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Pay-As-You-Go Solar Lightens Up Energy Costs In Off-Grid Rural Africa
Installment-paid solar energy for lighting and mobile phone chargers lowers costs and improves quality of life
For residents living off the grid in rural Africa, pay-as-you-go solar energy is gaining a foothold as an affordable a way to get power that's an alternative to expensive and dangerous kerosene.
Only one-in-six rural residents of sub-Saharan Africa have access to electricity. So kerosene has been the main source of lighting, costing an equivalent of $8 per kilowatt-hour for a resident of rural Kenya or Rwanda, for example, compared to utility costs in the U.S. and the UK averaging 10 to 15 cents per kilowatt-hour, according to Scientific American. Charging a mobile phone could cost a villager in Kenya more than 400 times what it would cost to charge a cell phone in the U.S.
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"The poorest people in the world are not just paying a bit more for their energy, they're paying a disproportionate amount," said Simon Bransfield-Garth, CEO of Azuri Technologies, a solar services firm based in Cambridge, England, according to Scientific American.
Azuri is one of several companies meeting a growing demand for pay-as-you-go solar energy for off-grid customers. Azuri sends a scratch-off card with a code to be sent back to the company via SMS message. Then the unlock code is entered into the solar kit. Azuri has reported more than 21,000 customers in 10 countries — Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Ghana, South Africa, Zimbabwe, and South Sudan.
Another company gaining ground in installment solar is Angaza Design of San Francisco. The company's pay-as-you-go technology consists of embedded components within a solar home system regulated by a cloud-based energy management database, according to a company profile. Angaza's technology is tied directly into regional mobile money platforms, so customers can easily purchase energy credit using their cell phones. Once a customer payment is received, Angaza activates the unit via the cellular network for a proportional amount of energy output.
Angaza chief technology officer Bryan Silverthorn said the company has gotten feedback that the pay-as-you-go solar kits are giving off-grid Africans power that allows them to dramatically improve their quality of life, reported Scientific American.. Angaza anticipates having 10,000 customers within the next year.
Another solar pay-as-you-go company is M-KOPA, which uses a mobile network to receive payments, with plans starting at 50 cents per day, according to Scientific American..
The M-KOPA units are designed and manufactured by the U.S. solar lighting startup d.light Solar, according to an October 2013 review by Andy Volk for Wired magazine. Each M-KOPA solar device is set with a unique customer ID number that is used to add credit to the user's account.
"The beauty of the M-KOPA pricing model is that for consumers it resembles the prepaid electricity model that is becoming the norm in Kenya and other African countries," said Volk. "But in reality, your daily payments are part of your 'rent to own' agreement with M-KOPA, so after you buy 360 days' worth of electricity, you own your system outright and no longer have to make daily payments.
"Families in Africa looking to set up a simple and low-cost home lighting and phone charging system won't find a more innovative, portable and rugged system than the M-KOPA," Volk reported from Nairobi, Kenya, where he was reviewing the M-KOPA home solar system.
Based in Nairobi, M-KOPA,reported on its website that, "As of October 2013, we are actively providing affordable solar power to over 30,000 Kenyan households and adding 1,000 more every week."
© 2012 iScience Times All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.


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Apple will not launch its new iCloud Private Relay service in South Africa for regulatory reasons, the company has told MyBroadband.
The exclusion was first noted by Reuters, which reported that Private Relay would not be available in a handful of countries — Belarus, China, Colombia, Egypt, Kazakhstan, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Turkmenistan, Uganda, and the Philippines.
Private Relay is a new privacy feature from Apple that is included with premium iCloud subscriptions. It was announced during Apple’s Worldwide Developer Conference last night.
While using Apple’s own Safari web browser, Private Relay will encrypt all of your outgoing traffic so no-one besides you and the website you are visiting can read it.
Apple explained that all of your web requests will be sent through two separate Internet relays while using Private Relay.
The first assigns you with an anonymous IP address that maps to your region, but not your actual location.
The second relay decrypts the web address you want to visit and forwards you to their destination.
“This separation of information protects the user’s privacy because no single entity can identify both who a user is and which sites they visit,” Apple said.
Neither your Internet service provider, nor Apple itself will be able to link you to your browsing history.
Private Relay is expected to launch later this year and was one of a series of new features Apple announced on 7 June.
Others include Mail Privacy Protection and Hide My Email, which lets users protect the online identity linked to their email address.
Apple could not immediately indicate which regulations in South Africa prevented it from launching Private Relay here.
“We respect national laws wherever we operate,” Apple told MyBroadband.

domain: news


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Google doesn’t have just the Department of Justice (DOJ) pursuing it in its own antitrust case. The company is now also being investigated by all 50 state attorneys general (AGs) over possible antitrust violations. The news follows another joint antitrust investigation between seven state AGs plus the AG from the District of Columbia against Facebook.
The bipartisan probe against Google is led by the Texas AG and includes state AGs from 47 other states, as well as from the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. The two states that didn’t participate in the probe are California, the home state of Google’s headquarters (as well as many other tech companies) and Alabama, where Google began the construction of a $600 million data center in 2018.
The state AGs said that one of the primary areas of investigations will be Google’s dominance in search, as well as the company’s potential monopolistic behavior. Google has been accused that it unfairly hurts competition and consumers.
Florida state attorney general Ashley Moody, questioned the privacy trade-off people make when they use Google’s services for free:
"When there is no longer a free market or competition, this increases prices, even when something is marketed as free, and harms consumers. Is something really free if we are increasingly giving over our privacy information? Is something really free if online ad prices go up based on one company's control."
State-Level Probe Follow Other Antitrust Investigations
According to a recent report by the Wall Street Journal, the DOJ has also begun its own antitrust investigation into Google. The FTC staff that investigated Google’s alleged anti-competitive behavior in 2010 recommended antitrust action against the company, but then FTC chairman, Jon Leibowitz, chose to reject that recommendation.
At the time, Google’s lobbyists also found easy access to President Obama’s White House, breaking a 40-year precedent in which presidents stayed clear of antitrust investigations.
Google wasn’t so fortunate in the European Union, where the European Commission also started multiple antitrust investigations in the same period of time, involving Google’s alleged anti-competitive behavior in regards to Google Shopping, Android, and Google Ads. These probes recently culminated with three fines totaling almost $10 billion.
The EC continues to investigate Google’s anti-competitive behavior in a fourth antitrust investigation, which is related to how Google handles job search in its search engine.
Over the past decade, Google has been one of the biggest political donors in Washington, but this time around, the political environment is much less favorable to Google. Both President Trump and various Democratic presidential candidates have been critical of Google. Elizabeth Warren even suggest she’d look into breaking the company up and splitting off some of the companies Google has acquired such as DoubleClick, Nest, and Waze.


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Tag: Mackie’s of Scotland
SCOTTISH crisp maker Mackie’s at Taypack is ready to go its own way, following the successful completion of a share buyout.
MACKIE’S of Scotland workers Deirdre Henderson and Louise Hunter have been busy as bees, smashing a honeycomb making record at the Aberdeenshire farm business.
MACKIE’s of Scotland has launched an on-pack promotion that shines a spotlight on its sustainability activities.
PICKLED onion fans no longer need to share their Mackie’s crisps, thanks to the launch of a new format from the Aberdeenshire-based brand.
Following a successful turn on the small screen, Mackie’s of Scotland has secured an expanded Sainsbury’s listing, extending to stores south of the border.
SCOTTISH dairy brand Mackie’s has gone under the microscope, in a bid to show the benefits of its new freezer system. Mackie’s of Scotland has...
Premium chocolate has been performing well over the last year, according to Mackie’s of Scotland.
The pandemic may have shaken up category trends across the board, but there are some things convenience retailers can still bank on
Dundee sweet shop owner Derek Shaw has helped Mackie’s of Scotland create its first new chocolate bar in six years
The stage is set for the twentieth annual Scotland Food & Drink Excellence Awards
Mackie’s donates to Aberdeenshire charity
Following the successful launch of its sharing sized bars, Mackie’s has elected to roll out all four flavours from its chocolate range in the new smaller format .
ICE cream and snacks firm Mackie’s of Scotland has published a book of recipes to help raise funds to combat muscular dystrophy.
FOLLOWING a busy 12 months in which it launched its first ice cream parlour, Mackie’s of Scotland has reported a turnover of £12.2m and a gross profit of £953,896
SHOPPERS looking for a taste of the Mediterranean may be in for a treat as Mackie’s of Scotland has released a new-limited edition ice cream with Italian flavour at its heart.
As consumers try to cut back on sugar, chocolate products with premium credentials or offering a variety of flavours and textures are gaining ground.
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Catering to the heavyweight motorcycle segment will be a challenge for both Harley-Davidson and Polaris due to the declining motorcycle market for the higher-priced bikes, Jaime Katz, an equity analyst at Morningstar Research, told Powersports Finance. “Both of the companies are looking at massive secular headwinds,” Katz said. “Polaris, we think, is at a little […]
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Li Yuqing would fit right in on Seventh Avenue, smack in the middle of New York's garment district. Li is not hunched over a sewing machine. A soft-spoken 27-year-old college graduate trained as a clothing designer, she sits instead in a roomful of computers at a factory here and studies sketches of windbreakers, ski jackets and coats sent from design studios in New York, Paris, London, Milan and Hamburg.
Then she strokes the keys of her computer and figures out exactly how that sketch can become reality: how wide, how long and what texture every scrap of fabric must be, even what kind of stitches will be needed.
Even as the Bush administration moves to impose new limits on Chinese garment exports to the US, textile industry executives here in Xiamen, a coastal city an hour's flight northeast of Hong Kong, say they are already looking a step ahead.
They are trying to figure out how more of their workers can move beyond the simple cutting and sewing of garments into what is known as engineering and, someday, the initial sketching of new clothing.
US and Chinese government negotiators hope to conclude a deal in Beijing limiting China's soaring clothing exports to the US before a Wednesday night deadline next week. If they fail, the US could still impose further limits on Chinese exports. But a textile agreement would clear away one possible disagreement before US President George W. Bush and Chinese President Hu Jintao (胡錦濤) are scheduled to meet at the White House on Sept. 7.
In the push-and-pull of Beijing's relations with the rest of the world, such negotiations are not likely to put more than a modest dent in China's industrial expansion.
So for garment makers in the US and Europe, the next shake-up is likely to come not from millions of semiskilled seamstresses earning less than US$1 an hour, but from thousands of ambitious would-be designers like Li.
And even as they focus mostly on basic tasks, China's designers are starting to show an interest in innovation that may someday supplant the Chinese reputation for counterfeits and illegal copies.
Li's work is painstaking. It is not as creative as sketching a new jacket, something she has dreamed of doing since she was a little girl. But her task, variously known as the construction or engineering of a garment, is an important and potentially costly stage in the production of any item of clothing.
Producing as much as possible of each garment here helps Chinese companies move up the skills ladder. It also helps Western garment managers control costs.
"They realize that the more work they do, the less work the designers will have to do," said Bob Zane, a senior vice president at Liz Claiborne, "and work done at the factory is cheaper than work done at the design studio."
Young US graduates from design or fashion technology programs used to be able to find entry-level jobs in so-called sample rooms. Workers in such rooms assemble garments from sketches and send them to the designer to be checked and fitted on models before mass production begins.
But many Chinese companies now function as the sample rooms for US and European businesses. Smartex Far East Ltd, the company in Xiamern where Li works, receives sketches and technical specifications by e-mail and every day sends dozens of FedEx packages with completed samples to fashion houses in New York, Paris, Milan, and elsewhere.


