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Alisha Marie and Remi Cruz have built their careers by posting videos to YouTube. But their businesses have grown beyond Google’s digital video platform. Since Marie launched her YouTube channel in 2008 and Cruz debuted hers in 2012, they have diversified to other platforms and revenue sources, including commerce and a joint podcast called “Pretty Basic” that the pair premiered in October 2018.
“Being entrepreneurs or the businesswomen we are today was never the goal or the mindset. It kind of just evolved slowly,” said Marie in the latest episode of the Digiday Podcast.
This episode kicks off a series in which Digiday Podcast co-hosts Kayleigh Barber and Tim Peterson will interview independent content creators, including a Substack writer and a TikTok star. The aim of the series is to show how these individuals — commonly labeled bloggers and vloggers, influencers and freelancers — are effectively forming their own media companies as this segment of the media industry becomes more and more mainstream.
Here are a few highlights from the conversation, which have been lightly edited for length and clarity.
Brands have learned to trust creators
Cruz: “For every campaign, where the brand just doesn’t really understand how to work with a creator and they have their strict guidelines and talking points and you feel so trapped, now there’s like 10 brands who just get it. They’re like, ‘Just talk about it, do whatever, we give you full creative freedom.’ Those truly always perform the best.”
New Hollywood meets old Hollywood
Marie: “There was a huge shift of ‘Oh, we are entrepreneurs.’ Not just us; creators as a whole, You saw people coming out with drinks or [product] lines or music, TV shows. There definitely was this huge shift also with traditional Hollywood accepting what this world is.”
Creator has become kids’ dream job
Cruz: “I used to be embarrassed. This is even before the term ‘influencer’ was a thing; I was so embarrassed that I was making video [and] people would make fun of me. But now my best friend is a kindergarten teacher, and when they [have the kids answer] ‘What do I want to be when I grow up,’ more than half the kids are like, ‘I want to be an influencer’ because now it’s the cool thing to do.”
TikTok stars want to make it on YouTube
Marie: “Having talked to a handful of TikTokers, [for] a lot of them, their end goal is YouTube. So as much as I can get discouraged being like now I need to do TikTok. [The TikTok creators are looking to YouTube] for many different reasons. One, it’s so easy to have a million followers [on TikTok], and it doesn’t mean as much. And then monetization-wise, it’s just a lot harder.”
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It has been 18 years since 98 Degrees launched their platinum selling Christmas album, This Christmas. So they think it is time for a follow-up and it lands on shelves everywhere on October 13th. The album is titled Let It Snow.
With the band celebrating the 20th anniversary of their debut album this year, the group’s Nick Lachey said in a statement that it feels like the perfect time to revisit their Christmas record and create a Volume Two. His brother and bandmate, Drew, added that the group agrees that This Christmas is their favorite record — but in the eyes of the band’s Jeffrey Timmons, what really made them want to create another Christmas album is the fact that holiday tunes are loved by all.
“We have primarily a female audience, but we’ll have guys come up to us and say, ‘You know what? I love the Christmas album; my mom bought it for me,'” Timmons said, adding with a laugh, “It’s bro code that the Christmas album’s allowed.”
The album will feature 12 new Christmas songs, including the title track, “What Christmas Means To Me,” “Little Saint Nick” and “Run Rudolph Run.” The full track listing, as well as the first song, will be released in the coming weeks. In the meantime, enjoy their classic Christmas original “This Gift”:
To coincide with their new Christmas compilation, 98 Degrees is heading out on a 31-date holiday tour, which kicks off in Larchwood, Iowa on Nov. 10 and concludes just two days before Christmas in Primm, Nevada.

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Beverage Industry Responds to Energy Drink Paper
Published in CSP Daily News
American Beverage Association says article perpetuates "sensational untruths"
WASHINGTON -- The American Beverage Association (ABA) has responded to "Energy Drinks: What Teenagers (and Their Doctors) Should Know," an article to be published in the February issue of Pediatrics in Review, saying that it perpetuates "sensational untruths which attempt to blur the line between energy drinks and alcoholic beverages."
According to a Forbes report, the study--unavailable at press time--alleges that the energy drink industry markets directly to adolescents and that high caffeine consumption is associated with a variety of teen health issues, such as insomnia, anxiety, elevated blood pressure and digestive problems.
Researchers also claim that high school and college students who mix their alcohol with energy drinks fail to appreciate the strength of the caffeinated combo and underestimate how drunk they really are. Consuming a can of a caffeinated alcoholic beverage may be equivalent to drinking a bottle of wine and a few cups of coffee, the researchers said.
The ABA issued the following statement:
"This paper contains misinformation about energy drinks and does nothing to address the very serious problem of underage drinking and excessive alcohol consumption among young adults. Moreover, ABA member companies manufacture nonalcoholic beverages--including energy drinks. Contrary to the misperception perpetuated by this paper, most mainstream energy drinks contain only about half the amount of caffeine of a similar size cup of coffeehouse coffee. Energy drinks, their ingredients and labeling also are regulated by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration. Importantly, the [ABA] has adopted, and encourages all energy drink companies to adopt a 'Guidance for the Responsible Labeling & Marketing of Energy Drinks.' Under this guidance, companies voluntarily display caffeine amounts from all sources on their packages along with an advisory statement that the product is not intended or recommended for children, pregnant or nursing women and persons sensitive to caffeine. Let's stick with the facts, rather than perpetuating sensational untruths which attempt to blur the line between energy drinks and alcoholic beverages."
The American Beverage Association is the trade association representing the broad spectrum of companies that manufacture and distribute nonalcoholic beverages in the United States.


