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TOKYO/LONDON Japan's biggest supermarket group, Aeon Co Ltd has hired British online grocery pioneer Ocado to develop its e-commerce business, hoping to fend off rivals such as Amazon as more customers buy groceries online. | Video
LONDON British retailer Marks & Spencer has appointed the chief executive of rival Tesco's F&F Clothing division to be the boss of its struggling clothing and home business, it said on Friday.
LONDON With harsh lessons learnt from past Black Fridays, British retailers are stretching promotions over several weeks, aiming to smooth out consumer demand and reduce the pressure on supply and distribution networks.
LONDON The new boss of Kingfisher criticised the British home improvement group's "organisational complexity" as it reported a worsening decline in quarterly sales, underlining the uphill task he faces to stem falling profits.
* Forecasts full-year results within analysts' forecast
LONDON Asda, the British supermarket arm of the world's biggest retailer Walmart, blamed lower sales in its latest quarter on Brexit uncertainty, saying it had negatively affected consumers' spending patterns.
LONDON British supermarket group Sainsbury's expects to trade well in the run-up to Christmas but fears a consumer hangover in the new year if Brexit is unresolved, its boss said on Thursday.
LONDON The idea of splitting British retailer Marks & Spencer into two companies - one for clothing and the home, and one for food - is "completely impractical" and not in the board's current thinking, Chairman Archie Norman said on Wednesday.
LONDON Britain's Marks & Spencer reported a 17% drop in first-half profit, dragged down by falling clothing sales, but said it was confident it could fix its problems and return to growth, sending its battered shares higher.


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This is an era when the globalization is at a low tide and international relations have turned back to the jungle.
U.S. President Donald Trump announced on October 1 that the United States had reached a new trade agreement with Mexico and Canada: the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) replaced the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). Renegotiating the NAFTA was one of Trump’s campaign promises. The conclusion of the new agreement is the outcome of compromises made by the three parties.
However, the USMCA represents the principle of American First to a large extent. All sorts of quotas and quantitative restriction measures are used in the USMCA, while encouraging the exporting countries to make automatic export restrictions in essence. For example, the clause clearly demands that Mexico supervise, allocate and manage the relevant quotas. Take the automobile rule of origin for example. The new agreement provides that at least 75% of the automobiles manufactured under the agreement should be made in North America, in comparison with the 62.5% provided in the former NAFTA. Besides, 40-50% of the automobiles must be produced by the workers who are paid at least $16/hour. At present, the hourly wage of the non-developed Mexican auto industry averaged at less than $3, only one tenth or even one twentieth of that of U.S. and Canadian workers. Increasing the lowest hourly pay will certainly benefit the Mexican auto industry workers, but will push up the manufacturing cost. The White House predicates that the enforcement of the new agreement will greatly spur job creation in the U.S. Rust Belt and cut the trade deficit with Mexico and Canada.
The United States no longer takes the trade agreement as a channel to help U.S. enterprises create global supply chains but will instead reviewing the commodities flowing into the United States more strictly in order to force the manufacturing industry back to the U.S. Jeffrey Schott, a senior fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics, believes that the USMCA is the first trade agreement that the U.S. government has negotiated to increase rather than reduce trade and investment barriers; demanding auto manufacturers follow the provisions before enjoying lower tariffs.
The USMCA is evidently discriminatory. It introduces discriminatory clauses that were rarely seen in past trade agreements and restricts dealings with non-market economies: if one of the three parties signs a free trade agreement with any non-market economy, the other two parties have the right to withdraw from the USMCA within six weeks. It means that the United States attempts to take this trade agreement as a model for future bilateral trade negotiations; the restrictive clause on non-market economies could be stuck into the U.S-Europe trade agreement, the U.S.-Japan trade agreement, and other free trade agreements. This will consolidate the international trade system based on the U.S. model and may form new barriers to international trade rules.
Since the 1990s, the global value chain has obviously become increasingly important to the world economies, accounting for three fourths of the global goods trade. China is Mexico’s second largest commodity supplier. The freer the trade between Mexico and China, the higher the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of this supply chain. However, the fact that the USMCA provisions clearly prevent China and Mexico from reaching a free trade agreement will certainly cut apart the industrial chain, the supply chain, and enhance production costs. Part of the cost will have to be borne by U.S. consumers. Therefore, building trade barriers to any third country can be costly. And it will have a broad and far-reaching impact on the free trade order that was set up after World War II and will be a heavy blow to the global value chain system.
In the face of trade protectionism and unilateral threats, what’s to be done? Scrap it and make a new start or reconstruct multilateral rules? It will determine what the pattern of world trade will look like in the future. The WTO operational mechanism falls far behind the changing world.
However, the basic principles of the WTO should not be abandoned, such as most-favored nation treatment, tariff restraint, and transparency. Now, the world needs to build a new international cooperation order, further clarify and reach the WTO reform goals, avoid the extreme heavy-handed policies that benefit one country at the expense of other countries, intensify trade rules for the benefit of future global economic development, thus creating a new open trade system, a task that is more important than ever before.

domain: news


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7 Startups Reinventing News
The news industry is in the middle of a huge transformation. With the advent of the internet, people can now get their news from a variety of sources, including social media, blogs, and traditional news outlets. This has led to a decline in readership for traditional newspapers and magazines. As a result, many startups have been created in an effort to reinvent how we get our news. In this blog post, we will discuss seven of these startups and their unique approaches to delivering the news.
The first startup on our list is News Deeply. This company has created a platform that allows people to dive deeply into specific topics that they are interested in. For example, if you want to learn about the Syrian refugee crisis, you can read articles, watch videos, and participate in discussions with experts on the topic. News Deeply also offers a variety of other news topics to choose from, including climate change, education, and health.
Another interesting startup is The Skimm. This company provides a daily email newsletter that gives readers a rundown of the top stories in the news. The Skimm also includes links to additional articles for those who want to learn more about a particular story. In addition to its email newsletter, The Skimm also has a mobile app and a website.
Next on our list is Inverse. This company focuses on delivering news about science, technology, and culture to its audience. Inverse produces original content as well as curates stories from other sources. One of the company’s goals is to make complex topics accessible to everyone. In addition to its website, Inverse also has a podcast and a YouTube channel.
If you’re looking for an alternative to traditional news sources, then Bleep might be for you. This startup delivers news through short-form videos that are designed to be watched on your phone. Bleep also offers a variety of other content, including interviews, opinion pieces, and documentaries. You can watch Bleep’s videos on its website or through its mobile app.
Another interesting news startup is NowThis. This company produces short videos that are designed to be watched on social media. NowThis also has a website where you can watch its videos and read articles. In addition to its video content, NowThis also offers a podcast and a daily email newsletter.
Finally, we have The Outline. This company focuses on delivering news about culture and technology. The Outline produces original content as well as curates stories from other sources. One of the company’s goals is to make complex topics accessible to everyone. In addition to its website, The Outline also has a podcast and a YouTube channel.
These are just seven of the many startups that are reinventing news. With so many options available, there’s sure to be a news source that’s right for you. So why not explore some of these startups and see what they have to offer? You might just find your new favorite way to get the news.


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Bioware let-slip new game clues
Two new Bioware titles, both of which have never been confirmed previously, were let-slip by Canadian developer Bioware at the GDC yesterday, as the firm handed out job information sheets and posted vacancies on their official website. Little is known on the two new projects currently, though one of them is apparently an RPG (unsurprisingly).
A number of development positions are available at the firm, including a writer and an animator - the writer will be fleshing-out an RPG plotline reportedly, and must have previous games or novel-writing experience.
Apparently, neither of these projects are the previously discussed Jade Empire, another RPG in the works at Bioware. More on this soon. Maybe.
- Dark Souls 2 could see a fourth pack of DLC released
- Far Cry 4 is all about player choice, has five endings
- Call Of Duty: Advanced Warfare PC system specifications announced
- Evolution adds more multiplayer events to Driveclub as they continue to work on the game's server issues
- Rockstar announces a San Andreas 10th Anniversary event this weekend for GTA Online
- Dead Or Alive 5: Last Round gets a release date
- Unfinished Swan to hit the PS4 and PS Vita next week
- Gamersgate.com CEO emphasizes that they have nothing to do with #Gamergate
- Microsoft announces the feature list for the November Xbox One update


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Better Place has unveiled the price of the electric cars it will be selling in Israel, the Renault Fluence ZE: NIS 123,000. That’s a hair more than gasoline-fueled cars of similar size.
Buyers can start placing orders in July and the cars should start arriving toward year-end
Better Place, founded by ex-tech entrepreneur Shai Agassi, also revealed that initially it will be offering five service packages whose prices will depend on the client’s mileage. Each package includes installation of a charging point at the client’s home, unlimited battery replacements and unfettered access to Better Place charging points for four years Read more


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A recent press release from Apple is outlining some serious changes in the company’s infrastructure. According to the document, the Apple executives – Craig Federighi, Eddy Cue, Bob Mansfield, and Jony Ive – will be granted a variety of new responsibilities and roles within the company. Apple claims that this will help to create a better collaboration across their hardware, software, and services. There was also a side announcement which stated that Scott Forstall will be leaving the company next year but will remain as an interim adviser to CEO Tim Cook when needed.
The press release also outlined some of the new responsibilities that these individuals will be getting:
Eddy Cue will now be heading up Siri and Maps in addition to his responsibilities with the App Store, iTunes, the iCloud, and the iBookstore. This will place all of Apple’s online services into one area with one development team. This will help create a better bond across all of Apple’s stores and services.
Bob Mansfield will take over the Technologies sector. This group will include all of Apple’s wireless teams, which will allow for even greater innovation to grow at a much more rapid pace. This group is also going to absorb the semiconductor teams, which are said to have some great plans for the future.
Craig Federighi is going to be heading up the iOS and OS X sectors of the company. These groups are all responsible for Apple’s amazing, innovative, and user-friendly operating systems. By combining the two into one group, it will allow Apple to usher in an area of even better OS for all of their devices.
Jony Ive will take creative control over the Human Interface and Industrial Design aspects of the tech company. These areas will define all of the physical manifestations at Apple, and the company has praised Jony Ive’s incredibly artistic talent and flair for modern looks.
John Browett will also be leaving the company, and human resources will be attempting to find a suitable Lead of Retail to put in his place. The Retail group is responsible for all of Apple’s gorgeous and innovative looking physical locations that sell products to the general public. Apple has been popping up retail locales all around the globe this past year, and their growth has been outstanding. For now, until a proper replacement is found, the retail team will report directly to CEO Tim Cook.
Tim Cook also snuck a direct quote about the matter into the released document:
“We are in one of the most prolific periods of innovation and new products in Apple’s history. The amazing products that we’ve introduced in September and October, iPhone 5, iOS 6, iPad mini, iPad, iMac, MacBook Pro, iPod touch, iPod nano and many of our applications, could only have been created at Apple and are the direct result of our relentless focus on tightly integrating world-class hardware, software and services.”
It’s going to be very interesting to see where Apple goes from this point on and what types of products and services we will see as a product of this new collaborative effort. With all of these big names moving around and shifting into more prolific roles though, one can only imagine the innovation that will come from Apple in the future.


