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15th annual CGP forecast predicts 3.2% holiday growth
U.S. consumers will generate only a lackluster 3.2% year-over-year increase in holiday sales, according to the latest forecast of November-December spending.
Customer Growth Partners’ 15th Annual Holiday Forecast says retail sales for the holiday period will reach $607 billion, a new record, but the anemic 3.2% pace reflects declining median incomes for all but the top 20% of households.
“Contrary to much conventional wisdom, the single best predictor of retail sales is neither unemployment nor consumer confidence — but growth in disposable income,” said CGP president Craig Johnson. “And the fact is that real median incomes have flat-lined — if not declined — for many years now.”
The key drivers behind the retail weakness, according to CGP, are lagging income growth and, relatedly, the declining share of the population with full-time jobs. Less than 49% of working age adults now hold a full-time job, the lowest in decades, and down from 54% as recently as 2006.
In addition to depressing overall retail spending, Johnson said: “the shift to a part-time or ‘gig’ economy has caused spending to rotate from discretionary goods to non-discretionary goods and services. Consumers with full-time jobs spend against both needs and wants — but those with part-time jobs spend only against needs.”
Additional key findings of CGP’s 15th Annual Holiday Forecast include:
E-commerce/direct-to-consumer sales continue to decelerate, after two decades of robust double-digit growth, to just under 7% YOY growth for holiday 2015.
Marking a return to tradition, toys and sporting goods will outpace other merchandise sectors with growth of 4.9%, triggered by an avalanche of Star Wars merchandise.
Also in a return to traditional gift-giving, apparel will pick up with growth of 3.1%, led by sweaters, notably long belted sweaters, often in Native American prints, wraps and capes, and—like last year—robust boot and bootie demand.
Home-related categories will also shine, boosted by the ongoing — if softening — rebound in the housing market, led by the Home Improvement sector with growth of 4.8%, and home furnishings, up 4.6%.
Most department stores will struggle again this year, declining by almost 2% YOY, as stores close in aging malls and consumers decamp for discount or off-price venues, smaller boutiques — or simply online.
Consumer electronics will also see a sluggish year, with severe price compression in most TV categories, another dismal sales year in tablets, soft demand for watches, all partially offset by strong demand for AAPL’s i6s phones, although even that demand may have peaked by holiday.
“Holiday shoppers in 2015 are cautious in their spending, but relentless in seeking out value,” Johnson said. “But many stores selling strictly on discretionary goods will find this another tough season, with excess inventory and rampant promotions. Even with low gasoline prices, Holiday 2015 will decelerate sharply from last year, and unless income growth resumes for the 80% of households with no real income growth, Santa will be hard-pressed to fill the Christmas stockings for either consumers or retailers.”
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Apple Is Earnings Report to Watch Next Week: Jim Cramer
Next week there's a slew of big earnings reports.
But one that Jim Cramer will be watching? Apple.
Morgan Stanley analyst Kety Huberty published her preview on Apple going into earnings next week.
She thinks that the company has an attractive set-up heading into its latest earnings report on Thursday, with the tech giant likely to provide better-than-expected revenue guidance for the June quarter.
Huberty based her assessment on China factory activity returning to normal levels and iPhone production looking to be ahead of estimates. Together with a strong balance sheet and the expected 5G iPhone later this year as a near-term catalyst, Huberty named Apple her top pick in the IT Hardware space. Morgan Stanley maintains an overweight rating on the stock and a $298 price target.
Watch the full video above for Jim Cramer's full take.
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Cramer and the team are weighing in on what members need to know about the coronavirus pandemic's impact on the market. Here's how you can recap his entire April show.
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MOSCOW, October 24 (Itar-Tass). — Russia's Federal Customs Service (FTS) has proposed to tax parcels from foreign network shops in the amount of 10% of the value of product, the Novye Izvestia newspaper reports. Experts note that although the measure will add revenue to the budget, it will affect the consumer and can hardly help avoid “postal collapses” which hit Russia last spring. At that time, Moscow airports piled up more than 500 tons of postal items. It resulted in the resignation of head of Russian Post and the Ministry of Telecom and Mass Communications took it over. Earlier, Russian Post was subordinate to the Federal Communications Agency (Rossvyaz).
Under effective legislation, a 30% customs duty (the minimal rate is EUR 4 per 1 kg of weight) is imposed on parcels whose declared value is above EUR 1,000 and whose gross weight exceeds 31 kg. The Moscow customs department handles internet-trade worth over EUR 2.8 billion a year.
The introduction of a 10% duty on each parcel coming from foreign internet shops is expected to bring nearly EUR 28 million to the federal budget each year. Customs officials openly acknowledge that they find it advantageous. At present, the customs service expends a lot of effort and funds on sending by post goods from foreign online shops, but derives no profit from it. “The efforts are not adequate to the end economic effect. So, a proposal is now being discussed to introduce duties, which buyers will pay,” an FTS representative said.
The proposed duty will allow for combating “postal jams” because the flow of parcels from abroad will diminish. However, the demand for goods from domestic online shops will increase. The measure is not only advantageous, it is also patriotic, the FTS claimed.


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Apple is considering launching a paid podcast subscription service, insiders told The Information late last week. The service would charge users to access exclusive podcasts or listen to content ad-free — it may also be bundled with other paid Apple services, including Apple Music and Apple TV+. The move would be a response to Spotify's significant acquisitions within the podcasting space and Amazon's recent acquisition of Wondery.
- Apple also reportedly engaged in talks to acquire Wondery, a source told The Information.
- Apple has been slower than Spotify to wade into original podcasting content. Its first original, "The Zane Lowe Interview Series," premiered last year.
- The Information's Martin Peers speculates that "consumers used to free podcasts may rebel" if the industry follows the streaming media playbook of requiring a paid subscription to access the majority of content.
- Apple has been in contact with production companies about the potential service, though it's still possible that the tech giant may not proceed with the concept.


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Packaged Facts estimates that limited-service restaurant sales will reach $188.1 billion in 2013, up 4.9% over 2012, while sales at snack and beverage establishments will rise 4.6% to $29.1 billion. Incremental improvement in macroeconomic drivers, a brighter consumer outlook, modest improvements in same-store sales, store re-imaging programs, and aggressive menu innovation and limited time offer (LTO) experimentation are all playing a positive role in the industry.
Among consumers, nonetheless, price remains top of mind. According to Packaged Facts survey data, 68% of limited-service restaurant users say low price influences their decision to go to a fast food restaurant, and 24% cite it as “most important.”
This continued price sensitivity reflects the fact that macroeconomic improvements have not lifted all demographic boats, and some key fast food guest demographics -- including households earning under $50,000 annually, African-Americans, and 18- to 24-years olds -- have not benefited proportionately,
Quick-service restaurant operators, which also face highly competitive prepared foods offerings in grocery stores, will thus continue to have limited pricing power and to face guest traffic challenges into 2014.
“In an environment where stealing share is key to growth,” according to David Sprinkle, the research director for Packaged Facts, “menu innovation and keeping up with broader nutritional trends remain essential.”


