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Vivo V15 Vivo’s Next Flagship Phone
Vivo’s heir apparent to the Vivo V11 flagship phone the Vivo V15 Pro packs a lot of new technology in almost the same footprint. The next generation in the vaunted V-Series line up moves the bar even further with a 48 Mega Pixel Rear-facing camera.
The phone really packs a punch when it comes to photography. A key feature of the phone is the unique pop-up from facing 32 Mega-pixel facing camera. But there is also enough power under the screen, the Vivo V15 Pro will be among the first to use a Snapdragon 675 chipset.
The Vivo V15 Pro still packs all the technology from all previous phones such as the on-screen fingerprint sensor. The screen will be a Super AMOLED Full-screen display since the front-facing camera is popping out. The phones will be unveiled on February 20 and will cost about $350 converted from Indian Rupees for a unit with 6GB of RAM and 128GB storage.
We still have no information when the phone will be released locally. So keep coming back here so we can update you on the latest news.


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PORTFOLIO IN MOTION 2007
April 28 • Rose Benté Lee Center, Marymount University
PHOTOS BY PAUL SIMKIN
THE EVENT: Marymount University’s Fashion Design and Fashion Merchandising program hit the runway for the 17th annual Portfolio in Motion fashion show – the penultimate academic project for graduates. Every aspect, including jury-selected student designs, talent casting and show production, refl ects the students’ academic and creative eff orts. If that wasn’t stressful enough, fashion icon Michael Kors and business leader Sheila Johnson were on hand to critique their work. The catwalk showcase was the crown jewel in a weekend-long fashion fest that included a Friday luncheon where Kors received the Designer of the Year Award. THE SCENE: 600 style-philes, co-eds, friends and family members scouted for the “next big thing.” THE GUESTS: LuAnn Bennett , Jeannemarie Devolites Davis, Jackie Duberstein, Michael Kors CEO John Idol and Communications Director Billy Daley.

domain: news


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it seems if you're a big time chef with the last name of keller and cook french, you're destined to open a burger place. hubert keller of fleur de lys in las vegas said he wants to bring a burger joint to san francisco called burger bar. wasn't it just last year, thomas keller of french laundry fame wanted to open a burger joint?
1. Keller bringing Burger Bar to San Francisco
2. An ad hoc look at Ad Hoc


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Topic: Travel Industry Research
The Jamaica Tourist Board said the destination saw tourism growth in spite of the enhanced security measures in St. James Parish earlier this year. Find out more.
Support for keeping flights free of cell phone calls continue to grow, according to a Turkish Airlines / Nielsen survey. Find out more.
Land and cruise arrivals are also on the upswing. Learn more here.
Croatia will welcome new hotels -- including a potential new Four Seasons -- added flight connections, and more cruise and tour options this year and in the near future. Learn more.
A new study from the International Society of Hospitality Consultants (ISHC) surveys members on how the hospitality industry can improve recruitment. Take a look.
Israel set a new tourism record for the first half of 2018, according to the latest statistics from the Israeli Ministry of Tourism. Find out more.
St. Kitts reached the one million cruise passenger mark the morning of July 16 with the arrival of guests from Royal Caribbean International's Freedom of the Seas. Here’s the latest on the island’s tourism.
Europe now accounts for 50 percent of the share of tourist arrivals worldwide, the European Travel Commission reports. Here’s an inside look at the latest data.
Travelers will go to great lengths to hit the road with their dogs, according to a new report from pet sitter and dog walker network Rover. Find out more.
Millennials are most likely to post misleading vacation pictures to social media, according to a new report from Allianz Global Assistance. Find out more.


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International Kolkata Book Fair 2023
After 45 long years of International Kolkata Book Fair, the book fair received its own identity by the Honourable Chief Minister, who announced the nomenclature ‘Boimela Prangan’ during the inaugural ceremony of the International Kolkata Book Fair 2022. The logo of ‘Boimela Prangan’ has been designed by the noted artist Suvaprasanna.
It is noteworthy to mention that right after the pandemic situation improved, the footfall of the International Kolkata Book Fair 2022 created a benchmark with 2.2 million visitors and witnessed sales of Rs. 23 crores breaking all past records! As a result of this exceptional achievement, the upcoming edition has been attracting a greater number of publishers who intend to participate this year.
The Focal Theme Country of the 46th International Kolkata Book Fair 2023 will be – Spain. Its last appearance in the International Kolkata Book Fair was in 2006, which was also its first. The international complex will also witness the presence of the UK, USA, Japan, Vietnam, France, Thailand, Australia, Argentina, Guatemala, Mexico, Cuba, Peru, other Latin American countries and Bangladesh. Publishers from the states of India like Delhi, Haryana, Punjab, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Gujarat, Assam, Uttar Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Telangana, Odisha along with the Little Magazines will also be an integral part of the event.
Another crucial highlight of the 46th International Kolkata Book Fair is that – 9th Kolkata Literature Festival (KLF) will be held from 9th to 11th February 2023, consisting of gripping panel discussions on literature, cinema, drama, music, dance, and much more.


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Nicorette Mini Return Provides More Retail Therapy For Glaxo Consumer
This article was originally published in The Tan Sheet
Following the February launch of its Flonase Allergy Relief OTC switch and the return of alli following a recall, Glaxo adds another momentum driver before the pending launch of its consumer product JV with Novartis by returning Nicorette minis as an OTC revenue source.
You may also be interested in...
GSK Consumer Healthcare says alli would be available starting Feb. 25 in most stores in the U.S. and Puerto Rico in “improved tamper-evident packaging.” Despite the product’s checkered history, its return marks another boost for Glaxo’s consumer outlook.
The court included its decision on Amarin’s ’s petition for a writ of certiorari among the single-line denials of nearly 200 appeals to consider decisions in civil litigation and convictions in criminal cases. However, Amarin still eyes curbing competition from omega-3 supplements.


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Competing for Streets and Sidewalks
Almost as soon as technologists invented robots to haul groceries or burritos to people’s doors, the arguments over sidewalks started. Officials in Kirkland, Wash., recently put on hold permits for Amazon’s experimental package delivery robots and are asking whether the company should pay fees for using sidewalk space.
Read full article here:
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as a public service by the Magnusson Institute,
a Nevada 501(c)(3) non-profit. All articles
and images are copyright of their respective


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Skip to comments.Bill Costs Man Pennies -- 52,662 Of Them
Posted on 03/08/2007 8:05:12 AM PST by Abathar
CARTERVILLE, Illinois -- A southern Illinois man who's fed up with higher electric rates has come up with a way to show his displeasure while paying his bill.
Robert Hancock said his monthly power bill jumped nearly 200 percent -- to $526.62.
So he's going to send Ameren 52,662 pennies.
Hancock said he's worked things out with a local bank to get the coins and with the post office to mail the money.
It will cost about $50 extra for postage. But Hancock said that if he can cause Ameren a little inconvenience, it's worth it to him.
They are costing 2 cents to make. Zinc is up too.
Yeah, that's why I post on FR. For the power company's benefit.
On the other hand, were I running the company, I would stick to 'the customer is always right', state that I understand the gentleman's concern, accept his payment, and take the opportunity to redirect consumer ire toward energy policy, etc., and reference some helpful tips on conserving energy.
Unlike the people who think it would be bright for the company to take this opportunity to stick it to the little guy.
Thus, about $56 to ship the 270 lbs.
Oh gee, thanks for your permission. :rolleyes:
Sounds about right. :-)
>>>Oh gee, thanks for your permission. :rolleyes:
You're welcome. :multiple rolleyes:
True, but not relevant. See the following FAQ from the US Treasury web page:
Question: I thought that United States currency was legal tender for all debts. Some businesses or governmental agencies say that they will only accept checks, money orders or credit cards as payment, and others will only accept currency notes in denominations of $20 or smaller. Isn't this illegal?
Answer: The pertinent portion of law that applies to your question is the Coinage Act of 1965, specifically Section 31 U.S.C. 5103, entitled "Legal tender," which states: "United States coins and currency (including Federal reserve notes and circulating notes of Federal reserve banks and national banks) are legal tender for all debts, public charges, taxes, and dues."
This statute means that all United States money as identified above are a valid and legal offer of payment for debts when tendered to a creditor. There is, however, no Federal statute mandating that a private business, a person or an organization must accept currency or coins as for payment for goods and/or services. Private businesses are free to develop their own policies on whether or not to accept cash unless there is a State law which says otherwise. For example, a bus line may prohibit payment of fares in pennies or dollar bills. In addition, movie theaters, convenience stores and gas stations may refuse to accept large denomination currency (usually notes above $20) as a matter of policy.
All U.S. currency and coins are legal tender today, according to 31 U.S.C. Section 5103. This was not true in the past -- until the 1870s, pennies were legal tender only up to debts of $0.10, and all other coins up to $10.00. The Coinage Act of 1965 made all U.S. coins legal tender for all debts, public and private.
Just because they are legal tender does not mean that a private citizen or entity is required to accept them; it DOES mean that the Federal Reserve is required to accept them.
A person or business is free to say he/it will not accept bills over $20, or that he/it will only accept nickels, or that he/it will only accept debit cards and not cash, ad nauseum.
The U.S. Treasury's take on this can be found at http://www.ustreas.gov/education/faq/currency/legal-tender.html#q1. There are also Federal appellate court cases on this point; I used them when teaching legal research and writing at a law school.
As to whether States can pass laws regarding the acceptance of Federal currency and coins, my guess (not researched, but pretty darn certain) is that a State law that purported to limit the use of federal coins and currency as legal tender would be unconstitutional.
Last fall, a former co-worker (a paralegal who thought she knew all law better than any attorney) attempted to pay a debt owed to her ex-husband in pennies. He refused them, she refused to tender any other payment, and she was found in contempt. True, the actions of a State District Court judge doesn't set Federal law, but it's the only time I've actually run into this issue in life -- other than using it as a topic for teaching in law school.
People who melt pennies or nickels to profit from the jump in metals prices could face jail time and pay thousands of dollars in fines, according to new rules out Thursday.
Soaring metals prices mean that the value of the metal in pennies and nickels exceeds the face value of the coins. Based on current metals prices, the value of the metal in a nickel is now 6.99 cents, while the penny's metal is worth 1.12 cents, according to the U.S. Mint.
That has piqued concern among government officials that people will melt the coins to sell the metal, leading to potential shortages of pennies and nickels.
"The nation needs its coinage for commerce," U.S. Mint director Ed Moy said in a statement. "We don't want to see our pennies and nickels melted down so a few individuals can take advantage of the American taxpayer. Replacing these coins would be an enormous cost to taxpayers."
There have been no specific reports of people melting coins for the metal, Mint spokeswoman Becky Bailey says. But the agency has received a number of questions in recent months from the public about the legality of melting the coins, and officials have heard some anecdotal reports of companies considering selling the metal from pennies and nickels, she says.
Under the new rules, it is illegal to melt pennies and nickels. It is also illegal to export the coins for melting. Travelers may legally carry up to $5 in 1- and 5-cent coins out of the USA or ship $100 of the coins abroad "for legitimate coinage and numismatic purposes."
Violators could spend up to five years in prison and pay as much as $10,000 in fines. Plus, the government will confiscate any coins or metal used in melting schemes.
The rules are similar to those enacted in the 1960s and 1970s, when metals prices also rose, the Mint said. Ongoing regulations make it illegal to alter coins with an intent to commit fraud. Before today's new regulations, it was not illegal to melt coins.
Metals prices have skyrocketed worldwide in recent years in response to rising demand, particularly in rapidly growing China and India. Prices for zinc, which accounts for nearly all of the metal in the penny, have risen 134% this year, according to the London Metal Exchange. Even accounting for a recent decline, the price of copper is up 50% since the start of 2006. Nickels are produced from 75% copper and 25% nickel.
Although the Mint's new rules are immediately going into effect, the Mint will take comments from the public for a month.
The government has changed the composition of coins in response to rising metal prices. The penny, which was pure copper when it was introduced in 1793, was last changed in 1982.
Look up to post #70.
Not any more. See this press release from the US Mint, 14 December 2006. They announced new regulations prohibiting the melting of pennies and nickels.
And #69 too.
Gotcha - thanks!
I'm not allowed in the electric company ever since that tip jar incident.
Well, I tried that, and the result was under $10 for the same zip code. That either says the online calculator has a bug or the shipping rate for the USPS doesn't care if the package is 1 pound or 70. Is this correct? I don't know, having never shipped anything even approaching that weight! ;-)