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Transit authority creating consumer advisory panel
The MetroWest Regional Planning Authority is creating a new consumer advisory group to give feedback on local transportation services and how they can do better.
The authority hopes to see one member from each of the 11 communities it serves, along with a few more people to make the group representative of the bus-riding public.
"It should be a diverse group of people who use public transportation," said Ed Carr, the authority's administrator. "By diverse, I mean people who use commuter services, people who are elderly and disabled, students, people going shopping - all kinds of people."
The group's chairman is Paul Spooner, executive director of the MetroWest Center for Independent Living, Carr said. Spooner could not be reached for comment yesterday afternoon.
The center's Web site says it offers training, information and support to people with disabilities to help them meet their own goals and become productive members of their communities.
Ideally, Spooner is looking for 15 to 18 people to serve on the consumer advisory board, Carr said.
The group hopefully will be set within the next month or two and meet four to six times a year, offering advice to the transit authority's advisory board and administrator on what customers like and dislike, Carr said.
"You always want to be hearing from the consumers," Carr said. "You can't really do this in a vacuum."
Many transit authorities have similar consumer boards, Carr said.
Officials in several communities have put the word out for anyone interested to contact their local Town Hall.
The transit authority - set up about 1 1/2 years ago - serves Ashland, Framingham, Holliston, Hopkinton, Marlborough, Natick, Wayland, Weston, Sherborn, Southborough and Sudbury.
(David Riley can be reached at 508-626-3919 or firstname.lastname@example.org.)


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WASHINGTON (MarketWatch) — Consumers are feeling more comfortable using their credit and charge cards, according to the latest government data released Monday and that may be a good news for the economy.
The Federal Reserve reported that credit-card debt increased in December for the first time since August 2008. Credit-card debt rose a seasonally adjusted $2.3 billion or a 3.5% annualized rate in December.
Credit and charge cards fell out of favor during the recession because of the high interest rates.
“We don’t think households have changed their mind about how much debt they are willing to carry, but we do believe that they are getting more comfortable using credit cards, which is a good sign for the overall economy,” said Ellen Zentner, senior U.S. macro economist at the Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi.
Overall consumer credit rose in December for the third straight month, the Fed said.
Consumer credit fell nearly every month since mid-2008 but has now stabilized, Zentner said.
There has been fairly steady improvement since December 2009.
Total consumer credit rose $6.10 billion or at a 3% rate.
Nonrevolving credit, such as auto loans, personal loans and student loans, increased $3.8 billion or 2.8%. This category improved more quickly because it tracks the general improvement in auto sales.


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Today around the High Gear Media network we have a bounty of new car news, including a look at Chrysler's future direction, the next generation of the Chevrolet Colorado pickup, and the possibility of a Hyundai Elantra plug-in hybrid. Catch all of this and more in the links below.
The all-new global Chevrolet Colorado will be coming to the U.S.
Is Hyundai working on a plug-in hybrid Elantra
Check out these new 2012-2013 family cars with great sound systems
Nissan is working to restore confidence in the quality
of its cars.
A new electric car is on the way from Daimler and China's BYD
Take a road trip with Mitsubishi's i electric car.
Learn all you need to know about the 2012 Chevrolet Sonic
Chrysler is working to reduce duplication of models
between its brands.
BMW's updated real-time traffic technology
helps beat traffic jams.
Interested in the Nissan Juke? Now you can preview it in 3D


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The Scooters ‘N Chairs is dispensing a marvellous opportunity through its Scooters ‘N Chairs Spring Scholarships. The grant is available for undergraduate students. The program is awarding $1000 for eligible students who are currently registered at an officially accredited University or College. Scooters ‘N Chairs is an online store filled with the highest-rated mobility scooters … The post Scooters ‘N Chairs Scholarships in USA appeared first on Scholarship Positions 2020 2021 .
Situs Pencari Beasiswa Terbaik di Indonesia
Update Info Beasiswa Nasional dan Beasiswa Luar Negeri Terlengkap
Beasiswa Pelajar, Mahasiswa, S1, S2, S3 Dan Banyak Lagi


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Ghanaian Actress Jackie Appiah has created an interesting impression on the minds of netizens who chanced on an accessory she paired her outfit with, at an event in Kumasi.
The Ghanaian actress Jackie Appiah left an intriguing impression on online users after they saw the jewelry she paired with her attire at a Kumasi event.
Jackie Appiah was seen holding the crystal-encrusted, gold-plated purse in a viral video while posing for the camera.
While some people were impressed by the actress’s brave and original choice of clothing, others thought it was strange—especially because she chose to wear it to such an event.
A social media user wrote;
“Eiii Jackie Appiah! What brand is the clutch? Levels,” A ‘stunned’
Others asserted that the actress, who strives to avoid controversy, is purposefully attracting attention with her appearance.
In the meantime, research conducted online by certain netizens revealed that the bag costs more than $33.000.


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Toy Association Focuses on Facts to Tackle Latest List Attacking Safety of Toys
November 19, 2021 | With many shoppers getting an early start on their toy buying this year amid supply chain disruptions, certain NGO groups are unfortunately using it as an opportunity to needlessly scare parents with their own inaccurate “unsafe toys” reports filled with misinformation.
As W.A.T.C.H (World Against Toys Causing Harm) released its annual list of “10 Most Dangerous Toys” (featuring products that are fully compliant with U.S. federal safety laws) on November 17, The Toy Association was at the ready with facts to challenge each erroneous claim. The Association also offered support and counsel to member companies targeted by these groups.
Toy Association staff provided interviews and statements to numerous media outlets, emphasizing the 100+ federal toy safety tests and standards in place to protect children. Of the total W.A.T.C.H. coverage to date, The Toy Association was mentioned in 35 percent of published news articles and broadcast segments, providing audiences with accurate information on toy safety and a rebuttal to the group’s false and irresponsible claims. Outlets that mentioned The Toy Association included the Associated Press, U.S. News & World Report, San Francisco Chronicle, and Buffalo News, among others.
“Thanks to our industry’s 24/7 commitment to toy safety and focus on providing consumers with factual information year in and year out, this report and others like it continue to receive less media attention,” said Joan Lawrence, senior vice president of standards and regulatory affairs at The Toy Association. “If W.A.T.C.H. was truly serious about safety, they would use a third party, federally approved testing lab to accurately review the toys in their report to ensure compliance. But instead, they continue to rely on scare tactics, misrepresent the safety standards and cite toy recalls and product package safety and warning information as reasons to believe that toys are unsafe, when the exact opposite is true.”
The Toy Association is continuing to monitor coverage of this report and will respond to any claims on behalf of members. Members are advised to reach out to The Toy Association’s Kristin Morency Goldman, senior advisor of strategic communication, for more information or assistance.


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There's an age-old argument among car enthusiasts that you have to sacrifice horsepower to get higher miles-per-gallon and vice versa.
Read This Article
It's been a quiet year for Mitsubishi in the United States.
Mitsubishi announces pricing for the 2014 Outlander and Lancer models.
After undergoing National Highway Traffic Safety Administration-mandated crash testing, the 2012 Mitsubishi i-MiEV electric car achieved a four-star rating.


