additions to JIS Miami October include the launch of LUXURY Miami alongside JIS – bringing with it a collection of the most powerful jewelry and watch brands and retailers in the industry, the addition of the Plumb Club and its “Best in Class” exhibitors with its own lounge and business center, the new HKJMA Pavilion with relaxation lounge and afternoon cocktails, a multi-course restaurant called the Hidden Gem Café for an upgraded dining experience, new descriptive icons for an easier maneuvering of the show floor…the list goes on.
The October Show also debuts a can’t miss Special Event! On Friday, October 16 at 4:00pm in the Galleria Lounge, JIS and its entire community of exhibitors, attendees, and press will come together to celebrate with the first ever JIS Retailer of the Year Award. Retailers, nominated by the exhibiting community, were chosen based on a list of impressive criteria. Three finalists were then selected by a panel of industry experts and will be announced upon opening of the show on October 15 at 10:00am. The winner will be selected by their peers via on-site ballot voting – open to all show attendees. Ballot voting will be available from show opening until Friday, October 16 at 12:00pm. If you are attending JIS, we invite you to vote and join us for this inaugural celebration.
There is still time to register to be a part of this historical event. You can register directly at jisshow.com, by calling 1-800-840-5612, or onsite by providing the necessary credentialing documents. For a list of these documents and details regarding the show and registration, please visit jisshow.com.
About JIS Miami:
The Jewelers International Showcase (JIS) Miami was founded in 1979 to supply the jewelry trade markets of Latin America, the Caribbean, Florida and the southeastern United States with product in advance of the busiest buying times of the year. JIS Miami takes place three times a year – January, April and October – in the beautiful Art Deco district of Miami Beach, Florida. The October show is the second-largest jewelry trade event in the Western Hemisphere, with more than 1,250 booths from around the world offering high-quality merchandise at all price points. All JIS Miami shows are produced by Reed Exhibitions, the world’s leading event organizer with more than 500 events in 43 countries. For additional information on JIS, visit jisshow.com.

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I’ve got “Catch You Catch Me” running through my head right now. Such nostalgia!
2016 marks the 20th year since the first publishing of CLAMP‘s immortally popular shoujo manga, Card Captor Sakura. In celebration, CLAMP has announced a joyous celebration with a new manga project and many more!
Card Captor Sakura originally ran in Kodansha’s Nakayoshi in 1996. And now, their team has announced a new manga project, which, rumors say, isn’t a full-length series, and that’s totally fine with me. There’s no news on what the manga will be about or when it will be released, so everyone’s collectively still in the dark, LOL.
There are, however, a lot of other things going on that will surely tickle the fancy of every Card Captor Sakura fan. An artbook compilation will be shipped out March 24 of this year and Animate will be holding themed cafes in six stores starting April 1.
They’ve also re-printed the manga last year and re-arranged it in nine volumes, yay!
So exciting! How I wish to be in Tokyo right now!


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One of Toyota’s best-selling models is coming back. With a lot of great improvements, new 2016 Toyota Camry will continue to challenge the competition.
CHANGES AND IMPROVEMENTS
This midsize family vehicle is expected to come to the market with a new design. We will see some great changes, both on the inside and on the outside of the new model. From the outside, the car will look elegant and modern. New Camry will be longer in size, with sharper body lines. Some of the changes will include a redesigned trapezoidal grille as well as new headlights and taillights. The cabin will be spacious, thanks to the longer wheelbase, and it will provide high level of comfort for its passengers. High-quality materials will be seen throughout the cabin. New 2016 Toyota Camry will also be equipped with a lot of great features such as Bluetooth connectivity, USB, wireless charging, and many more.
2016 TOYOTA CAMRY ENGINE AND PERFORMANCE
When it comes to the engine of the new 2016 Toyota Camry, we will be presented with a few options to choose from. Base model will be equipped with a smaller engine, compared to the previous generation. This will be a 1.5 liter turbocharged inline-3 engine. Another option for the engine of the new Camry will be a 3.5 liter V6 unit that will be able to produce 286 horsepower and around 248 lb-ft of torque. Both of these engines will be paired with a 6-speed automatic transmission system and come with a front wheel drive system as a standard. Fuel consumption is expected to be significantly improved as well. Toyota will continue to offer a hybrid version of the Camry. This model will continue to be equipped with a 2.5 liter Atkinson-cycle engine that will be capable of delivering up to 160 horsepower and around 150 lb-ft of torque. Fuel consumption for this engine will be at 40 mpg.
RELEASE DATE AND EXPECTED PRICE
Toyota has not yet announced the official release date for their new model but we can expect to see this great sedan on the market at the end of 2015 or at the beginning of 2016. Price for the new 2016 Toyota Camry is anticipated to be in the range of $23,000 to $28,000.


text: Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd. estimated its operating profit jumped 47 percent in 2013, thanks to reduced costs and improving business with consumers and enterprises, the Oriental Morning Post reported on Thursday. Huawei forecast of 28.6 billion yuan to 29.4 billion yuan (4.8 billion U.S. dollars) in unaudited operating profit in 2013, said chief financial officer Cathy Meng was quoted as saying on Wednesday. Revenue of the telecom equipment maker is estimated between 238 billion yuan and 240 billion yuan in 2013, up about 8.6 percent, but lower than its earlier projection of 10 percent growth. The improvement came despite setbacks in the United States and Australia and a cyber security investigation in Britain. Huawei has sought business in developing markets and Europe and made progress in building a 4G mobile network in Europe, Meng said, attributing the performance to growth in both consumer and enterprise business, plus cuts in management cost. Meng predicted annual revenue growth of 10 percent in the coming five years, including 2014. Huawei plowed back 33 billion yuan, 14 percent of its sales revenue, into research and development in 2013, consistent with its policy. The firm spent 153.9 billion yuan on research from 2004 to 2013. Huawei, based in Shenzhen, is the world's second largest supplier of telecom-networking equipment, after Sweden's Ericsson. To stay up to date with the latest China news, follow XHNews on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/XHNews and Xinhua News Agency on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/XinhuaNewsAgency.


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Twinkies made a sweet but surprising comeback Friday, hitting store shelves three days before the official relaunch. And it delighted customers at the Chatsworth Ralphs in the 21000 block of Devonshire Street.
A pallet by the meat department stacked with the treats was a popular attraction. “People are very excited and happy. We have them and Ding Dongs in the variety pack. They are coming back as strong as ever,” said a store manager, who asked not to be identified.
“I’ve been hearing people say, ‘Oh, my God, they’re here,’ ” he said. “And it’s more adults than kids. That brand has been around for a while.” The manager could not resist a Twinkie or two, either. “I got two packages. I’m almost out.”
Kansas City-based Hostess Brands had planned a Monday return but didn’t seem to mind that Ralphs, Wal-Mart and some others retailers were stuffing their shelves early.
“We are thrilled with the overwhelming response and loyalty in connection with Hostess’ historic comeback,” the company said in a statement, adding that demand is running several times ahead of prior years’ levels so the spongy, yellow cakes were shipped to warehouses of every major retail customer across the country well in advance of the official rollout.
Hostess also shipped thousand of “ready to display” pallets to many retailers
The “shipments were coordinated to give everyone the same opportunity to display the product on July 15.” But some retailers just wouldn’t wait. Wal-Mart, the world’s largest retailer, announced Friday that the cakes were available in about 1,600 stores and that about 3,000 of its 4,000 U.S. stores should have them by Sunday morning.
“The product was in our distribution centers, and we went out early,” said Veronica Marshall, a spokeswoman for Wal-Mart.
Marshall said Wal-Mart had worked with Hostess to make special packaging with the words “First Batch” available exclusively at its stores.
Kroger, which owns Ralphs, Fry’s Food and Drug Stores and Food 4 Less, also said the cakes were available in about a quarter of its more than 2,400 stores Friday and that the figure would expand over the weekend.
Hostess went bankrupt late last year, after years of management turmoil and a standoff with its second-biggest union. The company sold off its various brands, with Twinkies and other Hostess cakes going to private equity firms Apollo Global Management and Metropoulos & Co., which is known for fixing up ailing brands, then selling them for a profit.