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Miu Miu Has a New Muse, And She’s Amazing
Italian high fashion brand Miu Miu have been working hard on their debut fragrance, but now that the name has been announced – Miu Miu Eau de Parfum – so has the face of the campaign, and it’s none other than French-English actress Stacy Martin.
Martin, who is best known for her role in Lars von Trier’s film Nymphomaniac, is no stranger to the Miu Miu brand having previously appeared in their autumn/winter 2014 ready-to-wear campaign, but her new campaign for the brand is set to be more exciting than ever (and the first ad is due in September).
Shot by Steven Meisel, according to Vogue, Martin described the shoot as being “like no other thanks to Steven Meisel’s incredible sensitivity and talent.”
She continued, “I’m so honoured to be the face of the first Miu Miu fragrance. Working with Miu Miu is almost like working with family.”
Rihanna’s Dior Campaign is Not Only Beautiful, it’s Also Historical
Rihanna’s name has been popping up a lot in the fashion world recently, but it is perhaps her Dior campaign that is garnering the most attention. The Barbadian beauty is the first ever black woman to front ads for the French label and judging from the newly released pictures from their Secret Garden IV campaign, she is a phenomenal choice.
The campaign and short film was shot by Steven Klein in France in the Palace of Versailles and will debut on May, 18. Speaking of what drew Dior to Rihanna, Dior chief executive officer Sidney Toledano said, “In this short movie, [Rihanna] knew how to work with Versailles. She has this kind of elegance — we saw it from the very first moment — and then she can surprise. She can be unexpected and we like it. It’s part of this personality,” WWD reports.
Lupito Nyong’o’s Cannes Film Festival Gown Was Incredible
Fashion lovers often take note of the breathtakingly beautiful dresses on the red carpet at Cannes Film Festival, and of all the gowns this year, there was one that definitely stole the show.
The 12 Years a Slave actress arrived on the red carpet in the most beautiful plunging green Gucci Première gown complete with floral embellishments, and she immediately turned every head. She expertly styled the gown with a regal updo, and a gold tiara, green satin open-toe sandals and bright pink lipstick (the contrast between the vibrant pink and the jade dress worked beautifully).
Patti Cohen Bids Farewell to Donna Karan
Patti Cohen is leaving after more than 30 years as the head of Donna Karan International’s PR and marketing division, reports WWD. Cohen and Karan have known each other for 35 years, after meeting on a Fire Island tennis court, but the brand is currently undergoing some major changes.
A little over a month ago, DKI announced that Public School designers Dao-Yi Chow and Maxwell Osbourne would become the new creative directors of the DKNY brand. And former Apple marketing executive Hector Muelas was appointed chief image officer at Donna Karan International. Among his new responsibilities include taking control of the company’s marketing, brand image and creative services. However, Cohen’s move comes as a bit of surprise, because she was set to become the executive vice president of global public relations and communications.
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Digital TV News: Mark Rotblat
Tubi report highlights 2023 streaming TV trends
Feb 14, 2023 – Tubi (NASDAQ: FOXA; FOX) has released findings from its annual audience report showing explosive growth in CTV ad spend, while AVOD services lead the streaming pack as consumers look to cut subscription costs in the year ahead.
News categories: Tubi, Mark Rotblat, Digital TV, Market Research, Streaming, USA
Tubi expands relationship with Nielsen
Apr 29, 2022 – Tubi has announced that it's working on an expansion of its current integration with Nielsen that will allow for enhanced and comprehensive measurement through Nielsen’s Digital Ad Ratings (DAR) product.
News categories: Tubi, Nielsen, Mark Rotblat, Ameneh Atai, Advertising, Big Data, Digital TV, Streaming, USA
Yahoo and Tubi partner to streamline CTV ad buying
Oct 7, 2021 – Yahoo has expanded its partnership with Tubi. Building on their SSP relationship, the expansion offers Yahoo DSP advertisers direct access to Tubi's AVOD content library, making it easier to plan and buy CTV.
News categories: Yahoo, Tubi, Iván Markman, Mark Rotblat, Lisa Herdman, Jacob Lustig, Advertising, Digital TV, Streaming, USA
Tubi supports Unified ID 2.0 initiative
Jun 22, 2021 – Tubi has announced that it will be the first CTV publisher to implement Unified ID 2.0, the new industry-wide approach to internet identity that preserves the value of relevant advertising across digital ecosystems.
News categories: Tubi, Mark Rotblat, Tim Sims, Advertising, Big Data, Digital TV, USA
Tubi personalises the user experience with TransUnion
Apr 15, 2020 – Tubi has partnered with TransUnion (NYSE:TRU) to augment its viewing behavior analytics with data from TransUnion, enabling Tubi to deliver curated content and viewer experiences bbased on an enriched view of individuals and households.
News categories: TransUnion, Tubi, Matt Spiegel, Mark Rotblat, Big Data, Digital TV, Streaming, UX, Worldwide
Xandr Community brings together advertisers, publishers, and consumers
May 14, 2019 – Xandr, AT&T's advertising and analytics company, has announced the formation of Community, a curated marketplace of publishers that enables advertisers to reach their audiences at scale in a brand-safe, privacy-protected, premium video environment.
News categories: Xandr, Brian Lesser, Donna Speciale, Henry Embleton, Mark Rotblat, Reed Barker, Advertising, Big Data, Digital TV, USA
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The internet’s resident coffee enthusiast, Emma Chamberlain, has faced criticism on social media after Chamberlain Coffee’s latest product drop.
Last week, Chamberlain Coffee launched the ready-to-drink collection at Walmart. It includes four plant-based canned coffees in flavours, such as cinnamon bun latte, cold brew latte, vanilla latte, and mocha latte, with plans to expand the selection in the future.
The viral star took to the company’s Instagram to provide details on the launch, noting that her personal coffee recipe inspired the collection.
“Chamberlain Coffee now has drinks in a can!” Emma begins. “They are made with almond and coconut milk and are sweetened with date syrup. They are vegan, they are gluten-free, they only have one gram of sugar, and they are delicious.”
Emma’s announcement excited fans, with many rushing to get their hands on the canned coffee as soon as it was released. But when it comes to first impressions, Chamberlain Coffee’s newest launch has not met the hype.
TikTok user @kinley.thomas shared her thoughts on the vanilla latte flavour. Since posting her first impression on TikTok, the video has amassed over 4.3 million views.
“this is the worst thing, i’ve ever tasted never get this,” she writes. “literal farts in a can.”
With almost 550k likes and over 3100 comments, other TikTok users seem to agree with Kinley’s review.
“canned coffee is always baaad i stg,” one wrote.
“idk why the drinks have a mix of 2 different milks [Coconut cream and almond milk]. they should have just released a drink for each milk instead. the mixing of milks is probably why,” another shared.
Other internet users have found an issue with the coffee curdling – with many wondering whether it has something to do with the milk in the recipe. Users like @tpwkgigi and @alexsanoella even shared how they noticed the texture appearing “chunky” as they drank the canned coffee, bringing this issue to the attention of other TikTokers.
Chamberlain Coffee’s official account commented on Gigi’s TikTok, explaining that “our ready-to-drink product is natural and contains coconut cream and almond milk so some separation is expected.”
Coffee enthusiasts have since come to Emma’s defence.
With internet users eager to share their first impressions of ready-to-drink coffee, many are recording themselves straight after they purchase the product, often in the car. That said, many users have overlooked the instructions recommended by the company, where the coffee is best served, shaken and chilled.
One of the top comments under @whostammam’s review of the canned coffee asks whether the drink was “cold or just straight off the shelf?” claiming that it “makes a big difference” to the taste. Since the creator seemed to have tried the latte straight off the shelf, this could explain why he was less than impressed with Chamberlain Coffee’s new product drop.
Given that the coffee is based on Emma’s recipe, some of her fans have also pointed out that her preferred taste may not be to everyone’s liking.
Over the years, Emma has made it clear that she likes strong coffee – a preference that stands in stark contrast to the popular Starbucks drinks that are often laden with syrup, cream, and sweeteners. This is something that gossip account @SpillSesh_yt noted in her TikTok review of Chamberlain Coffee’s ready-to-drink collection.
“Emma has always liked her coffee strong, so I am expecting it to taste like black coffee,” she shares. “You guys, I don’t think it is that bad… I do like my coffee strong, so if you like strong coffee, you will probably like this.”
While past Chamberlain Coffee products have been generally well-received, the ready-to-drink lattes have seemingly stumped fans. As the company (hopefully) expands the range and more consumers try the canned coffee, we’ll be eagerly awaiting the reviews to determine if the initial negative reactions were simply a result of TikTok users jumping on the bandwagon or if there are legitimate concerns.


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Semiconductor foundry Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) is kicking off commercial shipments of chips built on its new ten-nanometer process technology, ahead of iPhone 8, sources told Taiwanese trade publication DigiTimes. TSMC is building iPhone 7’s A10 Fusion chip and is said to have landed an exclusive contract to manufacture processors for 2017 iPhone and iPad models.
TSMC is gearing up for commercial shipments of chips built using the new ten-nanometer process later in the first quarter, said co-CEO Mark Liu at the foundry’s annual supply chain management forum on February 23. Shipments will “expand rapidly” in the second half of 2017, coinciding with Apple’s presumed iPhone refresh in the fall.
Beyond 2017, TSMC’s seven-nanometer process will be ready for risk production later this spring, with volume production scheduled for 2018. Lastly, the company has said it will be starting risk production of five-nanometer chips in the first half of 2019.
Liu noted that TSMC will be switching to the extreme ultraviolet lithography (EUV) for an improved version of its seven-nanometer process technology. The company is expected to fully implement the lithography to make five-nanometer chips.
As per analysts, Apple split chip production between TSCM and Samsung for iPhone 6’s 20-nanometer A8 processor and iPhone 6s’s 16-nanometer A9 chip. iPhone 7’s A10 Fusion processor is thought to be Apple’s first chip built exclusively by TSMC.
A10 Fusion is fabbed using TSMC’s 16-nanometer process technology, just like its predecessor. Moving to the ten-nanometer process for A11 Fusion will yield the usual benefits: lower power consumption, faster performance and smaller die size.
A10 Fusion has marked the first Apple-designed chip to use two set of cores, with two 64-bit 2.34 GHz ARMv8-A high-performance cores, codenamed “Hurricane”, and a pair of energy-efficient cores codenamed “Zephyr”.


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Avid skiers & snowboarders rejoice! American Airlines has made it a lot cheaper for travellers to fly with their personal sports gear by removing oversize baggage fees.
American Airlines quietly removed fees on oversized bags on 21 May 2019, but only on oversized sports and music equipment.
In an online update, the airline said the policy update is designed to give customers an enjoyable travel experience from the moment they arrive at the airport to the moment they hit the snow.
“The updated policies will ensure that customers can more easily pursue active and healthy lifestyles wherever their travels may take them, without having to pay additional oversize bag fees.”
Wait, does this mean those who overpack their suitcase can claim it as an ‘oversize’ and avoid the extra baggage fee?
No, you can’t. American Airlines has only removed the fee for sports and music equipment. So, unless the extra 5kg of shoes is actually a snowboard, you’ll have to pay up.
The free oversize sport and music baggage will only be applicable to items that meet the airline’s sizing requirements.
The checked oversize bag also counts toward a customer’s normal baggage allowance. For example, customers travelling within the United States, who used to pay $150 to check one oversize item such as a surfboard, will now pay $30 — the cost of a standard first bag — if the weight is less than 50 lbs. Customers travelling with skis or a snowboard will now be able to check in an equipment bag with the skis or snowboard as one bag (up to 50lbs/62in).
Due to special handling requirements, oversize items such as antlers, hang gliders, scuba tanks and kite/windsurfing items will continue to incur a flat $150 fee.
Click here for more information on the restrictions.
American Airlines’ announcement comes days before the airline is due to make an appearance at IPW19, America’s annual tourism showcase.
Thousands of industry professionals with converge in Anaheim for the five-day event, running from 1 June, which will see them learn all about the USA’s tourism product AND get an exclusive look at Disneyland California’s newest and most immersive land, Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge.
KARRYON will be in attendance, keep an eye on our page for more news direct from the event.
- READ: USA’s big year for tourism & how Brand USA contributed
- READ: A an indoor snow park + roller coaster are coming to New Jersey
- READ: Put on a striped suit ’cause a Beetlejuice musical is on Broadway
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It is indeed an honor when a year-old startup with two or three million dollars in annualized revenue scores a $100 million investment. An unusual honor, as well. But there's method behind the madness.
Osama Bedier, the head of Google Wallet, has left the company.
More ubiquitous taxes are coming, as the U.S. Senate voted today to require large online retailers to collect state and local sales taxes for their customers.
Apple’s in the top 10 for the first time ever, Facebook hits the list, and Dell sells more than Google as Fortune Magazine released its Fortune 500 companies today, ranking the top 500 companies by global income.
Notable this year …
Editor's Pick HopeLab's six free-to-play online minigames help kids understand why they need to take medicine that makes them feel sick.
The U.S. Senate voted to once again advance the Marketplace Fairness Act, a bill that would place a mandatory state sales tax on things sold over the Internet.
A bill aimed at simplifying the U.S. states' requirements for collecting sales tax on online transactions moved closer to passage Monday.
The future of eBay is mobile payments, however, and for investors willing to overlook some short-term pain, there may be some long-term gain as PayPal transaction volume increased a strong 21 percent in the last quarter, and PayPal merchant services jumped 25 percent.
The RealReal has raised $14 million to grow its luxury online resale marketplace, which it claims is "second only to eBay."
Popular Indian e-commerce marketplace Snapdeal has reportedly raised $50 million in a new round of funding to help it continue to grow and beat out similar sites.
eBay is partnering with Goodwill to launch a new pilot program. You mail in your stuff, Goodwill tries to sell it for you, and what doesn't get sold gets donated.
With same-day shipping, everything's perfect -- but not quite perfect enough.
The fashion world can keep its Chanel clutches and Jimmy Choo shoes; techies are more interested in getting their hands on Google Glass.
Editor's Pick Here's the brief tech companies filed with the Supreme Court -- and the exact reason these business say they do support same-sex marriage.
"We had a great finish to an excellent year, with fourth quarter results exceeding our expectations," said eBay president and CEO John Donahoe.
The promise is simple: sell anything, anywhere, from your phone. No matter where you want to sell it: eBay, Etsy, Craigslist, or Facebook.
Instead of using marketing to get potential sellers and buyers on eBay's website, the company is testing new ways to physically get people's items from their houses.
The things these aging apps will do to keep our interest... Here's who went under the knife in 2012 -- and whether it worked.
Alibaba chairman Jack Ma said only two companies have ever recorded annual transaction volumes at this level: Wal-Mart and Alibaba.
eBay's new "Want List" highlights gift ideas from influential Internet-famous people, such as Robert Scoble.


