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A first for the brand, LovBe has partnered with Rakuten, the global affiliate marketing powerhouse, to develop publisher relationships and sales incentive programs. Offering the highest commissions in the jewelry industry, LovBe believes the Rakuten network of publishers will reach an untapped consumer audience, introducing them to all the brand has to offer. For those interested in joining the jewelry affiliate program powered by Rakuten.
In addition, the company is launching LovBe Shared, a consumer-facing referral program, targeted to existing customers who could earn unlimited rewards by sharing a unique referral code with friends and family. By using the referral code, new LovBe customers will receive $100 off their purchase. Once the code is redeemed, the original existing customer will receive a $100 Amazon Gift Card. The unique referral code does not expire, nor is there a limit to the number of referrals made.
“We are very excited to move into the next phase of our company’s development,” shared LovBe’s CEO and founder, Margit Reinson. “The initial response to our value-driven collection has exceeded our expectations and we feel these new initiatives will propel our growth to the next level.”
LovBe has also announced its partnership with ID.me, the online identity verification network, offering a 5% discount to those serving in the armed forces, veterans and first responders who qualify for the program. The program includes all LovBe engagement rings, including those in the LovBe Exclusive Collection, as well as the brand’s fine jewelry offerings.
With free shipping and a 60-Day money-back guarantee, coupled with a lifetime warranty on all jewelry and a lifetime diamond upgrade, consumers have little in the way of concerns when purchasing from LovBe. The brand’s Diamond Concierge, a team of seasoned diamond experts who act as customers’ guides during the custom design and purchasing processes, further ensures a faultless experience. With a 4.8 score on Trustpilot, consumers clearly agree.
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Bathroom and kitchen specialist Betta Living today revealed record revenues and profits, as it announced plans to open new stores this year.
The company, founded in Oldham in 1966, saw sales across its 29 shops rise 22 per cent to £29.9m in the year to November 30.
Pre-tax profits leapt 44 per cent to £1.5m, as the firm was boosted by a rise in web sales.
Chairman Noel Dean, who created Betta Living when he took over Better Bedrooms in 2000 and merged it with his own Dean House outfit, added the firm had appointed corporate finance advisers to explore a range of strategic options including putting the firm up for sale or attracting new investment to accelerate the company’s growth in the coming years.
Mr Dean said: “The home improvement market has been through a torrid time but we have been able to grow our market share and develop our brand by maintaining customer service levels.
“We have started the current year extremely strongly, with web sales up by 30% and higher average order values.”
Betta Living designs, makes and fits bedrooms, bathrooms, kitchens and home offices.
It has a manufacturing plant in Oldham.
Mr Dean said Betta Living, which employs 320 people, planned to launch two new shops in 2013.
He added: “In addition, the new stores will greatly enhance our geographic presence and give us physical locations in areas where we already have very good internet demand.”
Before setting up Dean House in 1984, Mr Dean worked for The Burtons Group and was the first ever store manager for Mr Burt, now Top Man.
Betta Living has appointed the Manchester office of Rickitt Mitchell to advise on the next phase of its growth.


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Before the next wave of TV deals will be negotiated, the NFL will surely be doing its biggest deal yet in the environment where much of what used to be viewed on TV is now being consumed.
Via NBCNews.com, the NFL could move its out-of-market streaming rights to Amazon or Disney. Amazon already streams Thursday Night Football, and Disney would surely love to boost the offerings of its in-house streaming service, ESPN+.
Recent tensions have emerged between the NFL and AT&T, which has purchased DirecTV. Meanwhile, ESPN has worked hard to rebuild bridges to 345 Park Avenue, and Amazon has become a behemoth in the streaming/sales space. Its value comes from the merger of viewing preferences and purchase habits, enabling Amazon to tailor commercials to viewers, who can make a purchase with the click of a button while otherwise watching a game.
Per the report, the NFL also has considered Google and Netflix for a streaming deal. The former has been “on and off”; the latter has never shown interest.
AT&T abruptly dropped NFL Network from Uverse and DirecTV now this week, while keeping NFLN in the DirecTV lineup. This development surely doesn’t make it more likely that DirecTV and the NFL will renew its longstanding arrangement, which began in 1994.
It’s possible that, in the end, DirecTV will keep the satellite rights while another company assumes the streaming of the games, allowing people in rural areas that lack high-speed Internet access to continue to watch all Sunday afternoon games and giving the NFL a potent double-dip with big fees both from DirecTV and a new streaming partner.


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Enter the folks at Diesel.
In its "Brand O" print and TV campaign, the Italian jeans peddler publicly flogs itself-and all the big, bad, global advertisers of the world-by announcing that advertising is banal, heartless, and out of touch with the lives of ordinary people, in this case represented by the struggling denizens of North Korea. Presumably, such a self-damning admission is intended to absolve Diesel of these very sins (anyone "honest" enough to announce that advertising is corrupt must be operating on a higher moral ground than all the other advertisers, seems to be the thinking). But the opposite conclusion is equally valid-that Diesel, in this instance, just may have raised advertising's banality and callousness to new levels.
The "Brand O" campaign, created by Diesel's longtime-albeit recently demoted-Swedish agency, Paradiset DDB in Stockholm, depicts scenes of oppressive daily life in North Korea, one of the last remaining communist states. (The country is never specifically identified in the ads, but a Diesel press release makes a big to-do about the unusual location). Journalistic-style Peter Gehrke photographs show people standing in line, crowding onto buses, looking understandably glum. In the midst of the trudging masses are billboards featuring glamorous fashion models who are promoting fictional Brand O products such as ice cream, gum and a diet program. The diet program is even funnier than the ice cream, if you bear in mind that the famine in North Korea has, by some counts, already cost the lives of thousands.
A single TV spot, made with the production company Traktor, follows the same theme, but adds a bit of melodrama: In an apparent suicide pact, a young, denim-deprived Korean couple jumps off a bridge-then happens to land in the bed of a passing truck.
According to Don Henshall, CEO of Diesel USA, the point of the campaign is to "look at life from a different point of view, while at the same time taking potshots at ourselves as advertisers. You have Third World countries worrying about survival, and yet advertisers are feeding them images that have nothing to do with their daily lives."
The creative director of the campaign, Paradiset's Joachim Jonason, traces the origin of the idea to a visit to Russia. "I saw 'Welcome to Marlboro Country' signs in Moscow, and it just felt wrong," says Jonason, who, along with copywriter Jacob Nelson, adapted the idea to a North Korean setting. "We tried to imagine how it might look as Westerners enter that market, and we put ourselves in the position of the bad Westernized company that tries to sell with happy slogans to people around the world, regardless of the situation."
Paradiset's previous "Successful Living" and "Historical Moments" campaigns made fun of hotshots like politicians and military men, but the "Brand O" campaign is a sharp departure from the playfully absurd scenarios of earlier ads. The choice of a weightier theme was intended to "create a more grown-up version of the 'Successful Living' campaign," says Jonason. The ads inject sarcasm into the otherwise depressing scenes; for example, one Brand O banner claiming, "There's no limit to how thin you can get," is juxtaposed with a scene of Koreans cramming into a bus. "There are a lot of layers to this campaign," Jonason claims. "Some people will take it seriously; others will probably just look at it and find it amusing."
Don't Commie, I'll Call You
Or offensive. Esther Lee, a partner at the New York ad agency DiNoto Lee, is of Korean descent, and says she finds the Diesel campaign "incredibly distasteful." Lee understands what the campaign is trying to do, "taking this self-mocking tone about advertising." But she feels there's something insincere and deeply cynical about it, "because the purpose of the campaign is to draw attention to Diesel, and they're using a terrible situation in North Korea to do that."
Part of what bothers Lee is the sarcasm of the ads. "If you're going to depict people in despair, you can't at the same time have a laugh about it," she says. "That is totally inappropriate."
Eric McClelland, creative director at TBWA Chiat/Day in New York, agrees that the campaign is "in questionable taste." But he stops short of condemning it, calling the ads "powerful, provocative and true to what Diesel's about."
Others are puzzled or, worse, indifferent. Nat Whitten, creative director at Weiss Whitten Stagliano, believes the campaign represents "a departure from the joie de vivre attitude of earlier Diesel ads. I think they're pushing a bit further, trying to get more attention. But the ads leave me cold."
Both Whitten and Greg DiNoto, Lee's partner at DiNoto Lee, see strong parallels between this campaign and some Benetton advertising of a few years back, which also depicted scenes of human suffering. DiNoto believes both campaigns made the mistake of venturing into areas that are hazardous for advertisers. "I think it's unwise for a client to trade on the misfortunes of others," says DiNoto. "Even if the intent is just to make a positive statement, there's the possibility that it will be perceived as exploitation-and that just isn't smart marketing."
Buy Our Commentary
Jonason, meanwhile, is unrepentant. He argues for a more honest discussion of social issues in advertising. "So few people say anything at all in ads," he says. "Young people want to discuss more important things than just what we're selling. And we want to show that this is a company that is concerned about more than just dollars."
Really? At least Benetton had the good sense not to feature its own merchandise in Oliviero Toscani's controversial ads. Diesel jeans, however, grace the shapely hips of every glamorous blonde model in the fake Brand O posters. Social commentary is all fine and good, but at the end of the day, it's still a product plug.
Both Jonason and Henshall insist that the campaign has generated no more complaints than other Diesel work. "We've had a lot of positive feedback," Henshall says. "We have gotten some criticism, but we always do. Some people have said, 'What are you doing showing Third World countries like that?' But if you do something that's not boring and safe, you're going to get that."
The campaign represents something of a swan song for Paradiset, at least in terms of Diesel print work. The agency will continue to handle TV brand image work in the future, but all print-by far the lion's share of the account-has been turned over to London's Lowe Howard-Spink. That shop will focus more on the product, at Diesel's insistence.
Since the "Brand O" campaign broke just as Diesel was making the switch, Whitten and others wonder whether the unstable situation had an impact on the campaign. But Jonason says the ads were in no way influenced by changes in the relationship with the client. "We were working on these ads long before all of that started," he says. And he insists the campaign has only strengthened the agency's bond with Diesel. "They love this advertising," he says.
Henshall confirms that Diesel has been pleased with Paradiset's work, and says that the hiring of Lowe Howard-Spink came about because "we'd been playing the same type of song for a while, and we felt it was time to take it to another level." He also insists we haven't seen the last of Diesel's patented weirdness. "Even though many of the ads will become more product-focused," he says, "the intention is to preserve the quirkiness of Diesel advertising."
It's an understandable goal. The Diesel ads produced by Paradiset over the past few years have earned some of the highest praise in the business-including the Grand Prix at Cannes this year. It has also been, in DiNoto's words, "one of the most important, widely ripped-off campaigns around."
But to some, it has been a source of ongoing irritation, with its hipper-than-thou attitude and its distinctly European flavor of smugness. "I wish somebody could explain to me why Diesel ads are supposed to be so fucking great," says Eric Tilford, creative director at Core in St. Louis. "It has always had a lot of attitude, but the problem is there's no depth to the advertising."


