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The University of California, Berkley has released a new study linking a mother’s bisphenol-A (BPA) consumption with her newborn son’s thyroid problems. “This is one more study in the accumulating evidence that taking steps to avoid BPA would be prudent,” says Tracey Woodruff, director of the University of California, San Francisco’s Program on Reproductive Health and the Environment. Though she was not involved in the study, she cited the study’s examination of BPA’s effect on pregnant women as especially critical.
BPA Exposure Leading to Overactive Thyroid
Study author Jonathan Chevrier of UC Berkley’s Center for Environmental Research and Children’s Health (CERCH) and his team of researchers found that a pregnant mother’s BPA consumption affected her baby’s thyroid. Although girls’ thyroid levels showed no notable changes, boys whose mothers doubled their BPA intake during pregnancy had a 9.9 percent decrease in thyroid stimulating hormone, which means their thyroids were overactive. (Girls, however, did have higher levels of an enzyme crucial to BPA metabolization.)
Protecting Yourself Against BPA
This goes to show that the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) ban of BPA from baby bottles earlier this year isn’t enough, and greater steps need to be taken in order to curb exposure on a population-wide scale.
BPA is a “gender bending” hormone that mimics estrogen and wreaks havoc on the endocrine system. It is found in nearly everything from paper money to receipts, plastic toys to food containers, canned food to dental fillings.
BPA is ubiquitous in our environment, says Kim Harley, associate director of the CERCH. Over 90 percent of women within reproductive age have noticeable levels of BPA in their urine, and the implications are greater than big businesses and even government officials want you to know. In fact, it has been linked the following conditions (and more) in several studies:
- Fertility defects in males
- Reproductive problems in females
- Hyperactivity and depression
- Breast cancer
Luckily there are numerous ways to avoid BPA exposure and to even detox your body from the harmful chemical. Read here for ways to naturally reverse BPA’s effects on your body.


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The Harvard Social Enterprise Conference, named among the top 12 most influential and exclusive executive gatherings by Forbes.com, took place this past weekend, on the heels of President Obama’s education reform announcement on Friday.
HP, a partner in the President’s Educate to Innovate program, was front and center at the event, which brought together more than 1,200 influencers, social entrepreneurs and students for a discussion on driving sustainable change as it related to key issues such as education.
Gabi Zedlmayer, vice president of global social innovation, HP, was part of the 2011 speaker line-up and discussed educating the entrepreneurs of tomorrow. Gabi highlighted the importance of arming future entrepreneurs with the business and technology skills needed to start and run a successful venture. (You can see her presentation at the bottom of this post).
“Small-business pioneers are the key to creating new jobs and boosting economies across the globe, yet many aspiring entrepreneurs are lacking the skills needed to launch and build these businesses. We’re committed to providing educators, students and young entrepreneurs with the knowledge and tools necessary to address challenges in their communities and around the world,” said Zedlmayer.
A couple examples of HP’s education-focused programs include:
- HP Learning Initiative for Entrepreneurs (HP LIFE) helps build skills and channel the inventive spirit of the world’s aspiring entrepreneurs; to date, HP has invested more than $20 million in the program which has impacted more than half a million entrepreneurs. HP LIFE consists of a series of community training centers in more than 45 countries with low-income areas, high unemployment rates and limited access to job opportunities, with the goal of building IT and business skills among social innovators.
- HP also recently joined President Obama’s Startup America coalition. The coalition is recognizing both HP LIFE and HP Startup Central, a collaborative ecosystem of technology incubators, investor communities and entrepreneur support organizations which fuels innovation and business growth for startups, as founding entities.
- The Catalyst initiative is another program focused on giving the next generation of entrepreneurs a strong foundation in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) through the development of a worldwide network of STEM experts and educators.
You can read more about HP’s initiatives in social innovation here.

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Beyoncé has been entangled in a legal battle with Wendy Morales over trademarking her daughter’s name, “Blue Ivy Carter.” Morales believes that Beyoncé shouldn’t be allowed to trademark “Blue Ivy” because she has an event planning business of the same name.Beyoncé and Morales have been locked in a dispute over the trademark for years. Bey has been trying to get the trademark to her daughter’s name, but Morales claims she had already been using it. They are scheduled to head to trial in the case.
In the newly filed documents, Beyoncé argues her case for being granted the trademark. She even throws a little shade towards Morales in the process.
Beyoncé says Morales claim that, “that consumers are likely to be confused between a boutique wedding event planning business and Blue Ivy Carter, the daughter of two of the most famous performers in the world, is frivolous and should be refused in its entirety.” Beyoncé points out her trademark application is for “Blue Ivy Carter” NOT “Blue Ivy”.
She says, “the presence of the word “CARTER” ties the commercial impression of BGK’s Mark to the celebrity Blue Ivy Carter rather than Opposer’s regional event planning business.”
Beyoncé says Morales runs a “small business, with just three regional offices and a handful of employees”, with weak online presence and poorly subscribed social media accounts.


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Blog: Beam Inc defends "unconventional" bee campaign
Andy Morton | 28 August 2013
In a blog last week, I highlighted Beam Inc's new campaign to raise awareness for the fight to combat a global decline in honey bee numbers.
I also questioned Beam's wisdom in using humour (the Jim Beam Honey campaign has drafted in fictional Seinfeld lawyer Jackie Chiles to “sue the bears” for stealing honey) over what is a serious environmental issue.
The folk behind the campaign are keen to point out that their unconventional approach is not intended to make light of the matter. Instead, it is to get the attention of Jim Beam Honey's target markets of 20-something males in an “engaging and entertaining way”.
(The US$25,000 that Beam has set aside to fund a research project into falling bee numbers is certainly serious enough.)
The campaign last week was given a bit more context with the launch of its second online video, see below, starring Chiles and his fight to make the bears pay for their pilfering.
So, hats off to Beam for this push and, if I may be flippant for a moment, thanks for reversing one devastating loss - it has been 15 years since we saw Chiles and his idiosyncratic approach to the law in the final episode of the popular show.
Welcome back, Jackie. We missed you.
Stock Spirits hosted a visit to its production facility in Poland earlier this week, with just-drinks joining a group of analysts on an early-morning flight to the south-eastern city of Lublin....
It has been about two years since Heineken sponsored the 23rd James Bond movie, Skyfall. Remember when the brewer scored a huge marketing coup by arranging a scene in which the British super spy takes...
Part of a sainted tradition or a waste of a perfectly good whisky? That was the question some may have been asking when Queen Elizabeth II launched the Royal Navy's newest vessel in Scotland today (4 ...
The CEO of PepsiCo has acknowledged that the US is seeing a "profound" change in eating and drinking habits, but suggested the media and bloggers are partly to blame for a mistrust of food and drinks ...
Insomniac radio listeners may have heard me on the BBC World Service this morning, discussing the launch of baijiu in the US....
Heaven Hill Distilleries has acquired the Domaine de Canton Ginger Liqueur brand for an undisclosed sum....
Check out this infographic courtesy of FinancesOnline.com, which looks at the state of beer brands and prices around the world....
- Analysis - SABMiller to add bolt-ons in Africa?
- India: Everyone's Favourite Spirits Market
- A-B InBev's Move on Tennent's Super Makes Sense
- Brand Diversification Driving Craft Brewery Growth
- Comment - SABMiller and Diageo: A Tie-Up Too Far
- Diageo scraps Arthur's Day, but singer left sad
- SodaStream silent on John Lewis pullout in UK
- William Grant sinks GBP185,000 into "No" camp
- PepsiCo CEO sees "profound" change in US consumers
- SABMiller launches Grolsch in a jar - video


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Weekly Roundup #24: Travel, Tech and Social Media
Happy Friday, everyone! You know why you’re here: our Weekly Roundup is the perfect way of ending the week and here you can get your fresh dose of news and stories from the hospitality industry. As usual, we have selected the best and most interesting ones, so make sure to take a look and enjoy the read!
Until next week, we wish you a great, sunny weekend!
Let’s start with that piece of news that was the most relevant and exciting for us this week. Recruit Holdings Co., Ltd has acquired our company, with the goal to further invest in the international hospitality and travel market. This marks a major milestone for us and results in increased opportunities for growth across the globe. Through this investment, customers and partners will benefit from broader and faster product development as well as optimized customer service and account management.
Our friends from AccorHotels Group have recently announced a collaboration with another partner of ours, IDeaS Revenue Solutions. This will enable the AccorHotels Group’s properties to rely on IDeaS’ revenue optimization expertise. IDeaS, the leading provider of automated revenue management capabilities, is one of the most trusted hospitality technology solution providers in the world, working with more than 9,000 properties. With IDeaS, each AccorHotels property will be able to intelligently price rooms through the use of advanced SAS®analytics and the IDeaS suite of user-friendly, cloud-based technology.
According to a new report by the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), the global Travel & Tourism sector directly sustains twice as many jobs as the financial sector, and five times as many jobs as the chemicals manufacturing sector. The WTTC Benchmarking Report 2017 compares Travel & Tourism to eight other sectors, which are considered to have similar breadth and global presence, across 27 countries and six regions.
Trends and Insights
We are very excited for this new project that we have been working on, along with our friends from StayNTouch and Travel Tripper. Together we figured that what worked yesterday, might not make the grade today. Enhancing the guest experience means understanding people’s wants, needs, and preferences at and acting upon them at the right time and place. By taking this simple assessment, you can determine whether your guest experience strategy is in need of slight adjustment or a complete overhaul.
Also, we recommend downloading this checklist, to find out how you can get more great guest reviews!
Every 60 seconds, Americans make 500 hotel bookings online. And new research reveals that online scams and fraudulent sites are on the rise. In 2015, just six percent of American travelers reported having booked on what they believed was a hotel’s official website, only to find they had booked on a fraudulent site. Just two years later, the number of travelers reporting that same experience has nearly quadrupled to 22 percent. Today, that amounts to 55 million hotel bookings of this type each year, translating to $3.9 billion in “bad” bookings.
According to an annual consumer survey conducted by Generali Global Assistance, after a dip in 2016, more travelers from the U.S. and Europe will be packing their bags and heading on a vacation this summer. The survey noted that although more people are travelling, they are doing so for a shorter duration. Americans will go on vacation this summer for an average of 1.4 weeks, down from 1.7 weeks in 2016. You can check out more findings in the extended article.
Our partner Thomas Cook Northern Europe announced the implementation of ASSA ABLOY Hospitality Mobile Access at its concept hotel, Ocean Beach Club, on the Greek island of Crete. Guests staying at the hotel this summer will now be able to use this innovative technology to access guest rooms using their smartphones. The mobile access solution will significantly improve the guest experience, as they will no longer have to queue up for check in at the front desk when they arrive. Guest’s smartphones become their room keys, allowing them instant access and the ability to start their holiday immediately.
When determining which hotel to book, consumers rank location above amenities, price and ratings, showcasing its importance in the decision-making process. Expedia’s new tool - designed to enable hotels to differentiate themselves on Expedia - allows properties to create a custom list of cultural landmarks, unique activities, and experiences in their local neighborhoods that can be viewed on their property’s listing.


