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A new video by Inspired by Iceland pushes back against experiencing life through the “metaverse,” as described by Mark Zuckerberg during Facebook’s rebranding to Meta on Thursday, Oct. 28, 2021.
Michael Nagle | Bloomberg | Getty Images
Imagine at a point in the near future, you are taking your daily trip through the metaverse when you encounter Colin Kaepernick. It’s not the flesh-and-blood Colin Kaepernick, but a digital avatar of the former NFL star. As you interact with Kaepernick, Nike, Kaepernick’s sponsor, becomes part of the experience. Whether you’re a Nike fan or not, his presence at least affirms the brand’s identity and story.
Advertising has always met the world where technology has taken its eyes and ears. If the first wave of advertising was print and billboards, followed by radio, and TV ushered in a new iteration in the 1950s built around the 30-second spot, an era lasted through the introduction of the World Wide Web in the 1990s.
But in the mid-2010s, the average time spent watching TV fell from 4.2 hours to the current 3.17 hours and that time is projected to continue falling through the decade. While it’s not assured that less TV time means migration to the metaverse, a conceptual virtual world where people will interact with each other using headsets or smart glasses and virtual reality, many advertising executives are banking on it.
The term “metaverse” dates back to Neal Stephenson’s 1992 science-fiction novel “Snow Crash,” in which humans, as avatars, interacted in a three-dimensional virtual space — to escape a dystopian reality. It has caught fire this year after Facebook rebranded itself as Meta Platforms, noting its goal is “to bring the metaverse to life and help people connect, find communities and grow businesses.”
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg described the metaverse as an “embodied Internet” that, unlike the Internet of today, gives one a “feeling of presence.”
Video game companies like Fortnite developer Epic Games and Roblox have planted a flag early in the metaverse trend. Nike — which has several patents related to selling products in the metaverse — recently created Nikeland in conjunction with Roblox, and seemingly every company is looking to do something.
“Our efforts to date are merely a prologue to a time when we’ll be able to connect the physical and digital worlds even more closely, allowing for storytelling without boundaries in our own Disney metaverse” said Disney CEO Bob Chapek on the company’s third quarter earnings call.
“The metaverse is the next frontier just like social networking was when we got started,” billionaire businessman Orlando Bravo, co-founder and managing partner of private equity firm Thomas Bravo, recently told CNBC. “It’s investable and it’s going to be very big.”
Now, the question of how to monetize metaverse users’ attention in this new form of media is top of mind. Advertising might have previously interrupted a user’s media experience. A newspaper ad, for instance, ran on the same pages in which readers read news stories. Subsequent inventions like radio followed the same format: programming would be interrupted by audio ads. Later, TV would follow the same format.
Advertising executives sketched out a different approach for metaverse advertising.
The new billboard ad
In the first phase, these executives said, brands would merely erect digital billboards in the metaverse. The template for such advertising is in games like Tiki-Taka Soccer and FIFA Mobile, in which billboards for brands both increase awareness and, if the visitor is interested, lead to more information about the product.
“It’s going to be very similar to what we have today in the real world,” said Jason Velliquette, executive vice president of digital for marketing consultancy R3. He believes that there will be systems within the metaverse that let you produce and publish assets. “So in the same way that we have billboards on the side of the road or [out of] home signage, brands will still be able to buy these types of placements within a Metaverse environment or a 3D environment,” he said.
That means, that if, say, a major financial services company like a Citibank wanted to set up a stand to teach financial education in the metaverse, it can. But in a virtual world, the brand might have better luck partnering with an influencer.
“Within Twitch, you have influencers who have these huge channels and following,” said Velliquette. “You’re going to still be able to follow these types of individuals or attend their seminars or go to their shows or go to their speaking engagements or things of that nature. And brands are going be able to partner and collaborate with these various influencers to really kind of make a splash within the metaverse space,” he said.
The pandemic forced more brands to experiment with the latest in camera technology and virtual fitting apps for clothing and cosmetics, and “virtual fashion” is an obvious target for early development and experimentation in the metaverse.
“When people walk around as avatars it’s quite imaginable, that then your virtual version will dress up and use brands like Nike, Adidas, Balanchine, Balenciaga or Gucci or Levi’s, doesn’t matter,” said Max Pinas, creative director for Dept, a global digital agency. “And so you will have virtual fashion,” he said.
This past May, Gucci introduced a purse in Roblox that actually cost more than the item in real life.
Nike‘s virtual world called Nikeland within the Roblox platform is modeled after the company’s headquarters. While it will feature different minigames for users to play like dodgeball and tag, Nike plans to have a digital showroom and include athlete and product integration.
In the past, when marketers place products in movies or TV shows, they use a product placement agency. In gaming and the metaverse, it works a bit differently. Generally, gaming has you work for goods. In World of Warcraft, for instance, you mine gold and when you get enough gold you can buy something.
The introduction of NFTs — non-fungible tokens — changes this equation. Suddenly a person (represented as a game avatar) can buy an NFT and virtually walk around different worlds with it.
Such cross-pollination inevitably leads to trouble. For example, last year in Fortnite it was possible to see both Marvel and DC Comics properties in the same location. “So you could see, let’s say, somebody suited up as Batman and talking to the Avengers,” Pinas said.
New universe for consumers
As marketers work out those branding boundaries, the technology keeps evolving. That’s why, within a short time, a user will be able to interact with an embodiment of a brand, like Kaepernick for Nike.
Tiffany Rolfe, global chief creative officer of ad agency R/GA, said though the metaverse doesn’t exist yet, it will provide a new universe of customers and environments to build within for entertainment companies like Disney, tapping existing intellectual property. And some of these new experiences will be similar to the 30-second TV spot. “It’s a story that could play out over time across different platforms, different realities, stuff could happen in the real world, and then it connects you to something that’s happening in the virtual world,” Rolfe said.
“This last year of the pandemic, and how we engage with digital experiences has really opened our eyes to what’s possible. Experiences are going to be a big space where brands will create [events] to bring people in and get the scale there,” she added.
Some advertising executives say successful efforts will need to take into account that the metaverse, by its original definition, is a realm inside of which the individual escapes the real world. That means brands shouldn’t create what looks at all like advertising as we know it, and what will come across as real in the virtual world will be different.
“The time of phoning it in is over, and brands must redefine their approaches to audience engagement,” said Lewis Smithingham, Media.Monks’ director of creative solutions. “In the metaverse, brands need to strike a balance between being present and being authentic by providing utility and meaning for people through creativity and technological innovation. In short, brands must create experiences people actually want.”


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‘Perfect’ Durian Sells for $48,000 at Thai Auction
A single durian fetched a whopping 1.5 million baht ($48,000) at an auction in central Thailand on June 1.
The fruit, a Kanyao variety, attracted bids from wealthy attendees at the King of Durian festival in Nonthaburi, which saw models parade it with eight other durians on red and gold velvet pillows.
The durian, which carried a minimum price of 20,000 baht ($640), was handpicked from the nearby farm of Pa Toi Lung Mu just a day before the auction.
Other durian species in the event included Monthong and Kop Med Tao species, which sold more than 300,000 baht ($9,585) each.
The Kanyao durian, native to Nonthaburi, is known for its sweet taste and creamy texture.
In 2011, a massive flood wiped out nearly all durian trees in the province, but the farm, among few other places, managed to save the variety and cultivate it again.
Some farms reportedly limit production of the Kanyao species to three to four fruits per tree to ensure high sugar content and nutrient density.
As such, buyers typically make reservations before purchasing.
“I knew this was a very special durian but I was amazed at how much it sold for,” said farm owner Maliwan Han Chai Thai, according to Reuters via AsiaOne. “I was expecting 1 million baht ($32,000) so for it to sell more is very good.”
“I hope the high bidder enjoys eating the durian. This variety is the tastiest in the world and we will keep growing them.”
A local businessman won the durian, which was singled out for its “perfect size, shape and ripeness,” the South China Morning Post noted.
Proceeds totaling 4.5 million baht ($144,000) will be returned to the farmers, while a fraction will be donated to charities sponsoring medical equipment for hospitals.
Images (Screenshots) via YouTube / CGTN
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Online games like Bethesda's Fallout 76 typically come with a handful of issues that the developers have to iron out over time, but, every now and then, gamers find some kinks that can completely break an experience. Such is the case with the recently discovered secret developer's room, which includes info on future updates and more. In response to these discoveries, Bethesda is sending out emails inquiring about how players gained access and issuing bans on accounts.
Digital Trends reports that players who refuse to respond to Bethesda's email about accessing the secret room will have their Fallout 76 accounts locked. Those that do respond will have their accounts investigated. There's no word on what the punishment will be in this case, but it'll likely depend on what the player has taken and/or sold from the secret developer room. A warning with an adjusted account is likely, but a ban is still possible.
The secret Fallout 76 development room, which you can see in a video that has been re-uploaded to YouTube, includes future plans for the game, top-tier weapons and items, and a human NPC named Wooby. Players have been aware of the room for weeks, so it is likely they've taken a good bit of gear and spread it out into the server's economy. Wooby himself has some gear that can be taken if you kill him and, of course, players have done so. The magnifying glass is on accounts accessing the room, but players are creating temp accounts to get the unreleased items and transfer them to other accounts. Such actions are probably what Bethesda will be investigating if they receive a response from the email about secret room access.
No matter what Bethesda does, this situation is going to be a tough one to clean up. As the unreleased weapons and items from the room continue work their way through inventories, possibly giving players an edge financially or in combat, the effects of them hitting the servers will be harder to track.
The inclusion of the human NPC is something that may go under the radar when it comes to the Fallout 76 secret room discoveries. Pre-launch and pretty much up until this point, the Bethesda team has stood firm on the idea that every human in Fallout 76 will be another real player. All current NPCs are non-human, but the existence of Wooby signals that the development team either has or is currently exploring the idea of adding human NPCs to the game.
Fallout 76 is available now on PC, PS4, and Xbox One. Stay tuned to Shacknews for additional updates.
Charles Singletary Jr posted a new article, Bethesda bans players who access secret Fallout 76 dev room
This is easily one of the worst launches of any game, ever.


