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Out-of-home (OOH) media has experienced an interesting resurgence over the past year or so, coinciding with the easing of Covid-19 laws and regulations.
Ben Harris. Image provided.
In terms of development and infrastructure, this presents an exciting opportunity for South Africa – long seen as the crown jewel of Africa; Before the pandemic, the tourism destination saw more than 14 million travelers a year.
Traktor Out Managing Director Ben Harris takes a broad view of the state of the OOH media industry in South Africa in terms of growth.
Adjusted domestic market
Harris While we talk extensively about South Africa’s outdoor media industry, the reality is that the domestic market is highly fragmented, with significant differences between regions.
“The majority of digital and static billboards are concentrated in Gauteng province, which for many years has been considered South Africa’s prime OOH real estate destination, thanks to Africa’s most vibrant, cosmopolitan and buzzing metro. “Despite the risk of over-consumption now, inventory in this state continues to be in high demand among advertisers,” he explains.
However, he warns that too much can hurt media sales, and foreign media owners should prioritize quality over quantity.
“The Western Cape may have a small footprint in terms of outdoor advertising network, but it enjoys prime asset locations such as the Cape Town CBD, the Victoria and Alfred Waterfront, the Garden Route and the N2.
“Furthermore, the Western Cape is very popular with tourists, and the summer months see their numbers boom, as local and foreign travelers flock to the city and its environs,” he said. Post-Covid-19, there were also a large number of local residents. Partially divided Or they moved to Cape Town, often taking their businesses with them.
He added that in all counties, many areas and suburbs will see lower foot traffic but target niche audiences, driving consumer spending. It is assumed that these will be of great interest to advertisers and development investment will follow.
“As overcrowding in prime metrics becomes a problem, we expect advertisers to prioritize highly targeted audience groups rather than mass footfall – which is where advanced programmatic capabilities and new technologies can play a leading role.”
It also highlights the importance of regulations in different regions of SA. “In certain regions, certain formats are not allowed due to height and size restrictions, which can cause confusion among customers and affect national projects.
“One must fully understand the bylaws before attempting to identify a potential location, as it is a time-consuming process to collect applications and obtain support from the relevant authorities.”
But he emphasized that compliance is critical as regulations are in place to protect all stakeholders.
Opportunities for outdoor development
Programmatic digital out-of-home (pDOOH) has grown exponentially around the world, and SA is no exception. This is an exciting time in terms of growth, as new technologies and analytics capabilities give us more license to innovate and innovate in our infrastructure.
He added that requests for anamorphic displays are increasing in the area. ‘Anamorphosis’ or ‘anamorphic illusion’ refers to the bending or distortion of images, creating the illusion of 3D viewing. Featuring high-quality advanced display technology, it creates a very realistic and immersive viewing experience.
“These displays are often seen in popular venues such as London’s Piccadilly Circus and New York’s Times Square, and are now gaining popularity locally,” he shared. InnovoceanBetween Tractor and Reveille, he recently designed an anamorphic billboard for Adidas’ “Run for the Ocean” campaign, set up on Cape Town’s famous Victoria and Alfred (V&A) Waterfront.
As climate change, environmental challenges and SA’s ongoing energy crisis become more pressing, Harris believes we will start to see sustainable materials and technologies integrated into OOH development, such as solar panels and wind-powered options. However, considering the prevalence of theft and vandalism, it suggests that the implementation in our country’s market is a challenge.
“In general, the SA outbound market is very progressive and quick to adopt new trends and technologies. This has kept the cost of digital down, making it more affordable for new DOOH sites.”
“I believe digital is the single biggest opportunity in the SA market – technology is evolving at a rapid pace, offering new opportunities, many of which we don’t yet know about. As an industry, collaboration is key to harnessing this potential, which ultimately benefits our audience.”


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Big Cadillac On Again? GM President Eyes Rear-Wheel-Drive Flagship Sedan
There are almost as many rumors in a given month about a large, rear-wheel-drive flagship Cadillac sedan to compete with the Audi A8, Mercedes-Benz S-Class, and BMW 7 Series are there are rumors Tupac Shakur is still alive. As we know, though, Tupac is still alive, and when GM's North American president says its big Caddy is among projects he'd like to see soon, we should probably pay attention. In an interview with Automotive News, GM's Mark Reuss recently said he'd "love Cadillac to have a flagship." While the recently introduced 2013 Cadillac XTS fills the big sedan role in the meanwhile, it's hardly the car needed to go up against the high-dollar sedans from European automakers. And everyone—GM included—knows this. The big Caddy is rumored to be based on the same underpinnings as the Chevrolet Caprice PPV police car and upcoming 2014 Chevrolet SS sedan. The Cadillac flagship was also originally intended to have a wholly new double-overhead cam V-8 engine that would have ostensibly replaced the now-defunct Northstar engine series used in Cadillacs from 1992 to 2011. That engine plan may no longer exist, as its development was halted indefinitely during GM's 2009 bankruptcy reorganization. The GM smallblock V-8 architecture seen in trucks and the Corvette could possibly be used instead. "I'm a fan of going right at those segments and beating them in segment," Reuss said of upcoming 2014 Cadillac CTS, rumored to be growing in size to better compete against the likes of the Mercedes-Benz E-Class and BMW 5 Series. The new entry-level 2013 Cadillac ATS seems to be taking the same track already against smaller premium sports sedans. Alas, "The way we're funding Cadillac has been from, sort of, everything else in GM," Reuss said, pulling from other GM divisions. That gives Cadillac a "very reduced scale in terms of individual architectures, engines, technology." With the CTS, redesigned Escalade, and Chevy Volt-based ELR all coming next year, Cadillac is a little cash-strapped at the moment. Throwing in the needed technology and refinement for the Chevrolet-based underpinnings to compete against the segment leaders might put the brand over the edge. But when you're selling a $70,000 luxury sedan that shares much of its underpinnings and technology with cheaper cars, as has always been the case with its European rivals, recouping the costs isn't terribly difficult. Source: Automotive News (Subscription required)
Though not too dramatic a difference, a keen-eyed photographer managed to spot an almost completely exposed...