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Wine and Music Festival pours first tastings of the weekend
The inaugural Midland Wine and Music Festival began Friday night at Midland Center and Centennial Plaza. It featured a variety of food, live music and representatives from wineries across Texas.
The seven wine organizations setting up shop were Fall Creek Vineyards, Christoval Vineyards, Haak Winery, Texas Hills Vineyard, Llano Estacado Winery, Wedding Oak Winery, Messina Hof Winery and Torre di Pietra Vineyards.
Gary Gilsap, owner of Texas Hills Vineyard in Johnson City, participated in the Hill Country Wine and Music Festival for the past two years before gaining an invitation to Midland. Texas Hills is the largest existing winery to use exclusively Texas fruit, he said. Gilsap thought there might be good wine business to be had in Midland.
“We’d like to help out their booming economy,” Gilsap said, “and obviously, they’d be helping us out, too. We like Midland. Whenever you come to Midland, you can count on eating and sleeping well.”
The grounds were bustling with dozens wine lovers as well as volunteers, taking full advantage of their access to the festival before their shifts started.
Leroy and Dana Green are lifelong Midlanders who enjoy the people and downtown scenery of most events in Midland. They’ll be volunteering in the ticket booth today.
Dana Green said, “Our son played in a country band that played out here a few times, and we love coming out here. We don’t start working the festival until (Saturday), but we thought we’d come check it out tonight.”
“Yep,” chimed in Leroy Green. “We’ve been coming to these kinds of things downtown since they started having them 25 years ago.”
In addition to the wine and food booths on Friday, there was a goat cheese booth, representing El Camino de Las Cabras in San Angelo.
The festival will run from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. today. Wristbands for admission cost $65 for adults, and they include a souvenir glass and participation in up to seven wine tastings.


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Here at the British Academy of Jewellery we like to stay up to date with what is happening in the jewellery and design world. Welcome to the next instalment of our BAJ Digest – a weekly series dedicated to keeping you up to date with the latest news.
IJL launches KickStart initiative for 2019
London jewellery trade show IJL has opened applications for its annual new-talent programme, KickStart. To be considered to be part of the scheme, which gives young jewellery brands that chance to participate in IJL as well as offering business mentoring, you must have been operating a jewellery business for a minimum of 12 months. Applications must be made before April 9.
View the full article at Professional Jeweller
The Jewellery Cut Live welcomes over 500 visitors
New London Fashion Week event The Jewellery Cut Live took over The Hoxton Hotel in Holborn this week, showcasing the work of 17 jewellery brands and hosting a series of exclusive talks with speakers including Liza Urla of Gemologue and Katerina Perez. This is only the second edition of the show, which has just been shortlisted for the UK Jewellery Awards 2019, and visitor numbers were up 65%.
View the full article at Retail Jeweller
Is face jewellery the new make up?
At New York Fashion Week, it was a jewellery craze that stole the limelight, but it’s not jewels as we know it. This is face jewellery, a dramatic new look. The trend ranges from the minimal eyebrow bars and strips of nose pearls made by the likes of Keren Wolf and Joanne T, to the full bejewelled masks created by Nastia Pilepchuk and Damselfrau. What do you think of this new way to wear jewels?
View the full article at Dazed
Rise in ‘treat yourself jewellery’ among women
In the past decade, the number of jewellery sales that are made to women buying for themselves has risen from 5% to 40%, according to high street jewellery chain Beaverbrooks. It has said that this shift has been led by an increasing number of women returning to work after having children, with jewellery purchases being made to mark promotions or other moments of career success.
View the full article at The Telegraph
Everything can be worn: The uncomfortable jewellery of Lisa Walker
If you are interested in conceptual jewellery, do check out the work of New Zealand artist Lisa Walker. Her more unusual adornments have included an Apple laptop strung with a rope to create a necklace and a bracelet made out of stiletto shoes. Now, a retrospective tracks her 30-year career in jewellery and brings some of her most provocative jewels back into the spotlight.
View the full article at Broadsheet
The Jewellery Cut Live awards first bursary
A new bursary scheme has launched for emerging jewellery designers that gives recipients the chance to exhibit at The Jewellery Cut Live for free. The winner of the bursary will also be gifted six months of PR representation from Push PR. The bursary launched this month, with the first recipient being Kelly Seymour, founder of silver jewellery brand Cult of Youth. A new recipient will be chosen when the show returns in September.
View the full article at The Jewellery Cut


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Here's some good news for the stalwart Call of Duty: World at War (PS3, Xbox 360, PC, and Wii) players out there. Treyarch will be instituting a special Double XP event for the Labor Day weekend.
You'll be getting double the experience points starting Thursday, September 3, until Tuesday, September 8. Pretty long, so get in some hits if you have the time.
Thanks to George Gonzalez for the tip!


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Elliptic Strengthens Executive Team With Pair of Senior Hires
- Asset Management , Cryptocurrencies , Risk Management
- 21.10.2021 03:45 pm
The crypto analytics and compliance business appoints Chief Operating Officer and Chief Product Officer following $60 million Series C funding announcement
Elliptic, the global leader in cryptoasset risk management, today announced the appointment of two senior hires to its executive team in a move that will strengthen the business’s products and services offering following its $60 million Series C funding announcement.
Safiya Karsan has been appointed Chief Operating Officer and will be responsible for leading Elliptic's strategy, operations and people teams, focusing on driving the company’s continued expansion. Prior to her role at Elliptic, Safiya held leadership roles in several high growth companies across public and private sectors where she focused on scaling teams, operations, culture, and go-to-market strategy and execution.
“The opportunity for crypto is massive,” she said. “The rate of adoption amongst businesses is explosive and the market needs the right infrastructure to ensure it operates with crypto in a way that is safe, transparent and secure”.
John Connolly has been appointed Chief Product Officer and is responsible for leading product strategy and management at Elliptic, with a focus on creating strategic value for customers through technology and data science-enabled innovations. Prior to joining Elliptic, John held senior roles in public and privately held companies where he was focused on helping the businesses to scale.
“Cryptoassets are an increasingly important part of the mainstream economy,” said John. “There is an amazing opportunity to support a safer, more innovative financial ecosystem through our blockchain-enabled, risk management products.”
Last week, Elliptic announced $60 million of Series C funding which it will invest in research and development and product delivery to priority markets.


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This blog is cross-posted from www.StopETaxes.com.
Today, Illinois became the fourth state to impose an affiliate nexus Internet tax. After some deliberation, Gov. Pat Quinn continued his streak of enacting economically damaging tax measures by signing House Bill 3659 into law.
The so-called “Main Street Fairness Act” attempts to force online retailers that aren’t based in the state to collect sales tax if they use in-state advertisers or other affiliates. The measure is a legally dubious run-around of current U.S. Supreme Court law under Quill v. North Dakota, which only permits a state to force a company to collect tax if they have a physical presence.
The Department of Revenue, egged on by proponents, claims the bill will raise taxes by up to $170 million per year. Assuming they are correct, ATR scores the measure as a violation of the Taxpayer Protection Pledge. However, a more likely outcome is for online retailers with in-state affiliate to sever their ties, relieving them of the unconstitutional tax collection burden. This is exactly what happened in Rhode Island and North Carolina. Only in New York do affiliate programs continue to exist, and that is simply to show harm in an ongoing legal challenge.
Severing nexus also means that in-state affiliates will go out of business, forcing them to relocate to neighboring states, as many have vowed to do in Illinois. Not only will the state fail to collect new Internet tax revenue, it will lose existing revenue generated from affiliate income taxes. All of these repercussions make the primary goal of the legislation – leveling the playing field – completely irrelevant.
Meanwhile, the Arkansas State Senate passed a similar measure
yesterday and legislation is under consideration in South Dakota, Arizona, Hawaii, Connecticut, Minnesota, Vermont, Maine, and – of course – California
for ATR's letter to the Arkansas Senate and HERE
for ATR's January letter urging Gov. Quinn to veto the measure.


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Prologis has fully leased a newly delivered 21,140 sqm speculative facility at Prologis Park Bratislava to a furniture wholesaler. The lease was signed just two months after the building’s completion.
The customer will use Building 15 as a distribution centre, which will benefit from the park’s ideal location for companies operating throughout the Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) region and Austria. CBRE facilitated the transaction.
“This transaction is a sign of the continued high demand for industrial space in our park,” said Martin Stratov, senior leasing and development manager, Prologis Slovakia. “Customers are looking to take advantage of the park’s accessibility and amenities, as well as the quality of infrastructure that Prologis provides all of its customers.”
Prologis Park Bratislava currently comprises 16 facilities totalling more than 345,000 sqm of manufacturing and distribution space, and is Prologis’ largest park in the CEE portfolio. It has a build-out potential of an additional 66,000 sqm. The park is located 24 kilometres east of Bratislava’s city centre, two kilometres from Senec and 16 kilometres from the international airport.
CTP, continental Europe’s largest listed owner, developer, and operator of logistics and industrial real estate by gross lettable area has welcomed Germany’s Diehl Controls, a leading global high-tech manufacturer,...


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Herberger’s Parent Company Files For Bankruptcy
According to Finance and Commerce, the parent company of Herberger's, Bon-Ton has filed for bankruptcy.
The late filing makes Bon-Ton the largest retailer to file bankruptcy so far this year. It has been reported several times in 2017 the chain was having struggles, and the hope was the Christmas season would be the saving grace the struggling department store needed, but it was not to be.
Bon-Ton, operates 260 stores in 24 states, mostly in the Northeast and Midwest, is in talks about restructuring $1 billion in debt. Herberger's has a store in Bismarck.
The company announced they would close stores on 2018 but the complete list was not made available by press time.
Many other large retailers are struggling on this 'on-line shopping' economy, including Macy's and J.C. Penney.


