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Numlock News: December 24, 2020 • This Year, Kickstarter, Cyberpunk
By Walt Hickey
The last Numlock of 2020! I’ll see you all next on January 3. Have a great Christmas and happy New Year. See you all on the other side, thanks for reading.
Scientists in Colorado have injected 120 black-footed ferrets with an experimental COVID-19 vaccine. The ferrets are among the most endangered mammals in North America, and the population that got the preliminary jab is captive at the National Black-footed Ferret Conservation Center in Fort Collins. They got the shot for a couple of reasons: the first being it’s a lot easier to get an experimental veterinary vaccine past the feds, and also because the ferrets’ genetic similarity to mink populations — which have been ravaged by Covid outbreaks in commercial settings — led their caretakers to fear the worst for the species, which was declared extinct in 1979. A population was later found at a ranch in Wyoming, then eventually lost to sylvatic plague, but not before biologists saved 18 ferrets that served as the seeds of their recovery. Today, there are 300 black-footed ferrets in captivity — 180 at Fort Collins — and another 400 have been released into the wild.
There Will Be Feasting And Dancing
A poll of U.S. adults found that 77 percent said this year was worse than last year, while 11 percent said that it was better than last year. That latter group of maniacs is a question for another time — man, your 2019 must have sucked — because in general people have high, high hopes for 2021. Fully 59 percent of Americans said that they think next year will be better than 2020, while 17 percent said it’d be worse and 12 percent said it’d be the same. This year, more people things were getting worse than getting better across every metric — mental health, personal finances, physical health, work-life balance, and job security — except for one, “love life.” Heck yeah, people, get it.
Tomorrow is a holiday, and many people took things pretty close to the wire in terms of shopping for it. Indeed, the hottest stocking stuffer of 2020 will be gift cards, which have been flying off shelves amid an unprecedented delivery crunch and early closing window for shipping. In the first week of December, gift card purchases were double the rate of the same week of 2019, and last weekend sales of gift cards were up 48 percent compared to earlier in the week. According to InMarket, the average shopper spent 17.6 percent more on gift cards in 2020 compared to 2019. That’s great for merchants: an estimated $3.5 billion in unredeemed gift card balances is kept by stores annually.
Kickstarter is the go-to platform for the game designer with a dream and a robust lack of capital to approach the masses with their vision, and legions of fans are eager to fork over cash and become early adopters and investors. This past year saw $233 million raised by creators of tabletop games and accessories on the platform, up 32 percent from the $176.3 million funded in 2019. While video games have only seen modest funding on the Kickstarter platform — $22.9 million in 2020 — as the high development costs and difficult chance of success have made them a shadow of the tabletop genre by comparison. In 2015, successful video game campaigns hauled in $41.5 million on Kickstarter, nearly half the $84.6 million raised by tabletops.
The Federal Communications Commission’s auction of wireless licenses is wildly outpacing expectations, with $69.8 billion in sales after three weeks of bidding. The spectrum on the auction block will be necessary to give carriers the bandwidth to roll out 5G coverage in a significant way, and the magnitude of the bids seems to indicate that multiple companies are squabbling over the more valuable rights. The radio frequencies being auctioned are between 3.7 and 4 gigahertz, a range that is well-suited for 5G.
What was poised to be the big holiday season video game of 2020, Cyberpunk 2077 was released with a number of serious issues related to gameplay features, with the game experience so bugged on some systems that Sony has pulled the title from the PlayStation store and Microsoft is offering refunds. The game moved 13 million copies as of December 20 after factoring in refunds, significantly lower than the 16.4 million that analysts on average projected selling. MBank SA estimated the number of Cyberpunk 2077 refunds at 3 million so far, but projected sales of the game to hit 14.5 million by the end of the year and 30.5 million by the end of next.
Toyota plans to roll out an ultra-compact electric vehicle that can go 100 kilometers on a single charge and costs about $16,000. It will have two seats, and the initial target of 100 vehicles for business clients and local governments will be low, but tailored in line with a Japanese government plan to make all new vehicles fully electric or hybrid by the middle of the 2030s. It’s also a big move for Toyota, which was obviously early to hybrid technology but has been cautious about EVs so far. Sales to the general public are expected after 2022, and at the $15,500 to $16,400 (excluding subsidies) price point.
Thanks so much for reading Numlock! I hope you enjoyed it this year. Have a great Christmas, holiday season and a happy New Year. As always, a huge thanks to the paid subscribers to Numlock News who make this possible, you’ll be getting the special AMA edition on January 2.
See you in January, we’re gonna make it.
The best way to reach new readers is word of mouth. If you click THIS LINK in your inbox, it’ll create an easy-to-send pre-written email you can just fire off to some friends. Go to swag.numlock.news to claim some free merch when you invite someone.
2020 Sunday subscriber editions: 2020 · Sibling Rivalries · Crosswords · Bleak Friday · Prop 22 · NCAA · Guitars · Fumble Dimension · The Mouse · Subprime Attention Crisis · Factory Farms · Streaming Summer · Dynamite · One Billion Americans · Defector · Seams of the Grid · Bodies of Work · Working in Public · Rest of World ·


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News from Taiwan’s component-makers suggests Apple has ordered a mind-blowing 10 million iPad Minis ahead of the pared-down tablet’s mooted release at the start of November.
That points to Cupertino thinking that it’ll easily be able to shift a huge number of its budget slate ahead of Christmas, blowing the Kindle Fire and Google Nexus 7 out of the water in the process.
That’s great news for Apple’s bank balance and ever-increasing share price. But while it will undoubtedly snare millions of new consumers into Apple’s hard-to-escape ecosystem, but the extent to which it brngs anything new to the table is a lot less clear.
The iPad remains, by some distance, the best-selling tablet out there. In its last reported quarter, Apple said it had sold 17 million iPads.
Samsung, Google and Amazon, for all their increasingly impressive efforts, just cannot compete with those figures. But in terms of innovation, the iPad just isn’t cutting edge. Of course, Apple knows this and always makes devices that put its excellent user experience front and centre.
But with the iPad Mini, it’s saying it is content to dilute the iPad brand with a device that is essentially a smaller iPad 2.
That will of course mean it can scale its iPad business to new heights, much as it did with the iPod mini and iPod nano. But as we’ve seen with the iPhone 5, Apple doesn’t seem too concerned with reinventing the wheel anymore.
Rather it looks as if it’s happy to release incremental changes, dressed up as revolutionary updates, and watch as the world goes crazy.
That’s understandable, but is it sustainable? Apple can scale the iPad for a few years, but like the iPod, the love for it will fade over time. This is simply the nature of new hardware.
2013 looks set to be another year of incremental changes, with a probable iPhone 5S following that pattern of the 3GS and 4S in previous years.
Likewise the new, full-sized iPad will probably feature a snappier processor, with a similar screen and slimmer design. Think iPad and then iPad 2. For now, this isn’t an issue for Apple.
But in a few years, it really could be. It’s not just fanboys that want to see innovation.
Without taking giant leaps and attempting something truly revolutionary, the wider public could easily tire. The iPad Mini, like the iPhone 5, will obviously sell at a never-before-seen rate.
But it’s hard to shake the feeling that there’s little of the excitement that surrounded Apple announcements three or four years ago.
That is surely something that Tim Cook will need to change in the years ahead.

domain: news


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Shopping for a new fragrance just got a little more complicated. Along with the For Him and For Her colognes lining the department store shelves, there are a growing number of For Anyone scents to choose from. In fact, while the general fragrance market grew just 1 percent last year, sales for premium unisex scents outgrew all other categories, increasing 23 percent, according to a new report by research firm Euromonitor International.
What’s behind the growing consumer interest in gender-blind colognes? “Increasingly, people want to express their individual personalities through their choice of scent,” says research associate Eleanor Dwyer. “That means not wanting to be assigned a standard fragrance based on gender but on its unique personal appeal.” The trend is strongest at the top end of the market: Mass-market unisex cologne sales actually declined last year. “Mass unisex fragrances have not benefited from this trend because these fragrances are so ubiquitous that they prohibit individualization,” says Dwyer.
The rise in boutique fragrance companies has contributed to the trend. Many natural- and organic-based scent makers eschew gender labels altogether, preferring to focus on the ingredients and artisanal manufacturing processes.
Like any fragrance category, some unisex scents are more appealing than others. Here, our top seven picks.


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Apple Wallet is one of the most useful apps for iOS – handy for organizing concert tickets, boarding passes, debit cards and loyalty cards. And from a few weeks, your NHS Covid-19 vaccination certificate. Though it has mostly only been tweaked in recent iOS updates, Wallet is slated to receive some major upgrades in the latest version of Apple’s operating system – iOS 15 – which will be released this fall.
Apple initially hopes to be able to replace not only paper tickets, but also physical keys. Yes, really! There are plans to make Apple Wallet compatible for homes, hotels, offices and even cars that are equipped with key digital technology.
That would mean you could open doors with just a tap on your iPhone or Apple Watch. Not only could it mean the end of the lockout, but it will be especially useful for business travelers and offices that need to regulate access. In addition, you can give friends and family temporary access – before the electronic code changes and they are locked out again. It’s like lending them a spare key, but without the hassle of thinking about picking them up again!
Car keys may have to wait a while unless you own a BMW as this is the only manufacturer that currently supports it. But in the future, you could just use your device to lock and unlock your car, open the trunk and sound the horn.
READ MORE: The iPhone 13 hasn’t even been released yet, but Apple is already warning of bottlenecks
Along with these, you get a couple of minor tweaks. Old boarding passes and event tickets are now automatically sucked out of the app. Instead of appearing in a list, they are moved to an “expired” section. There will also be an option to keep them visible.
Apple also adds the ability to download multiple passes at once – useful if you’ve bought concert tickets for a group or take the family to the movies.
Unfortunately, Apple fans in the UK and Europe have to wait for perhaps the best new feature: adding your government ID and driver’s license to the app. Never get caught buying wine in the supermarket (luckily) or forget to keep your driver’s license in the glove compartment.
However, since Apple will have to work with government agencies to implement this, it’s only coming in select US states for now – and it could take some time to roll out globally.