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Mark Leazer became Executive Director of US dealer network American Office Products Distributors (AOPD) in January 2016. AOPD has almost 70 members across the country.
For more information and news on AOPD and Mark Leazer, read the following:
AOPD reports on annual meeting
AOPD awarded healthcare contract
AOPD and Pinnacle cooperate for joint meetings
AOPD reports on annual meeting
AOPD reports back on annual meeting
OPI Talk podcast: AOPD members focusing on growth
PPE supplier joins AOPD programme
AOPD wins Premier contract award
Big Interview: Independents’ day
2021: With 68 AOPD members across the US, Mark Leazer has been in a good position to gauge the impact of the COVID pandemic on the country’s independent dealer channel (IDC). For some of the organisation’s resellers, 2020 was their best-ever year as they successfully sourced and sold PPE and hygiene products; others were more cautious and basically went into survival mode.
At AOPD itself, revenue through contracts was heavily impacted by office closures. However, since March 2021, Leazer has noted a significant improvement which is continuing into the back half of the year. The healthcare vertical – where AOPD has a contract with leading group purchasing organisation Premier – is doing particularly well. Betsy Hughes, who was instrumental in developing the Premier relationship with the IDC from her time at Friends Office, is now AOPD’s National Healthcare Sales Director, and the fruits of her labours are starting to pay off.
Two new supplier partners have been onboarded in the past 12 months as AOPD looks to offer solutions in adjacent product categories. One of these is leading office coffee supplier Keurig Professional; the other is Certain Supply, a new force in the PPE segment.
AOPD has been connecting with its members during the pandemic via virtual initiatives such as the AOPD University. This has helped dealers share ideas and best practices with each other. The organisation’s annual meeting in October 2021 is also going to be held online. To avoid ‘Zoom fatigue’ sessions are taking place over a two-week period, for just a few hours at a time.
With growth firmly in mind, Leazer says he is looking to re-invigorate AOPD’s sales into the federal government channel. The organisation’s current GSA contract will expire in 2023 and the groundwork is already being laid to renew this. A GSA-only member has also joined the AOPD ranks, and this will also benefit the wider membership in the federal space.
2019: AOPD continues to evolve as needed to stay abreast of industry changes and challenges. In the past few months, says Executive Director Mark Leazer, the group has added several dealers in key markets, with four new members now on-boarded and one more in the application pipeline.
He adds that the AOPD-owned corporate contracts keep on growing at or near double digits, including its NCPA cooperative contract and the Premier Healthcare Alliance GPO. The dealer network continues to add deals in its dealer-owned ‘Americas Model’, with 37 new contracts this year and over 500 in total at present.
Business partnerships with the supplier community have remained stable, asserts Leazer, with three additions in 2019 – Georgia-Pacific Pro, Procter & Gamble Professional and Zebra Pen. Its new branding initiative, which began in 2018, is gaining traction. AOPD has also become more active on social media and this will be an ongoing effort.
All these efforts combined have contributed to an overall growth rate of 5% through July 2019 and Leazer is confident that amid ongoing industry headwinds, many of its dealers are finding ways to invest in and grow their businesses.
2018: It’s been another busy year for American Office Products Distributors (AOPD) under the leadership of Executive Director Mark Leazer. While the dealer network has been actively monitoring the uncertainty and consolidation efforts in the industry, its board and staff have been diligently exploring how AOPD can be more successful in its primary mission – winning more regional and national account business for its members.
Part of this year’s efforts have been the launch of a new brand and website to more effectively reach its target markets. Along with that new brand, AOPD is developing more ways in which to become more seamless and cohesive in its marketing and technology. Continued development of its POS reporting module, PSN systems and preferred online subs and shopping lists of AOPD Business Partner products are some examples of this.
Importantly, explains Leazer, AOPD continues to grow, despite the secular headwinds in the industry, with figures up 6% in 2018 through July in AOPD contract sales. He remains confident that there’s a chance of double-digit growth for the whole year. “We continue to add new contracts at a consistent clip and have added two new healthcare GPOs in 2018 with a couple more at various stages in the pipeline,” he comments.
“In the face of all the industry uncertainty, and even with the loss of a few dealers to acquisition, many of our dealers continue to invest and move forward. We often forget that the rest of the world doesn’t know or care that much about the latest acquisition rumour in the OP world. At the end of the day, end users just want to get their business and facility supplies quickly, efficiently and at a reasonable price.”
And it is AOPD’s role to provide the tools and resources necessary to help users find and choose AOPD and its dealers, according to Leazer.
2017: It was a “nerve-wracking” start to the year for dealer network American Office Products Distributors (AOPD), admitted Executive Director Mark Leazer. Two of its three largest contracts were out for bid in 2017 – the Premier healthcare GPO office supply contract and the National Cooperative Purchasing Alliance (NCPA) office supply contract.
However, AOPD successfully retained both of these awards – Premier as part of a multiple award and NCPA as a single award. Unfortunately, the group lost its second largest contract, ICPT, in 2016 and that business has been transitioning away during Q1 of this year.
While AOPD had been enjoying double digit growth in contract sales the past three years this loss has made it something of an uphill battle. However, new business wins and increased sales in NCPA and Premier, both up double digits through the first half of 2017, has for the most part offset the ICPT loss.
AOPD is currently working on branding initiatives and will be updating its website in the New Year. It added a full-time sales resource in February 2017 when Joe Breczka, veteran sales executive in the IDC, joined AOPD as Director of Business Development. His addition to the team is reportedly already showing solid sales gains. It continues to add dealers, with three new members added this year so far and another in the pipeline.
The group lost one dealer and had two others that were acquired by other AOPD members. But as Leazer said: “I would rather experience consolidation within our own group rather than from outside.”
Another notable change for AOPD is the recent retirement of Sharon Stepien, the group’s long-time General Manager and Director of National Operations.
For Leazer, the priority is for AOPD to return to double-digit contract sales growth in 2018. He highlighted the potential in its newly renewed NCPA and especially Premier business, and said the group will continue its expansion into new value-added areas especially in the jan/san and facilities categories. AOPD also plans to ramp up the automation of its processes to better compete with the big boxes, particularly Amazon.
2016: Approaching the end of his first year as Executive Director of AOPD, Mark Leazer can look back on 2016 with some satisfaction.
The dealer network experienced double-digit growth in its contract sales again in 2016, up 23% for the first half of the year. It also added several new dealers in 2016 and included House of Doolittle as a new manufacturer in its Business Partner Program.
Among the new dealers is the welcome return of Complete Office, one of the largest independent dealers in the US, and the addition of Coastal Office Solutions, a woman-owned and HUB-certified small business based in Texas.
AOPD has been working hard to identify its core strengths and weaknesses so that it can correctly position itself for the future. As Leazer says: “We have several initiatives in either the ‘proposal’ or ‘implementation’ phase. We feel the best ROI AOPD can provide for our member dealers and business partners is to constantly adapt and evolve with our changing industry so that we can continue to grow our sales. With growth comes continued relevance.”
2015: October 2015 marks the beginning of the transition period that sees Mark Leazer take over from Bud Mundt as Executive Director of AOPD. The official handover will be in January 2016.
Both men have been heavily involved in the dealer network for many years, Mundt having joined the organisation in 2004 and becoming Executive Director in early 2005. Leazer, meanwhile, with a 30-year career at independent dealer FSIoffice that is now coming to an end as a result of his new role, had already taken the AOPD reins on an interim and part-time basis between 2001 and 2004 before Mundt was appointed.
With Mundt the industry loses a much-liked OP veteran who has spent 45 years in various distribution channels. He is expected to still be available as a consultant and on an advisory basis.
Leazer’s list of priorities – following a smooth transition – is clear and the immediate focus will be on the first joint annual meeting next March of AOPD, Direct Purchasing Catalog Group and TriMega’s Dealer Supplier Collaborative members.
Growing market share in both national and regional accounts remains another priority. The pending FTC decision on the Staples/Office Depot merger will no doubt have a fundamental impact on how this growth might accelerate.


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(Yicai Global) Dec. 12 -- Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing has seen an unprecedented spike in initial public offerings since the introduction of new listing rules earlier this year.
The 133 IPOs staged on the HKEX main board by the end of last month hit a record high, with almost HKD290 billion (USD37 billion) brought home in total, which is more than twice last year's take, per statistics by New York-based KPMG, one of the big four accounting firms.
Hong Kong's IPO market will reclaim the top spot in size this year, with annual funding of HKD300 billion, projected Li Linde, managing partner of KPMG's capital market development in the special administrative region, adding that some 240 companies are still in the queue, and the Hong Kong market is expected to entice nearly 200 companies next year, with small and mid-sized IPOs the mainstream, state media 21st Century Business Herald reported today.
The bourse issued new listing rules in April this year, which allow companies with a weighted voting rights structure and as yet unprofitable biotech companies to list on the main board in a bid to lure more new economy companies. Four biotech firms that have yet to see a dime and two companies with a WVR setup had landed on the HKEX as of the end of last month.
The two WVR concerns are Beijing Xiaomi Technology, a well-known mainland mobile phone giant, and online-to-offline services provider Meituan Dianping, also Beijing headquartered. The two large tech companies' Hong Kong listings will help draw more such global first-time offerings to the region, Li notes.
The new system for going public is pushing HKEX's transformation into an IPO magnet for new economy companies, with over 25 percent of their listings this year at 36. Only 11 IPOs in the HKEX main board, which made up less than 15 percent of the 80 in total, came from the new economy sector last year
Tensions in international trade, sluggish global stock markets and other factors have stifled the performance of Hong Kong's secondary market this year, with shares of some new economy companies dropping below their issue prices post-IPO.
"We haven't seen a mega-corporation list in Hong Kong yet, and some companies are starting to readjust their listing plans as valuations for new listings have come down significantly recently," Li stated frankly.
Editor: Ben Armour


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"We've opened a lot of stores and we have never seen support like this from a local chamber. This is fantastic." -Colin Stephenson, Sales Manager of Sherwin Williams
The Bluffton Area Community Association is sponsoring an event to benefit local families and school children. This is a Drive-Thru event where parents can come and pick up donated backpacks filled with school supplies, snacks, kids meal coupons, educational material and online give-aways for parents. Children must be in the car to receive a back pack. You must remain in your car during the Drive-Thru, and you must be wearing a face mask covering.


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The company announced that Microsoft would slow hiring in its Windows, Office, and Teams chat and conferencing software group. The new hires will have to be approved by Executive Vice President Rajesh Jha and his leadership team. Microsoft spokesperson said; that these groups have expanded recently, and the company wants to make sure it’s making the suitable hires in the right places. The spokesperson further stated that the slowdown in hiring is not a company-wide phenomenon; overall, the software maker will continue to hire.
As Microsoft gets ready for the new fiscal year, it makes sure the right resources are aligned to the right opportunity. The company Microsoft will continue to grow its headcount in the year ahead, and it will add additional focus to where those resources go.
The spokesperson also said that such caution is typical in periods of economic volatility.
The spokesperson also said that such caution is typical in periods of economic volatility. Apart from Microsoft, other big technology companies have also initiated hiring freeze as fears of an economic recession escalate. Chipmaker Nvidia Corp said Wednesday it expects to decelerate hiring in the second half of fiscal 2023. And companies such as Meta Platforms Inc, Snap Inc., and Salesforce Inc. have taken similar steps. Earlier this month, Microsoft said it would nearly double its budget for salary increases. Sequoia Capital tells startup founders tech has a ‘Crucible Moment Oost’ stock grants to retain critical workers better.


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Allowing users to create objects from simple toys to custom prosthetic parts, plastics are a popular 3D printing material. But these printed parts are mechanically weak — a flaw caused by the imperfect bonding between the individual printed layers that make up the 3D part.
Researchers at Texas A&M University , in collaboration with scientists in the company Essentium Inc. have now developed the technology needed to overcome 3D printing’s “weak spot.” By integrating plasma science and carbon nanotube technology into standard 3D printing, the researchers welded adjacent printed layers more effectively, increasing the overall reliability of the final part.
“Finding a way to remedy the inadequate bonding between printed layers has been an ongoing quest in the 3D printing field,” said Micah Green, associate professor in the Artie McFerrin Department of Chemical […]
3D Printing News Briefs, December 3, 2020: Continuous Composites, AIMS, ULTRAWAVE, Digital Building Technologies, QOROX, Disney
In this edition of 3D Printing News Briefs, Continuous Composites has opened a new manufacturing facility, while...