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According to the U.S. Small Business Administration, M & T Bank approved 126 new SBA flagship 7(a) loans totaling $25.8 million between October 1, 2012 and March 31. That’s quite a change from a year ago when, over the same period, it approved 94 loans totaling $10.3 million.
Allison Kline reporting the story for Buffalo Business First. Click here to read more.
Jeanna Smialek of Bloomberg News reports that the data showed that consumer credit rose $16.2 billion in January after a $15.1 billion rise in December, “as Americans took out loans for auto purchases and tuitions. … Employment gains, rising stock prices and stable home values may be making households more willing to borrow, helping sustain the consumer spending that accounts for about 70 percent of the economy.”
Click here to read more.
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced that five of New York’s largest banks and mortgage servicers will have representatives available to offer one-on-one help to homeowners seeking the release of Superstorm Sandy insurance settlement funds at the Department of Financial Services’ Disaster Assistance Centers from Monday, March 4 through Saturday, March 9.
Click here for more details.


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Heading out the door? Read this article on the new Outside+ app available now on iOS devices for members!
Download the app.
A round-up of VT editors’ favorite newsworthy links.
San Francisco moves one step closer to banning the sale of plastic water bottles. According to the Food & Water Watch, 75 percent of empty plastic bottles end up in landfills and waterways. [Grist]
After quietly coming out as vegan last year, Al Gore says he’ll probably stick with a plant-based diet for the rest of his life. (No word yet on Bubba.) [Mother Nature Network]
Colorado bans greyhound racing! Confined to small, warehouse-style crates and pushed to exhaustion, racing dogs routinely suffer serious injuries and other health issues. [Ecorazzi]
Just for fun: 19th-century vegetarian personal ads! “She should be not less than sixteen nor more than twenty; must dislike meat and pickles.” [Slate]


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South African restaurants are under extreme pressure, and talk of closure and liquidation has become a daily conversation for many as the sector grapples with the restrictions placed on it by the nationwide coronavirus lockdown.
As South Africa enters into its ninth week of high level lockdown restrictions, some solace comes with the imminent move to level 3 at the end of the month.
However, while level 3 is expected to bring with it more freedom of movement and opportunity to return to work for many individuals, the restaurant industry will likely continue to suffer.
According to draft lockdown restrictions published by the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs in April, while being able to open up for delivery under lockdown level 4, restaurants would only be allowed to accept in-store food collections at level 2, and have sit-ins at level 1.
Government is talking up a move to level 3 in June, and possibly a more rapid move to fully opening up the economy, but projections from analysts have pegged a move to level 2 or 1 only at the end of the year.
Speaking to 702, Wendy Alberts, chief executive officer of Restaurant Association of South Africa, said the situation is critical, and the sector is considering taking the matter to court to try force government to let the country’s restaurants open sooner.
“The pressure is getting critical in the industry; the repercussions (of the lockdown on) all our restaurants, and the opening for delivery only has been dramatic on our finances,” she said.
“We are just getting deeper and deeper into debt and this is not good for the restaurant industry.”
Alberts said that initially it was only small businesses that were being affected, but now large businesses are also feeling the pain, and they are lending their voices to the cause.
She said that restaurants that have opened up for delivery under lockdown level 4 have done so to their own detriment, calling it “financial suicide”.
Despite this, there are many reasons why they have done so, she said. It has been good for brands (meeting customer expectations and demand); they’ve helped keep the economy going; and they’ve kept staff employed.
However, Alberts pointed out that third party companies who are facilitating deliveries are taking up to 40% of turnover in an already-strained environment.
“I don’t think we’ve yet seen the full scope of the damage to the industry,” she said. “We are respecting the views of government and are continuing to work with government – but we are asking them to please understand how the industry works.”
She said that the industry has had some support – particularly from landlords, in terms of rent, and from some finance houses and banks.
“But when you start dissecting things and going through the elements…there’s no possibility to survive in the next couple of weeks,” she said.
“Liquidation and closure is imminent. It’s a conversation happening every day.”
Getting back to it
Responding to concerns over health and safety, should restaurants be allowed to open, Alberts said critics need only compare it to any other place that has been allowed to open.
She said the risks of sitting at a restaurants are no more than standing in queues to buy food, or anywhere else that is open.
“Restaurants already have some of the highest health standards. We are ready to get people back to work,” she said.
A lobby group called The Restaurant Collective previously published a host of guidelines it said could be followed to allow restaurants to open under lockdown level 3.


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Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) is one of the most popular stocks among Wall Street analysts. According to Thomson/First Call 48 of the 58 analysts covering the stock have a buy or strong buy rating on the stock. Apple’s one year median price target of $750 is also 47% higher than its current price. Analysts also expect that Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) will make $49 in its current fiscal year ending September 2013 and $57 in FY2014. Even the most bearish analyst thinks AAPL will earn $41.75 in FY2013. So, according to Wall Street Apple’s forward price-earnings ratio is at most 12.
Apple also currently has $128 per share in cash and investments on its balance sheet. After backing this out, Apple trades at a forward PE ratio of 9.5 according to the most bearish analyst. Apple’s forward PE ratio (excluding cash) falls to 8 if we use analysts’ consensus estimate. That’s a really cheap valuation for a stock that is expected to grow its earnings by 21% over the next 5 years. That’s not a typo. Wall Street analysts expect Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) to grow its earnings per share to $125 in 5 years. That’s an estimated annual growth rate of 20.7% for a $500 billion company.
Don’t be fooled by these wild estimates. Just three months ago the same analysts expected earnings of $53.30 per share for FY2013, almost 10% higher than their current estimates. Their EPS estimate for FY2014 was also $61 just three months ago. Analysts’ current year estimates are starting to get more realistic but their really haven’t updated their 5-year estimates. Let’s take a closer look.
Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) earned $44.15 in its 2012 fiscal year. So, analysts expect a 10.5% increase in earnings in 2013. Three months ago their 2013 growth estimate was 20.7%, same as their 5-year growth estimate. I am extremely skeptical about all of these estimates. Here is why:


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Desperate times call for desperate measures, and while Samsung insists no potentially hazardous Galaxy Note 7 units will be remotely deactivated, some kind of a backup plan needs to be worked out to keep stubborn users from hurting themselves and those around them.
As BNP Paribas analyst Peter Yu recently told the Associated Press, Samsung “has to contain the battery explosions but people are not returning the phones.” Why? Misinformation, recklessness, or just good old fashioned laziness, you name it, and it probably applies in a vexing number of cases for thousands of ticking time bombs that can go off at any moment with absolutely no warning.
Well, there might be another way to prevent Galaxy Note 7 incidents from further spreading like wildfire (sorry, couldn’t help myself), since overheating is the first step towards utter phablet destruction, occasionally taking down cars or houses with it.
It won’t be pretty, and may actually represent a much-needed tipping point for early S Pen powerhouse adopters who insist there’s nothing wrong with their devices. Starting September 20, an OTA software update will apparently be issued in Korea to stop you from charging the Note 7 beyond 60 percent capacity, thus keeping the fickle cell (relatively) nice and cool at all times.
Unfortunately, the inconvenient but necessary update isn’t confirmed yet for a global rollout, and it’s also unclear if Samsung intends to push it to faulty products regardless of the owners’ accord.