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Apple “likely” to increase Apple Watch production to meet demand
Apple Watch pre-orders launched last week in a blaze of publicity – with demand massively outstripping supply. In fact, many customers who were hoping to get their hands (well, wrist) on a watch on the April 24th release date look like they’ll have to wait as late as June for their order to arrive.Business Today, “analysts” are expecting Apple to ramp up production of the Apple Watch to crank the much sought after devices out quicker.
Who knew that to be an expert analyst all you had to do was state the bleeding obvious?
It is perhaps unlikely that this will mitigate the waiting despair too much in the short term: Apparently production will only increase in May, after launch.


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In case you’re wondering what Creators Update is and how it differs from a regular update, it’s Microsoft’s name for Windows 10’s latest features. Microsoft no longer offers Windows 10 upgrades for free, but these latest updates are. Aside from notable design enhancements and user experience, Windows 10 users can anticipate the Creators Update for its system update improvements and new security features.
It was recently revealed that docs.com, Microsoft’s free document-sharing platform, was posting private documents to the public. Although there are Office 365 users who are perfectly aware of how the program works and have no qualms about publicly sharing their documents, hundreds of other users are not.
It’s official. Microsoft is finally letting go of its 10-year-old, often criticized operating system: Windows Vista. From April 11th onwards, the tech company will officially end support for Vista, meaning customers will be deprived of crucial security and software updates.
Accusations of inappropriate government surveillance have been swirling after Wikileaks recently released thousands of pages supposedly detailing the CIA’s exploitation of compromised devices and applications. But in today’s climate, every headline needs to be taken with a grain of salt.
It seems like every quarter Office 365 is adding a new service that totally changes the way we do business. As we settle into 2017, Microsoft is granting businesses a machine learning-based tool for getting more out of your employee’s work day.
What is MyAnalytics?
Microsoft’s newest productivity offering is all about applying machine learning technology to your employees’ Office 365 data.
Slack is a well-known, cloud-based collaboration tool that helps your team communicate better and be more productive. Microsoft Teams is Window’s own version with a twist. It’s been reported that prior to its release, a gigantic update was rolled out that equipped Teams with a bevy of features that will definitely make a difference.
Microsoft has quietly begun doing the unthinkable: inserting advertisements into your File Explorer. The last place anyone ever expected to see a OneDrive promotion is right alongside their ‘My Documents’ folder, and we expect the first thing they’ll think is, “How do I turn that off?” Read on to find out how.
Cortana, Microsoft’s voice-activated personal assistant, is extremely helpful for day-to-day tasks. Whether you need her to reschedule a meeting or draft an email, she’s always happy to help. If you’re dealing with several time-consuming tasks, use these Cortana commands to make your life a lot easier.
Microsoft churns out new Office 365 features for users almost every month. Last year, there were several additions to Word, Excel, and PowerPoint that further enhanced user experience. This year, Microsoft will likely introduce new features that can benefit businesses.
If your small- or medium-sized business has yet to get a Windows 10 upgrade, fret not! Microsoft has just announced the good news. The tech giant is bringing back free Windows 10 upgrades exclusively for SMBs that passed on the previous offer. If you’re still doubting about getting that upgrade, these additional facts might help you change your mind.


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My friend Doug, a cancer survivor, sent me this:
AMD and HP have teamed up to develop the HP Special Edition L2000 Notebook PC. Fifty dollars from each notebook sale will benefit LAF public health, advocacy and research initiatives. AMD made a two-year commitment to help generate a minimum of $4 million for the LAF through the sale of Special Edition PCs.
The Special Edition Notebook bears the LIVESTRONG logo and a reproduction of Lance Armstrong's autograph. A portion of the proceeds from the sale of accessories, including a carrying case and mobile mouse, also benefit the LAF.
Read the full article online
Learn more about the HP Special Edition L2000 Notebook PC


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GBP/USD fell as inflation slowed
GBP/USD fell to $1.6623, the lowest level since the beginning of April closing this week’s opening gap.
Pound weakened as the UK inflation data came lower than expected. Note though that the inflation (1.6%) is still rather close to the Bank of England's 2% target. Further dynamics of GBP will depend on the market's expectations ahead of the BoE's minutes release on Wednesday, 08:30 GMT).


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UK lags behind in peer-to-peer rental phenomenon
Consumers in the UK are not as willing to participate in the 'sharing economy' as those in other countries, according to new data released by Nielsen, but the peer-to-peer rental phenomenon is definitely moving up a gear.
In its recent Global Survey of Share Communities, Nielsen found that British consumers are not embracing the peer-to-peer rental phenomenon quite as much as their counterparts in other countries. The global survey was taken among 30,000 online respondents globally.
While just over a third (37%) of online British consumers are taking part in the 'sharing economy' that figure is far less than in Europe as a whole (54%) or the 68% embracing it globally.
The peer-to-peer rental phenomenon has recently gained much attention through short-term property rental site Airbnb. However, other personal assets are being rented for cash such as cars (EasyCar Club), clothing (Girl Meets Dress), power tools and even private tuition.
According to Chris Morley, Nielsen group managing director for UK & Ireland, peer-to-peer rentals are part of the bigger 'pay-as-you' go mindset.
"Consumers are becoming savvier about saving money at a time when the internet has facilitated greater opportunities to rent products. The take-up of music- and film-streaming services such as Spotify and Netflix is testament to this," says Morley. "The sharing economy is the evolution of this 'pay-as-you-go' mind-set: why buy something I may only use a handful of times, when renting allows me to save money and storage space."
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Google unveiled the new Pixel and Pixel XL phones today in three stunning colors, including Quite Black, Very Silver, and Really Blue. And man, they’re not kidding about the phone being really, really blue. The phone is a limited edition color that is only available in the United States for now and there’s no word on how limited it will be, as both versions sold out nearly immediately.
For those in the rest of the world who have your eyes on that striking blue color with envy, a Google rep says this color is only temporarily exclusive. Again, no time frame was given for when it might be available, just that it’s temporary.


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The evolution of women’s clothing
By: Karen Nazor Hill
About 700 years ago, a law was passed in Scotland making it acceptable for a woman to propose marriage to a man on Feb. 29.
If the man declined, he had to pay a fine that could range from a kiss to a payment for a silk dress or a pair of gloves, according to the Web site about.com.
Fashion, most notably the silk dress, was evidently as important to women in the 14th century as it is now. And though a silk dress continues to be a fashionable favorite, the cut of the garment has changed drastically over the last seven centuries.
The biggest change in women’s fashion, the showing of skin, took place in the last century, said Katherine Roberts, co-owner of Susanna’s, an upscale women’s boutique in Riverview.
“(Before that) women were pretty much covered from head to toe,” she said, crediting the change in women’s fashion to the late French designer Coco Chanel.
“She taught women they could do whatever they wanted. She gave us fashion freedom,” Ms. Roberts said.
According to the Web site Time.com, Ms. Chanel (1883- 1971) wasn’t just ahead of her time; she was ahead of herself.
“She mixed up the vocabulary of male and female clothes and created fashion that offered the wearer a feeling of hidden luxury rather than ostentation,” the Web site reports.
Skirts became shorter. Skin became tanned. And women began wearing revealing bathing suits more confidently, Ms. Roberts said. “Coco Chanel made fashion fun.”
Megan Everett, co-owner of Va Va Vintage, a vintage clothing store on Hixson Pike, said women welcomed the freedom of choice.
Women’s fashion changed even more in the 1970s when women went to work, Ms. Everett said. “That’s when hems went up even higher. No hats. No gloves. It hasn’t been the same since then.”
“We won’t go back,” Ms. Roberts said about the fashion evolution. “We like where we are.”
Tell us: Fashion really has evolved—but if you could revisit any decade (for the fashion alone) which would it be?