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The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) has determined that Amazon illegally fired former employee Decoan Smith for trying to assemble warehouses in Staten Island, New York. Smith, one of the founders of the Amazon Labor Union (ALU) Expulsion In October 2021. The party filed an unfair labor practice complaint with the NLRB after his dismissal, alleging illegal retaliatory firing against the company in support of Smith. Now, accordingly Bloomberg, The board has found eligibility in the group’s complaint and plans to file a formal complaint against the e-commerce giant if the case is not settled.
The Amazon Labor Union is made up of former and current company employees and is an independent group not affiliated with the major national unions. Although the group failed to consolidate Amazon’s perfection centers on Staten Island last year, it did Refill an application With the NLRB in December – a hearing on that request is scheduled for next month.
Smith was not the only ALU organizer to be fired by Amazon. ALU President Chris Small also lost his job in 2020 after he walked out of Amazon’s JFK8 facility over the management of the COVID-19 security e-commerce giant in the warehouse. Amazon then explained that Smalls “received multiple warnings for violating social distance guidelines.”
The organization is strongly anti-union and once said Engadget It does not say in a statement that “unions are the best answer [its] Employees. “It adds:” Every day we empower people to find ways to improve their jobs, and when they do, we want to make those changes – faster. This kind of continuous improvement is difficult to do quickly and flexibly with the unions in the middle. ” Agreement with NLRB In December, however, Amazon agreed to inform employees that they have the legal right to join, form or support a union through its mobile app and internal website, in addition to notices posted at work.
As Bloomberg Explaining, the agency brings complaints to judges when it finds eligibility in claims made by NLRB employees. One of the board’s top prosecutors, Jennifer Abruzzo, said she would seek a court order to reinstate employees who were “aggressively” illegally fired. ALU Vice President Derrick Palmer, who was chained by Amazon to join the Small’s Cavid-19 protest, said that reinstating Smith would be a huge support for the party: Tell the truth and let the staff know it’s okay to talk. “
All products offered by Engadget are selected by our editorial team, independent of our parent company. Some of our stories include affiliate links. If you purchase something through one of these links, we may receive an approved commission.


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Xiaomi, the renowned tech titan, appears to be increasing its flagship release timetable, which is causing excitement in the tech community. According to recent rumors, the highly anticipated Xiaomi 15 series will be available earlier than expected, with mass manufacturing beginning in September. This surprising development points to a possible reveal in November or December, departing from Xiaomi’s usual late-Q4 launch time frame. Check out the details.
Xiaomi 15 Series to Launch Later This Year
The impending start of production in September represents a shift from Xiaomi’s traditional launch method, raising expectations for a game-changing series. The Xiaomi 15 series, which will likely comprise regular, Pro, and maybe Ultra variants, aspires to revolutionize smartphone capabilities.
While particular specs are kept confidential, industry sources predict breakthroughs in critical areas. The series may have a cutting-edge processor, with reports pointing to the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 or maybe the highly anticipated Gen 4 chip. Camera technology, display refresh rates, and general performance are likely to increase.
Xiaomi’s customary quiet on official details allows for speculation, but previous trends and industry rumors provide useful insights. The Xiaomi 15 series is expected to continue the brand’s dedication to cutting-edge performance, with the newest Qualcomm Snapdragon CPU, ample RAM, and storage options.
Camera capabilities are projected to advance significantly, with larger sensors, improved low-light performance, and the prospect of telephoto zoom lenses. The series is expected to include a stunning display with high refresh rates, HDR capability, and the possible inclusion of under-display camera technology.
Xiaomi is expected to offer competitive pricing, keeping its reputation of providing high-end features at affordable prices. This combination is likely to make the Xiaomi 15 series an appealing option for tech fans looking for high-end features without breaking the bank.
Overall, as mass production ramps up in September, the countdown to the Xiaomi 15 series’ introduction officially begins. Tech aficionados should expect a flood of leaks, rumors, and conjecture in the coming months, piquing worldwide interest in Xiaomi’s next flagship release. While official Xiaomi details are still anticipated, the series appears to be a suitable replacement, combining cutting-edge technology with the latest features.


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China has passed the United States in the number of billionaires it boasts, driven by the rise of fortunes in technology and manufacturing, according to a survey released Thursday. Despite a cooling economy, the number of Chinese billionaires rose by 242 this year to 596, according to the Hurun Report, which follows China's wealthy. It said that surpassed the 537 the company found in the United States. The report reflected the success of online retailing, entertainment, and other service businesses, while traditional industries such as steel and natural resources have declined. No. 1 on this year's list is Wang Jianlin, chairman of Wanda Group, which operates hotels, shopping malls, and cinemas, at $34.4 billion, up 52% from last year.
No. 2 is Jack Ma of e-commerce giant Alibaba Group at $22.7 billion, followed by Zong Qinghou of the Wahaha soft-drinks empire with $21.2 billion. "Despite the slowdown in the economy, China's richest have defied gravity, recording their best year ever, and creating more wealth than any country has ever done before in a year," Rupert Hoogewerf, chief researcher for the Hurun Report, said in a statement. But most of that wealth exists only on paper, and it may already have shrunk, according to the Financial Times, which notes that the report is based on equity values from just before China's "Black Monday" in August and that the Shanghai stock index has dropped 16% since then. (Read more billionaire stories.)


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WhatsApp eyes lending feature in India as Amazon rolls out Pay Later to tens of thousands of customers
In a filing with the neighbourhood regulator in India, the company has registered approval as one of the areas it will prosecute in its own country. The Facebook-owned assistance testified with the neighbourhood regulator earlier this month specifying approval or credits as one of the” main objects to be pursued by it in the country .” No other financial service is listed in the filing.
At an affair in Bangalore late last year, Abhijit Bose, WhatsApp’s head in India, said he believed that the mobile remittances busines in India, which has attracted dozens of local and international conglomerates in recent years, is still at a very early stage in the country and may eventually picture conglomerates be extended beyond merely offering a space for beings to communicate fund to one another.
WhatsApp has yet to receive approval from New Delhi for a national rollout of Pay in India. Local media reports claimed earlier this year that WhatsApp had started to expand Pay’s reach in the country in various phases.
Ajit Mohan, a Facebook VP and India head, told TechCrunch in an interview last week that only 1 million WhatsApp users in India, same as before, providing access to its portable payment service.
Dozens of pay assistances in India have expanded to credit, or online giving, in recent fourths as they search for a business model in the country. A number of conglomerates, including Paytm, India’s most-valued startup, and MobiKwik today offer small-scale ticket recognition to millions of users in India.
Tens of millions of users have started to digitally transact money in India in recent years. But the neighbourhood remittances person has removed most of the costs they could levy on banks and sellers to make money. The move has been translated into houses exploring other financial services, such as credit and guarantee and target sellers to make money.
This year, Paytm has expanded to serve merchants, launching new devices such as a stand that displays QR check-out codes that comes with a calculator and a battery multitude, a portable orator that requires expres corroborations of business and a point-of-sale machine with built-in scanner and printer.
The Alibaba and SoftBank-backed company is offering these gadgets as part of a subscription service that helps it prove a continuous flood of revenue. Paytm’s Money arm, which provides for lending, guarantee and investing assistances, has amassed more than 3 million users.
On Wednesday, Amazon launched and began rolling out Amazon Pay Later, a service for “tens of thousands” of eligible clients that would allow them to access instant credit of up to 20,000 Indian rupee ($ 264) to buy a range of produces covering several categories including daily essentials, electronics and clothe. Patrons can also use this ascribe to complete their bill payments on Amazon, the e-commerce giant said.
Those accessing Amazon Pay Later assistance can repay the amount in the precede month to Amazon at no added cost. They can also repay the amount at” nominal interest rates” in up to 12 months.
Amazon Pay Later is a peculiar service that will help customers expand their access to credit and knowledge the most convenient option of concluding remittances. In current days Amazon Pay last-minute empowers our customers to better manage their monthly wastes ,” said Mahendra Nerurkar, chief executive of Amazon Pay India, in a statement.
Flipkart’s PhonePe, another major player in India’s fees sell, today helps more than 175 million useds and over 8 million merchants. Its app suffices as a stage for other businesses to reach consumers. The corporation is currently not taking a cut for the real estate on its app.
WhatsApp’s swelling in portable pays in India, estimated to grow to$ 1 trillion by 2023( according to Credit Suisse ), could create new challenges for the aforementioned players.
Facebook, which like other American tech whales counts India as one of its biggest sells but concludes considerably less revenue in the world’s second largest market, “reaffirmed” its commitment to India this month.
The social monstrous invested $ 5.7 billion in Reliance Jio Platforms this month to acquire a 9.99% stake in the Indian telecom giant. Over the weekend, JioMart, an e-commerce venture run by Jio’s parent firm, began testing an “ordering system” on WhatsApp, taunting the first peep at the collaboration between Facebook and Indian telecom giant Reliance Jio Platforms.
Online lending could help WhatsApp, which does not charge customers any fee or monetizes through ads, explore a way to make money.
[ Story and headline updated at 12:09 PM IST to add detailed information about Amazon Pay Later rollout in India .]