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Costco profit rises 2.6 percent, but results miss Wall Street expectations
ISSAQUAH, Wash. (AP) ' Costco Wholesale Corp. says its fiscal first-quarter profit rose 2.6 percent as shoppers spent more on gasoline and the company benefited from currency exchange rates.
The wholesale club operator reported Thursday that its net income rose to $320 million, or 73 cents per share, for the quarter that ended Nov. 20. That's up from $312 million, or 71 cents per share, in the same quarter last year.
Costco's revenue rose 12.5 percent to $21.18 billion because of higher gasoline prices and benefits of foreign exchange.
The results missed the earnings of 80 cents per share on revenue of $21.29 billion that analysts expected.
Costco has performed better than many retailers in the down economy as consumers turned to its wholesale clubs for deals on everyday necessities.
Costco is based in Issaquah, Wash.


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Doyle signs health care transparency bill
Wisconsin health care consumers can now price-shop.
Gov. Jim Doyle signed the Health Care Transparency Bill Tuesday at Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin in Wauwatosa requiring health care providers to disclose the cost of the most common procedures they perform. It will help consumers get price estimates prior to a procedure, help make apples-to-apples comparisons on prices and help determine out-of-pocket costs prior to services occurring.
“Nowhere else are people asked to buy a product before they know what the price is,” Doyle said in a statement. “This bill is a practical step forward that will help people better understand what their health care costs are before making important health care decisions.”
Nancy Wenzel, chief executive officer of the Wisconsin Association of Health Plans, said the legislation parallels the efforts of many health plans in the state to empower consumer decision making.
“With health care services taking more money out of consumers’ pockets, health plans gave their insured members another tool for managing their health care budgets,” Wenzel said. “As access to health care cost information increases, we expect consumer demand for the information will grow.”
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First, Starbucks added its first-ever coconut-milk-based drink in July.
(The drink is called the Iced Coconut Milk Mocha Macchiato, by the way, if you have the lung capacity to order it.)
Now, the chain has announced that it’s diving even deeper into the massive $6.7 billion dairy-free market by finally providing almond milk in its U.S. stores this fall.
This will make Starbucks one of the largest sellers of almond milk in the entire country, contributing to the already enormous growth of the beverage, which has experienced a whopping 250 percent surge in popularity in the past five years.
This is yet another signal that plant-based alternatives are replacing conventional dairy, even among mainstream shoppers. Dairy alternatives aren’t just for diet restrictors anymore. In fact, they’re especially appealing to those who are “taste seekers” on the hunt for fun flavors and better-for-you options. Think: more options, not more restrictions.
For those with nut allergies, don’t fear; the chain is taking special precautions to eliminate any cross-contamination. With that caveat addressed, the 100,000 plant-based food supporters who asked Starbucks for the change can be unequivocally excited about the news.
Dairy milk prices have reportedly fallen by $1 billion in the past five years, in case you were interested.
To learn more about The Good Food Institute’s work to promote animal-free alternatives to conventional meat, dairy, and eggs, visit our website.


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For the past three months, the Spring Grove-based paper manufacturer absorbed a cost inflation of $15 million, marked by disruptions due to Tropical Storm Lee and the price of sourcing wood from dryer areas, executives told investors during a conference call Tuesday.
Operations in York County were interrupted during the quarter by the storm, which caused unplanned downtime and excess costs aggregating $1.1 million.
Despite a 10 percent increase in sales, adjusted earnings were down this quarter, to $12.8 million compared to $16.7 million in the third quarter of 2010.
But some growth spots emerged from this 67 percent decrease.
The company's "composite fibers" division delivered a 20 percent increase in revenue led by growth in the single-serve coffee and tea market.
Last week, the company announced a $50 million investment to expand capacity at a composite fibers factory in Germany by 20 percent through new machinery.
Dante C. Parrini, chairman and chief executive officer, said the company expects quarterly growth of 4 to 5 percent as "certain parts of the world transition from loose to packed teas."
In addition, the company's advanced airlaid materials grew revenue by 14 percent, driven by the feminine hygiene market.
Glatfelter took on this business after purchasing Concert Industries on Feb. 12, 2010.


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HTC Targets Apple Devices In Latest Patent Suit
The complaint — at least the fifth pending patent infringement suit between the two companies in federal court — claims that Apple has willfully violated three patents issued between August 2008 and July 2010 that cover a range of wireless and mobile device technology.
HTC alleges that a bevy of Apple...
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You don't have to be in retail to know that times are tough for shopkeepers, their staff and their landlords, but what you might not know is that conditions are probably going to get worse before they get better.
YOU don’t have to be in retail to know that times are tough for shopkeepers, their staff and their landlords, but what you might not know is that conditions are probably going to get worse before they get better.
The only hope on the horizon, according to an analysis of the Australian retail sector by investment bank Citi Global Markets is that rising property prices might make homeowners feel richer and therefore likely to spend more.
Given the degree of nervousness in the community about the property recovery, and the danger that it’s a bubble that could burst if interest rates go up as fast as they have fallen, then the “feel richer” argument feels like grasping at straws.
The problems of retail are so profound it seems more likely the industry is at the start of a major shake-out which will affect everyone involved – even the biggest operators such as the Coles and Bunnings divisions of Wesfarmers, which are facing pressure on employee wages as a new retail award brings them into line with competitors.
More on the special cost pressures facing Wesfarmers later, first a look at what Citi sees in its retail crystal ball as revealed in the latest edition of its “What’s In Store” newsletter.
The list of woes starts with the sharp decline in profit margins, which has squeezed every retailer on a list of 27 analysed and caused the bank tell its clients with exposure to retail they should sell most of the listed companies on the stock exchange.
“The pressure is on,” Citi said. “The currency gains are over. Wages growth is a worry and sales growth needs to accelerate to prevent another year of declining margins.
The core issue is that consumers have either cut back on their retail spending, or they’re spending elsewhere, which is one way of describing the pervasive effect of the internet and increasing comfort and satisfaction levels when it comes to dealing with online retailers.
Overall, Australian retail sales grew a modest 3 per cent in the financial year to June 30. Supermarket sales were up 4 per cent, while non-food retail crept up by just one per cent.
“Retail conditions remain subdued, partly because there is low retail price inflation and partly because consumers are spending elsewhere,” Citi said.
“The same dynamic is likely in the current financial year. With moderate household income, the onus falls on wealth effects through higher house prices. A positive wealth effect may lead to a lower household savings rate to drive retail spending.”
The Citi analysis showed a modest shuffle in market share between the major retailers. Coles, in the food and liquor category, lifted its overall share of the market from 25.9 per cent in the 2012 financial year to 26.2 per cent, which was slightly better than Woolworths, which rose from a 36.6 per cent share of the market to 36.8 per cent.
Country Road was the big winner in the clothing and footwear sector, rising from 2.1 per cent to 3.6 per cent. Harvey Norman was the big loser among electrical retailers, sliding from a 21.4 per cent market share to 20.2 per cent, with JB Hi-Fi taking most of that loss as its share rose from 17.6 per cent to 18.6 per cent.
In the hardware sector, Bunnings moved further ahead of its rivals, boosting its share of the overall hardware category from 52.7 per cent to 54.3 per cent, while smaller rivals such as Mitre 10 drifted back from 11 per cent to 10.8 per cent and Reece contracted from 12.5 per cent to 12.2 per cent.
For landlords, the pressure on retailers is bad news, with Citi noting that some of the bigger shop operators had successfully negotiated rent reductions. Speciality Fashion Group won a 12 per cent rent discount and Premier Investments secured a 6 per cent cut.
One cost hitting everyone in retail is wage pressure, with retail wage growth said to running at 3 per cent a year, with the added pressure on a new general retail award (GRA) bearing down.
Citi said most securities exchange listed retailers had not fully harmonised with the GRA.
“The retailers most vulnerable are Coles and Bunnings (because) they currently only pay over time after 10.5 hours, versus nine hours required under the GRA, and only give 50 per cent loading on top of normal wages rates for Sunday work, versus 100 per cent required under the GRA,” it said.
The award is being introduced progressively, Citi said, but from next July all retailers had to be in line.
The bank’s overall view is that financial 2013 was “another soggy year”, that there are no more easy gross margin gains because costs are rising faster than sales, and there is pressure on wage costs and inventory levels – pointing to 2014 being a year of “heightened discounting”.