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Eddie Smith was a larger-than-life, rags-to-riches story, a textbook
example of someone who lived and embodied the American Dream.
Now, more than six years after his death, his legend has grown even
Saturday night in Monterey, Calif., RM Auctions sold the 1967 Ferrari
275 GTB/4 NART Spider that Smith’s family owned since new for $25
million. That made it the second most expensive car ever sold at
auction, behind only a Mercedes-Benz Formula One car raced by the
legendary Juan Manuel Fangio, which sold earlier this year for $30
The best part of the story?
At the direction of Smith’s family, every penny of the proceeds from
the sale of the car he loved so dearly will go to charity.
Born in Wake County in 1918, Smith spent seven years in the Junior
Order Home orphanage near Lexington, N.C., after his parents died in
1930. He worked as an usher in a movie theater and as a cab driver
before founding National Wholesale Co., a mail-order hosiery business,
which he built into a hugely successful enterprise. He later became
the mayor of Lexington and was widely known for his philanthropic
As for the car, it was expected to sell for a high estimate of $17 million.
Instead, it broke the bank by hitting $25 million.
Smith bought the car new and kept it until his death, having once
rebuffed a sale offer from Steve McQueen.
“Dad said to him, ‘Steve, I like you, but I don’t love you,’” said Smith’s
son, Eddie Jr. “‘You can’t have my car.’”
See the video of his incredible car here:


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We are implementing a new technology that includes the advantages of blockchain and DAG technologies, which will allow network users to make instant transfers without commissions, as well as launch smart contracts that are not tied to the stability of a particular programming language, using a completely open ecosystem with the ability to communicate within their social network. Dagchain technology allows you to work locally without cryptocurrency by integrating branded frameworks (authorization and backup) into your systems. You don’t have to keep heavy copies of the dagchain, all responsibility and burden falls on 101 law firms supporting the work and development of the dagchain who support the consensus of Proof of Trust.
Independent Decentralized Ecosystem Universal Directed Acyclic Graph
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By Emilio Luciano Cricchio
Armenia’s car imports tripled in 2019 with 189,000 cars receiving new customs clearance in the country. In 2018, the number was roughly 64,000, according to Davit Ananyan, Chairman of the State Revenue Committee, who spoke at a press conference on January 13.
The sharp increase in car imports in recent years was in part due to the temporary preferential regulations set by the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU). This was part of the terms of accession when Armenia joined the EEU in 2015.
Until January 1, 2020, Armenia had privileged conditions for the import of several hundred types of goods, including cars. The customs clearance for vehicles was carried out at a significantly lower price compared to other EEU countries. In addition, the bulk of imported cars were re-exported to other EEU countries, notably to Kazakhstan.
Now, with the expiration of Armenia’s privileged customs clearance set-up, Armenia will have the same rates as other EEU countries.
Ananyan noted that last year the revenues from car imports amounted to roughly $199 M, which is an increase of $120 M compared to 2018.
More cars, more traffic issues in Yerevan
One of the most obvious consequences of the large increase in car imports is more traffic congestion in the capital of Yerevan, home to nearly half of the country’s population.
Sirekan Ohanyan, Director of the “Yerevan Project,” an urban-planning company under the auspices of the Yerevan Municipality, said in December 2019 that, “The city has never had so many cars and it is impossible to accommodate such a quantity in Yerevan.”
Traffic jams have already become a significant public concern and the increase in car imports will only further disrupt the situation.
In October 2019, Deputy Prime Minister Tigran Avinyan highlighted the problem in a cabinet meeting. “Within two months, we’ll have a plan that will resolve these matters,” he said back then. However, no government policy to date has significantly improved the congestion issue.
The problem is further exacerbated by the poor condition of the public transportation system in the city.
Thus, while the increase in tax revenues will be welcomed by some, the increase in the number of cars on the roads due to these whopping car import figures may mean that the situation could get worse before it gets better.


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This Sept. 6, 1957 photo provided by the DeGolyer Library at Southern Methodist University, shows Stanley Marcus, who lead Dallas-based luxury retailer Neiman Marcus, left, greeting fashion designer Coco Chanel as she arrives at Dallas Love field for a visit to Dallas. The inspiration for Chanel’s “Metiers d’Art” show this year will come from Dallas, the Texas city where Coco Chanel was once given a welcome that included being picked up at the airport in a white Rolls-Royce and being feted at a western-themed party complete with fashion show featuring cows. (AP Photo/DeGolyer Library, Southern Methodist University)
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Apple bowing out of MacWorld after January 2009 comes as a shock to many. But, really, according to a source at Apple, they've been planning to get off MacWorld for a long, long time.
They are not lying in their press release. NAB, MacWorld Tokyo, AppleExpo in Paris, and Summer MacWorld at New York/Boston were the path to this not-really-that-shocking event. They almost quit in 2002, but about two years ago I was sharing some wine with a friend from Apple and he told me: "We are going to phase out all trade shows". "Even MacWorld?," I asked. "Yes," he said, "MacWorld will go too. I don't know when, but it will."


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Two new sustainability initiatives are visible on the Western Illinois University campus, one a little sexier than the other. That's according to Mandi Green, the university's sustainability coordinator.
MACOMB — Two new sustainability initiatives are visible on the Western Illinois University campus, one a little sexier than the other. That’s according to Mandi Green, the university’s sustainability coordinator.
“These solar umbrellas are awesome!” Green said with excitement on Tuesday afternoon while showing off the new solar charging stations placed outside of the rear entrance to Stipes Hall and adjacent to the north side entrance of Malpass Library.
Green said the campus already needed the umbrellas for the outdoor tables at Stipes Hall, and took the idea for the solar charging stations — umbrellas topped with solar panels that supply energy for AC and USB ports — to the university’s sustainability committee.
“The whole idea of these umbrellas was, ‘All of our sustainability happens behind the wall,’ Green explained. “It’s all things that nobody really cares about, because it’s…it’s big things. We’re very progressive when it comes to sustainability, but it’s nothing sexy. We don’t do anything sexy. We’re not putting solar panels on our buildings. We’re not putting big wind turbines up. I said, ‘We need something sexy to get people talking about sustainability on campus.’”
The umbrellas and a new bike repair station were entirely funded with grant money from the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, according to Green.
A bike repair station was recently installed outside of Grote Hall. The self-sustained station includes an air pump and a selection of tools — from an allen wrench to a screwdriver — so students can perform simple bike repairs and maintenance.
The bike repair station at Grote Hall and one soon to be installed outside of the University Union work well in conjunction with the Rocky Bikes program, Green said. Rocky Bikes provides a free 48-hour bike rental to any faculty, staff or student. Bikes can be rented from the Grisby Physical Plant.
“We’re finding that students do maintain the Rocky bikes,” Green said. “They’re very helpful. They’re airing up tires for us; they’re putting chains on, which is helpful because we operate that program with no budget.”
Green said the bike repair station isn’t intended for major bicycle repairs. When significant repairs are needed to a Rocky bike, the university often turns to Mark Larson, owner of The Bike Shop at 137 Columbia St.
“He helps us to repair our bikes when it’s big things, and he trains my staff to do some of the little things,” Green said of Larson. “Mark has been instrumental with the Rocky Bikes program. He helps us out greatly.”
Larson said he appreciates how the university uses the Rocky Bikes program to encourage more students and staff to hop on bike rather than jump inside a vehicle.
“I think it’s a good idea,” Larson said of the bike repair stations. “When you can get a station like that has tools and pumps, and they can do it themselves, it’s a good thing. Anything that can promote riding bikes and not driving your car, it’s a good thing.”
The two solar umbrella charging stations and the bike repair station each cost about $1,500, according to Green. She said more umbrellas might be purchased in the future if more grant money becomes available.
Reach Lainie Steelman via email at lsteelman@McDonoughVoice.com, or follow her on Twitter @LainieSteelman.


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The Titan SuperQuad HD is a new 20,000 lumen 3-chip DLP projector based on Digital Projection’s Titan Quad platform.
Coolux kills aliens to show off Pandoras Box
Coolux showed off some of the capability in its Pandoras Box version 5.1 with interesting applications including an alien-killing video game. The company's Sam Kriemelmeyer provides a demo for InAVate TV.
TLS demos QuickScout switching system
TLS's Rainer Dubiel demonstrates QuickScout AD, the company's analogue/digital switching system for conference applications.


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Chevrolet Showcases Two of Its Brightest Stars at the Seventh Annual El Premio de la Gente, Latin Music Fan Awards
Chevrolet Records its Third Year as the Event's Title and Exclusive Automotive Sponsor
LOS ANGELES – For this year’s seventh annual El Premio de la GenteŽ, Latin Music Fan Awards, Chevrolet turned heads on the red carpet by showing off two of its hottest new stars – the iconic Corvette Z06 and the hip HHR assembled in Mexico.
For the third consecutive year, Chevrolet is the title and exclusive automotive sponsor of the El Premio de la GenteŽ awards honoring Latin recording artists as voted on “by the people.” In celebration of the awards, Chevrolet brought the two stylish vehicles to the awards show to help add excitement to the festivities, which will air Saturday, Oct. 29 on Telemundo Television Network.
As some of today’s biggest music stars walked the red carpet at the El Premio de la Gente awards at The Forum in Los Angeles, Calif., Chevrolet captured the spotlight with the help of an electric blue HHR and a sizzling red Corvette convertible.
The brand new HHR boasts a youthful ‘retro-cool’ styling. With innovative features like an iPod/MP3 ready connection and an optional 260-watt Pioneer enhanced performance audio system with subwoofer, the HHR is a music fan’s dream. The striking Z06 is the fastest, most technologically advanced production model in Corvette’s 53-year history – and a great example of why Corvette and Chevrolet have inspired songs for decades.
Chevy is also the proud sponsor of the “New Artist of the Year” category. As sponsor of this award, Chevy took the category nominees – MDO, Mariana, La 5a Estación, Kalimba, Hector “El Bambino” and Isabella -- on the road to meet with fans and perform in LA, Chicago, Detroit, Miami, Dallas and Elizabeth, New Jersey.
“Chevrolet is excited to show off some of its hottest cars alongside some of today’s brightest Latin stars,” said Kim Kosak, Chevrolet general director of advertising and sales promotion. “We salute all the nominees and are proud to take have taken some of the rising stars in the Latin music world to their fans through the concerts. Chevrolet understands and shares the Latin world’s passion for music.”
About El Premio de la GenteŽ Latin Music Fan Awards™
El Premio de la GenteŽ, Latin Music Fan Awards™, a property of El Premio LLC produced by Uno Productions, Inc., is an exciting music awards show that recognizes the best in Latin music. Known as “The Award of the People,” this dynamic and exhilarating program is the only high profile event where Latin music fans choose all of the winners. Over its six years of existence, the program’s unique mix of musical star power and consumer voting has reached in excess of ten million Latino music fans online at www.votaelpremio.com, through direct-mail voting ballots, and at official voting centers throughout the U.S.