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Should You Supplement With Vitamin D?
Mar 16, 2022 Jasmine Aimaq
Vitamin D is something of a puzzle. It's both a nutrient that we eat and a hormone that our bodies make. We need it to live, but few foods contain it and we need plenty of sun to synthesize it.
Even if you live in Southern California, wearing sunscreen—a must for preventing skin cancer—means you may not be getting enough vitamin D. To better understand why that matters and what to do about it, we looked into the link between vitamin D and health. It turns out the "Sunshine Vitamin" may hold answers for issues as diverse as bone strength, respiratory infections and autoimmune diseases.
"One study followed a cohort of over 90,000 women over 20 years and found that those with higher levels of total vitamin D intake had a notably lower risk of developing MS."
Stay on your feet and in one piece
Low levels of vitamin D may be behind osteoporosis, which causes weak, thinning bones. "If you have weak bones, you're at heightened risk of falling, and osteoporosis makes it more likely you'll suffer a fracture or break," says Dr. Knowles.
Vitamin D may also help increase muscle strength, which can help prevent falls as well. An analysis of a dozen trials that followed 42,000 people aged 65 and older showed that a high intake of vitamin D supplements reduced hip and non-spine fractures by about 20%.
While vitamin D is naturally found in foods such as salmon and egg yolks, and added to others, including fortified milk and breakfast cereals, many people don't get enough vitamin D through diet. As we age, we also tend to spend less time outdoors in the sun, making it hard to synthesize vitamin D.
"I often recommend that older individuals in particular take supplements," says Dr. Knowles, adding that younger people may get enough vitamin D through diet, but can safely supplement too.
"If you're between 18 to 65, make sure you're getting 800 international units daily to support bone and muscle health," she says. "Adults over 65 need 1,000 to 2,000 IU every day."
But don't take too much. Excessive intake over a long period of time can result in kidney damage and high blood pressure. You should never go over 4,000 IUs a day unless you've been directed to do so by a physician.
Banish bugs and protect your lungs
In recent years, a growing body of studies has shown that vitamin D may help protect people from respiratory infections, including cold and flu.
The strongest evidence to date comes from a global meta-analysis conducted in 2017. For people with the lowest levels of vitamin D, investigators found that daily or weekly supplementation cut the risk of respiratory infection in half, although all participants who supplemented regularly got some benefits.
How does vitamin D help? Possibly by boosting levels of antimicrobial peptides—natural antibiotic-like substances—in the lungs.
When COVID-19 emerged, researchers wondered if there might be a link between vitamin D and disease severity here too, not least since some people had serious pulmonary symptoms.
In a preliminary report from 2020, a group of Cedars-Sinai researchers noted just that: COVID-19 patients who had a vitamin D deficiency before they got infected had worse symptoms, and were more likely to need acute care, than COVID-19 patients with healthy vitamin D levels. More studies would be needed to figure out if there's a direct causal link between low levels of the vitamin and disease severity.
Stay strong against autoimmune disease
The implications may be profound for the future treatment or prevention of acute respiratory infections. But what about autoimmune diseases, like multiple sclerosis (MS), where the immune system destroys the fatty substance that coats nerve fibers in the brain and spinal cord?
"There's a definite correlation between vitamin D and MS, and more broadly between vitamin D and immune regulation," says Dr. Ghazal Lashgari, a Cedars-Sinai neurologist specializing in MS. "One study followed a cohort of over 90,000 women over 20 years and found that those with higher levels of total vitamin D intake had a notably lower risk of developing MS."
In certain cases, patients who already have MS should receive vitamin D along with their MS medication. Those with very low vitamin D levels may need to start with large doses prescribed by their physician, followed by a maintenance dose.
Benefits may include a reduction in the progression of brain lesions and therefore disability. Benefits may include a reduction in the severity and frequency of symptoms.
"The benefits could be due to the positive effects vitamin D has on the immune system, although we need more research to confirm this," says Dr. Lashgari, noting that rate of MS is much higher in regions with grey skies, where vitamin D deficiency is also far more common than in sunnier climates.
Vitamin D may be linked to other autoimmune diseases as well. A recent study that followed more than 25,000 participants for five years (women over age 55 and men over 50) showed that those who took vitamin D, or vitamin D and omega-3 fatty acids, had a significantly lower rate of autoimmune diseases—including rheumatoid arthritis, polymyalgia rheumatica, autoimmune thyroid disease, and psoriasis—than people who took a placebo (inactive substance).
While more research is needed, there are good reasons for optimism. And while Vitamin D may not be a miracle, it merits serious consideration as a key component of good health, from prevention to treatment.


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Belgrade, May 21, 2010 - Telenor d.o.o. will carry out a reorganisation process that will lead to a reduction in the number of positions in the company. Due to forthcoming organizational changes, the number of employees will be reduced by 120.
“The financial crisis has affected businesses all over the world. In Serbia, the economic crisis has been additionally aggravated for Telenor and our customers by the introduction of a 10% Mobile Phone Tax. Already, this combined effect has led to a EUR 220 million reduction in the value of Telenor Serbia. In order to be able to continue investing in new and advanced services for our customers, we have had to review our entire cost base. As a consequence, we have decided to reorganise our company and reduce the number of employees”, says Kjell-Morten Johnsen, CEO of Telenor Serbia.
In this process Telenor will fully comply with the Labour Act and conditions stipulated by the Collective Agreement.


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How ironic it is to know that the disposable, non-degradable plastic products, such as rain ponchos, straws and cutlery, which we usually use for only around 30 minutes, have the potential to pollute the environment for centuries?
PT Nirwana Alam Hijau, the Bali-based social enterprise behind Biowear and Avani products, is playing its part to fight back against the ever-consuming plastic trash epidemic on the island by providing a one-stop-shop for eco-friendly ponchos and hospitality needs, from shopping bags to food and beverage packaging. All of Biowear and Avani’s products have been certified as biodegradable, in that they disintegrate as they are consumed by living organisms.
Additionally, 80 percent of the products have been certified as compostable, which means that they turn back into organic materials as they decay. With around 400 local and international clients, it seems that both the island and the world are taking notice of the company’s message. After all, why buy a product that will pollute the earth for tens or even hundreds of years when there are alternatives that biodegrade in around 200 days.
The best ideas are born at the least likely moments. In this case, the idea for Biowear was sparked one rainy day by passing motorcyclists. “One night after a round of beers with a friend – who today is the company’s co-founder and director of business development – we were sitting outside a bar and watching the traffic,” says Kevin Kumala, the acting CEO of PT Nirwana Alam Hijau. “Each motorcyclist wore a massive plastic raincoat. This made us wonder, ‘where do these ugly, toxic rain ponchos end up?’ The next day, we went to one of the landfills and were amazed by the number of discarded plastic raincoats. So the light bulb went off, and not long after, in mid-2014, we came out with our first product: the biodegradable rain poncho.”
Things progressed from there. After the monsoon season ended in March of 2015, Kumala realized that the company underestimated the seasonal nature of their product.
“We originally thought that our export market would be strong enough to cover our overheads. This did not happen,” he says. “Sticking to our core belief of replacing disposable plastic products, Avani began to focus on biodegradable tableware. By doing this, we were able to start serving the hotel, restaurant and café industry. Since then, Biowear, the brand of our eco-poncho, has become only one of the products that Avani is offering as a whole.”
Over time, straws became the company’s most popular product in terms of the quantity sold. Kevin says that this is definitely a good thing. “Imagine this, out of a population of 255 million people in Indonesia, and taking into account the fact that the length of a plastic straw is 20 centimetres and an average Indonesian consumes one plastic straw per day,
we are talking about 5,000 kilometres of plastic material in length being discarded every day. This is approximately equivalent to the distance between Bali and Sydney.”
One of Avani’s more recent inventions, the cassava starch bag might spell the beginning of the end of the ubiquitous plastic bag, one of the main culprits of global plastic land and water pollution. Interestingly, the eco-friendly bags dissolve in hot water and, according to Avani, are completely safe to drink in liquid form. They are also safe for insect and animal consumption when they end up in landfills.
Currently, around 90 percent of Avani’s 400 clients are expat-owned businesses. Kumala says that most Indonesian-owned businesses are not aware that Avani exists, as over the past few years the startup has been focused on product development rather than marketing.
Kumala says many businesses are extremely focused on their bottom line and are unwilling to pay extra for sustainable product alternatives. “Luckily, this is becoming less of an issue, as our end customers are placing an increased amount of pressure on the establishments that have yet to ‘convert.’ At the end of the day, word-of-mouth marketing is the most effective type.”
With more and more media exposure and an increased focus on marketing channels, Biowear and Avani’s products are increasingly more accepted as a solution to the plastic epidemic, both in Bali and overseas.
“Timing is everything. More and more nations are banning plastic bags and disposable plastic products right when we have started gaining additional media exposure,” Kumala says.
“Actually, we are at a tipping point where the number of our international customers is slowly beginning to outnumber our customers on the island.”
While Biowear and Avani are gaining increased international recognition, Kumala says that the company’s current focus is on increasing its presence in Indonesia. PT Nirwana Alam Hijau is currently in the process of setting up a downstream company that will deal with the creative distribution of Biowear and Avani products across the archipelago by raising public awareness via digital content.
Meanwhile, the company is also working with a handful of non-profit organizations such as Bye Bye Plastic Bags, World Wildlife Fund and Indonesia Diet Kantong Plastik to raise awareness about the dangers of plastic waste, as well as the Ministry of Environment and Forestry to create a roadmap for a cleaner and greener Indonesia. The company is also in the process of tapping into a network of local influencers to spread its message across the nation.
Biowear Ponchos can be found at BSO, some Pepito Markets, Surfer Girl, Drifter Surf Shop, Yoga Barn, Bali Buda and Earth Café. Avani’s products can be found at Alila Hotels, Potato Head, W Bali, The Trans Hotel, Betelnut Cafe, Merah Putih, KZU, Watercress, Scratch, Sea Circus, Sisterfields ad Biku.
Next time you are out for a meal at a restaurant or your favourite café, why not help the cause and ask if they use Avani.