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After nearly a decade at NE 40th and Sandy Boulevard, Laurelwood Pizza Company, the first public house property in a successful branch of pubs, will be closing its doors for good. The Hollywood District brewpub was at the forefront of the family friendly, organic and sustainably minded model that we see today at their other locations and at places like Hopworks Urban Brewery (HUB). In fact, HUB’s founder and brewmaster, Christian Ettinger cut his teeth putting out some nationally recognized award winning beers at Laurelwood Pizza. Moreover, Ettinger was brewing beer in this space before Laurelwood took over, In over a year prior to Laurelwood’s run began in 2001, the young brewer was producing beers for Old World Pub & Brewery. “I basically started in the ashes of a failed brewpub. I was hired to help develop (Old World).” said Ettinger in a past interview. “It went out of business and Laurelwood opened on the same site and took over the lease. And I represented the landlord for that space just to show the tenants what kind of potential that place had. I saw that it was really underutilized by the former management. You can see what happened with a good operator and with good beer.” In 2003, Laurelwood acquired current brewer Chad Kennedy who brewed with Ettinger and eventual took the reigns at their brewmaster. The addition of Kennedy proved a seamless transition and his role in the company is undoubted as invaluable as anyone’s at Laurelwood.
As it turns out, the current landlord has been trouble for Laurelwood, and this is big part of the decision to move on. Laurelwood co-founder Mike De Kalb says the brewpub signed a 10 year lease with options. “We never got along (with the landlord) since probably day number 30” says De Kalb. “It’s too bad, but we’re moving forward.” De Kalb and company recently finalized the sale of Laurelwood Pizza to a brewery from Utah known as Sun River Brewery. After Monday July 5th, 2010, the business will change hands. As a final hoorah and thanks to all of the patrons who made the family establishment a success, Laurelwood will be offering happy hour prices all night.
In a recent newsletter email, Laurelwood made the following statement:
For many of us the original Laurelwood Public House and Brewery on NE 40th and Sandy Boulevard was our first Laurelwood home. We opened in March of 2001 and in 2007 when we took the main production facility and pub up the street, the 40th location became Laurelwood Pizza Company. We have had a great run with so many great memories and great beers! We feel so fortunate that we have made so many friends and literally watch many of our employees and customers children grow up. For nearly ten years you have helped us make Laurelwood a staple in not only the Hollywood District but also all of Portland and we want to say thank you. So this Monday, July 5th from 5pm-10pm we want to invite all of you to come out and raise one last pint of beer with us in memory and in honor of all the great times we had at our original brewery! Thank you all for so many great years!
As you probably know, July is Oregon Craft Beer Month and Laurelwood has a lot planned. De Kalb says two of the biggest events include a firkin and cheese pairing on July 7th at Laurelwood’s NW 23rd Ave Public House and a Luau to happen on July 28th at their NE 51st and Sandy Blvd brewpub.
For a list of more events happening at Laurelwood, visit www.laurelwoodbrewpub.com


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Bed, Bath and Beyond is closing 140 stores nationwide, including 11 in Illinois. A previous article published in CARDINAL NEWS on February 1, 2023 did not include the Kildeer store on the list of Illinois stores closing.
The struggling retailer announced in late January 2023 that it is in default on its loans.
The store locations in Chicagoland that are closing are located in Chicago, Gurnee, Joliet, Kildeer, Schaumburg, and Vernon Hills. Downstate Illinois stores that are closing are located in Bourbonnais, Champaign, Fairview Heights, Quincy, and Carbondale.
Bed Bath & Beyond became a massive homegoods retailer with a decentralized structure and a focus on keeping customers happy. Bed Bath & Beyond was best known for its generous coupon policy, but critics say the once ubiquitous chain ignored the threat from newer, nimbler online rivals like Amazon (CNBC).
Bed, Bath and Beyond (BBBY=17.28/Yahoo! Finance) at Randhurst Village in Mount Prospect was set for closure in 2019 — a disappointment to many shoppers from Mount Prospect, Arlington Heights and Prospect Heights. Bed, Bath and Beyond announced in early October 2019 that 60 stores would be closing, and Mount Prospect was one of the locations set for closure. Initially, company officials did not provide a list of the 60 stores that are closing, but officials in Mount Prospect confirmed the Bed, Bath & Beyond at 1057 North Elmhurst Road was closing. The closure occurred about the time of the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Bed, Bath and Beyond was the third major store to close their doors at Randhurst Village, since the completed conversion of the Randhurst indoor mall to the outdoor “lifestyle center” format of Randhurst Village in 2011.
Sports Authority moved from Arlington Heights to Mount Prospect in August 2010, but the company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in March 2016. The Mount Prospect Sports Authority, located next door to Bed, Bath and Beyond, survived a round of store closings in March 2016, but Sports Authority closed all of its 450-plus stores in May 2016.
Carson Pirie Scott closed in June 2018 after operating at Randhurst for over 50 years — surviving the first round of Carson’s closures in February 2018, a move from their original location to the empty Wieboldt’s location, and the conversion of the indoor version of Randhurst Mall to the outdoor version of Randhurst Village from 2008 to 2011. The indoor mall version of Randhurst had opened in August 1962 with anchor stores Montgomery Ward, Wieboldt’s, and Carson Pirie Scott. JC Penny and Montgomery Ward closed their Randhurst stores in 2001. Kohl’s moved out of Randhurst to Elmhurst Road and Dempster Street in 2003. Steve and Barry’s sports and casual clothing store closed at Randhurst in September 2008 in the midst of the conversion.
In 2022, Bed Bath & Beyond had less than 1,000 locations. When the Mount Prospect store closed, Bed, Bath and Beyond had over than 1,500 stores in the United States, Puerto Rico, Canada and Mexico. There were 33 locations in Illinois. including Chicago, Chicago Ridge, Crystal Lake, DeKalb, Deerfield, Downers Grove, Forest Park, Gurnee, Kildeer, McHenry, Schaumburg, Skokie, Vernon Hills, Wilmette, and Willowbrook.
Cost Plus, Inc. – acquired by Bed, Bath & Beyond in May 2012 — operated as World Market and Cost Plus World Market, which was located at an outlot of Randhurst Village. There was immediate concern about the viability of Cost Plus World Market, and the store closed at the end of December 2020.
Cost Plus was sold to private-equity firm Kingswood Capital Management in February 2021. Currently the brand name World Market is owned by Front Burner LP with 242 locations in the United States, and seven locations in Illinois (Chicago, Crystal Lake, Evanston, Kildeer, Naperville, Oak Brook, and St. Charles).
From 1998, Bed, Bath & Beyond experienced growth in net income (peaking at $1.03 billion in 2013 after a dip in 2009 and 2010), but net income steeply and consistently declined beginning in 2014; and the first net income loss occurred in 2019.
In the store’s retail strategy, company leaders at Bed, Bath & Beyond were thrifty; individual store managers were allowed to make purchases to meet the demand of local communities; and Bed, Bath & Beyond became known as a category killer in housewares. Other category killers are Home Depot and Lowe’s in hardware; Petco and Petsmart in pet supplies; and Best Buy in electronics.
CNBC reported that Investor Activists entered the scene, claiming Bed, Bath & Beyond was poorly managed. The CEO and founders left the company, while rewarding themselves with fat compensation packages. CNBC also reported that thrifty upper management failed to invest in technology to create an efficient online presence to be competitive with online companies, such Amazon. The store was also criticized for having too many products in confusing displays in the store, making it vulnerable to showrooming, where customers arrive at the store to view products, but purchase the products online from another source at a less expensive price (sometimes on a mobile phone while standing in the store).
Management was also criticized by Activist Investors for making unnecessary acquisitions that distracted Bed, Bath & Beyond from its core business. Between 2002 and 2017 the company bought ten companies, including a baby products company, a company that sells health and beauty care products, and an interior design service. Some of these companies were connected to relatives of the co-founders.
The company clamped down on a liberal return policy and coupon deals. Activist Investors claim that Bed, Bath & Beyond needs to simplify its supply chain. The Activist Investors also recommend that the business improve its in-store experience by reducing clutter, and by creating in-store displays that encourage purchasing of products.
One question Mount Prospect officials need to be asking is why the Mount Prospect store is among the first to close, while Randhurst Village is a fresh new lifestyle center. Could it be the inconvenient access to shopping center? The Rand Road-Elmhurst Road-Kensington Road triangle is a highly inconvenient group of intersections at the southwest corner of Randhurst Village. The intersections are so congested that the Northwest Community Hospital Immediate Care Center had to install speed bumps in an effort to prevent speeders cutting through between Rand Road and Kensington Road and potentially hitting elderly, sick and injured patients entering and leaving the medical facility. The introduction of a new fire station with a driveway exiting on Elmhurst Road just south of the triangle is likely to make the traffic triangle a bigger nightmare as emergency vehicles exit the fire station and enter traffic that is already backed up.
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China is poised to replace Japan as the world's second-largest retail market by 2012, even as inflation slows some momentum from the consumer giant, a new report by TNS Retail Forward said.
Fashion is set to be a cornerstone of that growth, with homegrown and international names looking to tap into the market. By 2012, apparel and footwear sales are expected to reach $214 billion, a 71.2 percent rise from $125 billion last year, according to the study "Strategic Focus — China's Retail Landscape."
"I think that all anyone really wants in life is to have people understand us for who we actually are, despite everything," says Ruth Negga. The actress talks "Preachers" season 2 and more on WWD.com. #wwdeye (📷: Dan Doperalski)
"That's something that resonates with me too because I'm so locked into a number. If I go over that number it completely ruins my day so it's nice to get detached from the number on the scale." - Chelsea Handler on Kelly LeVeque's book "Body Love." #wwdeye (📷: John Salangsang)


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Owners throughout the Empire State ask for federal stimulus to help industry
Without a comprehensive relief package specifically for restaurants, 89.7% of New York’s restaurant owners say that it will be very or somewhat unlikely that their establishments will be profitable in the next six months. This will force more restaurants to close their doors for good and put many New Yorkers out of work.
This information comes from the latest survey conducted by the New York State Restaurant Association (NYSRA).
“Our members have been courageously working and innovating to be successful in this changing landscape. We are forever grateful to the loyal New Yorkers who have supported their neighborhood and favorite restaurants, without whom this modest success would not be possible. Now we are urging the federal government and the New York State Legislature to show their support for this industry which plays such a vital role in our state’s economy,” said Melissa Fleischut, President & CEO of NYSRA.
The survey found that the financial impact has been devastating and the steps taken to provide relief at the federal and state levels will determine how and whether the restaurant industry will ever recover and thrive again. Here are some of the other significant findings from the survey:
- 93.6% of New York restaurant operators saw lower sales volume from April – July of 2020 as compared to last year. Many restaurant operators reported a decrease in sales volume from the previous year of 70% or greater.
- 91.8% of New York restaurant operators have been forced to furlough or lay off employees since the COVID-19 outbreak, and a majority of restaurant operators (54.7%) had to lay off or furlough 90-100% of employees.
- 74.2% of New York restaurant operators have no plans of hiring additional employees in the next 30 days.
- 18.6% of restaurants remain closed, either temporarily or permanently. For those still closed, the top reasons were a lack of business, lack of employees and limited or no indoor dining.
NYSRA members are asking for a relief package at the federal and state levels to help keep these important community resources viable and keep people employed. When asked on the survey what government could do to help their businesses to survive the pandemic, the top three answers were:
- Provide commercial rent relief
- Insist that business interruption insurance claims are paid
- Increase the capacity for indoor dining
“Our members are grateful for the leadership Governor Andrew Cuomo has shown in these trying times. But we’re still struggling. We are now asking the Governor, the state Legislature and those at the federal level to help us get back on our feet so we can keep our doors open and hire back the hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers that we had to let go. Give us an opportunity to succeed and be a positive impact on our economy,” added Fleischut.
NYSRA conducted this survey to gain a clear understanding of the current and ongoing impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on New York restaurants. More than 625 New York restaurant operators completed this survey in the first week of August.