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There's a wide gap between the haves and have-nots among entrepreneurs seeking venture capital, though it's not one that's getting a lot of attention right now. After all, it's hard to pay attention to unfunded startups when Uber is living up to its namesake superlative, reportedly nearing a valuation of $50 billion (yes, with a "b").
The ride-sharing service has become the leader of a big and showy pack of private companies that seem to get new VC money each time they sneeze. There are so many "unicorns"--startups valued at more than $1 billion--that now it's acceptable to drop the very unfortunate new term "decacorn," meaning startups worth more than $10 billion. There are currently 90 of the former, including nine of the latter, according to the Wall Street Journal.
As Slack co-founder and CEO Stewart Butterfield recently told the New York Times, "It might be the best time for any kind of business in any industry to raise money for all of history, like since the time of the ancient Egyptians."
Not so much. (No offense to the pharaohs, who knew something about hoarding their wealth.) Historically only 1 percent of startups actually get venture funding, according to a 10-year survey from the Kauffman Foundation. That percentage, published in 2010, has likely grown over the past five years; the amount of overall venture capital invested certainly has.
But recent data indicates that, as is so often the problem with money, you have to already have some VC funding in order to get more VC funding.
"Rather than backing the number-two player, you see investors agreeing to higher valuations to get a piece of the market leader," says Atish Davda, co-founder and CEO of EquityZen, a startup that lets employees of private companies resell their shares.
Rebecca Lynn, general partner at venture fund Canvas, says she doesn't see a growing divide between the haves and have-nots of the startup world: "Right now is a very good time to raise money, if you are a startup," she wrote in an email.
"We are in a cycle where there is a lot of capital in the system," she added, "and that capital is chasing good deals and willing to pay up for" sound investments.
But even as investors throw more money at unicorns (or potential foals), they're pulling back on their number of investments. CB Insights counted only 805 VC deals in the first quarter of 2015, the lowest number of deals in more than two years and the fourth-straight quarterly drop in deal activity.
That's not necessarily a bad thing, even if many startups wistfully dream of getting enough money to match just the catering budget for Uber's next investor meeting.
"Getting huge amounts of venture capital is not always good news and it's not always healthy. People tend to waste huge amounts of money as well," says Sramana Mitra, the founder of virtual accelerator One Million by One Million.
"The best way to use venture capital is if you have a venture-scale idea," she says, adding that many more "niche ideas" are worth building businesses around, too.
In other words, as Mitra aptly puts it: "Not every company can be a unicorn."


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Underwear brand BN3TH has hired Zach Boon as marketing director. His past roles include VP of Brand and Talent, The Inertia; director, Digital Media and Brand Partnerships, Surfline Wavetrak; VP, global marketing, Electric California; and global brand sirector, Sportswear Category, Nike.
Adam Chuntz, former Director Integrated Marketing, BN3TH, said, “I’m thrilled to welcome Zach to the BN3TH family. Zach’s previous experience will bring a surge of new ideas and strategies at a time when the brand is already exploding with momentum and gaining market share. His marketing background is layered with a strong history in the core passions that inspire BN3TH to create innovative products for the masses while staying true to its roots in skate, snow, surf and mountain bike. I wish Zach and the rest of the team all the best and can’t wait to watch the brand crush it.”
Boon will oversee the marketing department for in-store and online, developing strategies to reach new customers and continuing to build a community of brand advocates.
Boon said “I first discovered BN3TH when my wife bought me a pair for Valentine’s Day. I immediately noticed how much more comfortable they were than anything else I had. I immediately replaced everything in my drawer with BN3TH. As a recent brand loyalist and career marketer my goal is simple—to continue making BN3TH be known as the World’s best underwear brand.”
Darren Hawrish, CEO, BN3TH added, “We will miss Adam, who has been a pillar in setting the foundation of this brand and its incredible success story to date. However, we are thrilled to have such an amazing industry expert in Zach, coming on board to lead our marketing endeavors. It’s going to be exciting watching him build on and enhancing our growth strategy through amplifying our brand voice into the future.”
Photo courtesy BN3TH


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Mayowa Nicholas, 18-year-old, 5 foot-11-inch model is the eldest of 3 children born to African(Nigerian) 🇳🇬 Parents. In 2014, she won Elite Model Look Nigeria then went on to sign with Elite Model Management worldwide and New York City’s “The Society.”
She went on to become the first Nigerian model to be featured in Dolce & Gabbana’s campaign, appearing in the luxury Italian fashion house’s Fall/Winter 2016 editorial shot in Italy. She went on to model for numerous other international designers like Prada, Miu Miu, Dior, Kenzo and Calvin Klein even before being the face of Calvin Klein underwear.
Nicholas, who is currently signed to Elite Paris and Milan as well as parent agency BETH in Nigeria was named among the 15 new faces that ruled Fall 2016 by Vogue.
Source: Mayowa’s Nigerian based agent shared this great news on instagram via BETH MODEL AFRICA – @bethmodelafrica.