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CHICAGO (Reuters) - Cargill Inc [CARGIL.UL] has agreed to sell fund manager CarVal Investors, representatives for both companies said on Thursday, marking the commodity trader’s exit from the asset management business.
The sale is the latest transition for Cargill, the largest privately held U.S. company, which overhauled its corporate structure in recent years following a string of disappointing results.
Cargill is selling its economic interest in CarVal, which has about $10 billion under management, to a group of 17 CarVal employees, including its managing principals, chief financial officer and general counsel. The companies declined to disclose the price.
“It’s a sale of the company as well as all the economic interests going forward,” said Jay Olson, Cargill’s treasurer who also chairs CarVal’s board.
Olson will step down as CarVal’s chairman once the deal closes in October and keep his role at Cargill, according to CarVal.
Cargill wants to sell CarVal because Cargill is not actively managing the business, Olson said. The sale is unrelated to challenges facing the U.S. agriculture sector, including the trade war with China that has slowed American farm exports for more than a year, he said.
Cargill reported a 41% drop in adjusted quarterly profit in July, citing supply disruptions stemming from the trade war and also flooding in the United States.
“Cargill would rather, in terms of the businesses we’re managing around the world, be more of a hands-on manager,” Olson said.
Cargill founded CarVal in 1987 and made it an independent subsidiary in 2006. The agribusiness will remain a significant investor in several of CarVal’s 23 funds and maintain its investments following the sale, according to CarVal.
Cargill has also agreed to lock up its investments in CarVal’s “evergreen” funds, which have long-term structures, for at least four years, CarVal said. After that time, Cargill could begin the redemption process.
Cargill has been receiving about 20% of CarVal’s revenues from investment fees. The new employee-owned partnership will receive all revenues from fees, according to CarVal.
“We 100% believe in this platform,” said Lucas Detor, a CarVal managing principal. “We’re going all in.”
Cargill tried to sell CarVal in recent years, but potential deals fell through.
In 2016, Cargill spun off a hedge fund arm known as Black River Asset Management and split it into three separate employee-owned firms.
Louis Dreyfus Company [LOUDR.UL], one of the world's top four crop traders with Cargill, Archer Daniels Midland Co ADM.N and Bunge Ltd BG.N, wound down its commodity fund manager Edesia Asset Management in 2017.
Reporting by Tom Polansek in Chicago; Editing by Lisa Shumaker
Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.


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City police along with bylaw enforcement officers from the city and health unit will be at Devonshire Mall on Saturday for the planned no face mask shopping trip.
Medical Officer of Health Dr. Wajid Ahmed says the agencies are in contact and have been discussing ways to approach the situation.
As heard on AM800 news earlier this week, members of a local Facebook group called Questioning Covid in Windsor-Essex have planned a mask-free shopping trip to the mall on Howard Avenue.
According to the page, the goal of the trip is to find stores that respect mask exemptions and shop at only those stores.
Dr. Ahmed says the health unit's order and city bylaw must be followed.
"The law is there for everyone and it takes consideration for all these people, all these nuances," he says. "So it's unfortunate that we are having this conversation and it just basically bothers me."
"People who are trying to present that they're having the voice of everyone out there, they're not, there are just few handful of people, they are in every forum," Dr. Ahmed added.
He believes the organizers of the shopping trip feel they're the voice for everyone.
"There's a huge difference with people who are unable to wear the mask versus who do not want to wear the mask and I think people if they do not want to wear the mask, fair enough but do it where you can, you cannot and you should not do it in places which is accessible to public," says Dr. Ahmed. "What about the rights of the rest of the people."
Dr. Ahmed would not say if fines will be issued to those who take part in the shopping trip which is planned for 2 p.m.
The health unit issued a face covering order for Windsor-Essex at the end of June while a number of local municipalities including Windsor have adopted masks bylaws.


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Opposition to lease a gun shop in Lyon Park, Arlington County
This petition had 3,257 supporters
A recent article has revealed that a gun store offering “the largest selection of firearms inside the D.C. Beltway” is planning to open next month in Lyon Park.
This small strip mall along Pershing Drive and Route 50 is in a residential location and literally next door to a day care/after-care school, the Merit School of Arlington. It is also within blocks of Long Branch Elementary, and less than a mile from Key Elementary and Thomas Jefferson Middle School.
We, the citizens of Arlington County, oppose a gun shop at this location. We are alarmed to hear of these plans just weeks before opening, when there was so much controversy around similar plans to open a gun shop in Cherrydale. That effort was thwarted due to community opposition, and we ask that the landlords of 2300 N Pershing Drive also hear the citizens' concerns.
In an era of ever-increasing gun violence, it is unconscionable to locate a gun shop anywhere in the vicinity of schools, both private and public, with young children in close proximity. The fear of armed intruders in schools is extremely prevalent in our schools, and placing a shop that sells guns and/or ammunition within immediate distance of schools sends a confusing signal to students and could certainly spark fears of access to them and their families.
We call on the owner of the building and the gun shop to exercise concern for the community, and most particularly its youngest and most vulnerable residents, and cease any action that would allow a gun shop to occupy this space.
If the shop was not right for Cherrydale, what makes it right for Lyon Park?
Please also express your concern to your local elected officials -
Arlington County Board Members:
Arlington School Board Members:
Today: Concerned Arlingtonians is counting on you
Concerned Arlingtonians needs your help with “Arlington Development and Consulting Group Inc: Opposition to lease a gun shop in Lyon Park, Arlington County”. Join Concerned Arlingtonians and 3,256 supporters today.


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Ilorin — Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, is said to be among cities in Nigeria with highest number of pharmaceutical companies producing a wide range of drugs. But two of the leading pharmaceutical firms located in Ilorin, Bioraj Pharmaceutical Limited and Peace Standard Pharmaceutical Company were most-affected.
One of the pharmaceutical companies mentioned in a BBC documentary video on codeine production and distribution in Nigeria, Bioraj Pharmaceutical Limited, Ilorin, said it has suspended the store man shown in the video with immediate effect. Managing Director, Mr. Rahman Jimoh Bioku, said so in Ilorin yesterday. He added that the store man would be eventually sacked if found guilty, and added that the staff does not have any control on sales and distribution of any of its 58 NAFDAC-approved products.
Bioku also said that the sales rep showed in the BBC documentary had been suspended from the company since May 2016, adding that he was finally disengaged in August same year. "Even when he was here with us, he was not allowed to handle cough syrup with codeine. Watching through the video clips, I saw in him a desperate marketer wanting to make big money from people he thought were big businessmen. Any representations made by the former sales rep and the store man shown in the video are not in line with the thinking, policy, ethical rules and regulations of Bioraj Pharmaceutical Limited," he said.
Bioku also said the company had placed an embargo on sales of Biolin Cough Syrup With Codeine pending outcome of its investigation, adding that it would comply with Federal Government directive to ban further issuance of permits for importation of codeine phosphate as active pharmaceutical ingredient for cough syrup preparation to tame abuse of such drugs.
Bioku, who said that the company had not sold codeine-containing preparation to unauthorized person or premises, added that its distributors and wholesalers were duly registered with Pharmacist Council of Nigeria. "None of our sales representatives has authority to take order or supply Biolin to customers," he said.
At Peace Standard Pharmaceutical Company, efforts to speak to management proved unsuccessful as it appeared security arrangement put in place in the places had prior directive to deny press interaction. Also, a member of staff of the company who requested anonymity said the management is still meeting to decide on the next move.
During the visit there, a company security personnel said that top management staff were not available to talk with press. At the pharmacy, located at Adewole Industrial Estate, Ilorin, a private security personnel at the reception said only the director of the company could speak, and that he was in a meeting.
A glimpse into the premises of the Peace Standard Pharmaceutical Company showed a neat environment, with three trucks parked.
Source link : http://allafrica.com/stories/201805050098.html
Publish date : 2018-05-05 18:21:21


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Simmons Debuts "Smart" Mattress
May 19, 2014,
Web page for the ComforPedic iQ
ATLANTA-Simmons has unveiled the ComforPedic iQ mattress, which the company described as its "smartest" and most innovative mattress yet.
The ComforPedic iQ is designed with Smart Response Technology, which is designed to help people fall asleep faster and experience increased REM sleep. The technology continually calibrates and naturally adapts to an individual's body weight and position to provide more personalized support. Meanwhile, the mattress' Ultra Cool Memory Foam is designed to regulate temperature for a comfortable night's sleep, Simmons said in a company statement.
The ComforPedic iQ comes with the endorsement of Dr. Andrew Weil, spokesman for a variety of health topics and founder of the Arizona Center of Integrative Medicine at the University of Arizona Health Sciences Center. "The ComforPedic iQ is the only mattress I have ever endorsed," Weil said. "I believe in this product's clinically tested technology and ComforPedic iQ's mission to help people achieve a better night's sleep as part of a healthier lifestyle."