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DollarSmart Global and MoneyMatch
DollarSmart Global and MoneyMatch are pleased to announce the signing of a joint international payment agreement. DollarSmart Global, Asia’s premier payment provider will process MoneyMatch's Asian and International payment requirements. MoneyMatch, Malaysia’s newest fintech money transfer company will provide Malaysian payment capability to DollarSmart Global Customers. Both parties bring their unique, payment expertise, to enhance each other’s product offering. We look forward to a long and successful partnership. #MoneyMatch #DollarSmartGlobal #Asianpaymentsolution MoneyMatch Dollarsmart Global Pte. Ltd.


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The casual-dining company known for never-ending pasta bowls and endless shrimp is now bringing us a restaurant built around beer, trendy food and rock 'n' roll.
Yard House, the upscale bar and grill that Darden Restaurants bought in 2012, will make its Central Florida debut Thursday in the I-Drive 360 complex on International Drive. It's known for an eclectic menu, more than 130 beers on tap and high-energy music.
"Hopefully we're bringing a great restaurant that gives them more than just a place to fill their bellies," said Craig Carlyle, a 16-year Yard House veteran who became president in January. "We like to see ourselves as an experience brand."
Almost everything about Yard House is big: the building at 14,000 square feet; the bar, which is the centerpiece of the restaurant; and the menu, with more than 145 dishes.
The chain's price tag was plus-sized as well. Orlando-based Darden paid $585 million, an amount some analysts think might have been too much.
Sales at established Yard House restaurants have gone up and down over the past three quarters, which included a tough winter overall for the industry. Darden attributed a dip over the summer to the distraction of adjusting to a new owner.
"If you're going to pay a large price for a restaurant chain, you have to perform with it," said Jonathan Maze, editor at trade publication Restaurant Finance Monitor. "You have to justify that price to your shareholders."
Those stockholders are particularly unhappy these days with profit declines amid sales slumps at Darden's signature brands, Olive Garden and Red Lobster. Darden intends to sell or spin off Red Lobster but activist investors want a more dramatic breakup, with bigger brands separated from smaller, newer ones such as Yard House.
The jury is still out on whether Darden's purchase was a good one, analysts say. Still, they think the 18-year-old chain that started in Long Beach, Calif., has promise.
Each restaurant generates more than $8 million a year — more than twice that of a Red Lobster or a LongHorn Steakhouse. Yard House draws the younger and more-affluent consumers that Darden thirsts for.
Restaurants such as Yard House, with trendier food and drink, are in "the last segment of bar and grill that is doing pretty well [and] has room to grow," said Steve West, a restaurant analyst for Investment Technology Group.
Yard House prides itself on its beer. It offers imported, craft and specialty ales and lagers from around the globe, including a rotating selection of limited-edition brews.
They range in price from $4.75 to $8.75 per pint, though sizes go up to a 32-ounce "half yard." Yard-high glasses that are the chain's namesake have since been retired, though one is on display inside.
Kegs in an upper-level room kept at 38 degrees are accented with blue lights and visible from the dining room. The beer is pumped through exposed overhead pipes.
Beer and other alcohol makes up almost 40 percent of annual sales. That's much more than hangouts such as Buffalo Wild Wings and Darden's Bahama Breeze, where the percentage is in the low 20s.
Still, this is no neighborhood dive bar. Elegant touches include dark wood furniture, a wall fountain, a wine room, and original, contemporary paintings.
"Design's very important to us," Carlyle said.
The something-for-everyone menu includes burgers with béarnaise sauce, ahi tuna salad and miso-glazed sea bass. There are sections for snacks, street tacos, and late-night fare. There are offerings appealing to vegetarians and accommodations for diners who can't tolerate gluten.
Entrees generally range from $9 to $38.The menu's appetizer section is particularly popular, Carlyle said.
Yard House also is famous for its 9,600-song playlist with artists ranging from Kid Rock to the Rolling Stones.
Carlyle said the Orlando area has room for one or two more Yard Houses, though he didn't have details on where. The International Drive restaurant is the chain's 53rd nationwide. Darden says it plans to build 180 to 200.
But that will take a while. Plans are for eight to 10 to open annually, a pace Carlyle considers manageable.
"We can grow more under Darden because we've got the financial backing to do it, but … if you rush the growth, sometimes you become out of control," he said.
Yard House has benefited from Darden's expertise in fields such as real estate selection, Carlyle said. Carlyle, who remains based in California, thinks the chain he refers to as a "rebellious teenager" could bring the world's largest casual-dining chain a little more innovation.
"Because we're small, we're used to being nimble and creative, and hopefully that attitude is something we can bring in and contribute to the greater enterprise," he said.
email@example.com or 407-420-5240407-420-5240


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The Great Blue Hole, Makes Top 10 List of Diving Locations In The World
Thursday, April 19th, 2012
Belize City, Belize – April 18, 2012 – Earlier this month, Belize was named one of the ‘top snorkeling destinations in the world’ by ‘The National’, one of the few English newspapers in the Arab Emirates. And now, just weeks after receiving that distinguished title, an article published on CNN International has declared Belize to be among the top 10 dive sites in the world.
Reporter Jade Bremner listed the Blue Hole as the 7th best dive site in a recent story she wrote about the top 50 dive locations around the globe. Various dive experts from internationally known sites like: divezone.net, scubatravel.co.uk, worlddivingreview.com and dive.is helped Bremner to select the locations featured.
CNN International reaches more than 200 million households around the globe and has more than 500,000 thousand followers online. CNN also has the latest multimedia technologies – from live video streaming to audio packages to searchable archives of news features – and background information. The site is updated continuously throughout the day.
Since the beginning of this year, Belize has received titles including ‘2nd best snorkeling location in the world’, ‘trip advisor’s best hotel in the world’ ranking for The Phoenix Resort, and ‘top 7th, 8th and 9th beaches in Central America.’ According to Yanick Dalhouse, Director of Marketing and Industry Relations at the BTB, “Outstanding reviews like these communicate to travelers just how amazing Belize is and what a world class vacation should include.”
For more information on ‘The Great Blue Hole’ and other magnificent wonders in Belize, visit www.travelbelize.org.
About the Belize Tourism Board
The Belize Tourism Board (BTB) is a statutory body within the Belize Ministry of Tourism, and it is governed by a Board of Directors appointed by the Minister of Tourism. The BTB works in conjunction with members of the private sector – including the Belize Hotel Association, Belize Tourism Industry Association and Belize National Tour Operators Association – and is dedicated to building tourism in the most economically and environmentally sustainable manner. As a part of its responsibilities, the BTB promotes Belize as a premier tourism destination to both in-country and international consumers. Among its outreach to the international travel market, the BTB markets the country’s unique attractions to travellers, members of the travel trade industry and media outlets in key markets.
The BTB is also dedicated to developing and implementing tourism programs that will help strengthen and grow the Belizean tourism industry; promote good destination stewardship; and instil high quality standards for accommodations and travel experiences. For more information on the BTB and its services, visit www.travelbelize.org.
Please help support Local Journalism in Belize
For the first time in the history of the island's community newspaper, The San Pedro Sun is appealing to their thousands of readers to help support the paper during the COVID-19 pandemic. Since 1991 we have tirelessly provided vital local and national news. Now, more than ever, our community depends on us for trustworthy reporting, but our hard work comes with a cost. We need your support to keep delivering the news you rely on each and every day. Every reader contribution, however big or small, is so valuable. Please support us by making a contribution.Click to Donate