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Privacy is the word of the week, as Google released a series of blogs and updates, designed around empowering users to understand the ads they are served, and advising advertisers on how to better manage user data.
Google has expanded its Ad Disclosure Schema (length: long), including the new Ads Transparency Spotlight tool. This has been released as an alpha Chrome extension and shows information on ads being served on a page. The tool will currently only highlight some ads purchased through Google Ads, but Google hopes to expand this in the future. Following recent news about enhanced ability to view third party tracking in Safari with iOS 14, Google’s extension is another step of allowing users greater insights into how their data is being used.
In addition to the new extension, users will also be able to view more information when they click “Why this ad?”(length: medium). The option to view limited details on ad targeting has been available for years, but it will now be expanded to include the verified name of the advertiser. This will also be rolled out for Google Ads and DV360 advertisers first, but should be expanded in the future.
Meanwhile, Think With Google released a blog(length: long), discussing the importance of privacy to users, and highlighting their efforts to move toward a cookie-free future with The Privacy Sandbox initiative. It also emphasises that successful advertising in the future is going to be increasingly dependent on first party data, and gives some food for thought on how to gather this data more effectively.
Finally, Google released a blog highlighting how to take control of Google Analytics data(length: medium). Many users don’t fully understand GA functionality, and this blog highlights how to update settings, control data usage and delete data within the Google Analytics interface, to support a more ethical use of your consumers data.
Enhanced privacy settings and limited use of cookie tracking is clearly the future of digital advertising. If you’re interested in finding out more, Google released a playbook last month(length: very long), which goes into great depth into the changing privacy landscape and how you can respond to it effectively.
The end of the Facebook Ads boycott?
Last week we discussed the continuing Facebook Ads boycott. This week The Wall Street Journal takes a look at which advertisers have returned and which big players are staying away(length: medium).
Meanwhile the New York Times tries to estimate the impact of the boycott on Facebook’s revenue, asking the question: did the boycott really work?(length: medium).
Which ad platforms are succeeding during COVID?
For the first time in history, Google’s parent company Alphabet Inc. saw its revenue shrink. Google’s advertising sales fell 8% in the second quarter, compared to Amazon’s sales which jumped a whopping 40%. The Print discusses Google’s failure to capture the rise of ecommerce during COVID(length: medium).
Meanwhile, in the spite of the boycott, Facebook revenue soars as the ad platform focuses on ecommerce solutions for small businesses(length: medium).
In other news
- Google is rolling out lead gen forms into YouTube and Discovery campaigns (length: medium)
- Search Engine Journal summarised some updates to App campaigns (length: medium), including the availability of maximise conversions bidding and updated image requirements, both designed to lower the barrier to entry.
- Search Engine Land shared some tips for expanding PPC internationally (length: long).
- Microsoft has announced that they’re expanding shopping ads into more EU countries (length: short).
- Vox released this video discussing the inherent biases in PPC algorithms (length: 8 mins) – well worth a watch with your morning coffee.


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The superstar, who first served as a Pepsi spokesperson in 2002, has been anointed the brand’s ambassador. She will not only star in a new “Live For Now” TV spot–her fifth commercial with the soda company premiers after this year’s Super Bowl, where she is headlining the halftime show–but cardboard cutouts of Bey will be featured in supermarkets all around the world.
Beyoncé’s image will also be featured on a limited edition can that will premier in Europe in March 2013. The singer plans to help the company with future designs of cans and bottles, along with additional side projects like music videos and photo shoots to promote the brand.
This is not the first time a music superstar has aligned themselves with a big name brand. Lady Gaga was named Creative Director in 2010 for Polaroid and Bey’s hubby, Jay-Z joined with Microsoft to promote his 2010 memoir, Decoded.
But with Christmas only two weeks away, we think she should put this promo money to good use.
She could add the money to her baby girl, Blue Ivy’s future college fund or invest in a luxury Tribeca loft for the little tot. Never too soon to get into real estate, we say.
For the man who has everything, we suggest she buys Jay the digital sweater, designed by fellow rapper Sean “P Diddy” Combs. The sleeve of the fleece pullover features a 2.8 inch HD screen that plays your favorite video content while you walk around. We suggest he literally wears his heart on his sleeve by playing some of his favorite Beyoncé videos.
What do you think Bey should do with the $50 million dollars?
-Shannon Carlin, CBS Local


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Due to the addition of multiple undersea cables, the amount of bandwidth available throughout the globe has increased and seems capable of keeping up with the ever increasing demand, but when it comes to prices, the rates are still restrictive and can be very expensive in certain routes, such as those in Africa and India.
Telegeography has recently updated its pricing data for the global wholesale bandwidth, and according to their findings, the prices for bandwidth capacity may have dropped in certain routes due to the new undersea cables, but the drop is negligible. One example is India – with bandwidth still costing $175 thousand monthly for 10 Gbps transfers between Mumbai and London, which may be 22% lower than their previous rates before the three new undersea cables connecting India were built 3 years ago, but is still poor compared to the $100 thousand or less per 10 Gbps cost when sending data to and from between Miami and Santiago.
The charges help gauge the overall cost of sending web and data center traffic across the globe. It is worth keeping in mind that the prices are falling, even if the speed in which they drop is slow. A linear reduction in costs, no matter how slow, is usually a good thing, especially for web operators, ISPs, mobile operators, web companies, and even end consumers. The only causes for concern are lack of competition, corruption, and regulatory issues, which results in huge disparities between rates depending on region.


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Petaluma-based Lagunitas Brewing Co. has big plans for its new brewery under construction in Azusa.
How big? 178,000-square-feet worth, that’s how big.
Initially, the brewery will pump out 420,000 barrels of beer annually, but will eventually ramp up to — cue Doctor Evil voice — one million barrels. The brewery will distribute throughout the Southwest, and perhaps, eventually into Mexico.
Continue reading “Lagunitas has big plans for Southern California brewery” »
Another brewery has decided they are in the business of selling beer, not beer containers.
South El Monte’s Progress Brewing has been selling unmarked growlers, but it makes perfect sense to sell unmarked growlers when you’ve already had to change your name, and you haven’t even been open three months!
The brewery takes a pretty lenient stance on growler policy, and apparently will fill pretty much any clean container it can cap and label.
Our suggestion? Bring those unmarked or covered-up growlers to Progress Brewing, 1822 Chico Ave., and fill ’em up!
Over the past year, state code regarding growler refills has been re-examined, reinterpreted and redefined.
In June, The Bruery announced it would begin selling and refilling unmarked two-liter Palla-style growlers.
In October, AB 647 was passed, amending three items in the state’s beer manufacturing codes, among them being the labeling of growlers.
In November, Coachella Valley Brewing Co. noted it would begin filling any half-gallon or two-liter growler.
Continue reading “We’ve found another brewery willing to fill any growler” »
South El Monte’s best (OK, only) brewery, Federal Brewing, recently underwent a name change in response to a cease-and-desist letter — not from a similarly-named up-and-coming Maryland brewery, but from a certain L.A. County drinking establishment, which shall remain nameless.
The brewery is now known as Progress Brewing. Please update your bookmarks accordingly.
Continue reading “What’s in a name? Federal Brewing is now Progress Brewing” »
Yes, we know they’ve been open for a while now, but Covina’s Alosta Brewing Co. will celebrate its grand opening from 1 to 9 p.m. Saturday, January 18.
There will be lots of great beer, plus an official ribbon-cutting at 3 p.m.
Alosta Brewing Co. is at 692 Arrow Grand Circle.
The San Gabriel Valley just gained a new brewery.
We’ve been watching the progress of Covina’s Alosta Brewing Co. for a little while now, and are glad that they have cleared the final hurdles and have opened.
A little early, in fact.
Continue reading “Covina’s Alosta Brewing Co. opens” »


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Bimbo to double its electric vehicle fleet by 2023
MEXICO - Grupo Bimbo plans to close 2023 with a fleet of 2,508 electric vehicles for distribution, doubling the number from the previous year and consolidating its position as a leader in green transportation in Latin America.
Ten years after starting its journey towards electromobility, and with a fleet of 1,186 electric delivery vehicles circulating in Mexico, Grupo Bimbo announces that it will have doubled this figure by 2023 alone.
"Doubling our fleet of electric vehicles in Mexico in just one year reflects our commitment to being sustainable by design and moving forward with conviction toward our goal of being a net zero carbon company by 2050," said George Zarate, Grupo Bimbo's global chief operating officer.
In line with this ambitious goal, the company is renewing its vehicle fleet by replacing fossil-fuel units with sustainable technologies, such as electric and hybrid vehicles.
Through a press release, the global baking company recalled that in 2013 Grupo Bimbo launched the first fleet of electric vehicles developed by young Mexican engineers, collaborators of Moldex, a subsidiary of Grupo Bimbo.
That same year, the company opened its first ecological sales center in the historic center of Mexico City, where it combines all the initiatives to protect the environment, including the exclusive use of renewable electric energy.


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Disney names new Hawaii resort
Disney’s first resort in Hawaii has a name: Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa.
The 21-acre resort, which is scheduled to open in fall of 2011, will have 360 hotel rooms and 481 Disney Vacation Club villas, more than 50,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor meeting space, and is located near Waikiki, a major tourist hub for the Hawaiian island of Oahu.
“We want this resort destination to reflect the vibrant culture that surrounds it. The name ‘Aulani’ expresses a connection to tradition and deep story-telling — and its roots are here in this land,” said Joe Rohde, senior vice president for creative for Walt Disney Imagineering, in a prepared statement.
Disney has launched a Web site, www.disneyaulani.com, to provide updates on the resort’s development. The company hasn't said how much the project costs but estimates put it at about $800 million.
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The Amazon Cloud Drive and Google Music Beta are working to carve out their spaces before iCloud is released from its cage. Each service hopes it will have the largest number of users, and Google has just introduced a feature that will hopefully give it an edge in the cloud.
Magnifier is Google Music Beta’s newest feature. The search giant is touting Magnifier as “Music Beta’s cousin who lives in England.” Perhaps that needs some explaining.
In a post introducing Magnifier, Head of Music Programming Tim Quirk related a time in his childhood when his friend’s English cousin would send over new LPs for them to listen to. That exchange inspired Magnifier, Google’s way to suggest new music to users. Free tracks will be released on a daily basis which you can add to your library as you see fit. The service isn’t relegated solely to songs, though. Live performances and interviews will also be offered.
By using Magnifier you may open yourself up to some new artists that would otherwise never have appeared on your radar. That alone makes it worthwhile signing up, alongside the free track every day of course.
Google Music Beta and Amazon Cloud Drive both offer bulk storage, but they differ slightly in how much they offer. Google’s service offers a maximum cloud capacity of 20,000 songs for free. Amazon offers tiered plans with a basic 5GB storage option for free all the way up to 1,000GB for $1,000 a year. Apple’s iCloud has iTunes Match which will offer master copies of purchased iTunes songs with a $24.99 per year storage option for non-iTunes content.
Which service are you inclined to use?