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I.T.S presents Flavour Trend overview for 2022
Image courtesy of I.T.S
International Taste Solutions (I.T.S) is presenting its Flavour Trend overview for 2022 and beyond, with six key flavour trends to take note of this year, as follows:
Flavour Trend 1) Exotic Flavours
In 2022, I.T.S states that consumers will be reaching for bright and refreshing flavours to get them excited. “Exotic” has reportedly risen by over 10% in social media discussions over the past year, proving the desire for holiday flavours.
Ingredient examples: Mangosteen, Horned Melon, Dragon Fruit
Flavour Trend 2) Foraging Flavours
The focus on sustainability is driving improvements in all areas of food and drink. A growing focus is on local and seasonal produce and ingredients.
This, says I.T.S, is driving change in flavour, with a focus on flavours that can be associated with foraging and found out in the wild.
“Wild Food” has grown by 7.78% in social discussion in 2021. I.T.S advises focusing on natural and wild flavours. A popular flavour already cutting through is “wild strawberry.”
Ingredient examples: Mulberry, Cloudberry, Elderberry
Flavour Trend 3) Citrus Flavours
Sound familiar? I.T.S highlights citrus flavours pretty much every year, because, as the company says, just about everyone loves it, but more innovation in citrus is bound to be incoming…
Ingredient examples: Calamansi, Dekopon, Yuzu Koshō
Flavour Trend 4) Mood Flavours
Mood boosting food and drink is big business in 2022. Food and drink products are blending into the wellbeing market to help bring functional ingredients and flavours.
Energising, sleep improvement, relaxation are all key moods found in food and drinks. I.T.S advises finding ingredients and flavours that relate to these moods to help bring products to life.
Ingredient examples: CBD, Tahini, Huckleberry
Flavour Trend 5) Crossover Flavours
If your company has spotted a winning flavour in a different sector, I.T.S advises giving it a go in your application, which it says is often a sure thing for success.
A perfect example would be something like an Espresso Martini. A drink that has long been a staple in just about every cocktail menu.
This type of flavour would be perfect to try out in a bakery or dairy application, according to I.T.S. What’s more, it’s grown by 91.31% in social media discussions over the past year.
Ingredient examples: Maple and Bacon, Katsu Curry, Yuzu Koshō
Flavour Trend 6) A Braver Flavour
The most important thing to focus on with product development in 2022 is bravery, according to I.T.S, which states that food and drink companies must be bold, big and brave to make products stand out and grab consumer attention.
To request samples of I.T.S’ flavour trends, visit: www.itstaste.com/contact-us.


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National Cyber Security Awareness Month (NCSAM) – observed every October – was created as a collaborative effort between government and industry to ensure every American has the resources they need to stay safer and more secure online. Since its inception under leadership from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the National Cyber Security Alliance, NCSAM has grown exponentially, reaching consumers, small and medium-sized businesses, corporations, educational institutions and young people across the nation. 2018 marks the 15th year of National Cyber Security Awareness Month.
- Week 1 – Make Your Home a Haven for Online Safety
- Week 2 – Mobile Device & Online Banking Security
- Week 3 – It’s Everyone’s Job to Ensure Online Safety at Work
- Week 4 – Safeguarding the Nation’s Critical Infrastructure
Avoid Being a Fraud Victim
The National Credit Union Association (NCUA) Fraud Prevention Center website was built to educate you, the consumer, and help prevent you from becoming a victim of an Internet fraud scheme.
The NCUA Fraud Prevention Center website was created to educate Credit Union members about frauds & scams, identity theft, and online security.


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The 2011 science fiction movie “The Adjustment Bureau” dealt with a dystopian future (Is there any other kind in sci-fi movies?) where mysterious forces plot against individuals. But for many consumers, Regional Adjustment Bureau, a Memphis-based debt collector, made their day-to-day reality just as dystopic.
Whether by click, tap, swipe, or scan, apps now offer a variety of beneficial services that can enhance consumers’ shopping experience. These services help consumers compare prices in-store, load the latest deals, and make purchases – all from the convenience of their phone. To better understand the consumer protection implications of this ever-changing environment, FTC staff recently issued a report, What’s the Deal?


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MIDTOWN, Manhattan (WABC) -- Start your engines, because the New York International Auto Show is now open to the public.
Nearly 1,000 vehicles are on display at the nation's biggest car convention at the Jacob Javits Center.
It's an auto shopper's paradise. Just ask Gregory Rucker.
"We're looking at Honda, the Accord," he said. "She's looking at the Civic. We got to see some of the SUVs and crossovers downstairs. We are working our way around."
And there's no shortage of options, as 60 new cars are being revealed for the first time and drawing intense interest.
Many who visit find it the best place to comparison shop.
"We go to the show every year," one visitor said. "It helps you eliminate. Just getting in and out of cars, you realize you don't like this, or I do love this. It definitely helps you."
And this is the largest area for vehicle sales in the country.
"If you really want to get a feel for what consumers are feeling about your product and get your message out, there really isn't any better place to do that than here in New York City," Auto Show president Mark Schienberg said.
Others already have a car in mind and end up making their final decision here.
"Subaru Forester, I'm really looking forward to the 2019," one attendee said. "I like what I see, and the price is right."
There is so much to see and do over the next nine days.
"They are going through the simulators and the ride and drives in this wonderful atmosphere," Schienberg said. "They are actually doing their homework and making some real decisions on it before they ever go to a dealership."
WATCH "IN THE FAST LANE" SATURDAY AT 7:00 P.M. ON CHANNEL 7 AND ABC7NY.COM
* More New York Auto Show coverage
* Send us a news tip
* Download the abc7NY app for breaking news alerts
New York International Auto Show opens to the public
NEW YORK AUTO SHOW


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Verizon posts subscriber gain shortfall, says Yahoo to fuel media push
By Malathi Nayak and Aishwarya Venugopal
(Reuters) - Verizon Communications Inc (VZ.N: Quote) disappointed Wall Street on Tuesday by reporting a smaller-than-expected subscriber gain for its main wireless business, while its CEO gave few details about plans to increase revenue from its planned purchase of Yahoo Inc's YHOO.O internet assets.
Shares of the No. 1 U.S. wireless company, which had risen about 21 percent this year, fell 2 percent shortly after midday.
Verizon is focused on combining the media and advertising technology assets of Yahoo and AOL, which it acquired last year, Chief Financial Officer Fran Shammo said in an interview.
"This is about scale, this is about building viewers, which drives advertisers, and we believe there is a lot of revenue synergy here," Shammo said.
Verizon had said on Monday that it would buy Yahoo's core internet properties for $4.83 billion to expand its digital advertising and media business and compete with Facebook Inc (FB.O: Quote) and Alphabet Inc's (GOOGL.O: Quote) Google. The company is looking for new revenue by distributing content and selling ads as its wireless business matures.
On a call with investors, Chief Executive Officer Lowell McAdam said advertisers and content partners such as the National Football League were already expressing interest in distributing video to millions of AOL and Yahoo users who visit sites such as the Huffington Post and Yahoo Finance.
The company will disclose details on cost savings from the Yahoo acquisition before the deal closes in the first quarter of 2017, McAdam added.
"All we need to do is take more than our fair share of the growth of the market, and this will be a success for us," McAdam said. "And we certainly expect to do better than that." Continued...


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As you settle into the social network (or wait for your invitation), learn about Ello's ad-free promise and find out how to navigate the interface.
As smartphones replace point-and-shoots, companies from Nikon to Fujifilm are scrambling to build premium product lines. That's great news for photo enthusiasts.
AirVR wants to make virtual reality accessible to iOS device owners by mounting iPhones and iPads right in front of their eyes.
The third largest phone maker in Korea continues to post losses while still owing debt to various entities, including Korea's three carriers.
South Korean designer Oh NamKyung, otherwise known as Alcion, has reimagined Apple's smartwatch as a circular gadget. Maybe Apple Watch 2.0?
Besides posting cute pictures of your cats and dogs, the Singapore app allows users to tag strays so a cat charity can find and sterilize them.
The South Korean electronics maker is reportedly working on a circular smartwatch to compete with upcoming devices from Motorola and LG.
FDA gives the nod to a 3D-printed facial implant that can be customized for individual patients in need of facial-reconstruction surgery.
All good things must come to an end. Sadly, so must all truly great things.
Searching by date and time will be welcome additions to the Photo app in iOS 8, but I want even more.


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A couple has had their identity stolen by thieves who robbed their mailbox to collect personal details.
Sandy and Simon, who chose to withhold their surnames, were almost fleeced of $160,000 after a piece of identity was stolen and used to apply for five different credit cards.
It only took a single driver’s licence.
Watch more in the video below, as thieves rob the mailbox for personal details
Simon’s licence was stolen from their street mailbox and used to apply for the credit cards at five different banks.
“On each card was between $30,000 and $60,000,” Simon told 7NEWS.
Fortunately, all the applications have since been cancelled and the couple’s mail was suspended.
The did have a padlock on their mailbox, but it was removed and was replaced with another.
“We couldn’t access our mailbox,” Sandy said.
“At the moment we’re feeling like moving, to be completely honest.”
The couple were only made aware of the scam when Bendigo Bank noticed the application for a new credit card had different contact details to what they had on file.
Cyber security experts say credit card fraud is not as hard as people may think and letterbox theft is a growing concern.
“People don’t often realise it’s happened until they start getting demand letters for the money that’s been taken and hasn’t been paid back,” Cyber safety expert Susan McLean said.


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Signatories from Egypt are The Suez Canal Economic Zone (SCZONE), the Sovereign Fund of Egypt (TSFE), and East Port Said Development Company (EPSD).
Under the agreement, parties will cooperate in conducting a feasibility study for the EPAZ, which is expected to create 6,100 jobs.
Parties of the agreement will coordinate with the EPSD to select competent consultants to carry out the study.
The EPSD is responsible for technical coordination with all parties to the agreement, while Volkswagen is tasked with realizing the Egyptian Automotive Industry Development Program (AIDP).
Volkswagen is interested in expanding its presence in the Egyptian market through participation in the AIDP, said Martina Biene, Managing Director and Chairperson of Volkswagen Group South Africa.
She further mentioned that the German company will assess the feasibility of establishing a car paint complex in the East Port Said Industrial Zone, as the region is strategically planned to evolve into a global hub for car manufacturing and logistics services.
In 2022, Egypt unveiled its national strategy for localizing the automotive industry, with the aim of positioning itself as a key player in Africa's emerging vehicle markets; a vision shared by Volkswagen in its long-term forecasts for the North Africa region.
On Thursday, the Egyptian company Ezz El Sewedy Automotive Factories signed a framework agreement with the General Authority for Investment and Free Zones (GAFI), the Ministry of Finance’s Environmentally Friendly Automotive Industry Finance Fund, and the Cabinet’s Automotive Industry Unit to annually manufacture 50,000 cars bearing the Malaysian Proton logo in Egypt.