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Many of us love a cup or two of coffee throughout the day, but a recent study claims that drinking too much of it might cause brain shrinkage and raise the risk of dementia in the long run.
This was also a big research, with 17,702 individuals ranging in age from 37 to 73 years old, drawn from the UK Biobank project. The long-running study gathers data on a variety of health and lifestyle variables, such as coffee intake, brain volume, and illness — as well as other data such as socioeconomic status, which scientists may consider.
Excess coffee dangers can skyrocket, however you’ll need to consume a lot of the beverage to do so: According to the study, those who drank six or more cups of coffee per day had a 53 percent higher risk of dementia than those who drank one or two cups per day.
According to epidemiologist Kitty Pham of the University of South Australia, “coffee is one of the most popular drinks in the world.” “However, with annual worldwide consumption exceeding nine billion kilos, it’s important that we understand any possible health consequences.”
“This is the broadest study to examine volumetric brain imaging data and a wide range of confounding variables, as well as the most thorough look of the links between coffee, brain volume measures, dementia risks, and stroke risks.”
While we know that coffee has a number of effects on the brain, including keeping us awake, prior research on the link between brain volume and dementia has been equivocal and, in some cases, conflicting.
The researchers discovered a link between consuming more coffee and decreased overall brain volumes in individuals, as well as an increased risk of dementia, after controlling for factors such as sex, age, BMI, and long-term diseases.
This study did not investigate the consequences of brain shrinkage. While both grey and white matter have a role in controlling motor and sensory function, it’s difficult to correlate having less of either to specific behavioural or brain activity outcomes. As we become older, our brains shrink naturally, and some studies show that there may be a link between volume and dementia.
“We repeatedly discovered that greater coffee consumption was substantially related with lower brain volume, accounting for all potential permutations – essentially, consuming more than six cups of coffee a day may be putting you at risk of brain disorders like dementia and stroke,” explains Pham.
What’s not obvious is why this happens: additional study into how caffeine and coffee interact with brain cells, and whether those interactions are good or harmful, has to be done.
It’s conceivable that the way caffeine binds to adenosine receptors in the brain causes these changes, but they might also be produced indirectly by coffee’s effects on other body components (such as the cardiovascular system).
What we can conclude from this study is that drinking a lot of coffee appears to be associated with a substantially greater risk of dementia in a large sample group – a relationship strong enough to make you reassess how you get through the day.
According to epidemiologist Elina Hyppönen of the University of South Australia, “typical daily coffee intake is between one and two standard cups of coffee.” “Of course, while unit measurements vary, a couple of cups of coffee each day is usually plenty.”
“However, if you’re finding that you’re drinking more than six cups of coffee each day, it’s time to reconsider your next beverage.”


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It is safe to say that online and mobile banking have hit mainstream. Today, more than half of all adults with a bank account in France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, and the UK use banking services — which we define as information requests, transactions, or alert delivery — on their PCs, tablets, or mobile phones. The uptake of tablets and smartphones gives banks an opportunity to engage their customers deeply across platforms. Our recently published Forrester Research Digital Banking Forecast, 2013 To 2018 (EU-7) explores how each Internet-connected device will drive future online and mobile banking adoption across seven key European markets.
The forecast identifies some key trends in the European digital banking market.
1. Mobile banking adoption continues its sturdy growth. As recently as 2009, mobile banking activity was negligible, representing fewer than 5% of all adults with accounts. Adoption has risen nearly fourfold since and will continue to grow at double-digit compound annual growth rates through 2018. However, consumer concerns about device security will restrain growth: In all the European countries we track other than Italy and Spain, consumers are more than twice as likely to cite security concerns as a reason for not using mobile banking than for not using PC/tablet online banking.
At the intersection of technology, mobility, and consumer centricity, the automotive industry is kicking into gear. From the International Consumer Electronics Show highlights early this year to commercials aired during the nightly Winter Olympics coverage this week, it’s hard to miss the news and promotions around increasingly sophisticated in-car technologies. Vehicles are:
Evolving as channels for media consumption. Last month, Pandora announced that it would begin monetizing its in-car audience by integrating ads into its in-car stream tailored to consumers en route.
Becoming an extension of your network of connected devices. Google’s latest partnership with Audi, GM, Honda, and Hyundai promises to put Android OS-synched cars on the road this year.
Emerging as self-regulating “smart” devices in their own right. BMW’s recently launched “i” series boasts a navigation function that identifies the most energy-efficient route according to range and environment, along with other technology that improves vehicle performance and safety.
Between the tackles and touchdowns of Super Bowl XLVIII, about 35 brands went head to head in a competition for consumer attention by airing highly anticipated commercials at $130,000 per second. Which brands won? It’s hard to tell: Bets were in well before Sunday, play-by-plays have been highlighted, trends analyzed, and commentators are still discussing them.
The truth is that the games have just begun. For consumers, the Super Bowl ad spectacle is part of the “discovery” phase — the first of four stages constituting Forrester’s customer life cycle — as commercials educate markets about a new product or momentarily make an impression on individuals. The resulting waves of social chatter now rippling across the Web amplify each brand’s capacity to be noticed.


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First announced at CES earlier this year, available only to Smart display before now, but Google as decided to roll it out today to Android and iOS devices.
Interpreter Mode is a feature that allows Google Assistant to translate your conversations in real-time, into any language; It will support 44 languages.
Interpreter mode can be invoked by saying commands like “Hey Google, help me speak Thai” or “Hey Google, be my German translator.”
Once you’re in interpreter mode, the Assistant will translate your speech and read it out loud. On phone screens, the Assistant can offer up Smart Replies that can speed up the conversation by letting you respond without having to speak.
Beginning from today, it’ll start rolling out inside the iOS and Android Google Assistant smartphone apps.


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Tongaat Hullet executives Chinhuru and Mhere (in company T-shirt) hand over a prize to Mr Gwatirera(holding an envelope) who was named the best farmer in Chipiwa
…targets 600 000 tons by 2019
CHIREDZI - Tongaat Hullet Zimbabwe (THZ) has encouraged sugarcane farmers to improve yields, saying the export market was expanding as the company was now set to export 18 00 tons of processed sugar to the United States.
Many small scale sugarcane farmers in the Lowveld are contracted to the sugar giant which is the sole miller and buyer of all cane.
Addressing farmers at a field day organised by the Zimbabwe Sugar Association Experiment Station (ZSAES) in Chipiwa plot 276 K Block in Mkwasine, THZ executive responsible for operations, Aiden Mhere said the sugar industry accounted for 5 percent of the country's Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
He said the company expected to produce a record 600 000 tons of sugar in the 2018-2019 season from the current 350-400 000 so that American demand can be consistently met.
"Our international markets are increasing. We supply half of the sugar consumed in Botswana and Namibia. We received a quota to supply America with 18 000 tons of sugar as from this year. We also export our sugar to Europe," said Mhere.
He said production in Chipiwa had dropped from 114 tons per hectare in 1994 to current average yields of 37 tons per hectare.
"You should convert farming into a business regardless of land size. An efficiently organised farmer with only 10 hectares can produce more than the one with 20 hectares but disorganised.
"In China, someone with a one hectare plot is a rich farmer. Others have one acre plots and 0.5 hectare plots but they use their land intensively for better output," said Mhere.
Chipiwa was first developed by THZ and government soon after Independence and was housing 191 sugarcane farmers who were using overhead irrigation.
About 1 910 hectares of land was developed with each farmer getting 10 hectares and they were performing better than those with bigger portions of land.
Recently, Canelands Trust injected about US$12 million to rehabilitate Chipiwa as irrigation pipes were being stolen.
Farmers there are currently using flood irrigation and their output, which had gone down to a measly 37 tons per hectare in 2010, rose to 76 tons per hectare in 2014.local


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Miami — While a lot of top global cities turned dark during the pandemic, Miami is flourishing. With outdoor malls, restaurants, and plenty of beaches, it became a haven for those trying to get some fresh air and semblance of normalcy. But it’s not just the tourists - and northeasterners - who have been flocking to South Florida, tech companies, investors, and financial institutions have made the migration, too. Just last week Microsoft announced that it would be opening its Latin American headquarters in Brickell - the heart of Miami’s financial district. It signed a contract for a 50,000 sq ft lease in a building that’s yet to be built at 830 Brickell. Earlier in the year we saw the likes of Founders Fund, a prestigious Silicon Valley VC open an office in Miami, too. And let’s not forget one of the early movers, BlackStone, who announced in October, 2020 that they would be coming to town and opening up more than 200 tech jobs.
With all this increased stardom has come higher prices. Bloomberg Línea spoke with Alex Horenstein, Associate Professor of Economics at the Miami Herbert Business School at the University of Miami to learn what are the top 5 things that have gone up in price in the Magic City and surrounding South Florida. Spoiler alert: Some of it is good news.
- Hotels: “Prices of hotels in New York have remained the same, but in the Florida Keys they have almost doubled,” Horenstein said. “Everything tourism related has gone up because Miami has been a very sought out destination during the pandemic,” he added. The Florida Keys have become one of the more expensive places to visit in the U.S. with room rates for a weekend stay in September in Key Largo at a four star hotel, ranging from $299 - $1266 according to Google Travel. Since most Americans have been unable to travel abroad the last 1.5 years, tourism in the U.S. in general has skyrocketed, as more people opt for road trips and destinations with short flights. Hawaii, for example, another hot vacation spot, has actually asked tourists to stop coming. Across the country the picture is a little different. According the Market Watch, a summer 21 study shows that while hotel prices nationally have increased by about 17% since this time last year, they largely remain flat compared with pre-pandemic prices.
- Restaurants: “Tourism related businesses have seen a faster recovery [in Miami] than in other cities,” Horenstein said. Many restaurants had to reduce their capacity or close-off indoor dining completely as well as implement more stringent cleaning protocols. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the largest increase was the index for meats, poultry, fish, and eggs, which increased 8.0 percent as the index for beef rose 12.2 percent over the year. The only group to decline was dairy and related products, which fell 0.5 percent over the last 12 months. The index for food at restaurants rose 4.7 percent over the last year. As a result, many restaurants have raised their prices, including the fan favorite: Casa Tua Cucina where in 2019 pastas started at $12, and now start at $15.
- Rents and Real Estate: “Latins who own apartments in Miami are making more money, because their properties are going up,” Horenstein said. With remote work becoming feasible for so many people during the pandemic, many New Yorkers and California residents have made Miami their home - even if temporarily, and vacant units have been flying off the shelves. This goes for rentals and homes, alike. “I was looking for a house in June, and people increased their prices by 10-15% within just one week,” Horenstein said. In Brickell, home to banks and luxury high rises, rent for a 2 bedroom apartment ranges from $2,600 - $7,000 per month, according to Zillow. *We looked at prices in the 33130 zip code, which consists of the core of Brickell.
- Insurance: But if you own a place, your insurance has likely gone up too, said Horenstein. In general, the price of goods has gone up across the U.S. so everything that would need to be replaced by insurance has gotten more expensive as well. Luckily we’re almost in the clear in terms of hurricane season!
- Car rentals: If you’re thinking of making a trip to Miami and renting a car, you better plan ahead. Not only have car rental prices gone up exorbitantly, but the demand has increased, too, leaving many rental car companies with bare parking lots. What happened is that at the height of the pandemic last summer, when everyone was at a standstill, many dealers sold off large swaths of their fleet.
As a result, investing in Miami has become a more expensive proposition. But for those who got in early and have owned real estate for years, now you’ll finally be plagued with the question: to keep or to sell?