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One of the most hated members of the beverage industry; bottled water makers don’t have it easy. Bottled water is one of the most popular drinks in the world among consumers, yet the market isn’t an easy game. A big hole in the market was seen by Ryan Emmons, founder of Waiakea Hawaiian Volcanic Water. That hole needed to be filled by his company, one with a base of socially conscious elements. Learn more about Waiakea Water: http://www.grubstreet.com/2017/01/whats-the-best-bottled-water.html?mid=twitter_grubst
According to PR News Wire, Waiakea water nailed every component by giving consumers a sustainable product that holds health benefits. The packaging is environmentally friendly and the company itself gives back to the community. As a young boy in an industry full of older men, Ryan Emmons needs to create a company that made consumers happy on multiple levels.
Within three years of its founding, Waiakea water achieved a 4,000 percent growth. For the 25 year old, that is no small feat. The company’s annual growth rate is around 170 percent. His small company began by selling a little over 2,000 cases each year to selling more than 122,000. Waiakea’s current value is estimated at around $10 million, the exact amount in miles of ocean that surrounds the source of Waiakea’s water.
Organic Authority has it that Waiakea springs their water from one of the most sustainable resources on the planet. Their water comes from the rain and snowmelt on the peak of the Mauna Loa volcano, in Hawaii. That water passes through almost 15,000 feet of volcano before it reaches the Waiakea facility. This journey gives the water a unique composition, full of potassium, calcium, and magnesium. It’s also packed with electrolytes and is naturally alkaline.
The company is also based on its social responsibilities. Waiakea shares their wealth with their charity partner, PumpAid. For every liter of water that is sold, Waiakea donates 650ML of water through PumpAid to give to African communities in need. Thus far, Waiakea has helped donate more than 500 million liters of clean water to underprivileged areas.
Waiakea water packaging is also eco-friendly. Not only is their packaging made entirely from recycled bottles, but it also takes almost 85 percent less energy to manufacture those bottles than any other company. Their water source replenishes itself every 30 days, at a recharge rate of 1.4 billion gallons of water per day.


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Google gets patent for advanced display settings based on battery life
This patent is a pretty cool one, because it's finally something that's at least a little bit different. It's not just a patent for something that we've all seen, but rather Google has been granted a patent for advanced display settings based on battery life. And, "advanced" is the key word here, because we're not just talking about brightness.
Should be interesting to see this in action. The question now is whether or not this tech will be folded into Android's base. It seems likely that Google would put it into Android for all to enjoy, but we'll have to wait and see.


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Earl’s Bakery, at 21 Ninfield Road, Sidley, was sold to plumbers Dale Saunders Ltd for £242,000 freehold on July 24.
The former bakery comes with planning permission for residential conversion on the upper floors.
Dale Saunders, the owner of Dale Saunders Ltd, said he is looking to bring the building back to life over the coming weeks by refurbishing the commercial shop premises and redeveloping the upper floors to create homes.
After speaking to a number of residents about plans for the shop premises, Mr Saunders said he decided to post on Facebook asking for feedback from the community.
He said: “As an established Bexhill business that employs over 30 local people we are really keen for this project to add value to the village of Sidley and so we would appreciate some feedback and thoughts from the local community on what they think would be a good use for the building, specifically the shop premises.
“Our intention is to keep everyone updated on the progress of the renovation via regular social media posts, either via ourselves or through the local tradesmen and businesses that will be helping us.”
This week, developers have put forward plans to build flats above the former bakery.
In an application submitted to Rother District Council, developers are seeking planning permission to build a Mansard roof extension on top of 21 Ninfield Road, creating two flats in the new space.
Developers say the scheme aims to set a precedent for building housing on top of the existing shops in the street.
In the application, a spokesman for the developer said: “Our proposal, if successful, will be the first Mansard on this row of shops.
“However, the row of shops lends itself to such development. It is not widely overlooking or overlooked, and there is great advantage to utilising this previously unused space within the development boundary.
“If all other occupants [of Ninfield Road] were to undertake a similar proposal then there could be a total gain of 10 units, each with a two-bedroom property.”
The application also includes plans to convert the ground floor of building – vacant since the closure of Earl’s Bakery in July 2017 – from a café into shop space with a further one-bedroom flat to its rear.
Two more flats (already approved under a previous planning application) will be on the first floor of the building, bringing the total of flats in the building up to five.


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The New York Times on winemaker and sometime singer Jon Bon Jovi. “It’s a favorite in our household because you can drink it starting with lunch and into the evening, and we enjoy lots of it whenever we travel,” he said."
The San Francisco Chronicle on Amador County's rising profile. "Amador has an incredible quaintness to it,” says winemaker Paul Sobon, emphasizing the reasonable prices for bottles and tastings in the area."
USA Today on how Yellow Tail is splashing out on Super Bowl ads. "Anheuser-Busch has exclusive category commercial rights on the Super Bowl, meaning no other alcohol ads can air. So Yellow Tail has made local ad buys in 80 U.S. markets to get its Super Bowl commercial to most of the country, up from 70 markets a year ago."
The Guardian on how one of New Zealand’s most famous winemakers has angered critics by using grapes from Australia in its popular sauvignon blanc. "Wine behemouth Montana, which claims to have created New Zealand’s first bottle of Marlborough sauvignon blanc in the 1970s, started using Australian grapes as a cost-cutting measure."
Seven Fifty Daily on the impact of Phylloxera on the wine world. "This microscopic insect, native to the Mississippi Valley of the eastern United States, practically destroyed all the world’s vineyards once freed from its native land."
The Drinks Business on how to decode a wine list. "In theory, you are more likely to find something more interesting this way than if you had picked something off the first page, however it is by no means a bulletproof strategy."


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Sign in to your Car Throttle accountContinue with Facebook
The latest product of Maranello's One-Off programme is packed with visual references to the Ferrari back-catalogue
AMC may be best known for building strange-looking economy cars and years of financial hardship, but their AMX/3 prototype was one of the most exotic sports cars of the 1970s
While more hybrids are imminent, Ferrari has no interest in releasing an electric supercar for at least five years
Two drivers have been disqualified after seemingly having an impromptu race on the UK's M6 motorway
The new batch of content for Forza Motorsport 7's latest DLC pack is almost with us, and it includes a Honda Odyssey for some reason
Not only does this 769bhp track-munching supercar have Sebestian Vettel's signature on it, but it also has over $92,000 of optional extras
A dyno run carried out on a freshly run-in F90 M5 suggests that it could be putting out as much horsepower at the flywheel as a Ferrari 488!
This one-time display engine is theoretically fully operational but has never actually run, and your project car needs it immediately
Spotted at Ferrari's Fiorano test track, this 488 test chassis clearly pulls away with no noise at all, indicating a new-to-Ferrari layout of hybrid drivetrain
The F12 predecessor doesn't seem like a likely candidate for a drift car conversion, but it's hard to argue with the results of this oversteer-happy monster...
Maserati has fitted its SUV with a 3.8-litre twin-turbo V8, giving a 0-62mph time of just 3.9 seconds
YouTuber Tyler Hoover's 'bargain' F355 doesn't need major work to fix, but that doesn't mean it's a cheap job...
A 'rogue landlord' had his 458 Spider seized by police and crushed last year, and today footage of the car's untimely death has emerged on YouTube