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Christina Aguilera rocked the Beauty Arcade at Macy’s Herald Square in Manhattan with the in-store appearance for the launch of her newest scent, Inspire.
It was the songstress’ first personal appearance for a fragrance and some 300 people lined up at the store Tuesday afternoon to have their bottles signed between 5 and 6 p.m.
“We had a very strong week at Herald Square,” said Donald Loftus, president and chief executive officer of Aguilera’s fragrance licensee, P&G Prestige Products Inc. “We had the biggest fragrance launch we’ve ever had there.” Loftus noted that Aguilera mobilized her huge fan base for the event. “She is incredibly talented, a delightful person and very gracious with the crowd,” he observed.
“It’s going to be very successful,” René Dominik, associate marketing director for lifestyle fragrances at P&G Prestige Products, said of Inspire. “A lot of customers were telling me they love the fragrance.”
Dominik noted that Aguilera had confirmed she will do a second personal appearance for the fragrance at Macy’s in Los Angeles in December.
P&G does not break out sales results, but industry sources estimate that Aguilera’s new fragrance generated about $50,000 in retail sales over the holiday weekend in the Herald Square flagship alone. Estimates were not available for the final tally at Tuesday’s appearance, but there was a sellout of 500 special $200 packs created for the event, according to sources.
Meanwhile, P&G was also launching its Dolce & Gabbana masterbrand, The One and The One for Men, in the Broadway side of the building.
Inspire, which is carried at about 1,000 doors — many of which are Macy’s with selected Dillard’s sprinkled in — is expected to remain in this distribution network until after the holidays, when it is to expand into wider distribution. Plans call for Inspire to follow the distribution strategy used for a number of other companies’ celebrity scents and make its way into midtier retailers and eventually into mass market distribution in the next couple of years.
As one of the most recognizable models in the world, Christy Turlington Burns has an insider’s view of the fashion industry and the allegations of sexual harassment swirling around it. “I can say that harassment and mistreatment have always been widely known and tolerated in the industry. The industry is surrounded by predators who thrive on the constant rejection and loneliness so many of us have experiences at some point in our careers,” Turlington told WWD, along with her suggestions for how the modeling world should protect younger women and men. Read more on WWD.com. Link in bio. (📷: Tony Palmieri) #wwdnews
@asics America has tapped a new brand ambassador: famed DJ/record producer @steveaoki. This initiative is intended to set the tone for the new brand identity and philosophy and will include partnerships with influencers and in-store and off-line activations that will continue into next year. This is Asics’ most significant marketing effort in two decades, and is expected to attract younger consumers to the brand. #wwdfashion
24-year-old Jean Prounis is redefining the rules of jewelry. Formerly a studio assistant to Jemima Kirke and a design apprentice at Ghuran, she focuses on handcrafted subtleties and ancient goldsmithing techniques. “There was a really sterile feel in the environment and I wanted to have jewelry with character that shapes how you wear it everyday,” Prounis said. Each piece is hand made in New York, either by Prounis or three other jewelers in the district. #wwdfashion
“These collections continue to build on that vision, empowering differently abled adults to express themselves through fashion,” said @tommyhilfiger of his line of adaptive apparel, which launches today. The line consists of 37 men’s and 34 women’s styles based upon the pieces from the spring Tommy Hilfiger sportswear collection. #wwdnews
“Stranger Things” is getting a new cast member for season 2. Meet @sadiesink_, the 15-year-old who will be joining the Netflix series for its new season. You may recognize her from “The Glass Castle” with Brie Larson and Woody Harrelson, but the Texas native’s next role goes in an entirely different direction. She describes her character, Max, as “a rough and tumble skater girl [who] becomes friends with the boys at school.” The second season debuts on October 27. (📷: @jgreenery) #wwdeye
Amid the Harvey Weinstein controversy, there’s another sector that’s being put under the spotlight for sexual abuse: the modeling industry. While rumors about abuse and sexual harassment of female and male models — and the photographers, agents and others who perpetrated it — have circulated within the fashion world for years, model @cameronrussell started posting stories from models on Instagram last week about abusive situations they’ve encountered — from sexual harassment and molestation to attempted rape. Over 75 have weighed in so far. Read more on WWD.com. Link in bio. #wwdnews
To celebrate its 16th anniversary, @dylanscandybar tapped designers and celebrities to create mosaics out of candy. The mosaics will be auctioned off to support the philanthropic cause of each participant’s choice. Pictured here is the mural created by @aliceandolivia's Stacey Bendet. For a first look at some of the other artwork being unveiled tonight, go to WWD.com. #wwdeye
The annual Veuve Clicquot Polo Classic in Pacific Palisades this weekend drew Kate Hudson, Tracee Ellis Ross, Laura Dern and more. See pictures of the star-studded event on WWD.com. (📷: @chelsealaurenla) #wwdeye
In his new book “Hollywood Royale,” Andy Warhol’s Protégé Matthew Rolston celebrates the Eighties revival of Hollywood glamour. Featuring more than 100 portraits taken by Rolston from 1977 to 1993, the book contains photos of icons like Michael Jackson, Cyndi Lauper, and @drewbarrymore, pictured here in 1991. “Hollywood Royale,” out today, will be accompanied by an exhibition opening at Los Angeles’ Fahey/Klein Gallery on March 1. #wwdeye


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Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. announced the launch of a generic version of Uceris1 (budesonide) extended-release tablets, 9 mg, in the U.S.
Budesonide extended-release tablets are a glucocorticosteroid indicated for the induction of remission in patients with active, mild to moderate ulcerative colitis.
“The launch of generic budesonide extended-release tablets signals an important addition to Teva’s portfolio,” said Brendan O’Grady, EVP and head of North America Commercial. “We continue to be focused on bringing affordable generic treatment options to our customers, including those living with chronic, life-long conditions like ulcerative colitis.”
With nearly 550 generic medicines available, Teva has the largest portfolio of FDA-approved generic products on the market and holds the leading position in first-to-file opportunities, with over 100 pending first-to-files in the U.S. Currently, one in seven generic prescriptions dispensed in the U.S. is filled with a Teva generic product.
Uceris had annual sales of approximately $196 million in the U.S., according to IMS data as of May 2018.
1 Uceris® is a registered trademark of Santarus, Inc. and Valeant Pharmaceuticals International
(Source: Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd.)


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US Dollar Jumps After US Retail Sales Data
The US dollar gained strength in the European session, boosted further by stronger-than-forecast core retail sales data from the US for the month of September. Core retail sales jumped 0.4 percent from 0.1 percent in August, which was in line with expectations. The core figure excludes autos, which can distort the underlying trend in over sales in the retail sector, which is why this number is more important. The headline number actually dropped by 0.1 percent. The USD/JPY jumped after the US retail sales data, to hit a high of 97.97, gaining 0.3 percent in the session. More data from the US is due for release later today and could push the dollar higher. Focus will turn to data on the Conference Board consumer confidence and Case-Shiller house prices. The EUR/JPY moved higher to peak at 134.87, up 0.2 percent in the European session. The dollar gained against the euro, with EUR/USD sliding to lows of $1.3753. The GBP/USD edged lower to $1.6063. There was no reaction to stronger UK lending data. Meanwhile, the main risk event for the US dollar will be the FOMC policy announcement tomorrow. The Federal Reserve is expected to keep its stimulus measures unchanged.