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New info about the characters and gameplay have been revealed along with screenshots.
Several Mighty No 9. Alpha build screenshots have been released today on the game’s official website.
New screenshots show more of the game environment and a very special in-game tablet.
Learn how to grab a screenshot of anything happening on your television or GamePad while playing the Nintendo Wii U!
New screenshots of the Wii U arcade farming simulator Funky Barn.
Nintendo Land was one of the new titles showcased at E3 this year, and according to Nintendo, the
One of the major three Wii U launch titles is Pikmin 3, the other two games being New


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The Future of Hemp-Derived Cannabinoids and Isomers
Image credit: iStock
In 2018, US lawmakers passed the Agriculture Improvement Act, more commonly known as the Farm Bill. Included in this bill was a provision that legalized the production of industrial hemp as well as “any part of that plant, including the seeds thereof and all derivatives, extracts, cannabinoids, isomers, acids, salts, and salts of isomers” so long as the total THC content of the plant is less than 0.3% by dry weight.
Ever since, the market for hemp-derived cannabinoids and isomers has gone from strength to strength; the US CBD market alone was estimated to be worth 4 billion USD in 2021.
But CBD is not the only hemp-derived cannabinoid that is attracting significant attention. Cannabigerol (CBG) and cannabichromene (CBC) have both demonstrated potential medical benefits, while delta-8 THC products pose challenging new questions over the legal status of hemp-derived THC isomers.
Making a hemp-derived cannabinoid extract
A typical process for making a hemp-derived cannabinoid isolate begins the same way as any other hemp or cannabis oil extraction.
“There's primarily three methods that are out there — supercritical CO2, hydrocarbon extraction using liquid propane, and cryo-ethanol extraction. Each of these methods has their own advantages and disadvantages,” Deepank Utkhede, chief operating officer at the pharmaceutical-grade CBD producer Vantage Hemp, told Analytical Cannabis.
“You put the biomass in the equipment, it's extracted, and you end up with what we call a crude extract. This has got all your cannabinoids — CBD, THC, CBDA, CBDV, all of them — as well as fats, lipids, and waxes that get extracted during that process, and some others like chlorophylls and other oils from the plant.”
In order to turn this crude oil into a pure cannabinoid isolate, the oil then goes through a winterization and filtration process to remove those unwanted plant lipids. After being sent through a falling film evaporator to remove any residual solvents, the producer is left with a high-quality, full-spectrum hemp extract oil.
If a manufacturer wants to go a step further and create a very pure hemp-derived isolate of a certain cannabinoid, this can be done by adding in a further distillation and crystallization step.
“It’s a liquid when it comes out, but then it solidifies because it just starts to crystallize out because it's such a high CBD content,” Utkhede said when describing Vantage Hemp’s own process for producing CBD isolate. “The next step is crystallization, where you take that distillate, you dissolve it in pentane and then you take it down to minus 20 [degrees Celsius] to make it crash out of the solution. Once it crashes out of the solution, you can collect those crystals and that's your crystallized isolate.”
However, while this process works well for major cannabinoids such as CBD, which are naturally present in hemp biomass in large amounts, it is less useful for creating isolates of more minor cannabinoids. In these cases, producers may go down the semi-synthetic route and choose to convert hemp-derived CBD into another cannabinoid using chemical processes.
“Hemp, while it produces a large number of cannabinoids, most of those cannabinoids are produced in very low levels. So it's not really that efficient to get from the plant, although you can and there’s a lot of companies doing it,” Utkhede said. “For a certain number of molecules, it makes more sense to isolate a parent compound from hemp which is abundant and then do a conversion.”
What are hemp-derived cannabinoids used for?
With various studies showing that CBD can have a positive effect on anxiety-related disorders, inflammation and oxidative stress, and sleep problems, it is unsurprising that a powerful market for CBD-infused health and wellness products has materialized quickly around the globe. Since hemp-derived CBD isolates are odorless and colorless powders, the cannabinoid lends itself to being made into pills, suspended in topical creams, and even being directly applied sublingually.
“CBD, although it’s been around for a long time, it’s only been taken out of the shadows in the last two to three years,” Utkhede said. ”When you look at it, we’re at the beginning part of an asymptotic increase where we are going to start seeing just a massive amount of data come up and a massive amount of demand and utilization in various industries – pharmaceutical, health and wellness, dietary, that sort of thing.”
While CBD has attracted much of the attention from the health and wellness market, the comparatively less-abundant cannabinoid CBG is also making waves. Early research has demonstrated that this compound may have significant therapeutic applications, from treating glaucoma to killing drug-resistant bacteria such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). CBC is another cannabinoid that holds a lot of promise for future drug development, having been shown to play a role in brain function and cancer cell necrosis.
In addition to hemp-derived cannabinoid isolates, broad-spectrum hemp oils are also popular products among consumers.
“You have this whole slew of these minors that are also present [in hemp oil] – it’s basically all CBG, CBN, CBDV, CBDA,” Utkhede said. “They can contribute to the entourage [effect], as opposed to using an isolate which is generally 99.5% or greater CBD.”
While the entourage effect itself has still to be definitively proven, the basic idea is that different cannabinoids may work together synergistically to boost or otherwise influence their effects when present together in a broad-spectrum extract.
Regulating hemp-derived cannabinoids
Another isomer that has recently made waves in the cannabis space is delta-8 THC.
This compound occurs naturally in hemp in small amounts and is less intoxicating than its more well-known isomer, delta-9 THC. However, it does still deliver a noticeable mellow high that is attractive to many consumers who feel that delta-9 THC is too intense.
So, why is this compound generating so much controversy? Well, that is largely down to its unclear legal standing. Much of the legal language concerning cannabis, including the Farm Bill, refers specifically to delta-9 THC when defining restricted products, and this has caused issues when considering the legality of certain delta-8 THC products.
“The industry thought process is that hemp is legal under the Farm Bill, [so] CBD extracted from hemp is natural and, therefore, legal; trace levels of delta-8 THC have been observed in [hemp] biomass and, therefore, is [sometimes viewed as] a natural product. And since delta-8 is naturally occurring, a derivative pathway from CBD [to delta-8 THC] for production should be illegal,” Chris Hudalla, president and chief scientific officer at ProVerde Laboratories, explained in a recent Analytical Cannabis webinar. “The problem with that thought process is that conversion of CBD into delta-8 THC is not a natural process.”
This lack of clear regulatory control over delta-8 THC products is concerning to many, and even prompted one group of researchers to publish a viewpoint paper in JAMA Network Open calling for more regulation. While some individual states have banned the sale of any delta-8 THC products, a federal court in California recently ruled that delta-8 THC products that “fit comfortably within the statutory definition of ‘hemp’” by containing less than 0.3% delta-9 THC would be considered legal in the state.
The regulatory landscape for CBD products can also be tricky for producers to navigate. In January of this year, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced that it would not be writing any rules to regulate the marketing of CBD as a food item or dietary supplement, saying that it was instead prepared to work with Congress to develop a new cross-agency strategy for regulating such products.
The future of the market
It is estimated that the total hemp derivative market, including materials such as hemp fiber, will be worth more than 20 billion USD by 2028. The personal care market segment is forecast to grow at the highest rate during this period, with hemp-derived CBD oil continuing to be applied to beauty care products and cosmetics.
“I think the biggest impediment to the adoption [of hemp-derived cannabinoids] is information,” Utkhede commented. “All these new cannabinoids, because they’re relatively new and up until recently they hadn’t been isolated, their effects aren’t fully known. And it’s hard to market a product when you don’t fully understand its effects.”
As a producer of pharmaceutical-grade CBD, Vantage Hemp is also beginning to see more desire for CBD that can be used in clinical trials. The company is currently already supplying three clinical trials with hemp-derived CBD formulations that are being used to monitor the effects of the cannabinoid on issues such as sleep, mobility, and viral infection.
“Ideally you want clinical data showing its effect and preferably clinical data where you’re comparing it to a placebo,” Utkhede said. “You are going to see a lot more of that, a lot more of a push towards clinical studies, and then entering markets where it’s clearly defined that it’s a medicine and here are the requirements.”


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Alaska Airlines is not the biggest airline in the U.S., but it appears that it’s aiming to be one of the most modern, or at least as the customer sees it.
The first airline to introduce check-in kiosks at the airport will be the first to get rid of them.
Alaska Airlines is removing the kiosks this year from its main airports, including Seattle, Portland, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Anchorage. It’s part of a plan announced Tuesday to spend $2.5 billion over three years on to upgrade passenger technology in airport lobbies.
The plan is to transition to a fully self-service experience for check-in and baggage drop-off, with the goal of getting passengers through a lobby and to the security line in five minutes or less, the company said.
“As we thought about how to provide the most caring experience for our guests, it was clear the lobby was a pain point,” said Charu Jain, Alaska Airlines senior vice president of innovation and merchandising, in a statement. “We realized the majority of our guests were doing most of the kiosk actions on their own phones and we could reduce the congestion in our airports. Alaska was the first airline to introduce kiosks more than 20 years ago, and we’ll be the first airline to remove them.”
The check-in kiosks will be replaced with iPad stations — essentially an iPad and credit card reader on a stand — where the passenger can pay for a checked bag and print the paper bag tag. The airline is continuing to encourage passengers to check in online and obtain a boarding pass before arriving at the airport. Most of Alaska’s airports will transition to the new bag tag stations by the end of 2023.
The next step involves adding self-service stations, beginning in spring 2024, where the passengers can drop off their bags. The machine will scan the passenger’s face, identification, and bags before the passenger places the bag on a conveyor belt to be loaded onto the aircraft.
The airline said it will still have customer service associates in the airports in case they are needed.
Alaska is continuing to experiment with an electronic bag tag, as well, as the first U.S. customer of Amsterdam-based startup Bagtag since 2022. Through that program, travelers can purchase the reusable electronic tag and attach it at home, using their phone to connect it with the airline’s baggage system.
Alaska emailed Skfit a statement in late January about the progress of that project:
“The Electronic Bag Tag (EBT) program kicked off with a successful launch for 2500 elite flyers, and we’ve been collecting feedback from those guests as they use the technology through their travel journeys. We’re compiling all of the comments and making some adjustments to the EBT before rolling it out to all guests. Early feedback illustrates that our guests love the convenience of tagging their bag at home and it’s saving them time in the lobby.”
The air travel baggage system is not the only area Alaska is looking to modernize. The company launched Alaska Star Ventures in late 2021, through which it’s investing in startups aiming to modernize the transportation industry.
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Photo credit: Pictured is a rendering of a future Alaska Airlines bag tag station. Source: Alaska Airlines Alaska Airlines / Alaska Airlines