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BOSTON, MA (January 24, 2023) –
MindEdge Learning is proud to announce that it is officially Climate Neutral Certified. The company joins the growing movement of brands achieving the Climate Neutral Certified standard by measuring its 2021 greenhouse gas emissions, purchasing eligible verified carbon credits to offset that footprint, and implementing plans to reduce emissions in the future.
Climate Neutral Certified is the leading consumer label for climate neutrality. It is carried by brands that have chosen to be accountable for the greenhouse gas emissions generated in the production, operations, and shipping of their goods and services.
“MindEdge has sought for decades to reduce the environmental impact of educating millions of learners, through its delivery of online courses and simulations,” said Jefferson Flanders, president and CEO of MindEdge. “We’ve reaffirmed that commitment by becoming Climate Neutral Certified.”
“Climate Neutral Certified companies show the world that immediate action on climate change is possible and essential,” said Austin Whitman, CEO of Climate Neutral. “The newly certified brands joining us—as well as current brands achieving recertification— are leading the way by recognizing that climate change must be solved. They believe that all companies should take immediate voluntary action to address their carbon emissions, and they are engaging their consumers around this important issue like never before.”
Climate Neutral’s certification builds on internationally recognized standards for carbon measurement and neutrality. All certified brands must measure cradle-to-customer greenhouse gas emissions each year to maintain certification. Then a brand must buy eligible verified carbon credits to compensate for all of their emissions, directing investment into critical projects that remove and avoid emissions from energy, industry, and natural systems. Finally, brands must commit to reduction action plans to cut future emissions within a 12 – 24 month timeline, reporting progress on those plans annually.
MindEdge joins the increasing ranks of companies treating carbon emissions like their business. Together, Climate Neutral Certified brands are making an impact on climate action right now, working to eliminate more than 1,000,000 tonnes of carbon emissions in 2022.
About MindEdge Learning
MindEdge’s mission is to improve the way the world learns. Since its founding in 1998 by Harvard and MIT educators, the company has served some 4 million learners. With a focus on digital-first learning resources—from academic courseware to professional development courses—MindEdge’s approach to best practices in online education focuses on learners’ needs across the spectrum of higher education, professional development, skills training, and continuing education.
About Climate Neutral
Climate Neutral is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization working with brands and consumers to eliminate greenhouse gas emissions. Its label, Climate Neutral Certified, is a trusted, independent standard for climate neutrality. It is earned by brands who measure, offset, and reduce the emissions from making and delivering products and services to customers. Climate Neutral’s goal is to motivate consumers to get more brands to take immediate and measurable action against the climate crisis. To learn more, visit climateneutral.org.


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The widely known Cash App mobile payment service developed by Square, which is being used to transfer money with the usage of a mobile app, now fully supports the Bitcoin taproot update.
The mobile payments service is currently available in the U.S. and the U.K. but is still reporting 70 million annual transactions between users and generating $1.8 billion in gross profit.
The taproot upgrade was highly anticipated by the Bitcoin network and the cryptocurrency community in general. Previously, the update went into effect on Nov. 14, 2021, at block 709,632.
Previously, the announcement appeared on the app's website that has described numerous benefits that users will experience after the implementation of the update. One of the main advantages is increased privacy and reduced transaction fees.
The two-week period has been chosen to confirm the functionality of the updated version of the currency. As for now, the update has been activated for all customers. Taproot-enabled wallets are now available for both receiving and sending Bitcoin.


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Following the earth-rending megaton that was Ridley's reveal as a playable character in the upcoming Super Smash Bros Ultimate for Switch, Nintendo has announced that he'll be getting his own amiibo too.
Ridley's amiibo is one of three new amiibo announced as part of Nintendo's Smash Bros Ultimate info blitz, the others being a new Ink Girl variant, and an amiibo based on the Daisy model debuted during the company's E3 Direct.
Ridley, pictured above alongside the new Ink Girl design, looks fantastic in amiibo form. Unfortunately, Nintendo is keeping Daisy's amiibo pose a secret for the time being.
Ridley will launch alongside Super Smash Bros Ultimate on December 7th, but Ink Girl and Daisy have yet to receive a release date.


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When it comes to Volkswagen Group CEO Herbert Diess, talk about Tesla and CEO Elon Musk has generated negatives and positives over the years. This makes perfect sense since the two are rivals, and VW Group aims to be Tesla's largest competitor in the global EV space.
At the same time, Diess has given Tesla and Musk their due credit, because, without them, electric vehicles would not be where they are today. This is huge coming from the chief of the largest automaker in the world, who's leading brands on monumental future electric car efforts.
Perhaps even more interesting is the fact that Diess went to bat for Tesla when reporters at a recent event were speaking of the automaker's troubles and small size. Diess responded:
“Tesla is not niche. The Model 3 is a large-series model and they are one of the biggest manufacturers of electric-car batteries.”
“We have a lot of respect for Tesla. It’s a competitor we take very seriously.”
Bloomberg noticed Diess defending Elon Musk when, while Tesla's stock soared this week, reporters continued to bash the automaker. The publication actually went so far as to point out a 'budding bromance' between the two high-profile CEOs.
On the other side of the coin, Musk has made it clear that he believes Diess is doing more than any other major automaker in its effort to go electric. Even with VW's history related to the Dieselgate scandal, Musk publicized his support.
Nonetheless, Diess did make it clear that producing electric cars is expensive, and reaching a massive global scale will not be easy for Tesla. He concluded:
"Scaling up globally is difficult. The car industry is very capital intense, and electric cars make it even more capital intense.”


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The European Parliament’s plenary will vote next Tuesday on a report on online gambling by Ashley Fox MEP calling for enhanced cooperation between Member States. The report initially recommended the EU-wide licensing of igaming operators, but was then changed to take account of numerous amendments and Member States’ will to regulate their online gaming sectors individually.
The report will recommend continuing that policy of regulation, but with increased co-operation between member states on consumer protection and money laundering. Member states are encouraged to exchange blacklists of operators and to consider blocking access to illegal websites. The report is the Parliament’s response to a ‘road map’ adopted by the European Commission last October.
The Gibraltar Betting and Gaming Association (GBGA) has agreed an affiliate partnership with the European Gaming and Betting Association, a move it hopes “will assist EU policy makers to learn more about online gaming in Gibraltar and allow the Gibraltar-based remote gambling industry to input on important industry matters at international level”.
GBGA chief executive Peter Howitt said, “Partnership with the EGBA will allow us to work in tandem with the EGBA to better represent Gibraltar gaming operators in the EU on key issues relating to consumer protection, anti-money laundering and effective regulation within the context of an increasingly competitive environment.” He added, “As well as learning more about how EU policy makers carry out their work, we hope that policy makers will gain a better understanding of online gaming, how the Gibraltar industry works, and why Gibraltar is one of the world leaders in the online gaming industry.”
EGBA Secretary General Maarten Haijer commented, “Not only does the GBGA represent a significant portion of the EU’s online gaming offering, but both organisations share the vision of a strictly regulated, cross border industry with high standards and consumer protection as priorities. We are therefore thrilled to welcome the GBGA to the fold.”


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Owners of several Fulton Market buildings are putting them up for sale as a single offering, believing developers will pay up for the chance to knock down the low-slung properties and redevelop a full block of the emerging neighborhood.
The landlords are seeking a buyer for the 1200 block of West Fulton Market and will seek new locations for the businesses they run there, according to Chicago-based brokers at Newmark Grubb Knight Frank, who have the assignment.
“I don't think you'll see anything else like this site, the opportunity to scrape an entire city block,” said Andy Gallas, a senior managing director at NGKF. “With all the rezoning we've seen in the area, this is a rare opportunity for somebody to create a legacy development in Fulton Market.”
Gallas, who has the assignment along with Managing Director Gino Tabbi and Associate Director Dominic Soltero, declined to name an expected price.
But Gallas said the owners expect the 3.3-acre parcel to sell for more than the $52 million that Highland Park-based Tucker Development paid for most of the 900 block of West Randolph Street. Many of the buildings on that block are landmarked and will be converted to retail and office space. Tucker's partner in redeveloping the existing buildings is White Plains, N.Y.-based retail developer Acadia Realty Trust.
The 1200 block of Fulton has more land, and none of the buildings is landmarked, meaning they can be leveled to create a “blank slate” for developers, Gallas said. The block is bound by Fulton, Elizabeth Street and Racine and Carroll avenues.
The site is between 1KFulton, the former cold storage building where Google is now the largest office tenant, and another Sterling Bay project in development—Fulton West, at 1330 W. Fulton, where Skender Construction is the first office tenant to lease space.
If the 1200 Fulton block sells, it will be another in a series of deals in which longtime businesses have cashed in on rising real estate values and shut down or moved elsewhere in the city or suburbs. The seller in Tucker Development's deal on Randolph was the family that owns wholesaler Quality Food Products.
Owners of the Fulton buildings are Tom Comforte of Premises Group, Timothy Jans of Cook-DuPage Transportation, Doug Van Vlymen of Four Star Foods and Donald Chaimovitz of Mahzel Metals. All those businesses have been at their current locations at least 20 years.
All four businesses are seeking potential new locations in the city, according to a statement from the owners provided by New York-based NGKF.
“Given the demand for properties in the Fulton Market district, the owners feel this is the best time to achieve the highest value for the properties,” the owners said in the statement.