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National Hog Farmer is the source for hog production, management and market news
March 8, 2018
Compiled by Kevin Schulz
Sticking to his word, President Donald Trump today signed a pair of proclamations imposing tariffs on imported steel and aluminum, according to media reports.
The Washington Post wrote that U.S. allies Canada and Mexico will be exempt from the tariffs that take effect in 15 days, so that talks can progress on the North American Free Trade Agreement renegotiations.
The Post goes onto say “Other countries with a ‘security relationship’ to the United States may seek exemptions by opening talks with the administration on ‘alternative ways’ to address the threats the administration alleges their products pose to national security,” a senior administration official says.
National Pork Producers Council has joined other agriculture groups voicing opposition to imposing steel and aluminum tariffs on trade partners for fear of retaliation.
“The fear is that if there is retaliation, these countries will look at what products they’re importing and put duties on them,” NPPC CEO Neil Dierks told National Hog Farmer. “When we look at total exports in these countries, agriculture leads it. It is just common sense if someone is going to get a whack, agriculture is a candidate, and we are very concerned about that.”
The NPPC today issued a statement, saying “America’s pork producers are concerned that the tariffs on imported steel and aluminum will prompt countries to place retaliatory duties on U.S. goods, including pork. Retaliation will cost rural America jobs and undermine the rural economy.”
And that is exactly what China warns. “If the United States’ final decision affects China’s interests, we will take necessary measures to defend our rights,” says Wang Hejun, a senior official at China’s Commerce Ministry, reports news agency Xinhua.
In the Post article, Trump says it’s about time to get tough on the global trading table. “Our industries have been targeted for years and years, decades in fact, by unfair foreign trade practices leading to the shuttered plants and mills, the laying off of millions of workers, and the decimation of entire communities. And that’s going to stop. It’s going to stop.”
For countries that do not win exemptions, the Post says, steel imports will be taxed at 25% and aluminum imports at 10%. If Mexico and Canada win permanent exemptions, tariffs on imports from other nations may be increased beyond 25%, a Trump official says on a call previewing Trump’s announcement.
Retiring Sen. Jeff Flake (R-AZ) announced he will be introducing legislation to nullify the tariffs, according to the USA Today. “Some of us are just waiting to see what he does, and then we’ll draft legislation quickly to nullify it. … That’s what I’m going to do.”
Sen. Pat Roberts (R-KS) is concerned with the apparent favoritism shown our neighbor to the north and to the south. “I don’t think our trade policy ought to be used as a playing card in the talks with both Canada and Mexico on NAFTA,” Roberts was quote in the USA Today. “He’s exempting our allies, but it’s sort of a pick-and-choose thing. There’s no real stability or predictability.”
Also in the USA Today, some legislators are considering taking back some power. GOP Sen. Ron Johnson of Wisconsin says he is considering backing legislation to require congressional approval for such trade actions. Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) proposed the legislation in January 2017 as a response to what Republicans said was executive overreach by President Obama.
“Congress in so many areas has ceded power and authority to the president,” says Johnson, who chairs the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee. “We should probably start taking some of that back.”
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The Thor Motor Coach Serrano has moved into the “Top 10” best selling diesel motorhomes as of August 2011, according to Statistical Surveys Inc. (SSI), Grand Rapids, Mich.,
In a press release, spokesmen for the Thor Industries Inc. subsidiary indicate that the diesel-powered Serrano has increased by 20% in overall retail sales, which equates to a market share increase of 18.3%.
“Our fuel-efficient Serrano continues to be a hit with motorhome enthusiasts and has had great appeal with consumers looking to buy gas or diesel models,” said Adam Gudger, Thor Motor Coach’s Serrano product manager. “We have recently introduced two great new floorplans which include a 34-foot bath-and-a-half model and a 33-foot model with a full-wall slide and an option for a stackable washer and dryer.”
The 2012 Serrano product offering includes five floorplans ranging from 31- to 34-feet. Built on the reliable Workhorse W-series chassis, the Serrano is powered by a Navistar MaxxForce diesel engine rated at 230-hp with 620 ft.-lb. of torque. With a gross vehicle weight rating starting at 20,500 pounds, Thor Motor Coach said the Serrano has a great power to weight ratio – lower weight overall weight, plus big torque output, equals a smooth running motorhome designed to conserve fuel.
“Consumers are looking for a fuel-efficient diesel with the power to handle mountainous terrain and the Serrano provides these diesel benefits for the price of a typical high-end gas unit,” said Gudger. “Users are getting significant fuel economy increases compared to gas motorhomes while the 36% increase in torque keeps the engine running quieter and more efficiently than comparable gas powered models”.
New interior amenities include an MCD solar and blackout roller shade with ClearView technology, helping keep solar light and heat out of the coach during the day while providing complete darkness for sleeping at night. Sliderooms feature custom hardwood fascia, adding a finished look to the Serrano’s living area, while optional heat pumps for the air conditioners take the chill out of the interior on cool mornings and brisk evenings. Three new exterior paint packages along with two interior decors packages are also available.
For more information visit http://Serrano-RV.com.
Thor Motor Coach continues as the No. 1 retailing brand of motorhomes in North America with 22.93% share through June 2011, according to Statistical Surveys Inc.
In a press release, Thor Motor Coach said the results also show the Thor Industries Inc. division as the fastest growing motorhome brand among the top eight major manufacturers with a 27.9% increase over last year. Class C sales captured the No. 1 market position with an impressive market share growth of 31.50% compared to the previous year.
“Packing in features that include camper favorites like Mega-Storage Compartments, single step entrances and molded fiberglass front caps have helped us solidify our dedication to the Class C market. Over the past six months we have introduced several new floorplans that integrate features making the coach even more livable,” said Mike Savage, Thor Motor Coach’s Class C product manager.
The company said that over the last few months retail customers have responded well to the addition of several impressive new features on the Hurricane and Challenger lines, the redesign of the Tuscany, and several new floor plans on the Windsport, Serrano and A.C.E. lines.
“Our continued focus on what retail customers’ desire helps us to bring innovative floorplans with intelligent features to the market. Our after-the-sale support programs like Concierge Connection and Rapid Response Parts along with the stability of a strong and financially sound company are added reasons consumers continue to display their confidence in our products,” stated Dana Simon, vice president of sales.
Thor Motor Coach announced today (June 23) that it will be introducing its next floorplan in the A.C.E. motorhome series in the coming weeks.
According to a press release, the evolutionary features of the open concept EVO29.2 floorplan, featuring an enclosed bathroom, will “push the A.C.E’s success even further.”
The news comes on the heels of the A.C.E. EV029.1 floorplan earning the No. 3 ranking for retail sales in April among gas Class A coaches in the latest report from Statistical Surveys Inc.
The A.C.E. debuted at last year’s Louisville Show, garnering the “Best of Show” award from RVBusiness magazine. Elkhart, Ind.-based Thor Motor Coach said that the floorplan was built “with a focus on how a customer would use their coach,” combining the best features of a Class A and Class C motorhome with an entry-level price point.
“It is very gratifying to see the retail success of the A.C.E. motorhome,” said Bill Fenech, president and CEO of Thor Motor Coach. “We took the blinders off in designing the A.C.E., and it’s a home run. Our dealers love the product and many are commenting that it’s the best turning motorhome on their lot. Being No. 3 is encouraging, however, we are more focused on building great products with great support. The numbers will follow.”
“We want to be everything to everybody, by offering an extraordinary value for your family,” said Dana Simon, vice president of gas sales for Thor Motor Coach.
“Our goal is simple, to be the best, and the numbers will follow,” Bill Fenech, president and CEO, said in a press release “It has been quite some time since we’ve seen shipments this high. In my opinion, these numbers bring added validation to our team’s complete dedication to building the best motorhomes in the business. Although our dealers’ confidence continues to grow, we maintain cautious optimism by keeping our production levels in-line with retail demand.”
The company reported a 23% increase in April sales and a 36% increase in revenues for the fiscal year, highlighting “the demand for Thor Motor Coach products.” Retail demand continues to rise for Thor Motor Coach diesel products with the largest surge coming from the Tuscany and Serrano brands. The Tuscany year-to-date market share is up 36%, and the Serrano has seen a 64% hike compared to last year.
The newly introduced A.C.E. has made quite the splash in the market with both the retail dealerships and new RVer’s. Rental production is helping to catapult the increased demand. TMC continues to be one of the largest suppliers of rental coaches by partnering with the top RV rental companies in the world.
“Our market shares continue to swell on many products,” said Dana Simon, vice president of gas sales. “We attribute these successes to our market-driven ‘hot products,’ innovative designs, a continued focus on consumer needs and several customer focused programs including the Gold Star Inspection, Concierge Connection and Rapid Response Parts.”
Thor Motor Coach is a full-line manufacturer of several of the top brands on the market that include: A.C.E., Astoria, Avanti, Challenger, Chateau, Chateau Citation, Chateau Citation Sprinter, Daybreak, Four Winds, Four Winds Siesta, Four Winds Siesta Sprinter, Hurricane, Outlaw, Serrano, Tuscany and Windsport.
Thor Motor Coach introduced a new 34SS Daybreak floorplan with an innovative exterior kitchen at the 45th annual Timonium RV show in Maryland.
“We’ve seen an explosion of outside kitchens on towable products, but nothing from motorhome manufacturers. This new upscale exterior kitchen design fits our motorhome demographic and is sure to be a home run,” Mike Peterson, product manager for the Daybreak, stated in a news release.
The Daybreak 34SS floorplan launched with an optional fully functional exterior kitchen on the camp-side of the coach. It features a 15,000 BTU easy clean stainless steel LP grill, 19-inch widescreen HD TV and a 4.6-cubic-foot mini fridge. Another industry first for a motorhome is the integrated single-bowl sink. This sink drains just like the interior sinks, into the grey water holding tank. This is a very desirable upgrade compared to many trailers that simply drain onto the ground.
Bob Wilson, sales manager at Leo’s Vacation Center, was the first person to see the new kitchen when it arrived to the Timonium show. “I was blown away with the new kitchen design. Many of the trailers we carry have a kitchen outside, but to have it in a motorhome really blew me away. Our customers are the big winners on this one.”
“We understand that RVs are not ‘one size fits all,’ so when massive exterior storage is desired over the outside kitchen, the Daybreak 34SS comes standard with an oversized camp-side exterior compartment with the VersaTrac modular storage system,” Peterson said. “The customizable storage system has optional attachments such as hooks, bins, loop, etcetera that makes RV storage a snap.”
Elkhart, Ind.-based Thor Motor Coach (TMC) recently released three new floorplans to its dealer network.
The Tuscany 42FK, Challenger 37KT, and the Four Winds 28Z showcase the latest examples of the consumer driven development process at Thor Motor Coach, according to a news release.
“Increased exterior storage, expandable L-shaped sofas, a feeling of “residential openness,” expansive bathrooms, centrally located televisions and modern kitchen work-spaces are among the popular improvements these new floorplans deliver,” the release stated.
“We have applied the same focus on how owners actually use their coaches as we did during the development of the successful A.C.E. on all new product development including our latest floorplans. These already popular, exciting new floorplan designs are destined to be winners,” said Bill Fenech, Thor Motor Coach’s president and CEO.
Following are more details on the TMC changes.
Tuscany 42FK – Tag axle diesel pusher with enough power to climb any mountain:
- Smooth riding Freightliner chassis with Cummins ISL, 450-HP & 1250-lb,ft torque.
- Colossal basement storage with full pass-through access.
- Expandable sofa that maximizes seating and comfort.
- Custom built residential entertainment center with a 40-inch LCD TV.
- Spacious kitchen with abundant LG Hi-Macs solid surface work space.
- Residential 12-inch by 24-inch polished porcelain tile.
- King bed master suite with substantial wall-to-wall wardrobe.
Challenger 37KT – Class A gas motorhome with diesel-like amenities:
- True residential living with three zones of comfort.
- Large, roomy feeling in every room due to the increased ceiling of 82-inch ceiling height.
- Private living space with 32-inch Sony LCD TV and home theater.
- Side-hinged baggage doors provide easy access to the pass-though basement storage.
- Large kitchen area with a camp side dinette and additional LCD TV in the kitchen area.
- Double entries to the bath allow for easy access from every room.
- Large 34-inch by 34-inch shower.
- The King Bed master suite has a large wardrobe with hanging and drawer space.
Four Winds 28Z – Class C RV with a mid-ship LED TV:
- New single slide floorplan with mid-ship TV.
- Razor thin Vizio LED backlit LCD TV mounted mid-ship, viewable from the sofa, dinette and bunk overhead.
- Kitchen is angled to provide more usable work space without blocking the TV, so the cook can be in the kitchen while the guests are in the living area enjoying the game.
- All-in-one back provides privacy without impeding the walk way to the bedroom.
For more information on Thor Motor Coach motorhomes, call (800) 860.5658, visit http://ThorMotorCoach.com or write Thor Motor Coach, Inc., PO Box 1486., Elkhart, Ind., 46515.
Thor Motor Coach rolled out its “Gold Star Inspection” program today (Feb. 10).
The new program requires every motorhome to pass a 200+ point Gold Star Inspection before it ships to the dealership, according to a news release. In addition, after the dealer accepts delivery of each coach they will be contacted by a Thor Motor Coach customer service representative.
The Gold Star Inspection will include testing of the appliances, LP, electrical, heating, air conditioning and water systems. Each coach will also undergo a road test, high pressure 360 degree rain test, and a detailed review of the coach’s fit and finish.
“Requiring every motorhome we manufacturer to pass our extensive Gold Star Inspection process gets us closer to our goal of a ‘zero-defect’ coach. Our dealers need to know that when they are receiving a Thor Motor Coach product it’s in show ready condition,” said Bill Fenech, president and CEO of Thor Motor Coach. “The dealer’s feedback from the Gold Star Inspection program will be instrumental. It provides us the opportunity to be pro-active with our quality control and customer service efforts, and allows us to make improvements immediately”.
“The personal contact with each dealership is another way for us to let our dealers and customers know that Thor Motor Coach is committed to building a quality product while providing the best service experience in the industry,” stated Janaé Kurtz, vice president of customer service for Thor Motor Coach.
More details are available at http://ThorMotorCoach.com/gold-star-inspection.php.
The Florida RV SuperShow set a new attendance mark with 53,117 people passing the gates of the Florida State Fairgrounds in Tampa when the show concluded Sunday (Jan. 16) — an increase of 4.7% over 2010.
”There was good attendance and good sales,” said Lance Wilson, executive director of the sponsoring Florida RV Trade Association (FRVTA). ”We’ve had good attendance all along (at other SuperShows) but sales at some of the others have lagged a little bit.
”Everybody that I talked to was well into double-digits on sales and some dealers were into triple digits as far as sales are concerned.”
The show missed by fewer than 18 hours severe weather that swept across the Sunshine State spawning rain, high winds and tornado warnings, which hampered workers Monday (Jan. 17) as they were disassembling show displays.
”Thank heavens, it didn’t happen yesterday,” said Andy Baer, general manager of KZRV LP, Shipshewana, Ind., who reported strong sales during the five-day show.
Billed as among the largest RV shows in the U.S. with more than 450 vendors and 1,065 display coaches registered this year, the Florida RV SuperShow often sets the stage for the late-winter retail season.
”I’ve been coming to the SuperShow since 1994, and I’d have to say this was one of the best I’ve been too,” Baer said. ”And I’m not talking just about sales. It’s so nice to talk to people who are so very positive. It’s like someone flipped a switch. Everybody was very upbeat.”
”There was a lot of buying going on,” said Andy Cripe, a division manager for Keystone RV Co., Elkhart, Ind. ”I’m not going to say it was record-breaking, but it was sustainable. We saw real prudent buyers and even with the more stringent financing terms, a lot of people put cash down and bought.”
”Hopefully, this is a sign of what is going to happen in 2011,” said Matt Thompson, Elkhart-based Thor Motor Coach diesel division vice president, who reported that the company’s new A.C.E Class A motorhome sold particularly well. ”If it is (a sign), it should be a very good year for the RV industry. Thor Motor Coach did very well at the show as a company.”
Ed Kinney, Carriage Inc., Millersburg, Ind., vice president of sales and marketing, termed attendance and sales ”incredible.”
”The high-line fifth-wheel market was really hot,” Kinney said. ”The SuperShow always sets the tone for the year. For Carriage, it’s going to be an unbelievably great year.”
Based on Tampa and initial returns from other early winter shows, meanwhile, 2011 is looking pretty good for Elkhart, Ind.-based Forest River Inc.