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Huawei Technologies Co. has teamed up with state-run bank card processor UnionPay Co. to expand its mobile payment service in China, the Wall Street Journal reports.
The move intensifies the competition in the world’s largest smartphone market.
Huawei, China’s biggest smartphone maker by shipments, first launched the payment service in September, but its use then was confined to a limited number of shops and restaurants.
But with the partnership with UnionPay, the service called Huawei Pay can now be used by Huawei users across China.
UnionPay, which holds a monopoly on bank card payments in the country, is also a partner of Apple Inc., which launched Apple Pay in China last month.
Users of Huawei smartphones equipped with a fingerprint sensor as well as data transmission technology called near-field communication, or NFC, can download a Huawei Pay app to use the service, the Shenzhen-based company said.
Alipay, an electronic payment service affiliated with e-commerce giant Alibaba Group Holding Ltd., controls 70 percent of China’s mobile payment market as of the third quarter, followed by a rival service operated by social-network company Tencent Holdings Ltd., which accounts for 19 percent, the newspaper said, citing data from research firm iResearch.
In the third quarter of last year, China’s mobile payment transactions jumped 64 percent from a year earlier to 2.42 trillion yuan (US$373.2 billion), according to iResearch.
– Contact us at [email protected]


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OnLive Living On Google TV
Written by GameFocus
Published on Wednesday, 11 January 2012 21:04
CES, or the Consumer Electronics Show for the uninitiated, has brought us tons of new toys to play with, as well as a load of news to filter through. However, none may be more impactful, at lease in terms of gaming, than the OnLive announcement. The cloud-based streaming service has partnered up with Google and will be featured in all present and future Google TV devices (which include televisions, Blu-Ray players and media streamers). It will be compatible with Google TV remotes, as well as the OnLive wireless controller and standard USB controllers.
This move continues to push the gaming service’s reach, as they are already available on PCs, televisions (via their MicroConsole), smart phones, and tablets. It could prove interesting to see if consumers utilize it, especially those who wouldn’t typically invest in gaming hardware.
While this does widen the gap a bit more between it and some of its competition - such as GameFly - in terms of install base, do keep in mind that OnLive wasn’t the only one making moves toward televisions at CES. Dave Perry cloud streaming brainchild Gaikai also announced a partnership with LG, positioning Gaikai as the backbone for LG’s Smart TV gaming service, and will be featured in the upcoming LG Cinema 3D TVs launching later this year.
So, since OnLive is continuing it’s gradual Borg-like assimilation of all-things-with-a-screen, when will I have it on my refrigerator? It has a screen. And it’s net-enabled. And sometimes one just feels the need to blow one’s buddies to bits while making a grilled cheese sandwich, you know? Just curious...
For the fifth year in a row the Canadian Videogame Awards (CVAs) will be celebrating the very best in games created in the Great White North. The nomination process opened today and will feature...
Lire la suite...
Today marked the beginning of a new generation of gaming with the release of Xbox One. Microsoft spent countless hours and millions of dollars to fine-tune their latest console to give gamers the best possible experience known to date.Read more
I was crushed last week. The call went out to GameFocus staff to see who wanted the available tickets to the XBox One launch party in Toronto. Unfortunately I was travelling for work and missed my shot to be part of gaming history... or so I thought. Read more
Gamers have always had plenty of opportunity to drop the gloves and fight in EA Sports' NHL series. Now, during the month of October gamers participating in the Hockey Ultimate Team mode of NHL 14 can participate in the fifteenth anniversary of the National Hockey League's Hockey Fights Cancer program. During the month... Read more
Here we are. The next generation of consoles is among us and it is finally time to start thinking about finally unplugging our beloved current-gen systems. Could there be a better swan song for one of these systems than taking a trip back to Rapture?
Dishonored: The Knife of Dunwall is an impressive little bit of DLC. I should emphasize “little” though, as it is a relatively short experience. Just when the story seems to get going it ends - or, rather, it “kind of” ends.
Dragon’s Dogma was released last year on PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360.
For this Christmas list I wanted to stay away from simply listing a few titles and instead offer up something more unique. Take a look to see what I think gamers would love for Christmas...
With the new console generation at our doorstep I am sure that many of you are wondering what to do with your older consoles that may soon be collecting dust. Do you put the PS3 in the closet and hook it up whenever you have a craving for The Last of Us or do you have the eye-sore of tons of consoles all sitting on top of each other in a mess of hot plastic and wires. Fear not I have come up with an elegant solution that is both functional and a nice addition to any room.
Ever since the original Pong machines came with two paddles, video games have provided a forum for friends and family to share quality time together and bond. Some of gaming’s greatest experiences are
Game Focus is proud to present its new episode of GameFocus Radio, a podcast done by gamers for gamers. A weekly casual talk between GameFocus staff members about the gaming industry. In this show, we talk about The Steam Machine and its controller along with GTA V, jobs at WB Montréal and Ubisosoft Montréal and more.
Hosted by Fred Laroche from Game-Focus.com.Read more


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BROOMFIELD, Colo. — Most Coloradans did not grow up in a rural area and have never been on a farm or ranch, yet the people of Colorado support agriculture’s positive contribution to the quality of life in our state.
In a recent survey conducted for the Colorado Department of Agriculture by Colorado State University, 90% of Coloradans feel agriculture is important to their quality of life. Nearly all Coloradans feel that maintaining and protecting agricultural land and water is important (95%).
It has been a tough year for agriculture in Colorado, with prices for beef cattle and milk and major crops like corn, wheat and hay in decline. It costs farmers more to plant and harvest their fields than they can make selling their crops at today’s prices. Price levels for many farm products have returned to lows seen in the 1980s, but farmers’ costs for tractors, feed and seed, and fuel have increased with inflation.
Yet our Colorado producers continue to provide food that feeds Coloradans and the world. Colorado’s agricultural community brings your family more food and fiber choices than ever, from conventionally-produced to natural, organic, grass-fed, and cage-free. All of which are wholesome and necessary to feed a growing population. Whether you shop at a large grocery store or your local farmers’ market, Colorado’s entrepreneurial farmers and ranchers provide a safe and secure food supply. It’s this diversity that makes our food production systems the envy of the world.
Cutting into a prime Colorado steak, biting into a Palisade peach, eating a juicy Rocky Ford melon, and enjoying the fire of a Pueblo chile, all accompanied by a Colorado wine or beer – it’s all part of the privilege of living in this state and enjoying our local foods.
Whether you know it or not, Colorado agriculture touches everyone in the state.
Agriculture is an important part of our economy, generating more than $40 billion in economic activity annually and supporting more than 170,000 jobs. Jobs in transportation, retail sales, food sales and restaurants, and tourism are just a few supported by agriculture.
As well as contributing to the economy, agriculture holds a tremendous duty to protect the environment, through stewardship of the land, water and air. Land in farms and ranches provides habitat for wildlife and open space, and, above all, creating wonderful food. Innovative and sustainable farming practices ensure that our state’s resources will be wisely managed for generations to come. The majority of Coloradans surveyed felt that agriculture was always or usually environmentally responsible.
Colorado farmers and ranchers, with the Colorado Department of Agriculture, are dedicated to preserving the heritage of agriculture in our state, as well as providing an abundant and safe food supply to Coloradans and beyond. We were glad to hear that our neighbors around the state support us in our endeavors. Give us a wave when you drive by.
For more information and to read the complete survey visit www.coloradoagriculture.com.
— Don Brown, Commissioner of Agriculture
For more news from Colorado, click here.


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Gold futures ended lower Thursday, mostly on profit taking as the precious metal erased gains made yesterday after the U.S. Federal Reserve announced a new additional bond purchase program. Meanwhile, uncertainty over U.S. debt negotiations continued even as the fiscal cliff looms around the corner that would include automatic tax hikes and spending cuts beginning January.
Gold for February delivery, the most actively traded contract, shed $21.10 or 1.2 percent to close at $1,696.80 an ounce Thursday on the Comex division of the New York Mercantile Exchange.
Gold for February delivery scaled an intraday high of $1,712.80 and a low of $1,690.70 an ounce.
Gold prices settled higher yesterday, after the Fed announced it will replace its "Operation Twist" program, which expires at the end of the year, with the purchase of longer-term Treasury securities at a pace of $45 billion per month.
The dollar index, which tracks the U.S. unit against six major currencies, traded at 79.95 on Thursday, up from 79.89 in North American trade late Wednesday. The dollar scaled a high of 80.04 intraday and a low of 79.79.
The euro traded higher against the dollar at $1.3077 on Thursday, as compared to $1.3074 late Wednesday in North America. The euro scaled a high of $1.3100 intraday and a low of $1.3042.
In economic news from the U.S., first-time claims for unemployment benefits unexpectedly showed a decline in the week ended December 8. The Labor Department said initial jobless claims dropped to 343,000, a decrease of 29,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 372,000. Economists expected jobless claims to come in unchanged compared to the 370,000 originally reported for the previous week.
Meanwhile, a report from the U.S. Commerce Department showed retail sales to have increased by 0.3 percent in November following a 0.3 percent decrease in October. Economists expected retail sales to increase by about 0.6 percent. Excluding an increase in sales by motor vehicle and part dealers, retail sales were unchanged for the second consecutive month, in line with estimates.
Business inventories in the U.S. increased in line with economist estimates in the month of October, a Commerce Department release showed Thursday. Business inventories rose by 0.4 percent in October following a 0.7 percent increase in September. Nonetheless, business sales fell by 0.4 percent in October after surging 1.2 percent in the previous month.
A U.S. Labor Department release on Thursday showed producer prices for November declined by 0.8 percent following a 0.2 percent drop in October. Economists anticipated prices to dip by about 0.5 percent. The bigger than expected decrease in producer prices was largely due to a sharp drop in energy prices, which tumbled 4.6 percent in November after falling by 0.5 percent in October.
Eurozone finance ministers finally approved the release of a second disbursement of bailout funds to Greece on the completion of the government's debt buyback operation. The group authorized the bailout fund, the European Financial Stability Facility (EFSF), to release the next installment for a total amount of 49.1 billion euros, in several tranches.
Greece will receive 34.3 billion euros in days to follow, with the remaining amount to be disbursed in the first quarter of 2013. The utilization would be about 16 billion euros for bank recapitalization, 7 billion euros for budget financing, and around 11 billion euros to finance debt buyback.
by RTT Staff Writer
For comments and feedback: firstname.lastname@example.org