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SYDNEY: The planning and creative functions need to be more closely aligned, according to a leading industry figure who has also questioned the value that major global communications groups bring to the table.
Speaking to AdNews, Martin Riley, marketing head of drinks business Pernod Ricard, said he was "uncomfortable" at the separation of planners and creatives within the industry.
"You need real media planning capability within the creative agency," he stated. "I think the whole media planning aspect is a strategic one and it needs to be pulled right back into the initial upfront discussion."
This is, he added, an issue that Pernod Ricard, whose brands include Absolut, Jameson, Chivas Regal and Jacobs Creek, is actively looking at.
Part of the problem, according to Riley, is that people "have got too concerned about the buying element, CPMs, efficiencies and all the other measures" and had consequently started to lose sight of the planning element.
But he also saw a move from "being very quantitative in our assessments" to a greater qualitative focus as brands became more precise in their targeting.
"They're much more specific about the kind of insight and understanding of how people consume different parts of media and how they connect to it," Riley said.
That understanding, however, does not preclude marketers from missing opportunities as they allowed a preoccupation with digital metrics to occasionally cloud their judgement.
"There's a real risk that because we feel we can measure it we feel more comfortable," said Riley, an approach which he described as "lazy" marketing.
"There's a logic telling you that if people are paying $6 or $8 for a magazine they're doing it because they find some value in it," he went on. "The way they are consuming media is probably different than if they're just scanning something online and I think that's something we've got to understand."
Riley also had views on the industry's structure – with extensive ad networks and global holding companies – which carry added weight in light of his other position as president of the World Federation of Advertisers.
"The big global groups – there are questions about what is the specific added value they bring by being so big when … people can do start-ups, people can actually begin businesses with relatively small amounts of money," he said.
Data sourced from AdNews; additional content by Warc News


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When JPMorgan Chase on March 10 acquired MCX’s payment technology to help with Chase Pay, it likely received a bargain. After all, it’s hard to envision an entity in a weaker negotiating position these days than MCX, which has already surrendered on delivering its own payment system. But a bargain is a bargain only if the value is greater than the cost, no matter how low that cost.
The MCX technology is based on QR codes, and even Walmart’s Walmart Pay is struggling with the same issues that have routinely plagued not-so-easy-to-scan-the-first-time QR codes.
But it’s not the technology that attracted Chase. It’s the customers that are already prepared to accept it as payment. The only thing that MCX did well was to corral some of the nation’s largest retailers into becoming members. Walmart led off, followed by Target, 7-Eleven, Kohl’s, ShopRite, Publix, Wendy’s, Wawa, CVS, Meijer, Michael’s, Dunkin’ Donuts, Lowe’s, Sunoco, Best Buy, Mobil and quite a few more.
Granted, just because most of those chains were ready to accept MCX doesn’t mean they still are. But it’s a start, and the one thing that Chase Pay needs more than anything else right now is merchants accepting it.
Apple was smart to launch Apple Pay only after it had a decent number of major brands willing to accept it for payments. Shoppers with the latest iPhones wanted to at least try this new NFC payment method. If they hadn’t been able to find any local merchants that accepted it, the momentum would have been halted before it began.
With Chase Pay, which launched about four months ago, many Chase shoppers across the country struggle to find any physical store where it is accepted. Its “available now” merchant list is short. It claims Best Buy and Starbucks, but it appears to be only at select stores, and calls to stores in several states couldn’t find one where it was accepted. To be precise, I couldn’t find one where a store associate — the people at the POS — thought they could accept Chase Pay. And without associate training and awareness, few customers will be able to successfully use it.
Chase Pay also theoretically will be accepted at LevelUp merchants, but only in three cities: Dallas, Denver and Boston. Chase spokesperson Maribel Ferrer added in an email that “other places we have announced and are in different stages are Atom Tickets, Parkmobile, HMS Host, Shell, Phillips 66, Walmart, ShopRite and The Fresh Grocer stores — supermarkets that are part of the Wakefern cooperative.” In other words, none of those places accept Chase Pay yet.
Chase Pay also says that it is accepted on various online sites. But the value-add in online is very different. The advantage for the customer is mostly found using the payment method in-store. Online payments today are fairly effortless, especially after the initial setup.
And therein lies the problem. Shoppers who saw the MCX technology announcement and thought it meant that they could suddenly use Chase Pay in that rich list of retail chains that were once active with MCX will find themselves disappointed.
Oddly, Chase Pay doesn’t even embrace all Chase cards. Limiting itself to every card issued from just Chase would be restrictive, but doable. Given that only some Chase payment cards are payment options for Chase Pay further limits its viability.
Don’t forget that shoppers want something as close to “one payment method for all merchants” as possible. Having to use Walmart Pay in Walmart and Target Pay in Target is bad enough, but using Chase Pay only for some of its payment cards is frustrating.
To be fair, none of these payment options is effective today. Apple Pay accepts far more cards and is accepted at a decent sliver of merchants, but can only be used with one brand of phone — iPhones, and only iPhones new enough to support NFC. Walmart Pay will work on a far larger number of phones from any handset maker, merely requiring the ability to host apps and have a decent camera to shoot the QR code. But it’s restricted to just one merchant.
In theory, Chase Pay could deliver the best of both worlds, offering itself for almost all phones and all merchants who accept Chase payment cards. But I’d argue that it launched far too soon, long before it could deliver either — including even supporting all of its own payment cards.
The ability to be accepted at that wonderful list of MCX member retailers is intriguing, but only on paper. Chase Pay may have the best potential today, but it also has the worst immediate reality. Given that it was announced last year, that’s remarkably far from good.


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When J.D. and Ila Jean Ward opened their roadside fruit stand in 1951, Northwest Sixth Street was an unpaved, two-lane road that marked Gainesville's city limit.
The fruit stand, now Ward's Supermarket, has seen a lot of change in the last 60 years.
Ward's will celebrate its 60th anniversary Sept. 10 with a customer appreciation event, including giveaways from local vendors and free massages.
Bryan Ward, assistant meat manager and son of owners Billy and Trish Ward, said Ward's has held similar events in the past, to which he estimated several thousand people came out.
This year, the store's front parking lot will be closed off from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. to accommodate tents where local vendors will give cooking demonstrations and give away samples of food and natural products.
"[It'll be] just a nice, fun day," Trish Ward said. "And for all the new students in town who don't know us, we're hoping they'll come by and see what we're all about."
She said she and her husband, Billy, have owned Ward's for 20 years, but they've been involved with the store for closer to 40 years.
Billy said his grandparents' fruit stand graduated to a small wood-frame store with dirt floors a few years after opening. In 1979, Ward's became a full-fledged supermarket when it moved into the building now occupied by Cecile's Consignment on Northwest Sixth Street. Ward's moved into its current location on Northwest 23rd Avenue 12 years later.
In 1991, Ward's had 12 employees, all of them family. Now the store employs about 100.
Ward's supports more than 350 local producers who make everything from kombucha and ice pops to candles and soaps. As the only family-owned and -operated grocery store in Gainesville, the Ward's philosophy is to support as many local vendors as possible, Trish Ward said.
Her hopes for the future of the store are simple. She said she would like to see it carry on through at least a few more generations.
"I'm very confident that our children will carry it on through their adult years," she said. "What their children will do with it I'm not real sure, but it would be nice to see it carried on into the future."


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NATIONAL NUTRITION MONTH: Celebrate a World of Flavors
During National Nutrition Month®, celebrated each March, the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics encourages everyone to “Celebrate a World of Flavors” by making small, healthy shifts in food choices when cooking at home.
The 2015-2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend making small changes to eating patterns to include healthier ingredients while cooking at home. Choosing a variety of healthful foods across and within all food groups helps reduce the risk of preventable, lifestyle-related chronic diseases including cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes and obesity.
“Evidence shows that making dietary and lifestyle changes can prevent diseases before they occur,” says registered dietitian nutritionist and Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics spokesperson Angel Planells. “During National Nutrition Month and beyond, make small, healthier food choices – one forkful at a time.”
Planells encourages everyone to eat more of these foods:
- Vegetables, including dark green, red and orange, beans, peas and others
- Fruits, especially whole fruits
- Whole grains
- Fat-free or low-fat dairy including milk, yogurt, cheese and fortified soy beverages
- Protein foods including seafood, lean meats, poultry, nuts, soy products, beans and peas
- Oils including canola, corn, olive, peanut, sunflower and soy
“It’s important to create an eating style that includes a variety of your favorite, healthful foods,” Planells says. “Consider cultural and personal preferences to make these shifts easier to maintain.”
To find a personalized plan that works best, Planells suggests consulting a registered dietitian nutritionist. RDNs can provide sound, easy-to-follow nutrition advice to meet your lifestyle, preferences and health-related needs.
As part of National Nutrition Month, the Academy’s website, www.eatright.org, includes articles, recipes, videos and educational resources to spread the message of good nutrition and an overall healthy lifestyle for people of all ages, genders and backgrounds. Consumers can also follow National Nutrition Month on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/EatRightNutrition and Twitter at https://twitter.com/eatright.
All registered dietitians are nutritionists – but not all nutritionists are registered dietitians. The Academy’s Board of Directors and Commission on Dietetic Registration have determined that those who hold the credential registered dietitian may optionally use “registered dietitian nutritionist” instead. The two credentials have identical meanings.
The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics is the world’s largest organization of food and nutrition professionals. The Academy is committed to improving the nation’s health and advancing the profession of dietetics through research, education and advocacy. Visit the Academy at eatright.org.
On a separate note, it is important to point out that Kentucky is one of the unhealthiest states in our nation; but, a few healthy lifestyle choices could change this. First, eating normally proportioned helpings of nutritious foods including at least five fruits and vegetables a day can lower weight and reduce heart disease and diabetes. Second, exercising about 30 minutes per day can lower blood pressure. Third, avoiding the use of tobacco products can reduce several types of cancer. Finally, making sure you get your needed preventive screenings can detect diseases early and greatly increase your chances for a positive health outcomes, while receiving your recommended vaccinations can prevent acquiring disease in the first place.