“Taking into account the first two weeks of shows, Pittsburg was a good show and the Cleveland Show was the best we’ve had in years,” National Sales Manager Jeff Babcock told RVBUSINESS.com. “And the Tampa Show, finishing up this past weekend, ended up better than years past. So, it’s a great start, and we’re looking for a good year.
“We think it’s going to break loose here this year.”
Roger Martin, Winnebago Industries Inc. vice president of sales and marketing, said the Forest City, Iowa-based motorized manufacturer, was ”thrilled with traffic and sales activity” at the show.
”Dealers representing us there reported sales activity nearly three times better than last year, Martin said.
Thor Motor Coach, manufacturer of Class A gas and diesel, Class C and Class B+ motorhomes, has announced the addition of veteran motorized sales executive Adam Gudger to its staff.
Gudger, the new U.S. Southeastern Territory district sales manager for the diesel division of Thor Motor Coach, brings with him over 10 years of diesel motorhome sales experience, according to a news release. Gudger is already familiar with the Southeast, as he managed it from 2001 until 2006. In addition to dealer training, account development, and servicing the dealer network, Gudger will be involved with diesel product development.
A graduate of the University of Oregon, he is relocating his family to Northern Indiana to be based out of the Thor Motor Coach sales headquarters in Elkhart, Ind.
“Words cannot describe how excited I am to join the Thor Motor Coach diesel team. It’s an opportunity of a lifetime to work with such a talented group of people,” Gudger said. “My 10 years in the business has evolved into a real love for diesel motorhomes and a constant desire to help create more competitive products. Additionally, I look forward to building strong relationships with my new dealer partners, and doing my part to help further their retail sales success. With this team and our hot products I see a very bright future here at Thor Motor Coach.”
“Adam brings a wealth of knowledge and experience with a great understanding of our retail customer’s perspective. We have built a phenomenal diesel team and he’s a great addition. I’m sure Adam will become a valuable asset to Thor Motor Coach and our dealers in the Southeast,” said Matt Thompson, general manager of the Diesel Division for Thor Motor Coach.
Gudger can be reached at (574) 584-3646 or AGudger@TMCRV.com
Thor Motor Coach President and CEO Bill Fenech is calling the latest Louisville Show a “huge success” for his Thor Industries Inc. division.
“The Louisville show was a huge success,” Fenech stated today (Dec. 14) in a press release. “The dealer attitudes toward all our products and company were phenomenal. The new ‘Best in Show’ A.C.E and our diesel pushers stole the show.”
“This is a very good indication of future business and we anticipate strong production rates for the upcoming year,” added Fenech, who created Thor Motor Coach this year by combining two Thor divisions, Four Winds International Corp. and Damon Motor Coach, that previously had been separate operations under his divisional management.
Prior to the 48th Annual National RV Trade Show in Louisville, Ky, Thor Motor Coach maintained its increased production levels throughout the fall with anticipation of additional increases for the upcoming year, the release states.
Rental orders are strong as well, which helps to support the production projections. “With increased production rates,” the release notes, “there is an elevated overall optimism, providing an opportunity to invest towards the future.”
Elkhart, Ind.-based Thor Motor Coach also reports that it:
- Just committed to the largest rear diesel chassis order to date and placed large Ford Class A & C chassis orders as well.
- Has purchased additional lamination equipment and is expanding its lamination facilities.
- Will shut down for only one week for the Christmas holidays.
- Is now utilizing as standard equipment the Cummins ISL 450HP diesel engine in its tag-axle Tuscany motorhomes, including a new 42FK floorplan.
For more information, go to http://ThorMOtorCoach.com.
There were plenty of innovative new RVs on display at RVIA’s 48th Annual National RV Trade Show in Louisville, Ky., and that’s no surprise because tough economic times tend to bring out the best in many companies as they turn up the R&D focus to better compete for market share in a tight market.
Among the most eye-catching were Evergreen Recreational Vehicles LLC’s starkly different Element travel trailer, Fleetwood RV Inc.’s innovative rear-slide Tioga and Jamboree Class C, Monaco RV LLC’s futuristic Holiday Rambler Trip Class A, Earthbound RV’s chic new travel trailer, Airstream Inc.’s classy Eddie Bauer Edition Airstream, Open Range RV Inc.’s patio-equipped fifth-wheel, Dutchmen Manufacturing Inc.’s new high-end Voltage toyhauler and Winnebago Industries Inc.’s redesigned Winnebago Tour/Itasca Ellipse Class A.
But the RVBusiness staff’s unanimous choice for “Best of Show” was Thor Motor Coach’s A.C.E. Class A motorhome.
“In our view, the A.C.E. – an acronym for “Class A & C Evolution” – is a prime example of a post-recessionary motorhome that addresses the changing tastes – and wallets – of American consumers yet retains in the process a degree of style, dignity and even a touch of class,” stated RVBusiness Publisher Sherman Goldenberg.
Bottom line, the A.C.E., designed on a 16,000-pound GVWR, gas-fueled Ford chassis to combine the best attributes of Class A and C motorhomes, is a sharp-looking, kid-friendly, entry-level coach with full body paint, electric jacks, rear-view camera, kitchen slides, optimal storage, pet-friendly accoutrements and an electric drop-down cockpit bed that retails for under $80,000.
“You’ll see show specials for $69,995,” said Thor Motor Coach President and CEO Bill Fenech, “which will be a great deal for the customer, and the dealer should be very happy with his margin on that. We want our dealers to make money, but we want our customers to be able to get into the coach. They are going to get into it for not much more than a Class C price point.”
“The ACE is a real neat project,” added Fenech. “It started out as an entry-level motorhome. We wanted to get into that price segment even more than we were. We wanted to be aggressive. So, instead of just coming out with a price piece that is just another me-too motorhome, we looked at the market a little differently. We looked at the Class A and Class C markets, and there are some advantages to both products for the buyer. We looked at the two, hence the name A.C.E. – A & C Evolution.”
Floorplan, eye appeal and price are the key ingredients that appeal to the retail buyers, said Fenech, and the A.C.E. was designed with those three priorities in mind.
Consistent with a market that in some cases has consumers looking for smaller vehicles, the A.C.E. is a relatively short 29 feet, 7 inches, in length – shorter than some Class C motorhomes – yet it offers 84-inch headroom.
The cockpit tends to appeal to more of a Class C buyer, with a moderate exterior eyebrow in a front cap that houses an overhead front bunk and smaller windshield with an integrated visor that, according to Fenech, limits distracting direct sunlight and heat. “Women are saying that this doesn’t feel as overwhelming as a big bus,” says Fenech.
In addition, drivers can check out the coach’s passenger side with a uniquely placed floor line window while a large conversation mirror above the driver’s seat affords a good view of the living space.
Storage capacities, on the other hand, lean more toward the traditional Class A, with exterior “mega-storage” including a relatively huge rear curb-side compartment.
Major passenger-side basement storage compartments are located under the patio awning, while noisy heat-generating appliances are located on the driver’s side of the coach away from the activities. Campsite hookups are situated on the driver’s side rear of the coach.
Incorporated in the entry step is a storage drawer and toolbox for keeping tools, gloves and other RV gear without having to track through the coach, and there’s a broom and coat closet at the entry door in addition to a “Motorhome Mud Room” at the main entrance door for dirty shoes and gear.
In the final analysis, however, the fact that the A.C.E. is inordinately pet-friendly – with an “integrated tiedown” for dogs outside plus an inside “Kibble Station” for feeding pets – was the icing on the cake in opting to name Thor’s A.C.E. “Best of Show.”
“We tried to do a price leader coach before,” added Fenech, “but we could never get it right. Everything we put in this coach, we did for a reason. Every single dollar we spent or dollar we took out, we did it for a reason.”
Thor Motor Coach’s innovative A.C.E. motorhome drew crowds of enthusiastic dealers during the 48th Annual National RV Trade Show in Louisville, Ky., last week, the company announced in a news release
“There was a non-stop flow of dealers and press from the start of the show until the end, waiting to hear the full story of the A.C.E.” said Dana Simon, general manager of the gas Class A and C division of Thor Motor Coach. “Listening to the input from dealers and paying attention to what the retails customers actually want, our staff put together a truly exciting product that is clearly a hot product that’s a winner in today’s market.”
Bob Green,General RV’s general manager, stated, “Looking at the A.C.E, I have to say, Thor Motor Coach has really captured what the market is asking for and hit a remarkable price point. I have no doubt, with their continued commitment of providing high-value coaches for less, Thor Motor Coach will be successful.”
The “Class A & C Evolution,” or A.C.E., backed up its hype with a story behind its long list of features and benefits while hitting its price point, the release continued. The evolution begins in the cockpit where the windshield and front cap’s integrated visor are designed to help eliminate distracting direct sunlight and heat. The driver will get enhanced vision of the passenger side of the coach with the window on the floor line. The driver also benefits from a well-positioned large conversation mirror above the driver’s seat giving a complete view of the living space.
“The functionality continues with Camp-Sense, the company’s answer to basement storage that properly locates major storage compartments on the passenger side, under the patio awning, keeping it dry and easily accessible on the camp side. A Camp-Zone design centrally places the noisy heat-producing appliances on the driver’s side of the coach away from the activities. Intelligent design can be found with the A.C.E.’s Camper’s Corner that conveniently locates all the campsite hookups to the driver’s side rear of the coach,” the release stated.
The majority of RV owners are pet owners and the A.C.E. introduced a solution to the overwhelming demand for a pet friendly motorhome. “Owners have always had problems finding a good place to attach their pet and often had to resort to using the entry handle as an anchor for their pet’s lease creating a tripping hazard around the entry point of the motorhome, but that will never be an issue with the A.C.E.’s Pet-Link, integrated exterior tie down. The coach also has a Kibble Station, an integrated food bowl that is FDA approved. The paw and claw friendly linoleum is an absolute must have for a successful outing at even the muddiest campground,” the release continued.
“Intelligent design is also found in the extra wide entry door area that hides numerous storage spots, including a Motorhome Mud Room to store dirty shoes and gear. A storage drawer and tool box are incorporated in the entry step which is great for storing tools, gloves and other RV gear without having to track through the coach. Even a well-placed broom and coat closet at the entry door follow the conveniences typically found in a home,” the company stated.
Livable elements are found elsewhere in the EVO29.1 floorplan, including a family-friendly electric overhead bed, pantry storage in the kitchen, dual linen closets in the bathroom area and a dish work station with 12-volt and 110-volt connections. Find more information on the A.C.E. at http://acemotorhome.com.
Bill Fenech, Thor Motor Coach’s President and CEO, said, “At an unbelievable price point the A.C.E. has hit the market with unique industry changing features never seen before. A lot of the excitement comes from common sense innovations that will change our industry. We are incredibly excited for our dealers and retail customers.”
Shares of Thor Industries Inc. moved lower Tuesday (Nov. 30) by 12.22% to $29.53 after posting a first-quarter profit increase that missed estimates. Approximately 2.72 million shares traded with market capitalization of $1.65 billion, EFPR reported.
Net income for the first fiscal quarter climbed 1.3% to $23.7 million or 44 cents per diluted share, compared to $23.4 million or 42 cents per share in the prior-year quarter. The reported net income missed the analysts’ estimate of 54 cents a share driven by heavier discounting.
Sales increased 21% to $606.7 million from $502.6 million in the year-ago quarter. RV sales advanced 30% to $506.56 million from $389.93 million last year, benefiting from the remnants of dealer restocking as well as a significantly easier competitive landscape, with many players going out of business or faltering in recent months, which has led to market share gains for Thor. The recently acquired Heartland RV (late September) added $50 million of towable sales. Bus segment sales of $100.12 million were down from last year’s $112.62 million, with orders related to the 2009 economic stimulus having all but flowed through backlog.
The company’s gross margin declined 130bps year over year to 12.6%. The margin was affected by cautious dealer purchasing during the seasonal slowdown and increased promotional activity as manufacturers appear to be aggressively competing for dealer space.
The company also saw incremental expenses of roughly $8.0 million in the quarter related to its Heartland acquisition, an ongoing SEC investigation, and trademark impairment charges related to the combination of its Thor Motor Coach operations.
Thor Motor Coach announced today (Nov. 29) the “New Era Begins” at the 48th Annual National RV Trade Show, which takes place Tuesday through Thursday at the Kentucky Exposition Center (KEC) in Louisville, Ky.
The company will introduce new floorplans, upgraded standard features and an evolutionary product called A.C.E.
The Class A & C Evolution, or A.C.E., is the motorhome with a story. Blurring the line on what traditionally was called a Class A or Class C, the A.C.E. creates a class of its own, according to a news release. This class of motorhome was designed, inspired and dedicated to the retail customer and the demand for a shorter, fuel efficient, ultra functional and affordable motorhome. “It’s truly innovative in design and functionality, and priced for the masses. It is my job to make sure we build motorhomes that function into the future, and the A.C.E. is the motorhome of the future,” said Ann Spratt, vice president of operations at Thor Motor Coach.
Bill Fenech, Thor Motor Coach’s president and CEO, said, “With input from dealers, retail customers and using motorhomes ourselves, we were able to load the A.C.E with several all new innovative features. I believe the A.C.E is the most practical and user friendly motorhome on the market. It truly combines many of the best features of a Class A and a Class C motorhome with some unique features never seen before at an unbelievable price point. This product is so exciting, I can’t wait for dealers to see it.”
Dealers and the media are invited to come early to visit the Thor Motor Coach booth 1101 at Louisville, to get the show started with the most innovative product for the new year.
Keeping the customer in mind, Thor Motor Coach has expanded their already powerful diesel lineup. The Tuscany, a sophisticated combination of high-end living features and elegant automotive design, is now equipped with a 450-HP Cummins Engine standard on all tag models. This addition makes the 42’ Tuscany’s the most affordable 450-HP motorhome on the market. The Tuscany will also introduce the new 42FK floorplan with a front kitchen and L-Shaped sofa.
The Astoria ushers in the dawn of a new era in affordable luxury. Building on the already popular 40KT’s success at the Hershey Show, the new Astoria will add a 40-foot Bunk model to the lineup. The new 40BQ will debut at the 2010 Louisville RV show.
The Serrano, with its European exterior styling and the comfort you have come to expect, introduces the 33A floor plan. The 33A continues the aerodynamic exterior design and fuel efficiency you expect from the Serrano. This innovative floorplan design will include lighted countertops, a retractable 32-inch LCD TV in the Living area, a functional bathroom, with an extra wide sofa and chaise lounge.
On the Class A & C gas front, Thor Motor Coach will introduce several new floorplans and leading-edge features. The Hurricane will introduce the 31J with a queen AeroBed mattress, and drop-down bunk. The electric bunk is kid friendly, and comes complete with wrap-around netting, and electric switch with parental shut off for added piece of mind. The Windsport, has a new 32D floorplan that includes a capable kitchen design with spacious countertops that allow for a practical food prep area. The 2011.5 Challenger has new front caps, freshly upgraded interiors, ingenious floor plans like the 37KT, offering triple zone living. The Daybreak now features premium Toshiba electronics and a new 27PD floorplan. The Four Winds and Chateau will introduce a new 28Z floorplan, designed with retail and rental customers in mind.
Bill Fenech, president and CEO of Thor Motor Coach, and Matt Thompson, vice president of diesel sales, along with several other Thor Motor Coach employees and a few friends and family, met with four Marines out on a training exercise at the Elkhart Municipal Airport this week, the company reported in a news release.
The mission was simple: break bread, give thanks and allow Thor Motor Coach engineer Del Littrell to visit with his son, Marine A.J. Littrell.
The Marine crew, stationed in Johnstown, Pa., flew into Elkhart’s airport in their Bell UH-1N Huey. Marine Gunnery Sgt. A.J. Littrell has served for 15 years and was accompanied by Staff Sgt. John Lastinger (eight years), Lt. Colonel Charles Watkins (21 years), and their pilot Capt. P. Byrd (15 years).
Gunnery Sgt. A.J. Littrell has over 1,000 hours as a flying crew chief and door gunner. In eight years Littrell has had seven combat tours in the Middle East. His wife, who is also a gunnery sergeant, has three combat tours in the Middle East. A.J.’s father, Del Littrell, also served his country 40 years ago in the Vietnam War, and has another son and son-in-law in the military.
After a brief tour and photo shoot, the crew was transported to a local restaurant in a 2011 42RQ Tuscany for lunch and fellowship. “Thor Motor Coach is humbled by these men, we honor them for making the choice to serve our country, and feel proud to know them,” the release concluded.
You can find more photos here: http://thormotorcoach.com/news.php?id=7.