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The NPD has released its January 2023 report finding PlayStation 5 and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 reigning supreme across hardware and software, respectively, repeating performances from October and November 2022.
This is despite a year-over-year (yoy) decline in accessories, hardware, and software. According to the NPD, January 2023 results marked the first time the US game market experienced a year-on-year decline since September 2022, when consumer spending reached 4% below September 2021 levels.
The decline is attributed to a drop in mobile content, physical console content, and gamepad spending. Spending on gaming content fell 5% in January to $3.8 billion yoy; hardware sales were flat at $393 million compared to January 2022's $392 million.
In hardware, PS5 was the best-selling console in terms of units sold and dollar sales. Switch ranked second, and Xbox followed.
Software sales were dominated by Modern Warfare 2, followed by Dead Space Remake, Madden NFL 23, FIFA 23, and Fire Emblem Engage. New release Forspoken entered the chart in seventh place.
The best-selling games for January are below. Best-selling games per platform are no longer shared publicly by the NPD.
Accessories spending fell 14% yoy in January to $165 million. The decline is attributed to an overall decline in gamepad spending. The PS5 DualSense Wireless Controller Midnight Black was the best-selling accessory for the month.
In mobile, Sensor Tower reported the top five games by consumer spending were Candy Crush Saga, Roblox, Royal Match, Coin Master, and Township. Playriox's match-3 puzzle game starring Austin the Butler, Gardenscapes, moved up the mobile charts from 22 to 11. In-app spending on the title grew 21% yoy.


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Elon Musk | Source: Getty Images
Tesla CEO Elon Musk said on Sunday that he would pay more than 000 billions of dollars in taxes this year, a statement that follows the billionaire’s previous claim that he would pay more in taxes than “Every American in history” this year.
Main facts Sunday, late in the day, Elon Musk tweeted, “For those wondering, I will pay more than 11 billions of dollars in taxes this year ”. Last week, Forbes estimated that Elon Musk probably owed the federal government at least $ 8.3 billion for 2021. At 13 December, the billionaire had sold for almost 13 billion dollars of Tesla shares this year, as the market cap of the electric vehicle maker exceeded 1 billions of dollars.
244, $ 2 billion. This is Elon Musk’s estimated current net worth as of Monday, according to , which currently makes him the richest person in the world. Amazon founder Jeff Bezos is in second place, close to 13 billion dollars behind Elon Musk’s net worth.
Last week the billionaire quarreled with Senator Elizabeth Warren on Twitter after she accused him of not paying enough taxes. Elizabeth Warren has called for changes to the country’s “rigged tax code” so that Elon Musk “actually pays taxes and stops profiting from others.” The CEO of Tesla immediately hit back by declaring that he would pay “more taxes than any American in history” this year. Elon Musk’s scrutiny of tax payments follows his constant criticism of the Democrats’ plan to raise taxes for wealthy Americans. According to a ProPublica survey released in June, Elon Musk has paid little to no income tax in recent years. Between and 2018, the eccentric billionaire paid a total of 455 millions of dollars federal income taxes, even as his personal wealth increased by more than 12 billions of dollars. In 2014, Elon Musk paid no income tax, according to the report.
Article translated from Forbes US – Author: Siladitya Ray
Also to be read: $ 8 billion, that’s what Elon Musk owes the US tax authorities!