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The typical Android early adopter may find themselves a little annoyed by how similar the current crop of Android Wear watches are, but it's important to know these moves are done on purpose.
Smartwatches are one of the most useful types of devices you can get, and Huawei’s Watch GT 2 Pro is best-in-class. Here’s a look at everything that makes the watch a perfect holiday gift.
Huawei announced the Watch GT2e and Sound X speakers alongside its P40 and P40 Pro today. The Watch GT2e will launch in April, while Huawei says it plans to launch the Sound X in early summer.
The AliExpress 618 Summer Sale is on, and it's bringing serious discounts to Huawei products. One of the hottest deals is a massive cut to the price of a Huawei Watch GT 2.
At CES 2016, Huawei unveiled the first expansion of their Android Wear watch line: the Watch Jewel and the Watch Elegant, two fashion-focused watches that they'll be pitching towards women.
Though Huawei already offers a respectable set of case and band options for the Huawei Watch, it's expanding its lineup today with the new "Elegant" and "Jewel" models.
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Elon Musk is one of the innovators that has shaped technology and the everyday objects we use like cars. With his creation of the Tesla, Musk has made innovation with an autonomously driving car. With his newest design Neuralink, Musk is proposing the implanting of 10 data chips into the human brain. Read the article below to find out more on this proposed innovation that will enhance the brain.
Elon Musk is best known for founding Tesla. However, his success has been quite a roller-coaster. Once thought to be a long-term automobile innovation, Tesla has shown financial trouble, with Elon being fired as chairman in 2018, but remaining as CEO. The future of the company is highly debated, although they tried to boost confidence in 2019 by announcing plans to make an autonomously driving car.
With his spare time, he also runs SpaceX, which designs, manufactures and launches advanced rockets for commercial human use. Elon Musk boasts how great it could be for the average person to play Neil Armstrong for a day. However, on April 20, 2019, SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft test flight ended with an explosion. Mr. Musk has consoled the public that SpaceX has previously perfectly launched and landed a booster in 2015.
Elon Musk’s newest venture is Neuralink. It is true that the human brain cannot work as fast as a computer. To solve this, Neuralink proposes implanting up to 10 data chips into the human brain, with tests planned for 2020. Of course this would be a full-fledged neurosurgical craniotomy. The chips could connect wirelessly to an iPhone app. Critics have noted that while the technology could initially help those with some brain injuries and the future goal would be to enhance a normal brain, the technology could be nefariously used to influence, manipulate or exploit people.
In summary, Tesla is making an autonomously driving car, SpaceX wants to send the average person to outer space, and now Neuralink’s computer chip could control our brains. What could possibly go wrong with technology controlling everything… assuming no one has seen the movie Terminator? I guess it’s a really great financial solution for Mr. Musk. If we are a Tesla owner and unhappy about the company’s finances, Elon can program our new brain chip to get us into one of SpaceX’s rockets, which may be a one-way trip to the moon. Society won’t know we’re gone, because the Tesla we left behind will still be automatically driving itself around…


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A recent study by Tufts University found that sugar-sweetened drinks, such as fruit drinks and sodas, may be linked to 184,000 deaths per year worldwide.
The study estimated that in 2010, sugar-sweetened drinks may have caused 133,000 deaths from diabetes, 45,000 deaths from cardiovascular disease and 6,450 deaths from cancer.
“Among the 20 countries with the highest estimated sugar-sweetened beverage-related deaths, at least 8 were in Latin America and the Caribbean, reflecting the high intakes in that region of the world,” said Dr. Singh, lead author of the study.
The researchers also found that younger adults were more likely to experience chronic disease attributed to sugary-drinks than older adults.
Dr. Mozaffarian, co-author of the study, said: “It should be a global priority to substantially reduce or eliminate sugar-sweetened beverages from the diet”. He also noted that he would rather see people consuming drinks with artificial sweeteners than with sugar.
Singh GM, Micha R, Khatibzadek S, Lim S, Ezzati M, and Mozaffarian, D. “Estimated global, regional, and national disease burdens related to sugar-sweetened beverage consumption in 2010.” Circulation. Published online ahead of print June 29 2015. doi:10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.114.010636


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Kanye West says he’s not interested in creating a Non-Fungible Token, becoming one of the few artists not jumping on the NFT movement.
The Yeezy billionaire has been very active on Instagram when not out on hot dates with Julia Fox. He’s now giving his opinion on relevant topics.
Kanye West, who is regarded as a creative genius and savvy businessman, doesn’t think NFTs are all they are chalked up to be and shot down inquiries about his business getting into NFTS.
“STOP ASKING ME TO DO NFT’s I’M NOT FINNA CO-SIGN,” he wrote. “FOR NOW I’M NOT ON THAT WAVE I MAKE MUSIC AND PRODUCTS IN THE REAL WORLD.”
Kanye West also shared a handwritten note about his decision. “My focus is on building real products in the real world, real food, real clothes, real shelter,'” he said. “Do not ask me to do a fu**ing NFT.”
However, it seems he’s not entirely ruling out getting into the digital craze in the future. “Ask me later,” the note ended.
NFTs are tokens that offer digital ownership of select copyright pieces of artist works. Among the people who have bought into the craze is Eminem who bought a $462,000 ape NFT that resembles the rapper himself. The Ape series has seen people like Travis Scott and Justin Bieber dropping big bags on the NFTs. Bieber spent a cool $1.29 million on his Bored Ape Yacht Club NFT.
Meanwhile, Kanye has been generating a lot of publicity for his album DONDA 2, which Future is executive producing. The album is set for release on Feb. 22, and the rapper said via Instagram that he wouldn’t be available for the phone.
“I don’t have a phone until 2.22.22,” he said. “My focus is taking my kids to school and finishing the album.”
The album is a sophomore to the first album of the same name released last year September. As for the new album, Ye’s collaborator Digital Nas revealed that the album is aiming to be one of the most memorable projects for the artist.
“These are the directives for the album: ‘If it cannot be played at a funeral, childbirth, graduation, a wedding, it will not be on our record,'” said Nas. “We learned a lot from DONDA 1. We learned what hit. We learned what was sticking. So we took from there. It has to be able to be played at four major moments in people’s lives,” he said.


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Grocery shoppers are entering a new age of concern about what they’re putting in their bodies — and we’re not just talking about calories and fat. As Americans seek to understand what’s in their food, where it comes from and how it’s made, companies are on the hook to provide information and help consumers understand the myriad food concerns that pervade today’s grocery aisles.
Nowhere is this more apparent than the current GMO debate. As the discussion reaches a boiling point on a state regulatory level, consumers lack crucial understanding to make their own educated decisions. In fact, the 2014 Cone Communications Food Issues Trend Tracker reveals half of Americans don’t understand what genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are, and, at a very basic level, 55 percent don’t even know whether they are good or bad for them.
The GMO conversation highlights an irrefutable need for greater corporate transparency. Although GMOs may be the “issue du jour,” this is not the first food issue we’ve seen come to the forefront and it certainly won’t be the last. A striking 88 percent of Americans want companies to tell them what they’re doing to operate more responsibly, and another three-quarters wish companies would explain how their food purchasing decisions impact the environment.
Read the full, original article: Transparency: The New Must-Have Ingredient


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Today Oculus is being acquired by Facebook in a fantastic deal that not only validates the team's vision and hard work but one that will also accelerate their ability to bring an unprecedented VR experience to all of us. There is no way to describe just how amazing the journey has been thus far, but it is fitting to borrow a line from Neil Stephenson's Snow Crash, a book I read 15 years ago in order to be ready for the day Oculus crossed my path:
“See, the world is full of things more powerful than us. But if you know how to catch a ride, you can go places.”
There is no doubt that this has always been the team to solve VR: from the days of Palmer's garage exploits with rubber bands and duct tape to the additions of the legendary John Carmack and supremely talented Atman Binstock— not to mention dozens of other super hackers, PhDs, and game industry veterans along the way. There has always been a ridiculously deep bench to pursue this opportunity. Factor in a CEO who has been fanatical and crystal clear about the product experience he wants to deliver to the market and it’s obvious that these are the folks who will dent the universe.
Timing has also been on Oculus’ side. Leveraging what Chris Anderson, ex-Wired editor, called the "peace dividend of the smartphone wars," with respect to the displays, electronics, and sheer manufacturing capacity available for high quality consumer devices at affordable prices, this exceptional team has come together to make something amazing. There have been other attempts at VR in the past, but only with all of these pieces in place has its time finally come. The fact that the company's DK1, which provides a mere shadow of the experiences yet to come, could sell more units than all other VR headsets combined motivated developers big and small to bet big on what Oculus is planning to deliver.
Most importantly though, and what I've never seen before in my career in the tech industry, is the sheer passion and commitment of the Oculus community. You can see their fervor on the Oculus developer site where questions are asked and answered with a proficiency and passion that belies how early it remains for VR experience creation, to Reddit and HackerNews where support for what the guys are doing borders on rabid. It has inspired employees, developers, and investors alike.
Living online with this level of passion reminds me on a daily basis of Brendan's visit to Cambridge when he was raising his first round of funding. Lugging a huge rolley suitcase with a monster PC and a pair of DK1 goggles that had traveled the length of the country with him, it took all of 3 minutes for me to decide Matrix had to be involved with the project. As Brendan and I walked out into Kendall Square, I happened to look down a side street where another entrepreneur, Edwin Land, started the Polaroid Corporation with a simple guiding principle— one that the entire Oculus team lives by on a daily basis. I have no doubt they share this principle with their new parent:
“Don’t undertake a project unless it is manifestly important and nearly impossible.”
Congratulations Oculus, now get me my metaverse!