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Tourists across Victoria left frustrated over Easter long weekend
Tourists have been left frustrated across Victoria over the Easter long weekend, with many restaurants, cafes and stores closing their doors.
Wes Lambert, CEO of Restaurants and Catering Australia, said many businesses chose to stay shut because high penalty rates made opening unprofitable.
He said it was an issue even prior to COVID-19.
“It’s always been difficult,” he said.
“The restaurant award and the Fair Work Act certainly place a lot of pressure on businesses that have a lot of casual staff.”
Click PLAY below to hear more on 3AW
Picture by Getty iStock


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- Elon Musk told a Delaware court that he "rather hates" being the CEO of Tesla.
- Musk also said he thought Tesla would "die" if he wasn't in charge of the company.
- The billionaire was in Delaware to defend his company's 2016 acquisition of solar panel firm SolarCity.
On Monday, Elon Musk told a Delaware court that being Tesla's CEO isn't his cup of tea.
"I rather hate it, and I would much prefer to spend my time on design and engineering, which is what intrinsically I like doing," Musk said of his position as the company's boss, the Wall Street Journal reported.
Musk also said he "tried very hard not to be the CEO of Tesla," per a Reuters report on the hearing.
"But I have to, or frankly Tesla is going to die," he said, per Reuters.
The comments were part of his appearance in front of a Delaware court to defend his 2016 decision to acquire solar panel company SolarCity. In 2017, Tesla shareholders sued Musk and accused him of pushing Tesla to pay much more than was needed for the acquisition. The shareholders alleged the Tesla CEO was helping bail SolarCity out because it was founded and run by his cousins, Lyndon and Peter Rive.
Musk was the chairman of SolarCity at the time and owned a 22% stake in the company.
To date, every member of Tesla's leadership except Musk has settled the lawsuit. The board made a $60 million payout to shareholders without admitting fault.
This is not the first time the billionaire has made comments about being the top dog at Tesla. On a January 2020 episode of the Third Row Tesla Podcast, Musk said he "really didn't want to be CEO."
While Musk might claim to not enjoy being the CEO of Tesla, he's found himself in many leadership roles. The billionaire is the CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, the founder of The Boring Company, and the cofounder of OpenAI and Neuralink.
The SolarCity trial is expected to last until July 23. The plaintiffs, represented by lawyer Randall Baron, previously told Insider that they are seeking between $2.2 billion and $2.6 billion from Musk.


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‘s December update will arrive early next week, Bungie announced today as part of its. The update is officially called 2.1.0, and the full patch notes are also coming next week.
“Our current plan is to deploy the latest packages to you as soon as next week,” Bungie said. “The thing about plans is that they can change, so the exact day is up to the smart people who get to push the big red button.”
Ahead of that, however, Bungie has teased that the Destiny December update will bring changes for Sunbreakers, Strikers, and Defenders.
“About those Titansâ€¦ Ever since their Solar brothers and sisters entered the explosive mix of Destiny with the arrival of The Taken King, they’ve been quite the hot topic of conversation,” Bungie said. “Even before the first fiery salvo landed in someone’s face, there has been plenty of feedback about our armored friends.
“While were making some adjustments to Sunbreakers in Update 2.1.0, we won’t be leaving Strikers and Defenders out in the cold this winter.”
Tomorrow, December 4, Bungie will post a detailed preview of the changes being made. This post will be written by senior design lead Sage Merrill. “Expect stats and insights for each subclass,” Bungie said.
December’s update will also do quite a bit of and introduce .
Bungie also said today that the update will make changes to what’s available in the Eververse microtransaction store. If you’ve had your eye on a certain item, now is a good time to buy it.
“The December Update will refresh the inventory available from Tess,” Bungie said. “She;ll put the stuff you see now in some bags you can still acquire with some Silver, but their contents will be less direct and predictable.”