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Who are the latest designers following Burberry’s lead?
From New York to Paris
First Burberry, now Tom Ford and Vetements. It sounds like the age-old tradition of four menswear and womenswear shows a year might be on the way out. Last Friday, we reported on Burberry's seismic decision to present just two shows a year, backed by collections that will be readily available to purchase post-show. It was a headline-grabbing move for sure, but one that the British brand has probably been planning for a while, given that it was already selling pieces from its collections after each show.
However, Burberry's decision has sparked more designers to consolidate their collections into the same neat, androgynous category, with both Tom Ford and It-Parisian label Vetements announcing similar plan. "In a world that has become increasingly immediate, the current way of showing a collection four months before it is available to consumers is an antiquated idea and one that no longer makes sense," Ford told WWD. "We have been living with a fashion calendar and system that is from another era. Our customers today want a collection that is immediately available." Pledging to show his A/W '16 collection in Septmber, when it actually drops into stores means that Ford has canned his planned. February 18 womenswear and menswear show.
On the other hand, white-hot French label Vetements (helmed by new Balenciaga creative director Demna Gvasalia) is shunning the typical fashion calendar altogether and choosing to show its men's and women's collections in January and June, in between men's and couture. The move, scheduled to slide into place from January 2017, is said to address the production cycle problem facing so many designers today. This apparent disconnect between when the designers show and when the collections are actually available to purchase (a period of up to six months) has been compounded by the arrival of social media and an increasingly digital world.
The exhausting pace of the fashion calendar, not to mention the abundance of resort/cruise and pre-collections has placed undue pressure on many designers, but it's only recently that some have spoken out. While some may thrive on the stress, others (like Raf Simons) found the constant need for new ideas detrimental to the creative process. Sure, the (social media) genie may be out of the bottle, but that's not to say designers don't have the power to shift the fashion landscape, too. We can't wait to see how this issue continues to evolve...
Buro 24/7 Selection
Buro 24/7 Selection


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Don't look now, but Canada might just join the likes of France and the UK in ushering in the courier drone era. Transport Canada has approved its first drone test range near the tiny village of Foremost, Alberta, clearing the way for Drone Delivery Canada to launch a robotic cargo service as soon as late 2017. The roughly 927 square miles will help DDC prove that its drones can haul goods across long distances using satellite guidance. Tests with the company's early partners should start sometime in the first quarter of the year. The drone delivery system could be more important for Canada than it would be for other nations.
Delivery drones have more than a few challenges, not the least of which is dropping off the package in a convenient place. Do you really want to head out to your yard to collect a box? You might not have to. Advanced Tactics has successfully tested delivery with a drone, the Panther sUAS Air/Ground Robot, that can both fly and drive up to your door. When it's too dangerous or costly to travel by air, the machine just has to touch down and wheel its way to its destination.
You don't have to wait for food delivery drones... if you live in the right part of China. Alibaba's online meal giant Ele.me has been cleared to use drones for delivering orders in Shanghai's Jinshan Industrial Park. The initiative won't deliver directly to your abode, but it will save you a lot of travel time: there are 17 routes, each of with two fixed drop-off points. Your food should arrive within 20 minutes, which isn't always possible with conventional cars slogging through traffic. Despite the automation, Ele.me believes this could be better for drivers.
Amazon apparently won't be the only company offering drone delivery service: The United Postal Service could follow suit. UPS announced Tuesday it had successfully tested out a drone for residential delivery, a press release said. The company worked with Workhorse Group, a manufacturing company that created both the drone and the electric UPS car used to test the flight. The test drone successfully flew to its designated location, dropped off the package and then proceeded on its delivery route. The drone tested could carry up to 10 pounds.


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Amazon Achieves PCI Compliance
Amazon Web Services (AWS) seems to be getting its house in order when it comes to compliance certifications. The company said last week it has achieved Level 1 compliance with the Payment Card Industry, or PCI, Data Security Standard.
PCI is the standard for storing, processing and transmitting credit card data. AWS lack of PCI compliance was a key barrier to those companies looking to use the cloud provider's service to handle transactions.
"Merchants and services providers with a need to certify against PCI DSS and to maintain their own certification can now leverage the benefits of the AWS cloud and even simplify their own PCI compliance efforts by relying on AWS's status as a validated service provider," said AWS lead Web services evangelist Jeff Barr, in a blog post.
The PCI validation covers its core cloud offerings used by merchants, notably Amazon Elastic Compute Cloud (EC2), the Amazon Simple Storage Service (S3), Amazon Elastic Block Storage (EBS) and the Amazon Virtual Private Cloud (VPC), Barr noted.
"This is big news, especially for small businesses that want to use EC2 and haven't because Amazon has not gone through PCI," said Douglas Barbin, director of assurance and compliance services at SAS 70 Solutions, a consultancy that specializes in auditing and compliance.
Large hosting providers such as Savvis, Rackspace and AT&T are already PCI-compliant as is Google's payment gateway, Barbin added.
The news comes just weeks after Amazon announced it has achieved ISO 27001 compliance, a standard based in 133 security process controls such as physical plant security, operational policies and how malicious code is handled, to name a few.
Earlier in the year, Amazon received its SAS 70 certification but was criticized for lacking ISO 27001 certification, Barbin said. That's because SAS 70 allows the provider to determine their own controls, while ISO 27001 is based on standard controls. "They got a lot of flack because they wouldn't disclose what those controls were," Barbin said. "This is an important milestone for Amazon."
Posted by Jeffrey Schwartz on December 14, 2010


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Amazon Prime Day Expected 13th October
Amazon Prime Day is now set to launch on Tuesday October 13 after being delayed for months due to the coronavirus.
Amazon’s flagship sales event which usually takes place in July will now launch in just three weeks’ time, according to a report from CNET.
Four separate sources “with knowledge of Amazon’s plans” leaked the October date, though Amazon has not yet publicly confirmed this.
Read more at
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Mike Seymour of FX Guide interviews Vico Sharabani of the NY production company Artery VFX about the collaboration with Paul Cameron, Director of
Gala presented immersive retail experiences in virtual reality in collaboration with Arianna Huffington’s Thrive Global and Accenture. Nurulize
Paul Tice from Spar3D reviews Atom View.
Mike Seymour from FX Guide gives an in-depth review of Atom View. One of the really impressive technologies at SIGGRAPH was Atom View by
We’re thrilled to share the news that Walmart tech incubator Store No 8 and Arianna Huffington’s Thrive Global have announced Nurulize as one of
Nurulize Takes Home GTC’s Grand Prize at VR Content Showcase. A panel of judges chose the winner after two hours of speed-of-light pitches.
Nurulize has been chosen as one of 10 selected out of an astonishing 120 entries to present as a part of a contest seeking companies with
Congratulations to our seed investors on this prestigious award! Vladimir Koylazov, aka “Vlado,” will receive an Academy Plaque at the 2017
We were recently fortunate to have Nicholas Scibetta of the news site Game Crate in our office for an in depth immersion into our virtual reality
We’re showcasing our Nu Reality: Desert Home VR experience on the Oculus headset at SXSW Interactive this week. Visitors will be able to glimpse
We’re showcasing our RISE Oculus DK2 tech demo at GDC 2015 in San Francisco this week. RISE is a fully immersive virtual reality experience
Details Magazine has listed Nu Reality: Desert Home in their coverage of CES. “…we have to say that it was one of the best experiences at


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While the virtual reality headset, the “Rift,” by Oculus VR, has garnered praise for being the latest, greatest in cutting edge technology, it is no longer without a competitor. The “Vive,” created by company HTC, in partnership with Valve, offers viable competition by offering not only moderately affordable, but efficient technology.
Similar to Oculus’s model, HTC offers dual screens within the headset at 1080×1200 resolution with a refresh rate of 90Hz. Unlike the “Rift,” which uses an infrared camera to track the headset’s motion, the “Vive” utilizes two laser-emitting base stations mounted throughout the room the device is being used in. Reportedly, this offers more freedom of movement, faster, accurate reactions during usage. The “Rift” is expected to come with an XBox controller, while the “Vive” offers two wireless controller sticks reminiscent of Nintendo’s Wii gaming console.
Neither headset is directly available to the public. However, prototype development kits for both models are offered to video game producers, as well as potentially individuals who test them and display their findings on Youtube. Public Youtubers, including Markiplier and Jacksepticeye have already shared their experiences through their respective channels.
The “Vive” is scheduled for consumer purchase by the end of the year, while the “Rift” is slated for a Q1 2016 release date. Their projected price range is approximately $200 – $400, with HTC’s model expected to be on the higher end of cost. Up-to-date information on the “Vive” can be found at the SteamVR website.
Valve is a successful, independent software developer, most notable for its “Half-Life” video game series, as well as its digital streaming service, “Steam.”
What are your thoughts on this technological dark horse? As always, let us know in the comments below.