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All preparations are on top gear for the much anticipated “Walk For Love Africa” (WFLA) initiative scheduled to take place in 14 countries and 21 cities across Africa on the 12th February, 2022 where some Ministers of Tourism and other VIPs have confirmed their readiness to participate in the walk, which aims at connecting Africa.
The “Walk For Love Africa” project is an advocacy campaign aimed at creating awareness about the challenges being experienced by the tourism sector following the emergence of Covid-19 pandemic and other issues bothering the sector.
The founder of the project, Mr. Toni Ukachukwu, who is so passionate about Africa’s advancement and displays much enthusiasm about the betterment of the
tourism and the related sectors, has this to say about the raison d’etre of the project.
“We are in the pandemic era and as a key stakeholder in the tourism and travel sector in Africa, it beholds on me to proffer innovative solutions in the sector. So the Walk For Love Africa initiative came to me when I while I was doing my usual Saturday morning run and I decided to work on it by putting calls across to my creative team for us to have a visual representation of what it’s all about and that’s how we got here.”
“The WFLA campaign will kick off with a two kilometers leisure walk on the 12th of February, 2022 with the theme ‘Connect Africa’ to see stakeholders in the tourism and travel value chain in Africa participate across the participating countries. We have over 13 African countries who will be participating and even more cities across some countries in Africa. Afterwards, post 12th February, 2022, we have a line up of activities that we will use to continue the project and advocate for the campaign across different platforms in different events across Africa”, Toni expatiated.
The participating countries in the “Walk for Love Africa” project are: Nigeria, South Africa, Ghana, Kenya, Rwanda, Bostwana, Congo, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Ivory Coast, Tanzania, Cameroon, Namibia, Benin Republic while more people from different parts of Africa and beyond will join virtually.
Some of the prominent African VIPs that have indicated their support for the initiative are: the Executive Chairman of African Tourism Board, Hon. Cuthbert Ncube; Secretary General, African Airlines Association, Mr. Abdérahmane Berthe; Ms.Tes Proos, President SITE Africa; Mr. Ademola Sanya, President, SKAL International, Lagos; Hon. Philda Nani Kereng, Minister of Environment, Natural Resources Conservation and Tourism, Botswana among others.
The project’s vision is to “close the gaps in the travel and tourism value chain through a pan-African project to create socio-economic development” while the vision aims to “foster unity and solidarity by engaging the potential of the domestic African tourism market“.
Another fascinating attraction to watch out for during the event would be Vicky Sampson’s new song titled “Song of Love” slated for release on the same day and dedicated to the project.
Each participating country has a designated WFLA country coordinator through whom intending participants could reach out to for more information. You can also follow their social media handles on Instagram: @walkforloveafrica, Facebook: Walk For Love Africa and Twitter @wfl_africa or better still search for the hashtag #walkforloveafrica online and be a part of the initiative.


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Blackman’s Brewery eyes expansion
BLACKMANS Brewery is still a small player in the beer world according to company founder, owner and head brewer Renn Blackman, but the business has growth plans and is proceeding despite pandemic pressures.
“When COVID hit we were forced to close our Torquay venue,” he said.
“As soon as we started doing food deliveries, beer deliveries everyone just got around it and we’re so thankful they did.”
“It helped us stay above water…we’re quite lucky to have so much support – that and Job Keeper kept us afloat.”
The business also received a state government grant from its Agriculture Workforce Plan that it used to help make the shift to its new Grovedale brewing facility that enables it to double brewing capacity.
During a visit last week, state Agriculture and Regional Development Minister Mary-Anne Thomas said there had been a trend in local business success stories like Blackman’s.
“COVID has driven a real hyper localism amongst our consumers,” she said.
“People want to support their local businesses. They want to support local food and drink manufacturers.”
The business will turn seven this year and now employs over 50 people, around 20 more than before the pandemic, and last year produced half a million litres of beer.
“One to 10 million is still considered small,” Renn Blackman says by way of comparison.
“We’ve got a target of 25 per cent growth annually.”
The label is now stocked in over 150 outlets and predominantly rests on a Geelong and Surf Coast market, but Blackman said he is eyeing greater Melbourne expansion.
The shift to a Grovedale industrial warehouse now means around 80 per cent of the brewing is done there, the bulk of which goes to the wholesale market.
The remainder continues to be made at the original Torquay brew bar and ends up in the taps there and at its Ocean Grove venue.
Splitting the brew sites has also enabled the company to segregate its workforce so that if one team falls ill or is forced into isolation with COVID it doesn’t take the other out.
“That was a big part of it, just keeping everyone separate,” Blackman said of the move.
“It was a bit of a challenge when we had facilities where everyone has been, hospitality staff, brew staff.
“It’s obviously not ideal, it would be good just to get back to some kind of normal, but who knows when that will happen.”


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A global online fashion store Ninacloak that has already given women strong reasons to bank on its fashionable items has now added a new line of womens blouses, tops and tees. The new add-ons are quite exclusive and showcase variations in the styles of products. Customers who look for casual blouses ands tops to see through the day or attend basic events can now invest on them, as they’re available at cost-effective prices.
Ninacloak is known for keeping a trademark style in almost all their products, which is visible even in this new line. “The fact we join hands with designers who share similar vision like us has only boosted the collections at the store. These fashion items that we’re bringing out are primarily meant for women on the go who seldom have the time to slip into different elegant outfits. Keeping their choices and preferences in mind, we have worked out new styles that would not only render grace and charm to their bodies, but fit the budget effectively too,” said one of the senior members of the R&D team at the company.
The company has always checked to see that only reputed brands find place in the inventory. The items are kept low-priced that makes it easy for customers to purchase. For example, the winter coats on sale or blazers, jackets and cloaks are must buys when it comes to this season and the company has ensured the prices of all such items are minimal or frequents discounts are provided.
At a press meet, the CEO of the company said, “Before displaying the products, we always do proper inspection. After all, our online store has gained considerable reputation over time and we know what level of hard work we’ve put to come to the point where we are at present. The business goals aside, we strive to offer only the best quality items to customers. It is in their satisfied experience that we learn where we are and how much we should deliver to keep our mutual trust intact. This new line we hope will add more loyalists to our team.”
About the Company
Ninacloak is one of the leading online stores that has excelled in providing high-quality women’s clothing.
To know more, visit https://www.ninacloak.com/


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With the new Star Wars film nearly upon us, there is wide speculation that some attractions like the Star Tours ride could receive an update. According to the recent Disney D23 Expo, both the Disneyland park in Anaheim, California and Disney’s Hollywood Studios at Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida will be getting 14-acre expansions with new attractions.
The Disney Parks Blog has also announced that new attractions will be open starting December 1. The Star Wars Launch Bay will take guests into the Star Wars universe with special exhibits and behind-the-scenes look at the franchise. Star Tours – The Adventures Continue will be home to a brand new adventure inspired by the upcoming film, Star Wars: The Force Awakens.
Another new attraction is entitled Star Wars: Path of the Jedi, which will feature scenes from the complete Star Wars saga and Jedi Training: Trials of the Temple, which will take young visitors to the secret site of an ancient Jedi temple where they will face Darth Vader along with the Seventh Sister – a new villain from the Disney XD series Star Wars Rebels.
To whet fans’ appetite, Disney has also launched a sneak peek of the new Star Tours attraction, showing fans where the Starspeeder 1000 will be taking fans, along with a new photo from the Star Tours ride. And it looks absolutely smashing.


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An opinion column at the Nashua Telegraph chimes in on the Do Not Track proposal that has been advocated by privacy activists for years and recently by the Federal Trade Commission in a privacy report (pdf).
If the â€œDo Not Callâ€ registry helped Americans avoid unwanted telemarketers, can a â€œDo Not Trackâ€ option protect their privacy online? The Federal Trade Commission thinks so, and in a Dec. 1 report on consumer privacy in the digital age called for new tools to control the collection of information about consumerâ€™s Internet activity.
In releasing its report, titled â€œProtecting Consumer Privacy in an Era of Rapid Change,â€ the FTC argues there is now widespread support for more transparency and choice surrounding the largely invisible practice of â€œbehavior advertising,â€ in which marketers track a consumerâ€™s Internet activity and then deliver ads targeted to those interests, or assumed interests.
The most practical method would probably involve the placement of a persistent setting, similar to a cookie, on the consumerâ€™s browser, signaling the consumerâ€™s choices about being tracked and receiving targeted ads. […]
Consumers need to understand what personal information is being collected, how it is collected and how they can control the data collection and distribution.
Some may see a benefit in allowing the tracking to continue, while others will opt out. While the government need not mandate one option or the other, consumers should certainly have the choice. This technology already exists and should be made available through all the major web browsers as soon as possible. […]
While behavior advertising, as itâ€™s called, might not be that objectionable, the privacy concerns are significant. Most consumers would rather not have strangers monitoring the websites they visit. The â€œDo Not Trackâ€ tool is certainly not the final answer to privacy on the Internet, but itâ€™s a good step in the right direction.