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There's an all-new event on the horizon, taking place across Riot Games' catalog of popular titles. Whether you play League of Legends, Teamfight Tactics, Wild Rift, or Legends of Runeterra, you'll be able to dive into Soul Fighter — a six-week event inspired by fighting games.
According to Riot Games, the event is the studios' tribute to the fighting game genre, taking inspiration from unique character moments from fighting games and anime tournament arcs. This will translate into new game modes, skins, gameplay features amd more across all of the Runeterra titles. Soul Fighter takes place in an alternate universe, where competitors prove themselves through combat by taking part in the Tournament of Souls.
Head of League Studio Andrei van Roon said of the event, "We’re really excited for the range of different experiences across the League of Legends ecosystem that make up the Soul Fighter event. Arena, Soul Brawl, and Tag Duel will let players experience League of Legends, Teamfight Tactics and Wild Rift, respectively, in new ways that we think bring something really fresh to the table. We can't wait to see what players think once they get their hands on them."
Across each of the four titles, players can expect brand new cosmetics and game modes to enjoy across the six-week event, and beyond. In League of Legends, players will be welcoming new champion Naafiri the Hound of a Hundred Bites, while champion Samira will be getting an Ultimate skin — Soul Fighter Samira. In TFT, new game mode "Soul Brawl" is sure to get the blood pumping.
If you needed an added incentive to pick up some special cosmetics during this event, between August 1 to August 28, Riot Games will be contributing 20% of proceeds from certain sales to the Riot Games Social Impact Fund. Here's what qualifies for the donations:
- Soul Fighter Samira (skin only)
- Unmatched Bounty Hunter Bundle
- Soul Fighter Event Pass
- Soul Fighter Event Pass Bundle
Soul Fighter Event Start Date: League of Legends, Wild Rift, TFT, Legends of Runeterra
The Soul Fighter event will begin across all four titles on Thursday, July 20. The event will run for six weeks, finishing on Monday, August 28. The event will roll out at the same time globally. As part of the event, Riot Games will host Soul Fighter: Fight Night — a broadcasted event where 16 content creators will compete for the title of Fight Night Champion.
The event will be held in Los Angeles, California and will be livestreamed via Twitch on July 17 at 6 p.m. PT.
For a look at what's coming to League of Legends during the Soul Fighter event, be sure to check out our guide.


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Why charging stations for the homeless?
“62 percent of homeless youth own a cell phone. 51 percent use cell phones stay connected to friends from home and 41 percent connect to their parents, and 36 percent use the phone to call current or potential employers,” according to a study published in the Journal of Urban Health.
Without a physical mailing address, a mobile phone becomes the sole means of connection to the outside world. The homeless use mobile phones to get updates about shelters, meals, and jobs.
A mobile phone enables communication and even commerce. But minutes and data are expensive, and without a permanent address, a simple task like charging becomes difficult.
“And connections enabled by mobile devices can give disenfranchised populations a sense of community while they work to rebuild. A cell phone offers a cheap way to communicate, and even a very basic Internet access can connect them to a wealth of information and resources. On a larger scale, a mobile device is a tether between a homeless person and the larger fabric of society, keeping them from falling into the pale and completely in the margins,” writes Margaret Rock, managing editor of 2machines.
Providing a solution to mobile charging for the homeless may not seem like a direct path to profits, but companies might want to consider how such a solution could positively impact their bottom lines by selling the solution in developing countries where consumers face similar challenges.


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Back when he was working here at CL as business development director and an ad rep, Chris Madalena was THE rare beer guy on staff — the special release guy, the bottle share guy, the guy with the collection of brews that might be for drinking, but definitely aren’t for drinking right now. He was also the guy who helped facilitate most if not all of the beers that local breweries whipped up for CL as Best of the Bay swag or for other special occasions. Chris helped me make invaluable connections when I began the Meet The Brewers series several years ago, and was always quick to offer information or an opinion on a wide variety of beer-related topics.
So it makes since that, when Chris left us a few months ago, it was to join the team at Tampa’s own, legendary Cigar City Brewing, where he’s taken the reins of the label’s annual El Catador Club, which specializes in exclusive barrel-aged releases, as well as the role of special events manager.
His timing couldn’t have been better — or worse, depending on your work ethic. He joined the staff just in time for this year’s Tampa Bay Beer Week — which just happens to include the 10th anniversary of Hunahpu’s Day, the world-famous (and, in some years past, insanely chaotic) release party for CCB’s iconic, collectible Hunahpu’s Imperial Stout, taking place this year on Saturday, March 9.
“It’s a ‘be careful what you wish for’ situation,” he said, grinning, as we sat down at a table in the tasting room at Cigar City’s Spruce Street headquarters. “There’s a lot of moving parts... you could have a whole team handle just this event. There are a lot of things going on, it’s super crunch time.”
Cigar City has some twists in store for this year’s Hunahpu’s Day. The event is returning to Raymond James Stadium, and will introduce two new stouts to the Hunahpu “family,” available exclusively to higher-tier ticketholders: Xbalanque, rested on Amburana wood, and Xquic, a maple variant. But the original is still the star of the show, a highly sought-after item among beer aficionados around the world for a decade now.
Is the original still the original, though?
Of course it is. That doesn’t mean, however, that Hunahpu’s flavor profile hasn’t varied to some degree over the years; it’s bound to happen organically with any brew of Hunahpu’s complexity. And some fans actually buy their bottles to drink them — Cigar City would be remiss not to allow for some deviations in nuance for imbibers to marvel or argue over once they crack their bottles.
Not that many folks get the chance to crack bottles of the famous stout from two years’ batches side-by-side to compare and contrast them directly, but Chris and I were at Tampa Bay’s highest-profile craft beer brand for exactly that purpose.
“The formula itself, the base beer doesn’t get tweaked to much,” Chris said as he produced two bottles of the coveted stout, one from 2017 and one from 2018 (this year’s batch wasn’t quite ready). “It’ll get tweaked slightly depending on the hops that are available, it might vary a bit in terms of the treatment — the cocoa nibs, the vanilla, those will change from year to year.
“We’re hoping for a certain type of experience, we want a beer that’s identifiable year over year, but I don’t think [the brewers] want to have the exact same beer year after year.”
We tried the 2017 first. Upon opening the bottle, there was a definite element of coffee to the scent, but it didn’t register nearly as strongly in the flavor. More readily recognizable in the taste were the spices, particularly a slight but identifiable undercurrent of cinnamon.
“The put a lot of cinnamon in, but it’s subtle,” Chris said.
There’s also a freshness and a barely-there warmth from ancho chiles.
“You taste the plant, not the heat,” said Chris. “I’m not somebody who’s looking for heat, I’m a hot sauce pussy. It’s gonna warm you on the esophagus, not burn your mouth.” He added that “from ‘15 and earlier, [the heat] wasn’t as strong.”
The 2018 bottle was very similar, yet... roastier? The flavors seemed more evenly distributed into a complete whole, making individual elements harder to identify while providing a slightly maltier, beer-ier experience.
Which was better? That would depend on the taster’s own palate and inclinations. But if the brewing process continues in the direction hinted at by tasting the past two vintages in rapid succession, Hunahpu’s Day 2019 attendees are in for an extremely satisfying balance of wow-factor ingredients and old-world craft.
“Now that we’re ten years in,” Chris said, “people want something a little different.”


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UPI Breaks Borders! Launched in Sri Lanka, Mauritius a week after France
12 Feb 2024 06:37 PM
Just a week after its launch in France, UPI has now found its way into Sri Lanka and Mauritius. Prime Minister Narendra Modi virtually joined Mauritian Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth and Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe to witness the launch event, marking a new era of digital collaboration.
During the launch event, not only did UPI make its debut in these nations, but RuPay cards were also introduced in Mauritius, further cementing India's influence in the fintech space globally. Indians visiting Sri Lanka and Mauritius can now use UPI to make payments,
while Mauritian travelers to India will have the same privilege. The extension of RuPay services not only enables Mauritian banks to issue RuPay cards but also allows their usage for settlements in both India and Mauritius.
This global expansion of UPI began at the Eiffel Tower in Paris on February 2 during the Republic Day. This move positions India as a leader in fintech innovation on the international stage, fostering stronger ties and digital connectivity between nations
What do you feelClick here


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A debilitating skiing accident left BackVert’s David Calvert with chronic back pain, but it also prompted him to found his own startup to help solve the problem.
Now, three years after the ski accident, his company is gearing up for a Kickstarter campaign. His goal is to raise $10,000 to $15,000 in donations in mid-May, just before his 30th birthday.
In a time when most entrepreneurs his age are coding the latest app, Calvert created a tangible back support device that he says promotes better posture and is adjustable to fit people of all heights.
He developed it after being frustrated with what’s currently on the market.
“There’s a lot of science behind the design. It’s different than anything else out there on the market,” Calvert said. “We’re at the point where it’s good enough to go to market but no product is perfect so I’m sure there will be improvements down the road.”
“There’s a lot of science behind the design. It’s different than anything else out there on the market,” David Calvert said.
Calvert lives in Dallas and commutes to downtown Fort Worth daily for his day job as a senior associate with Crestline Investors. That hourlong commute “exasperated existing chronic lower back issues.”
To help market the product, Calvert recruited Kevin Joseph, a longtime friend he met while studying at Southern Methodist University. Joseph, who works at the Frito-Lay’s corporate office in Plano, demonstrated how the BackVert works.
The BackVert has one main foam pad and two smaller adjustable pads inside a black cover. To adjust the upper and lower supports, just unzip it. The BackVert attaches to desk chairs, seats in your vehicle or other chairs.
For many, the steady back support can mean the difference between being able to pick up your children or play pick-up basketball again.
“I’ve never seen anything directly impact someone’s lives the way this does,” Joseph said. “This has enabled them to fulfill all these moments that they couldn’t do before.”
After the kick start, Calvert aims to sell the BackVert to Uber drivers, pregnant mothers and Fortune 500 companies.
“I’ve never seen anything directly impact someone’s lives the way this does,” Kevin Joseph said.
Uber drivers spend long hours sitting in their vehicle and are prone to back pain. The maternity market is wide open because the baby bump puts stress on the back, Calvert said. And Fortune 500 companies are heavily invested in their employees well-being and long-term healthcare.
“You can snap it on your chair, adjust it to your own dimensions and preferences,” Calvert said. “Every day you can use it without thinking about it and it promotes proper posture.”
If the Kickstarter campaign is successful, Calvert said he hopes to move to the production phase. For more information on the campaign, sign up for email alerts here.
“We’re swinging for the fences with the Kickstarter campaign and want to get it in front of as many people as possible,” Calvert said.
For a daily dose of what’s new and next in Dallas-Fort Worth innovation, subscribe to our Dallas Innovates e-newsletter.