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All of those users who have been waiting to kick the tires on Windows Vista Service Pack 1 (SP1), it’s time to start your engines – well … almost. While it’s not quite ready for prime time yet, the general public will be able to get its hands on the latest test copy in the next few days, the company says.
Microsoft also released the first service pack for Office 2007 on Tuesday, and in a sign that Microsoft may also be readying a broad public test of Windows XP SP3 soon, the company posted documentation of what’s coming in SP3. Officials also posted similar documentation of the changes made in Vista SP1.
This week Microsoft will release the latest “release candidate,” or RC, of Vista SP1 to the public for the first time. Test releases of SP1 have been in some customers’ and partners’ hands since this fall, but the audience was limited to about 15,000 testers up until now.
Last week, the company made Vista RC1 available to Microsoft Connect, Microsoft Developer Network (MSDN), and TechNet subscribers, and announced general public availability of the test version will come sometime this week. (A Microsoft spokesperson Tuesday confirmed that remains the plan but was not able to provide a more precise date for the public test release.)
For something to read while you wait, Microsoft published a 17-page tome describing many of the fixes, improvements, and other changes coming in SP1. The Vista service pack is currently still scheduled to be released by the end of the first quarter of 2008.
Besides a myriad of bug fixes and reliability updates, SP1 adds support for exFAT, a new file system supporting “larger overall capacity and larger files, which will be used in Flash memory storage and consumer devices,” according to the documents. It also speeds up file copying operations from 25 percent to 50 percent. Slow file copying has been one of the most common complaints users have made about Vista since its launch at the beginning of this year.
Other additions in SP1 include a new compression algorithm for Remote Desktop Protocol sessions that’s meant to reduce streaming traffic by as much as 60 percent. SP1 also cuts the number of User Account Control prompts down to one from four when creating or renaming a folder at a protected location, the documents state.
As expected, Vista SP1 also includes changes to enable third-party desktop search engines – Google, in particular – to be more easily designated as the default search tool by users.
Although not as eagerly awaited as Vista SP1, Office 2007 SP1 does make some improvements to Microsoft’s premier productivity applications suite, including work to reduce crashes as well as to solve some performance issues.
“For example, SP1 addresses problems customers have experienced in Outlook 2007 when opening large mail files,” Microsoft Office product manager Reed Shaffner said in a statement. “We also did a lot of work to improve the reliability of the 2007 Office system’s server components with SP1.”
Meanwhile, although the same group of about 15,000 that’s been testing Vista SP1 recently got its hands on the preliminary RC of XP SP3, the service pack has not reached a broader public test group yet. However, some independent sites are already providing downloads of the XP SP3 RC code.


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The final piece of futuristic technology Facebook showed off at the "A Place to Connect" event wasn't actually there, mostly because it wouldn't have fit in the room. Nevertheless, the Aquila (pronounced uh-KEY-ah) drone project is aiming at connecting the world through unmanned flights at more than 60,000 feet.
Built in Somerset, England, the Aquila drone is huge, with a wingspan of 141 feet (hence its absence from the event). It is clad in solar panels, which generate energy which is stored. During the day, the drone falls in altitude, generating energy. As night falls, it starts to rise up to 60,000 feet in the air, using the energy it stored during the day. This is the plan, at least. So far the drone has only spent done 90-minute test flights, including one where it crashed on landing, causing "substantial" structural damage, according to Facebook.
The project started off as an independent consultancy company, named Ascenta. Facebook purchased the company for $20 million in 2014 -- a pittance when you think Instagram was acquired for $1 billion -- as a way to accelerate Internet connectivity in the developing world. Alphabet's X (formerly Google X) is also doing its own Internet connectivity project, Loon, which uses large hot air balloons to provide Internet to remote regions of the world, such as Africa, New Zealand, and parts of Asia and South America. (Watch: How Balloons Can Play a Role In Broadband Delivery.)
This might look like a well-meaning move by Facebook, and it is. There are other intentions, though: Aquila is part of Facebook Internet.org not-for-profit organization, bringing low-cost or free Internet around the world. Of course, since this Internet is provided by Facebook, Internet.org encourages users to use the social networking platform for just about everything, from messaging to gaming, news to buying and selling items.
The 'A Place to Connect' room. Sadly, the 141-foot Aquila drone was not present.
Facebook has 1.9 billion users around the world, but that number has plateaued in the last year or so as the Western World uses Facebook more and more. However, there are still 5 billion not on Facebook, and a little less than not connected to the internet. If these countries and its citizens can be connected to the Internet through Facebook, it will provide the next 2 billion on the platform, making it even more powerful than it already is, and generating a lot more revenue and therefore profit.
So while Facebook's drone is a great use of technology for good -- the company has previously said a drone could be deployed to natural disaster areas, giving those caught up in earthquakes or tsunamis vital internet connectivity -- it's ultimately for the advancement of Facebook as a platform. However, getting Internet-provider drones, or balloons from Google, up into the skies is still quite a way off. Despite that, it's great to see how technology initially developed for warfare is being used to make the world a more connected place, albeit through Facebook.


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Cisco Cius: iPad Killer Arrives
Ciscos B2B Legacy
Let's face it, Apple is an out-and-out consumer company. Many IT leaders have expressed hesitation at jumping on the iPad bandwagon for just that reason. Meanwhile, Cisco has been in the B2B space for years and it knows how to cater to enterprises. This will be a huge factor in pushing Cius out to the workforce.
Cisco made big news recently with its release of its own tablet computer, the Cisco Cius, designed for business users and collaboration. The tablet marks Cisco's debut in the client computer space, plus it pits Cisco against the ultra-popular Apple iPad tablet. Here's why the Cius may very well be an iPad killer.This article was originally published on 2010-07-15
In the channel, HP, Inc. is a storied vendor that has relationships...


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Monday, February 22, 2010A commentary from Hans Noeldner, an active member of the Madison Peak Oil Group:
Imagine the world’s largest, most powerful corporation brought to its knees, bankrupt, and begging for a bailout. Then think back…
Imagine that corporation spending untold millions in advertising to compel Americans to buy the biggest, baddest “armored personnel carrier” on the road.
Imagine the hundred million people (or thereabouts) who bought these gas-guzzling monstrosities – many of them safety-minded soccer moms who wanted to make damn sure that if there was an accident, the other guy would get the worst of it.
Imagine the steadily-escalating arms race on our nation’s highways and streets as motorist after motorist Escaladed his vehicular footprint in a never-ending quest to outdo the next guy.
Imagine how profitable this arms race was for that corporation; how it racked up billions in sales.
Imagine that corporation being one of the few in our nation which still employed union labor; one of the few which made a sincere effort to honor its pension obligations.
Imagine the consumer turning his back on that corporation when he woke up one day and realized that cheap motor fuel was not a birthright.
Imagine the consumer abandoning his “social contract” with the union employees and retirees whose salaries and pensions vastly exceeded the obscene “compensation packages” which the handful of corporate executives rendered unto themselves.
Imagine the consumer condemning that corporation for failing.
Imagine the consumer still fuming about the power of corporations to force him to drive everywhere.


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The limited number of $178 early-bird tickets for the Firefly Music Festival sold out Thursday in 20 minutes, festival organizers say.
Advance three-day passes for the festival, which will be in Dover on July 20-22, are now available for $198 here. When those tickets sell out, regular tickets will be priced at $218. All tickets will include service charges.
Organizers would not say how many tickets are allotted for each price level.
“We’re overwhelmed by the incredible response we’ve had during the first hours of ticket sales. It’s clear the East Coast is as excited as we are. Advance tickets are moving just as quickly as early bird,” Joe Reynolds, owner of Red Frog Events, the producers of Firefly, said in a statement released Thursday afternoon.
Firefly also sells VIP ($595) and Super VIP ($1,195) passes that get you perks like on-stage viewing for main stage shows, golf cart concierge between stages, access to an air-conditioned VIP lounge and complimentary massages.
In addition to the tickets, festival goers also can look at and book on-site lodging options, including camping, “glamping” and RV spots. One camping spot will fit four people. All lodging options are sold separately and require festival passes for access.
There’s a 10-ticket maximum for all orders. Tickets will be shipped out 3-5 weeks in advance in the form of a wristband.
More than 40 acts will perform on four stages across 87 acres during the three-day weekend. Thirty-eight of the acts have been confirmed including headliners The Black Keys, Jack White and The Killers.
R&B singer John Legend, psychedelic festival favorites The Flaming Lips and indie rockers Death Cab For Cutie are scheduled to perform along with acts like CAKE, The Wallflowers and Lupe Fiasco. About seven more acts are expected to be added in the coming weeks.