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First Canadian event in Facebook's initiative aimed at women-owned small businesses
KITCHENER, ON, March 9, 2016 /CNW/ - On Monday, March 14, Facebook's Boost Your Business will take place in Kitchener, Ontario, a session dedicated to teaching small business owners in the Kitchener-Waterloo Region how to optimize their presence on the world's largest social network. The event will be co-hosted by the Greater Kitchener Waterloo Chamber of Commerce with special guest, Hon. Bardish Chagger, Minister of Small Business and Tourism.
In honour of International Women's Day, the theme of the event will be geared toward women-owned small businesses and will highlight the important role women in business play in contributing to the local community's economic prosperity. According to the Canadian Trade Commissioner Service, majority women-owned small and medium-sized businesses represent over $117 billion per annum of economic activity in Canadai.
The Boost Your Business seminar will include a training session led by a Facebook small business expert on the latest best practices and strategies for success. Attendees will be learn how to use Facebook to grow their business and connect with current and potential customers.
A question and answer session will follow, featuring a panel of local small business owners, who will share their Facebook tips, tricks and suggestions. From the Potting Shed, Shelley's Stoneworks, Cocoon Apothecary and Next Time Around have been selected to join the panel as best-in-class examples of businesses using Facebook.
Free workshop on how to use Facebook to grow your small business. Business owners can register at: fbwaterloo.eventfarm.com
Andrea Van Leeuwen, Head of Business Marketing, Facebook Canada
Kevin Chan, Head of Public Policy, Facebook Canada
Hon. Bardish Chagger, Minister of Small Business and Tourism
Greater Kitchener Waterloo Chamber of Commerce
Local small business owners
WHEN AND WHERE: Kitchener – Monday, March 14, 2016
Bingemans Conference Centre (The Ballroom)
425 Bingemans Centre Drive
Kitchener, ON N2B 3X7
*All media who wish to attend must RSVP by 5:00p.m. EST on Friday, March 11, 2016 to [email protected]
About Facebook Canada
Founded in 2004, Facebook's mission is to make the world more open and connected. More than 21 million Canadians use Facebook to stay connected with friends and family, to discover what's going on in the world, and to share and express what matters to them. Facebook® is a registered trademark of Facebook Inc. All other brand or product names mentioned may be trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.
i SOURCE The Canadian Trade Commissioner Service: http://www.owit-ottawa.ca/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/Facts-and-figures-on-women-entrepreneurs.pdf
SOURCE Facebook® Canada
For further information: Alex Kucharski, [email protected]


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The poultry master plan has created nearly 1 300 jobs over the past 18 months, helping to counter the massive nationwide job losses due to the economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic. Job creation is a key aspect of the master plan, and progress was highlighted in a recent article in Business Report.
The plan aims to curtail chicken imports while stimulating local demand and production over three years, resulting in increased supply for both the local and export markets.
Some of the additional local production has already happened. The industry has invested most of the R1.5 billion to which it committed, raising production by more than a million birds per week. The master plan target is an additional 1.7 million birds per week by the end of 2023.
The result, during a period of coronavirus lockdowns and massive job losses across the country, has been the creation of 1 298 jobs.
There’s a lot more to come. The master plan aims to create nearly 5 000 jobs – 3 600 in increased chicken production, 300 in the grain industry supplying additional feed, and a further 1 000 by the establishment of 50 new commercial scale contract farmers.
Izaak Breitenbach of the SA Poultry Association told Business Report that successful implementation of the master plan would raise the poultry sector’s contribution to gross domestic product (GDP) from R48 billion in 2019 to R54 billion in 2022.
Many areas of master plan implementation have, however, been delayed by the economic impact of the coronavirus. Among these are concerted action against illegal imports by the revenue authorities and a requirement that government departments and state-owned entities use local chicken for their catering.
One area where there has been almost no progress is chicken exports, which remain a tiny proportion of local production. The boost foreseen in the master plan has so far not happened.


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Archive for February 25th, 2021
LaCie has partnered with famous acoustic engineering company Cabasse to bring high-quality sound to any computer system or A/V device.
Team Group launches new C092 pen drive, targeting sporty and young consumers boasting shock and dust proof functions.
GLOBALFOUNDRIES will provide the latest details on its technology roadmap for the 32nm/28nm generations and its innovative ?Gate First? approach to building transistors based on High-K Metal Gate (HKMG) technology.
WD today introduced its smaller, smarter and more secure My Passport Essential and My Passport for Mac ultra-portable external hard drives featuring WD?s new WD SmartWare software and equipped with hardware-based encryption. The new My Passport drives are more than 20 percent smaller than the previous generation My Passport.
AMD and Pixelux Entertainment announced a joint development agreement that is part of the AMD effort to greatly expand the use of real-time physics with graphics through the open source Bullet Physics engine.
Hercules, a specialist in IT devices and accessories expands its successful XPS branded multimedia speaker line with the new XPS 2.0 40 Slim and XPS 2.1 40 Slim Speakers.


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Ireland will allow firms impacted by the coronavirus crisis to warehouse tax liabilities for 12 months, offering a “lifeline” as part of an additional package of business supports that could reach 6.5 billion euros, the government announced on Saturday.
Commercial rates will also be written off for three months, a 2 billion euro credit guarantee scheme introduced for small and medium sized businesses and Ireland’s sovereign wealth fund mandated to invest 2 billion euros directly into bigger firms, Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe said in a statement.
After a lockdown to stop the spread of COVID-19, Ireland laid out a roadmap on Friday for a gradual re-opening of the economy that could allow building sites and some retailers to reopen in two weeks, with restaurants following in June, hotels in July and finally pubs in August.
The government concentrated its initial 8 billion euro fiscal response on increased jobless payments and wage subsidies for workers, with 1 billion euros of liquidity supports offered to reeling firms.
The much larger package on Saturday also included a 10,000 euro restart grant for micro and small businesses. Ireland’s main business lobby, IBEC, welcomed the measures as an important further step in addressing the cashflow crisis facing many.
Highlighting the scale of the economic shock, Donohoe said firms had deferred 800 million euros of tax in March alone and that that figure could reach 2 billion euros by June.
He also hoped the Ireland Strategic Investment Fund’s (ISIF) new equity fund would lead to investment far in excess of the 2 billion euros available capital as it will seek to maximize added capital from existing shareholders and new co-investors.
While Jobs Minister Heather Humphries said more supports will be needed for sectors that will find the coming months harder than others, Donohoe said the acting government had not yet considered any potential sector-specific cut to VAT rates.
Hotels, restaurants and pubs, which will only be allowed operate at limited capacity when they open, have called for the VAT rate for the hospitality sector to be temporarily cut to 0%from 13.5% and for state funds to help them pay rent.
Donohoe said a new government would be required to enact the tax deferral and credit guarantee schemes, the first tangible sign that the political deadlock since an election in February election could directly hurt business if it cannot be broken.
Donohoe’s Fine Gael and rival Fianna Fail are trying to find enough support from smaller parties to form a coalition. No new legislation can be passed until a new government is formed and selects the remaining members of the upper house of parliament.
“It is very clear to me that there are economic decisions that our country will need relavent to keeping jobs and creating new jobs that in the coming weeks will require the election of a new Taoiseach,” he told a news conference. (Reuters)


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Eyesore Cinema declares October 15th Video Store Day
Record Store Day, as many music fans know, was launched back in 2008 as a way to celebrate independent record shops and the role they play in delivering good music to fans across the globe. Over the four years it's been celebrated, Record Store Day has become a bigger and bigger event, marked by hundreds of special record releases and in-store performances from major bands.
Now Toronto's Eyesore Cinema wants to do the same for Independent video stores. Facing what looks to be an even more precarious economic situation than record stores (bye, bye Blockbuster), the idea is to send out a positive little reminder that using Netflix and iTunes to find all of one's movies may not be the best way to ensure that you're watching the best stuff that's out there. "Its purpose is to promote the idea of supporting your local, independent video stores," reads Eyesore's description of the event. "Stores owned and staff by actual human beings who have dedicated themselves to the medium, can be relied upon for reviews and recommendations and who truly love what they do — otherwise, why else would they still be doing it?"
There's no doubt that the cause is a good one — indie video stores are a crucial bit of film culture — but I suspect it'll be significantly more challenging to market Video Store Day than its musical counterpart, which has been bolstered by the participation of heaps of huge bands over the years. But with roughly 500 video stores on board, there's loads of potential to build some momentum in the first year of the event. What do you think? Will you get out to your local vid shop on October 15th?
Each store will be planning its own festivities, so check out the main Facebook page for more info.
Photo by Roger Cullman
Join the conversation Load comments


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In celebration of Recycle Week, show your support for the environment AND make a massive saving by printing at Solopress…
It’s the 10th anniversary of the UK’s Recycle Week national awareness campaign this week (17th to 23rd June). The message for 2013 is well done, all of us are now recycling lots more things that we did 10 years ago, but let’s try to do even more!
Did you know that a sizeable 67% of the paper and cardboard used in the UK is recovered for recycling? And there’s no such thing as “today’s news is tomorrow’s fish and chip paper” these days, as all of the newsprint manufactured in the UK is now made from 100% recycled paper. To be honest, the food hygiene authorities probably had more to do with this change in business practice than any of the recycling campaigners.
However, recycling initiatives are crucial to all of us on the planet. The paper and card that doesn’t get recycled by people just end up in a landfill, where it will eventually rot and emit harmful greenhouse gases like methane.
All of the environmentally-friendly products from Solopress listed below are made from 100% recycled paper and card that has been responsibly sourced. But that’s not all. Solopress only print using vegetable-based eco inks and utilise the latest technologies to reduce our company’s carbon footprint at every stage of production and delivery.
This commitment to green printing ensures that your print order has minimal impact on the environment – with no compromise on quality – for prices that are cheaper than ever before!