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Samsung Electronics will launch new devices at the Galaxy Unpacked event, which was set on February 11 in San Francisco, California.
Samsung Electronics said in an invitation that was sent to the media on Sunday that the company will launch “new, innovative devices” that will improve the consumers’ mobile experiences for the next decade.
The Korean tech giant was expected to launch an additional Galaxy S-series smartphone and Galaxy Fold 2.
This, after Samsung’s invitation showed two boxes instead of the letter “a” in the Galaxy text design. The first box may be represented as an S-series smartphone, while the second box could be represented as Galaxy Fold 2 because of its clamshell design.
Samsung posted a video on its site, showing an animated version of its upcoming event.
The Samsung Galaxy Unpacked event will start on February 11 at 11:00 a.m. PST. You can watch the live stream through this site.
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Tic Tacs will be on TV in September as part of a new campaign, which will see all packs rebranded by January 2017.
Ferrero has also been working on a raft of NPD. The brand’s core orange and mint variants have received a festive flavour twist, along with themed packaging. Winter Warmers (rrp £2) come in sweet mint and spicy orange will be available from September for a limited period.
Come October, the new lines will be joined by mint rush: a combination of two intense pills: smooth mint and fresh rush. Mint rush has been developed following insight that 55% of sugar confectionery shoppers consume mint flavours, claims Ferrero. An 18g pack has an rrp of 58p, while a 49g pack is priced at £1.31.
Ferrero customer development director Levi Boorer says: “We know our target consumers have a great affinity with Tic Tac and this year, in true Ferrero style, we are making a heavyweight investment to support the brand ensuring Tic Tac is completely unmissable.
“In addition, Tic Tac has a great range of flavours that cater for multiple tastes and we’re excited to announce the launch of two new flavours that are sure to recruit new shoppers to the brand. As with all Ferrero products, we want to make sure retailers know how to stock Tic Tac and to make the most out of their Tic Tac sales, we recommend retailers treat newcomers as incremental SKUs to the core range.”
Worth £26.4m, Tic Tac is the 9th biggest brand in sugar confectionery, according to Ferrero.


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A Moscow-based luxury taxi start-up is hoping to expand beyond Russia, targeting London as its next destination in a determined, technology-driven business plan. Wheely already operates a fleet of Mercedes...
For years, IBM has provided customers a complicated plan based on four-hour rolling average of workload consumption
Data explosion and big data analytics behind Cray deal, claims HPE
Deliveroo plans to use the investment to expand its London-based technology team
The alleged criminals include five Russians who remain at large


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The Apple community of observers has been in a quandary. How can Apple sell a luxury Apple Watch with expectations of enduring beauty and yet continue to upgrade its capabilities with new models without annoying the purchaser? One solution would be to make the just the inside electronics replaceable.
British Prime Minister David Cameron demonstrated both a commitment to enabling terrorists to erode civil liberties and a dangerous ignorance of technology. In a speech geared towards elections in May, Mr. Cameron promised to outlaw messaging services that encrypt messages unless they give his government a back door.
Apple has a long and sometimes unpleasant history of hiring sales executives from other companies in the hopes that the new guy will have the magic mojo to make everything right. Now Apple has brought in a new HP veteran to sell to large corporations. Things will probably go as they have in the past: not very well.
One can produce wild estimates of the Apple Watch sales. One can do surveys and discover what people think they're willing to pay. But the real prospects for the Apple Watch lie in Apple's unique ability to capture our heart and imagination.
So far, major banks have been running TV ads promoting Apple Pay, and that's great. But why is Apple being so shy about its own technology and not running its own ads? John Martellaro has wondered about that too.
Some Twitter users woke up this morning to find that they were unexpectedly following @MasterCard, perhaps an implied endorsement that was unwanted. William Shatner was the first to notice this, according to Marketing Land. This appears to be a troublesome effort by Twitter to monetize what has become, in essence, a public utility.
Tired of the same old holiday songs? Kelly hooks you up with a few of her favorites. Keep in mind Kelly believes Die Hard is a holiday classic, so you may have guessed these are not the standards you're used to.
In a recent Time Magazine article by Lev Grossman, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg delivered a broadside against Apple CEO Tim Cook. However, the incoherent blast only served to clarify a bankrupt philosophy by the social networking magnate. John Martellaro ponders a more considered life.
There's been a division of thinking in the past about Apple and a next generation TV experience. Will Apple simply introduce a new Apple TV, just another black box? Or will Apple make its own UHDTV? Some recent evidence suggests that Apple will make an actual TV.
There's something interesting going on with the psychology of shopping with Apple Pay. It's not just that it's more secure than swiping a credit card, and it's not just that it's techy cool. John Martellaro explores the phenomenon.
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NEW DELHI: In a bid to tame the rising inflation in the country, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has decided to raise the repo rate by 40 basis points to 4.40%, governor Shaktikanta Das announced in a virtual briefing on Wednesday.
Last month, the central bank kept two benchmark economy-wide interest rates unchanged at record lows, a signal that the RBI continued to prioritise growth recovery despite inflationary winds sweeping the world and India in the aftermath of the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
Repo rate refers to the rate at which commercial banks borrow money by selling their securities to the central bank, while reverse repo rate is the rate at which the central bank borrows money. These rates are key to boost credit and investments by businesses in the economy, as India’s pushes its nascent economic recovery. The Monetary Policy Committee’s (MPC) review of the economy is key to markets and general business sentiment.
Explained: What are repo rate, reverse repo and monetary policy
“Shortages and volatility in commodities and financial markets are becoming more acute,” Das said in his address from Mumbai.
“We have demonstrated in the MPC that we are not bound by a set book of rules but be accommodative of changing scenarios,” he said.
Headline inflation in March stood at 6.95%, coming in above the RBI’s comfort level of 6% for a third consecutive month.
In its last rate-setting meet, the central bank’s six-member MPC voted to hold the repo and reverse repo rates at 4% and 3.5%, respectively. Such a policy approach is referred to as “accommodative stance”, which means that it remains conducive for easier borrowing.
However, with today’s upward revision, the RBI has turned to a so-called hawkish stance, which means that it could raise interest rates further as inflation begins to weigh in on the economy.
The central bank had revised the country’s inflation forecast to 5.7% in FY23 from 4.5% earlier, acknowledging pressures of inflation from crude oil crossing $100/barrel. High inflation not only erodes the value of money and savings, but can also ultimately hurt growth itself.
Quarterly projections of the central bank show that the RBI expects 6.3% inflation in Q1, 5% in Q2, 5.4% in Q3 and 5.1% in Q4.
“The sky may be overcast, but we will use all our energies to let sunlight shine on India’s future. It is the faith that steers us through stormy seas, moves mountains and jumps across the ocean,” Das had said in his previous address.
Globally inflation is rising and high prices have found their way into the country through costlier oil. Rich economies are fast raising interests rates to tamp down high inflation.
Lower interest rates make borrowing by businesses and government easier, helping to increase the economy’s output and GDP rate, but they can also fan inflation. The government, for instance, makes good a chunk of its fiscal deficit – the difference between the government’s earnings and expenditure – by borrowing money by selling bonds.


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Latest Golf Club Stories
The game tees off with new features and an all-new Season Mode Walnut Creek, CA (PRWEB) April 28, 2015 The Golf Club Collector’s Edition hits a hole
Leading Expert in Turfgrass Entomology to be Honored at USGA Annual Service Awards FAR HILLS, N.J.
The ‘Tuned Performance Studio' hits the road to provide custom golf experiences to golfers Charlotte, NC (PRWEB) April 30, 2014 Boxman Studios,
George Laskaris, a lifelong resident in the Pike Creek Valley area, is going to the PGA Merchandise Show held at the Convention Center in Orlando, Florida to introduce "The Laser Swing"
Longtime Researcher and Educator Will Be Honored at Newly Established USGA Annual Service Awards Far Hills, N.J.
After reviewing dozens of mobile golf apps and solutions, golf marketing and brand development agency, Eat Sleep Golf reveals their
The Steam Generator Irons website has announced that the new range of products are in stock and available to order. (PRWEB) July 20, 2013 The
- A handkerchief.
- Specifically— The legendary sweat-cloth; the handkerchief of St. Veronica, according to tradition miraculously impressed with the mask of Christ; also, the napkin about Christ's head (Johu xx. 7).
- In general, any miraculous portrait of Christ.


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GST too far
- PM Modi breaks silence on Raghuram Rajan's reappointment, says it shouldn't be of media's interest
- Kejriwal, Nitish witnesses Mamata's oath-taking ceremony at Kolkata's Red Road
- US asks Pakistan to cooperate with India on 26/11 probe
- Even if we could benefit from polarisation, we wouldn’t want to derive such benefits: Rajnath Singh
- Opinion: Muslims and RSS cannot afford to go on hating
Finance ministry has moved to address unresolved issues. Why does a roll-out still seem distant?
Will Finance Minister P. Chidambaram have adequate time to push through the Goods and Services Tax (GST) before the general election? The answer to this question will determine whether the two groups set up by the empowered committee of state finance ministers last week can be expected to make any reasonable progress soon. The issues these committees will be addressing have been hanging fire for several years. The disputes are over the extent of the compensation that should be given to state governments for replacing the Central sales tax levied on the inter-state movement of goods, and whether there should be a dispute settlement authority to resolve tax disputes between governments. In the run-up to the nationwide value added tax, the empowered committee was able to resolve all fractious issues. The setting up of the two sub-committees now shows that the consensual approach may not have worked. A key reason for this is the gradual erosion of commitment, on the part of the states and the Centre, to roll out the GST within an acceptable time-frame.
Acknowledging the states' grouse that their compensation has dried up since 2010-11, the finance minister has linked further payments to the setting up of a time-table for the GST roll-out. Whether this will work largely determines the subsequent step — the passage of a constitution amendment bill to allow the states to tax services and for the Centre to tax goods at the retail level. Despite these steps, however, it is still difficult to envisage how the GST can become operational by April 2013. Issues like the taxation of petroleum products are still pending. Since these products account for a sizeable percentage of the total excise collections, leaving them for resolution at a later stage will significantly curtail the benefits of the GST roll-out.
- Successful inflation targeting calls for more reform. Targeting Rajan is all too easy.
- Three years of Modi govt could be Indian economy's best since '96
- Pakistan will be the test-tube for the next jihad
- Modi government’s biggest achievement is the curbing of corruption
- It’s Akbar’s turn now and the victim, as always, is history
- Muslims and RSS cannot afford to go on hating