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NAFDAC warns against wrong use of agrochemicals
• CPC Confirms Use Of Sniper As Preservative
The Director General, National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Prof. Christiana Mojisola Adeyeye, has called on Nigerians to desist from the dangerous practice of spraying agro-chemicals such as Sniper on beans and other grains.
“Agrochemicals should be properly applied with caution, such that they do not come into direct contact with the commodity. This is to prevent contamination of such food products, which could constitute danger to health.
In a release yesterday, the agency said: “The public is, hereby, assured that efforts are ongoing to address the problem. Consumers are advised to be vigilant and report any suspicious activities to the nearest NAFDAC Office.
Meanwhile, the Director General of Consumer Protection Council (CPC) has confirmed that retailers, mostly in the open market, are using a pesticide, 2,2-dichlorovinyl phosphate (DDVD) compound, otherwise known as Sniper to preserve beans and to eliminate weevils.
“The Council is collaborating with other relevant regulators to address this emergent situation and advises caution both to sellers and consumers, it said in a release, warning consumers to thoroughly wash food items before consumption.”
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Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra Release Date:- Get the latest information on the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra publish date, Samsung S24 Ultra price and more particular. There is good news for Samsung lovers. The company will be publishing the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra in the market. When will the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra be set afloat in India and what price is set for Galaxy S24 Ultra in India in this object.
Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra is the latest flagship smartphone from Samsung, offering cutting-edge features and powerful performance. With its sleek design and stunning display, the Galaxy S24 Ultra is a true showstopper. The phone boasts a large, vibrant screen that delivers crisp visuals and immersive viewing experiences. Equipped with a high-powered processor and ample RAM, it can handle even the most demanding tasks with ease. The camera system on the Galaxy S24 Ultra is truly exceptional, capturing stunning photos and videos in any lighting condition.
Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra Release Date
Samsung Galaxy S24 series is going to be launched soon. This Samsung phone will be the company’s high-end phone this year which is ready for the official launch in February 2024. The phone will have an upgraded camera and display. A recent leak suggests that both the display and cameras of the Galaxy S24 Ultra will be improved. According to popular tipster Ice Universe, the Galaxy S24 Ultra is set to come with a notch-less display. Although the features of this upgrade version have not been disclosed.
Everyone will have a question in their mind regarding the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra Price. So let’s know about the price of Samsung Galaxy Ultra. According to the information so far, the price of the Samsung galaxy s24 ultra is Rs 1,19,990 expected. Apart from this, its price in India can be Rs 92,999. If we talk about Samsung Galaxy s24 launched date, then it is expected to be launched by March 2023 and if we talk about the price of the mobile, then you can get an estimated price of ₹ 92000 for this mobile.
Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra Release Date Details
|Title Name||Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra Release Date|
|Mobile||Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra|
|Operating system||Android v13|
|Launched Date||February 2024|
|Price||Rs 1,19,900 or 92,999|
|Display 6.5 inches||6.5 Inches|
|Official Website||Click Here|
Check Also:- Vivo X Flip Price In India
Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra specifications
The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra, the company’s next flagship smartphone, is in the works. Even before its official launch, a significant reveal took place. This phone will have refresh rates of 144 Hz, which will improve scrolling and performance when playing games with high graphics. This will be the main Samsung gadget to accompany this high invigorate rate. Tell us about Samsung Cosmic system s24.
a Samsung phone can have quad rear cameras. OIS support is possible with this setup’s 200 megapixel rear camera. It will have a 50MP periscope sensor, a 10MP telephoto sensor, and a 12MP ultra-wide sensor. The optical zoom will be three times that of the periscope sensor. A 12MP camera can be given in the telephone to selfie and video calling.
The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra smartphone will come equipped with a 5000 mAh battery that can support 45W fast wired charging. It will include support for 25W wireless fast charging. This phone will have dimensions of 162.3 x 79 x 8.6 mm and a possible weight of 233 grams.
Read Also:- Motorola Edge 40 Ultra Price In India
Satellite connectivity has been included in some iPhone 14 series models by Apple. However, Samsung may introduce the Globally Satellite Connectivity feature. In fact, the report says that Samsung’s Galaxy S24 series smartphones can have satellite connectivity. It could go live in February 2024, the following year. Aside from satellite network, changes should be visible in the presentation and camera of the System S24 Ultra cell phone.
A couple of days back, it had referenced in a report that Samsung organization has collaborated with chipset producer Qualcomm for satellite correspondence highlights. The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra can provide satellite communication in such a circumstance.
Samsung Exynos 2400
Tipster Ice Universe (@UniversIce) revealed that the Galaxy S24 series’ Exynos 2400 SoC will serve as the processor in Europe. It’s possible that the screen on the Galaxy S24+ is WQHD+ and has a resolution of 3,120 x 1,440 pixels. The three smartphones in this series will have a maximum brightness of 2,500 nits.
Can Check:- Motorola Moto G33 Price In India
Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra Reviews
The Galaxy S24 series may be released by Samsung early next year. It will supplant the organization’s World S23 series. This could include the Galaxy S24, S24+, and S24 Ultra. The specifications of these smartphones have been leaked in part.
Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra Features
Operating System – Android v13Display Size – 6.5 Inches
Resolution – 1200* 2860 Pixels
Chipset – Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Generation 3
Graphics – Adreno GPU
Screen Protection- Corning Gorilla Glass Victus Plus
Screen – Punch Hole
Refresh Rate– 144 Hz
Video Recording – 4k UHD, 1080P FHD
The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra is the latest addition to Samsung’s flagship smartphone lineup, and it is truly a force to be reckoned with. Packed with cutting-edge features and top-of-the-line specifications, this device takes smartphone technology to new heights. Powered by a lightning-fast processor and ample RAM, this phone offers seamless multitasking and smooth performance. With its impressive camera setup, including a high-resolution primary camera, ultra-wide lens, and telephoto lens, the Galaxy S24 Ultra lets you capture breathtaking photos and videos in any setting. Additionally, this device comes with a long-lasting battery that keeps you powered up throughout the day.
FAQ About Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra Release Date
When S24 is launching?
Samsung Galaxy S24 series is going to be launched soon. This Samsung phone will be the company's high-end phone this year which is ready for the official launch in February 2024. The phone will have an upgraded camera and display.
What is the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra Released Date?
The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra will be released in February 2024 (unofficial).
What is the price of Samsung galaxy s24 ultra in India?
The price of Samsung Galaxy s24 Ultra is Rs 92,999 in India.


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Dear Bend Business Owner,
As you likely know by now, the “freeze” is over and beginning today Deschutes County is operating under new rules again.
The phased reopening guidance that has been in place since May is gone and businesses across the state will be governed by the risk levels in their respective counties. Deschutes County, along with 24 other counties statewide, has initially been classified as “Extreme Risk,” you can view the guidance by risk level here.
I realize these changes raise many new questions, I’ll try to cover the basics below. If you need more information or clarification please reach out by hitting reply to this message or calling us at 541-323-7151. I’ll work with our state level contacts to get answers and will share responses to common questions in a future message.
How Will Risk Levels be Reevaluated?
This risk based guidance will be more subject to change, in both positive and negative directions, as cases rise or recede in specific counties.
Every two weeks going forward we can expect a review and potential change in the risk level and associated guidance depending on COVID-19 case levels. In the weeks when risk levels won’t change the State will share where County data is trending. This is being called a “warning week” to alert businesses and residents to a potential shift in county risk level.
Here’s the basic timeline for when you can expect to see these updates from the State of Oregon through mid-January:
- December 7: Data pull, warning week data posted only
- December 15: Press release announcing which counties are in what risk level effective December 18
- December 21: Data pull, warning week data posted only
- December 29: Press release announcing which counties are in what risk level effective January 1, 2021
- January 4, 2021: Data pull, warning week data posted only
- January 12, 2021: Press release announcing which counties are in what risk level effective January 15, 2021
While the next batch of information on case movement and metrics is not posted yet, you’ll be able to find it here on December 7.
You can view specific guidance for your type of business here by scrolling down to “Guidance from OHA” then clicking on the “Guidance Based on County Risk Level” section.
Here’s some additional detail on some of our most impacted business sectors:
- Restaurants can now open for limited outdoor dining under the Extreme Risk guidance. Total customers cannot exceed 50 at any one time and groups cannot exceed six per table.
- A number of bars and restaurants have already invested in tents to accommodate outdoor dining; while it’s not listed in the guidelines the feedback from the Oregon Health Authority is that any tents or outdoor eating areas must have 75 percent of their sides open to the outside to be considered outdoors. You can view the full restaurant guidance here.
- Gyms and Indoor Recreation: Under the Extreme Risk level, indoor gyms and recreation facilities cannot operate. Outdoor recreation and fitness businesses can open with a maximum of 50 people in attendance. You can find the outdoor recreation and fitness guidance here.
- Retail stores can continue to operate but the maximum in store capacity has been reduced to 50 percent, rather than the 75 percent in place during the freeze. This capacity should be based on your stated building capacity, a number you likely have from the Fire Marshal (note that the number includes customers and employees). You can view the retail guidance here.
I’m well aware that asking you to “hang in there” sounds trite right now. Many of your businesses are right on the brink and what you need is financial assistance. I expect to have news on some local funding from the state for business assistance shortly and am encouraged to see momentum at the federal level for a new round of fiscal stimulus aimed at our most impacted industries. As soon as any funding programs come available I’ll share them with you.
We’ll continue to post updates at bendoregon.gov/bizresources but please reach out anytime and I’ll work to get back to you or get you in direct contact with someone that can help.
Thank you for doing business in Bend,