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YouTube’s Top Earner Is Eight Years Old And Made $26 Million This Year
Eight year old Ryan Kaji has out-earned everyone on YouTube for the second year in a row. Kaji made an estimated $26 million this past year according to Forbes.
In the previous year Kaji and his parents were estimated to have made $22 million according to Forbes. That $22 million made Kaji the highest earner on YouTube in 2018.
Forbes’ list is based on pre-tax income derived from things such as sponsored content, advertisements, merchandise sales and tours.
Kaji owns the YouTube channel Ryan’s World which has 23 million subscribers. On his channel he and his parents release daily episodes where they open gifts and assess them.
Due to his astronomical success on YouTube Kaji has also been able to diversify and cash-in on his massive following.
In 2017 he signed a deal that would see the content on his channel repackaged and made available to stream on Amazon and HULU.
In a partnership with Walmart, Kaji and the American multinational retail corporation launched a series of items around Ryan’s World that’re offered exclusively at Walmart.
The partnership has seen the production of various children’s toys like cars, slime and action figures as well as the launch of a clothing line.
Nickelodeon released Ryan’s Mystery Playdate in April of this year. The show is a live-action series aimed at young viewers which focuses on Kaji and his parents performing a series of challenges.
Second to Kaji on the list was the channel Dude Perfect. This group of five friends that play sports and do stunts made $20 million.
In third was five year old Russian Anastasia Radzinskaya who managed to make $18 million. She and her father have created multiple family-friendly YouTube channels which according to Forbes have around 107 million subscribers between them.
PewDiePie came in joint seventh having made $13 million. The once highest-paid YouTube star has announced that the he plans on taking a break from the platform for the coming year stating that he feels “tired.”


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This cattle market information is selected from the weekly report from Canfax, a division of the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association. More market information, analysis and statistics are available by becoming a Canfax subscriber by calling 403-275-5110 or at www.canfax.ca.
Steer prices down
Closing last week at $133.20 per hundredweight, weighted average steer prices were $16 per cwt. lower than the five-year average and $3.50 per cwt. below the 10-year average. For the end of October, these were the lowest fed prices since 2013.
The story remains much different in Ontario, where prices have been trading at a premium to the western Canadian market for the better part of the summer and fall. Last week, the Ontario weighted average steer price was reported at $135.60 per cwt., the highest price for the end of October since 2015. Sale volumes were light as competition on the western Canadian cash market was limited and U.S. buying interest was also non-existent.
Dressed sales were reported from $218-$227 per cwt. delivered. Cattle that were bought last week were being scheduled for three to six week delivery, depending on who bought them. Alberta cash-to-futures basis levels weakened from -$1.39 to -$7.95 per cwt. last this week.
Instead of selling cattle on the cash market, some producers committed their cattle to the packer, pricing them off the Canfax average for the week that the cattle would be delivered.
Western Canadian fed slaughter for the week ending Oct. 24 totalled 47,579 head. For the second half of October, this was the largest slaughter since 2004. Over the past three weeks, 7,500 more fed cattle have been slaughtered compared to last year.
Western Canadian steer carcass weights continue to break records, averaging 963 pounds. Despite carcass weights above last year, fewer cattle are in the yield grade 4 and 5 categories versus last year. Yield grade 4 and 5 cattle accounted for 15.9 percent of total yield grades compared to 17.5 percent last year.
Over the past three weeks, more than 12,000 head of cattle have been put on the set-aside program. These cattle are scheduled to be released in December. Last week there were reports that one packer was limiting the amount of grid cattle it was accepting.
In the U.S., mid-week sales in the northern U.S. were reported at US$103 per cwt., but by Friday packers were buying cattle at $106 per cwt., steady to $2 lower than the previous week. Dressed sales were reported at mostly $162 per cwt., steady to $4 per cwt. lower. Calf prices were trading roughly $8 per cwt. lower than last year and were at the lowest point since January 2017.
Cow prices lower
Non-fed prices trended lower last week on seasonally larger offerings but slaughter cow prices did trade at a premium to Ontario. Alberta D2 and D3 slaughter cow prices slipped C$4.50 per cwt. lower than the previous week. D2s averaged $72.33 and D3s averaged $61.58. Dressed cow bids were reported around $10 per cwt. lower from $135-$140 per cwt. delivered.
Butcher bull prices eased $2.30 per cwt. lower than the previous week to an average of $98.35 per cwt.
Western Canadian non-fed slaughter for the week ending Oct. 24 was down one percent from the previous week at 5,781 head. Year-to-date non-fed slaughter was down 24 percent, totalling 253,055 head.
Good demand should continue for feeder cows, but slaughter cow offerings will seasonally trend larger.
Feeder prices down
The bearish feeder market tone of two weeks ago carried over into last week, and average feeder prices slipped around $6 per cwt. lower. Feedgrain prices softened, and feeder prices rebounded modestly from Wednesday through Friday last week.
Middleweight calves from 400-600 lb. saw prices trend $3-$4 per cwt. lower than the previous week, while slightly larger calves heavier than 600 lb. saw a $5.50-$6.50 per cwt. week-over-week price decline. Big steers heavier than 700 lb. trended sharply $8-$9 per cwt. lower than the previous week, and similar weight heifers generally traded $5-$7 per cwt. lower. The 500 lb. steer calves last week were at the lowest level since September 2017.
Auction volumes during the second half of October are typically some of the largest trading weeks of the year. However, total sale volumes last week were lower than historical at 88,901 head and were 11 percent smaller than a year ago. Marketing appears to be a couple of weeks behind schedule with total year-to-date volumes down 10 percent at 1,077,709 head.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture reports that Canadian feeder exports for the week ending Oct. 17 were lower than the previous week at 2,500 head but were 36 percent larger than the same week last year. Feeder exports to the United States have been larger than a year ago for the past four weeks. Year-to-date feeder exports were down 44 percent, totalling 94,931 head.
Alberta feeder prices steadily declined through October. Alberta feeders continued to trade at a discount to Ontario last week, and calf prices were generally comparable with Nebraska. Feedgrain prices moderated last week and should enhance local buying interest.
Cut-out value eases
In U.S. beef trade, choice cut-out values eased US$1.50 per cwt. lower last week, averaging $207.17, while Select trended fully steady, averaging $1919.23. Oversold U.S. cut-out values and cattle futures rebounded modestly last week, and the beef complex market tone strengthened.
Last week’s U.S. cattle slaughter was expected to be smaller as snow and winter weather forced some Texas slaughter shifts to be cancelled. Holiday buying interest should improve as U.S. Thanksgiving approaches.


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The only exception to that bright picture is the situation in South Africa where the dollar has plunged in value just when competition inside and outside the country has increased, making it hard for outfitters to increase prices. We mentioned the dollar slide in the January issue, in an article entitled "Will Hunting Survive The US Dollar Slide?" In that article, we told you South Africa had been hit the hardest with this problem, with its currency strengthening a whopping 23 percent between July 1, 2003 and December 14, 2004.
We now believe that article understated the problem. Seems several very successful South African outfitters told us at the conventions that they essentially made no money in 2004. One said he had lost money on an increased volume of business. Clearly, if the dollar doesn't rise soon against the Rand some weaker South African hunting companies are going to bite the dust.
Some will tell you a shakeout is long overdue in South Africa, that there are simply too many new outfitters coming on stream there. Be that as it may, we believe it is more than usually important that you hunt with a quality company in South Africa this year, one that has a track record of accomplishment. Do all you can to confirm that your intended South African operator is solvent and able to pay the landowners where you hunt. And do make sure that payments you make for things like packing and dipping and trophy shipment get passed on to the companies that will be providing........(continued)


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FCC kicks off computer donation program to help low-income people
Organizations are encouraged to donate computers for redistribution by Connect2Compete
IDG News Service - A Federal Communications Commission-led initiative has launched a program that will allow U.S. organizations to donate used computers to low-income people.
"The costs of digital exclusion are rising," said Federal Communications Commission Chairman Julius Genachowski at a press briefing in Washington, referring to how low- income people suffer from not being connected to the Internet.
"Broadband is our central platform in the 21st century for economic growth, information and opportunity," Genachowski said.
The nonprofit organization Connect2Compete (C2C) will redistribute the computers to the poor so they can be used to access the Internet and develop basic digital literacy skills.
Genachowski pointed to the ways that low-income individuals miss opportunities by not being connected. Many jobs -- including the many engineering positions U.S. companies now have difficulty filling -- require computer savvy. Even finding a job requires a computer. "Job postings are almost exclusively online now," Genachowski said, noting that 80 percent of Fortune 500 companies do all of their job postings online.
The cost of a computer prohibits many low-income people from accessing the Internet, according to the FCC. About 36 percent of Americans who do not have Internet access cite the prohibitive costs of purchasing a new computer as the reason for not being online. Overall, about 100 million Americans do not have broadband access, according the government agency.
To get computers, C2C is asking for donations from U.S. organizations, which discard 17 million computers each year, according to Gartner Research. While such computers may be out of date for corporate use, they still can be used for basic computing and Internet connectivity, Genachowski said.
Computing recycling company Redemtech will refurbish the donated computers. In its program, called the PC Pledge 100, Redemtech will accept donations of used computers from organizations. A donated computer should have an Intel Core 2 Duo processor or equivalent, at least 2GB RAM and an 80GB hard drive. It should also have a DVD player, a wireless Internet card and Ethernet connectivity.
During processing, Redemtech will delete the contents on the computer, and install Microsoft Windows 7 and a number of office productivity programs. Microsoft is supplying the software at a reduced price.
Started in 2011 by the FCC, the C2C is a public-private coalition to broadband access and low-cost computers to low-income individuals in the U.S. The organization, with the Ad Council, will kick off a multilingual ad campaign in early 2013, to promote digital literacy.
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Apple has just received the patent for scratch-proof coatings, that will be applied to stainless steel devices, possibly making future iPhones, iPads and Macs more durable. The technology uses a nitride layer and it’s a cost effective system that will protect metal surfaces from scratches and blemishes.
This protective layer won’t change the look and feel of stainless steel, as nitride allows the metal color to be seen through. The patent also mentions details about how to apply the nitride coating to devices, which includes using a salt bath nitride process. There’s also a method that involves a nitrogen salt bath with an average temperature of 580 degrees Celsius.
Chemistry aside, this invention was first filed for in April 2010 and it was discovered in October 2010 by Appleinsider. What about the rumor saying that the next iPhone will use liquid metal as its main material?