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VentureBeat presents: AI Unleashed – An exclusive executive event for enterprise data leaders. Hear from top industry leaders on Nov 15. Reserve your free pass
In a blog post yesterday about how personal AI agents will completely change how people use computers — just a few days after OpenAI announced its “baby steps” towards agents with its Assistants API — Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates said that personal AI agents will be a ‘shock wave’ in the tech industry and society.
“In the near future, anyone who’s online will be able to have a personal assistant powered by artificial intelligence that’s far beyond today’s technology,” he wrote. “Agents will be able to help with virtually any activity and any area of life. The ramifications for the software business and for society will be profound.”
Bill Gates already has skin in the personal AI game
What Gates does not mention in the post is that he already has some serious skin in the personal AI game: In an interview with Bill Gates this past May during a Goldman Sachs and SV Angel event on AI, Bill Gates said the first company to develop a personal agent to disrupt SEO would have a “leg up on competitors.”
“Whoever wins the personal agent, that’s the big thing, because you will never go to a search site again, you will never go to a productivity site, you’ll never go to Amazon again,” he said.
Don’t miss out on AI Unleashed on November 15! This virtual event will showcase exclusive insights and best practices from data leaders including Albertsons, Intuit, and more.
By June, Gates — along with Nvidia, Microsoft, Reid Hoffman and Eric Schmidt — had invested in Inflection AI as part of an eye-popping $1.3 billion funding round.
Gates had mentioned Inflection at a San Francisco event, saying that “it’s 50-50 as to whether the AI winner behind the digital agent will come from Big Tech or the startup world,” adding that he was “impressed with a couple of startups, including Inflection.”
Gates has been thinking about agents for nearly 30 years
At the time, Inflection AI had just launched Pi, which stands for “personal intelligence” and is meant to be “empathetic, useful and safe” — that is, acting more personally and colloquially than OpenAI’s GPT-4, Microsoft’s Bing or Google’s Bard, while not veering into the super-creepy.
While a chatbot like Pi is still far away from the kind of personal AI agent Bill Gates is imagining — and it’s not clear what other investments he is planning in the space — he obviously wants to be on the AI agent train as soon as it leaves the station. In fact, Gates said in the post that he has been “thinking about agents for nearly 30 years and wrote about them in my 1995 book The Road Ahead, but they’ve only recently become practical because of advances in AI.”
Now, he added, “agents are not only going to change how everyone interacts with computers. They’re also going to upend the software industry, bringing about the biggest revolution in computing since we went from typing commands to tapping on icons.”
In his new blog post, Gates discussed the technical challenges of agents, as well as privacy issues. But, he said, “agents are coming.” In the next few years, he concluded, “they will utterly change how we live our lives, online and off.”
VentureBeat’s mission is to be a digital town square for technical decision-makers to gain knowledge about transformative enterprise technology and transact. Discover our Briefings.


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From its very beginnings the pandemic has been inspiring the entrepreneurial spirit. As fast as the effects of global lockdowns and business closures began being felt, innovative solutions were springing to life.
It’s been a field of dreams for software developers, as the demand for contact-free commerce suddenly became the hot app that everyone needed to have. As early as March we saw the example of Polish delivery company Expert Transport teaming up with Netherlands-based Teina, a software developer, to create a voice-signing app that allows recipients to verbally acknowledge their deliveries. From idea to rollout took only a weekend.
Other examples are plentiful; we look at a few of them on page 13. From telematics to dock and yard management software, temperature scanning and contact tracing, technology developers have been at the forefront of meeting the Covid challenge.
But in this pandemic environment nimble innovation is not just the preserve of the guys who can code. It’s amazing to see the behemoths of manufacturing, auto makers, heavy industry suppliers, and logistics providers suddenly able to cut through their normal bureaucratic practices to turn on a dime.
We were lucky to get an interview with Ian Soutter who led General Motors Canada’s shift into making face masks for the Canadian government. As Soutter says in our feature (starting on page 16), when everyone in the entire company had the sole focus of getting a mask manufacturing line up and running in the least possible time, normal barriers just melted away. And that’s in a union shop, demonstrating how a common objective can unite parties who don’t always see eye to eye.
And GM is by no means alone in this success. Businesses that are thriving during the pandemic are the ones that have found news ways to achieve their goals. Whether that’s basic, like abandoning the requirement for in-person meetings, or profound, such as ditching old decision-making habits to speed things up, figuring out to do business differently is table stakes now.
The Covid-19 world is an environment where the bold, the unconventional and the direct are thriving. How has your organization seized the day?
Please drop me a note or look me up on LinkedIn.


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B$Z: EDELRID to Launch North American Subsidiary to Oversee Distribution
September 23, 2015
Building on rapid sales growth and increasing brand awareness in North America over the last three years, EDELRID, the German-based climbing, safety and outdoor gear manufacturer, will launch its own North American subsidiary starting in November.
EDELRID North America will oversee sales, marketing and distribution for the EDELRID brand in the U.S. and Canada. The company will be headquartered in a new facility in the Bend, OR, area, a location that will keep the company close to its roots in climbing. The business will have sports, safety and adventure park business divisions.
“Based on our growth trajectory over the last few years and increasing brand awareness in the North American market, moving forward with our own subsidiary is the logical next step for us,” said Carsten von Birckhahn, Brand Manager for EDELRID GmbH & Co.KG, the parent company to EDELRID North America. “Thanks to a strong partnership with SCARPA North America over the last three years, we’ve seen strengthening awareness of EDELRID and its level of innovation in the North American marketplace, and this move will help us continue to build on those gains.”
Based in Germany, where more than 60 percent of its production takes place, EDELRID builds ropes, carabiners, climbing harnesses, helmets and a variety of other climbing, recreation, safety and industrial gear. It also leads the way in developing equipment with sustainability at the forefront, including the first bluesign-certified rope and harness.
For the last three years, EDELRID has partnered with SCARPA North America, which has overseen sales, distribution and marketing for EDELRID from its Boulder, CO, headquarters and warehouse. SCARPA North America will continue to manage those functions for EDELRID through the end of October, when EDELRID’s new facility in Oregon will come online.For more information, contact Anne Leidenfrost at email@example.com.


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Cellphone users have been deluged by spam calls in recent years, but they’re not the only ones dealing with an onslaught of automated messaging.
Businesses with 1-800-style toll-free lines for sales and customer service have also seen bursts of unwanted calls that can not only tie up their lines but cost them money, since they typically pay the costs of incoming calls, according to the phone analytics company Invoca. But unlike the calls received by individual people, which might be trying to sell shady vacation deals or ensnare victims in scams, many of the calls to toll free numbers simply play bizarre clips of ambient noise or recordings of muffled conversations.
“A customer of ours kind of contacted us like, we’re getting weird phone calls, they don’t make any sense,” says James Brown, a senior manager of infrastructure and security at Invoca. “We don’t know why they’re coming in.”
That’s because the robocallers aren’t looking to make money by selling or stealing anything from the help desks and customer service lines they’re calling, he says. Instead, they’re looking to get a portion of the long distance charges paid by the owners of those toll-free numbers, through complicated multi-party billing systems that pay various companies involved in connecting the calls.
“If my carrier delivers a call, they charge me,” Brown says of the toll-free billing system. “If another carrier delivers it to that carrier, they charge them.”
With modern digital phone systems, it’s easier than ever for small companies to get into the business of interconnecting calls between larger carriers. And because companies can make money by being a part of that chain of connections between callers and toll-free lines, some offer incentives to customers and other carriers for sending 800-number traffic their way.
“Under our current rules, when a robocaller places a call, the carrier it uses will be compensated for originating the call,” Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai said in a statement last year. “And if the carrier has done a backroom deal with the robocaller, then the robocaller profits each and every time it makes a call.”
That naturally creates an incentive for fraudsters to drum up bogus traffic, playing whatever sounds it takes to keep operators or automated systems on the line as charges rack up, and not all phone companies work equally hard to keep spam off their network.
“Some of them will pop up and they will attempt to blend this fraudulent traffic into legitimate traffic or at least turn a blind eye to this kind of fraudulent traffic,” Brown says.
In some cases, according to a comment Verizon filed with the FCC about the issue, robocallers even deliberately press the pound sign periodically to cause toll-free services’ menus to loop, keeping them on the line to rack up charges.
“Sometimes, that will have no effect, and the call will soon time out,” according to the filing. “Sometimes, it may prolong the call for another 30 or 60 seconds. But sometimes, periodically hitting the ‘#’ key will send [a toll-free] call into an endless loop, generating minute after minute of originating access charges for the originating local exchange carrier, which has partnered with the caller to share the revenue.”
Once Invoca learned about the problem, it set up a kind of honeypot system with tens of thousands of essentially randomly created toll-free numbers. That let the company gather metadata about spam calls and record them as they came in, letting them gather information that individual phone line owners—who only know what’s coming to their systems—and carriers, who naturally can’t record calls bound for their customers, couldn’t collect on their own.
“The carriers really felt they were hamstrung,” says Brown. “They suspected there was a lot of fraud going on, but they had no way to identify which calls were fraudulent and which were not.”
Invoca helps its customers block bogus calls to their toll-free numbers and absorbs the cost of those that make it through. Brown says the company also shared data with the Federal Bureau of Investigation about the calls.
The FBI declined to comment, citing a policy of not discussing an ongoing investigation. A spokesperson said the FBI doesn’t specifically track toll-free-related call fraud but said anyone receiving scam calls should hang up immediately and report them to law enforcement.
The FCC is also considering ways to address the issue. Last year, the telecom regulator began seeking public comment on a proposal that would shift some of the charges involved in calling toll-free numbers from the called party’s carrier to that of the calling party. It’s won praise from many in the industry—”The FCC’s rulemaking proposals demonstrate it’s serious about curbing arbitrage and fixing the problem,” a Verizon spokesperson told Fast Company in an email—although some have expressed concern the particular changes proposed could lead to unexpected bills for consumers dialing 800 numbers.
“While consumers on unlimited mobile plans may not immediately feel the pinch of this proposal, the rest of us who lack them certainly will,” warned FCC Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel in a statement last year.
In the meantime, Brown says Invoca is ramping up its use of machine learning to help spot scammers based on data points from its growing set of fraudulent calls.
“We’re actually pretty excited,” he says. “We’re taking our honeypot to a whole new level.”