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Chefs give taste of S.A. at New World Wine and Food Festival
Nearly 50 San Antonio restaurants showcased their best dishes at the festival.
Published 8:25 pm, Saturday, November 14, 2009
The 10th annual New World Wine and Food Festival Grand Tasting showcasing the best dishes in town drew nearly 2,500 people to the Grotto at the Convention Center on Saturday night.
"Everything is great," festival President/CEO Suzanne Taranto said. "The economy keeps teaching us lessons. People are buying their ticket at the door.
"I've learned that our (participants) really appreciate the quality and value for their ticket prices," she added.
Tickets were $35 in advance, $40 at the door. Almost 50 booths presented restaurants' best creations, and wines from all over the world were poured.
One of the longest lines of the evening was for Chef Jason Dady, who served guests a five-course meal with a taste from each of his restaurants. The courses included Texas gulf shrimp with green mango, lime cilantro, red pepper and petite basil from BIN 555; a deconstructed fall salad with butternut squash, sage, brown butter emulsion and candied apple jam from Tre Trattoria; a foie gras macaroon with pomegranate-rhubarb jam from The Lodge Restaurant; and a bone marrow pudding with "tongue n cheek" marmalade from Restaurant Insignia. Dessert was a purple cow float from Two Bros. BBQ Market.
"The idea for us is we had all five restaurants we wanted to promote. So we showcased a progressive meal in five courses," Dady said. "Look at the line. It's crazy."
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Other highlights included panang chicken from Tong's Thai, chicken with poblano and chipotle sauces served with vegetable rice from Los Barrios, pork tenderloin stuffed with Spanish chorizo, herbed goat cheese and pine nuts in a zinfandel chili demi-glaze from Grey Moss Inn and a haddock chowder from Auden's Kitchen.
Flour Power Café & Bakery sliced up a variety of desserts, including a white cake with raspberry filling and a decadent orange cake with chocolate frosting.
An international guest to the festival, Danish TV chef Trina Hahnemann, prepared a recipe from her latest venture, "The Scandinavian Cookbook" - fish cakes with herb remoulade and dill potatoes. She was busy cooking the cakes on a gas stove under a table to shield it from the wind.
"It really reminds me of my old days when I had to come up with quick solutions," she said.
Quite a few people recognized the chef from "The Oprah Winfrey Show."
"The people are really nice, and they love the fish cakes," Hahnemann said.
Steven Baca decided to celebrate his 40th birthday at the festival, his third year there.
"It was this or Dallas for fancy dinner, and he said, 'No, I want to go to the New World Wine and Food Festival,'" said his wife, Lori Baca.
They were big fans of the braised beef with squash from Las Canarias at Omni La Mansion and the duck tostadas from Acénar.
The festival wraps up today with two events: the sold-out Brunch at Biga on the Banks and the Totally Tejas event at Rio Cibolo Ranch. Totally Tejas is from 1 to 6 p.m. Tickets are $40, $7 for those under 21 and free for children under 5.
For more information, visit www.nwwff.org.


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Apple at $1,000? Don't bet on it
Eye-popping price targets for the tech stock should be viewed skeptically.
Apple, whose products I like and use, is a company that Wall Street analysts think is so awesome they have simply run out of superlatives for it. In the wake of Monday's announcement of a new mobile mapping service and improvements to SIRI, Topeka Capital analyst Brian White, the biggest Apple bull, took to the airwaves of CNBC yet again, saying he "couldn't be more bullish on Apple right now." That's saying something.
Earlier this year, White became the first analyst to predict that shares of the Cupertino, Calif., company would top $1,000 -- $1,001 to be precise. A month later, White raised his prediction to $1,100. Even Piper Jaffray's Gene Munster, Wall Street's other well-known Apple bull, isn't that bold. He expects Apple to reach $1,000 in 2014.
Shares of Apple recently traded around $575, up more than 40% so far this year. Last year, White put a $666 price target on the stock at a time when it was trading around $390. The shares hit an all-time high of $644 on April 10, which is well under the $740 median 52-week price target.
Maybe history will vindicate White and Munster in the coming years for being the first to truly grasp the company's potential earnings power. White's forecasts, though, should be taken with a huge grain of salt given the difficulty that analysts have guessing how Apple will perform each quarter. Predicting where Apple will be in 2013 and 2014 is kind of like trying to hit a target with a bow and arrow while blindfolded.
Pundits have made similarly bold predictions about other high-flying stocks. In 2006, analyst Mark Stahlman said it was theoretically possible that Google (GOOG) might reach $2,000 a share. Mad Money's Jim Cramer argued a year later that the search engine giant might reach $1,000. Shares of the search engine giant briefly topped $700 in 2007. They last traded at $568.27, down 12% for the year.
Earlier this year, Piper Jaffray analyst Michael J. Olson argued that Priceline.com (PCLN) could hit $1,000 in the next 24 months. He placed a $763 price target on the shares. Last month, the online travel site forecast weaker-than-expected bookings growth, sending shares tumbling. They have declined more than 10% over the past week.
Apple shares are priced for perfection. They are also cheap, trading a price-to-earnings multiple of 14, near its five-year low, according to Reuters. If you believe that Apple's best days are ahead, the time to act is now.
Jonathan Berr does not own shares of the listed companies. Follow him on Twitter@jdberr.
Copyright © 2014 Microsoft. All rights reserved.
Fundamental company data and historical chart data provided by Morningstar Inc. Real-time index quotes and delayed quotes supplied by Morningstar Inc. Quotes delayed by up to 15 minutes, except where indicated otherwise. Fund summary, fund performance and dividend data provided by Morningstar Inc. Analyst recommendations provided by Zacks Investment Research. StockScouter data provided by Verus Analytics. IPO data provided by Hoover's Inc. Index membership data provided by Morningstar Inc.
An interest rate tease in The Wall Street Journal sends the market into an optimistic tizzy -- but one that doesn't end quite at the top.
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Recently, there has been a lot of confusion and speculation surrounding a rumor that Facebook will start charging users $99 per month to access their platform. As an avid Facebook user myself, I was immediately concerned about the potential financial burden this would impose on me and other users. I decided to investigate this claim and find out the truth.
After thorough research and reaching out to reliable sources, I can confidently say that the rumor of Facebook charging $99 a month is false. Facebook has always been a free platform for users, and there is currently no plan to change that. So, you can breathe a sigh of relief!
It’s essential to be cautious of misinformation and false rumors that spread like wildfire in the age of social media. People can easily fall victim to hoaxes without verifying the facts. In this case, it’s crucial to rely on reputable sources and official statements from companies before jumping to conclusions.
Facebook generates its revenue primarily through advertising. The platform offers businesses the opportunity to promote their products and services to the massive user base, making it a lucrative advertising platform. This revenue model allows Facebook to provide its services for free to users.
It’s understandable that the idea of paying for a service we have become accustomed to for free can be alarming. However, it’s crucial to remember that social media platforms like Facebook have become a significant part of our daily lives. They have revolutionized the way we connect, communicate, and share information with friends, family, and the world.
As users, we benefit from Facebook’s features and functionalities, but we must also understand that the company needs a sustainable business model to continue providing a free service. This is where advertising plays a crucial role. By allowing businesses to advertise on the platform, Facebook can generate revenue and keep its services accessible to everyone.
While the rumor of Facebook charging $99 a month may have sparked concern, it’s important to stay informed and rely on verified information. False rumors can cause unnecessary panic and confusion. If there are ever any changes to Facebook’s business model or pricing structure, the company will communicate it through official channels and provide users with detailed information and options.
In conclusion, the rumor about Facebook charging users $99 a month is false. Facebook remains a free platform for users, and there are no plans to change that. By relying on reputable sources and verified information, we can avoid falling victim to misinformation and false rumors. Let’s continue enjoying the benefits of Facebook and stay connected with our loved ones without any added financial burden.


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Wisconsin families cherish their household St. Nick's Day traditions
Whenever I interview Milwaukee-area parents about St. Nick's Day, they get almost giddy to share their families' rituals and traditions.
They're excited to share the celebrations that they have invented as a family. Although tradition holds that St. Nicholas leaves treats for children on his feast day, Dec. 6, the treats he leaves, the container he leaves them in, even the story behind his journey — those are all household-specific.
Since families celebrate the holiday within their own homes, they can tailor traditions to their household tastes, with no accommodations required to preferences by those outside the household bubble. Incidentally, the insular household holiday also makes St. Nick's Day the perfect pandemic holiday — as there's no need to leave the house.
Parents tell stories of the treats their children have come to expect every year. Merton dad Doug Bertrand's kids look forward to wooden toys and red and green Skittles inside of giant plastic candy canes. Wauwatosa mom Jess Koerner's children find chocolate coins, oranges and ornaments left in shoes — along with a note reminding them to be kind from the legendary figure Koerner describes as "the Robin Hood of saints."
Sometimes parents move on from the traditions they grew up with when it comes time for St. Nick to visit their own kids.
Jackie Melka of Milwaukee said St. Nick was a big tradition in her family when she was growing up. Every Dec. 6, she and her brothers would race to the living room to see what had been left in their hand-sewn stockings.
While Melka's own daughter still gets many of the same things in her stocking — candy, small toys, fruit — one tradition has gone by the wayside.
"We used to get crackers and a can of smoked oysters in our stockings," said Melka. "My mom said it was because of my dad's strange taste in foods and because they fit in the stocking nicely."
In some households, St. Nick is the bringer of the family's Elf on the Shelf. In others, St. Nick kindly accommodates work and school schedules by visiting on a weekend when Dec. 6 falls on a weekday.
In Doug Bertrand's household, the lore goes that St. Nick arrives wearing a green suit and riding a moose — to differentiate from Santa's red suit and reindeer.
Milwaukee-area families also feel their St. Nick's Day celebrations are special because, as it turns out, the mini-holiday isn't celebrated everywhere.
A story from the Journal Sentinel archives notes, "Like the fish fry and frozen custard, the celebration of St. Nick's Day, though not exclusively a Milwaukee tradition, is especially strong here."
Kathie Devlin, who grew up in West Allis, remembers learning in her childhood Catholic school that US cities with big German populations — like Milwaukee — celebrate St. Nick's Day.
When Heather Grams was a child growing up in southeast Wisconsin, she thought everybody celebrated St. Nick's Day, but she learned differently as an adult when she lived in Colorado, North Carolina and Virginia. Now, back in Milwaukee, her own child receives gifts from St. Nick.
For some Milwaukee-area families, St. Nick's Day will be unaffected by the pandemic. In a year that has seen many holiday celebrations and traditions altered by quarantines, illness and social distance requirements, a holiday that's already centered around staying at home will be welcome.
However, for other families, the pandemic will affect even the smallest holidays.
Jackie Melka said her daughter's St. Nick's Day "won't be as exciting as usual due to COVID" because they're staying at a friend's house as Melka awaits 14 weeks of unemployment insurance.
Even so, Melka said, "It's definitely not going to be the same, but I'm still determined that she'll have the best St. Nick's possible."