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Poor customer service always has the same result.
The customer never comes back and alerts their friends, causing a ripple effect perpetuates until the problem is solved. Before social media, smartphones and hyper connectivity, organizations could survive sporadic spats of negative feedback; now, bad reviews can send stock prices plunging.
The key to good customer service is to address the unique challenges that come from doing business in today’s social-driven landscape.
Sparkle Training recently identified the top five challenges that communicators face today:
1. Personalization of the customer journey
2. Having a holistic view of the customer


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AMD CEO Dr. Lisa Su will take the stage to deliver her second CES keynote today, and you can watch the action unfold here, live, in the embedded video below. The keynote begins at 11am ET / 8am PT, and be sure to check for our deep dive coverage following the event.
AMD has taken the world by storm, upsetting Intel on the CPU side for the first time in 15 years and giving Nvidia a stiff challenge in GPUs. We expect the company to build on that momentum with its CES 2021 announcements, perhaps with the rumored announcement of the next-gen Cezanne Ryzen 5000 Mobile processors.
AMD's official press release about the keynote doesn't give us any clue what the company will unveil, but Zen 3-powered Threadripper and new mid-range Radeon RX 6700 series graphics cards are among the potential contenders.
We've also seen new DIY-focused motherboards emerge for the Threadripper Pro series that we recently took for a spin, so there's a possibility that we could learn more about those processors at the show, too. Anything's possible, pull up a seat!
I missed this presentation when it first aired, but it sounds like I didn't miss much. I was hoping they might make some mention of additional 5000-series processors at more competitive price points at their CES keynote, though it looks like those probably won't be coming until around Intel's Rocket Lake launch in a few months. Not that it's a particularly good time to build a system right now anyway, seeing as graphics cards are hard to find and generally only available at around double their MSRPs. It will probably be longer than that before graphics card pricing gets back to normal.