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Karl Lagerfeld has turned his pre-collections previews for Chanel into fashion events unto themselves – each Métiers d'Art runway show outshining the last in terms of exotic location, breathtaking sets and big name models.
His pre-fall 2015 preview looks to up the ante again, with King Karl directing an all-star cast for a musically-led fashion film to be screened simultaneously at the December 2 Paris-Salzburg event.
Calling on two of the coolest kids in fashion, Lagerfeld filmed the multi-talented Pharrell Williams (who we know isn’t adverse to a double C-adorned sautoir – pictured) and current model-muse Cara Delevingne in his Paris studio last week. The pair, who have already collaborated on their own musical project, reportedly danced along with along with six year co-star old Hudson Kroenig.
Sounds like the collab of the year, non? Shame we’ll have to wait until December to hear the fruits of this all-star project.


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November 9, 2017
(5:28 p.m. GMT) -- Within the next five months, three Fred. Olsen ships will receive refreshed public spaces and new venues as part of a fleetwide refurbishment that began last year.
All three ships will dry dock in Hamburg, Germany, beginning with Braemar; Balmoral and Boudicca will follow.
Among other upgrades throughout, Braemar will get a new buffet area, and Balmoral is slated for new restaurants and a gelato bar. For its turn in March 2018, Boudicca will be fitted with a new dining room, as well as other enhancements to cabins and public spaces.
"We are very proud of our smaller, classic cruise ships and we recognise the importance of investing in ongoing upgrades to ensure that our guests can continue to enjoy them at their best," Mike Rodwell, Managing Director of Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines, said in a statement.
Fleet refurbishments began with Black Watch at the end of 2016, adding spruced-up cabins with interactive televisions, a new restaurant and buffet, and refreshed furniture and upholstery throughout, in addition to a new 3D movie screen.
Braemar's first voyage out of dry dock will be a 16-night Caribbean sailing from Southampton on 5 December, while Balmoral's first cruise post-refurb will depart from Southampton on a 21 December, 16-night Canary Islands sailing. Next year, Boudicca will emerge from its slightly longer 13-day refit with a five-night mystery sailing on 29 March.
--By Ashley Kosciolek, Editor


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Apple’s pulled its iTunes application from the website of a Christian group accused of being anti-gay and anti-women.
The Christian Values Network (CVN) – which now also calls itself the Charity Give Back Group – links consumers with retailers and allows them to donate a percentage of their purchases to charity.
But activist Ben Crowther won 22,000 signatures for a petition calling on Apple to pull out of the scheme because of CVN’s alleged funding of hate group organizations.
“From the beginning, I knew that once this issue was brought to Apple’s attention, they would not want to be a part of CVN because it funds anti-gay hate groups like Focus on the Family and the Family Research Council,” says Crowther.
“Apple is a fair-minded business. I’m glad this petition helped make Apple aware of this issue, and I am thrilled that they removed iTunes from CVN.”
It’s not the first company to drop CVN – Macy’s, Microsoft, Wells Fargo, Delta Airlines and the BBC America Shop have all removed their online stores from its site.
All were concerned about several so-called ‘family values’ groups funded by CVN. For example, the Focus on the Family website describes being gay as ‘a particularly evil lie of Satan’, and says sex outside marriage is ‘a monstrosity’.
And CVN spokesperson Mike Huckabee – former governor of Arkansas and presidential candidate – has equated being gay with bestiality, necrophilia, and pedophilia.
But CVN’s not taking Crowther’s actions lying down [Well, no. – Ed.]
Campaigner Anthony Sells has started his own petition, claiming that ‘a majority of Americans recognize that homosexuality is wrong’ (really?), and that saying so isn’t hate speech.
Posted online 12 days ago, his petition currently has one signature. His own.


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Review: No wonder Xiaomi accessories are heading west
Xiaomi recently announced plans to launch Mi stores in the US and Europe, but for the time being they will be limited to accessories rather than the Chinese company’s sleek smartphones. This got us thinking – we never actually tried out any Xiaomi accessories, so we decided to check some out.
Lost the business case
Fruity cargo cult Apple has decided that Microsoft's venerable Windows 7 needs to be expelled from its walled garden of earthly delights.


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The American Express’ Bluebird card has launched the “Get 2X” promotion for Walmart customers using Savings Catcher and Bluebird. Walmart and American Express are offering Bluebird for a $0 purchase price in store for the duration of the Get 2X program.
Beijing-based Alibaba announced its online travel business, Taobao Travel will become an independent business and brand named “Alitrip.” Alitrip currently has over 10,000 merchants on its platform providing airplane tickets, vacation packages, hotel booking services, visa application services and tour guide services.
UK-based Optimal Payments will launch an iOS software development kit (SDK) for Apple Pay. Merchants processing Apple Pay transactions through Optimal Payments’ NETBANX gateway will benefit from the added security of credit card processing with Apple Pay and network-level tokenization.
Among the nation’s top six credit card issuers charge-offs for the third quarter (Q3/14) of 2.49% are down 51 basis points (bps) year-on-year (Y/Y) and down 15 bps, quarter-to-quarter (Q/Q). However, the trend may reverse in the fourth quarter as delinquency took a turn North in the third quarter.
A mobile payments war is underway big time as Rite Aid and CVS block Apple Pay in favor of the soon to be introduced CurrentC. With CurrentC merchants will not have to pay swipe credit card network fees and will be able to track and instantly reward customers as a result of the lower fees.


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If our friends across the pond have their way, all automobiles will one day run on empty. Britain has announced plans to ban all diesel and gas-powered vehicles by 2040, following a similar move in France. The action is aimed at reducing air pollution and bringing the European nations in line with the Paris Climate Accord, from which President Trump recently withdrew the U.S.
Regardless of whether the U.S. had stayed in the Paris Climate Accord, there are many reasons why such a ban on diesel and gas vehicles is highly unlikely to ever happen on this side of the Atlantic, according to KTRH Car Pro Jerry Reynolds. For starters, the auto market in Britain is much different than ours. "They don't have near the emissions laws over there right now that we do here in the United States, so diesels are a big, big part of every car that's sold over there," he tells KTRH.
In addition, it's highly unlikely U.S. consumers would accept an all-hybrid or all-electric automobile market. "America still hasn't embraced the electric car yet, and whether they will or not remains to be seen, because the electric cars that are out there aren't selling very well," says Reynolds. "Over there, they just don't have the love affair with cars like we do here in the United States...(going all electric) is just not feasible, with the number of trucks and SUVs sold here in the United States."
While the U.S. has no designs on banning diesel or gas-powered engines, the federal government has implemented much stricter fuel efficiency standards in recent years, including a 52.5-mile-per-gallon standard by 2025. Reynolds believes that is not realistic. "Corporate fuel economy right now is the highest it's ever been, at a little over 30 miles-per-gallon, but that's a long way from 52 and a half...they're going to have to reverse that," he says. And that may happen, now that President Trump has promised more friendly policies toward the American auto industry.


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After immigrating to Canada from Lebanon in 2012, Mohamad Abbas had his sights set on a future in barbering. While working three jobs, Abbas saved as much money as he could with plans to open up a barber shop of his own.
On June 12, 2014, Abbas and his wife, Amany Mokkadem, opened up Mohamad’s Barber Shop in Cambridge, Ontario.
The success of their flagship location enabled them to quickly branch out to Kitchener and now Waterloo. Their newest location celebrated their grand opening in November 2022.
“I was born a barber,” Abbas said.
“I have been cutting hair since I was around thirteen, let’s say. My dad had a shop in Lebanon where I learned how to be a barber,” he said.
Mohamad’s Barber shop proudly serves as a connection point for people of all walks of life. Stories filled with candor can be heard around their barber chairs as customers come in and out. They leave with fresh fades or new dye jobs, ready to face important job interviews and milestone events.
Mohamad’s Barber Shop strives to offer high-quality, specialized services at mid-range prices to remain true to their original standards of access.
Abbas and Mokkadem have adopted a philosophy of humility and kindness to others and continue to spread the love and passion they’ve always put into their work with new people everyday.
“Be humble. We like to give back through our barbershops. The best reward we can get as Muslims is achieved by working together.
At their humble beginnings, the husband-and-wife team faced criticism from fellow barbers and peers, being told that no one would come to their shop because of its name.
Despite the opinions of their peers, these two entrepreneurs went against the grain. Together they endeavored to unite a largely segregated industry.
Bridging the gap between employee and employer involves paying employees fairly. While staying true to their standards of accessibility
for clients, Mohamad’s Barber Shop demonstrates equanimity for employees.
“Most of our barbers are commission. If we pay them well, they will stay. If it takes one of my barbers forty-five minutes to do a skin-fade, they can expect to earn twenty dollars for the hour that they worked,” Abbas said.
“Even with that, our prices are still in the mid-range when you look at other barbershops. We are not boujie. I want my employees to be the boujie ones!”
On top of typical challenges faced by entrepreneurs when starting a business, BIPOC owned businesses deal with a special set of issues.
In a post-911 political landscape, Muslim business owners experienced an uptick off xenophobic attacks.
Mokkadem said the shop had a Nazi symbol drawn on their window and, at a separate occasion, a rock thrown through their window.
“It’s not like everything was all butterflies and rainbows along the way. We did encounter a lot of bad things,” Mokkadem said. “It is not easy, but that does not discourage us. Actually, this is a way that we can prove to the world—even in the smallest way—that we can be good to each other.”
Mohamad’s barber shop celebrates its diversity, providing an inclusive space for employees and customers.
They are passion-driven, community-oriented business who support local youth soccer leagues and regularly collect donations for their Mosque.
“I am very proud of my culture. I am really proud of my religion. I am really proud of my [skin] colour. That’s why I named the business ‘Mohamad’s Barber Shop.’ I decided to call it that to show people who we are.” Abbas said.