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Last year during the Super Bowl, Americans consumed almost as many chicken wings (1.25 billion) as the population of China (1.35 billion). And to think the chicken wing craze began at a modest Italian restaurant in Buffalo, NY.
That restaurant, the Anchor Bar, is now a bucket-list stop for foodies who want to eat chicken wings at the place they were “invented.” The late Frank and Teressa Bellissimo founded the Anchor Bar in 1935, which attracted a solid clientele for its Italian food. But something happened one late-winter Friday night in 1964 that would change the restaurant – and the entire food industry – forever.
That night, the Bellissimo’s son, Dominic, was tending bar when some buddies showed up to have a few drinks. They grew hungry and asked Dominic for something to eat – but something different and not on the menu. Dominic relayed the message to his mother, Teressa, who was in the kitchen. Teressa scanned the kitchen and spotted a box of large chicken wings that a meat supplier had delivered. She had planned to use the wings in a stock pot to make soup, but decided to feed the meaty wings to his friends. She cut them up, put them in a deep fryer and covered them with a spicy sauce. Then she put them on two plates garnished with celery sticks and bleu cheese and took them to Dominic at the bar.
Seeing the chicken wings – and thinking they were a bit peculiar – Dominic wondered how his friends would react to them. While they were also curious, his friends were too hungry to pass on them. And after biting into the wings they began squawking about how delicious they were.
Dominic’s friends returned again and again to eat the off-menu creation. Soon, others wanted to try them and there was talk of placing chicken wings on the menu. But Frank Bellissimo wanted nothing to do with putting such a low-level meat item on the menu, citing that people came to the Anchor Bar to eat fine, homemade Italian food. But, eventually, Bellissimo conceded to the crowing and agreed to list them, not realizing at the time that chicken wings would take his business to a level he never anticipated.
Fast-forward to October 2015. Ivano Toscani, the owner of the Anchor Bar, talks about how the eatery has become a destination for people all over the globe. Toscani jokes that Buffalo is known for three things: the four Super Bowls the Buffalo Bills lost consecutively in the 1990s, cold winter weather and chicken wings.
“Today, we sell about 2,000 lbs. of chicken wings a day,” Toscani says.
The 65-year-old Toscani, who became proprietor of the iconic restaurant just a few months ago, has worked there for 40 years. When he started, he was Frank’s assistant and learned the business inside out. Toscani says there are three vital components to making an awesome chicken wing: the right wings, the right oil and the right fryer.
“We use jumbo wings,” he adds. “But we don’t want them too big because the meat is tough.”
The Anchor Bar uses Frymaster fryers, which have been around since 1935. The wings are deep fried in vegetable oil at 350? F for 10 to 12 minutes before being tossed in one of the Anchor Bar’s original recipe sauces. The Anchor Bar charges $13 for 10 wings, $21 for 20 and $44 for 50. Toscani remembers when the wholesale price of wings was 40 cents per lb. Today, he pays over $2 per lb.
Toscani says it took about 10 years for chicken wings to catch on throughout the country after their debut at the Anchor Bar. But he never thought they would become such a culinary rage. According to Nielsen Perishables Group, Americans consumed about 543 million lbs. of chicken wings for the 52 weeks ending Nov. 29, 2014, an increase of about 4 percent from the previous year.
Toscani is amazed at what has transpired. He thinks back to that winter night in 1964 when Teressa created one of modern culture’s most popular finger foods by…well…winging it – and revolutionizing the poultry industry and the food industry in the process.


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Here at our firm, we take the safety of our friends and clients seriously. That’s why we want drivers to always stay on top of auto recalls that impact their vehicles. But what about recalls that impact their rides? Are Lyft and Uber drivers keeping track of the recalls that impact their cars as well as they should?
According to official statistics, only about a quarter of vehicles with open recalls are fixed. That means that the odds of getting a ride in a Lyft or Uber car that may have an open recall are high.
Instead of ignoring these odds, it’s important that riders are doing all they can to ensure this issue is addressed. But how?
A recent article covering this very topic shows that drivers who work with Uber and Lyft lack information on recalls. When asked to comment on the subject, a spokesperson for Uber says that drivers are required to follow strict guidelines. That means that motorists get an advisory that suggest drivers to stay up-to-date on recall information. Despite of this advisory, there isn’t a follow-up, drivers say. So if the car you’re riding has an explosive air bag or another serious issue that could lead to major injury, the company is not making sure drivers are aware.
Drivers who work with Lyft and Uber are required to keep their cars well-maintained, but many would like to see more involvement and care coming from the companies. Until then, drivers should be concerned about open recalls related to issues that could be potentially deadly. Like the Takata-related air bag recalls that affect millions of vehicles across the country. Since the air bags in these recalled vehicles come with inflators that may explode mid-deployment, parts of metal may impact drivers and passengers, increasing the risk of serious and potentially deadly injuries.
If we may give you a piece of advice — whether you’re a ride-sharing car driver or a rider — is to keep an eye out for recalled vehicles. Pressure your drivers to know more or check your car’s VIN on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s website to check for any open recalls.


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Online retailer launches credit card
By UK CreditCards.com
Play.com customers are now able to take advantage of a loyalty scheme from the online retailer, through a credit card launched 20 May.
The card offers consumers the chance to collect PlayPoints, which can then be redeemed on some of the 8m goods Play.com has to offer. A customer who spends one pound with the card will receive one PlayPoint -- double if they use the card on Play.com itself.
"We are very excited about the launch of our Play.com credit card this year," said Stuart Rowe, the firm's chief operating officer. "The Play.com card will be another way of rewarding our customers for their ongoing loyalty."
Play.com was launched in 1998 and the Jersey-based firm was one of the first online retailers to target the UK market, selling all kinds of goods from CDs to clothes.
According to Verdict Research, Play.com was Britain's second favourite media retailer at the beginning of the year.
Published: 26 May 2009
- With Android Pay on the horizon, here's what you need to know – Android Pay, Google's mobile wallet, is set to launch in the UK in summer 2016. Here's what you need to know about the service, its compatible devices and its security ahead of its debut ...
- Credit card instalment plans:
Affordable alternative to high-interest borrowing – Sometimes, an emergency comes up and you need to make a big purchase, and your credit card is your only funding option. But with high interest, it can be costly. Thanks to new instalment plans, though, you may be able to get a better deal ...
- Biometrics aim to make payments more secure – PINs are great for payment authentication, but thieves still find ways to access information. Issuers and payments processors are turning to biometrics to amp up security ...


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A local organic farm in Nisku hosted open tours for the community on Aug. 14 and 15.
Annelida Organics participated in Alberta Open Farms Days this year as the first and only worm farm. It hosted tours from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. at the Nisku facility. Annelida is Canada’s largest worm farm, and stands for sustainability, waste reduction and growth. Its unique name is derived from the scientific term used for worms, Annelida.
Annelida’s first facility opened in February 2019. In January 2021, Annelida took occupancy of its third facility, a bagging facility for a packaging plant.
“Annelida is committed to producing organic biostimulants by diverting organic material from landfills to create its Premium Earthworm Castings, in both granular and extracts forms,” said Michael Launer, CEO, during the tour.
Launer takes pride in sharing the fact that Annelida is scripting a greener story of the team re-diverting thousands of pounds of produce waste a day and preventing it from ending up in landfills.
Annelida picks up items from local food banks, Freson Brothers and expired produce and coffee grounds from Starbucks and other businesses. They also pick up wood chips, horse manure from stables and anything that may otherwise end up in the landfill. The organic matter is then fed to the worms to repurpose the waste.
“It is a full circle picture that reduces waste and encourages people to reduce the use of their conventional and synthetic fertilizers,” Launer said.
Annelida premium earthworm castings are OMRI listed, and third-party tested to ensure the company stays true to its commitment.
Kym Ducherer, the agricultural account manager and lead organics, shared that not many people know about worm farming, and many aren’t aware of worm castings.
“I don’t know who came up with the word ‘casting’ for worm poop, [but] it’s exciting to have such a good turnout and be able to show everybody what we do,” Ducherer said.
Annelida hopes to help the community by educating and creating awareness about waste reduction and green energy initiatives, and through partnerships with educational institutions, such as post-secondary schools, for research projects.
“We give out worm kits to students at schools because it is part of the Grade 4 curriculum, so a lot of teachers do reach out to us to learn,” said Peggy Sanders, outside sales and business development manager.
In two years, Annelida has come far in its mission to connect with the community to provide a healthier environment and premium quality organic products.
“The tour was very informative, and it was an excellent experience,” said tour participant Terry Csandel. Csandel produces worm compost at her home and wanted to add to her knowledge through the tour.
Launer encourages the community to “be a part of the overall green community and enhance farming agricultural practices to reduce chemicals and choose all-natural.”
For more details, visit annelida.ca.


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2large projects for a
total amount of
111 million rubles
6land plots with an
area of 13.5 hectares
19large projects with a total
amount of 30 billion rubles
were implemented during the
period of 2010-2021 years
8large projects with a total
amount of 12.76 billion rubles
are being implemented currently
25 November 2022Tuapse District plans to implement a promising project in the consumer sector
The entrepreneurs are offered to invest into the construction of an administrative & utility facility.
30 September 2022“The Krasnodar Krai economy continues its growth strategy,” says Alexey Yurtaev
The Minister of Economy of the Krasnodar Krai talked about the preliminary forecast for the social and economic development of the region at the business forum «Southern strategy: sustainability or growth?».
20 September 2022Kuban enterprises to present their products at the largest food exhibition WorldFood Moscow
The international exhibition of food, drinks and raw materials for their production will be held between 20 and 23 September at Crocus Expo in Moscow.