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4K ultra-high-definition video resolutions have not yet become popular on the market mainly due to the lack of content, high prices of displays and TVs as well as insufficient performance of mainstream graphics adapters. However, LG Electronics, a major maker of consumer electronics and a leading manufacturer of displays, has already begun to promote the next step, the 8K UHD resolution. Potentially, this may mean that the technology will emerge on the market faster than anticipated.
In a new press release LG Electronics reminded that it is already preparing for the 8K UHD (7680*4320 resolution) era. For example, the company demonstrated a 98” 8K Color Prime Ultra HDTV at CES 2015. Besides, LG managed to improve the brightness of its 55” 8K UHD IPS panel with 7680*4320 resolution and 500nit by implementing M+ panel technology, which adds a white pixel to the existing RGB sub-pixel structure.
Unfortunately, LG did not reveal when it plans to start volume production of displays or televisions with 8K UHD resolution. However, the company did say that Apple has “announced that they will release the ‘iMac 8K’ with a super-high resolution display later this year.” While Apple traditionally makes no commitments for any future products, the company may be considering to launch 8K all-in-one iMac PC, or a standalone 8K UHD display, in 2016 – 2017.
On the market of personal computers 8K ultra-high-definition displays will be very welcomed by professionals. In fact, Microsoft Corp.’s upcoming Windows 10 already supports 7680*4320 resolution.
Unfortunately, 8K UHD content will likely arrive only towards the end of the decade. At present only NHK (Nippon Hōsō Kyōkai, Japan Broadcasting Corp.) and Technical Research Institute of Korean Broadcasting System (KBS) are testing 8K Super Hi-Vision broadcasts. Major Hollywood studios shoot movies using 6K cameras and it will take some time before they adopt 8K devices. As a result, there will be nothing to watch on 8K UHD TVs even if they hit the market tomorrow. Nonetheless, LG seems to be very optimistic about the future of 8K ultra HD technology.
“Look for great strides to be made by LG Display in the super-high resolution display era,” a statement by LG reads.
Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.
KitGuru Says: When it comes to TVs, 7680*4320 is completely useless nowadays and will remain useless for some time. However, many people would appreciate computer displays with 8K UHD resolutions. Perhaps, LG is planning to surprise them in the foreseeable future?


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Natural rubber stakeholders have aligned on a governance structure and priority actions for the Global Platform for Sustainable Natural Rubber (GPSNR), an independent platform created by the Tire Industry Project.
The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd., recently presented the results of joint research projects with two Thai universities on different aspects of natural rubber.
The global supply of natural rubber is anticipated to increase by 4.5% while demand is anticipated to grow by 2.8%, according to the Association of Natural Rubber Producing Countries.
Apollo Tyres Ltd. and the Rubber Research Institute of India have teamed up to develop a new type of natural rubber that can substitute for expensive imported artificial compounds needed for high performance tires. The newly-patented compound should lower costs for Apollo Tyres’ line o high-performance tires.
Cooper Tire and its research consortium partners have announced the successful completion of a five-year, $6.9 million Biomass Research and Development Initiative (BRDI) grant, “Securing the Future of Natural Rubber — An American Tire and Bioenergy Platform from Guayule.”
Cooper Tire & Rubber Co., and its grant partners for “Securing the Future of Natural Rubber—an American Tire and Bioenergy Platform from Guayule,” have made several advancements in their initiative to apply guayule-based rubber in tire production. Guayule (why-yoo-lee) is a desert scrub native to Mexico and the American southwest that has the capability to
Continental Tire AG, together with the Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology, Julius Kuehn-Institute, and EKUSA, has produced and tested the first tires with tread made completely out of natural rubber derived from dandelions. “In agricultural terms, dandelions are an undemanding plant, growing in moderate climates, even in the northern hemisphere, and can
With the help of government agencies and universities, Bridgestone Corp. has developed a method to fight the white root rot disease that affects rubber trees, Tyres & Accessories reports. Since 2010, the tire company has been working with the Indonesian Agency for the Assessment and Application of Technology and a number of universities to develop
Pirelli has constructed its first ultra high performance tire containing natural rubber from the guayule plant. The prototype tire was recently tested on the Italian tiremaker’s Vizzola and Balocco test tracks on a Maserati. The tire took two years to develop from primary materials research to testing, Pirelli said. On the test track, the tires
Cooper Tire & Rubber Co. is getting closer to creating a marketable guayule (why-yoo-lee) tire as the company is in both advanced and complete stages of compounding work to create a tire made 100% of guayule tire components. Cooper held its annual meeting with Biomass Research and Development Initiative grant members Aug. 18-19, to discuss progress


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TVS Motor Company has reported that one of its international products, the TVS HLX series, has sold 2 million units worldwide. The tough and durable motorcycle is available in more than 42 countries.
The TVS HLX series, which debuted in 2013, has lived up to the brand’s promise of being a tough product that is highly reliable in rough terrains. It has played an important role in transforming millions of people’s lives by meeting a variety of commuting needs. The HLX series has been providing last-mile connectivity for commercial taxis and delivery segments in rural and urban areas across Africa, the Middle East, and Latin America. Today, the series has become a favourite brand among customers all over the world.
Speaking on the occasion, Mr. KN. Radhakrishnan, Director and CEO, TVS Motor Company, said, “We are delighted that our leading global brand TVS HLX has achieved a sales milestone of 2 million units across global markets. TVS HLX series is a testimony to our customer experience and quality. We continue to set a benchmark and strive to be the most admired brand for its durability, reliability and extensive service & spare parts support across the globe. As a customer-focused company, we endeavour to fulfil the fast-evolving customer requirements and provide customised solutions. This milestone has further motivated us to keep introducing aspirational offerings that cater to customers’ future mobility needs.”
The TVS HLX series is available in 4 variants namely – TVS HLX PLUS 100-cc, TVS HLX 125, TVS HLX 150, and TVS HLX 150X in 42 countries in Africa, Middle East and Latin America. It has a long-lasting and rugged engine with dual-stage filtration technology, as well as a slew of convenience features such as USB chargers, hazard lamps, a gear position indicator, and the option of a telematics solution.
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By Aleisha Orr
If you’ve had a random phone call at your home from someone claiming to be a tech-support officer and telling you there is a fault in your system - it could have been a scammer.
WA scam victims lost a total of $150,000 last financial year in tech support scams, the amount of losses more than tripling in 12 months.
The figures released by WA ScamNet on Thursday show the number of victims reporting a loss had also tripled over a two-year period.
According to ScamNet, these scams involve victims receiving a call from someone claiming to be a tech support officer for well-known companies such as Microsoft, Windows, Apple or Telstra/Bigpond.
The person will say there is a fault with the victim's computer and ask to gain remote access to fix the problem.
Once the scammers gain access, they usually charge a fee for their unnecessary services and then, in some cases, they ask the victim to log on to their internet banking account.
Later the victims discover that large amounts of money have been syphoned from their accounts, with some losing as much as $10,000 each.
Commissioner for Consumer Protection Anne Driscoll said the increase in losses reported by victims was a reflection of the escalation of the scam to also involve the hacking of bank accounts.
“To allow remote access to your computer to a stranger who calls out of the blue is extremely dangerous, as it exposes your personal and financial information and leaves you vulnerable to theft,” Ms Driscoll said.
“A tech support officer from these companies will never contact you unless you have contacted them first.
"There is no way of them knowing that there is a fault in your computer, so under no circumstances allow these criminals to gain access. Just hang up on them.
“Apart from losing their money, victims also have the added cost of having their computers checked for malware or spyware and some have had to buy new computers."
Ms Driscoll said people should never allow anyone to have remote access to their computer, unless they initiated the contact.
"Your personal information is the key to unlock your financial accounts, so guard it carefully and ensure you don’t become one of the growing numbers of victims of this tech support scam," she said.
“Consumers who have had their bank accounts hacked by criminals should contact their bank immediately and discuss the possibility of having the stolen funds reimbursed. Consumer Protection may also be able to assist in this process.”
Further information and advice on scams can be found on the WA ScamNet website.