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No Man's Sky is finally getting full multiplayer support
The NEXT update will allow your to play with your friends -- No, reallyBy Cal Jeffrey 35 comments
Back in March, we got word that Hello Games would be releasing a massive update for No Man's Sky this summer called "NEXT." Billed as "the biggest ever," Sean Murray was vague with the release date and details. However, it was speculated that the devs would finally give the space sandbox a full-fledged multiplayer mode.
Today Murray confirmed that the update would indeed bring genuine multiplayer to the game. The previous iteration of multiplayer left little to be desired.
"We are letting people know that you'll be able to play No Man's Sky as a full multiplayer experience with your friends in NEXT," said the studio head. "We wanted to share our new cover art too."
Murray had previously explained that they had decided to call the update NEXT because it was the "next step in a longer journey" for the studio and the players. Adding multiplayer support is undoubtedly a big step in the right direction when you consider Murray had said the game would be multiplayer at launch.
While he did note that the universe is so massive that the odds of two players ending up in the same location would be remote, this turned out to be a lie. There was no multiplayer support when the title released, and the company endured a massive amount of criticism over the issue.
It did come to light later that Sony had pushed Hello Games to release the game even though they knew it was not ready. Murray and team buckled to the pressure and launched a product that had no chance to live up to the hype.
To the studio's credit, it has worked very hard over the last almost two years to improve the title, and there is no argument that the game has changed for the good. All the added content from the three major updates --- Foundation, Pathfinder, Atlas Rises --- has been free, and the fourth installment will be no different. Multiplayer support is the NEXT step in bringing No Man's Sky to the level of quality that Hello Games promised.
The NEXT update will hit PlayStation 4 and PC on July 24. This date coincides with the launch of the long-awaited Xbox One version of the game.


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In an article published on March 21, 2018 by Oregon Public Broadcasting (OPB), journalist Courtney Flatt reported that the Governor of the U.S. State of Washington, Jay Inslee, has singed a bill into law that will eventually restrict the use of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) in food packaging. The bill foresees to ban the sale, manufacture, and distribution of PFASs for use in food packaging in Washington State by January 1, 2022 if safer alternatives can be identified by January 1, 2020 (FPF reported). If no safer alternatives can be found by then, the state’s Department of Ecology must review and report on alternatives each year until they are found to be available, after which the ban will take effect two years later.
“This common sense measure will protect consumers, protect our health and protect our environment from unnecessary toxic chemicals,” Inslee stated. Laurie Valeriano, executive director of non-profit organization Toxic-Free Future, added: “Harmful chemicals that don’t stay in food packaging, but contaminate food, people, and the environment should not be put in products on the market.”
Courtney Flatt (March 21, 2018). “Inslee signs nation’s 1st law banning food packaging chemicals.” OPB
Washington State Legislature (March 22, 2018). “HB 2658 – 2017-18 – Concerning the use of perfluorinated chemicals in food packaging.”
Ivy Sager-Rosenthal (March 21, 2018). “Governor Inslee signs ban on nonstick chemicals in food packaging.” Toxic-Free Future
Beth Kemler (March 21, 2018). “Washington becomes first state to ban non-stick chemicals in food packaging.” Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families
Chemical Watch (March 26, 2018). “Washington becomes first state to ban PFASs in food packaging.“


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- Daily Zen
The Google Inc.’s executive top brass has finally commented on the recent spate of calls that the company has had from UK’s tax officials. The edgy-criticism came from Google Inc.’s executive chairman Eric Schmidt who is commonly recognized for his snappy ’don’t be evil’ phrases.
Defending Google Inc.’s tax-paying efforts, the executive chairman Eric Schmidt has expressed that he is dazed by the ongoing debate. He has underlined that Google Inc. is willing to pay more tax according to UK tax laws. He has expressed that Google Inc. has continued to respect the laws of the country in which the company operates and at the same time respected the “a fiduciary responsibility to our shareholders.” Despite the company’s commitment to the shareholders, Google Inc. is always willing to pay more as “paying tax is not a debate. You pay the taxes.”
Eric Schmidt has in the past few weeks been in discussions with the UK tax officials on the low taxes filed by the giant technology company despite posting substantial profits. This has brought public criticism and Google Inc.’s executive chairman has risen to the challenge while clarifying all tax nuances.
The current dispute between Google Inc. and UK tax departments arose following frank opinions by senior politicians post a Public Accounts Committee examination. The committee found that though Google Inc. showed sales of £3.2 billion, the company had accounted it in the tier of low-tax and paid just £3.4 million as tax payments.
Eric Schmidt is strongly convinced that if Britain wanted to collect more tax, then the government would have to make changes to UK tax laws and do the needful. Defending the Google Inc.’s stance, the executive chairman has reiterated the legal position of his company with relation to payment of taxes.
In fact, the political big brass in UK has been beating drums on Google Inc.’s alleged low-tax repayments on all platforms possible. The most recent has been at Google Inc.’s ‘Big Tent’ event. This time around it was Labour leader Ed Miliband who attempted to show up the company in poor light, underlining: “When Google goes to extraordinary lengths to avoid paying its taxes, I say it’s wrong. And it’s not just me that says it, it’s Google’s founding principles, and it’s crystal clear from them.”
Not surprisingly, Eric Schmidt, however, has been very clear in establishing the policy his company, which operates under US laws, follows with regards to payment of taxes. He has repeatedly reiterated that Google Inc. cannot arbitrarily start paying more tax in a particular country with it being endorsed by the country’s tax laws. He therefore commented that it was up to the democratic process of the UK and its policy makers to decide on UK tax laws and the repayment companies such as his have to make.
UK politicians have been quick to gain political mileage on the issue of giant technology companies, maneuvering financial operations to exploit least-tax payment countries. Google Inc., Amazon Inc. and other cyberspace giants are currently under the cloud for paying less in the countries where they enjoy popularity and consumer base.


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Spring is here and resorts are closing in on the end of ski season. And, as always, they’re already looking ahead, pushing ski pass deals for the 2023/24 season and locking people in for yet another year.
As usual, Alterra, Vail, the Indie Pass and Purgatory are offering early bird deals on the Ikon, Epic, Indie, and Power Passes. But not for long. If you want to buy your 2023/24 pass for below full price, you should act fast because over the next several weeks, they’re all going up.
Ikon, Epic, Indie, Power Pass Deals
Ikon Pass: Alterra
Currently, the Ikon Base sells for $829 and the full Ikon is $1,159 through April 21. After that, the prices will go up by $100.
Ikon pass holders this year will also get two discount codes for Smith eyewear, a year’s subscription to Outside content, 20% off The North Face purchases (of $200 or more), and $100 off any Ikon Pass Travel booking made before May 5.
Epic Pass: Vail
Vail is currently selling its Epic Local pass for $676 and the full Epic pass for $909. The resort company has not yet announced when its passes will go up in price. But it has confirmed that the pass prices will increase sometime “in the next several months” according to ticket sales offices.
Vail is sweetening the deal this year for early purchasers, as well. If you bought your Epic pass before April 16, you also got 10 buddy passes for the season — which offer 40-48% off of regular day pass prices (depending on the resort). So your buddy can ski Vail for $164 a day instead of $274.
Full Epic pass holders will also get 20% off on-mountain food and drink, lodging, shuttle services, lessons, and rentals. It also includes one free wax and a 50% off tune.
The Indy Pass
A “homegrown alternative” to the Epic and Alterra mega resort companies, the Indie pass gives holders 2 free days at over 100 smaller ski resorts around the country. Last year, Colorado’s own Sunlight Resort in Glenwood Springs joined the pass.
For the 2023/24 season, the Indie Pass was supposed to be available for an early bird discount until May 1. However, as of April 11, they have already sold out. If you already have an Indie Pass for 2023/24 and are having second thoughts, the company is offering a full refund (for the first time) for anyone who bought theirs early.
Power Pass: Purgatory
Purgatory’s 2023/24 Power Pass is also available right now for its cheapest price. Now through May 5, it is $649 and comes with six 30% off discount day passes, 10% off on-mountain services, and 3 free days at Hesperus, Snowbowl, Brian Head, Sipapu, Pajarito, Nordic Valley, and Willamette Pass.
According to the resort, the Power Pass price will go up several more times before Nov. 30, when it reaches full price. Purgatory wouldn’t disclose what the full price will be for 2023/24 when asked. But if you buy your 2023/24 Power Pass now, you can start using it immediately at Purgatory (before its closing date on April 23), which is a pretty neat bonus for anyone not currently on the Power Pass.
For more information and to buy your 2023/24 season ski pass before prices jump, check out the Ikon, Epic, and Purgatory websites.