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The car bench bankrupt into pieces in a 30 mph blast analysis commissioned by CNN, declining to accommodated the basal standards set by US regulators. Video of the analysis shows the toddler archetype agee as the car bench fractures and slides forward, with bogus pieces that accept burst off it aerial through the air. In an identical blast analysis scenario, an accurate Doona met federal requirements, with the car bench actual in one allotment and in abode about the dummy.
Dr. Alisa Baer, a pediatrician and nationally certified adolescent commuter assurance instructor, reviewed the analysis after-effects and said in a absolute blast such a car bench abortion could put a adolescent in “grave danger,” and advance to injuries to a child’s chest, close or head, including a alarming academician injury.
CNN bought the copycat Doona and had it crash-tested at the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute as allotment of a months-long analysis into the auction of affected and patent-infringing children’s articles on Amazon. Seven altered business owners told CNN their articles were actuality actively targeted by counterfeiters application Amazon’s exchange for third-party vendors. The businesses said Amazon put the onus on them to abode apprehensive listings and that this generally amounted to a bold of “whack-a-mole,” in which new listings appeared about as anon as flagged ones were taken down.
Under accepted US case law, Amazon is not accountable back third-party articles awash on its site directly borrow on bookish acreage or accept assurance defects. The accountability lies with the third-party seller. This is fundamentally altered from how the law treats brick-and-mortar retailers like Target or Walmart or alike your bend grocery. If you acquisition a artefact at a concrete abundance that infringes on your trademark, or you buy article abnormal there, you can sue the abundance alike admitting they didn’t accomplish the product.
Counterfeits are a botheration for abounding ecommerce platforms, not aloof Amazon, but Amazon is the world’s bigger ecommerce belvedere and its ascendancy is growing. According to an appraisal from abstracts close eMarketer, Amazon controls 37.7% of US ecommerce sales and that allotment is accepted to grow. Abounding of the brands that batten to CNN told us they can’t allow not to advertise their articles on Amazon. As an Amazon agent said to CNN in a statement, “our barter apprehend that back they accomplish a acquirement through Amazon’s store—either anon from Amazon or from one of its millions of third-party sellers—they will accept accurate products.”
Amiad Raviv, the bartering administrator of Doona, said the aggregation has activate added than 40 Amazon listings this year that independent affected versions of its articles or versions that abandoned on its bookish property. Doona flags the listings they are anxious about to Amazon, which afresh removes them. According to Raviv and the added business owners CNN batten with, this piecemeal activity bureau listings are generally online for several days, arch to a cogent window back consumers can buy the potentially alarming product.
The apery Doonas are awash through Amazon’s website or app, but not by Amazon directly. According to Amazon’s 2018 anniversary report, 58% of Amazon’s sales came from its millions of third-party sellers, abounding of whom abode anon to consumers. Abounding accepted brands, including Doona, advertise articles through accustomed third parties. However, items purchased this way may never be arrested by Amazon advisers or canyon through an Amazon warehouse.
“A lot of bodies on the Amazon belvedere anticipate that because it’s on Amazon, it is a 18-carat product. And that’s absolutely absolutely not the case,” said Raviv.
The artefact CNN bought was listed by a agent alleged Strolex and alien from China. All US car seats are appropriate to be certified according to NHTSA standards, but this bench did not accept any US acceptance labels. On the Amazon listing, it claimed to accept European certification, but back it accustomed it was missing a appropriate European acceptance characterization and the European allotment cardinal in the apprenticeship chiral was a archetype of Doona’s.
Baer advised the car bench afore the blast analysis and acicular out several things she saw as red flags. The chat “always” was misspelled “aiways” on the anti-rebound bar, the bench featured European admonishing labels instead of American ones and a assurance characterization was sewn through the fiber of the adolescent accouter straps, which she believes could potentially abate them.
The Strolex advertisement abolished from Amazon anon afterwards CNN ordered the seat, but the agent Strolex remained on the armpit admitting with no alive listings. Back accomplished by buzz in China, a adumbrative of Strolex said in English “my articles are safe,” but banned to accord his name or acknowledgment any added questions.
The after-effects of the blast analysis were beatific by CNN to Amazon for review. A anniversary later, Amazon beatific an email to barter who bought the product, admonishing them of a assurance affair and adage it “may not be a 18-carat product.” The email apprenticed barter to stop application the artefact anon and offered a abounding refund.
Amazon told CNN assurance was a top priority, but additionally that sellers are amenable for affair Amazon’s “high bar” for the affection of products. “We crave all articles offered in our abundance to accede with applicative laws and regulations and accept developed industry-leading accoutrement to anticipate alarming or non-compliant articles from actuality listed in our stores,” an Amazon agent said in an emailed statement.
Luanne Whiting-Lager and Bengt Lager aboriginal accomplished their “Love to Dream” babyish accouter was actuality affected aftermost year back a chump alleged to accuse that a attachment cull had burst off the swaddle, alarming the new mom and creating a abeyant asthmatic hazard for her baby. The chump anticipation she had purchased a absolute adaptation of the $34.99 accouter through Amazon’s marketplace, but the couple’s company, Regal Lager, advised it and accomplished it was a counterfeit. The affected artefact acclimated the Love to Dream cast and additionally affected the brand’s patented accouter shape, which allows the babyish to accompany their easily to their aperture while swaddled. Regal Lager provided CNN a photo of the affected accouter and the aboriginal invoice.
Regal Lager is the absolute benefactor for the “Love to Dream” accouter in the United States and participates in the Amazon Cast Registry, Amazon’s official affairs to advice businesses assure their bookish property.
The aggregation activate complaints online about the affected product’s zippers falling off and the product’s close aperture actuality too ample or small, addition abeyant assurance botheration back it can ride up over the baby’s aperture while it sleeps or be too akin about the neck.
Eventually, the aggregation assassin an agency, Exchange Ninjas, which helps brands operating on Amazon and the two assertive Amazon to booty bottomward 20 altered listings for anarchic aloft versions of their product. The bureau monitors Amazon and added e-commerce armpit all the time, watching as the counterfeiters administer new approach to get accomplished safeguards, like advertisement the artefact as Luv 2 Dream initially and afresh alteration it to bout their cast Love to Dream. “One taken down, addition ancestor up,” Whiting-Lager said.
Regal Lager says the cheaper copycats accept had a abrogating appulse on their business. They estimated they’ve absent about $250,000 in the accomplished affliction or about 3% of their Amazon sales, based on their sales volum
The brace like alive with Amazon, but anticipate the aggregation needs to booty abounding albatross for the articles on the belvedere and could booty accomplish to bind who can column articles application Amazon’s specific identification numbers to ascendancy counterfeits.
Amazon offers three programs advised to advice companies assure their cast from counterfeits. While business owners CNN batten to say Amazon’s initiatives accept helped accouterment the problem, they accuse the albatross — and bulk — of policing fakes feels like it avalanche on them rather than on Amazon.
The aggregation said added than 200,000 companies participate in the Amazon Cast Registry. This affairs started in 2017, is chargeless and gives rights owners accoutrement to advice administer and assure their brands, including the adeptness to chase their all-around advertisement by chat or angel and banderole abeyant infringers. Amazon additionally automatically scans its armpit to proactively abolish apprehensive listings. According to Amazon, “brands in Cast Anthology on boilerplate are award and advertisement 99% beneath doubtable infringements than afore the barrage of Cast Registry.”
Aaron Muderick, the architect of Crazy Aaron’s Thinking Putty, said his agent spends 15 to 20 hours a anniversary appointment forms allurement Amazon and added ecommerce sites to abolish articles that use his company’s trademarks. He has registered the phrases “Thinking Putty,” “Liquid Glass,” and “Puttyworld” and alike a animation angel of him in glasses.
He participates in the Amazon Cast Registry. He says the apparatus is advantageous and has bigger over time, but he finds it black accustomed Amazon’s acceptability for AI and software prowess.
“It doesn’t assignment as able-bodied as I would expect,” Muderick said. “While the whack-a-mole bold has gotten a little bit better, it still exists every distinct day.”
Charlotte Wenham, the Executive Officer of pNeo, additionally alternate in Amazon’s cast anthology back she apparent in 2018 that adult counterfeiters were targeting her company’s Babyish Shusher, a complete apparatus advised to advice babies sleep. Based the agent complaints, Wenham believed there was a absolute accident of corruption should the array aqueous aperture from a affected artefact assimilate a sleeping baby.
Wenham said the affected articles acclimated Babyish Shusher’s branding and replicated the absolute product’s packaging and user manual. Iris Wilbur-Kamien anticipation she had bought a 18-carat Babyish Shusher on Amazon until it fell afar aloof bristles months afterwards she purchased it. Alone back the absolute aggregation asked her to accelerate a photo of the product’s identification cipher did she apprehend it was a counterfeit, she told CNN. There wasn’t one.
Wenham said the appulse on her business from the flood of counterfeits was significant, costing added than $100,000 by her estimate. She believes in cases area a 18-carat architect is actuality besieged by counterfeits, Amazon should move a lot faster. Every day the counterfeits remained on the site, she said, was a day she absent sales.
“Amazon does not accommodate any absolute support. It was absolutely up to us to administer it,” Wenham said. The counterfeits are no best actualization on Amazon in the United States, but she is still testing articles bought on the armpit in added countries.
Amazon additionally provides a account alleged Transparency, area brands can add altered codes to products. These codes can be scanned by Amazon and by barter to affirm authenticity, but brands accept to buy the appropriate labels from Amazon at a bulk of from 1-5 cents per item. The brands additionally accept pay to add the labels to anniversary product. Amazon said over 6,000 brands accept enrolled in Transparency.
Regal Lager beneath to participate in Transparency, primarily because of the costs involved. “It’s like the acceptable guys are accepting to pay for the bad guys’ behavior and it aloof seems backwards,” Bengt Lager said.
Recently, Amazon added a third cast aegis account alleged Project Zero, which uses the ecommerce giant’s apparatus acquirements technology. Amazon describes the affairs as giving brands admission to a “self-service affected abatement tool” that allows them to instantly abolish counterfeits from the belvedere while additionally accouterment acknowledgment into Amazon’s automatic arrangement to analyze fakes.
At his abode in Norristown, Pennsylvania, Aaron Muderick keeps a bank of abashment assuming copycat products. Children’s adjustable may not complete like a chancy product, but European regulators accept issued 19 abstracted assurance alerts for adjustable and fungus articles in the aftermost year, acclimation sales bans or recalls because of aerial levels of boron, advance and barium and potentially alarming magnets.
As Muderick has become added advancing about abatement cast violations, he sees the aggressive articles reappear beneath new names and packaging. These all-encompassing artefact names do not breach his trademarks, but he continues to be anxious about their safety. He estimated the anarchic and copycat articles bulk him 10-30% of his sales.
CNN purchased a six-pack of all-encompassing alluring adjustable on Amazon. Anniversary tin of the artefact included adjustable and a babyish allurement that could be acclimated to allure or repel it. Testing activate the magnets included in the set did not accommodated federal standards for toys advised for accouchement beneath 14. The artefact advertisement on Amazon was labelled as acceptable for accouchement ages 3 and up. Magnets that are both babyish and able are not acceptable in children’s toys because of the accident a adolescent could absorb a allurement and metal item, arch to an abdominal blockage or perforation. Researchers affiliated with Rutgers University activated the allurement for CNN and activate it was essentially stronger than the federal absolute for a allurement that is babyish abundant to be swallowed.
Muderick said he’s frequently activate all-encompassing adjustable articles that he believes are unsafe, but it’s not bright to him how to active Amazon to his concerns. While Amazon is acknowledging back he submits a anatomy adage a advertisement violates his copyrights and trademarks, he said the activity is abundant more opaque back it comes to advertisement doubtable assurance issues.
Amazon said they are investigating counterfeits associated with the brands included in CNN’s advertisement and will booty “appropriate activity adjoin the sellers involved.” An Amazon agent declared the assorted issues these businesses appear to CNN as “isolated incidents that do not reflect the absurd articles and chump acquaintance provided by millions of babyish businesses affairs in our store.”
Amazon’s agent told CNN they apperceive barter apprehend an accurate artefact back arcade on Amazon, no bulk who the agent is. But accurately Amazon has not been captivated to that expectation. Numerous US courts accept upheld the angle that accountability doesn’t administer to ecommerce sites in the aforementioned way as a concrete store. Back it comes to third-party sales, ecommerce sites altercate they are aloof a belvedere accouterment a basic affair abode for buyers and sellers to interact. Amazon has additionally argued that it is adequate by section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, a federal law that protects online sites from accountability for accent by others on their platforms, because the aggregation believes it covers the claims and the warnings fabricated in artefact listings.
Now, some courts are alpha to catechism whether it’s time to amend accomplished decisions on Amazon’s liability, accustomed the company’s all-encompassing ascendancy over its exchange and the difficulties complex for consumers aggravating to sue third-party sellers.
A Philadelphia appeals cloister recently ruled Amazon could be captivated liable in the case of a woman who was addled in one eye back a abnormal dog collar she had purchased from Amazon bankrupt and a retractable dog bridle absorbed to it hit her. Neither she nor Amazon could locate the third-party aggregation from which she had bought the collar. In their decision, the board in the case concluded, amid added things, that Amazon exerts “substantial control” over its vendors and was the alone affair accessible to the afflicted plaintiff for redress.
Amazon had argued that it was not the agent in this case, but a exchange provider, and appropriately not accountable to the accountability claims. It additionally argues it was adequate the claims were barred by the Communications Decency Act.
Given the acceptation of the decision, the absolute Third Circuit Cloister of Appeals has agreed to analysis the accommodation in 2020. The antecedent accommodation has no acknowledged aftereffect awaiting that review.
Mark Geistfeld, a assistant at the NYU School of Law who specializes in artefact liability, said he believes it’s aloof a bulk of time until acknowledged interpretations activate to change apropos Amazon’s liabilities. He said the key affair is customer expectations. A client in a concrete abundance or on Amazon understands article could be bogus by a third party, but, with both purchases, they are assured the artefact is not abnormal or counterfeit.
“I am array of aloof addled by the abortion of the cloister to see why Amazon is not the agent for the purposes of accountability law,” he said.
Also at affair is the bulk of ascendancy Amazon exerts over its site, in agreement of how listings are presented to customers, the agreement it makes sellers assurance and the akin of advice accessible application bogus intelligence software. Cast cases such as Tiffany v. eBay, which set out in 2010 that ecommerce platforms were not amenable for anarchic sellers, now attending out of date to some lawyers.
“Something is shifting. It can’t be the aforementioned accepted that was acclimated 10 years ago,” said Kari Kammel, from the Center for Anti-Counterfeiting and Artefact Aegis at Michigan State University.
Jason Drangel, a advocate who represents several above toy manufacturers in counterfeiting lawsuits, agrees.
“The platforms that abide now basically ascendancy the products, they accept that the articles appear from a specific country, a specific agent amid in China,” he said. “It’s a altered apple and that’s allotment of the problem.”
Politicians are additionally alpha to accumulation on the burden over counterfeits and assurance in the Amazon marketplace.
In August, three Democratic senators wrote a letter to Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos, cogent their “grave apropos apropos Amazon’s abortion to abolish illegal, baleful and ambiguous products, and to accommodate arresting warnings on the articles awash on your platform.” The letter was in acknowledgment to a Wall Street Journal investigation into counterfeits on the site. Senators Richard Blumenthal, Robert Menendez and Edward Markey included a account of questions for Bezos about how he will ensure assurance on the platform. Senator Menendez’s appointment told CNN the acknowledgment from Amazon didn’t abundantly abode their concerns.
At a July House audition on counterfeits, Republican Congressman Doug Collins questioned why assembly of Amazon, eBay and Walmart bootless to attend. He apprenticed platforms to acquisition a added effective, automatic activity for audition and blocking affected listings, to actualize bigger means to vet sellers and anticipate counterfeiters from advertisement articles afresh and afresh beneath altered names, and to stop counterfeiters from application 18-carat photos of brands to bazaar their articles after their consent.
“These solutions are able-bodied aural the butt of our ample online marketplaces and practices they should accept already implemented on their own,” Rep. Collins said.
Amazon did not accommodate CNN with a absolute acknowledgment to either the letter from the senators or Adumbrative Collins’ comments, but did acquaint CNN that in 2018, its teams acclimated a admixture of proprietary technology and chiral reviewers to proactively block added than three billion doubtable listings for assorted forms of abuse, including non-compliance, afore they appeared in the store.
Muderick from Crazy Aaron’s thinks a aldermanic change may be the alone way to end the bold brands like his are arena adjoin the affected listings of infringing and potentially alarming products.
“I anticipate unless addition is liable, annihilation is activity to get better,” he said.
The-CNN-Wire™ & © 2019 Cable News Network, Inc., a WarnerMedia Company. All rights reserved.
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