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Grocery store manager Eric Auth has been an environmentalist all his life, though he didn`t know it until recently.
He realized it last year when a local organization went over to Jerry`s IGA in Champaign, which Auth runs, and helped him start a program aimed at directing shoppers to buy items that won`t pollute or worsen the nation`s solid waste problems.
``When you stop and think about it, we`re all environmentalists,`` Auth said. ``We all rely on the environment to survive. We`re all concerned with the surroundings we have to live with. Now I`m becoming an activist.``
Auth doesn`t purport to be an ecology expert. But he has learned a lot in the process of sticking hundreds of little, day-glo hot-pink tags on store shelves beneath products considered better for the environment because they are recyclable, non-toxic or create less trash.
At Jerry`s IGA, one of a handful of ``green`` grocers nationwide involved in such programs, the attention-grabbing labels can be seen, for instance, beckoning shoppers to choose peanut butter and salad dressing brands sold in recyclable glass jars.
But the labels are conspicuously absent under products in plastic bottles to steer customers away from containers likely to end up clogging a landfill for centuries to come.
``Safer earth product`` say the labels urging shoppers to pick enzyme-based drain openers over caustic, chemical-based ones. Fly swatters are tagged a ``safer`` choice than poisonous insecticides.
Fruit juice in glass or tin cans is labeled ``recyclable,`` but not juice deemed to be overpackaged in cardboard boxes wrapped in cellophane.
Jumbo-sized cereal boxes are tagged with a label saying ``least waste packaging`` because they involve less packaging than several smaller boxes for the same amount of cereal. Most cardboard cereal boxes don`t rate a
``recyclable`` label, however, because plastic liners inside can`t be recycled.
``Thousands of people come here on a weekly basis,`` Auth said. ``They see the tags over and over, and it develops an awareness.``
Eco-shopping, the environmentalists call it. The idea is to educate consumers on how to reduce household garbage and toxic waste, said John Thompson, executive director of the Central States Education Center, a non-profit environmental group based in Champaign.
Much of what consumers buy at the supermarket-especially packaging-eventually winds up in the waste dump, taking up precious space in
landfills. Many household cleansers and pest sprays can contaminate groundwater if they wind up in a landfill or give off toxic fumes if burned in an incinerator.
Environmentalist Thompson developed the program, launched in September at Jerry`s IGA, as a model for other supermarkets and advised Auth on product labeling.
Jerry`s IGA at 312 W. Kirby, a 16,000-square-foot store on the edge of the University of Illinois campus, was picked because it already had been serving as a drop-off point for Champaign`s municipal recycling program for glass and aluminum.
Customers have been so enthusiastic that Jerry`s extended it to its two other, larger stores in Champaign-Urbana.
The fact that Champaign was involved in recycling makes the eco-shopping program more effective, Thompson said. It also played a role in determining which products were tagged.
``Some types of plastic bottles can be recycled in New Jersey,`` Thompson said. ``But we don`t have that here in Champaign so we don`t tag those types of bottles. A program like this has to be tailored to the local situation to be effective.``
Controversial items, such as ``degradable`` disposable diapers and garbage bags, weren`t tagged in order to steer customers away from them. Contrary to manufacturers` claims, many environmentalists insist there is no such such thing as degradable plastic. Alcohol-even in glass bottles-wasn`t labeled either, so as not to give buyers a message that drinking liquor was encouraged.
Wal-Mart and other retail chains have begun environmental labeling. But many environmentalists don`t consider the chains` programs effective because they often ignore the availability of local recycling options and identify so- called ``degradable`` plastic items, such as disposable diapers, as ecologically sound. Environmentalists urge use of cloth diapers instead.
``They`re making value judgments that are controversial. Degradability is an abused term,`` Thompson said.
So far it`s hard to tell exactly how much an effect the shelf-labeling is having on consumers` buying habits.
``I hear more and more people saying they`re trying to follow the labels,`` Auth said. In recent months, sales at the store have been up between 10 and 15 percent over a year ago, and while Auth isn`t sure eco-shopping is the cause of the improvement, he suspects the program may have played a role in bringing some customers back.
Thompson said the program would be evaluated after it`s been in place one year. ``Early indications show shoppers are shifting out of non-recyclable plastic and into glass,`` he said.


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Everyone is getting a MKIV Supra in Forza Horizon for Christmas
Toyota returns to Forza Horizon games on December 12th
You may have heard about this already, but it certainly bears repeating: Toyota is returning to Forza Horizon.
Legendary Toyota cars have been missing from popular video games except Gran Turismo since 2017. Everyone knew this was because of an exclusive licensing agreement except one person on Toyota's social media team. Toyota's Twitter account awkwardly implied that Toyota did not want its car used in games that "promote illegal street racing" in response to a tweet regarding their absence from Need for Speed: Heat. The tweet was deleted shortly after, but not before The Drive grabbed a screenshot.
Apparently, that exclusive license has now expired. I'd like to say Toyota is sort of apologizing to everyone by gifting a 1998 Supra RZ to Forza Horizon 4 players on December 12th, but this was probably all in motion before that regretful tweet. Hopefully this is the first of many Toyota and even Lexus cars returning to games like Forza and Need for Speed. I'm hoping my beloved supercharged AW11 MR2 is part of that list!


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O2 has launched a smartphone leasing service that allows Brits to get access to an Apple iPhone without an upfront cost.
For £55 per month consumers can get their hands on anApple iPhones 4S 16GB, 750 minutes of calls, unlimited texts, 500MB of mobile data and insurance (although its subject to a £60 excess for the first claim and £120 thereafter). Meanwhile, £65 per month ensures a 32GB Apple iPhones 4S can be leased.
After 12 months, they can return the handset and then lease another one or move to a different contract. O2 said if the phone is not returned, or is damaged or not in working condition when returned, customers will be subject to a charge. Furthermore, the mobile network recommends Brits protect the handset with a carry case.
O2 said the package "puts the latest smartphone technology into the hands of the people who want it" but with as few barriers such as upfront costs and two-year contracts, as possible.
"This is the first time a UK mobile operator has adopted a leasing model. We know that customers and small businesses are used to leasing everyday items from cars and washing machines to photocopiers and office space," said Sally Cowdry, marketing and consumer director for O2 UK.
"They understand how it works and what the advantages of a leasing are. We have simply taken this idea and applied it to the smartphone market."


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Smart columns with “Alice” are available now!
“Yandex” introduced a new smart speakers, developed in collaboration with companies DEXP and Irbis. The basis of Irbis columns A and DEXP Smartbox is the “smart” assistant “Alice”, making new items direct analogues “Yandex.The station”. One of the main advantages of the novelties is a small price — they are three times cheaper, than “Yandex.Station.”
HP A and DEXP Smartbox is the first smart speakers not from the “Yandex” voice assistant “Alice”. Both speakers are small dimensions and affordable price. Novelties will go on sale at a price of 3290 rubles. This is three times less than the cost of “Yandex.Station”, which is sold at a price of 9990 rubles.
In “Yandex” noted that column A and Irbis DEXP Smartbox have a less powerful sound than “Yandex.The station”. In addition, speakers cannot be connected to the TV via HDMI for watching movies and TV series. On the other hand, all the other features of the “smart” assistant “Alice” column support.
Smart Irbis column A and DEXP Smartbox will go on sale soon. The device will be available in DNS and “M. Video”.


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Nestlé S.A. today announced that it has reached an agreement to sell its regional spring water brands, purified water business and beverage delivery service in the U.S. and Canada to One Rock Capital Partners in partnership with Metropoulos & Co. for USD 4.3 billion. The Company's international premium brands including Perrier®, S.Pellegrino® and Acqua Panna® are not a part of the deal. The transaction is expected to close following the completion of customary closing conditions.
The sale includes the following brands in the U.S. and Canada, which had sales of around CHF 3.4 billion in 2019: Poland Spring® Brand 100% Natural Spring Water, Deer Park® Brand 100% Natural Spring Water, Ozarka® Brand 100% Natural Spring Water, Ice Mountain® Brand 100% Natural Spring Water, Zephyrhills® Brand 100% Natural Spring Water, Arrowhead® Brand Mountain Spring Water, Pure Life® and Splash. It also comprises the U.S. direct-to-consumer and office beverage delivery service ReadyRefresh®.
The agreement follows Nestlé's announcement last year that it would conduct a strategic review of parts of the North American waters division and sharpen the focus of its global water portfolio.
Commenting on the transaction, Mark Schneider, Nestlé CEO, said: "We continue to transform our global waters business to best position it for long-term profitable growth. This sale enables us to create a more focused business around our international premium brands, local natural mineral waters and high-quality healthy hydration products. We will also boost our innovation and business development efforts to capture emerging consumer trends, such as functional water."
Nestlé reiterated its commitment to make its entire water portfolio carbon neutral by 2025. In 2020, Nestlé announced renewed sustainability commitments which build on existing efforts to enhance water stewardship and tackle plastic waste.
PDF press releases:


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- Amazon says police can hold on to Ring videos indefinitely 2 Years Ago
- Henry Cavill on the prospect of playing Superman again: ‘the cape is still in the closet’ 2 Years Ago
- Why does Pete Buttigieg always tweet ‘buh’? 2 Years Ago
- Noah Hawley will direct the next ‘Star Trek’ movie starring Chris Pine Today 8:51 AM
- Vidgo is a streaming bonanza of live sports Today 8:40 AM
- Reap the benefits of CBD with these organic CBD tinctures Today 8:17 AM
- How to stream Hulu in 4K Today 7:12 AM
- The far-right is mobilizing to get Roger Stone pardoned Today 7:00 AM
- Artist Yumi Sakugawa uses Instagram to tackle creative shame Today 6:00 AM
- Is that Rosa Parks in random Twitter user’s baby photo? Tuesday 8:24 PM
- Syracuse students say white supremacist manifesto was AirDropped to them Tuesday 7:44 PM
- Florida woman gets prison time for throwing slushie at Matt Gaetz Tuesday 6:28 PM
- Marie Kondo’s online store slammed for selling clutter-worthy products Tuesday 5:34 PM
- People are rallying against toxic masculinity on International Men’s Day Tuesday 4:42 PM
- Reddit wants to stop its pro-Trump forum from outing the alleged whistleblower Tuesday 3:38 PM
To celebrate his 1 million YouTube subscribers, only three months after creating his own channel, Will Smith showed behind the scenes footage of his appearance this week on the Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon. He also introduced a SnorriCam that he wore around his waist during his visit.
Sure, you might have already seen the now-viral clip of Smith and Fallon performing a blazing sitcom medley. But now you can watch his appearance as if you were standing directly in front of Smith’s face the entire time.
Plus, look out for the drone that is flown to make Smith’s channel even more exciting.
As Smith apparently told Fallon backstage, he’s gone “YouTube stupid.” And maybe he’s right. But hey, at least we saw a view of the Tonight Show that we don’t normally get to experience.
Josh Katzowitz is a staff writer at the Daily Dot specializing in YouTube and boxing. His work has appeared in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, and Los Angeles Times. A longtime sports writer, he's covered the NFL for CBSSports.com and boxing for Forbes. His work has been noted twice in the Best American Sports Writing book series.