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South African tourism is concerned that the effects of third-wave could “decimate” the industry and hospitality.
Federated Hospitality Association of South Africa (Fedhasa) says the recent increase of Covid-19 cases and some provinces heading into a third wave, further lockdown restrictions maybe are likely and it could halt the recovery efforts in the tourism industry.
Fedhasa said in a statement they understand the difficult balance act government has to do. To act against the Covid-19 pandemic.
The possible further restrictions, Fedhasa says it will put the “nail in the coffin” for many businesses.
“The total number of liquidations in the hospitality sector in April 2021 was 158. However, the figure of 158 companies going into liquidation does not reflect the many more hospitality businesses that have closed down, but which did not formally follow the liquidation process, so the picture is likely much worse than these numbers indicate,” said Rosemary Anderson, chairperson of Fedhasa.
The first and second wave has left many businesses behind and the businesses that survived can barely hang on any longer, Anderson adds.
“Some hotels, which are wholly reliant on business and international tourism, have been closed for over a year now,” she says.
Tourism and hospitality losses
- The total income for the tourist accommodation industry decreased by 45,3% in March 2021 compared with March 2020.
- Income from accommodation decreased by 35,9% year-on-year in March 2021, this resulted in a 16,5% decrease in the number of stay unit nights sold and a 23,2% decrease in the average income per stay unit night sold.
- Total income generated food and beverages industry decreased by 21,9% in the first quarter of 2021 when compared with the first quarter of 2020.
- Restaurants and coffee shops had a loss of 30,2% and contributing -16,2 percentage points) and catering services (-41,1% and contributing -5,6 percentage points.
Fedhasa concludes they do have stringent measures in place to safeguard public health which they hope shouldn’t deter their hopes for recovery.
Complied by Sandisiwe Mbhele


text: The chopped sea cucumber and miniature chickpeas were hiding under a generous layer of Chinese caviar. The dish, served midway through the €380 (US$430), 15-course dinner at ADMO, felt like a throwback to less harrowing times, when gastrotourists and star-chef groupies still travelled freely across borders merely to eat. ADMO is a 100-day collaboration between Frenchman Alain Ducasse and Spaniard Albert Adrià – two of the world’s most celebrated chefs – and represents what is currently Europe’s most ambitious and luxurious pop-up. It will close on March 3. The joint venture is a takeover of Ducasse’s restaurant Les Ombres atop the Quai Branly Museum on the Left Bank of the River Seine in Paris. The tasting menu features haute cuisine hallmarks – caviar, lobster, sea urchin, white truffle – infused with flavours from Mexico, Italy and Japan. Every table in the glass-enclosed dining room has a magnificent view of the Eiffel Tower. Optional wine pairings, starting at €120, include Dom Perignon’s new 2008 vintage rosé. (The champagne maker is a sponsor of the pop-up.) Hong Kong restaurant patrons must use ‘Leave Home Safe’ app from December 9 “We wanted to co-create an experience,” says Ducasse, “a different meal – a provocative meal – in France, after the pandemic.” The menu, which will evolve during the pop-up’s run, is a global affair. An oyster amuse-bouche arrives with a kick of wakame (kelp). Cauliflower is cloaked in an intense mole sauce and paired with monkfish liver. Razor clams are served two ways: in a warm algae broth, and with a cold citrus foam. “We want to diversify our vision of gastronomy,” says Adrià. Posh food palaces have been hammered by the pandemic. Adrià shut down all six of his Barcelona restaurants last spring, including his wildly popular modern tapas spot Tickets , with no immediate plans to reopen any of them; debts were reported to top €8 million. A slew of top restaurants have shut down permanently across the continent in the past two years, from the Ledbury in London to Chambre Séparée, Belgian Kobe Desramaults’ jewel in Ghent. In June, Ducasse lost his opulent flagship in Paris’ Hôtel Plaza Athénée after 21 years when his contract was cancelled, marking the end of an era for grand hotel dining. He’s been replaced by a Top Chef France winner, Jean Imbert , best known for comfort food riffs on his grandmother’s cooking. Shortly after the closing, Ducasse approached Adrià with a business proposal. “I said: ‘Albert, you must come to Paris,’” he recalls. “You closed your restaurants; I closed mine. We’re going to do something together.” The ephemeral project is a chance to reset. “I’ve come to realise that the life I was living was toxic,” says Adrià. “I’d been neglecting my family. My mentality has changed. I’m taking it day by day, moving ahead calmly.” After ADMO wraps up early next year, Adrià, who was pastry chef at the groundbreaking El Bulli restaurant, plans to open a small shop in Barcelona devoted to Basque-style cheesecake. “We’re going to compete with the Cheesecake Factory,” he jokes. He intends some day to start his restaurant comeback with a reboot of Enigma, his most ambitious project, offering a long tasting menu in the same spirit as ADMO’s. He’ll do it, he says, only when he can afford to staff up fully after the demand for fine dining has returned. “At Enigma we had 40 people working,” he says. “During the pandemic we closed three times and had no tourists. We’d have had to raise our prices dramatically to keep going.” Ducasse, best known for his palatial hotel restaurants, shifted his focus during the pandemic to more widely accessible ventures. After launching Ducasse at Home, a takeaway business, during the first Paris lockdown, he opened an ice cream shop, La Glace Alain Ducasse, in the 11th arrondissement. He debuted new retail coffee and cookie lines, and, in September 2021, a healthy fast-casual concept, Sapid, with a mostly plant-based menu. A vegan burger shop is also in the works for Paris in spring 2022. “We’re going to feed you in the street for under €10,” he says. ADMO was conceived as a creative outlet, not just for Adria and Ducasse but also their newly underemployed lieutenants. Romain Meder, former head chef at the Plaza Athénée, and Jessica Préalpato, Ducasse’s pastry chef there, have been working closely with Adrià’s skeleton crew; he’s down to seven employees from a pre-pandemic high of 900. The model of a temporary big-ticket culinary experience is one that René Redzepi helped make famous with residencies of his restaurant Noma in such destinations as Tokyo in 2015 and Tulum, Mexico, in 2017. As diners have grown bored with the conventional trappings of fine dining, the collaboration between two heavyweight chefs acts as a refresh, according to Bruno Verjus, chef-owner of the Michelin-starred restaurant Table, which he created with a former food writer. “It’s collaboration time for the big fish in the food world,” he says. Verjus sees it as an echo of pandemic alliances like Gucci and Balenciaga , which are proliferating. “Just like what has been happening in fashion, it will be happening more in the food world,” he says.


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Thai fintech sector calls for state support
Fear as foreign firms eye e-payment market
The Thai FinTech Association has called on the government to increase its support for local tech startups and financial institutions to enhance their competitiveness and prevent foreign giants from monopolising the fintech market.
"It's time for the government to create a level playing field between local and foreign players and prevent monopolies from taking hold through the use of the Trade Competition Act," said chairman Korn Chatikavanij.
He expressed concern at the prospect of foreign players controlling the e-payment service market after Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba moved aggressively to increase its presence in Thailand through a partnership with CP All, the operator of 7-Eleven convenience stores in the country.
"The alliance between the two giants poses critical challenges to Thai fintech companies," Mr Korn said yesterday at a seminar entitled, "The New Era of Digital for Business Solutions", hosted by Brother Commercial Thailand.
Cross-border trade in financial services is not yet regulated by the Bank of Thailand, enabling cross-border e-payment service providers to expand their financial services to compete directly with existing banks.
Mr Korn urged banks to partner with local fintech startups to improve their innovative capacity to compete with international e-payment players.
The Thai government also needs to update the country's regulations to support tech-based businesses and the concurrent development of the Thailand 4.0 initiative, he added.
Thailand 4.0 is intended to reshape the country's economic structure and all business sectors so that they are driven by innovation and technology.
"This will encourage companies to embrace digital technologies to improve their efficiency and increase productivity," said Mr Korn.
Thailand 4.0 is expected to increase Thailand's earnings per person per year from US$6,500 (229,060 baht) to $13,500 over the next 10-15 years, said Mr Korn.
For every four Thais, one will be a senior citizen -- much older than the Asean average, where one out of every seven people is a senior citizen.
But he said the state also needs to improve the country's educational system and create a workforce with more digital skills.
Mr Korn also urged the government to impose a corporate income tax on international technology firms like Facebook and Google, who dominate Thailand's digital marketing industry.
Mr Korn said all tech-related state authorities need to quickly adapt to the rapidly changing technological landscape and implement long-term policies that will help local tech firms stay competitive and cope with changing consumer habits.