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For a while now, there’s been some controversy towards how users’ info should be used, and the way users’ privacy should be handled. Even Google a couple of months ago released their Privacy Sandbox — followed by their very own (and very hardly criticized) Google’s FLOCs strategy. And the thing is, since we are all putting our efforts towards creating a future where users’ safety can never be jeopardized in order to improve ad revenue (or so we say), some things can just no longer be allowed… or can they?
According to an article published by Unite, researchers have now developed a method that literally allows publishers to target Facebook ads to just one person. Yes, just one single person. And even when we had previously seen ads that were a bit too personalized, this is probably something that until now had never happened.
In general, when publishers are looking for ways to target their ads to the right audiences, they tend to use Personal Identifiable Information (PII), that users have agreed to share with them, such as their phone numbers, their email addresses, or where they are geographically located so they can be demographically targeted. But researchers have found their way around these, and a way to target their ads solely based on users’ interests.
And how can that happen, if users never agreed to share theirs? Well, that’s an easy one: Facebook’s algorithms. Anything you do online will be tracked, forevermore. And those are not just conspiracy theories, those are facts. Ever wondered why after you listen to a specific artist or search for a specific topic, then Instagram’s discovery will show you all about that artist and that topic? Well, buddy, it has a name and that name is an algorithm.
Anything you interact with online, if you click on something, respond to something, ‘like’ something, or browse for something, is super valuable information to tech giants who’ll use that data to monetize it and target you for ads. And yes, this also helps make your online experience a much more personalized and enjoyable one, but it also prevents it from being a 100% private one. And this is what creates a livable environment for what we call nano-targeting, which basically states for, no matter if you explicitly state what you are interested in or not, as long as you are active online, you can’t run away from hyper-specific ad targeting.
According to the same article, the researchers ran a nano-targeted ad campaign and concluded that a user can be targeted by their interests with a 90% accuracy, and they also stated that that number can vary depending on how common their interests are (if we take the rarest interests, just 4 of them create a 90% probability of accuracy, while more common ones require 22 of them to reach the same number).
And not only did they find that this type of advertising was cheaper, but sometimes it was also free because Facebook will not charge a publisher for a campaign meant to reach just one individual. So what this means is that, even when Facebook goes on and on about their privacy initiatives (such as their block to international Facebook ads), they literally let you target one user based on every single click they’ve made online for free!!! And I can’t allow myself to think that this is just a “finger-slipping” kind of thing, because Facebook has proven itself to be much more obscure than they disclose to be way too many times.
In this super interesting article, they also explain the research methodology, which basically consisted of volunteers to be tracked and targeted for ads, that could also see how much revenue they were generating for Facebook in real-time. And they researched in 2017, right before Facebook made an update to go from 20 as a potential reach, to a minimum of 1000 — but that’s where our researchers found another loophole: Facebook does in fact let you target less than 1000, but the only difference is that you can’t actually see the size of the target audience obtained. However, the article also explained the following:
However, since the dataset was compiled, Facebook has added ‘Whole world’ as a potential catchment area for the campaign, which means that the researchers have proved their hypothesis under additional restrictions that no longer exist (they had instead to submit a filtered location target including the 50 countries where Facebook has the largest user presence, resulting in a potential audience of 1.5 billion users). (United.ai, October 2021)
So what this means is that the exact same research can not be conducted because the parameters are not the same anymore. However, what this shows is that, even when Facebook has been expressing how much they care about users online privacy and creating a safe experience for them, they pretty much only put out the fires as they appear, and even now you can still find the way to hyper-specific target audiences, and to invade people’s online activity. Leaving aside the fact that this poses the question of how many (and how dangerous) more fires can appear, and what if one day it’s too late to put it out? (Or to make sure everyone believes it’s put out)
So the bottom line here is pretty much just asking ourselves why the ad giants keep telling us the super private future is closer and closer to becoming a reality when all they do is keep pushing it far away, isn’t it?


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Cost of Living £150 Disability Payment: Here’s when people living in Newcastle should expect to receive theirs
The government announced the payment date back in August
and live on Freeview channel 276
In total, around six million people in the UK will get the payment.
Launching the scheme a few weeks ago, then UK Chancellor of the Exchequer Nadhim Zahawi said:
“We know that rising prices faced by many countries around the world are a significant worry for many people here in the UK, especially those most vulnerable to additional costs.
“Today’s announcement that disabled people will begin to receive an additional £150 payment from the end of September reinforces our commitment to help UK households through the challenging times ahead.
“This payment is in addition to further help households can expect over the coming months – including a second cost of living payment of £324 for households on means-tested benefits, £300 for pensioners this winter and £400 discount on energy bills for every household. This is all part of our significant £37 billion support package.”
How do I receive the payment?
People eligible for this one-off payment do not need to do anything, as they will be awarded the payment based on disability benefits they already receive.
“Payments are automatic and the majority will be made by early October.”
When will I receive the payment?
Payments are being rolled out across the board starting from 20 September, but many may not see the £150 until the start of October at the latest.
Who is eligible?
You may receive the payment, if you receive any of the following:
- Attendance Allowance
- Constant Attendance Allowance
- Disability Living Allowance for adults
- Disability Living Allowance for children
- Personal Independence Payment
- Adult Disability Payment (in Scotland)
- Child Disability Payment (in Scotland)
- Armed Forces Independence Payment
- War Pension Mobility Supplement


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UNITED KINGDOM - NSG Group Expands Energy-Saving Glass Off-Line Coating Capacity in UK
April 13, 2011
The NSG Group has announced that it is investing £36 million (approximately $58.5 million USD) in an off-line vacuum sputter coating facility at its Pilkington Cowley Hill site, in St Helens, Merseyside, UK. The new installation will manufacture a range of high performance energy-saving glazing products. The expansion is supported by a grant of £5 million (approximately $8.2 million USD) from the UK Regional Growth Fund and is due to come on stream in October 2012.
“The installation of this advanced technology coater will allow us to widen our range of high performance coated glasses enabling our customers to meet and exceed UK building energy-saving regulations, complementing our well-established and widely used Pilkington K Glass™ online low-emissivity product, which continues to meet UK building regulations requirements,” says David Pinder, managing director Building Products UK & South Europe. “Our aim is to widen customer choice and the new investment will enable us to expand our range of energy-saving products to meet increasingly tough regulations. Local UK manufacture of some products currently imported from our plants elsewhere in Europe will help reduce transport costs and environmental impact, in line with the NSG Group’s Sustainability agenda.”
He continues, “The investment will help create 50 new jobs and also allow us to extend our successful Apprenticeship scheme, bringing young people into our industry.”


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(CNN) — Walgreens is asking customers to no longer openly carry guns into its stores, the company announced Thursday.
It joins fellow retailers Walmart and Kroger, which announced similar policies the day before.
“We are joining other retailers in asking our customers to no longer openly carry firearms into our stores other than authorized law enforcement officials,” the company stated on its website.
Walgreens has more than 70 locations in Memphis and the Mid-South, according to the store’s website.
Companies have come under increasing pressure to take action to prevent gun violence, after a spate of mass shootings in recent weeks, including one inside a Walmart store in El Paso, Texas.


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THIS JUST IN:
A version of Girls' Generation's "Catch Me If You Can" featuring Jessica Jung has leaked online. Screenshots released yesterday tipped off fans of the video's existence. Check it out:
IN EARLIER NEWS:
Screenshots which appear to be taken from Girls' Generation's "Catch Me If You Can" MV featuring former member Jessica Jung have leaked online via Weibo.
We don’t have confirmation that the photos are the real deal, however, the screenshots show Tiffany and Taeyeon with bangs which they do not have in the released version of the MV.
According to some reports, SM Entertainment has contacted the fan that uploaded the photos and has threatened legal action if the music video is released. The company has not confirmed this publically.
What do you think PopAsians?
Source: Allkpop, Weibo