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BATTERY RESTRICTIONS Beginning Tuesday, airline passengers cannot pack any loose lithium batteries in checked bags, though the batteries are permitted if contained within laptops, cellphones or other electronic devices, according to a new rule by the Transportation Department. The department said that loose lithium batteries can short-circuit and create a fire hazard in cargo holds. The new rule also limits to two the number of large-size spare lithium batteries that may be brought on in carry-on bags, but a department spokeswoman says that restriction applies mostly to professional and industrial-use batteries and does not affect most lithium batteries used in consumer electronics like laptops and cellphones.
FEWER SEATS IN THE AIR As passenger demand is projected to continue growing, fewer seats will be available on domestic airlines in the first quarter, according to Executive Travel SkyGuide, the American Express flight-schedule directory on the Web. Airlines have scheduled domestic flights with an average of 17.5 million seats a week, compared with 17.6 million seats a week in the first quarter of 2007. But seat capacity on international routes keeps growing, as major United States airlines divert more seats to that lucrative market. On international routes, there will be an average of 4.2 million seats a week this quarter, 5.2 percent more than in the 2007 period. Though seats are down over all domestically, low-cost carriers, whose routes are overwhelmingly within the United States, have added capacity, with an average of 38,672 seats scheduled for the first quarter, a 5.7 percent increase over the same period in 2007.
HIGHER DOMESTIC FARES Other major airlines have matched a $10 increase on round-trip fares for most domestic routes that United Airlines imposed just before Christmas, according to FareCompare.com. That is the ninth incremental domestic fare increase since Labor Day, said Rick Seaney, chief executive of the fare-comparison Web site.
CHINESE BUSINESS TRAVEL More than half of the companies surveyed in China by American Express Business Travel said they expected to spend more on business travel in 2008 than they did last year. The percentage of employees traveling on business rose to 33 percent in 2007, from 28 percent in 2006. The use of travel management companies is increasing rapidly: 48 percent of the companies questioned said they booked travel that way, compared with 36 percent in 2006. However, American Express said in a statement, most bookings are paid for in cash, and, in fact, the use of corporate credit cards is declining. American Express said it would strengthen efforts this year to encourage more use of corporate cards, “which enable companies to have a central billing system” for travel. Included in the survey were 230 Chinese and foreign companies in Shanghai, Beijing and Guangzhou.
ET CETERA Delta AirElite Business Jets customers now get automatic membership in Hertz #1 Club Gold, the car-rental company’s elite-status loyalty program. ... Air China and Shanghai Airlines joined Star Alliance, the global airline alliance.
JOE SHARKEYContinue reading the main story


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The major producer in China was forced to stop production due to tightening regulations. While now currently producing on a limited basis, available quantities are staying in the East, leaving the West short. This has caused stress on the western producers who run on campaigns and find it extremely difficult to alter production plans. Prices should be firm for some time.
In Bulgaria, a late cold snap and then bad thunderstorms with hail have impacted the crop. Additionally, reports indicate the Russian crop was limited and sold out against advanced orders. Total production is down. Strong demand in the wake of these reports has also contributed pressure on the supply. Prices have jumped substantially over last year’s.
Reports continue to advise that the Brazilian crop will be quite large. Good weather conditions have led to a large amount of fruit becoming available. With reports of unfulfilled contracts that need to be satisfied, prices may not soften as much as some might hope. It appears that the major processors have not yet made any offers. Prices have eased slightly.
The major growing region has experienced poor weather. Prices have firmed and are expected to remain so for the foreseeable future.
Continued lack of supply, along with strong demand, has kept prices firming on a weekly basis. Bad weather in the growing regions will have an impact on what will be harvested for the traditional end of year supply.
Production still limited due to environmental constraints. Spice market indicates that crop was good, but exceptionally strong demand has caused prices per kilo for bulbs to increase, rather than soften. Prices continue to firm and correct quality is still difficult to locate.
Rain in the growing regions has slowed harvesting but more importantly has had an impact on the quality of oil being produced. Citral content is reported at 60-62%, below the normal levels of 67-68%. This has forced producers to process more mass in order to meet specs. This in turn has resulted in prices increasing instead of softening. While still early in processing, reports indicate situation will not change.
Still watchful of quality, prices remain firm.
Here too, prices firm as drought in growing regions has not been fully compensated by monsoon rains.
With too much rain in Southern China, there are potential reports that much of the fall crop has rotted. With limited raw material available and higher labor costs, prices have increased. We would expect this to last until the spring crop.
Production at one of the three producing factories in China is in the process of being expanded. This expansion is supposed to be completed by late Autumn. While there are quantities available, prices are still high, and probably won’t soften until this producer is ready with his expanded capacity. Circumstances and actual demand will determine what will happen to prices.
Prices for oil have dropped to a very low level. Reports indicate other crops were more profitable for farmers, so area planted for Coriander reduced by at least 50%, quite possibly by 67%. Prices for new crop seed continue to firm as it appears carryover positions on seeds were not properly stored and are unusable. We expect prices to rise as demand increases.
The lengthy rainy season experienced in Indonesia has seriously impacted the crop. Along with thunderstorms and strong winds, trees did not flower normally; producing fewer cloves. We are now in the “dry” season, but have yet to see any significant easing of prices; actually they seem to be very firm.
Also affected by rain, there appears to be a shortage of good quality oil at this time. There is a report that when prices dropped precipitously, several processors closed, unable to cover overheads. As a result prices continue to firm.
When the government forced processors to switch to gas fired burners from coal, production reportedly switched to a different province. This caused prices to soften, albeit for a very short time. It did not take long before the government forced the change to take effect in that province also. With lack of dried roots available prices are firm.
Current reports confirm that this year’s total production is less than that of last year. They also advise that carryover is limited. With speculators being active in the market prices continue to firm.
In a few short weeks prices for Mentha Arvensis and subsequently Menthol have increased 15-20%. Some of this may be blamed on the new Service Tax enacted; some may be blamed on the weakness of the US dollar against most currencies, some may be blamed on rains in the North impacting production and transportation. There are also reports that there has been very active speculation, due to concerns about BASF’s synthetic Menthol delays in Malaysia.
With this always being a complex and difficult market, there seems to be no confusion as to crop size; much less than expected. Many processors are advising situation will be volatile for some time and DMO prices can reach new highs.
Similar to Arvensis, no good news here. Production down from last years; less acreage and heavy rains in the North. Prices have jumped and are expected to stay firm until next year’s crop.
With increasing costs and heavy rains in Southern China prices are firm. With strong worldwide demand for Turpentine we do not see prices easing until mid to late autumn.


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NEW YORK CITY — January 18, 2011 — Olivier Peardon, President and Chief Executive Officer of
Brunschwig & Fils, announced that the family-owned company has filed for Chapter 11
restructuring and, concurrently, that Kravet, a fourth generation family company, one of the
largest privately held distributors of fabrics and home furnishings with locations worldwide, has
agreed to buy Brunschwig & Fils subject to a competitive bid process.
Kravet has agreed to provide financing to ensure that Brunschwig & Fils can continue as a
financially sound trading partner during this time of reorganization.
Mr. Peardon stated, “The restructuring is a business decision that will not affect the
quality of our products, or present and future orders. This restructuring will improve our services
and supply chain flow. Our relationships with the lines we represent remain intact and the
Brunschwig & Fils Design Studio is creating new patterns for future release.”
Brunschwig & Fils is an internationally respected brand that, for the past 110 years, has
been the preeminent destination for luxury fabrics, wall coverings, trims, lighting, furniture and
Kravet, throughout its 93 years in business, has firmly established itself as a distributor
of high-end brands such as Lee Jofa and GP&J Baker.
Posted on February 8, 2011
Source: Brunschwig & Fils


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A regional Australian Red Cross office is spearheading an initiative to end period poverty by providing free sanitary products to people who menstruate who cannot afford the necessary sanitary items.
- One in five people who menstruate have had to improvise with the way they manage their period due to the cost of sanitary products
- Period poverty in regional SA is a "significant issue" for the community
- On average those who menstruate use about12,000 pads and tampons during their lifetime
Limestone Coast Red Cross – located in South Australia – has taken delivery of a pallet of products following a donation organised by Share the Dignity and tissue manufacturing giant Kimberly-Clark Australia.
Regional manager David Walshaw says period poverty is a significant issue in the region.
"We want to give people, women and girls, access to sanitary products and also along with safe, hygienic places to use them," Mr Walshaw said.
In a survey commissioned by period poverty charity Share the Dignity, it was found that more than 1 in 5 people who menstruate have had to improvise with how they manage their period due to the cost of sanitary products.
Mr Walshaw says access to period products is vital for people experiencing financial difficulties.
"People will be able to turn up at the [Red Cross] office … and, discreetly across the counter, talk to someone and obtain as much product as they need."
Mr Walshaw said the service would monitor demand for sanitary products.
"Once we've established that, we'll look to opening it up further and, more importantly, across other towns in the region," he said.
The menstruation products will be available for those in need at the Mount Gambier Australian Red Cross and items can also be delivered.
Tissue sector support
Kimberly-Clark spokesperson Annelise Tregoning said the company proudly supported Share the Dignity.
"Kimberly-Clark and our period care brand U by Kotex have been focused on addressing period poverty in Australia for a very long time," Ms Tregoning said.
"Every year we proudly support Share the Dignity and its partners to distribute much-needed period care products to those who need it."
Since January 2021, the company has donated more than 20,000 packs of pads and tampons.


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A joint development agreement between Arzeda and AAK will accelerate the innovation of plant-based oils for the food industry through applying novel enzymes.
The joint agreement will address continued and growing demand for healthy, tasty and sustainable foods, utilising Arzeda’s technology to optimise proteins to further enhance the sustainability profile of AAK’s plant-based edible oils.
“AAK is thrilled to work with Arzeda to address one of the food industry’s most pressing issues, sustainable plant-based edible oils,” said Karsten Nielsen, CTO of AAK. “We are confident that their full-stack technology platform, spanning AI-based design to enzyme manufacturing, can help accelerate our innovation efforts in biotechnology.”
Arzeda’s technology platform optimises proteins, combining computational design and AI, to crete novel proteins. Working with AAK, the company can create solutions within the food industry.
“Partnering with AAK allows Arzeda to leverage our core protein design capabilities to solve real-world challenges in oils and fats, and helps fulfill our mission of creating a more sustainable and healthier planet,” explained Alexandre Zanghellini, Ph.D., CEO of Arzeda. “AAK has tremendous experience in applying enzyme technology, and our corporate cultures are synergistic in our approach to innovation.”
Details of the agreement have not been disclosed, but both companies confirmed the collaboration is a mutual endeavour, with milestones and joint commercialisation established as part of it.
AAK has made other efforts to advance the industry, as it increased its traceability to plantation and deforestation-free palm oil. By 2025, the company aims to have verified deforestation-free palm oil. This is part of an overall effort to promote the consumption of sustainable palm oil, to ensure a deforestation-free supply chain. As of this year, the company has begun partnerships with one Indonesian and one Malaysian supplier at the refinery level.
Read more latest industry news and developments in our free to download magazine.