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Wedbush cuts rating on Michaels Stores to 'hold' (11:48 AM ET) NEW YORK (CBS.MW) -- Michaels Stores' MIK, -5.54% shares slid more than 3 percent to $46.09 in midday trades. The stock was cut to "hold" from "buy" by Wedbush Morgan after the Irving, Texas-based arts and crafts retailer posted its third-quarter results. The company earned $38.2 million, or 54 cents per share, on sales of $755.2 million in the third quarter. Excluding a gain related to a tax rate reduction, Michaels Stores posted a profit of 49 cents per share, a penny ahead of Wall Street's consensus estimate. Looking ahead, the company sees earnings of $2.45 to $2.50 per share for the full year, hinting at upside to the average estimate of 14 analysts polled by Thomson First Call for a profit of $2.45 per share. Wedbush, however, said its downgrade is based on the company's reduction of its same-store growth outlook for the fourth quarter to 3 to 4 percent from expectations for a jump of 4 to 6 percent. The firm said this outlook "increases risk in (the company's) most meaningful quarter."
Goodyear slips as J.P. Morgan trims estimates (11:38 AM ET) NEW YORK (CBS.MW) - Goodyear Tire & Rubber GT, -4.55% slipped 14 cents, or 2.1 percent, to $6.65 after J.P. Morgan trimmed its fourth-quarter and full-year 2004 estimates for the tiremaker, citing continued market share losses and rising raw materials prices. Analyst David Bradley now expects the company to lose 25 cents a share in the fourth quarter and to lose 35 cents a share in 2004, vs. prior projections of a loss of 20 cents and breakeven results. He reiterated his "underweight" rating.
White Electronic Designs jumps on Q4 profit (11:08 AM ET) NEW YORK (CBS.MW) -- White Electronic Designs' WEDC shares gained almost 7 percent to $9.78 after the Phoenix-based manufacturer of various chip and communications components topped Wall Street's consensus estimate for its fourth-quarter results by 2 cents, and said it would restate its results for the first three quarters of fiscal 2003 due to a change in the way it recognizes revenue from a particular reseller. The net effect of this change is to reduce reported revenue for the nine-month period by $1.1 million. For the fourth quarter, the company earned $3.2 million, or 13 cents per share, on sales of $30.2 million. This performance reflects the inclusion of a charge of 2 cents per share related to the relocation of certain facilities, and a gain of 2 cents per share from the reversal of accrued costs on a particular customer order. The company's backlog stood at $47.7 million at quarter's end.
Q3 results send QAD shares lower (10:45 AM ET) NEW YORK (CBS.MW) -- Shares of QAD Inc. QADI sank almost 11 percent to $11.85 after the company reported third-quarter earnings of $3.6 million, or 10 cents per share, on revenue $55.8 million. The latest results include a gain of $346,000, or a penny per share, related to an adjustment of a prior restructuring charge. In the same period a year earlier, the Carpinteria, Calif., maker of manufacturing-related software posted earnings before items of $3.5 million on revenue of $48.5 million. Thomson First Call doesn't publish a consensus estimate of the company's results. Looking ahead, QAD forecast earnings of 11 to 21 cents per share on revenue of between $51 million and $61 million for the fourth quarter, and earnings of 40 to 50 cents per share on revenue of between $225 million and $229 million in fiscal 2004.
Sigma Designs tumbles in wake of Q3 results (10:26 AM ET) NEW YORK (CBS.MW) -- Sigma Designs' SIGM, +1.61% shares lost more than 17 percent to $6.06 in early action. After Tuesday's closing bell, the Milpitas, Calif., maker of digital media processors posted a third-quarter profit of $149,000, or a penny per share, coming in 3 cents short of the estimate of a single analyst polled by Thomson First Call. In the same period a year earlier, Sigma Designs lost $871,000, or 3 cents per share. Revenue rose to $7.5 million in the latest three months from $4.7 million in the same period a year earlier, but on a sequential basis there was a drop from its second-quarter total of $7.9 million. The company attributed the sequential weakness to delayed customer orders.
CIBC says Dollar Tree disappoints w/ FY04 sales view (9:54 AM ET) NEW YORK (CBS.MW) -- Dollar Tree Stores' DLTR, +0.02% shares dropped more than 7 percent in early action. After Tuesday's closing bell, the Chesapeake, Va., off-price retailer posted third-quarter earnings of $36.2 million, or 31 cents per share, meeting Wall Street's consensus estimate. However, the company also offered a sales outlook for fiscal 2004 that CIBC World Markets characterized as "disappointing" although it left its "sector underperformer" rating intact. "We would not be surprised if some analysts reduce their FY04 (earnings) estimates in light of management's conservative revenue guidance," the firm said. Dollar Tree expects sales of between $3.2 billion and $3.3 billion for the upcoming year.
Hormel Foods tops by a penny in Q4 (8:38 AM ET) NEW YORK (CBS.MW) -- Hormel Foods HRL, +1.11% reported fourth-quarter earnings of $70.4 million, or 50 cents per share, up slightly from its year-ago profit of $68 million, or 49 cents per share, and a penny ahead of the average estimate of analysts polled by Thomson First Call. Sales rose in the latest three months to $1.17 billion from $1.04 billion in the same period a year earlier. The Austin, Minn., firm said it saw strong demand for its refrigerated, value-added products and a speedy turnaround in its turkey markets in the latest quarter. Looking ahead, Hormel sees earnings of 32 to 36 cents per share for the first quarter, and $1.44 to $1.60 per share for fiscal 2004. Wall Street's current consensus estimates are for profits of 35 cents and $1.51 per share, respectively. The stock closed Tuesday at $26.98, down a penny.
Open Solutions IPO prices after regulatory snag (8:01 AM ET) NEW YORK (CBS.MW) -- Open Solutions OPEN priced 5 million shares at $17 each in a bid to raise $85 million with underwriter Bear Stears as the maker of customer service software for the financial sector readied is debut Wednesday on the Nasdsaq. The Glastonbury, Conn. tech firm priced above its $14-$16 range in a sign of strength. The stock market debut of Open Solutions is coming a day late after an employee at underwriter Bear Stearns sent an unauthorized fax to potential IPO buyers, according to fund manager firm Renaissance Capital. Bear Stearns did not return a phone call seeking comment. A similar delay affected Tuesday's IPO of tech firm Synnex Corp. SNX, -5.30% Overall, it's been a tough week for the IPO market, with Synnex, Sirva SIR, +0.00% Pinnacle Airlines PNCL and Nexstar Broadcasting NXST, -3.18% all falling below their offering prices. Only home appliance retailer Conns CONN, -3.57% has produced a gain.
Ultimate Electronics misses Q3 expectations (7:03 AM ET) NEW YORK (CBS.MW) - Ultimate Electronics ULTE reported fiscal third-quarter results that missed expectations due to declining gross profit margins, increased advertising and insurance costs, weak store traffic and issues resulting from the conversion to a new management information system. The net loss for the quarter ending October, of $6.2 million, or 42 cents a share, vs. income of 3 cents a share in the year-earlier period, while analysts surveyed by Reuters Research had been expecting a loss of 39 cents a share. Total sales fell 10 percent to $159.7 million, below analyst forecasts of $164.1 million, while comparable-store sales dropped 12 percent. The consumer electronic retailer's stock closed Tuesday up 49 cents at $9.02.
Ahold posts nine-month op. profit decline of 53.4% (3:01 AM ET) LONDON (CBS.MW) -- Royal Ahold AHO (NL:33181)on Wednesday said nine-month operating income before impairment and amortization of goodwill and exceptional losses declined 53.4 percent to 857 million euros, with third quarter operating profits hit by increased promotional activity at Giant-Landover and Topsand, and said it swung to a nine-month net loss of 62 million euros. It attributed the loss to lower operating performance, higher professional fees and the weaker U.S. dollar vs. the euro. Net sales at the Dutch food services group recovering from an accounting scandal declined 10.5 percent to 43.3 billion euros, or a rise of 3.3 before the impact on currencies.
Hannover Re beats Q3 profit targets, ups FY guidance (2:48 AM ET) LONDON (CBS.MW) -- Hannover Re(DE:840221), the world's fifth largest reinsurer, on Wednesday said third quarter net profit improved 53.2 percent to 94.2 million euros, ahead of expectations, and raised its full year forecast to 350 million euros. The group's gross written premiums declined 2.7 percent to 2.894 billion euros, due to the impact of a weak U.S. dollar, but net premiums earned rose 13.2 percent to 2.27 billion euros, as the level of retained premiums increased.
British Land: Mkt gains, fin recruiting bolster City (2:40 AM ET) LONDON (CBS.MW) -- Property owner British Land(UK:BLND)said profit for the year ending in Sept. rose 33 percent to 87 million pounds. Pre-tax profit in rose 4.8 percent to 65.2 million pounds, before gains on asset disposals. Looking ahead, it said: "The stock market has sustained serious losses over the past 3 years, from which it now appears to be making some recovery. This, and renewed financial sector recruiting, are encouraging for our prime City of London holdings. Our confidence in the City remains." In terms of net assets per share, BL said City offices were down 4.8 percent, while supermarkets were up 4.7 percent in the half year.
Granada sees U.K. 100 mln cost savings in ITV merger (2:27 AM ET) LONDON (CBS.MW) -- Granada(UK:GAA), the British commercial television broadcaster merging with Carlton Communications(UK:CCM)to create the new ITV, said Wednesday it expects total merger cost savings at 100 million pounds, a new target. Sales for the year ending in Sept. rose 0.2 percent to 1.411 billion pounds; pretax and exceptional items profit rose 14 percent to 143 million, it said. "Our investment strategy in ITV's schedule is working, cost savings are ahead of plan and we are generating strong cash flows," it said. Separately, Carlton said profit before tax and exceptionals was up 68 percent to 60 million pounds for the year, and that sales were flat.


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Sunday, July 22, 2007
Last year, Heather Mills McCartney launched a celebrity shoe auction on eBay and the sale of proceeds of donated footwear went to Mines Advisory Group (MAG). The organisation employs more than 2,400 people worldwide to help provide safer futures for lives affected by conflict. Heather’s call to the famous resulted in 78 high-profile celebrities, from the world of film, TV, pop, sport and the arts all donating their shoes for auction. Wayne Rooney sent a pair of Nike air zoom football boots , Darcey Bussell's silk ballet shoes and black leather thigh boots from Alice Cooper. Ex Mrs McCartney even donated her Stella McCartney stilletto boots. This year Soles4Soul, an international charity dedicated to providing free footwear to disadvantaged people around the world have recived a sizable donation from See Kai Run Footwear . The sheepskin shoe company donated 10,000 shoes of their footwear at an estimated retail value of $350,000 (US). The shoes are earmarked for children in poor areas of Honduras and Sudan. See Kai Run Footwear are a favourite of celebrity parents like Ben Stiller and Christine Taylor and Dave Grohl (Foo Fighters). Individuals, schools and other groups can do their part by coordinating a ‘Gently Worn’Shoe Drive.