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By Jim Karpen on Mon, 11/11/2013
Now that the new iPads have launched, it's time to begin the next rumor cycle. And already there are increasing rumors Apple will introduce a larger-screened iPad in 2014. According to a post on AppleInsider, drawing on a Chinese website, the new iPad is in a late stage of testing and will have either a 11.4- or 12.9-inch display. The rumor has been around for several months, and even the Wall Street Journal has reported that Apple was working on an iPad with a display slightly less than 13 inches. Of course, when Apple announced the iPad Air, many speculated that the name change was part of a plan to introduce an "iPad Pro," following the naming conventions of the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro.
The speculation is that the larger iPad would be geared toward business, and would compete with Microsoft's Surface tablet, possibly even having a keyboard/cover option similar to that of the Surface. One thing's for sure. The new 64-bit A7 processor certainly gives the iPad the oomph to run powerful business-related apps.
According to a website I've never heard of, KpopStarz, Apple is targeting a March 2014 launch date, and Foxconn is now putting the final touches on the device.
Competition is starting to heat up among the larger tablets. Microsoft's new Surface 2 Pro tablet has a 10.6-inch display. Sony's newly launched VAIO Tap 11 has an 11.6-inch display and is only .39 inches thick. And the just-announced Dell Venue 11 Pro has a 10-6-inch display. All run Windows 8, and all have add-on keyboards.
It will be interesting to see how this area of the market develops.


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There’s no doubt that marketing is a lucrative endeavor. Every business needs to market itself in one way or another. Most businesses need assistance with developing and executing a successful marketing campaign, so running a marketing agency presents an interesting opportunity to capitalize on this demand.
That said, there are literally thousands of marketing agencies out there, with new ones popping up every day. This can make newcomers feel intimidated by the competition. So should people start a marketing agency in 2021? Entrepreneur and marketing guru Dylan Vanas thinks that the answer is “yes.”
Dylan Vanas on Why People Should Start a Marketing Agency in 2021
2020 was already a complicated year for most businesses. In addition to the competition from existing marketing agencies, the recent global climate has changed the way many industries operate. It has resulted in less revenue for marketing and advertising agencies. However, this doesn’t mean that the demand for marketing will suddenly drop off.
“With what happened to the world in 2020, businesses now understand that being online is no longer a luxury but it’s a necessity,” said Dylan Vanas. “A new wave of opportunity has arisen. It’s all the businesses that did not have a strong online presence pre-2020 that now know they have to fix it. 2021 will be a year of digital entrepreneurship like nothing else ever seen before.”
Dylan Vanas Thinks a Marketing Agency Is the Best Opportunity for People Wanting to Start a Business
While 2020 provided an important cautionary tale for some businesses, 2021 will be a great time to enter the field, catching a wave of opportunity. But that doesn’t mean people should drain their savings and throw everything they have into a new business. Instead, Dylan Vanas says to start small and grow as they learn more about the industry.
“As an entrepreneur, I’m not a huge fan of the ‘diving in headfirst’ approach to starting a business. Yes, you have to take on risk when you start a marketing agency, but you should start small and proceed with caution. Don’t make the same mistakes as other businesses that have had to close their doors last year. Remember, you don’t need a huge office and staff to start a marketing agency. You can start as a one-person operation and partner with a world-class team, like our white-label company Agency Box. The best way to learn is to learn from others, and a partnership is the easiest way to make that happen,” explained Dylan Vanas.
So should people start a marketing agency in 2021? Dylan Vanas says yes, but make sure to do research first. Those who don’t know how to do everything should partner with a company like Agency Box and let them lead the way. The events of 2020 have forced many businesses to change their marketing strategies, with many allocating more to digital efforts. Thus, those who want to get into business should start now, proceed with caution, and pick the right team to assist their growth.


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Phil Heasley retires from ACI Worldwide
After 15 years at the helm of ACI Worldwide, Phil Heasley has announced his retirement from the global paytech, according to the Payments Journal.
The announcement comes at a time when ACI is performing strongly and generating continued growth in the industry it entered in 1975.
“I announced that after an incredibly fulfilling 15 years with ACI […] that I plan to retire year-end as president, CEO and member of the board,” says Heasley.
Heasley adds that the board has been conducting a thorough search for his successor.
Before joining the company, he was chairman and CEO of Paypower. From 2000 to 2003, he was chairman and CEO of First USA Bank, the credit card subsidiary of Bank One. He spent 13 years in executive positions at US Bancorp, including six years as vice chairman and the last two years as president and chief operating officer.
Before joining US Bancorp, Heasley spent 13 years at Citicorp, including three years as president and COO of Diners Club. He served as chairman of the board of Visa USA from 1996 until November 2003 and was a member of the board of Visa International during the same period.
Heasley also serves/served, as a director of Fidelity National Financial, Ohio Casualty Corporation, Fair Isaac Corporation, Kintera, The Schwan Food Company and Public Radio International.
Phil would certainly be a member of the Credit Card Hall of Fame, a thought we mentioned several years ago. He impacted the payments industry from every perspective, from product design to operations and technology. He certainly left a lasting mark.
Now, he will be soon off to mastering marlin fishing in Naples, Florida, US.


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Beyond games intended for young men, new data shows which VR applications interest women and older Americans most
The first wave of YouGov’s Virtual Reality Syndicated Tracking Study made quite the splash, projecting that ownership of VR hardware amongst US adults would double from 6% to 12% over the recent holiday season alone. Additional research revealed that, if just half of consumers intending to buy a VR device sometime in the future make a purchase later this year, the VR industry could see revenues reach an estimated $6.7 billion in 2017.
The survey of nearly 3,000 US adults made another aspect of the emerging VR world rather clear: virtual reality, with all its promise and potential, will not be limited to young male gaming aficionados. Women and older Americans, for example, also show strong curiosity in the technology's many possibilities, along with a willingness to buy the latest equipment, from a VR headset to a VR-enabled Sony PS4 gaming console.
Everyone wants good VR games — no question about that. But beyond this much-anticipated application, women are more likely than men to express interest in using VR for health and fitness (26% to 17%), shopping (22% to 14%), and social media (16% to 14%). Around a quarter of both genders are drawn to the idea of taking virtual tours of homes, apartments, or hotel rooms.
Meanwhile, a significant percentage of consumers aged 45-64 show interest in using VR to watch films or TV shows (26%) and for training or simulation purposes (22%). Members of the 45-64 cohort are also slightly more likely than all other age groups to indicate interest in using VR to monitor or move through a physical location.
All this should be a call for application developers to reach further than just games. And this call could not come at a better time.
At present, the world of virtual reality is trapped in a vicious chicken-and-egg situation. On one hand, developers are unwilling to invest the large sums needed to produce high-quality VR games until the user base grows. On the other, potential users are reluctant to spend the money necessary to create a high-quality VR environment in their home until there are applications that justify the cost. Until this stalemate changes, application developers have a real opportunity to bring non-gaming activities (which are less expensive to produce) to the marketplace — a marketplace that's eagerly awaiting these very activities.
The second wave of YouGov’s Virtual Reality Syndicated Tracking Study should arrive soon. We are currently re-contacting past participants to see if they followed through on their intention to purchase VR hardware and applications. Additional questions will explore price sensitivity, present perceptions, future intentions, and satisfaction with products that consumers already own. Another area of interest involves the migration from mobile VR headsets to those tethered to a computer or gaming console.
No one interested in VR can afford to miss out on the insights provided by YouGov's Virtual Reality Syndicated Tracking Study. For more information, please contact Tom Fuller, at Tom.Fuller@YouGov.com.


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At the start of July VRFocus reported on Lionsgate teaming up with Los Angeles-based virtual reality (VR) company SilVRthread for an immersive experience based on upcoming movie NERVE. It was due to support Android, iOS and Samsung’s Gear VR, but at the time only the iOS version seemed to be available. Now the companies have confirmed the NERVE – Do You Dare app will fully launch this weekend on Oculus Store.
The movie’s plot revolves around a new app called NERVE, where users can choose to be a ‘Watcher’ or a ‘Player’. Players have to complete dares, the bigger and riskier the dare the more money they can win. While Watchers are the ones that see what other Players from around the world have already dared to do.
The initial announcement a few weeks ago revealed one of the dares available on the NERVE – Do You Dare app. Taken from a scene in the film, players have to walk across a ladder suspended between two tall buildings. Another dare has also been revealed where players take turns surviving a high-speed skateboard ride hitched to a police car. You can dare your friends to see who’s brave enough to complete the experiences.
“Our goal was to immerse fans directly into the thrilling action of NERVE’s insane ‘dare’ sequences, letting them experience these scenes from the same perspective as the characters on screen,” said David Edwards, VP of Digital Marketing at Lionsgate. “A first-person VR experience was the ideal format.”
“Every kid grows up wishing they could be the actor or stunt person in a movie like NERVE,” says Tai Crosby, Founder, SilVR Thread. “With the first-person point-of-view NERVE VR app, we are powerfully transporting people directly into the movie scene as their favorite actor. The adrenaline is immense.”
For all the latest VR news, keep reading VRFocus.