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Cognios Capital LLC Has $2.03 Million Position in Hershey Co (HSY)
Cognios Capital LLC lifted its position in Hershey Co (NYSE:HSY) by 4.0% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 17,873 shares of the company’s stock after purchasing an additional 685 shares during the period. Cognios Capital LLC’s holdings in Hershey were worth $2,027,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Janus Henderson Group PLC lifted its stake in shares of Hershey by 15.4% in the 3rd quarter. Janus Henderson Group PLC now owns 4,368,862 shares of the company’s stock valued at $476,949,000 after purchasing an additional 582,715 shares during the period. APG Asset Management N.V. lifted its stake in shares of Hershey by 45.4% in the 4th quarter. APG Asset Management N.V. now owns 1,885,679 shares of the company’s stock valued at $178,251,000 after purchasing an additional 588,500 shares during the period. Marathon Asset Management LLP lifted its stake in shares of Hershey by 39.2% in the 4th quarter. Marathon Asset Management LLP now owns 1,694,259 shares of the company’s stock valued at $192,322,000 after purchasing an additional 477,539 shares during the period. First Eagle Investment Management LLC lifted its stake in shares of Hershey by 106.0% in the 3rd quarter. First Eagle Investment Management LLC now owns 1,115,299 shares of the company’s stock valued at $121,757,000 after purchasing an additional 573,799 shares during the period. Finally, Evercore Trust Company N.A. acquired a new position in shares of Hershey in the 3rd quarter valued at $105,956,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 51.97% of the company’s stock.
In other news, CEO Michele Buck sold 400 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Friday, January 26th. The shares were sold at an average price of $111.55, for a total transaction of $44,620.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 163,697 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $18,260,400.35. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. Also, SVP D Michael Wege sold 15,517 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Monday, November 13th. The stock was sold at an average price of $108.18, for a total transaction of $1,678,629.06. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold 16,717 shares of company stock valued at $1,812,429 in the last ninety days. Insiders own 0.92% of the company’s stock.
Shares of Hershey Co (HSY) opened at $99.67 on Friday. The company has a market cap of $20,710.00, a price-to-earnings ratio of 28.72, a P/E/G ratio of 2.13 and a beta of 0.26. The company has a quick ratio of 0.60, a current ratio of 0.96 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.21. Hershey Co has a 1-year low of $97.62 and a 1-year high of $116.49.
Hershey (NYSE:HSY) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 1st. The company reported $1.03 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.06 by ($0.03). Hershey had a return on equity of 116.74% and a net margin of 10.42%. The company had revenue of $1.94 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $1.96 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $1.17 EPS. Hershey’s revenue was down 1.5% compared to the same quarter last year. analysts expect that Hershey Co will post 5.36 earnings per share for the current year.
Hershey announced that its board has initiated a share buyback program on Thursday, October 26th that allows the company to buyback $100.00 million in shares. This buyback authorization allows the company to reacquire shares of its stock through open market purchases. Shares buyback programs are usually a sign that the company’s leadership believes its shares are undervalued.
The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, March 15th. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 23rd will be issued a dividend of $0.656 per share. This represents a $2.62 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.63%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, February 22nd. Hershey’s payout ratio is 75.50%.
COPYRIGHT VIOLATION NOTICE: “Cognios Capital LLC Has $2.03 Million Position in Hershey Co (HSY)” was originally reported by Watch List News and is owned by of Watch List News. If you are viewing this piece on another site, it was copied illegally and republished in violation of United States and international trademark and copyright laws. The correct version of this piece can be viewed at https://www.watchlistnews.com/cognios-capital-llc-has-2-03-million-position-in-hershey-co-hsy/1856713.html.
The Hershey Company is a producer of chocolate in North America. The Company’s principal product offerings include chocolate and non-chocolate confectionery products; gum and mint refreshment products; pantry items, such as baking ingredients and beverages, and snack items, such as spreads, meat snacks, bars and snack bites and mixes.
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The MGM Grand Hotel in Las Vegas might as well rename itself Heartbreak Hotel for three days starting Friday as it auctions off 5,000 items belonging to the King of Rock 'n' Roll, Elvis Presley.
Fans from around the world have gathered as Graceland, Elvis's Memphis mansion, holds its first ever garage sale.
The spring cleaning of Presley belongings includes keys to the fabled estate.
The list of memorabilia for sale also offers his Bible, his barber's chair, his Texaco credit card, his 1956 Lincoln Continental, his Walther handgun and his first piano, which the singer bought in 1954 shortly after he graduated from high school.
The material on sale all comes from Graceland but was not on display at the famous tourist attraction.
The proceeds of the auction - expected to range between $2 million and $3 million - will go to build homes for the homeless in Memphis in a project called "Presley Place.''
The sale was organized by Presley's only child, Lisa Marie Presley, 31, his sole heir. It is being conducted by a New York City auction house, Guernsey's.
8 января 1935
1943 – В Порт-Артуре, Техас родилась королева блюза и рок-н-роллаДженис Джоплин (полное имя - Janis Lynn Joplin). Выступала в составе Big Brother and the Holding Company, затем в Kozmic Blues Band и Full Tilt Boogie Band. Сольно выпустила четыре студийных альбома, один из которых — посмертный:… »»
Willie "Big Eyes" SMITH (1936)
Phil EVERLY (1939)
Janis JOPLIN (1943)
Dolly PARTON (1946)
Robert PALMER (1949)
Caron WHEELER (1963)
Trey LORENZ (1969)
Сергей МИХАЛОК (1972)
Алексей ВОРОБЬЕВ (1988)


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New Delhi: Eight years after partnering with India to produce hydrocarbons, Reliance Industries Ltd and British oil major BP Plc have reunited to open a national network of retail fuel retailers.
The outlets will be created through a new joint venture that will be owned by 51% of RIL and the rest by BP, according to a joint statement by the companies. The partnership will also offer aviation turbine fuel to serve the growing aviation industry in India.
Together, the companies plan to create 5,500 service stations across the country, which may include 1,378 retail outlets currently independently operated by RIL in India.
RIL and BP did not disclose the investment in the new venture. They also did not provide a time frame for setting up retail outlets.
mint on December 6, 2016, announced that the two companies could join a commercial network in India.
"Based on India's existing retail fuel and aviation fuel business, partners expect the venture to expand rapidly to help meet the rapidly growing demand for energy for energy and mobility," RIL said in a statement. .
Mukesh Ambani, chairman and managing director of RIL, and Bob Doodley, CEO of BP, signed the leaders of the Mumbai Joint Undertaking on Tuesday. "Our stable partnership in the development of gas resources in India has now expanded to retail and aviation. This transformative partnership will deepen our commitment to consumers to further improve world-class services across the country, "Ambani said.
BP was licensed to market jet fuel in India in January 2016. In October 2016, it was licensed to create 3,500 fuel retail sites in India. RIL holds a license to open 5,000 retail outlets and plans to double its market share in the fuel trading segment from its current 7-8% share.
It is unclear whether these licenses can be automatically folded into the new venture.
"This joint venture will also include RIL's aviation business, which currently operates at more than 30 airports in India, providing participation in this fast-growing market," said RIL.
Final agreements will be reached in 2019 and subject to regulatory and other routine approvals, the transaction will be completed in the first half of 2020.
BP is a partner of RIL in its exploration and production ventures in the country. In February 2011, London-based BP bought a 30% stake in 21 oil and gas sharing agreements operated by RIL for $ 7.2 billion. They are also partners in India Gas Solutions Pvt. Ltd, a joint venture in the country for gas supply and marketing.
India is one of the few major global markets where demand for fuel is growing and has attracted the attention of foreign fuel traders seeking to gain the upper hand in a country dominated by state-owned fuels.
Dudley said: "India must be the largest energy market in the world by the mid-2020s. BP is already a big investor here, and we see additional attractive, strategic opportunities to support this growth. Together, we will work to provide consumers across India with high-quality fuels, retail convenience and the services they need as we continue to drive modernization and mobility solutions across the country. "
RIL and BP are also partners in India Gas Solutions, a joint venture in the country for gas supply and marketing. In addition, BP has a presence in India through its automotive and industrial brand Castrol lubricants.


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By Regan Coomer • email@example.com
TAYLOR MILL – Stone-baked New York-style pizza is the key to a delicious slice at Raniero’s Pizzeria in Taylor Mill.
Located at 5518 Taylor Mill Road, Raniero’s opened in April, making carryout and deliveries to homes in the Taylor Mill area.
Owned and operated by father-son duo Mike Howard Sr. and Mike Howard Jr., the pizzeria focuses on the thinner New York slice because that’s hard to get in this region, Mike Howard Jr. said.
Each pizza features fresh, homemade ingredients, including the sauce, made in-house, Howard said.
Baking pizzas on natural stone instead of a conveyor makes a big difference as well, he said.
“It improves the quality, and the flavor, a ton,” Howard said. “On a conveyor, the bottom doesn’t get done and tops too done.”
In addition to a variety of specialty pies, Raniero’s also features hoagies, bread sticks, cheesy bread, fresh salads, cannoli and pizza sold by the slice.
Howard, who hails from Newport, first opened Raniero’s in Cold Spring, near Northern Kentucky University. The Taylor Mill location was opened about a year later. In another year, Howard hopes to bring the Raniero’s Pizzeria feel to the Crescent Springs area.
“It’s a fun, family atmosphere,” he said. “You can look at pictures of our family hanging on the wall while you’re waiting for your pie.”
Named after Howard’s maternal grandfather, a Newport firefighter, both Raniero’s locations offer a 10 percent discount to public safety and emergency professionals such as firefighters and police officers.
Recently the pizzeria won second place at the East Coast Pizza Expo for the Amore pie, which includes homemade garlic sauce, sliced Italian sausage links, spinach, mushrooms, Roma tomatoes, onions and mozzarella cheese.
While those ingredient’s aren’t normally Howard’s favorites, the Amore pizza is “definitely really good. I promise,” he laughed.
For more information about Raniero’s Pizzeria, visit ranierospizzeria.com, call the Taylor Mill store at 291-7437 (PIES) or Cold Spring at 442-7437 (PIES). The Taylor Mill Raniero’s is open from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday and noon to 9 p.m. Sundays. Raniero’s coupons are available in local mailers.
Posted in: Small business spotlight


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Earlier today, a Japanese website leaked new images that seem to confirm the existence of a gold-colored iPhone 5S. Just like the rumor suggested, the color is less gold and more champagne in appearance, which makes more aesthetic sense than something bright metallic yellow.
The images also show off the silver and black anodized versions in what can only be described as the highest quality photos we've seen of the iPhone 5S to date. The iPhone 5S and the lower-cost, plastic-bodied iPhone 5C are both expected to be unveiled on September 10 at an event Apple will holding at its campus. Devices are expected to hit store shelves on September 20, just 10 days later.