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Having registered our interest in the 2010 Dare with Bamboo competition, we needed to come up with a concept that is not only a fun, original and interesting game, but one that would also make full use of the Wacom Bamboo tablet’s functionality. Enter Skin Ink. Our idea here is to not treat the stylus as “another pointing device”. Sure, … Read More
Wacom, the Worlds leading tablet manufacturer has launched a competition called Dare with Bamboo. Gaslight Games have entered the competition with our concept, “Skin Ink”. More news and updates about the development of the game will be posted over the coming weeks.


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SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 25 (UPI) -- Wikipedia is starting a pilot project to deliver articles via text on smartphones it says is primarily aimed at users in Africa who don't have Internet access.
The free initiative is being tested in Kenya in a 3-month trial in cooperation with Indian mobile provider Airtel, Wikipedia said.
"Throughout most of the developing world, data-enabled smartphones are the exception, not the rule," Dan Foy, technical partner manager for the Wikimedia Foundation, wrote in a posting.
"That means billions of people currently cannot see Wikipedia on their phones."
Users who to dial *515# can activate the service, dubbed Wikipedia Zero, and search for articles, which will be sent to the user's phone in message-sized portions.
Tom Jakcson, the editor of African technology news website HumanIPO hailed Wikipedia's initiative as a welcomed effort.
"There has been a steady move towards putting educational material online in many African countries, led mainly by the private sector rather than governments, but access to the Internet remains a problem given that most Africans surf on their phones rather than browsers," Jackson told the BBC.
"This step increases the chances of access, especially as there is functionality to provide Wikipedia via SMS," he said. "Feature phones are still dominant in Africa, so this is a helpful addition."


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Red carpet deals are not yet so common that actresses are going public with their contract ties, which leaves those in promotion circles playing detective: Does Hilary Swank have a fashion deal with Calvin Klein? Renee Zellweger and designer Carolina Herrera are awfully close, what does that mean?
"Most people in the industry know which celebs have contracts," said Raul Martinez, co-founder of AR, a Manhattan advertising agency that represents Versace, Bill Blass, Escada and other fashion brands. Still, some jewelry and fashion house insiders remain coy when addressing the shift. Zellweger has worn Carolina Herrera gowns to several awards shows, though the fashion house denies having a formal deal with the actress. "It was always explained to me that she enjoys wearing our collections," said Ward Simmons, a Herrera representative.
"I don't think Renee Zellweger would be seen in Versace," Martinez said.
Ralph Lauren has publicized a half-dozen dresses designed for "Phantom of the Opera's" Emmy Rossum to wear for press junkets and awards shows over the past few months. Public relations director Nancy Murray described the relationship as "a friendship, nothing more."
Privately, insiders said that Herrera and Lauren appeal to celebs by giving them the red-carpet treatment, flying them around the world for fittings, even providing stockings, shoes and underwear to go with a gown.
Last year, Calvin Klein commissioned Swank to star in the ads for its Sensual Shapers underwear line. As a result, company spokeswoman Jennifer Crawford said, the house has been "collaborating on her wardrobe" for special events but would not be specific about whether they had a contract. (Swank wore a bronze Calvin Klein gown to the Golden Globes and chose a Chopard cuff bracelet for the SAG awards earlier this month.)
Theron is the official face of the Christian Dior perfume J'Adore but is not contracted to wear Dior clothing, according to public relations director Grace Cha. (At the Globes, Theron was clad in Dior.) Susan Duffy, Chanel vice president of public relations, said Nicole Kidman's contract for Chanel No. 5 represents the fragrance only and does not include an obligation to wear Chanel clothes (though she often does).
Kate Young, Swank's wardrobe stylist, would not comment, and Lisa Michelle Boyd, Theron's stylist, did not return phone calls.
"There's nothing wrong with making a financial arrangement between a celeb and a company, just as long as everyone knows about it," said Carol Brodie, public relations director for Harry Winston, which does not pay stars to wear its jewelry.
Whether contracts are formal, written or otherwise, those in the image-making business agree that even the hint of money changing hands sets a precedent. Jessica Paster, who dresses Cate Blanchett for red carpet appearances and Donna Karan ad campaigns, said she sees the whole climate of Hollywood changing.
"Are we going to reach a point when no one is going to want to wear anything until they get money?"


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Spanish fashion retailer Mango will end the store-within-a-store deal with JCPenney that began in 2010, shuttering 450 sales outlets by Q1 2016. Mango will maintain seven stand-alone stores in U.S. cities including New York and Miami, with plans to expand in key geographic locations, according to Reuters.
The “MNG By Mango” lines displayed at JCPenney were aimed at women aged 20 to 35 and designed specifically for the department store. Mango positioned this line as a more casual version of its classical designs, which it sells in its own 2,700 stores around the world.
Mango’s move comes amid plans by JCPenney to launch a new private label fast fashion brand called Belle + Sky, as the department store seeks to compete with retailers such as H&M, Zara and Forever 21, according to a report in just-style.
The closures should have minimal impact on Mango’s revenue since the JCPenney outlets only accounted for 0.5% of its global sales.


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Can seven barrels of wine change the Oregon wine industry? Seven local wineries hope their One Barrel Challenge starts a conversation about accessibility and inclusivity to answer that question.
The One Barrel Challenge is seven wineries, each selling a barrel’s worth of wine for an important cause: diversity. The wineries plan on using the money to make their industry more accessible to people of all colors, races and creeds. Their efforts could generate over $100,000, with 100% of the proceeds going to the Maurice Lucas Foundation.
The project is the brainchild of ex-NBA star Channing Frye, Jacob Gray and Chase Renton. Gray and Renton are partners in Frye’s new Chosen Family Wines brand. Chosen Family Wines are made at L’Angolo Estate in Newberg, where Renton is the owner/winemaker while Gray acts as general manager.
Against the backdrop of last summer’s social unrest, Frye, Renton and Gray took note of how few Black-owned wine brands, vineyards and wineries are out there. “2020 was a heavy year, and those kinds of moments can bring about real conversations. As we launched our own primarily Black-owned brand, we asked, ‘how can we hold ourselves accountable to be better people and help shine a light on social injustice?’” Gray said.
Those conversations led to action. They made calls to see if anyone else would like to put up a barrel of wine toward ending what Frye described in a press release as “the extreme racial disparities in the wine industry.”
Jackson Holstein of Granville Wine Co. in Dundee immediately accepted the challenge.
“The events of 2020 opened a lot of our eyes to things we’ve been blind to for too long,” Holstein said. “Truth be told, the wine industry looks too much like me. I was fortunate to be raised in a wine family. Not everyone has the same opportunities.”
Frye is eager for his industry to up its diversity and inclusion game.
“Who wants to watch a movie entirely in the first person? Our industry is missing out on so many perspectives from all people of color. Whatever your pronoun is, whoever you are, if you love wine, there’s a space for you. We want to extend our hand and say, ‘Come on, we’ll support you,’” Frye said in a telephone interview.
The seven wineries participating in the challenge are Chosen Family Wines, L’Angolo Estate, McCollum Heritage 91, Adelsheim Vineyard, Granville Wine Co., Hazelfern Cellars and Division Winemaking Co. Starting May 1, their special One Barrel Challenge wines will be available for sale through their websites and tasting rooms.
The wines on offer include a rosé, a syrah, two chardonnays and three pinot noirs. The wines range in price from $35 to $55. Money raised will help the Maurice Lucas Foundation fund educational opportunities and afterschool activities for children across Oregon.
The founders of the One Barrel Challenge see this donation as a first step. At the same time, they are making plans for projects involving wine-related scholarships and endowments at local colleges and universities.
“We are starting a conversation about how to lower barriers to people of color to get them into our industry. While not wine specific, the Maurice Lucas Foundation does amazing things in terms of giving young people of color life skills and opportunities,” Gray said.
Those future plans may include getting younger kids interested in the wine industry. Gray said the One Barrel Challenge team held a preliminary conversation with the Maurice Lucas Foundation about a scholarship program for kids interested in wine experiences and internships.
Who knows what dreams such efforts might inspire? Davd Lucas, Maurice Lucas’ son and the executive director of the Maurice Lucas Foundation, said in a press release that before this collaboration, “many of these young people may have never previously considered a career in the wine industry.”
Gray is quick to point out that scholarships are only a partial solution: “Scholarships are great, but we also need people in the industry to give them jobs. People of color need to know we want them in our industry.”
2021 is just the beginning of the One Barrel Challenge. The members of its inaugural class of wineries would like more wineries to join them next year. They would also like to see other wine regions around the world lay down their own barrel challenges.
“One thing is for sure, we are in it for the long haul,” Frye said.


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It’s going to be a gorgeous weekend in the Ozarks! Here’s what’s going on this weekend:
Movie theaters are still closed. AMC said they hope to have most theaters open by mid-July. Same for Alamo Drafthouse, they’re aiming for july.
Springfield pools are still closed, but the pools at the Doling and Chesterfield family centers are now open. Details to follow, stay tuned! Splash Pads at Farmers Park are open.
Missouri is open for business! Governor Mike Parson announced plans to implement Phase 2 of the Show Me Strong Missouri beginning June 16th. Local city and county officials will still be able to enforce their own restrictions. Springfield and Greene County are supposed to make an announcement on Phase 3 today. We’re getting there! But in the meantime playground equipment, restaurants, and retail stores are open for business.
Netflix: New month means new things on Netflix. E.T- The Extra Terrestrial, West Side Story, 13 Reasons Why season 4 is available.
Hulu: Dirty Dancing and Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights are available to stream.
Amazon: The Chucky remake, Child’s Play comes out today as well as the hit film Knives Out!
Disney+: The Artemis Fowl with Josh Gad is out today. Famous book series. The kids will love it!
Things to Do:
Virtual Concert: Saturday night’s virtual concert on The Beat is Halsey from her Manic world tour. It’s almost like you were there…almost! Show starts at 7 p.m.
Drive-In: Aurora is showing a double feature of The Goonies and The Great Outdoors on Friday and Sunday…NOT Saturday! Saturday night is drive in comedy night, a PG-13 event. Carthage is showing Batman, the 1989 version, and Beetlejuice.
Virtual Story Time: Each week your favorite Youth Services staff member at the Christian County Library will read both new and classic children’s books so make sure to follow along at home. Storytimes will premiere every Friday at 10 a.m. on Facebook and will be available to watch YouTube for the following 24 hours.