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Seedstock Names Former CA Secretary of Agriculture, A.G. Kawamura, as Sustainable Ag Conference KeynoteJuly 23, 2014 | Robert Puro
(Los Angeles, CA, July 23, 2014) Seedstock today announced that former Secretary of the California Department of Food and Agriculture (2003-2010) Arthur Gen “A.G.” Kawamura, will deliver the keynote address at the 3rd Annual Seedstock Sustainable Agriculture Innovation Conference – “Reintegrating Ag: Local Food Systems and the Future of Cities.”
The program, to be held Tuesday and Wednesday, Nov. 11-12, 2014, will focus on the economic, environmental and community benefits that result from the development of robust local food systems.
“As a progressive urban farmer, A.G. Kawamura has had a lifetime of experience working within the shrinking rural and urban boundaries of Southern California,” said Seedstock co-founder Robert Puro. “With his extensive knowledge of California’s agricultural landscape, and the challenges and opportunities associated with the development of strong local food systems, he will bring a unique and enlightening perspective to our conference audience.”
When academic theory meets real world application, the possibilities are endless. Just ask Jonathan Engelsma, professor of computer science at Grand Valley State University in Michigan.
Engelsma, with fellow faculty John Ferris and Anne Marie Fauvel, aided students in the creation of a digital beehive scale and software application. The SolutionBee application, about to hit the apiary supply market, provides beekeepers with an opportunity to help scientists research the serious issue of bee health.
Local food growers, consumers and entrepreneurs in the Lansing, Michigan area have had good cause to celebrate as of late. Last September, Allen Neighborhood Center, a community development agency that doubles as Mid-Michigan’s nonprofit food hub, opened the doors of a warehouse they’d spent months renovating.
Located directly behind their community center on the city’s northeast side, that building, the Allen Market Place, now serves as an incubator kitchen and indoor market. It’s also linked to an online market called the Exchange, that connects regional farmers and food producers with commercial and institutional buyers in a 75-mile range of Lansing.
Cedar Point Church in Maryville, Tennessee started growing its hydroponic garden for two reasons: to develop a program offering a sustainable and healthy food source to its church family, and to build a sense of partnership between church members and the community.
While the garden is still in its early stages (it was started about three months ago), Kurt Steinbach, the church’s lead pastor is enthusiastic about the growing produce. Currently, Harvest Farms Co-op, the name of the church’s hydroponic gardening operation, grows several varieties of tomato, bell pepper, hot banana peppers, Anaheim peppers, green leaf lettuce varieties, eggplant, squash, zucchini, cucumbers, and green beans. In late June, the co-op was preparing for its first harvest.
Many of Detroit’s urban agriculture ventures have a down-on-the-farm feel to them, but not the CDC Farm & Fishery. If anything, with its tubes and tanks, the business seems downright futuristic. You see, the Farm & Fishery is among the first aquaponic operations to set up in Detroit following the passage of an urban agriculture ordinance last year.
Aquaponic is a term that describes enterprises where aquatic creatures are raised and their wastewater is recirculated to help grow plants that in turn filter it for reuse. Located in a two-level building in the North Central Woodward area of the city, the grow station is now raising tilapia fish and cultivating herbs and microgreens to sell to area businesses.
One of the most tech-savvy areas of the sustainable agriculture revolution is indoor agriculture – growing in warehouses, containers and greenhouses using hydroponic, aquaponic and aeroponic systems. The industry has seen a wave of new technology commercialized of late, here’s some of the coolest:
The cynical view of the LED lighting that many indoor farms use to encourage plant growth is that it’s too expensive to buy and run, and too tricky to adjust the lighting to your plants’ needs. Yet, LED prices are forecast to halve by 2020, according to market research firm Lux Research, and tech geeks are now making lights cheaper and easier to run.
Edward Silva is a student at the University of California, Davis studying international agriculture, and is a founder of Henlight.
Recently, I experienced something that does not seem to happen often: over 120 youth from more than 20 countries around the world actually came to a consensus that entrepreneurship is the most overarching issue affecting youth globally. More specifically, entrepreneurship as it relates to food and agriculture. This overwhelming validation for agripreneurs is the result of a larger global experiment called the Y20 and signals a hopeful future for food and agricultural entrepreneurs globally.
Urban gardening is a long-time tradition in the city of Baltimore, Maryland, according to the new City Farms Coordinator Harold McCray.
“Its original purpose was in response to urban hunger and malnutrition—that was its root,” McCray says.
The idea to include community gardens within Baltimore’s parks developed later, according to McCray. Former Mayor William Donald Schaefer suggested a garden network, beginning as a horticulture division of Recreation and Parks which became City Farms. In 1978, the first City Farms garden, located in Clifton Park, took root.
“Our challenge is not only feeding people who are hungry today, but how do we work proactively to address the causes of hunger and poverty?,” asks Kathryn Strickland, Executive Director of the Food Bank of North Alabama. “That’s why we’re interested in supporting economic development within in our local food system; to help create meaningful jobs and healthy food access to really get at the root cause of the hunger and poverty,” says Kathryn Strickland.
What started as a single volunteer sitting behind a desk in a local senior center in 1984 has blossomed into an organization that helps feed 100,000 people over an 8,000 square mile service area in Northern Alabama, with the help of 200 partnering agencies. As Strickland explains, the food bank doesn’t only want to reduce hunger; it wants to give local residents, farmers and stakeholders the tools to connect the dots of a local food system.
Finding a place to prepare one’s product is a challenge faced by many food startups. In the Motor City, A nonprofit program called Detroit Kitchen Connect is solving that problem by linking up local food businesses with underutilized neighborhood kitchen spaces.
“Folks who are interested in food entrepreneurship, novices opening their small food businesses, they need placement spaces where they can create product in a commercially-licensed facility,” Director Devita Davison tells Seedstock.
“So Detroit Kitchen Connect answers that demand for these small micro-processing facilities for entrepreneurs to grow, to scale and start to make it as a food business.”


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This week marks a milestone for Citroën as they celebrate the 60th anniversary of the original DS.
Hosting their 2015 National Dealer Conference at Birmingham’s newly redeveloped Barclaycard Arena, Crown created and delivered an experience that featured automated giant LED screens, allowing vehicles to drive on the stage and into the audience, and that took the audience through the history of the Citroën and DS brands (Whilst also unveiling a new dual brand strategy for the two ranges). Recently appointed Deputy Director General and DS Brand Director Arnaud Leclerc opened the main plenary. At the heart of the concept was the importance of brand storytelling in a retail environment. Creating an emotional and authentic connection between consumer and brand is critical to commercial success. Concluding the plenary was the marking of a milestone for the DS, celebrating its 60th anniversary and the success of the range from the earliest conception, through to the range today which continues the values and essence of the brand forward into the future.
“The conference was skilfully executed, showcasing the Citroën and DS brands at their very best and delivering on all aspects of our objectives for the day. This year, we wanted to inspire, motivate and inform the audience of our dual brand strategy and the opportunities that lie ahead whilst also making it a celebration of the 60th anniversary of the DS… Crown has helped instil excitement and pride in our brand and we are delighted that our story was able to be brought to life. ”
Neville Staines, Head of National Events, Citroën
Simon Hambley, Director of Live at Crown comments “We’re pleased to be part of Citroën’s celebration in this most important year. We pitched a technically challenging show concept and we are pleased to say that Citroën embraced this idea and exploited it to dramatic effect, paying dividends in terms of audience engagement and message retention.”