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Stocks closed near the highs of an upbeat session as investors gained confidence in the strengthening U.S. economy and the likelihood the Federal Reserve will resume quantitative easing.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 193.45 points, or 1.8 percent, to 10,944.72, following a selloff in the previous session.
Boeing , Bank of America and DuPont led the blue-chip index higher, while American Express fell.
The S&P 500 rose 23.72 points, or 2 percent, to close at 1,160.75. The broad-market index broke decisively through the 1,150 ceiling that had capped the index's rise since mid-May. The tech-heavy Nasdaq rose 55.31 points, or 2.4 percent, to 2,399.83. The CBOE Volatility Index, widely considered the best gauge of fear in the market, fell more than 7 percent to below 22.
All key S&P 500 sectors were higher, led by materials, industrials and financials.
Stocks were already higher in part after the dollar weakened to an 8 1/2-month low against a basket of currencies. Meanwhile, the euro jumped amid speculation the U.S. will begin quantitative easing.
Two more factors are at play in the rally: Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke's remarks in Rhode Island Monday night, which made "quite clear" the Fed's next move would be to expand quantitative easing; and the move by the Bank of Japan to effectively revert to zero interest ratesto battle a strong yen, said Marc Pado, U.S. market strategist at Cantor Fitzgerald.
But investors remained cautiousahead of corporate earnings season and the government's monthly jobs report, due out Friday.
Earnings season unofficially kicks off later this week with results from Alcoa on Thursday. YumBrands is scheduled to report this afternoon while Costco and PepsiCo are also expected to report throughout the week.
In financial news, American Express fell after FBR cut itsprice target on the credit-card issuer to $45 from $48, citing a lawsuit by the Department of Justiceagainst the company that charges AmEx with anti-competitive practices.
Visa and MasterCard gained after the companiesreached a settlement with the government on similar charges.
Bank of America, meanwhile, announced it is leaving the wholesale mortgage lending business to focus on loans to consumers and community banks.
Several banks, including Bank of America, were among the top-performing stocks after JPMorgan said it expects large-cap bank earnings to beat third-quarter estimates on strong mortgage-banking revenues.
The brokerage raised its third quarter earnings per share view and 2010 earnings view for Bank of America. The brokerage also raised its price target for Citigroup , Fifth Third Bancorp , PNC Financial , SunTrust Banks, U.S. Bancorp, and Wells Fargo .
Tech shares were mostly higher across the board. Microsoft rose after the tech giant said itis planning to have a tablet computer by Christmas, although it's unclear whether it will be on sale by that time or who will make it.
Speaking at the London School of Economics, Microsoft Chief Executive Steve Ballmer said: "You'll see new slates with Windows on them. You'll see them this Christmas," according to Reuters.
Meanwhile, Microsoft was downgraded by another brokerage. Janney Capital Markets cut its rating on the company to "neutral" from "buy," citing the company's unclear strategy for a smartphone operating system. This comes after the firm was downgraded by Goldman Sachs on Monday.
Apple shares climbed after Jefferies started coverage of the iPod maker with a "buy" rating and a $365 price target. Meanwhile, Global Equities raised its price target to $350.
Meanwhile, iPad sold three million units in the first 80 daysafter its April release and its current sales rate is about 4.5 million units per quarter, according to Bernstein Research. The sales rate is blowing past the one million units the iPhone sold in its first quarter and the 350,000 units sold in the first year by the DVD player, the most quickly adopted non-phone electronic product.
Intel shares rose after Intel CEO Paul Otellini said the U.S. government should provide tax credits or tax holidaysfor companies that build factories in the U.S. and create jobs. Otellini spoke at an event sponsored by the Council on Foreign Relations.
Oracle shares were higher after Canaccord Genuity started coverage of the firm with a "buy" rating.
In addition, Autodesk and Salesforce.com also advanced after Janney raised its fair value estimate on both companies.
Shares of Chevron rose after the oil company said it would start buying back its own shares in the fourth quarter as part of a buyback program approved earlier by its board to repurchase between $500 million and $1 billion of its shares. Meanwhile, oil prices rose above $82 a barrel.
Home Depot shareswere slightly higher, despite Goldman Sach's decision to cut the shares to "neutral" from "buy."
Walgreen shares rose after posting a stronger-than-expected rise in September same-store sales because of an uptick in pharmacy sales.
Gymboree jumped more than 5 percent after the firm hired Goldman Sachs to begin a formal auction of the children's clothing retailer, The New York Post reported, citing sources familiar with the situation.
However, Talbots tumbled more than 10 percent after the women's clothing retailer said sales would fall in the current quarter instead of rising, as had been previously forecast.
Meanwhile, government advisers in Saskatchewan urged the province not to oppose a takeover, of Potash by BHP Billiton arguing that any possible China-based bid could harm Saskatchewan's economy.
Volume on the consolidated New York Stock Exchange was 4.7 billion shares. On the NYSE floor, 1.2 billion shares changed hands, with advancers outpacing decliners about 5 to 1.
In the day's economic news, the Institute of Supply Management’s non-manufacturing indexrose to 53.2 in September, up from 51.5 in August. Analysts had expected to the index to be largely unchanged. The report also showed hiring in the sector picked up, as the employment index rose to 50.2, above 48.2 in August, and new orders rose to 54.9 from 52.4.
"What we are expecting immediate bottom-line profitability: companies are so lean, any new order will have a higher profit margin," said Pado of Cantor Fitzgerald. "These types of numbers are very supportive of an improving fourth quarter."
Some market participants were cautious. Elliot Spar, market strategist at Stifel Nicolaus, said he's advising people to take profits. He doesn't recommend investors short the market, however, "not until we see more technical evidence of a top, which we don’t see yet."
Ahead of this week’s IMF/World Bank meeting, the 16 nations that use the euro are urging China to let the value of its currency riseto help stimulate global economic growth. None of the world's economic powers wants a strong currency right now as a weaker currency provides a competitive advantage.
Jean-Claude Juncker of Luxembourg, the head of the euro group, wants to see a "broad-based appreciation" of the Chinese yuan against the dollar and other major currencies. He said he expressed the view at a meeting Tuesday with Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao.
Also in Europe, Moody's warned that it may cut Ireland's credit rating again, pointing to the huge bill for cleaning up its banks announced last week, a weak economic recovery and rising borrowing costs.
Gold rallied to record highs near $1,340 an ounceas recent volatility in the currency markets boosted demand for the metal as a safe haven.
On Tap This Week:
WEDNESDAY: Weekly mortgage applications; Challenger job-cut report; ADP employment report; weekly oil inventories; CTIA Wireless; Earnings from Costco and Monsanto
THURSDAY: Monthly chain store sales; BoE announcement; ECB announcement; Kansas City Fed Pres Hoenig speaks; Consumer credit; Mosaic shareholder meeting; Earnings from PepsiCo and Alcoa
FRIDAY: Monthly non-farm payroll; Wholesale trade; NY Comic Con; IMF, World Bank annual meetings
More From CNBC.com:


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- WHITE PAPERS
The National Restaurant Association partnered with the American Culinary Federation to get a pulse on consumer trends for 2012, with top demands revolving around "local" and "healthy" concepts.
Specifically, the top five attributes consumers will look for when dining out include locally sourced meats and seafood; locally grown produce; healthful kids' meals; hyper-local (for example, growing produce onsite); and sustainability as a culinary theme.
Nutritional preferences extend well beyond the kids' menu. According to the NRA's "2012 Restaurant Industry Forecast" webinar presented today by Hudson Riehle, senior vice president of the research and knowledge group, 72 percent of consumers said they are trying to eat healthier when dining out than they did just two years ago.
Also, 72 percent are more likely to visit a restaurant that offers healthier menu options.
Riehle said operators will benefit from being mindful of these and other consumer trends, as pent-up demand remains high for restaurant usage. Between 2007 and 2011, there has been a 10 percent increase in the proportion of adults not using restaurants as much as they'd like.
"Consumers are still discerning and discriminating about what they spend at restaurants, and so operators need to remain top of mind for consumers. You'll see more operators focusing on promotional, marketing and social media opportunities to achieve that top-of-mind reach," Riehle said.
Technology usage up
One way for restaurant operators to achieve that reach is by leveraging online and social media channels. About three in 10 adults said they would like to receive an email with daily specials, while about one in five prefer texts.
If a restaurant's specials were available on Facebook or Twitter, nearly one-third of consumers say they'd be likely to sign up.
Patrons are also increasingly interested in the availability of mobile and tablet integration. Nearly four in 10 consumers said they'll be likely to use an electronic ordering system and menus on tablets at table-service restaurants.
About half said they'd use at-table electronic payment options and a restaurant's smartphone app to view menus or make reservations.
In the QSR segment, about 40 percent of consumers said they would place online orders for takeout, use in-store self-service ordering kiosks and use smartphone apps to look at menus/order.
"For restaurant operators to position themselves for the future and attract younger demographics, the integration and utilization of technology is an expectation," Riehle said. "The industry is so diverse now and there is an opportunity for the integration of technology into the restaurant experience that benefits both the operator and consumer alike."
Annual sales, jobs expected to grow modestly
The NRA also predicted that total restaurant industry sales will reach a record high of $632 billion in 2012, a 3.5 percent increase over 2011. This would account for 4 percent of the nation's total gross domestic product.
"In just a year, that gain is the equivalent of adding the restaurant sales from a state the size of Illinois," Riehle said.
Although these gains are modest compared to five and 10 years ago, the restaurant industry remains an "economic juggernaut." Annual sales from the industry are now larger than 90 percent of the world's economies, and would rank 18th out of 194 countries.
Additionally, the national restaurant count is approaching 1 million, with 970,000 current units open. And 48 percent of all food dollars are spent away from home, up from 25 percent in 1955.
From a workforce perspective, the industry will continue to grow its jobs base this year as the country's second largest private sector employer. Overall restaurant industry employment will reach 12.9 million in 2012 behind a 2.3 percent growth rate. This is compared to a 1.3 percent job growth rate in the general economy.
"As our nation slowly recovers from the economic downturn, restaurants continue to be a vital part of American lifestyles and our nation's economy," said Dawn Sweeney, president and CEO of the NRA. "... Restaurant job growth is expected to outpace the overall economy for the 13th straight year, and it's clear the restaurant industry is once again proving to be a significant economic stimulant and strong engine for job creation."
The industry is expected to gain back all of the jobs lost during the recession early this year. The overall economy, however, isn't expected to be back at pre-recession employment levels until 2014.
The NRA focused on the two largest segments' growth during the presentation. Full service will be up 2.9 percent from 2011, while the quick-service segment is expected to grow by 3.1 percent, generating $174 billion compared to $169 billion.
The fastest growing segments include military foodservice, at 6 percent, and retail host, such as grocery stores and convenience stores, at 5.9 percent.
Commodities challenges and opportunities
While the industry is expected to grow this year, the top challenges cited by operators include food costs, building and maintaining sales volumes and the economy. These have shifted slightly since 2009, when the top concern was the economy at 44 percent.
Last year, wholesale food prices were up 8 percent, the highest annual gain in more than 30 years. This year, the NRA expects prices to grow by 4 percent.
"From an operator perspective, these continued gains in wholesale food price inflations put pressure on profit margins and make the focus on productivity, efficiency and effectiveness much more important," Riehle said.
Because of this continued inflation, the NRA predicts menu prices to increase 2.7 percent this year, compared to 2.4 percent last year. Commodities most affected by rising costs include:
"These are central components of any restaurant menu," Riehle said. "The challenge for operators is to ensure the food quality and service are at a level the consumer expects, and to have more focus on the supply chain and menu mix. You see ample opportunities for operators to examine and readjust the menu mix to tap into growing consumer trends and to manage more escalating commodity groups."
Read more about trends and statistics.
Topics: Business Strategy and Profitability , Coffee/Bakery/Donut , Customer Service / Experience , Food & Beverage , Health & Nutrition , Marketing / Branding / Promotion , Online / Mobile / Social , Operations Management , Staffing & Training , Sustainability , Systems / Technology , Trends / Statistics