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The Apple Watch will make its debut this Friday. Apple says the watch is unlike any device they’ve ever made.
Although the Apple Watch is not the first smart watch in existence, it certainly does give its competitors a run for their money.
The Apple Watch is not an iPhone replacement. The two devices work congruently to offer a technological experience like no other. It allows the wearer do familiar things more quickly and conveniently and opens the door for features previously impossible.
According to Apple, “It is a whole new experience. One that’s more personal than ever.”
The Apple Watch is a beautifully constructed, compact smart watch. It’s feature-packed, with solid fitness software, hundreds of apps and the ability to send and receive calls via an iPhone.
Consumers can receive text messages, emails and even phone calls on their watch. The watch gives a light tap, alerting its owner of an incoming message or email. The Apple Watch uses unique interactive technology allowing the user to connect with their favorite people in fun, spontaneous ways.
The wearer can send customized tap patterns, live-action sketches or even a heartbeat to their contacts. Fitness nudges are an added feature able to record the wearers daily movements and motivates them to sit less, move more and exercise.
Apple Watch may seem like a complicated device but it’s quite easy to operate. To wake up the device, a simple lift of the wrist will brighten the screen. Lowering the wrist will turn the watch off. Using the digital crown, one can navigate through the device accessing apps, messages and scroll and zoom features. The Apple Watch also introduces the new concept of “force touch.” By applying more force to the watchface, users can access the ability to respond to text messages or emails.
Reviewers with special access have mixed reviews on the newest Apple tech. Cnet.com labels the watch, “more like a fashionable toy than a necessary tool.”
Apple insists they paid special attention to the battery life, but reviewers disagreed saying the watch lasts less than a day.
The Apple Watch comes in three different models including the watch sport, watch and watch edition. Prices range from $350 to $17,000. There are 38 styles with various color schemes and metals including stainless steel, rose gold, gold and aluminum. Each watch face is customizable to fit the personality of the owner.
“We designed Apple Watch to reflect a wide range of styles and preferences. Because we want you to love wearing it as much as you love using it,” Apple said in a recent press release.
The watch is available for pre-order, and will be shipped on the release date.


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NEW YORK —Vichy Labs, which sells its products in skin centers with trained beauty advisers in select CVS and Duane Reade stores, unveiled at a recent event in New York City its newest products, including its new star product—Aqualia Antiox “New Skin” Antioxidant Fresh Serum.
The event, attended by Drug Store News, was held April 20 at the Kimpton’s Ink48 hotel in New York City.
The new Aqualia Antiox serum is especially unique in that it is the first time that Vichy associated two highly concentrated ingredients, preserving them pure until the first use. Pure vitamin C at 10% concentration (powder) is to be mixed with citrus polyphenol (serum) before the first use, and then refrigerated. The formula should be used within 21 days.
The line also includes the Aqualia Antiox Anti-Fatigue Ice-Effect eye stick and Aqualia Antiox Pro-Youth Antioxidant 24Hr hydrating fluid SPF 12.


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Body Glove International announced that Jim Jr. Jenks has officially been named the Head Designer for the Body Glove Men¹s Boardshort line. Having developed Body Glove¹s revolutionary VAPOR boardshort, Jenks' return is invaluable to the design team and the success of the Body Glove men's line.
“Junior is a staple in the surfing and action sports apparel world, ” said Body Glove Vice President of Marketing Scott Daley, his knowledge and expertise in the surf business is second to none and his homecoming is welcomed.
Jenks had this to say about his return, “I¹m stoked to be back, we got a lot started a few years back but the nice thing now is with the support of SGS, we can pick up where we left off and go even further.”
Jenks has big plans for the Spring 2011 Body Glove men's line.
“The biggest opportunity for this brand, besides going right after the core, is the cross over market,” said Jenks, “I want to build a boardshort for the guy who dives, the one who surfs, the one who wakeboards. I'm drawing inspiration from anything that has to do with a water based lifestyle.”


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WASHINGTON — Federal antitrust regulators delayed Express Scripts Inc.'s $26.1 billion hostile takeover bid for Caremark Rx Inc., giving an edge to CVS Corp.'s competing offer.
The Federal Trade Commission on Friday issued a second request for information on whether combining the companies, which compete to manage drug benefits for employers and insurers, would raise prices. CVS, a drugstore chain, got antitrust clearance for its $24.9 billion proposal on Dec. 20.
The winner of the fight for Caremark, the nation's second-largest drug benefit manager, after Medco Health Solutions Inc., will gain clout in negotiating discounts from drugmakers.
CVS has raised its bid three times. The last increase, on Thursday, came one day after Express Scripts increased its offer for the second time.
"The Express Scripts offer represents a superior deal to the CVS proposal, not only financially but also strategically," Michael Maguire, an analyst with FTN Midwest, said in a research note. "However, the risk of FTC delays will weigh on Caremark shareholders as they vote on the CVS offer on March 16."
Express Scripts, in a regulatory filing Friday, said it was "committed to effecting a combination of our respective businesses, and we remain steadfast that we can close the transaction no later than the third quarter of 2007."
FTC spokesman Mitch Katz declined to comment.


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A Sacramento man and his co-defendant from Los Angeles have been sentenced to prison for trafficking in counterfeit credit cards.
Gevorg Meroyan, 35, of Los Angeles was sentenced Monday by U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. O’Neill in Fresno to two years in prison for conspiracy to traffic in counterfeit credit cards and credit card fraud, according to a U.S Attorney’s Office news release. Co-defendant David Manukyan, 39, of Sacramento, was sentenced Nov. 16 by Judge O’Neill to one year and one day in prison.
Both men pleaded guilty in July. According to court documents, Meroyan conspired from 2009 to 2011 to produce, use and traffic in counterfeit credit cards from the Los Angeles area to Sacramento. In 2009, Meroyan and Manukyan were caught in Fresno with 42 counterfeit cards bearing false names and with computer and other electronic equipment that can be used to manufacture counterfeit credit cards, authorities said. In 2011, Meroyan was arrested in Los Angeles after attempting to buy auto parts with a counterfeit credit card.
Meroyan was ordered to surrender to the federal Bureau of Prisons on Feb. 8 to begin serving his sentence. Manukyan was previously ordered to surrender on Jan. 5.


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NAB is preparing to roll out a new mobile app that will allow the bank’s customers to apply for a credit card, receive in-app approval and then begin making purchases on the card using their handset.
The bank said the feature means customers will be able to make sub-$100 purchases before their physical card arrives when using its NAB Pay mobile payment platform.
NAB said its strategic partnership with Visa and access to the Visa Developer platform had allowed it to add a range of new features to the app.
“Customers will be able to control what type of payments can be made through the App; for example, if you’ve provided a secondary card to a family member, you can choose ‘Don’t Allow’ for online purchases on that card,” NAB executive general manager of consumer lending, Angus Gilfillan, said in a statement.
The bank said it was preparing to launch an “open pilot” of the app on Google’s Android platform. NAB said that customers with iOS devices “will also be piloting the App over coming weeks.”
The bank will progressively roll out features ahead of a full launch, which is expected later this year. NAB said it would also release a new ‘PayTag’ for customers. The NAB PayTag is a sticker intended to be attached to mobile handsets that can be used for contactless payments.
NAB is currently banding together with a group of other banks in an effort to force Apple to open up access to the iPhone’s NFC capabilities for mobile payments. Currently, only Apple’s Apple Pay platform can use the handset’s NFC antenna for payments.
Apple has said that opening up access to the antenna will jeopardise the iPhone’s security and that the banks are seeking to pass on the fees it charges them to their customers.
NAB expects to complete the nationwide rollout of its Personal Banking Origination Platform (PBOP) by the end of 2016. The PBOP rollout is part of the biggest technology transformation in the bank's history.