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Poco F3 GT could launch next month; here’s what to expect
- Poco F3 GT is expected to launch early next month.
- Poco F3 GT could be the most premium smartphone from the brand.
- The phone will have specs similar to that of the Redmi K40 enhanced edition.
AdvertisementPoco has confirmed the launch of its premium smartphone Poco F3 GT in India. The launch was to take place anytime between July and September this year. According to a report published by 91mobiles, we could see the launch of the Poco F3 GT early next month in India.
The publication in association with tipster Yogesh has learned that the phone will arrive in the first ten days of August. The Poco F3 GT is touted to be the most premium smartphone from the Chinese company. It will be the second smartphone in the Poco F series to launch in India.
What does the Poco F3 GT offer?
Poco F3 GT is expected to have specifications similar to that of Redmi K40 enhanced edition. With the launch happening soon, it might be pushed as a gaming-focused smartphone with high-end specs.
Moving to the specs, the Poco F3 GT is powered by MediaTek Dimensity 1200 processor and will feature a 6.67-inch OLED display. We will have 120Hz refresh rate, HDR10+, and a hole-punch front camera.
It will have up to 12GB RAM and 256GB storage that can be expanded by using a microSD card. Since it is a gaming phone, it will feature retractable shoulder buttons, a haptic sensor and a vapour chamber to manage the heat.
The Poco F3 GT is packed with a 5000mAh battery that is powered by a 67W fast charger. The phone will run on Android 11-based MIUI 12 skin. In the camera setup, it will have a 64MP primary sensor, an 8MP wide-angle sensor, and a 2MP macro lens.
The phone is expected to take on OnePlus Nord 2 — which will be launched later this month. The Nord 2 is said to be powered by the Dimensity 1200 chipset, paired with 8GB of RAM. As per the report, the Nord 2 could be powered by a 4,500mAH battery and will sport a triple camera set-up.
Poco M3 Pro 5G vs Redmi Note 10 Pro – price, specs and features compared
Xiaomi, Oppo, Vivo and Poco extend warranties by up to two months due to COVID-19 lockdowns and restrictions
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The Journal Sentinel business department follows developments in the local retail industry
Von Maur may bring Dry Goods specialty stores to area
The Milwaukee area is in the sights of upscale Iowa retailer Von Maur not only for a new department store but also for its new concept Dry Goods stores.
The department store chain launched its first Dry Goods store, featuring clothing for teen girls-- last fall at the Fox Valley mall in Aurora, Ill. President Jim von Maur compares his new concept to Abercrombie, with trendy, high-fashion clothing, but unlike Abercrombie, at affordable prices.
The company decided to get into the specialty store business as a way to expand, in an environment where Von Maur is finding it difficult to open full-size department stores.
"We feel like we can't grow fast enough," von Maur said in an interview Tuesday. The company will enter the Atlanta market with a Von Maur department store in November, and hopes to open another in the Town of Brookfield in the fall of 2012.
The smaller Dry Goods specialty stores likely would go into regional malls. The company hopes to open three or four this year, von Maur said.
Along with colleague Tom Daykin, I'll have a full report in Wednesday's paper and online on the latest developments on the Von Maur project in Brookfield. Tom reports that plans moved ahead this morning in the State Assembly.


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Get ready for the return of the #ChiFoodTruckFest !
The City of Chicago's Small Business Center (SBC) in the Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection (BACP) is bringing the "Food Truck Fest" series back to the Loop.
The 2019 fest will run from April through September weekly at Daley Plaza, 50 W. Washington Street and be open from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Each #ChiFoodTruckFest includes a line-up of trucks offering a variety of culinary options. The fests are designed to bring more awareness to Chicago residents and visitors who may not be familiar with the City’s food truck scene.
For more information on Food Truck Fest please email BACPoutreach@cityofchicago.org or call 312.744.2086.


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This year’s Malaysian International Furniture Fair (MIFF) broke records in South East Asia. As the leading global industry platform for quality furniture, the fair showed no signs of abating as it recorded its largest crowd of exhibitors and international buyers. In its 23rd edition, the 4-day program amassed a high-quality business atmosphere, encouraging seasoned buyers and first timers from new emerging markets and better performing economies.
Words: Kalli Zerveas
Based in Kuala Lampur, MIFF has nurtured invaluable partnerships between buyers and manufacturers for more than 20 years. This year’s fair hosted 550 exhibitors, an impressive 15% increase from previous years. The show hosted astounding attendance, as many as 20,000 visitors from all around the world boosted rates for international buyers by 5%.
As an international sourcing hub, MIFF saw a presence of strong buyers extending beyond South East Asia. Director of Premium Woods Plus, Albert Tan asserted, ‘the crowds were bigger and the best so far for the seven years the company has exhibited’. Mr. Tan revealed there was a larger presence of unexpected countries like Samoa and Peru which sparked further interest. Representatives were in attendance from China, Japan, South Korea and Australia, all the way through to India, the US, South Africa and the UK. Edgar Lopez of Californian-based Winners Only Inc. expressed, ‘it is pretty interesting this year; there is more variety. It looks more diverse than last year’. Besides being principally international, Malaysian manufacturers and designers also established their presence, creating further value for their products and customers.
MIFF is renowned in South East Asia not only for presenting quality products, but also at great value. The standout for buyers at the 2017 show was the one-of-a-kind MIFF Office, which showcases an extensive collection of modern office furniture. Unlike other shows, the MIFF commonly has a strong reputation for conducting real business throughout. This sees buyers and exhibitors making transactions and closing deals all through its duration.
The exclusiveness as exemplified by the MIFF Office as well as the professional atmosphere has majorly contributed to the fair’s great success. Ms. Karen Goi, MIFF’s General Manager expressed, ‘It has been a tremendous year for MIFF and a huge boost for a bigger show in 2018… Exhibitors were kept very busy with hordes of buyers… It clearly shows MIFF remains the driver of global furniture trade in South East Asia’. Promising to surpass the prosperity and success of this year’s show, MIFF is eagerly awaiting 2018.
The Malaysian International Furniture Fair will be back next year, featuring home and office furniture, furnishings fittings and materials. The show will be held from March 8-11 at PWTC and the Malaysian International Trade and Exhibition Centre.
Click here for more information on MIFF 2018 and booth reservation.


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New Delhi, Feb 13 :
The second generation (2G) spectrum auction in 900 MHz and 1,800 MHz airwaves ended Thursday after mopping up Rs.61,162.22 crore in 68 rounds, Telecom Secretary M.F. Farooqui said here.
The government has garnered Rs.37,572.62 crore in 1,800 MHz and Rs.23,589.62 crore in 900 MHz.
“The auction has progressed smoothly. I think market has determined price through keen competitive bidding,” he told reporters.
Eight mobile phone service providers took part in the auction that began Feb 3 for 46 MHz in 900 MHz band and 385 MHz in 1,800 MHz band.
Farooqui said 80 percent of the airwaves that was on auction in 1800 MHz was sold out and in 900 MHz entire airwaves that was offered got sold out.
“The government will get minimum of Rs.18,296.36 crore from this auction this fiscal,” he said. The government has set a target of Rs.11,343 crore from the auction.
The total spectrum on offer is 46 MHz in 900 MHz band (only Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata) and 385 MHz in 1,800 MHz band (all 22 circles) simultaneously. The government has targeted to mop up Rs.40,874.50 crore from the spectrum auction in 2013-14.
Communications Minister Kapil Sibal said: “I want to see a smile on the face of finance minister and also of the consumers and that can be only seen if the service provided by the operators is efficient and is at reasonable prices.”
Now that the auction is complete the real work for the industry will begin, he noted. “The sector has enormous potential. These licences are for a period of 20 years. These bandwidth will be given to operators till 2034.”
“In a 20-year scenario this sector will again be the golden goose that laid the golden egg. This sector has enormous potential. We have not yet started looking at the 3G revolution and the data revolution that is going to come up. They are going to be very, very innovative unique base.”
The service providers who took part in the auction are Reliance Communications, Reliance Jio, Bharti Airtel, Vodafone, Telewings, Aircel, Tata Teleservices and Idea Cellular.
The Department of Telecom is working on the name of the final winner, Farooqui said.