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Diversitech, a global leader in industrial air filtration equipment since 1984, has completed the move of their corporate headquarters and manufacturing plant to a new, state-of-the-art 69,000 square-foot facility in Montreal, Quebec.
“We are very excited about this move. It is a testament to... - April 26, 2018 - Diversitech
Major integrated software for the laboratory and contract/finished good manufacturing is further enhanced to deliver greater value for users. - April 24, 2018 - Data-Biz: SMARTFormulator Division
Molecular Glasses announced today that the company will exhibit and present at Display Week, the upcoming Society for Information Display's annual symposium and tradeshow. The event is being held from May 20 – 25, 2018, at the Los Angeles, CA convention center. “Molecular Glasses is excited... - April 23, 2018 - Molecular Glasses
ProGreen Synthetic Grass has joined forces with the best artificial grass installation company in all of Florida, GoForeverGreen Turf and Sport Surfaces. As the authorized exclusive ProGreen Synthetic Grass master dealer and distributor, GoForeverGreen will exclusively distribute ProGreen’s premium... - April 23, 2018 - ProGreen International
Leading San Francisco Bay Area Workplace Consulting and Facility Management firm, IMPEC Group greatly expands its Project/Construction and Move Management capabilities by acquiring Relocation Connections, Inc. - April 20, 2018 - IMPEC
The 420 fest is a hot topic in all over the country, whilst Green Roads, a leading CBD manufacturer, partners with SweetWater 420 Fest for 2018. Green Roads will be official sponsor offering free CBD massages in the VIP area for entire 3 day event. There will be a Green Roads' booth for its innovative CBD products. - April 20, 2018 - Green Roads World
Snoasis Medical, the market leader in placental tissue allografts for tissue repair and regeneration in dental-oral maxillofacial surgery, announced today the publication of the first peer-reviewed randomized controlled clinical trial of its Purion® processed de-epithelized amnion-chorion allograft membrane (BioXclude®) in the International Journal of Oral Maxillofacial Implants. - April 19, 2018 - Snoasis Medical
Cayman Chemical has launched a new line of ready-to-use, quantitative lipid standards prepared specifically for mass spectrometry applications. This new line of MaxSpec™ analytical standards complements Cayman’s high-purity, basic research tools that researchers have been using for more than... - April 18, 2018 - Cayman Chemical Company
Immunotec’s 21st year of operation was one of unprecedented growth and success which has been recognized by the direct selling industry in the form of a full-length feature article in the April issue of Direct Selling News. The company’s dynamic new leadership team, headed by CEO and experienced direct selling executive, Mauricio Domenzain, and network marketing professional, Meredith Berkich, President of Immunotec USA, were both interviewed for the article. - April 17, 2018 - Immunotec
New from Intertronics is the Fisnar F4500N Dispensing Robot, a full function robot that enables cost effective automation of liquid dispensing operations, allowing increased productivity and consistent output. - April 15, 2018 - Intertronics
Fitz Chem, NAGASE Group – a customer-centered distributor of specialty chemicals has been awarded BASF’s Care Chemicals EMB Platinum Distributor of the Year Award for 2017. There are two performance levels associated with the award and Fitz Chem achieved Platinum, the highest award level... - April 12, 2018 - Fitz Chem, NAGASE Group
KENX is proud to announce that the agenda for its Analytical Procedures & Methods Validation Conference has been released. The event is being held June 26-28, 2018 at The Bahia Resort Hotels, San Diego, CA. The largest event of its kind, offering over 20 tutorials that address today’s top analytical... - April 11, 2018 - KENX
The Zambian President, H.E. Edgar Lungu, will attend the official opening of the Agritech Expo Zambia outdoor farming exhibition that returns for the fifth time to Chisamba from 12-14 April. The event is expected to attract more than 22-thousand visitors this year and will feature some 270 local and... - April 07, 2018 - Agritech Expo Zambia
AdvantaPure has been issued a second U.S. patent for its AdvantaPass technology. The system maintains the separation of room atmospheres to minimize contamination risks in biopharm and pharmaceutical processing. Improvements that warranted the second patent include welded wall portals, the elimination of adhesives and sealants and adjustable wall flanges. The upgrades offer users more options regarding mounting and using the system. - April 06, 2018 - AdvantaPure
Driven by growing demand, Armorsil expands its sales channel, providing local sales and support in Ghana. - April 05, 2018 - Armorsil
The active online agri community called the Small Scale Farmers – Farming as a Business - on Facebook will have a strong presence as official partners of the upcoming Agritech Expo Zambia in Chisamba this year. The outdoor farming exhibition returns for the fifth time to Chisamba from 12-14 April... - April 01, 2018 - Agritech Expo Zambia
The new Thinky ARM-310 mixer from Intertronics provides consistent mixing results for many engineering, pharmaceutical or cosmetic compounds, which can comprise of liquids, pastes, powders or fillers in any combination. - March 31, 2018 - Intertronics
MarcasUSA, LLC is voluntarily recalling four lots of Pasta De Lassar Andromaco Skin Protectant, 25% zinc oxide to the retail level. FDA analysis of this product confirmed that Pasta De Lassar Andromaco is contaminated with high levels of yeast, mold, and bacteria. The specific lot associated to the positive... - March 30, 2018 - MarcasUSA, LLC
GnuPharma holds pending patents on its ideas that non-cannabis plants can be used to modulate the endocannabinoid system for medicinal benefits. - March 28, 2018 - GnuPharma
Molecular Glasses, Inc. has filed for patent protection for its Isomeric and Asymmetric Molecular Glass Mixtures for OLED and Other Organic Electronics and Photonics Applications. This filing expands Molecular Glasses patent portfolio and converts a provisional application into a full US patent filing. - March 26, 2018 - Molecular Glasses
One of the toughest things is to nurture skin and body as a whole. It can be very tricky to do that, which is why one needs a good face and body mask. The FineVine Activated Charcoal Mud Mask is one of the latest facial and body masks on the market, and it promises to deliver a very good experience and... - March 23, 2018 - FineVine Organics
A strong focus on livestock, live equipment demonstrations, nethouse and aquaculture showcases and free AgriTEACH interactive training workshops are just some of the exciting, new features that will be available to experience to the more than 22 000 visitors that are expected at the fifth Agritech Expo Zambia exhibition at Chisamba from 12-14 April 2018. - March 22, 2018 - Agritech Expo Zambia
Dr. Sharmilla Patil, Founder and CEO of Greentech Laboratories Inc., a Bio-Pharma and Ayurvedic Research company in the Bay Area of California, USA responds to immediate crisis of Alfie Dingley, 6 y/o child, patient and citizen of UK Medical system who suffers from PCDH 19 Epilepsy.
“I was very... - March 21, 2018 - Greentech Laboratories Inc.
The SAP archiving expert offers the most comprehensive support for GDPR-relevant archiving scenarios. - March 21, 2018 - KGS Software GmbH & Co. KG
Consus Global, a leading global procurement solutions integrator and services provider, has extended its global presence by opening a new office in the UK. With new office in London, Consus plans to grow customer base in European market with London as a hub.
Europe offers an unique opportunity for Consus... - March 16, 2018 - Consus Global
Source-Omega today discloses astounding commercial R&D results with pure Chromista water extracted algae oil. With first and only claims such as the first water extracted algae oil, the first single ingredient 100% algae oil (Schizochytrium sp.), the first 50% DHA oil standard, Source-Omega scientists... - March 15, 2018 - Source-Omega
Today, Supernatural Health, Inc., a Chicago based company, announced it is launching a new vitamin and mineral treatment supplement under the brand name Recouleur®. The brand will feature a line of vitiligo treatment products that will begin rolling out nationwide March 2018.
The introduction of... - March 15, 2018 - Supernatural Health, Inc.
PharmaLink is the New Partner in Drug Returns Processing
Value Drug, a top-rated wholesaler to independent pharmacies, announced another industry leading initiative with PharmaLink. Together they will now provide to all of their members a full array of services in the take back and processing of expired... - March 14, 2018 - PharmaLink
SePRO Corporation announces today the United States Federal registration of ProcellaCOR—a novel, game-changing technology for aquatic plant management. - March 14, 2018 - SePRO Corporation
The formulation's unique, targeted combination means that Power Defender delivers a powerful one-two punch. CEO seeks to "Knock out Hangovers!" Perfect for business related drinks. - March 13, 2018 - Fortune Drink
Aciont Inc. announced today that Dr. Kongnara Papangkorn, VP of Product Development, will be presenting clinical data of Aciont’s lead product, DSP-Visulex, from its phase 1/2 clinical trial in the treatment of noninfectious anterior uveitis (DSPV-201) at the Association for Research in Vision... - March 10, 2018 - Aciont Inc.
Thanks to the new KGS WebAPI product from KGS, the company’s successful archiving software now connects with "non-SAP" platforms. - March 09, 2018 - KGS Software GmbH & Co. KG
Open Health Network today announced an expansion of its Board of Advisors, adding three members who bring a wealth of scientific, medical and advanced technology leadership to the company. - March 06, 2018 - Open Health Network
Pest Soldier's Ultrasonic Pest Controller continues to earn commendations and positive reviews from users, months after its initial release. It's the company's best repellent for unwanted creatures like cockroaches, rodents, flies, ants, mice, fleas and spiders. - March 04, 2018 - Pest Soldier
On the Intertronics Making Pharmaceuticals stand no. 108 (24-25th April 2018 at Ricoh Arena, Coventry), there will be a range Thinky mixers on show which offer non-invasive mixing in a repeatable controlled planetary process. - March 04, 2018 - Intertronics
“There are very positive steps being taken by the Zambian government to promote the agricultural market, with lower barriers to export and minimal intervention in the grain markets in 2017 and intentions to use market mechanisms to manage grain stocks in the future, are all welcome and must be... - March 03, 2018 - Agritech Expo Zambia
Revolutionize the way you care for your health. Grow seed into food and let the food become your daily medicine. It really is that simple and we can show you how!
Whole Health Nation is an organization focused on health and vitality. Their mission is to expand the collective concept of health while... - March 02, 2018 - Whole Health Nation
Leader Biomedical is pleased to announce the phased acquisition of International Orthopaedics Holding GmbH (International Orthopaedics), a manufacturer and distributor of orthopaedic implants based in Geisingen, Germany. The companies have entered into a notarial deed on the 20th of February, 2018. This... - March 01, 2018 - Leader Biomedical
Ceremony celebrates the opening of the Agilyx Tigard, Oregon Polystyrene-to-Styrene Oil Plant on April 19, 2018 and launches a week of celebrations around Earth Day 2018. The plant is the first commercial-scale closed-loop chemical recycling process for polystyrene in the world and will produce high-quality styrene oil to be used by styrene manufacturers AmSty and INEOS Styrolution for processing into the virgin polystyrene stream used for manufacturing consumer goods. - February 28, 2018 - Agilyx
The ELF is a time-saving fixture designed to reduce assembly time and increase output for medical device manufacturers. It is a custom-designed fixture that simultaneously releases retention elements on a pouch card within seconds. Without the need for assembly teams to perform this manually, medical device manufacturers can expect their output to increase significantly. - February 27, 2018 - CleanCut Technologies
Allina Health System's Minneapolis Heart Institute will describe how its use of predictive analytics has saved over $155 million by reducing unnecessary clinical variation during a March 29, 2018 webcast sponsored by the Healthcare Intelligence Network. - February 27, 2018 - Healthcare Intelligence Network
The Joint Project Management Office for Medical Countermeasure Systems (JPM-MCS) Next Generation Diagnostic System Increment 1 (NGDS Inc 1) program has been named a finalist in the Medical/Dental category for the 2018 Edison Awards.
Established in 1987 and often described as “the Oscars of Innovation,”... - February 26, 2018 - JPM-MCS
The Finland and Germany country pavilions are amongst several international pavilions at the upcoming, multi-award winning Agritech Expo Zambia, returning to Chisamba from 12-14 April for the fifth time. - February 24, 2018 - Agritech Expo Zambia
The University of Pittsburgh Medical Center will outline its remote patient monitoring program that will soon encompass six chronic disease states during a March 22, 2018 webcast sponsored by the Healthcare Intelligence Network. - February 23, 2018 - Healthcare Intelligence Network
Experimentica Ltd. has been selected for Phase 1 of the Young Innovative Company program by Business Finland (formerly known as TEKES, The Finnish Funding Agency for Technology and Innovation). The funding awarded for the first phase is a 250,000 € grant for a period of 12 months.
“Every... - February 21, 2018 - Experimentica Ltd
The FIFA Certified synthetic turf pitch provides an elite playing surface for the PFF National Training Centre within the Philippines. - February 20, 2018 - Act Global
AquaSpark™ molecules are the new generation of chemiluminescence probes for research and diagnostic applications. AquaSpark™ probes offer unique advantages as they can work as single agents, they have a higher efficiency and sensitivity over currently existing probes and they are especially designed to work under physiological conditions and can be used ex-vivo and in-vivo. - February 16, 2018 - Biosynth
After four years at Six Pines Drive, eVision is excited to announce they have moved to 1790 Hughes Landing Blvd. Almost double the size of the last office, this move embodies the growth eVision has experienced in the United States.
The move comes alongside exciting recent developments for eVision, including... - February 15, 2018 - eVision Industry Software
National Container Group (NCG), the reconditioning division of MAUSER, and Noreko AS have established a joint venture partnership in Scandinavia. - February 15, 2018 - MAUSER Group
NISSCO, a premiere leader in supply chain management and procurement solutions, announced today the appointment of Kim Allison-Foster as its President. - February 14, 2018 - NISSCO