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It’s here! The bucking chutes at the Post Stampede are ready with a fresh coat of the signature red paint! And it’s time for the 79th Post Stampede Rodeo!
For more on this story, read The Post Dispatch this week, or subscribe to the pdf version online. ©Copyright 2019 The Post Dispatch


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Samsung has revamped the way it engages with the channel in areas such as training to help partners through the pandemic, B2B director Joe Walsh has told CRN.
Walsh said that Samsung moved quickly to avoid service disruption for partners.
"The way we have undertaken training has been radically reformulated in the way we deliver education around our portfolio to our partners," he said.
"We've launched virtual roadshows and we're providing virtual floor walks.
"We've also accelerated the launch of our brand-new partner programme, Samsung One, which is the ultimate tool to educate, communicate and incentivise our channel partner teams."
Samsung One launched last month and has been received well by partners, Walsh said.
The programme reverts to a tiered structure, with benefits for partners increasing as they move up through the different levels.
Samsung claims that the programme makes it easier for partners to interact with the vendor and comes equipped with dedicated B2B training material.
Walsh said that, in many ways, the way the tech industry has adapted to work around the pandemic has strengthened relationships.
"I've been staggered and thrilled by our ability to adapt and change, both in Samsung and also with our partners," he said.
"This year we've had to almost chuck the rulebook out and start again.
"Don't get me wrong, nothing beats collaborative, face-to-face meetings but one of the lessons I've learned is around the collaborative working behaviours achieved with our partners virtually.
"Things would have taken months to agree before, with countless emails going back and forth and various stakeholders needing to be aligned, but that has just dropped away.
"It's made our relationships more personal by the nature of speaking to someone in your front room with your children and pets running around. I believe it finally spells the end for email as the primary means for communication, with applications like Slack and Teams proving to be more effective."
Walsh revealed that Samsung has taken steps to help the NHS throughout the year, donating 2,000 rugged devices to NHS Nightingale Hospitals and proving a further 20,000 at cost.
"We also installed 35 sanitising machines in the Nightingale Hospitals which use ultraviolet radiation to sterilise things, and we sent mobile workshop vans to the Nightingale Hospitals to offer NHS staff free device repairs."
Walsh said that Samsung has also taken significant steps to address the welfare of its own employees, particularly with regards to mental health, during the second national lockdown and heading into the New Year.
"We were fortunate enough to be in the middle of summer during the first lockdown," he said.
"But as we get into winter it's darker and colder and people are feeling isolated, and the boundary between work and play is often blurred.
"Samsung has made huge strides in strides in this area, our engagement teams are giving access to some great tools to support people during the winter months.
"Our office has been completely transformed to ensure that those that need access can do so safely.
"We're providing the right tools and kit to facilitate remote working and our leadership team continues to communicate the importance of taking time out, getting away from the, screen getting some exercise and reducing the amount of time we spend on video calls."
To learn more about Samsung One click here.


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enya has set sights on opening up a distribution centre in China’s Wuyishan region — where some of the world’s most expensive teas are grown— in the wake of falling demand for Kenyan tea in the Asian economy.
Coronavirus lockdowns in India and Kenya are threatening global tea supplies, with traders racing to secure stocks.
Kenya's cut flowers may be blocked from the Australian market as the Australian government takes measures to implement new biosafety measures, the East African Journal reported.
Ruhiu turned to fish farming after attending workshops and taking a three months’ certificate course at the Moi University.
He has set up a hatchery in a greenhouse from where he breeds his fingerlings that he sells at Sh15 each. He also restocks his ponds with the fingerlings.
When President Uhuru Kenyatta signed a deal with China for avocado and macadamia export, Samuel Maina saw a business opportunity and grabbed it.


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NEW YORK (CNNMoney) -- Interest rates are now hovering near record highs, at an average rate of 14.72%. And if your credit is bad enough, you could even end up with a rate as high as 59.9% APR.
That's because while the CARD Act helped crack down on certain fees and requires more disclosures, it didn't cap every credit card holder's worst enemy: interest rates.
Sure, the new rules prevent banks from raising most interest rates retroactively, but there's no limit on the rates they can charge new customers.
"Rates are going up because card issuers know that once you get a card they can't raise the rates, so they're raising rates on the front end to ensure they get the revenue from that interest," said Beverly Harzog, credit card expert at Credit.com.
APRs have climbed more than 20% over the past two years and hit an all-time high of an average 14.78% in mid-November, based on weekly data CreditCards.com collects from 100 of the nation's top credit card issuers.
And there's no end in sight. While interest rate caps have been proposed -- including a proposal earlier this month from New York Congressman Maurice Hinchey that would limit rates at 15% -- none have been passed into law so far.
So what do record high interest rates mean for you? If you have a terrible credit score, opening a credit card is going to be painful. Though rates vary depending on the card you apply for, with a score below 599 you'll likely be stuck facing an APR of 24% or higher, said Harzog. If you can get a card at all.
In fact, First Premier Bank offers a Gold MasterCard with a whopping 59.9% rate for those people with "less than perfect credit", according to its website. And that rate is actually down from the 79.9% rate it originally charged.
Even with a credit score between 600 to 649 -- still considered poor, but not terrible -- you're probably looking at rates around 20%.
Harzog recommends staying away from interest rates above 20% and instead getting a secured card from a lender like Orchard Bank as a way to build up credit so that you can eventually get a card with a decent rate.
With a secured card, you deposit money into an account and can use the card like a credit card -- and it impacts your credit just like a credit card does. But if you don't make payments, the bank will just take your own money out of the account.
"I don't suggest people ever carry a balance at such high interest rates," Harzog said. "A secured card is like a credit card on training wheels, so it will help you get your credit back on track."
With a credit score between 650 and 699, you're on your way to finding better interest rates, likely ranging between 15% and 19%.
Capital One's Classic Platinum is a good option for people with fair credit. Its rate starts at 17.9%, with a 0% introductory APR until October.
But because 17.9% is still a pretty high rate, Harzog suggests using the introductory rate as a cushion to get your balances paid off. That way, once you hit 17.9%, you're not financing anything and you can simply use the card as a way to build your credit and look for a better rate.
If you have what is typically considered a good score -- between 700 and 749 -- you should be able to get rates between 13% and 15% depending where you fall in that range. Meanwhile, an excellent score -- 750 and up -- will qualify you for the lowest rates out there.
The Chase Sapphire card offers an ongoing APR of 13.24% for excellent or good credit, while the Citi Platinum Select MasterCard comes with a starting rate of 11.99% and a 0% APR on purchases for the first 12 months.
If your credit is squeaky clean, check out the 7.25% Simmons Visa Platinum card from Simmons First Bank, which is located in Arkansas but serves customers nationwide. Pentagon Federal Credit Union's PenFed Promise Visa card is another good option, with an ongoing rate of 9.99% and only 7.49% for the first three years.
|Overnight Avg Rate||Latest||Change||Last Week|
|30 yr fixed||3.80%||3.88%|
|15 yr fixed||3.20%||3.23%|
|30 yr refi||3.82%||3.93%|
|15 yr refi||3.20%||3.23%|
Today's featured rates:
Land O'Lakes CEO Beth Ford charts her career path, from her first job to becoming the first openly gay CEO at a Fortune 500 company in an interview with CNN's Boss Files. More
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Whether you hedge inflation or look for a return that outpaces inflation, here's how to prepare. More


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As the computer industry tries to overcome the shock of returning to work after the Christmas break and the December lull - which seemed to kick in during the middle of the month - the great consolidation in the channel has already started in earnest, in only the first week of January.
The first acquisition of P&P's dealer arm by GE Capital will have ramifications for the balance of power in the channel. While it will give GE Capital turnover clout , it will be interesting to see if GE can command the dominance in the UK that it already commands in the US. It is also worth pointing out that the two companies were surely haggling over details, possibly hinging on the price, since PC Dealer reported that GE and P&P were talking way back in June. While deals can take time, seven months is excessive.
So while we were all in the grips of working out what the GE deal would mean, there came the news that Specialist Computer Holdings (SCH) was going to buy Wycombe-based Preview Data Systems.
It seems as if 1997 was a year marked by acquisitions and mergers among vendors as well as resellers, but it still comes as a surprise to see 1998 start with such a bang.
Our industry is maturing faster than ever, and if what I suspect to be the case is true - that the Preview purchase is a key indicator of this process - then the industry is in for many more acquisitions later this year.
Even in the past 12 months, the market has moved to benefit the high-value, high-volume players. Corporate buyers in particular are forcing this pace of change in buying habits by favouring the aggressive larger European and US-based resellers - companies which can also deliver desired services and outsourcing deals. This is increasingly the case as up to 15 per cent of outsourcing deals actually result in increased costs, as the recent Business Intelligence Outsourcing report pointed out.
P&P had revenue of #135 million in 1997 and looks as though it will become a training specialist. Whether it can prop up its other ventures, QA Training and Acuma, now that it has disposed of its dealer arm, is another matter.
Both of the acquired companies have had strong European growth as an essential element in their business strategies, something we pointed out in June last year as a major part of the large reseller's game plans.
No business hoping to succeed in the long term can ignore this in their 1998 business plans.
And, unfortunately, the first wave of consolidation in the channel is not yet over. In fact, this will be the year in which consolidation will be the overriding trend affecting companies. So, we look forward to more buyouts and mergers but, sadly, this will only help the big get bigger and more powerful. Still, we can only hope for a better year than the last one.
Outsourcer says the size of the operation should be considered before criticising the error that affected 43,000 women
Vendor says a range of its products will be made SD-WAN compatible, with traditional networking 'completely under disruption'
With just a day to go until the 25th annual Channel Awards, we catch up with the SMB Reseller of the Year category sponsor Exertis, to find out why the sector is such a vital part of its business strategy
Analyst predicts spending on Robotic Process Automation will rise XX per cent next year, driven by price decreases