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Blockchain Australia — the trade physique for the novel tech within the nation — has expelled Qoin, a retail merchant crypto project based mostly in Gold Coast, Queensland.
According to a notice of disciplinary motion issued on Feb. 19, Blockchain Australia initially served Qoin with a summons to reply on Jan. 29.
However, Qoin reportedly failed to reply to the discover, forcing Blockchain Australia to expel the project from its membership ranks. Detailing its choice, the discover reads:
“On 17 February 2021, the Board of Blockchain Australia, having considered the Notice and the Response and the circumstances of the matter, resolved, pursuant to the Constitution, to terminate the Member’s membership of Blockchain Australia. The former Member has been asked to cease the use of the Blockchain Australia logo and name in connection with their business or promotional activities.”
However, the Qoin group claims that it was not given ample time to reply by Blockchain Australia. Speaking to Cointelegraph, Andrew Barker, the project’s chief advertising officer mentioned that Qoin was appalled by the trade physique’s choice:
“The fact that a National Association like BCA has chosen to attack rather than support Qoin, being the largest Australian-based Digital Currency project that engages over 400 families that service 28,000 validated merchants and near 50,000 Qoin wallet holders, is simply bewildering to us.”
According to Barker, Blockchain Australia is performing on allegations propagated by third-party entities who’ve expressed such views on social media channels like Twitter. The Qoin website not shows the project’s membership to Blockchain Australia.
Indeed, Blockchain Australia’s motion comes amid allegations that Qoin is a crypto pyramid scheme. Tweeting again in January, crypto educator and founding father of Nuggets News Alex Saunders acknowledged:
Biggest crypto rip-off in Australia I’ve been warning individuals about for years is collapsing. For years there was no method to promote $QOIN, but it surely lastly acquired added to a tiny trade & even with a $100/day promote restrict it is collapsing. Investors stand to lose hundreds of thousands. #ausbiz #scam pic.twitter.com/2KKscwEo1N
— Alex Saunders (@AlexSaundersAU) January 27, 2021
According to Qoin’s web site, the project works by incentivizing retail retailers to just accept the crypto with over 28,000 members based on the web site. However, critics like Saunders say members are unable to money out from the system.
According to the nation’s shopper legislation, pyramid schemes are unlawful and members in such applications face fines of as much as 200,000 Australian Dollars.
Blockchain Australia didn’t instantly reply to Cointelegraph’s request for feedback.


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Taylor Swift is finishing up her new album, Speak Now, which will be in stores on October 25. According to Billboard, many retail and label executives are asking, "Can "Speak Now" top U.S. debut-week sales of 1 million units? And if Swift can't attain that now-elusive milestone, can anyone?"
The last album to make that milestone was Lil Wayne's The Carter III, which sold slightly more than 1 million units in its first week ended June 15, 2008. Since then, the closest have been AC/DC's Black Ice, which sold 784,000 units in the week ended Oct. 24, 2008 and Eminem's Recovery, debuted with 741,000 units.
"It feels like if anybody can do it now, she could be the one," says Will Botwin, president/CEO of Red Light Management and ATO Records. "She has the sales base and heat from the last few albums. And with all the amazing things she has going on, she is as likely as anybody to reach a million units, especially with the efforts of Big Machine and Universal behind her."
Taylor's ability to appeal to more than just the Country genre will definitely help her sales. There are some executives who think she'll still debut under the million mark. It's definitely going to be a tough task, but we think she can pull it off.
Will you be buying Speak Now when it comes out? The first single, "Mine" is out on August 16.


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Italian Market needs vendors
Merchants of the Italian Market in South Philadelphia are accepting applications for new vendors.
The oldest outdoor market in the country is looking for vendors to preserve its legacy.
On Jan. 1, the city of Philadelphia passed management of the Italian Market to 9th Street Business Association, which is now accepting applications for outdoor stands on a rolling basis.
For around $300 to $1200 a month, vendors can rent up to four 10-foot stands to sell produce and goods.


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Microsoft Windows 7 was launched back in 2009, which makes the operating system more than a decade old. Now, the OS is finally reaching its end of support, which means the company will stop providing free technical support and updates that include security patches. Microsoft now recommends that everyone should start shifting to the newer and much reliable operating system, Windows 10.
While Microsoft is ending support for Windows 7 starting January 14, Google still promises to support Chrome on Windows 7 laptops and PCs for the next 18 months. Windows 7 users will stop receiving updates for Google Chrome browser starting July next year.
As the company has announced the end of support, Windows 7 will still continue to work on PCs that have it already installed. However, the company will not be responsible to fix any software vulnerabilities. This will make Windows 7 PCs more vulnerable to viruses and hacks. So, the ideal solution is to switch to the latest iteration of Windows.
If you are running a genuine copy of Windows 7, you are lucky. Microsoft is providing a free upgrade to users that can be downloaded using the Microsoft Media Creation Tool, which can be found on the company's website. While the free Windows 10 upgrade officially ended in 2016, it still works.
Microsoft does recommend that users should avoid installing the latest iteration of Windows on very old devices. Those devices can switch to Windows 8.1 for further support. Also, it is worth noting that the company will be ending support for Windows 8 and Windows 8.1 on January 10, 2023.


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LAHORE: The Punjab Food Authority (PFA) on Saturday warned chhalia (betel nut) dealers and traders to shut their business down by April 31, otherwise a strict action would be taken against them.
The PFA has decided to ban betel nut on the recommendations of its scientific panel.
The panel, in its recommendation, warned the people not to use chhalia – that is the main reason for mouth, throat and stomach cancers.
Chhalia is a basic ingredient of a variety of widely used chewing products. Thin slices of the nut, either natural or processed, are be mixed with a variety of substances including slaked lime (calcium hydroxide) and spices such as cardamom, coconut and saffron.
Most significantly, they are mixed with tobacco products or wrapped in the leaf of the piper betel plant (paan).
It is used by an estimated number of 200-400 million people, mainly Indo-Asians and the Chinese.


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Another day, another update that does not sound terribly good for Epic in its ongoing fight against Apple, as the Fortnite developer tries to get some regulation in place to ensure that the 30% cut Apple takes in its iOS app store is altered or the platform opens up more to competition.
A court has just ruled that for now, Apple cannot be forced to put Fortnite back on the app store, after it was taken off due to breaking the rules there by sidestepping the 30% cut with an update that allowed direct payment to Epic. But they also said Apple cannot take further, more destructive action against Epic by going after the entire Unreal engine, which would cause a ton of collateral damage to games and apps not owned by Epic at all.
The court documents reveal some pretty stunning statistics about just what Epic has given up to pursue this possibly quixotic fight with Apple:
- 116 million mobile users on iOS.
- Of those, 73 million only played Fortnite on iOS and no other platforms.
- 2.5 million DAUs on iOS, which represents 10% of Fortnite 25 million DAU total.
There’s no word on how many millions of users Epic has given up with its similar ban on the Google Play store. Still millions, no doubt, though less than this, and Fortnite can still technically run on Android devices outside of the Play store.
Both Apple and Epic are touting victories from this last ruling, Apple saying they’re grateful the court recognizes that Epic deliberately broke its rules, Epic saying they’re grateful the court is stopping action against Unreal. And yet the longer this goes on, the more of an uphill battle this seems like it’s going to be for Epic who has to convince the courts about the merits of their situation on a number of fronts.
First, they seem to be getting dinged for their “ploy” of getting Apple to ban them from the store by deliberately breaking the rules to circumvent the 30% cut. That’s been brought up a few times.
Then, they have to convince the court that the 30% cut is oppressive and unjustified when it’s industry standard across Apple, Google, Steam, Xbox, PlayStation and a ton of other similar storefronts.
They also have to convince the court that Apple is acting “monopolistically” and even though these numbers are big, losing 10% of your active players because of an app store ban does not exactly show that there aren’t alternative platforms for your game to succeed on if you want to distribute elsewhere.
As ever, I remain convinced that Epic is technically “right” here, that Apple does have an oppressive monopoly on mobile, and the entire mobile ecosystem needs to be opened up to be more like PC with competing stores. Over on PC, Epic’s tactic of making their own store with a more generous revenue cut for developers than Steam allowed them to practice what they preach. But they literally cannot offer that on Apple devices because of the closed ecosystem.
But legally, I think we’re seeing how perilous this argument is, and just how much Epic has to prove in order to get the courts to side with them over Apple. And from the sound of everything we’ve heard regarding this case so far, it seems like those making these rulings seem pretty skeptical of their arguments.
Apple has repeatedly said that Fortnite could come back to the app store tomorrow if they simply abided by their existing policies, but that would require Tim Sweeney and Epic to “bend the knee” so to speak, and it’s hard to see that happening.
But it’s also hard to see Epic’s dream ending for this, some sort of regulation that does…what exactly? Reduces Apple’s cut to a lower level? Forces them to allow the Epic Games Store on iOS? All of that seems extremely unlikely in the face of a wider market where the 30% cut is standard. Even if Epic may be “right,” they have a long, long way to go for that to manifest in any substantive action against Apple. This could take years, and in the meantime, I think that being off iOS drastically hurts Fortnite’s long term ambitions of becoming the foundation of the Metaverse, as how can you do that and effectively not exist on mobile?
We’ll have to keep tracking the progress of this case, but for now, early indications do not seem all that favorable for Epic, no matter what you may think of Apple’s monolithic market position.
Follow me on Twitter, YouTube and Instagram. Pick up my sci-fi novels Herokiller and Herokiller 2, and read my first series, The Earthborn Trilogy, which is also on audiobook.