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Leaks and rumors surrounding major flagships always start months before we get to see the official launch. Following the streak, Samsung’s Galaxy Note 10 has entered its leaks phase with several reports hinting key specs and other details. The latest leak suggests that the upcoming phone in the Note series would debut with four variants. Let’s dig out more info concerning it.
Samsung Galaxy Note 10 to Launch in Four Variants
The report states that the Galaxy Note 10 will have four variants, wherein, the two models will be LTE-equipped and the other two would 5G compatible. The standard variant in the series would conform to the Samsung Galaxy S10. The screen sizes for all the four variants are tipped to be at 6.28-inch and 6.75-inch. The smaller size variant will reportedly take after the Galaxy S10e‘s compact design.
Samsung has launched the Galaxy S10 series in multiple models, and the company is expected to do the same with the upcoming Galaxy Note 10. The screen sizes for LTE compatible models will be at 6.28-inch and 6.75-inch. These variants would pack triple or quad rear cameras. Although the report says that the 5G variants won’t be different from the LTE models, we can expect the 5G ones to have larger batteries.
Samsung Galaxy Note 10 With Compact Variant Like Galaxy S10e
After the success of the Galaxy S10e, Samsung is reportedly bringing the same compact size variant for the Galaxy Note 10. The company will launch the flagship in multiple models to make the most of the sale. Samsung is pushing the idea of providing users with varied choices in terms of screen size and pricing. As one can expect, a smaller screen variant would rock a cheaper price tag than the large screen variants.
Samsung’s strategy seems to be on point here, but its Note series has always been known for its big display and S-Pen functionality, we wonder how the company plans to work the key features around the small screen variant, especially the S-Pen. One of the recent reports about the Galaxy Note 10 hinted that it will have a Time of Flight (ToF) sensor in its quad camera setup, just like the Galaxy S10 5G. And if the latest report about small screen variant is anything to go by, we doubt if it will also sport a quad camera like other models.
It is too early to base any judgments on the upcoming Galaxy Note 10 series, which is why we must take these rumors with a pinch of salt. We will get to know everything about the Galaxy Note 10 when it starts inching closer to the official launch. In the meantime, check out our review video for the Galaxy Note 9 and subscribe to our YouTube channel for your daily dose of tech.
Thanks for reading till the end of this article. For more such informative and exclusive tech content, like our Facebook page


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More campaigns are starting to raise awareness of social and children's issues through dolls, a recent one being the Toy Like Me campaign that began on Facebook and resulted in the release of a line of dolls designed for children with disabilities.
British toy company Makies designs customized dolls featuring children with hearing, visual and physical impairments as well as birthmarks. "We put a bunch of things on hold and jumped into designing toy hearing aids, toy walking aids, working out how to do facial birthmarks," the Makie website says, adding they have 3-D printed toy wheelchairs. "Toy Like Me Facebook campaign (#toylikeme) has rallied for greater diversity in the toy box, calling for toys that reflect children in more inclusive ways than the market currently offers. Toy Like Me's Facebook posts of toy makeovers by parents of disabled children have been widely shared, reaching an audience of 50,000 and rising - thanks to enthusiastic support from parents eager for positive representation of disability in toys," the campaign also announced in a statement.
According to a Business Insider article, Makies first introduced three dolls - Melissa, Eva and Hetty - all of which have different disabilities. "Makies' Melissa doll has a hand-painted facial birthmark which can be customized on request. Eva is a visually impaired character who comes with a cane and glasses. Hetty comes with hot pink hearing aids," the article reported. A 3-D printed doll can be made in a day and they cost around $120.
Playmobil also supports the campaign. Other dolls in the Toy Me Like campaign feature a visually-impaired one with a seeing-eye dog and a Tinkerbell doll with a cochlear implant.


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Prepare for a “Food Police State” With Guards, Rationing, and Riots – zoohousenews.com
(Natural News) Today’s analysis covers threats to food security in 2023 and beyond, beginning with the now apparent fact that food inflation continues to worsen almost everywhere. This easy-to-observe fact is so self-evident today that no one needs to be persuaded of the reality of rising food prices. Yet few people have given serious thought to where this is headed in terms of global famine, civil unrest, revolution and more.
In 2023 and beyond, we will see some of the troubling signs of food shortages and panic among the general public and food retailers:
Armed guards at grocery stores fighting back surge in organized theft of meat products in retail outlets. Access restrictions (and biometric ID requirements) on who can enter grocery stores and buy groceries. Food rationing limits enforced through digital currency controls that closely monitor your grocery purchases and ban you if you’ve reached your government-enforced limit. Food riots erupt in many cities and countries as fear and famine spread. More food wastage through sabotage of food facilities and transportation infrastructure. Increased geoengineering efforts to destroy crops from man-made droughts, floods, and storms.
For the full list, see my podcast (below), which also features an interview with David DuByne (Adapt 2030), a Brighteon.TV host and global food analyst.
In America, groceries are becoming more expensive and scarce, but the shelves will not be empty just yet
In 2023, the United States will experience significant food inflation and intermittent shortages, but shelves will not become empty on a large scale. However, food shortages will be far worse seen in Europe and consumers there should expect empty shelves, less choice, less depth of inventory at retailers and frequent purchase restrictions imposed by retailers.
For Americans, the grocery shopping experience in 2023 will increasingly resemble a police state, with entry restrictions, guarded entry and exit points in some stores, increased surveillance, and dedicated store guards near the meat aisles of many stores.
We anticipate increased car thefts from grocery customers driving home, increased robberies of grocery customers exiting stores, and increased home thefts involving groceries rather than jewelry or other valuables. We also assume that consumers intentionally buy in bulk (several people together) as they realize that safety comes in numbers.
In many areas of American cities, grocery shoppers arm themselves before going shopping and carry concealed pistols as a means of self-defense. We will see food shootings in 2023 and beyond.
In addition, we anticipate more wholesale food theft, with organized wholesale theft rings targeting meat plants, grocers and food manufacturers. Think of this as “pallet theft” involving forklifts and heavy trucks.
Your experience largely depends on where you live
While the “food police state” scenario will aggressively unfold in blue cities marked by rampant theft, violence and police defunding, rural grocery chains are unlikely to experience such chaos. The rule of law is stronger in rural counties and states across America, and the rapid expansion of both concealed carry and constitutional carry (carry without a permit) laws means food thieves will think twice before robbing rural grocery stores that are probably from well-armed customers.
Will people shoot each other for food in 2023? We think so, yes. But most of the violence will likely be confined to high-density cities populated by lawless people (ie Leftists/Democrats).
However, the violence could be multiplied at any time due to failures in the federal food stamp system (SNAP program), which could stem from cyberattacks or power grid outages. Such scenarios would likely lead to spontaneous food riots, followed by looting of food retailers in affected cities.
In response, we anticipate that many grocery retailers will close their operations in blue cities and simply refuse to do business in such lawless environments. Dispensaries like CVS have already followed this pattern, closing stores in high-risk areas (all blue cities run by lawless Democrats).
This will further exacerbate the mystery of the “food desert” in inner cities, where food choices are already limited and nutritionally deficient.
Government fraud over food inflation
When the White House claims that food inflation has “peaked” and may even fall, they are saying that inflation is no longer rising. But prices continue to rise because the inflation rate still remains in positive territory. Mathematically, they claim that the second derivative (the rate of change) is leveling off, but the first derivative (the rate of change) is still high, so food will continue to rise in price even when the inflation rate is rising or decreasing is said to be falling.
Few understand that. The masses are so illiterate in mathematics that Britain’s Daily Mail reports people being stunned to learn that 550/2 isn’t 225. For some reason people think 550/2 is 225 when it’s obviously 275. But math illiteracy is so rampant that typical consumers don’t even know basic fifth-grade classification, let alone understand the second derivative of food prices.
Mathematically illiterate people are very easy for governments to fool, and that is exactly what is happening.
More Americans will grow their own food in 2023 and beyond
The silver lining is the fact that this year (and for many years to come) more Americans will choose to grow some of their own food.
Home gardening will quickly go from being a hobby to a money-saving necessity. In other words, if food inflation is bad enough, growing food at home to save money will become viable. Easy-to-grow crops like okra and kale can easily add fresh produce to a household diet without requiring expensive inputs (other than time).
For this reason, we anticipate record demand for garden tools, home garden fertilizers and seeds for the 2023 spring gardening season.
We have two frequent sponsors who offer non-GMO heirloom seed kits: HHseeds.com and ArkSeedKits.com. Use the discount code ‘Ranger’ to save at both retailers’ websites.
The benefit of all of this is that the more Americans grow their own food, the healthier they become. In addition, local food production contributes to food decentralization and encourages local food exchanges and small retail businesses. Decentralized food systems are more resilient and adaptable, allowing them to respond smarter and faster to major events such as economic embargoes, droughts, or other crop conditions that cause widespread crop failures.
Additionally, most local gardeners and small farmers tend to use heirloom or non-GMO seeds, promoting seed conservation and the sustainability of local foods without relying on toxic herbicides like glyphosate.
In other words, the high price of corporate monoculture food is likely to spark a local food revolution with tremendous benefits for humanity.
It’s time for humanity to grow.
Find out more in Today’s Situation Update Podcast featuring an interview with David DuByne:
– Update on the NFL player who collapsed and required 9 minutes of resuscitation
– Chaos in Congress as McCarthy is not elected speaker
– Gold prices rise to 6-month high
– Ancient humans skinned bears over 320,000 years ago
– The WEF declares that pedophiles will save humanity
– Microplastics TRIPLE on the seabed and does not decompose
– Lobbyist: Coca-Cola paid NAACP to declare soda opponents ‘racist’
– Plans to inject cattle with mRNA “vaccines” are accelerated
– Get ready to eat your ground beef SPIKE PROTEIN burger
– 10+ threats to your food security in 2023
– Geoengineering will accelerate floods, droughts and storms
– The food facility SABOTAGE continues to take its toll
– Closure of food producers due to labor shortages
– Expect food riots and food rationing in many countries in 2023
– Disruptions in transport infrastructure will exacerbate scarcity
– Featured interview with David DuByne on food shortage predictions for 2023
iTunes Podcast: Healthrangerreport.com/situation-update-jan-4-2023-the-10-biggest-threats-to-your-food-security-in-2023
See Food.news for more coverage of the food supply and threats to production.
Discover more interviews and podcasts every day at:
follow me on:
Brighteon.social: Brighteon.social/@HealthRanger (my breaking news will be posted here first)
Subscribe to zoohousenews.com’s free email newsletter to stay up-to-date with breaking news each day.
Download my latest audiobooks – including Ghost World, Survival Nutrition, The Global Reset Survival Guide and The Contagious Mind – at:
Download my new audio book, Resilient Prepping, at ResilientPrepping.com – it teaches you how to survive the total collapse of civilization and the failure of both the grid and internal combustion engines.


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The third entry in Sucker Punch Productions’ open world anti-superhero series is called Infamous: Second Son, and it looks marvelous. I’m a big fan of the Infamous series, few games offer the satisfaction that is surfing on electrical wires, tossing cars with shockwaves, and being an overall badass. Second Son won’t follow Cole, the electrified anti-hero from the first two games — instead it stars Delsin Rowe, who brings with him a brand new arsenal of abilities.
No solid release date was given, outside of the promise that it will launch before March 31, 2014, exclusively on the PlayStation 4. Read on for a look at its action-packed E3 trailer.
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