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SHARKRIM Sdn Bhd has announced its first phase of development planning, which includes 300 intelligent franchise outlets across Malaysia equipped with state-of-the-art Artificial Intelligence Logistic Systems that offer one-stop solution integrating standard logistics services, intelligent logistics supply chain system, and real-time database system.
Each outlet will have three delivery trucks that could deliver goods in the market valued at RM20 billion yearly. Sharkrim has also introduced a B2B (business-to-business) logistics operation standardisation system, adequate to cater for the needs of B2B supply chain management. Subsequently, the creation of the Intelligent Logistics Ecosystem business model could revolutionise current the logistics industry and business practices.
Datuk Dr Kenny Lew Chung Yuh, the founder and chief executive officer of Sharkrim believes that in the near future, Sharkrim will be able to connect with various industries through the system to embrace the Industrial Revolution 4.0 - computerisation, digitisation, and intelligent standards.
Realising how “traditional” logistics practices could be improved, Lew endeavours to bring great changes. His innovative business ideas and outstanding negotiation skills, complemented by excellent management skills have pioneered and grown the company over the years and set an exemplary standard for a lot of businesses in the Asia Pacific region.
“We’re also looking at the prospect and scopes of halal logistics simultaneously on its principles and foundation for Muslim countries. Halal logistics covers warehousing, transportation and terminal operations. The establishment of these principles serves as a guide for the creation of a global halal logistics system, such as minimising hardship for the halal industry, obligation in between halal and haram and how to avoid the latter, create an evolution of a complete halal value chain and supply chain, and benchmark with existing standards and best practices,” he said.
Lew has always been striving for the improvement of international logistics in the Asia Pacific region, if not globally. With this purpose in mind, he has introduced data format management, cargo standardisations, systematic measurement of logistics costs, price transparency, B2B goods exclusive QR code, and AI fleet data management.
Through these standards, the delivery costs and timeliness will be managed efficiently and meet the B2B supply chain’s requirement of a new economic model in the current digital era.
As testament to the company’s excellent performance, Sharkrim was awarded the “World Digital Distinguished Entrepreneur Lifetime Achievement Awards” and “Corporate Excellence Awards” recently in June in the presence of Malacca state governor His Excellency Tun Seri Setia (Dr) Haji Mohd Ali Bin Mohd Rustam.


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With this legislation, NY is creating a new Conditional Adult-use Cannabis Cultivator license, allowing hemp farmers to grow cannabis in the 2022 growing season.
BUFFALO, N.Y. — New York Gov. Kathy Hochul signed new legislation on Tuesday that will allow hemp farmers in the state to apply for a conditional license to grow cannabis.
With this legislation, New York is creating a new Conditional Adult-use Cannabis Cultivator license, allowing hemp farmers to grow cannabis in the 2022 growing season. Conditionally licensed cannabis farmers must hit certain requirements under this law.
According to the governor’s office, some of the requirements include, “safe, sustainable and environmentally friendly cultivation practices, participation in a social equity mentorship program, and engagement in a labor peace agreement with a bona fide labor organization.”
“I am proud to sign this bill, which positions New York’s farmers to be the first to grow cannabis and jumpstart the safe, equitable and inclusive new industry we are building,” Hochul said. “New York State will continue to lead the way in delivering on our commitment to bring economic opportunity and growth to every New Yorker in every corner of our great state.”
Assembly Majority Leader Crystal Peoples-Stokes added, “Last year, after many years of fighting, we finally enacted the Marijuana Regulation and Taxation Act, and are beginning to undo the devastating impacts over 90 years of unequal enforcement of marijuana prohibition had on too many lives and communities. MRTA ensures that the legal adult-use market will be centered on equity and economic justice for communities of color and individuals that have been harmed most by the War on Drugs in the State of New York. With the passage of this bill, we have the opportunity to create a responsible start to the adult-use cannabis industry by authorizing temporary conditional cultivator and processor licenses to current New York hemp farmers. This authority will help secure enough safe, regulated, and environmentally conscious cannabis products to meet the demand of the adult-use cannabis market when retail dispensaries open. Importantly, this legislation calls for a Social Equity Mentorship Program, which will create a viable and inclusive path for social and economic equity partners interested in cannabis cultivation and processing to gain invaluable knowledge and experience in this emerging industry. The temporary conditional licenses authorized by this bill will ultimately help realize the vision and goals of the MRTA.”


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Sony Mobile is not only preparing the Xperia Z4 Tablet for a MWC 2015 debut, but also some accessories. Among them we should find a keyboard accessory, like the one pictured below.
Strong hints about this product have appeared, including a competition on Facebook that Sony Mobile is running, for an “exclusive mystery prize package”. Sony claims it’s excited to give the public a glimpse at its latest innovations. Also, they mention the “newest member of the Xperia family”. The teaser picture is shown above and it’s clearly a keyboard accessory.
It’s big enough for a 10 inch tablet, which is exactly what the Xperia Z4 Tablet is rumored to be. More will be revealed on March 2nd, on Monday, at MWC 2015. I see there’s a pretty big hinge in the mix here and the slate is very thin, just like rumored. I’ll remind you that the latest leaks also mention a Quad HD resolution for the device.


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The Good Pub Guide 2015 brings reviews of thousands of pubs to your fingertips, and the app boasts sophisticated search facilities.
The best of ITProPortal news: Apple has dominated the headlines today with rumoured announcements of two new iPads, performance issues with iOS 8, and a price point for the Apple Watch Edition.
An anonymous source claims that the latest software update means that anyone with a third generation Apple TV is likely to have a HomeKit-enabled hub, whether they know it or not.
Us Brits are renowned for our superior levels of patience and tolerance, but new research from Delphix suggests that this doesn't transfer to the digital world.
With on-pitch technology already seeing adoption, it's only a matter of time until club secretaries make the most of digital business technology.
The HealthKit platform is a major feature of iOS 8 and is expected to play a key role in the new iPhone 6 and the Apple Watch when it is launched next year.
Apple’s brand spanking new iOS 8 operating system is finally here and is available as a free download for all you Apple users. Are you ready to make the jump up from iOS 7?
Any OS upgrade is bound to have its problems, and iOS 8 has seen some glitches with apps, and talk that performance isn’t all it should be.
Chat has become popular on many platforms, from computers to mobile, but BitTorrent has a client that seems to be changing how this all works by removing cloud storage from the equation.
Pronounce Folr as ‘follow’ and you’ll get an idea of what this app is for – keeping an eye on the whereabouts of other people.
There's one more smartphone platform on the market, although it's far behind the big, established names, as Mozilla targets emerging markets with the release of Firefox OS.


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The past thirty days or so haven’t been kind to Marvel Comics. In that time, we’ve learned that Marvel has canceled Alpha Flight, Iron Man 2.0, All-Winners Squad, Destroyers, and Victor Von Doom. Now we can add two more books to that list; Ghost Rider and X-23. While Marvel Comics hasn’t yet made the official announcement, Comic Book Resources is reporting that X-23 will end in January. Additionally, Ghost Rider writer Rob Williams has confirmed on his Twitter account that, yes, Ghost Rider has gotten the axe, as well. Crap.
Between laying off several of its editorial and creative staff and then losing significant market share to DC Comics, the Fall of 2011 has been brutal for Marvel Comics. The sudden cancellation of so many of its titles, some of them before the first issue of the book even shipped (Victor Von Doom and Destroyers), has added to that pain. Marvel attributes the trimming of its titles to new budgetary constraints, a result of sagging sales and a shitty economy. Here’s a particularly depressing quote from the CBR article about the X-23 cancellation…
“In a recent installment of his AXEL-IN-CHARGE column on CBR, Marvel Editor-in-Chief Axel Alonso noted that cancellations of titles like “Alpha Flight” came in part due to “new budgetary mandates” while the publisher is bolstering its line in a tough economy by shipping extra installments of it core series in 2012. In that light it is important to note two things. Firstly, at #104 on Diamond’s Sale Estimates for October books, “X-23″ was not the lowest-shipping Marvel Universe series. Behind it were such comics as “Thunderbolts,” “X-Factor,” “Avengers Academy” and “Ghost Rider” amongst others.”
As I mentioned earlier, Marvel Comics has yet to confirm either of these books being cut. However, when asked if they were being cut, the answer Marvel gave, “No comment”, might as well have been, “Yup”. And with Ghost Rider Rob Williams, backed up by Brian Michael Bendis, taking to Twitter, confirming the news, who needs a Marvel spokesman?
Fans of X-23 and Ghost Rider will be able to see both characters in their upcoming, Rick Remender scripted, Venom team-up. Additionally, X-23 will also be featured as a regular character in Avengers Academy (but with sales lower than X-23′s book, that title might get cancelled as well). Ghost Rider will be ending with issue #9 and X-23 will meet its end with issue #20. Sad news all the way around. I guess all we can do is, like Brian Bendis suggested, go to your local comic shop and get your pre-orders in. Hopefully this is the last round of title cuts at Marvel but, if it’s not, we’ll keep you up to date on the details.
Filed Under: Comic Books


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The anticipated but unannounced Mass Effect trilogy remaster has reportedly been rated in Korea.
Mass Effect Legendary Edition appears to have been classified in September 2020, according to an update on South Korea’s Game Rating and Administration Committee website spotted by Gematsu.
VentureBeat journalist Jeff Grubb claimed in June that publisher EA will release a Mass Effect trilogy remaster in its current financial year ending in March 2021.
And in August he said he was “pretty confident” EA was planning to announce and release Mass Effect Legendary Edition in October 2020, but that the company’s plans could change given the upheaval caused by the coronavirus.
Then last month, Grubb claimed EA had delayed the game’s release from this year to early 2021 primarily due to quality concerns related to the first entry in the series.
Citing development sources, he said the original Mass Effect’s visuals and gameplay still needed work as they were not on the same level as the rest of the package and BioWare was concerned about giving new players a poor first impression of the series.
The report also claimed Mass Effect: Legendary Edition will include all of the DLC released for the original trilogy but won’t include Mass Effect 3’s multiplayer component.