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AI – a polarizing topic, to say the bare minimum. Since the emergence of movies like Ex Machina and the 1950’s classic novel I, Robot, there have been massive concerns about artificial intelligence taking over the world and enslaving us. That’s just sci-fi conspiracy talking, though. The reality of where we are with AI research and applications is very different.
Artificial Intelligence in today’s tangible terms is the Roomba vacuum, virtual customer care assistance, and the odd Japanese bipedal dancing robot. What if all of that was about to be turned on its head? What if someone managed to build an artificially intelligent robot that could essentially do tasks that humans find monotonous and repetitive? Unlike the exhilaration of placing a bet on sportweddenschappen or taking a leap of faith. That is what Elon Musk and Tesla plan on doing. Whether this is the best move for the world or Tesla stock for that matter is up for heated debate.Tesla Stock – The Ups and Downs
Tesla is somewhat infamous for making announcements that drastically influence their stock, not always for the better. If we go back to September 2020 to Tesla’s battery technology event, their stock dropped more than 15 percent. Granted, Musk did take the battery day opportunity to announce that it may be a couple more years before a truly affordable Tesla electric vehicle makes it to the automotive market.
But despite any business risks or questionable investments of time and effort, Tesla has always been able to bounce back. Tesla stock averages at around 680 USD this month, which is orders of magnitude better than this time last year’s 45 USD average.AI Day
Similar to Battery Day, AI Day was a massive event in Tesla’s books. Hosted at Tesla headquarters in Palo Alto, AI Day was Musk’s vehicle to convey his thoughts, predictions, plans, and dreams about Tesla’s AI-driven future. Elon Musk discussed the launch of the Tesla Semi and new Roadster and a notable new project with exciting predicted applications. Yes, we are referring to the Tesla Bot.
Elon Musk is no stranger to making bold statements that ultimately crash and burn like SpaceX’s SN11 in Boca Chica, Texas. But, lest we forget, Musk has also wholly revolutionized two industries; astronautics and the automotive sector. If the claims and dreams about the Tesla Bot do come to fruition, we are looking at the hypersonic advancement of robotics and the Artificial Intelligence industry.Tesla Bot
Musk envisions the Tesla Bot to be a significant help in both the workplace and domestic setting. He predicts that the first Tesla Bot prototype will be launched next year. While we wait, we can look forward to some of the core details released on AI Day:
Musk claims that the Tesla Bot will be friendly, and to quell any sci-fi concerns, even joked that it could be overpowered and outrun by the average human. This was Musk’s way to silence any fears that the Tesla Bot will start the robot uprising.
Elon Musk has a long history of making fantastical claims and predictions concerning Tesla. This man has proven time and time again; he is the one to watch. Whether or not the Tesla Bot will command the same respect has yet to be determined, but Tesla’s stocks are sure to recover from the minor drops Tesla is prone to experience.


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Westgate City Center in Glendale facing foreclosure
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- Mike Sunnucks
Westgate City Center in Glendale is facing foreclosure.
Notices of trustee sale have been filed against the two Ellman Cos. entities that own the land and the retail and restaurant complex that comprise Westgate.
“As a result of the national recession and ongoing questions about the future of the Phoenix Coyotes, it is unfortunate but understandable that notices of trustee sale have been filed against the two entities (Entertainment Center Development LLC and Coyote Center Development LLC) that separately own the entertainment center and vacant land comprising much of Westgate City Center,” the Ellman Cos. said via publicist Jason Rose.
A notice of trustee sale means the property and land could be foreclosed on if the Westgate entities and lenders can’t work out new financing terms. If that occurs, a new investor could purchase Westgate or the retail complex could revert to its lenders.
Westgate opened in 2006 on 223 acres off the Loop 101 in Glendale. It is adjacent to Jobing.com Arena and University of Phoenix Stadium. Westgate has had a mixed performance record, with AMC Theatres, DeVry University and a number of restaurants leasing space at the complex. But a number of stores and restaurants have closed, in part because of the economy.
Westgate has been a large part of Glendale’s effort to build a sports, entertainment and employment hub in the West Valley. The city said restaurants, bars and stores at Westgate will stay open through the proceedings.
“Westgate City Center has always been a strong destination point for Glendale,” the city of Glendale said in a statement forwarded by spokeswoman Jen Stein. “In spite of the news today, residents and tourists will still enjoy the amenities, restaurants and shops that Westgate offers. The news today does not impact the current operation, meaning business will be open as usual. Westgate is a viable component of the economy for the West Valley.”
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US cotton prices hit a 12-week high, as demand from Chinese mills increased in light of the poor fiber quality of domestic stockpiles, The Wall Street Journal reported. The ICE Futures US exchange, a barometer of prices for what some consider to be the highest quality cotton, showed that March delivery orders for the fiber increased 1.12 cents, or 1.5% to 77.33 cents per pound, the highest level since October 18. China, believed to hold nearly half of the world’s cotton supply in warehouses, began auctioning stockpiles to local mills on Monday. Traders were concerned that the sales would reduce demand for foreign cotton, but less than 70% of fiber on offer sold on Monday and Tuesday. The mills were not satisfied with the quality of cotton offered, analysts said. The development spurred speculative investors to wager that Chinese mills would demand US cotton, pushing up prices.
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China market: Local e-book reader vendors bracing for Amazon competition
Max Wang, Taipei; Joseph Tsai, DIGITIMES
Amazon has recently entered the China e-book market and prompted local e-book reader vendors to release new products to counter the US-based vendor's advance, according to sources from the upstream supply chain.
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Albuquerque retail moves to ‘healthier, normal state’
The boom years for the Albuquerque retail market took place right before the crash. And while returning to those levels of low vacancy and high rents might still be a goal, brokers say it doesn’t mean those levels must be reached for the retail market to be considered recovered.
“What we’re seeing this year with the improvement in retail numbers is really less a recovery and more a settling into a normal vacancy rate and normal absorption that is sustainable,” Jim Dountas, a retail specialist at CBRE’s New Mexico office said. Dountas said the peak in the retail market for the Duke City area hit around 2005 and 2006. “We’re going into a healthier, normal state of mind. Rents are competitive and you’re seeing market forces drive occupancy instead of being artificially influenced,” he said.
Jeremy Nelson, also part of CBRE’s retail team, adds that retailers are being more strategic now, as opposed to just “filling available holes.” The team recently signed an anchor tenant at the Promenade Shopping Center for a 13,700-square-foot True Value Hardware store to fill a former Charter Bank space.
The retail team, which includes Lia Armstrong, said Albuquerque’s retail market has had a noteworthy year so far, and the fourth quarter is looking promising as well. Third quarter numbers show a vacancy of 10.4 percent, about 1 percent lower than the second quarter, with upcoming construction completions for 2013 approaching their highest level since 2009.
Notable activities in the quarter included two Gordmans openings, one at 49,000 square feet and the other nearly 48,000 square-feet. In addition, a 37,000-square-foot Walmart Neighborhood Market opened at the Pavilions at San Mateo. Those were notable, CBRE said, because they filled existing vacant spaces.
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Buying used cars has long been a common strategy to save money. But now shoppers are being squeezed between higher-than-usual used car prices and a growing selection of increasingly fuel-efficient new cars.
That's the conclusion of a new poll released by Kelley Blue Book (pdf). When asked if higher used-car prices have prompted them to consider purchasing new instead, a simple majority (53 percent) said, "Yes." Another 44 percent said they had considered a new car over a used model because of fuel economy improvements.
We've often advised that buying used allows you to skip paying for the most expensive years of a new car's depreciation and still get a perfectly decent, reliable car.
But as we noted in a recent post ("Is it better to buy a new or used car?"), this conventional wisdom bears reconsideration when you shop, for temporary shifts in the car industry or even finance market may tweak the car-buying paradigm. In our recent sales analysis, we found that some model-year-end deals were, in fact, quite attractive compared to buying used.
We've seen some other advantages recently to purchasing new, rather than used: Notably the rapid, continued improvements in safety features and occupant protection. Electronic stability control became standard on all passenger vehicles with the 2012 model year, making it easier to find a car that is equipped with this potentially life- and sheetmetal-saving feature. Curtain air bags continue to proliferate, as do crash-avoidance technology such as lane departure warning, collision avoidance, and blind-spot detection. In general, cars have never been safer, and increasingly stringent crash tests, like those recently announced by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, will likely further this trend.
Let's not forget, buying new also brings the protection of a warranty.
Given all these advantages, it's never been more important to shop around and look closely at the costs of buying a new or used car. Traditional wisdom can provide a good guide, but it is always worth weighing your options to ensure you make the best decision for your needs and budget.


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CINCINNATI, April 17, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- OCEAN, the nation's first faith-based startup accelerator, announced today details for its Demo Day on April 29 at 1 p.m. at Crossroads Church. Two global business leaders will speak to the OCEAN startup class and Demo Day attendees: Songza co-founder Elias Roman, a recent Forbes 30 Under 30 recipient who sold his successful music app to Google in 2014 for a reported $38 million; and Colleen Arnold, who as the senior vice president of IBM is responsible for all $100 billion of IBM's annual revenue worldwide.
OCEAN Demo Day is an opportunity for its 10 startup companies to showcase their ideas, ranging from a hardware company that produces water filtration systems to companies using cloud-based infrastructure or apps that serve unmet needs in the market. OCEAN's participating companies were selected from 150 applicants from around the nation and world, with 50% of the applicants coming from outside Cincinnati and 20% coming from outside the U.S.
"Through my role at IBM I've seen the impact that businesses can have on a global scale," said Colleen Arnold. "That's why I'm honored to share my journey as part of OCEAN Accelerator's first DEMO Day. OCEAN's unique role that takes entrepreneurs through a business and faith journey will enable its startups to thrive and make ripples throughout the world."
OCEAN's Demo Day will serve as the kickoff for Cincinnati's Innovation XChange business conference. During the event, each startup will demonstrate its ideas to potential investors and the general public, and Arnold and Roman will share their success stories for all attendees.
"Being part of Innovation XChange is a reflection of OCEAN's involvement in #StartupCincy, the city's rich ecosystem of support for startups," said Genine Fallon, executive director of OCEAN. "Building a startup company can be isolating, but OCEAN provides a team experience for participants as well as access to the thriving startup community in Cincinnati."
In addition to coworking, in-kind resources and business mentoring, OCEAN provides faith mentors so that startup founders can build their faith while building their business. OCEAN does not discriminate based on applicants' faith, but teams submitted to a 6-month faith exploration as part of their experience.
"For many industries, the last decade has seen great decreases in the cost of starting a business and time it takes to get to market," said Roman, who now serves as senior product manager at Google Play Music. "The enormous value of advice shared by trusted advisors, accelerators or incubators, however, has stayed constant. I benefitted tremendously from that advice when I co-founded Songza, and am thrilled to share whatever learnings I can at the 2015 DEMO day."
For more information or to register for Demo Day, visit oceanaccelerator.com/demoday.
Contact: Natalie Hastings