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By Lisa Johnston
New products on display at the American International Toy Fair, held in N
Despite a published report that Sirius and XM Satellite Radio are in talks for a merger between the companies, both Sirius and XM denied discussions.
Sirius' CEO Mel Karmazin said during a financial conference call, “I've been with the company for about eight weeks and this is the third rumor with which I've been confronted. The other company that was mentioned — I have not met with the chairman, I have not met with the CEO, so I have no idea where this came from.” The report about a merger with XM was from a story in the January 26 issue of the New York Post.
A spokesman for XM Satellite Radio stated, “While XM does not comment on rumors, Hugh Panero, president and CEO of XM has never met with Mr. Karmazin.”
Sirius announced on the same day widening losses that fell below analysts forecasts, but said that subscriber acquisitions are exceeding company expectations, causing Sirius to revise upward its subscriber forecasts for the year.
Sirius changed its guidance to 1.4 million new subscribers forecast for this year. It now expects to reach 2.5 million subscribers by the close of 2005, up from the 2 million predicted only weeks ago.
Sirius said the higher expectations are based “on a spillover effect in new activations” in January, referring to continued activations resulting from holiday sales.
Karmazin said satellite radio as a format is rapidly gaining validity and should eventually surpass satellite TV and cable TV combined.
“We strongly believe that the satellite radio market is even larger than most forecasts,” said Karmazin, adding, “There are 109 million households, 3 million heavy trucks, 3 million RVs, 16 million new cars coming out of the factory every year and 200 million cars on the road. Satellite TV and cable is in approximately 90 million homes. Satellite radio could and should be even bigger than
When asked if there were additional deals on the horizon as large in scope financially as that with Howard Stern or the NFL, Sirius said, “I don't know what would happen if Oprah decided to leave TV and wanted to come to Sirius. But there is nothing on our list today that would be of the scope of Howard Stern, the NFL or Major League Baseball,” said a spokesman.
Sirius also announced that it will broadcast NBA regular season games, playoffs and the finals nationwide to subscribers as part of a non-exclusive multiyear extension agreement with the National Basketball Association (NBA).
Although it already broadcasts 40 NBA games each week, Sirius now will receive expanded trademark and promotional rights. Also, subscribers will receive live official courtside game stats on their Sirius radio displays, Sirius said.
This TWICE webinar, hosted by senior editor Alan Wolf, will take a look at what may be the hottest CE products at retail that will be sold during the all-important fourth quarter. Top technologies, market strategies and industry trends will be discussed with industry analysts and executives.


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The coronavirus pandemic marked the biggest health concern of 2020, but toxic hand sanitizer risk became alarming as well. The FDA announced in June that methanol (aka wood alcohol) in 9 different hand sanitizers could be harmful to a person’s health. By August, several dozen other toxic hand sanitizers joined the warning list. Manufacturers can protect financial health with appropriate insurance.
Ethanol Containing Methanol
What all of these toxic products have in common is the label listed ethanol or ethyl alcohol, which tests revealed to be contaminated with methanol. The recall comes as a time when media is constantly reminding people to “wash your hands” to avoid spreading COVID-19. Meanwhile, Canada Health has also reported cases of such products contaminated by methanol or ethyl acetate.
Some of the companies that have distributed methanol-containing hand sanitizers are market newcomers sourcing ingredients outside conventional supply chains. These manufacturers lack quality control and may be cutting corners on safety.
Insurance for Recalls
A product recall can disrupt a manufacturer’s production schedules and wipe out revenue. Additionally, it can severely hurt the company’s reputation and lead to a series of costly lawsuits plus product shortages. Recalls serve as alerts for all product makers to monitor and work toward better quality control.
The solution that protects companies from these unexpected disasters is called product recall insurance. The combination of this insurance with enhanced supply chain guidelines can mitigate financial damage associated with recalls.
Another recent massive recall involved the Boy Scouts of America recalling 78,000 Cub Scout pins due to the presence of excessive lead. Federal regulations set limits on lead in products, as the recall has triggered a federal investigation. The pins were made in China. An earlier recall issued by Canada Health was associated with lead beyond the legal limits found in toys, also made in China.
When a product physically harms a consumer, litigation can get very expensive. General liability insurance might cover certain recall expenses, but not necessarily everything. So insurance experts warn it’s wise for manufacturers to invest in product recall insurance.
The summer of 2020 has been marked by toxic hand sanitizer recalls, which should make all manufacturers assess their production processes. The combination of general liability and product recall insurance provides solid protection in the event of a product defect. Contact the experts at CIA Insurance and Risk Management. We are here to help with all your commercial insurance needs.
Comments are closed.


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Qualcomm intends to offer 5G support in mid-range smartphones
Qualcomm also came to IFA 2019, which is currently taking place in Berlin. The American chipmaker did not bring any new products with him and limited himself to announcing his plans to transfer processors to support 5G ‑ networks.
At the moment, only flagship platforms are endowed with the privilege of having a 5G modem. So, Snapdragon 855 and Snapdragon 855 Plus allow you to work in 5G ‑ networks when you install a separate communication module Snapdragon X50. In the case of the Snapdragon 865, the company can go on to build the Snapdragon X55 5G modem into the single-chip system.
Now, the chip maker intends to transfer to rails 5G and mid-level platforms. In particular, we are talking about the fact that the chipsets 600 and 700 series Snapdragon will receive support for fifth-generation networks.
Interestingly, this is not a distant prospect, but a future that will come soon. So, the chip maker promises that in the 700 series a chip with 5G support will appear before the end of this year. 5G modems will get to single-chip systems from the 600 series in the second half of next year.
Companies like Oppo, Vivo, Redmi, Nokia, Realme, LG and Motorola intend to install Qualcomm's new mid-tier 5G platforms in their future smartphones.
Qualcomm loses profit due to Huawei and 5G
Qualcomm will help Russia with the deployment of 5G mmWave


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Toronto Cab Drivers Sue Uber For Interference With Their Super Profitable Business Model
from the that's-how-it-works,-of-course dept
I was last in Toronto a few years back, pre-Uber, and I remember clearly having a long conversation with the cabbie who drove me from the airport to my hotel, about just how ridiculously corrupt the taxicab business is in Toronto. He was telling me how supply was artificially limited, and even things like being allowed to pick up passengers at the airport required under-the-table kickbacks to certain officials. The driver was pissed off about the whole thing. I’m reminded of that now, as the news comes out that some cabbies in Toronto are suing Uber itself, claiming illegal competition. This is interesting on a few levels. While we know that many cabbies are upset about the competition from Uber drivers, in most cases the direct attacks on Uber have come from the cities and politicians, rather than directly from the cabbies. Yes, there have been riots by cabbies in France, and protests other places, but actual lawsuits have mostly been limited. There are a few exception, such as when Chicago cabbies sued Uber with some nonsensical claims about false advertising.
Here the claims seem equally questionable:
Law firm Sutts, Strosberg LLP, which is representing the taxi drivers, said in a statement on Thursday that the named plaintiff, cab driver Dominik Konjevic, alleges that “Uber X and Uber XL have created an enormous marketplace for illegal transportation in Toronto”.
There doesn’t seem to be much of a claim here other than “we don’t like competing.” Or, as we’ve described it in the past, felony interference with a business model. It’s not even clear how the Toronto cabbies have standing here, as you’d think anyone who would have a right to complain would be the passengers, but of course, that’s not going to happen, because most of them actually like services like Uber.
There’s also the fact that an Ontario court just rejected an attempt by Toronto itself to block Uber in the city, saying that the service was legal. The cabbies here are filing this under different “provincial” law though it seems likely to have the same overall outcome.
Yes, I’m sure if you’re a cabbie in a cushy industry where there is tremendous corruption and artificially limited supply it must really suck to have to face real competition from players who are more innovative and provide a better overall service. But that doesn’t mean it’s illegal.


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Amazon Announces “Prime Early Access Sale” A follow-up to the summertime “Prime Day” event
Amazon announces a follow-up to its popular summertime “Prime Day” event
On October 11 and 12, Amazon Prime members will have early access to an exclusive event. Amazon today, announced a follow-up event to Prime Day which will be held in October.
Ahead of the Black Friday sales in November, Amazon is holding a new sale that they are calling an “early access” event for holiday deals. There isn’t a set list of discounts just yet, but if it’s anything like Prime Day, you can anticipate a few good deals on Apple products.
Amazon has also announced discounts on Fire TVs, Fire tablets, and products from Hasbro, iRobot, KitchenAid, Samsung, LEGO, Adidas, and more. Some sales have already begun, such as the free year of Grubhub+ for Prime members and the free four months of Amazon Music Unlimited for new members.
Keep an eye on our site in the coming weeks, as we will be keeping a running tally of the best deals on Apple products and accessories during the Prime Early Access Sale in October.