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Evansville-area food news: 11 bites of food news for you this week
EVANSVILLE − We're bringing you Tri-State restaurant happenings and food news you need to know. Here's the latest.
and the will host on Sunday, Nov. 12, from 11:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. at Warehouse 410. There will be live music inside Warehouse 410, and 2nd Language and Pangea Pizzeria will be offering interesting and exotic foods and beverages for purchase. Tickets are $20 and include one drink ticket and three half pot tickets. Email the JD Sheth Foundation at email@example.com to purchase a ticket.
2nd Language Ramen is at 401 NW Second St.; Warehouse 410 is at 410 Carpenter St.
will host on Friday, Nov. 10, from 9 p.m.-1 a.m. Tickets are $12 if purchased ahead or $15 at the door. The night will start with dance lessons. The Love at First Bite by Taste of Cuba food truck will be on hand with traditional Cuban dishes for purchase. Must be 21 to attend.
The 7 Mile Lounge is at 915 Main St.; 812-550-1127.
The and the truck will team up with the USI ceramics department to benefit veterans on Saturday, Nov. 11, from 11 a.m.-2 p.m., with . In return for a $20 donation, diners receive a handmade ceramic bowl with soup and sourdough bread from Shortstacks Kitchen.
The Barker Brewhouse is at 96 N. Barker Ave.; 812-437-5079.
is a new food truck surfing the streets of Evansville. Owner Ryan Bodine managed Ri Ra Irish Pub for many years as well as other genres of restaurants. The truck’s menu will be eclectic but do expect batter fried fish with hand cut chips and great burgers. Watch the Facebook page for times and dates of service or call 812-204-2729 for more information.
has added to its menu and is now serving all-day breakfast bagels, including The Lox, with lox and cream cheese, cucumbers and pickled onions. Acai and other fruit bowls, gourmet avocado toast, soups and more are still on the menu.
Bowlify Superfoods is at 250 N. Burkhardt Road.
A will happen on Friday, Nov. 10, from 5-8 p.m., on Fourth Street between locust and Walnut Streets. Stop for local produce and other food products, handmade goods, food trucks, live music and entertainment.
will host a on Sunday, Nov. 12, from 5-7 p.m. Stop and sample a large variety of red, white and sparkling wines that can be ordered and will arrive for pick up before Thanksgiving. Hors d'oeuvres and charcuterie will be provided. There is no charge to enter. Must be 21 to attend.
Fidel's Bourbon Bar is above Walton's at 950 Parrett St.; 812-467-4255.
The will happen in Downtown Newburgh on Sunday, Nov. 12, from 2-8 p.m. Free trolleys will be running. Participating locations are Prime Sports, the , the , the , , the , , and the Knob Hill Tavern until 6 p.m., and there will be an after party and ugly sweater contest at the J from 6-8 p.m. purchased in advance are $10, or will be $15 cash only at the gate. Pick up wristbands at the Jennings Street Public House, Tin Fish or Prime Sports. Visit all nine stops and turn in your marked wristband for a chance of prizes at the after party.
will host Sherre Phillips of the Nashville, Tenn. Herb Society, who will present “A Cook’s Favorite Herbs for the Garden” on Wednesday, Nov. 15, and Thursday, Nov. 16, beginning at 2 p.m. Phillips is a cook and caterer and will discuss the best ways to grow and use herbs. Classes are $20. Call 812-476-3430 to reserve a spot. Proceeds will be donated to a local charity.
The Igleheart Gardens are at 5500 Lincoln Ave.
J’s Sportsbar & Grill has re-opened on Evansville’s East Side. The Vann Avenue favorite closed during COVID but is now back with new owners and a menu of good pub grub and burgers.
J's Sportsbar & Grill is at 1602 Vann Ave.
and will host a on Monday, Nov. 13, beginning at 5:45 at Just Rennie’s. The 5-course menu will include smoked salmon, Ashley Grill cream of wild mushroom soup, Italian salad, chicken cutlet with artichokes, New Zealand rack of lamb and classic tiramisu, each served with a complementary wine. Tickets are $96 per person inclusive of tax and gratuity. Call 812-401-8098 to reserve a seat.


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We’d like you to meet Tashara Earl from Techrein, member of the Venture Café St. Louis community.
Techrein is a lifestyle wearable technology startup providing innovative safety solutions to personal protective equipment (PPE) for government workers, athletes and outdoor enthusiasts who work or engage in high risk/low lighting environments.
Techrein recently was featured on a panel for a Venture Café Thursday Gathering in partnership with ITEN. Tashara Earl talked about how Techrein is making things happen through the COVID-19 pandemic as well as the social injustice activities.
Learn more on techreinwst.com.


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Are electric vehicles (EVs) the new titans of the automotive industry? As the race for EV dominance heats up, two companies are at the forefront of this transformative shift: the Warren Buffett-backed Chinese automaker BYD Co Ltd and the American EV giant Tesla Inc. Both are vying for the top spot in the global EV market, and the competition between them is intensifying.
BYD, a company that produces a variety of electric vehicles including battery electric vehicles (BEVs), plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), and fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs), is closing in on Tesla’s lead in BEV sales. In the third quarter, BYD shipped around 432,000 BEVs, just behind Tesla’s 435,000 units. Wall Street analysts are betting on BYD to surpass Tesla, with projections of more BEV sales than Tesla’s estimated 475,000 in the fourth quarter.
Sales figures are a testament to BYD’s rapid growth, with the company selling approximately 2.8 million passenger vehicles by the end of November, marking a 70% increase from the previous year. BEVs alone saw a growth of about 73%. Despite this surge, BYD’s market capitalization remains significantly lower at $76.5 billion, compared to Tesla’s staggering $809 billion. The disparity can be attributed to several factors, including the companies’ origins, with U.S. stocks generally valued higher due to liquidity, regulatory environment, and country-specific risks.
Interestingly, both companies generated almost the same operating profit of about $1.7 billion in the last quarter, with an operating margin just under 8%. This similarity raises questions about valuation and market perception. Moreover, while Tesla is celebrated for its foray into energy storage and self-driving technology, BYD lacks in-house autonomous driving tech. Still, over 90% of analysts covering BYD recommend the stock as a “buy,” signaling market confidence in its growth potential.
Gary Black, Managing Partner at Future Fund, has even gone as far as to state that “Tesla and BYD are the only two investible EV companies today,” acknowledging the unique strategies that have enabled both companies to be profitable in a sector where many others struggle.
So, what does this all mean for investors and the automobile industry at large? The battle between Tesla and BYD is more than just a race for sales; it’s a glimpse into the future of transportation. Both companies, each with distinct approaches and market challenges, are forging paths toward a more electrified automotive landscape.
As consumers, it’s crucial to stay informed about the rapidly evolving EV market. We must look beyond the sales figures and market caps to understand the technology, innovation, and policies that will shape the future of mobility. BYD’s surge represents the global nature of the EV revolution, and Tesla’s continued relevance underlines the importance of innovation.
In conclusion, the tussle for EV supremacy is about more than just numbers—it’s a narrative of market trends, technological advancements, and strategic maneuvers. It’s an exciting time in the automotive industry, and we invite our readers to continue the conversation by sharing their thoughts and staying engaged with the latest developments.
How can the average consumer benefit from the competition between BYD and Tesla? What implications does the rise of EVs have for the energy sector and global sustainability efforts? Are there other companies to watch in the EV space? These are just a few questions we might ponder as we witness the unfolding story of these two automotive powerhouses.
Lastly, we encourage our readers to actively participate in the transition to electric vehicles. Whether it’s through investment, advocacy, or informed purchasing decisions, every action helps accelerate the shift toward a cleaner, more sustainable future for transportation.
Electrifying Competition: Tesla and BYD’s Race to Dominate the EV Market
As we look at the panorama of electric vehicles and the competition between industry leaders, it’s essential to consider the broader implications of their rivalry. Here are some thoughts and recommendations based on our exploration of BYD and Tesla’s market dynamics:
Stay Informed: The EV market is rapidly evolving, and keeping abreast of the latest developments is crucial for making informed decisions, whether you’re an investor, an enthusiast, or a potential EV buyer.
Consider Diverse Perspectives: When evaluating companies like BYD and Tesla, consider a range of perspectives, including technological innovation, market strategies, and regulatory environments, to gain a comprehensive understanding of their positions in the market.
Think Global: Recognize that the EV revolution is a global movement. Companies from different parts of the world, like BYD from China and Tesla from the U.S., contribute unique strengths and face distinct challenges.
Invest with Caution: If you’re considering investing in the EV sector, balance the excitement of rapid growth with the due diligence of understanding each company’s financial health, market potential, and the risks involved.
Support Sustainable Choices: As consumers, supporting the transition to electric vehicles can mean investing in companies that prioritize sustainability, advocating for policies that promote EV adoption, or considering an electric vehicle for your next car purchase.
The race between Tesla and BYD is more than just corporate competition; it’s a signpost of the future of transportation. By staying engaged and informed, we play a part in shaping that future.
What’s your take on this? Let’s know about your thoughts in the comments below!


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An earnings warning sent InterVoice-Brite (Nasdaq: INTV) plunging Wednesday.
Shares of the provider of call automation systems fell 6 15/16 to 6 5/8 in early action Wednesday. The company on Tuesday said it expects to report a fiscal first quarter loss ranging between 3 cents and 5 cents per share.
First Call's survey of eight analysts had predicted a profit of 25 cents per share for the quarter ended May 31.
Revenue in the first quarter ranged between $67 million and $68 million, the company estimated. If the recently closed merger with BriteVoice had occurred at the start of the fiscal year, the combined company would have seen revenue of $76.5 million.
Losing some sales representatives hurt Intervoice-Brite's ability to close several deals in the first quarter, said Dan Hammond, CEO and chairman.
"The challenges of recruiting and training qualified sales personnel, transitioning customer relationships and resuming sales momentum make it unlikely that the first quarter sales shortfall will be fully recovered during fiscal 2001," Hammond said.
InterVoice-Brite announced one large deal on Tuesday, a $14 million order from First Union.>