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Sony just released its earnings for the its first quarter, and it actually shocked a lot of investors and analysts. Despite the slowing gaming market, it posted record earnings thanks to its image sensor division. However, that may not be something that Sony can get used to and count on for the second quarter.
Some analysts are warning that Sony could be susceptible to the Huawei ban, when it comes to its image sensor division. This is because Huawei is a major image sensor client for Sony – which makes sense, seeing as Huawei is one of the largest smartphone vendors in the world right now.
While Sony is not a US-based company, the ban could mean that Huawei will be building and selling less smartphones in the second half of the year. Which would mean that Huawei is buying less sensors from Sony. Keep in mind that Huawei’s flagship cameras do have about six cameras total now (four on the back and up to two on the front). So Huawei not buying Sony sensors is actually a really big deal.
Huawei did also announce its own earnings for the previous quarter, which saw smartphone shipments rise about 24-percent in the first half of the year.
Analysts at Jeffries are estimating that Huawei has accounted for about 15-20 percent of Sony’s image sensor revenue for the previous year. Which isn’t a small amount, but it may not kill Sony’s revenue in that division as much as some might think.
Sony’s image sensor division is actually pretty big. Some might think that it’s just an image sensor, which is true. But the thing to remember is that almost every phone on the market, uses a Sony sensor on their cameras. Samsung and Apple are basically the only exceptions here. Samsung does use Sony in some markets and uses its own ISOCELL sensors in others.
The division posted about 49.5 billion yen in the quarter. That’s up from 29.1 billion yen in the previous quarter. Meanwhile the gaming division’s profit dropped about 9.6 billion yen. That’s not a big surprise, but it is a big deal for Sony. Gaming is starting to slow now, as many are awaiting the next-generation consoles. But gaming is also Sony’s most profitable division. The good news is that another division was able to pick up the slack.
As a whole, Sony announced operating profit of about 230.93 billion yen (or about $2.1 billion USD) for the quarter. That’s up 18.4-percent from the same period a year ago. Analysts were expecting operating profit of around 173.61 billion yen, so it definitely surpassed expectations.
The Huawei ban is affecting more than just Huawei and its US partners. As we see here, it may also affect Sony, which is a Japanese company, if it is making less smartphones and buying less sensors from Sony. Though only time will tell whether that is actually what happens with Sony and Huawei. The ban has supposedly been lifted, but US companies are still not able to work with the company. The temporary permit to work with these companies does expire in a couple of weeks too.


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Shares of high-speed trading company Virtu rise in debut
Shares of high-speed trading company Virtu Financial Inc. rose nearly 17 percent in their stock market debut Thursday.
The New York company uses high-speed computers to buy and sell stocks, bonds and other assets. So-called high-frequency trading firms look to get a jump on competitors by using computers to analyze market data, and executing buy and sell orders in milliseconds. Complex super-fast computers and algorithms now account for a majority of stock trading volume.
High-speed trading has been under scrutiny by the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission and other agencies. A 2014 book, "Flash Boys" by Michael Lewis, focused on the practice's potential to give some firms an unfair advantage.
Virtu's shares are listed on the Nasdaq under the ticker symbol "VIRT." They rose $3.18 to close at $22.18 Thursday. They crossed $23 earlier in the day.
© 2015 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.


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Apple CEO Tim Cook is in New York City on Friday, and during his trip, he will reportedly meet with Margrethe Vestager, the European Commissioner for Competition.
Vestager is currently in New York City for the United Nations General Assembly. She also recently gave a keynote address at the Fordham University's annual Conference on International Antitrust Law and Policy on Friday.
A source familiar with the meeting told MacRumors that it would take place, but it isn't clear what topics Cook and Vestager will discuss.
Back in April, the European Union said that Apple was in breach of competition laws. Specifically, the EU claimed that Apple Music was unfairly advantaged compared to other streaming services that must pay Apple's 30% commission.
The EU competition chief has previously called out Apple for alleged anticompetitive practices. Vestager has also criticized Apple defending its App Store practices with arguments that the company affords a higher level of security and privacy to its users.
Although the existence of the meeting between Cook and Vestager could not be independently confirmed, Cook was in New York on Friday. In fact, the CEO has been documenting his trip to New York on Twitter, highlighting a visit to the Apple SoHo retail location and the International Center of Photography, as well as a meeting with the founders of the Shine app.


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Google's latest Pixel phones will soon be able to take timelapse videos of the night sky, thanks to a new "Astrotimelapse" feature.
The latest version of the Google Camera app, which debuted with the Pixel 5, is now starting to roll out to older Pixel phones.
Google has started rolling out a new version of its Camera app on the Play Store for Pixel phones. Google Camera 7.4 adds a new quick toggle to switch between 4K and Full HD (1080p) resolutions.
Google Camera added a few silent features with its 7.2 update, including document scanning and the ability to copy or translate text within the app.
Google camera mods aren’t anything new, but this update will make your older Googe Pixel phone feel like a Pixel 4, including that fancy new astrophotography mode.
The leaked Frequent Faces feature in Google Camera shows that Google is working on a way to automatically focus on people you take photos of frequently.
Google Camera 7.1 is the latest update of the Google Camera app, and it brings along some new features such as Social Share, Framing hints, Astrophotography, a redesigned UI, and more.
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Amazon has 7964 Republic Frigate marked down 30%, down to $83.96. With the summer LEGO Star Wars wave hitting store shelves, it’s a good time to pick up this set as it will soon be discontinued.
This entry was posted
on Tuesday, July 10th, 2012 at 8:15 am and is filed under LEGO Star Wars, Sales News.
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Laura Harders used to spend weeks perfecting her Black Friday shopping strategy. She’d study advertising circulars, then draw up a blow-by-blow plan for hitting the best sales, enlisting friends to help.
But this year, she is forgoing the long lines and early morning wake-up call in favor of shopping online from her home in Manassas.
“I considered going to the stores,” said Harders, who runs the blog Beltway Bargain Mom. “But then I thought, why would I? I can get great deals online without having to run out and fight over items on the shelf.”
Customers like Harders have big-box retailers — including Target, Best Buy, Wal-Mart and Toys R Us — stumped and pulling out all the stops to lure shoppers out of their homes.
“With brick-and-mortar stores, you have to pay rent, you have to pay your bills, so companies are starting to say, ‘Wait, how do you get more people in our stores?’ ” said Trae Bodge of RetailMeNot.com, a Web site that specializes in online coupons and discounts.
Target has begun offering free WiFi to help customers access the company’s mobile app and online coupons. J.C. Penney is giving away free family portraits throughout November, as well as complimentary haircuts to children attending elementary school, a promotion the company started in August.
And Wal-Mart and Best Buy have promised to match online competitors’ prices in an effort to combat “showrooming” — the practice of scouting out items in retail stores, then buying them online for lower prices.
“We’re taking showrooming head on,” said Amy von Walter, a spokeswoman for Best Buy. “Anytime someone comes into our store, it’s an opportunity for us to make a sale.”
Last year, Best Buy began placing company-specific bar codes on its products to make it difficult for customers to quickly scan an item and compare prices. But it estimates that about 15 percent of customers still go into Best Buy with the sole intention of checking out products they plan to buy from a competitor’s Web site, von Walter said. The figure is up a couple of percentage points from last year.
Experts say showrooming is on the rise. A survey by IDC Retail Insights found that about 20 percent of shoppers — more than twice as many as last year — plan to “showroom” this year.
“Retailers can’t deny it anymore,” said Renato Scaff, an executive partner at Accenture. “Amazon has taken the fight, literally, into its competitors’ stores.”
At the same time, showrooming has become easier with a proliferation of smartphone apps. In the fall, Amazon.com released Price Check, an app that encourages customers to scan bar codes from competitors’ stores and compare prices with those on Amazon’s Web site. Ebay and Google have released similar apps.
“There are more apps, the apps are better, more consumers have smartphones,” said Richard A. Feinberg, a professor of consumer sciences and retailing at Purdue University. “Last year, it was insignificant. But this year, stores are paying attention.”
Online sales are expected to grow 12 percent this holiday season compared with last year, to as much as $96 billion. That far outpaces the 4.1 percent increase in overall retail sales expected through the holiday season, according to the National Retail Federation. Overall, online holiday sales are expected to make up nearly half of the $210 billion projected to be spent online this year.
To close that gap, retailers are increasingly finding ways to blur the lines between in-store and online shopping. Target has outfitted 20 of its most popular toys with QR codes that shoppers can scan in-store to buy the item and have it shipped directly to their homes. The Container Store is offering free in-store pickups for orders placed online. And at Kmart and Sears, shoppers can use layaway to buy items both in-store and online.
Wal-Mart customers in Northern Virginia also can opt for same-day delivery.
Not everyone prefers online shopping, though. One recent Sunday afternoon, Jesse Alston, 21, was looking for music-editing software at the Best Buy in Columbia Heights. Before coming to the store, Alston — who said he prefers to buy items in-store because of security issues online — had checked out Best Buy’s Web site at home to ensure that the item was in stock.
“I usually check both sites: the store’s, to see if it’s available, and Amazon,” Alston said. “If it’s cheaper on Amazon, I might bite the bullet and buy it online.”