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Separate names with a comma.
Discussion in 'Model 3' started by egggg, Jun 26, 2018.
Tesla tent helps crank out 5k Model 3s this week
I guess we'll know for sure next week...but the video showed the scale of the thing well.
I think this media circus about the darn tent is blown out of proportion. If Elon called it a hangar (which is what airplanes were manufactured in), pundits like Bloomberg.com wouldn’t be calling it ‘preposterous’.
Someone just misheard Elon. He said production was going to be intense, they heard in tents.
I remember some naysayers grousing about THIS tent (Denver International Airport) nearly thirty years ago.
Now the iconic building is considered brilliant.
edit: Wahoo! image worked


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It had to happen in response to the “wine-ification” of beer going on, Oregon-based producer Union Wine Company has released a Pinot Noir in a 12-ounce can to try to encourage the “beerification” of wine. The cans go on sale next year for US$5 each. Underwood Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris were trialled at Feast 2013, a Portland food and wine festival, to a resounding success. Interestingly, the cans will save Union Wine some 40 per cent on packaging costs.
Celebrate the New Year in wine country? The BC Wine Appreciation Society is planning a four-day, three-night New Year’s Eve getaway at the Walnut Beach Resort in Osoyoos. The deal includes three nights of accommodation at Walnut Beach Resort on December 29, 30, and 31; wine, dinner and dancing at Tinhorn Creek’s Miradoro Restaurant, followed by the second annual polar bear swim bash at Walnut Beach. There are optional dinners planned for Terrafina Restaurant at Hester Creek and Watermark Hotel with Bill Eggert of Fairview Cellars. Prices range from $499 to $625, details at bcwas.com


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A drinks licence has been granted for a new Co-op store being built in Symington.
Licensing chiefs heard the brand new store will serve a housing development on the west side of the village.
Location is land opposite the Townend Terrace/Main Street junction. And there can be retail sale of alcohol every day from 10am until 10pm.
A spokesman for the Co-op told South Ayrshire Licensing Board the company has robust licensing systems in place.
It will be recruiting 15 full and part-time jobs in the Symington area. Only the store manager will come from outside the area.


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Those of you who are still patiently waiting for your Nexus 4 smartphone to arrive are officially in luck and will get the phone just in time for the start of the new year. According to various reports, Google has gone ahead and shipped out a new batch of smartphones to anxiously waiting customers. As good as the news is– both the 8GB and 16GB are still listed as sold out on the Play Store. This will no doubt make many Android fans continue to be peeved at Google for its Nexus 4 availability miscues. And of course, there are still no bumper cases available on the Play Store as of this writing as well. Still— you gotta hand it to Google for trying to do its best at least— one shipment at a time.
source: Android Central


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This could be huge for brands if they are truly producing content their customers want to see. A customer could decide to place you in their preferences such that you will definitely appear in their news feed.
“We know the algorithm isn’t perfect” News Feed Product Manager Greg Marra tells me. So to make sure Facebook stays entertaining and addictive, it’s giving users more direct control over what they see by revamping News Feed Preferences.
Facebook is rolling out to the U.S. a way to choose friends and Pages they want to “See First” atop the feed, after I spotted it testing the feature last month. The upgraded settings section will now display who’s shown most in your feed and let you unfollow them, refollow people you’ve hidden, and discover Pages based on your interests. It’s coming tothe U.S. on iOS today and other platforms soon.
After years of suggesting who we should add as friends, Facebook is finally helping us to cull and coordinate who appears in our News Feeds. That could ensure our best friends don’t get drowned out by distant acquaintances. The…
View original post 595 more words


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With winter approaching fast, Fujitsu General is once again be running its successful Fujitsu Free Money promotion.
“Once again, Fujitsu will be rewarding consumers who purchase Australia’s most trusted air conditioning brand,” said Milton Kaloudis, national marketing manager, Fujitsu General. “Retailers and dealers have come to expect and look forward to the Fujitsu Free Money promotion.
“As always, our focus is on supporting retailers by driving foot traffic into stores so we are extremely pleased to be able to respond to market demands and offer the Fujitsu Free Money promotion for another year.
“The public reaction to the Fujitsu Free Money campaign continues to far exceed expectations. The promotion which first ran in 2006 is supported by the biggest investment of any air conditioning supplier across all media,” added Kaloudis.
The Fujitsu Free Money Pre-Paid Visa card promotion began a month earlier than usual on 1 March, and will run until 31 July. Once again, consumers who purchase a Fujitsu General inverter air conditioning system will be offered a pre-paid Visa card, valued at up to $400, via redemption.
“Central to the campaign are key messages that focus on educating consumers about the benefits of using Fujitsu General inverter reverse cycle air conditioning as a cost effective and efficient heating solution. We are continuing to grow the consumer’s awareness that Fujitsu air conditioning is the right choice for comfort in the home, not just in summer, but also in winter.”
The campaign – which features former Australian Cricket captain and brand ambassador, Mark Taylor – is set to run across TV, online and print media, and will be supported by point-of-sale materials for retailers.


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Banks continue to ask customers who pay with new credit cards to scrawl signatures on receipts to authenticate transactions instead of entering personal identification numbers, a practice used across much of the rest of the developed world to fight fraud.
Chip-and-pin credit cards, which store data on a microchip rather than a magnetic stripe and produce unique codes for each transaction, have been touted as a solution to credit card fraud. Yet big U.S. banks will hold back on the second layer of security — asking cardholders to enter PIN numbers to clear purchases — asking for signatures instead. Omitting the pin removes a buffer designed to thwart fraud if chip cards are stolen or lost.
Signatures pose obvious problems: People often pay little attention when scrawling them, and they can be forged. And they’re not even used to prove the person presenting a card is actually the one whose name appears on the plastic.
“Traditionally, what the signatures are going to be used for more predominantly is not verification at the time,” says Carolyn Balfany, who leads U.S. product delivery at MasterCard.
Here’s when signatures do matter: If you call your bank and say you don’t remember making a purchase that showed up on your statement, the bank will ask the merchant for a copy of the receipt to check the signature. Balfany says the bank would likely also show the customer the receipt as well to check if the signature matches up. Forgery isn’t a big problem, she says. (For more on why we sign for things, check out this Planet Money report.)
Banks told The Wall Street Journal they don’t want to burden customers with having to remember a new four-digit code while shopping since they already have to adapt to inserting the new credit cards into the bottom of a cash register terminal instead of swiping them. J.P. Morgan Chase JPM, -1.81% Bank of America BAC, -3.23% and Citigroup Inc. C, -2.85% will all issue chip-and-signature cards.
In October, the liability for fraudulent transactions will fall on whichever party — the issuer or retailer — has the lesser technology. Issuers will be held liable if fraud involves a card with a magnetic stripe, rather than a chip, and merchants will eat the cost if their payment terminals aren’t chip-enabled.
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Every year, technology companies and investors ramp up for a new set of opportunities. 2017 is no different. We assessed some of the major technology opportunities and how companies can approach them.
This newer class of technology includes robotics, virtual and augmented reality (VR) (AR), 3-D printing, and artificial intelligence (AI). There are also so-called “cognitive technologies” like computer vision, machine learning, natural language processing, and speech and pattern recognition. All of these are being integrated with software to boost functionality. Of all exponentials, machine learning perhaps has the most immediate practical application for businesses and their customers.
A new investment technology, blockchain is the backbone of bitcoin. By acting as a distributed database of transactions , blockchain allows people to share a digital ledger without anyone having access to transaction records of other participants. Blockchain can not only benefit those in the financial services industry, but any organization that needs to manage a significant volume of transactional data.
The Digital Transformation
As everything in our lives goes more and more digital, we’re seeing a slew of new markets and opportunities: autonomous vehicles, electronic medicine and health, e-tail, and smart cities – all connected by intelligent networks, cognitive technologies and analytics. Ultimately, this leads to The Internet of Things, a concept that will soon become a daily reality for more of humanity. Companies that are adapting their offerings to the IoT are at a significant advantage.
The Accessible Cloud
While the cloud has gone mainstream, its more sophisticated aspects and functionality have been out of reach to smaller businesses. But usage-based consumption is on the horizon, which means small-to-medium sized organizations will be able to offer better service offerings and security to their customers. Consider how this flexible cloud can benefit your company and profit potential.
New technology means new growth strategies
Emerging technology has major revenue potential, but to be successful in the long run, enterprises will need to shift how they operate. Companies must properly piece together the complex combination of hardware, software, networking, data, and cognitive technologies.
Although this seems like a daunting task, the result is a happy accident. We may have never witnessed this level of collaboration across multiple industries, such as the partnerships between car companies and technology giants. Technology companies are also sharing knowledge and data with each other, all in an effort to mutually benefit their respective solutions or to grow specific fields.
Opportunities come with decisions
With an almost endless amount of technology opportunities, both entrepreneurs and established companies have to be careful what they peruse. Developing an in-demand offering is one thing, but assuring that it slots into a larger technology context is perhaps more crucial. Companies have to determine how fast they can alter the business model to meet fickle customer needs. This is perhaps the most important aspect of any technology development decision. That’s because technology will always change, but our need to serve the customer will always be the priority.