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During the ongoing Third China International Consumer Products Expo in Haikou, capital of Hainan province, top executives of Italian companies expressed their confidence in China’s market growth and innovation potential, stating that they will continue to increase investments in the country. As the guest country of honor this year, Italy has 147 of its brands participating in the expo, more than double last year’s figure, which reflects Italy’s strategic interest in China’s market.
Maserati, the Italian luxury carmaker, highlighted the pioneering role of Hainan in promoting consumption across China and the world, and announced that all its models will come in a full-electric version by 2025, with the entire range running on electricity alone by 2030. The company’s announcement is a response to Hainan’s move in August 2020 to become the first province in China to set a phase-out date for pure internal combustion engine vehicles, in line with China’s broader push towards electrification.
Another Italian company, Rhea Vendors Group, a high-end coffee machine maker, entered China in early 2020 and has seen strong business opportunities at the expo. The company’s sales have surged more than 200 percent in the first quarter of 2021 compared to the whole of last year, and it plans to expand further into more cities, cooperate with more Chinese partners, and launch more tailor-made products.
According to the Ministry of Commerce, China’s consumer market remains strong and resilient, with great potential and abundant vitality, and its long-term fundamentals remain unchanged. The implementation and effectiveness of various policies and measures to expand domestic demand and consumption will continue to drive the growth and recovery of the consumer market this year. The Third China International Consumer Products Expo has truly become a celebration of global consumption, demonstrating China’s willingness to share its market opportunities with the world and contribute to global economic recovery.


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The IMF this week urged Sri Lanka to sign the trade deal with India that has been held up by Sinhala nationalist commercial interests allied with the Colombo government.
The CEPA (Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement) between India and Sri Lanka has been under negotiation since 2005. It was supposed to be signed in 2008.
Although the agreement has been largely finalized, President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s government has been dragging its feet.
In an effort to get the deal through, last month India agreed to renegotiate aspects of the agreement. But getting a new deal may take all year, the Sunday Times reported.
Meanwhile, interestingly, Japan was surprised when last September Sri Lanka sought out a free trade deal (see the Sunday Leader's report).
Despite oft-repeated claims of Sri Lanka’s ‘turn to the East’, the volumes of trade show Sri Lanka’s dependency on Western markets.
Of Sri Lanka’s exports, just 1% and 4% go to China and India, respectively.
The point was again made this week by the IMF’s Resident Representative for Sri Lanka, Dr. Koshy Mathai, in comments reported in the Daily Mirror.
“Sri Lanka should focus her attention on growing economies such as China and India, rather than entirely on the US or the European region,” he said.
The IMF official also stressed the importance of CEPA, saying fears of Indian labour flooding the domestic market were unfounded, and argued Sri Lanka’s service sector would benefit from Indian clients.
None of these arguments are new (see LBO's analysis of CEPA and the criticisms here). As Sri Lankan economist R.M.B. Senanayake pointed out last May,
“Definitely for there is no more scope for a small country to go it alone in the world of globalization. We should integrate more closely and benefit from the larger regional economy."
(See his interview last May here.)
But Sri Lanka also knows its Sinhala first economic vision is at odds with a globalised economy.
In particular, CEPA could enable a revival of the Northeastern economy (see here).
It will also likely weaken Sinhala nationalist commercial interests close to the Rajapaksa regime. Sri Lankan firms will face competition from Indian ones.
As Senanayake put it,
“[Sri Lanka’s] architects, lawyers, engineers, accountants are able to exploit the local consumer freely. But where lies the interest of the consumers? All protection helps those who want to exploit the public.”
After demonstrations last May, just before President Rajapaksa visited India, he met with protestors and his office released a statement vowing:
“The government will not enter into any pact or agreement that is inimical to its people and economic interests."


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While we are most likely months away from knowing for sure what Goose Island Beer Co. is releasing as its Bourbon County Brand Stout variants, we now know what at least five more of the possibilities are.
The Chicago-based brewery has filed labels for an additional five variants of Bourbon County Brand Stout 2019, an imperial stout brewed with two-row, Black, Caramel, Chocolate, Munich 10 and Roasted Barley malts and is hopped with Millennium hops before being aged in bourbon barrels.
These possible versions join the previously released labels for Bourbon County Brand Double Barrel Stout 2019, an imperial stout aged in 11-year-old barrels that previously held Elijah Craig bourbon before being aged for a second time in 12-year-old barrels that previously held Elijah Craig bourbon.
The five possible new variants include three keg labels and two labels for 500ml bottles:
- Bourbon County 2-Year Reserve 2019 — Imperial stout aged for two years in 11-year-old bourbon barrels that previously held Knob Creek bourbon — 500ml bottles
- Bourbon County Wheatwine 2019 — Wheatwine ale aged in bourbon barrels that previously held Larceny bourbon — 500ml bottles
- Bourbon County Brand Dry-Hopped Stout 2019 — Imperial dry-hopped stout aged in bourbon barrels — keg
- Bourbon County Reserve Rye 2019 — Imperial stout aged in barrels that previously held Heaven Hill Rittenhouse Rye whisky — keg
- Bourbon County Oyster Stout 2019 — Imperial stout aged in bourbon barrels with oyster shells added — keg
Although release details have not been confirmed, all but one of the eight bottled BCBS variants last year were available nationwide starting on the day after Thanksgiving, which fell on Nov. 23. The exception was Proprietor’s Bourbon County Brand Stout, which has always been exclusively available in Chicago since its debut in 2013.
In addition, Goose Island filed labels for a number of BCBS variants last year that were never released, including Bourbon County Brand Horchata Stout 2018, an imperial stout aged in bourbon barrels with ceylon cinnamon, vanilla and lactose; Bourbon County Brand Coffee Stout 2018, an imperial stout aged in bourbon barrels with “dark roast coffee” sourced from Intelligentsia Coffee and Bourbon County Brand Neapolitan Stout 2018, an imperial stout aged in bourbon barrels blended with strawberry puree, chocolate, vanilla and lactose.
A representative of the brewery refused to comment on the release when reached by email.


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Russian Ship with Military Cargo Detained in Kochin, India
July 20, 2022
The Russian Embassy in India has confirmed that it is aware of the detention of a Russian cargo ship in the Indian port of Cochin, which was carrying a military shipment for the Indian Armed Forces. The embassy has officially asked the Indian Ministry of External Affairs for an explanation of the circumstances surrounding the occurrence.
Additionally, it has asked the government to ensure that the rights of Russian troops and shipowners are always upheld.
Russian Embassy in India is aware of the Russian cargo ship detention in the Indian port of Cochin, on board of which a military cargo for the Indian Armed Forces was delivered: Russian Embassy
— ANI (@ANI) July 19, 2022
The embassy has stated that preliminary information indicates that these activities are related to the claim made by the Estonian shore service business Bunker Partner OU, which claimed that the owners of the ship were reportedly in debt.
“We want to emphasize that the court approved the unloading of the goods because it has no bearing on the legal dispute. This issue is under the direct authority of the Russian Consulate General in Chennai,” it continued.
On July 18, the Kerala High Court issued a seizure order for the Russian ship MV MAIA-I because an Estonian business had not received payment for fuel charges totaling about 1.87 crores ($23,503). Due to the fact that the ship was transporting weaponry to Cochin for the Indian Navy, the court allowed it to unload its cargo while it was being held.
The admiralty case was brought by TX Harry of Karuvelipady in Cochin, who is authorized to act on behalf of Bunker Partner OU, an Estonia-based company. What is asserted as payment is the number of bunkers given to the ship. The logistics of loading and distributing gasoline among the various shipboard tanks is known as bunkering, and it is the source of fuel for use by ships.
After observing that the ship is docked at the Cochin Port Trust, the court ordered the deputy conservator to execute the arrest warrant and cause the arrest, seizure, and detention of the ship.
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Posted by Lauren Rugani on January 6, 2010
Came across this short press release out of the Consumer Electronics Show today. My head nearly exploded with “what ifs” so I felt the need to write them down.
Losing your cell phone can be exasperating and expensive. But what if your phone could call out to you, letting you know it was about to be left behind? Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in Consumer Technology, Electronics | Tagged: alarm, Bluetooth, cell phone, CES, Zomm | Leave a Comment »
Posted by Lauren Rugani on January 5, 2010
3D television is set to pop up in our living rooms this year, when ESPN airs the FIFA World Cup in 3D on June 11.
After several failed attempts to see Avatar in IMAX, I finally succumbed to seeing it in regular old Digital 3D last weekend. Unfortunately, the one-size-fits-all 3D glasses did not sit securely on my face and I sat there for nearly three hours (including 3D previews) holding the spectral spectacles in place. I was also eating popcorn and ended up with several buttery smudges on the lenses, which made for an even more miserable viewing experience, but that is neither here nor there.
The point I intend to make (eventually) is that 3D would be a lot cooler without the glasses. But first, the news: ESPN and The Discovery Channel announced today that they will begin to broadcast 3D entertainment in your living room as early as this year. ESPN plans to have a channel dedicated exclusively to 3D sporting events, the first being the FIFA World Cup match on June 11. It won’t run 24 hours a day, but has plans to air 85 live events in its first year. Discovery is aiming for a full-time 3D network, but hasn’t said which shows it will run. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in Consumer Technology, Electronics, Polls | Tagged: 3D, broadcast, commercial, Discover, ESPN, FIFA, glasses, television, video | 2 Comments »