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Samsung only revealed a couple of tablets in Barcelona, holding out on its biggest announcement for a separate event to be held toward the end of March. They've already teased at the reveal and it's pretty obvious that it's going to be the Samsung Galaxy S8. Ahead of that, though, perennial leaker Evan @evleaks Blass took to Twitter to show us "what you've been waiting for."
The tweet, embedded below, shows off the Galaxy S8 in exactly the form we're expecting it to take on. The physical home button is gone, the dual curved display is back, and the top and bottom bezels look thinner than ever. It's like they took the Galaxy S7 edge and simply chopped off part of the chin.
I think this is what you've been waiting for. pic.twitter.com/FvYfsLOy0R
— Evan Blass (@evleaks) March 1, 2017


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believes passionately in leading the way in the Future of Mobility and bringing joy to all people. Describes in detail its “Multiple Pathway” strategy to simultaneously provide “Mobility for All” and reach carbon neutrality.
The “Toyota 60th Anniversary Celebration in Thailand” was held on Wednesday, 14 December 2022, at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Center, and was presided over by Mr. Akio Toyoda, President & CEO of Toyota Motor Corporation, and Mr. Noriaki Yamashita, President of Toyota Motor Thailand Co. Ltd. Mr. Supattanapong Punmeechaow, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Energy of Thailand, was among the many notable visitors who attended the celebration and offered their congratulations on the outstanding landmark. Through this invitation-only event, the firm emphasized its goals of making Thailand a major hub for the production of vehicles, especially electrified vehicles, and of reaching “Carbon Neutrality” by capitalizing on Thailand’s existing assets.
Since its founding on October 5, 1962, Toyota Motor Thailand Co., Ltd. (TMT) has contributed to the growth and development of the Thai automotive industry through initiatives like the improvement of the supply chain, the introduction of new business investments, and the maintenance of regular production of automobiles. More than seven million vehicles have been sold since its introduction. More than 5 million pieces have been exported to markets around the world, and the company has actively contributed to establishing Thailand as a major export hub. The corporation has made it a priority to improve the quality of life of Thai people through social development and innovative projects, in addition to its role in the automobile sector.
In celebration of its 60th year in business in Thailand, the firm detailed its realistic and long-term strategy for reaching “Carbon Neutrality.” Toyota, a “full line-up maker of electrified vehicles,” has presented its “Multiple Pathway” strategies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions rapidly and broadly while maintaining its commitment to “Mobility for All,” its program to improve access to economic and social opportunities for all people. Toyota has created all the electrified and alternative energy technologies to provide a practical green choice for everyone, taking into account the diversity in every country, including from consumer consumption needs, purchasing power, energy mix, infrastructure readiness, and industry capabilities. Hybrid electric vehicles, plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, battery electric vehicles, and fuel cell electric vehicles are all examples of vehicles with electrified drive trains. Additionally, a prototype battery-electric pickup truck (Hilux Revo BEV Concept) was displayed, as pick-ups account for more than half of the Thai market. Toyota revealed the Hydrogen Internal Combustion Engines Vehicle (HICEV) prototype for the first time in Asia as part of its many routes approach, taking into account the diversity and dependence of automotive company towards 12% of Thailand’s GDP. This hints at the future and echoes Toyota’s conviction that expanding rather than contracting consumer alternatives is the best approach to reach Carbon Neutrality. Over 800,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide have been avoided, which is the same as planting 97,000 rai of land or over 2.4 million trees, thanks to Toyota’s electrified vehicle sales in Thailand to date.


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Seattle Storm Star Sue Bird. (File Photo via Neil Enns / Seattle Storm)
Add the WNBA to the list of professional sports leagues Amazon wants to showcase through its Prime Video streaming platform.
Amazon and the WNBA have entered into a multi-year agreement that grants Prime Video exclusive global streaming rights to 16 WNBA games per season. The deal will include one streamed game every week during the regular season plus the first Commissioner’s Cup game on August 12th.
This is the first time Prime Video has exclusive global streaming rights to a professional women’s sports league. When coverage begins for the Atlanta Dream-New York Liberty game on May 29, it will be the first time Amazon has exclusive international streaming rights to Amazon a professional basketball game.
Amazon already has contracts with the NFL to stream Thursday Night Football and Seattle Sounders FC to stream that team’s MLS games. Prime Video is also the home of Premier League football. Now Amazon is set to add the league that includes four-time champions Seattle Storm, with the team’s hometown games broadcast on June 4th, August 20th and September 2nd.
“The WNBA is one of the leading professional sports leagues in the world, inspiring millions of young and emerging athletes everywhere,” said Marie Donoghue, vice president of Global Sports Video at Amazon, in a statement. “I am very excited that we are bringing these great athletes and games to Prime Video.”
The WNBA for Prime Video will be available on compatible devices as part of a Prime membership.
Here is the schedule for the 2021 WNBA games on Prime Video:
- Saturday, May 29 – Atlanta @ New York, 2 p.m. ET
- Friday, June 4th – Dallas @ Seattle, 10 p.m. ET
- Saturday, June 12 – Chicago @ Indiana, 1 p.m. ET
- Wednesday, June 16 – Phoenix @ Los Angeles, 10:30 p.m. ET
- Tuesday, June 22 – Chicago @ New York, 7 p.m. ET
- Wednesday, June 30 – Las Vegas @ Los Angeles, 10:30 p.m. ET
- Thursday, July 1 – Connecticut @ Indiana, 7 p.m. ET
- Wednesday, July 7th – Phoenix @ Las Vegas, 10 p.m. ET
- Saturday, July 10 – Washington @ Chicago, 8 p.m. ET
- Tuesday, August 17 – Minnesota @ Connecticut, 7 p.m. ET
- Friday, August 20 – Seattle @ New York, 7 p.m. ET
- Thursday, Aug. 26 – Dallas @ Washington, 7 p.m. ET
- Tuesday, August 31 – New York @ Minnesota, 8 p.m. ET
- Thursday, September 2 – New York @ Seattle, 10 p.m. ET
- Tuesday, September 7 – Connecticut @ Dallas, 8 p.m. ET
- Thursday, September 16 – Los Angeles @ Atlanta, 7 p.m. ET


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October 9th, 2023
Mark Hedin Named President of Gemstar Manufacturing
Hedin will continue to support investments in innovation and technology to support the growing protective hard cases and custom parts solutions markets.
Cannon Falls, Minnesota – Gemstar Manufacturing has named Mark Hedin as President to continue to drive the company’s growth after significant advancements in product offerings, manufacturing capabilities, and capacity.
Gemstar Manufacturing, headquartered in Cannon Falls, Minnesota, has been a solutions-focused manufacturer of protective hard cases and custom OEM parts for 60 years. Gemstar’s full-service manufacturing capabilities include industry-leading, vertically integrated manufacturing processes, a fully staffed engineering team, in-house tooling and testing, 5-axis routing, and full-service finishing.
Hedin has championed for the continued investment in the Gemstar brand as it continues to fuel growth and increase its market share in the hardcases and custom parts industry segments. Hedin, who led the Gemstar sales efforts from 2004 to 2007, returned to the company in 2014 as Gemstar’s President of Operations. In 2018, he joined the leadership team of Gemstar’s parent company, Gemini, as Vice President of Sales for both divisions. In 2022, Hedin was named Business Leader of Gemstar in addition to his sales responsibilities with Gemini.
Optimizing Technological Investments Through Strong Leadership
The recent appointment of Hedin as President of Gemstar exemplifies the organizational growth and continued investment in the Gemstar division. Among these investments is Gemstar’s exclusive Robomold® technology. This technology provides precision custom part solutions with fully automated capabilities, allowing Gemstar to produce cutting-edge part solutions, such as unique geometries and multi-layer products not available in conventional rotational molding. Gemstar is proud to be the first manufacturer in the United States to offer robotic rotational molding.
Over the two years, Gemstar has developed and released more than 115 new hard case sizes and configurations, has doubled its manufacturing facility, invested in two new rotational molding ovens, and just recently brough in a new 5-axis machine in addition to its current equipment.
Gemstar Manufacturing is an engineering-based solutions provider with more than 55 years of manufacturing experience and knowledge. The company is a family-owned business supported internally by long-term employees. The firm’s history is rooted in custom manufacturing and the dedication of a customer-centric organization. Gemstar’s mission is “To test the limits of plastic manufacturing and exceed the expectations of customers.”


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The 2012 North American International Auto Show has been about concept cars, as some of the world’s biggest brands have used the event to showcase their latest designs to the public.
The biggest of them all, General Motors, is leading the way with two new Chevrolet models: the Code 130 R and the Tru 140S sports vehicle.
The Code features a rear-wheel drive, aggressive front fascia and large fender flares, while the Tru is a thee-door hatchback with sweeping lines and is "designed to look confident, exotic, expensive and fast."
Both cars are aimed at the under 30-market, which represents 40 percent of today’s potential car-buying public.
GM has already taken over the global market, surpassing Volkswagen and Toyota and regain the title as the world’s top-selling automaker thanks to strong sales in the U.S. and China. The Detroit-based company, which lost the crown to Toyota in 2008 after holding it for more than seven decades, sold an estimated 9 million cars and trucks in 2011, at least 800,000 more than its German and Japanese rivals.
Both the Code 130 and the Tru 140S may sell for as low as the $20,000s, although Chevrolet will begin a tour of major auto shows and college campuses in a bid to gather further input before a decision on production is made.
Despite losing the coveted top spot in worldwide sales, Toyota scored a huge moral victory in Detroit on Monday by stealing the show with its Lexus LF-LC sports coupe.
Signalling a new direction for the brand, the all-new design pushes Lexus further into sports car territory and could provide a rival for established names such as Porsche if approved for production.
With a low profile, large wheels and futuristic running lights, the LF-LC is clearly designed for 'serious' drivers, with quad exhaust pipes and tail lamps inspired by a jet afterburner at takeoff.
The model is currently a hybrid, Lexus says, although no performance indicators were offered with the rear-wheeled car.
Inside, Lexus has included race-inspired front seats and a racing-style steering wheel, along with twin 12.3-inch LCD displays and high-tech touchscreen surfaces to control the windows, mirrors and seat adjustments.
Honda has unveiled a concept version of its NSX supercar at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit.
The US arm of the Japanese automaker showcased the Acura NSX January 9, confirming that the concept was a preview of a new NSX model destined for production within the next three years.
That means that the NSX, regarded by many as one of the best performance cars ever produced, could be reborn by 2015 -- albeit with some new twists.
The NSX concept showcased at Detroit employed several new technologies, including a hybrid all-wheel drive system alongside the V6 direct-injection engine.
The decision is unlikely to go down well with racing purists, but Honda boss Takanobu Ito, the man behind the original NSX supercar, told the audience that "in this new era, even as we focus on the fun to drive spirit of the NSX, I think a supercar must respond positively to environmental responsibilities."
The NSX was the highest-profile debut in a set of launches by Honda's Acura brand, which has had a difficult 2011 and desperately needs to win back luxury market share from competitors such as Lexus and Audi.
Also unveiled was the new RDX, a crossover SUV which should hit showrooms later this year with a 3.5-liter V6 engine more powerful than its predecessor and a prediction that the front-wheel drive models will offer the best fuel economy of gasoline SUVs in their class.
The ILX Concept also made an appearance, ahead of its launch as a compact entry-level luxury sedan in Spring this year.
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