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The second highest consumer of textiles per person in the world, Australia discards around 23 kg textiles into landfills every year. A large part of this waste comprises non-renewable, synthetic materials that cannot be recycled. This waste is not regulated at the federal levels and requires a shift to a circular waste economy to manage. The circular economy model focuses on creating recyclable and re-usable products and materials and keeping them in the economy for a longer period. One of the key themes as per recent McKinsey & Co report, ‘The State of Fashion ’for 2022 is: circular textiles.
As per this theme, Australian fashion industry can reduce its environmental impact by adopting the closed-loop recycling system to produce virgin raw materials and reduce textile waste. For effective use, companies need to embed these technologies into the design of their products.
Government initiatives to tackle waste problem
At the Industry Clothing Textiles Waste Roundtable and Exhibition held in May 2021, Sussan Lay, Australia’s Environment Minister initiated important discussions on the need to reduce clothing waste, the impacts of fast fashion and the necessity for nation-wide co-ordinated action. The discussions concluded that Australia needs to adopt a circular economy approach to the textile waste problem to accomplish sustainability in the relevant industries. This would also help the country drive the launch of innovative and efficient solutions to prevent the mass dumping of products in the landfills besides creating new jobs in the sustainable resources field.
In November 2021, the Australian Fashion Council was awarded $1 million through the National Product Stewardship Investment Fund to establish the country’s first National Production Stewardship Scheme for clothing textiles. The scheme aims to provide "a roadmap to 2030 for clothing circularity in Australia in line with National Waste Policy Action Plan targets". The scheme includes the commission of three reports on data and material flow, analysis of global initiatives, policies and technologies for promoting circularity in textiles and recommendations to achieve the National Waste Policy Action Plan targets by 203O. The money will be used to fund the commission of three reports by March 2023.
The National Product Stewardship Investment Fund has also granted aid to the Australasian Circular Textile Association for the Circular Threads project to develop a business case and design a product stewardship scheme to collect, reuse and recycle uniforms and workwear.
Innovative solutions from companies
Innovative solutions are being offered by several companies in Australia to tackle its textile waste problem. For instance, a clean technology company, BlockTex has created a process to recover polyester and cellulose from textiles and clothing in collaboration with researchers from Queensland University of Technology. Known as S.O.F.T (‘Seperation of fiber technolgy’), this process generates polyester and cellulose materials all industries including textiles, packaging and building products.
BlockTexx is also setting up a textile recycling plant in Logan, Queensland, to recycle 4000 tons of textile waste in its first year by the S.O.F.T technology. BlockTexx estimates it will be able to offset about 120,000 tons of CO2 emissions.
Another organization Worn Up i aims to make new products from up-cycled non-wearable uniforms and production offcuts. The organization has launched Textile Rescue Program to work with schools, corporates, local governments and sporting associations to keep uniforms out of landfill and help suppliers identify sustainability challenges in their uniform supply chains. Their stewardship and certification program, Responsible Textile Disposal Tick, holds organizations accountable for their waste and ensure they dispose of it responsibly.
Severe repercussions in absence of urgent action
The problem of textile waste in Australia needs to be addressed urgently if it aims to transit to a net zero economy. Several fashion and textile companies in the country are collaborating with the government to tackle this program.
In 2022, most consumers will engage in a wardrobe reboot, says The State of Fashion 2022 report by McKinsey & Co. Some of them may also engage in revenge shopping . This may further compound the waste problem in Australia unless some urgent action is taken against it.


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Wi-Fi is the Data Beast of Burden among Smartphone Panelists
– How much mobile data Arbitron smartphone panelists consume varies by country and mobile platform
COLUMBIA, Maryland, March 4, 2013 – Wi-Fi® remains the leading data network for on-the-go data consumption in the five leading Arbitron Mobile-based smartphone panels.
Even as carriers aggressively promote their newest generation of cellular data networking, the Arbitron smartphone panelists in the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, France, and China, still consume nearly two thirds of their mobile data through public and private Wi-Fi networks.
Wi-Fi Data Consumption by Arbitron Mobile-based Smartphone Panelists
% via Wi-Fi
Cell + Wi-Fi Data
% of panelists
Source: Arbitron Mobile Index: Executive Summary Reports, 4th quarter 2012
The United States and United Kingdom have the heaviest users of mobile data in their Arbitron smartphone panels. A substantial share of the data consumption—61 and 69 percent respectively—relies on Wi-Fi networks.
China and France have the lightest users of mobile data in their Arbitron Mobile-based smartphone panels, both in terms of the average monthly data consumed and the share of the panel who consume more the 1,000 MB a month. However, their respective share of Wi-Fi networks as a data source stands at a polar opposite.
China panelists consume the largest share—70 percent—on Wi-Fi networks. French panelists, consume the smallest share—53 percent—of mobile data on Wi-Fi.
In all five of the Arbitron Mobile panels, Apple iOS users are heaviest consumers of mobile data and are the heaviest users of Wi-Fi for their on-the-go data needs.
Data Consumption by Leading Mobile Operating Systems
% via Wi-Fi
% via Wi-Fi
Source: Arbitron Mobile Index — Executive Summary Reports, 4th quarter 2012
Apple iOS was the predominant operating system among the heavy data users in these five smartphone panels. Seventy-two percent of iOS users in the U.S. and German panel were in 1,000+ MB/month club; in the U.K., 76 percent, and in China 60 percent. In stark contrast, only 29 percent of the iOS users in the France panel consumed more than 1,000 MB/month in the fourth quarter 2012.
About iResearch Consulting
iResearch Consulting, founded 2002, is the leading consulting and media measurement company in the Internet industry in China. With more than 200 employees, iResearch, headquartered in Shanghai, has been at the forefront of Chinese Internet measurement and operates a currency Internet audience rating service for China.
About Arbitron Mobile
Arbitron Mobile Oy, a wholly owned subsidiary of Arbitron Inc., uses a proprietary, on-device software meter to provide marketers, the media, content providers, app developers, and wireless access suppliers with information on how mobile consumers use apps, surf the web, engage in social media, participate in e-commerce, and employ their devices to communicate.
Arbitron Inc. (NYSE: ARB) is an international media and marketing research firm serving the media—radio, television, cable and out-of-home; the mobile industry as well as advertising agencies and advertisers around the world. For more information, visit www.arbitron.com.


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Welcome to the world of semiconductor-grade neon gas that’s semi-dependent on Russia and Ukraine during a global supply chain crisis.
Despite a pandemic, supply chain crisis, geopolitical & domestic unrest, and inflation, farmland is a big deal. Folks will always need food and a safe place to live.
The just-in-time supply chain for semiconductor microchips fell into the abyss this week as China ordered power cuts to manufacturing facilities.
There are only three major FABs (fabricating facilities) in the world today, with two of them in Asia and one in the U.S. at Intel.


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Retail administrations and the resulting store closures could lead to one in six stores on the high street lying empty this year, according to the Local Data Company
According to research from the Local Data Company (LDC), the UK’s national vacancy rate hit 14.2%, as there were more than 35,500 empty shops across the country’s top 650 town centres.
The vacancy rate remained flat in 2012 but since then big name retailers including Blockbuster, Jessops and HMV have all collapsed into administration, closing hundreds of stores.
LDC director Matthew Hopkinson forecast that these closures could push the vacancy rate to 17%, more than a sixth of shops, if the current trends continue.
He said the “growth of large shopping centres and retail parks, store consolidation as leases come to an end, the growth of online spend and the lack of consumer confidence overall” were the reasons for the decline.
He questioned whether the growth of pound shops and discount retailers, as they compete to buy empty sites, would soon fall off as could soon reach “saturation point”.
The report noted a polarisation of high streets with the highest vacancy rates most common in the north and Midlands. Stockport had the highest vacancy rate at 28.3%.
The West Midlands had the largest rise in empty units, up to 18.5%. London, Yorkshire and the Humber and the East Midlands reported a rise in the number of shops let to new tenants.
Wales is still the worst performing country as it has 18% of its shops unoccupied. Scotland is the second worst country with a 15.5% vacancy rate but England was the best performer with a 13.9% vacancy rate.
Independent retailers, which accounted for 68% of the shops surveyed, fared better than bigger retailers, the report found. The LDC said the “community service”, which the local stores offered had softened the impact of shoppers shifting to online shopping.


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Mitsubishi Motors Philippines Adds More Cebu Showrooms To Its Growing Network | Motourismo
|Mitsubishi Gateway Talisay, Cebu
Mitsubishi Motors Philippines Corporation (MMPC) has announced the opening of two (2) new dealerships in Cebu, further expanding its reach and commitment to making Mitsubishi cars more accessible to Filipinos.
Gateway Motors Group spearheaded the opening of the Cebu Talisay and Gorordo dealerships, bringing the total number of MMPC dealerships in the country to 71.
|Mitsubishi Gateway Gorordo, Cebu
The Cebu Talisay dealership features a six (6) car showroom and can fit 52 vehicles in its service area. The Gorordo Facility will showcase 4 cars in its showroom floor and can fit 12 cars in its service area. Both with a cozy customer lounge, work station and a kiddie play area.
During the opening ceremony, MMPC President and CEO Takeshi Hara shared his excitement for a growing network in the country, especially for the very progressive province of Cebu.
|Gateway Motors Group spearheaded the opening of the Cebu Talisay and Gorordo dealerships.
"We are very lucky to have very dedicated and hardworking dealer partners who share the same passion and commitment to making life better for more Filipinos," said Hara Takeshi. "We thank and commend the head honchos of Gateway Motors Group for all the hard work they do in making sure that Mitsubishi will be more accessible to every Filipino."
With the opening of these new dealerships, MMPC is taking its commitment to making life better for Filipinos to the next level. The company will continue to provide reliable and innovative vehicles that improve the lives of countless Filipinos, and we look forward to seeing the positive impact of these new dealerships on the community.