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FORT SMITH (KFSM) - Local body shops and roofers have been busy ever since a round of storms came through a week and half ago leaving behind a lot of damage behind. Insurance agents have also been busier than usual, and have been seeing an increase in customers.
Heavy rain and even golf ball size hail if not bigger was seen in some of the counties. This caused a lot of damage to cars and homes throughout the area.
Business has really increased for local roofers and car repair shops. Workers said they've had non-stop customers ever since the April 29th storm. Before customers stop by, they need to call or stop by and see their insurance agent and have their car assessed for damages. In the Fort Smith area, they're spots set up on 74th Street and also along Towson Avenue.
Agents have been seeing everything from moderate damage to even some vehicles being total losses.
When folks stop by an insurance tent, the first thing they need to do is get a claim set up. From there, you can make an appointment with insurance agent. Afterwards you can stop one of their locations to get your car assessed. Workers will go over every panel of your vehicle looking to see how bad the damage is.
Insurance companies have tents set up on 74th Street and also on Towson Avenue. This helps give folks a drive-in option because the shops themselves are so busy with the amount of people stopping by.
Local body repair shops said they'll be working on taking care of damage for the next six months at least. The same goes for roofing companies. Many of them are also booked to hail damage to homes.


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Do you feel that certain food companies market their products as better or healthier choices than they really are, or that have higher nutritional values than is really the case?
If so, you can put their names forward for Consumer NZ's annual Bad Taste Food Awards.
Consumer NZ chief executive Sue Chetwin says the awards highlight food companies marketing their products as better choices than they really are.
Ms Chetwin says Consumer NZ's research regularly uncovers foods masquerading as nutritionally superior options, from gourmet salt to sugar-laden breakfast cereals.
"We're inviting consumers to join us in naming and shaming food marketers' claims to put pressure on companies to clean up their act," she said.
This is the second year Consumer NZ has run the awards.
In 2016, Nutri-Grain was among the 'winners', singled out for being marketed as a healthier option even though it was more than a quarter sugar.
Other 'winners' included 98 per cent almond-free almond milk, Gatorade and Powerade sports drinks with their sizeable sugar hits, and Heinz Little Kids Fruit & Veg Shredz, which were nearly 70 per cent sugar.
Nominations close Tuesday, October 24.


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Nokia Shakes Up Executive Ranks, Will Eliminate 10,000 Jobs by the End of 2013
June 14, 2012 3:17 AM
comment(s) - last by
(Source: Paramount Pictures)
All is not well in Nokia Land
Nokia seems to be
riding high in the U.S. with its Lumia 900 smartphone
that runs Microsoft's Windows Phone 7.5 operating system. The company is seeing high demand for its flagship smartphone on AT&T's wireless network and is reportedly in talks with Verizon to expand its market presence in the U.S.
all is not well with Nokia globally
. The company's overall smartphone market share has plunged worldwide
with the most recent figures from IDC
showing that Nokia had just 8.2 percent global smartphone market share for Q1 2012 compared to 24.7% and 29.1% for Apple and Samsung respectively.
Nokia Lumia 900
As a result of its precarious place in the worldwide phone market, Nokia is looking to make some drastic changes to put out the flames on this burning ship. Today, Nokia announced a plan of action that centers around three key goals:
Invest strongly in products and experiences that make Lumia smartphones stand out and available to more consumers;
Invest in location-based services as an area of competitive differentiation for Nokia products and extend its location-based platform to new industries; and
Improve the competitiveness and profitability of its feature phone business.
In an effort to follow through this plan, Nokia looking to its
Lumia brand of smartphones
to showcase its innovative side and reclaim market share back from industry heavyweights like Samsung and Apple. "We intend to pursue an even more focused effort on Lumia, continued innovation around our feature phones, while placing increased emphasis on our location-based services," said Stephen Elop, Nokia president and CEO. "However, we must re-shape our operating model and ensure that we create a structure that can support our competitive ambitions."
Nokia CEO Stephen Elop
Nokia is also shaking up its executive team. Effective July 1, 2012, Juha Putkiranta will become executive vice president of Operations; Timo Toikkanen will take over as executive vice president of Mobile Phones; Chris Weber will service as executive vice president of Sales and Marketing; Tuula Rytila will claim a position as senior vice president of Marketing and Chief Marketing Officer; and Susan Sheehan assume the role as senior vice president of Communications.
Executives on the way out the door effective June 30, 2012 include Jerri Devard (chief marketing officer), Mary McDowell (executive vice president of Mobile Phones), and Niklas Savander (executive vice president of Markets).
Perhaps the most drastic change, however, is Nokia's decision to eliminate 10,000 employees worldwide by the end of 2013. These job losses will come as a result of the closure of Nokia facilities in Finland, Germany, and Canada along with the streamlining of its corporate, IT, and support functions.
"These planned reductions are a difficult consequence of the intended actions we believe we must take to ensure Nokia's long-term competitive strength," added Elop. "We do not make plans that may impact our employees lightly, and as a company we will work tirelessly to ensure that those at risk are offered the support, options and advice necessary to find new opportunities."
This article is over a month old, voting and posting comments is disabled
RE: Big mistake
6/14/2012 12:25:46 PM
Nokia was a sinking ship already and needed a hail mary and a quick win. Their OS was not going to be viable in the long run and they could read the writing on the wall when many of the Symbian partners (Samsung, Sony, LG) withdrew and switched to Android. Given the situation, I don't think they had a lot of choices.
As they had dedicated their resources into their own OS, they had to re-design their devices around a platform they didn't have experience with. I'm 100% positive they would've approached Google first because of the marketshare.
Unfortunately, Google is well known for not providing much support beyond providing the core OS which is why each vendor, along with each carrier is responsible for their own customization and updates. Had Nokia went with Google, they'd be engineering it themselves, at their own cost, and probably still be working on releasing their first Android phone to the market.
On the other hand, Microsoft will throw money and bodies at you to get what you want if they can see a good ROI from it. Which is exactly what they did. Nokia needed a cash infusion to re-platform and they got it from Microsoft (likely thanks to Elop's relationship with Microsoft).
I have my doubts whether Nokia will succeed. I think like RIM, they clung onto something that was had became out of step with the market for much longer than they should've. WP is their hail mary - however it may have been too late for them.
"What would I do? I'd shut it down and give the money back to the shareholders." -- Michael Dell, after being asked what to do with Apple Computer in 1997
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Today another room from the upcoming 2014 Halloween Party has been discovered. The room this time is the Hotel Lobby. Just like previous sneak peeks it is only the room’s background and not filled with actual items. Check it out:
Also, it now seems that the whole island will be decorated online and also include the quest at the Hotel Lobby, but the mobile app will have the quest only and no decorations on the rest of the island. Phew….but I wonder why? You can view the Plaza and music sneak peek post here.


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Knowledge exfiltration went up from 37% to 46%, ransomware from 30% to 40%, hacktivism from 32% to 39%, denial of service from 28% to 39%, fraud from 29% to 38% and cryptojacking from 27% to 33%.
US companies had been barely extra prone to expertise a critical cyber assault at 77% in comparison with the UK at 73%. Nonetheless, UK companies find yourself shedding extra in price. These incidents have price senior IT respondents a median direct lack of £1.3 million, which isn’t inclusive of the long-term results that cyber assaults can convey.
The true price of a safety breach lies within the oblique losses, which have turn into extra pricey than the cyber assault itself. Status harm and paid ransom averaged £1.5 million in 2022.
Practically half of those companies additionally went into operational downtime, elevated insurance coverage premiums, skilled reputational harm, and paid authorized prices following the cyber assault.
“Our newest report reveals the sheer scale of great cyber-attacks on companies within the UK and the US. This can be a rising downside and one with critical ramifications for affected organizations,” mentioned Jamie Smith, board director at S-RM.
“Typically companies will give attention to the direct monetary impression of a cyber incident, however the oblique impression will be even increased and much tougher for them to precisely quantify,” Smith mentioned. “That is a part of the explanation why an efficient incident response plan and related coaching is so vital. The appropriate plan can decrease the secondary impression of assaults, assist to restrict reputational harm, assist restoration, and decrease pricey downtime.”


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Environmental Goods & Services (EGS) News
Pulling the Plug on Phantom Power - 4 February 2009
Data centers and office buildings waste energy when their electronic devices are plugged in but are sitting in standby or no-load operation mode. Now there is a universal power adapter called Green Plug that can communicate with PCs, laptops, cell phones and other common devices to receognize how much power they need and shut off the power supply when charging is complete.
Greener World Media Contributor Sarah Fister Gale recently sat down with Green Plug founder Frank Paniagua to talk about how the device can reduce energy consumption, as well as e-waste by eliminating the unique power supply cords that come with each device. The company is working with manufacturers to incorporate its GreenPlug chip into the next generation of electronics products that will hit the shelves as early as next year.
Read the interview on GreenBiz


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After reporting on the possibility of PlayDead’s 2010 XBLA hit, Limbo, coming to the PlayStation Network, it turns out that the game will indeed be coming to PSN, and to Steam as well. The game is set for a July 19th release on PSN (July 20th in Europe, and sometime later in Japan) and an August 2nd worldwide release date on Steam. It’ll give players on other platforms the chance to finally experience the charmingly dark little platformer/puzzler that made so many waves a year ago.
One of my chief complaints about Limbo (echoed by many others) is that it’s too short for the price. While no price has been announced, having it cost $10 instead of $15 would seem a lot more reasonable considering it’s been out for a year. Also, PlayDead’s Dino Patti made mention of “a little extra secret we have in store for you…” on the PlayStation Blog but did not elaborate, so it seems there will at least be some exclusive content here. What exactly it entails is anyone’s guess, but we’ll know soon enough.