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Hong Kong has initiated a sandbox arrangement for stablecoin issuers to establish regulations for future operations.
This move aligns with its objective to become a regional key player in the cryptocurrency sector. The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) introduced the sandbox to set supervisory standards for entities interested in issuing fiat-referenced stablecoins within Hong Kong.
Following a consultation period that concluded on Feb. 29 regarding stablecoin regulation, the HKMA, the Financial Services, and the Treasury Bureau in December had already suggested mandatory licensing for all fiat-referenced stablecoin issuers by the HKMA.
Eddie Yue, the HKMA’s chief executive, emphasized that the sandbox would facilitate dialogue between the HKMA and industry stakeholders, contributing to developing appropriate and risk-based regulatory requirements. This approach is essential for the stable and responsible expansion of the stablecoin issuance sector.
Applicants for the sandbox are expected to present viable business plans and ensure their operations are manageable and limited in scope.
“We see there’s a very good demand. It is still a very, very small market — lots of room to grow for not only us — but I think there are a lot of new stablecoins that will be coming on the market fairly soon,” said Vincent Chok, chief executive officer of First Digital, the issuer of FDUSD stablecoin. “We know that there are a lot of people that are lining up to apply for this Hong Kong stablecoin licensing as well.”


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Naughty Dog has confirmed that The Last of Us will not have a 3d option as reported on the Official PlayStation Blog unlike Naughty Dog's previous hit Uncharted 3 which was released almost a year ago.
Community Strategist, Eric Monacelli, did not provide a reason for the lack of 3D support in Naughty Dog's upcoming title.
PlayStation Europe chief executive Jim Ryan was recently quoted as saying.
Where it makes sense, 3D technology will be included into our games.
Would the 3d be to subtle for its use and cause a hit to the system that would otherwise make the game unplayable?
Whatever the reasons, are you disappointed in this decision?


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Justin Karas sees the recipe for restaurant success, and its main ingredients are low prices, fresh food and a casual setting.
Starting with one Newk’s Express Café in south Charlotte’s Blakeney development, Karas is quickly adding two more franchise locations under his Karas Hospitality Inc. umbrella.
Newk’s quick success here is part of a food trend sweeping the city and the nation. Franchisees, star chefs and homegrown startups all are making a run for the middle market.
Karas, the prototypical young man in a hurry, dabbled in real estate and venture capital before stumbling into the restaurant business. A group of college friends and acquaintances lured the 30-year-old Karas here and, noting the absence of Newk’s — one of their favorite Mississippi haunts — suggested he go after the franchise rights in Charlotte.
Started by the founders of McAlister’s Deli, the Mississippi fast-casual spot made its local debut in September in Blakeney, where a 50-employee staff keeps the 130-seat restaurant running with fresh items such as salad dressings made in-house every other day. Customer tabs average $10.
Next up for Karas is opening a 4,200-square-foot uptown location in September at the former home of Grand Central Deli on North Tryon Street. A SouthPark Newk’s is in the works for early next year. “We’re an easy trade-down,” Karas says. “It’s an open kitchen and people can watch us prepare your food. Things are truly made from scratch.”
Newk’s joins a slew of comfort-food-themed restaurants that are landing all over town, from strip malls to abandoned restaurants felled by the recession. Think pizza, burgers, sandwiches and salads — and Mexican. Lots of Mexican.
At the SouthPark mall site formerly occupied by a shuttered Morton’s, CentraArchy Restaurant Management opened San Antonio’s Modern Mexican this spring. Just down the road, at Specialty Shops on the Park, Charlotte restaurateur Frank Scibelli is putting the finishing touches on Paco’s Tacos & Tequila, opening next month in the space vacated by Manzetti’s Tavern.
In Matthews, construction started this week on the first franchised location of Atlanta’s Pure Taqueria. An August opening is planned in a 3,300-square-foot building designed to look like a vintage gas station.
And, by early next year, New England-based Margarita’s Mexican Restaurants hopes to open the first of five planned franchised locations in the Charlotte area, with an emphasis on converting abandoned restaurants. Not a bad idea, since it saves on construction costs and, thanks to the long-suffering economy, plenty of prospective makeovers can be found at attractive prices.
No matter the genre, the meal mission is the same. Keep prices in the $10 to $15 range. Emphasize fresh ingredients. And make it casual, but sell it with an upscale twist by promoting original recipes, nods to regional cuisines and so on.
“It’s that kind of mid-level — that’s the niche,” says David Tschirhart, a broker at Legacy Real Estate Advisors with extensive restaurant experience. “Get in and out of there for $10.”
Even Jim Noble has gotten the message.
A decade ago, the fine-dining chef opened Noble’s, a gleaming 10,000-square-foot tribute to affluence, offering an expense account-friendly menu of fine wines and entrées in the $20 to $35 range.
Last year, Noble shelved the SouthPark restaurant’s lunch service. And in August, when his current lease expires, Noble plans to close his namesake restaurant and leave it in limbo until he can find a smaller, 3,000-square-foot location — and a menu to match.
In the meantime, Noble is concentrating on The King’s Kitchen, a meat-and-three restaurant launched this spring, a barbecue joint in the Elizabeth area expected to open early next year and his more moderately priced Rooster’s chicken eatery, scheduled to expand to uptown in the fall.
Over and over in recent months, similar scenarios have played out. Fine-dining restaurants have either closed (Morton’s, The Oceanaire Seafood Room, McIntosh’s Steaks & Seafood) or, in survival mode, offered everything from hamburgers to mini-entrées as part of steeply discounted menu items (Del Frisco’s and numerous others).
“Fine dining has had a shift to more casual dining,” says Darren Tristano, executive vice president at Technomic Inc., a Chicago-based industry research firm. “And fast-casual has grown at a much faster rate than the rest of the industry for the last 10 years. It continues to out-perform everything else.”
Tschirhart has scored several deals along Montford Drive, bringing Midwestern chain Jet’s Pizza to the area, as well as 15 North, a Charleston, S.C., restaurant emphasizing Lowcountry fare in its first foray into Charlotte. His firm also played a key role in bringing mega-sports bar Taco Mac to Piedmont Town Center. Atlanta-based Taco Mac will occupy 8,600 square feet when it opens this summer.
Diners aren’t alone in making the most of their newfound bargaining power. Landlords, eager to avoid long-term vacancies, now offer lower rents, with some in the industry estimating prices have fallen 25% to 30% in recent years. In some cases, landlords forgo tenant improvements in exchange for a year of free rent — and scale back in future years with lower rates. A prime example: When gastro-pub The Liberty opened in the 7,800-square-foot SouthEnd building that once housed McIntosh’s pricey steakhouse, the new tenants scored a 50% discount on the first year of rent. In other cases, landlords are willing to negotiate rents based on a percentage of sales rather than a flat rate, easing pressure on restaurant tenants.
“There is a huge difference,” Tschir-hart says. “People who are already signed to deals are going back and asking for concessions.”
Landlord reps such as Mike Lucier, a senior associate at CB Richard Ellis, say prices have come down to more appropriate levels. Good locations still generate healthy rents, he says. Lucier recently signed Panera Bread to its first center city location in a 4,000-square-foot space at Charlotte Plaza. Over the next year, he foresees 10 to 11 additions uptown, with most falling in the category of chef-driven or fast-casual. He expects to fill 7,000 square feet in Charlotte Plaza with a regional bar and restaurant operator later this year.
Bill Diehl III, who has become an active broker in restaurant real estate deals, points to the $35 average checks at fine-dining restaurants as artifacts of an already distant past. Diehl, whose recent restaurant recruits include Noble’s 4,000-square-foot The King’s Kitchen uptown, expects the price-conscious food trend to continue long after the recession retreats.
“Really big restaurants with really big rent — it’s a broken mold,” he says.


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Biodegradable plastics manufacturer Casey Container Corp. has collected enough prospective business inquiries to reach several hundred million dollars in potential sales, according to one employee. These prospective clients are expected to help Casey immediately close business deals once product is available. This information comes on the heels of Casey’s two announcements earlier this week, regarding an increase in funding to $10 million and preparation to launch into the $2.3 billion market for biodegradable preforms, bottles and containers.
Casey is a licensee of the proven EcoPure additive, which is added to plastic resin during the manufacturing process, making the plastic fully biodegradable in a landfill environment. Casey Container plans to use the pending equity funding to open new facilities in the first quarter of 2013 and rapidly produce biodegradable plastic products for a variety of industries, using the EcoPure additive.
Robert Seaman, vice president of manufacturing for Casey Container, states existing demand from direct inquiries and proposals could potentially consume full production capacity of the new manufacturing facility immediately upon opening.
“The management team has received dozens of contract proposals and inquiries that could be triggered immediately,” states Seaman, who has over 37 years of experience in the bottling business. “I have personally been involved in over 20 different discussions with suppliers seeking biodegradable plastic products proven to fully biodegrade in a landfill. All of them are eager to purchase our products immediately, once available. These companies will take as much product as we can produce.”
Seaman went on to state that for the bottled water industry alone, he believes the market for biodegradable bottles and preforms could be large enough to put Casey Container in an early leadership position.
“The global bottled water business is now worth about $50 billion annually and the US market is roughly $15 billion of that figure. If we could capture a mere 1% of that market, we’re talking hundreds of millions of dollars in sales annually for our product, just in North America alone,” Seaman says. “Our product crosses over into any market that currently uses plastic containers, but is seeking a reputable, effective biodegradable solution. Clearly, we are going to look at strategic ventures and partner opportunities that help us get to market faster.”
Seaman is a veteran in the bottling industry who has worked with some of the world’s largest bottlers, including those in the suntan lotion, motor oil and bottled water industries.