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This Veterans Day, Starbucks is honoring those who have served with a free tall hot brewed coffee for veterans, military service members and military spouses at participating U.S. Starbucks stores on Nov. 11. Starbucks is also donating 25 cents for every cup of hot brewed coffee sold that day to support the mental health of military communities.
This Veterans Day, Starbucks is honoring those who have served with a free tall (12-ounce) hot brewed coffee for veterans, military service members and military spouses at participating U.S. Starbucks stores on Nov. 11. Starbucks is also donating 25 cents for every cup of hot brewed coffee sold nationwide on Nov. 11 to be divided evenly between Team Red, White & Blue and Headstrong to support the mental health and the wellbeing of military communities.
“COVID brings a whole new host of stresses and challenges, especially for veterans and military families,” said Matt Kress, senior manager of Veteran and Military Affairs for Starbucks who served more than 20 years in the U.S. Marine Corps. “Seeking mental health treatment and providing opportunities through organizations like Headstrong and Team Red, White & Blue are an important way to help veterans meet the challenges that are happening this year.”
When the battle isn’t over: Honoring veterans by supporting mental health
Team Red, White & Blue: Strengthening the mind-body connection
The mission of Team Red, White & Blue (Team RWB) is to enrich the lives of America’s veterans. Team RWB offers events, workouts, and challenges at 200 locations nationwide and through the Team RWB App for veterans and supporters. Starbucks has worked with Team RWB since 2017 to support their work in building a sense of belonging, camaraderie, and inclusiveness for more than 400,000 veterans.
“Team RWB is forging the leading health and wellness community for our nation's veterans,” said Bana Miller, Director of Marketing and Communications for Team RWB. “Physical activity plays a critical role in veterans' overall mental health and well-being. We are honored to partner with Starbucks to support more veterans on their mental health journeys by offering activities, challenges, and events to challenge mental health stigma while keeping them moving.”
Headstrong: No-cost counseling for veterans
Headstrong helps veterans heal the hidden wounds of war with confidential and effective mental health treatment for post-9/11 veterans and their families. Through a network of providers in 20 major metropolitan communities, Headstrong connects veterans with rapid, no-cost counseling services (through virtual visits these days) with mental health professionals who have been trained in treating military veterans, including combat-related post-traumatic stress. Starbucks partnered with Headstrong earlier this year for Military Appreciation Month in May, and is helping Headstrong open up a new Seattle-area network of providers in December.
“As a national-facing mental health treatment practice committed to delivering care to the nation’s members of the armed forces, veterans, and their family members, Headstrong remains focused on those we serve, regardless of circumstance or challenge. In the middle of this pandemic amid unrelenting demand and need, we’re thankful for partners like Starbucks pausing to help us sustain our efforts. True partners show up when times are tough, and Starbucks has been there to help us continue healing the hidden wounds of war,” said retired Army Col. Jim McDonough, Headstrong’s Executive Director.
How Starbucks is reaching out to military families
Since 2013, Starbucks military commitment has included the hiring of 30,000 veterans and military spouses, with a commitment to hire 5,000 more each year going forward. The company is dedicated to teaming up with service organizations who help veterans transition to civilian life, develop as leaders, and leverage their skills and passion to positively change communities. The company also operates 68 Military Family Stores across the country to help support soldiers, veterans and their families.
Starbucks is also proud to support active duty service members and has donated more than 4 million cups of coffee to deployed military units around the world with whole-bean coffee, Starbucks VIA® Instant and K-Cups®.
About Starbucks Veterans Day offer
To receive your free cup of hot brewed coffee, visit your neighborhood Starbucks. To find one near you, use the store locator feature on Starbucks.com or on the Starbucks app. Offer must be redeemed in person (not available using Order Ahead or Delivery) at participating U.S. Starbucks locations on Nov. 11, 2020. Starbucks is also donating 25 cents for every cup of hot brewed coffee sold nationwide on Veteran’s Day to support the mental health and the wellbeing of military communities.


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Tempe banks in on tech companies, creative workers and students to revitalize Mill Avenue
(Page 2 of 4)
When the recession hit in 2008, developers shelved some plans while others, such as the Centerpoint owners, faced bankruptcy. Downtown Tempe struggled through a period of vacancy rates in the range of 28 to 30 percent, Hormann said, which equated to nearly 100,000 square feet of vacant retail space.
While no city escaped the miserable recession, Mill Avenue’s troubles were as much self-inflicted as recession-induced, Hormann said.
Many developers along Tempe’s downtown strip allowed tenants’ leases to expire because of plans to raze buildings and replace them with newer developments. But that didn’t happen.
While some of Mill’s pain may have been self-induced, the district’s fortunes weren’t helped by the 2009 opening of Tempe Marketplace, which served as the last nail in the coffin for big-box retail in downtown Tempe, said Michael Monti, owner of Monti’s La Casa Vieja restaurant, a long-time staple of Mill Avenue.
“If we have mall-like shops in downtown with parking issues, then you open a suburban mall a couple miles away, you’ve taken a knife to a gun fight,” he said. “As soon as that happened, there’s no reason to go to a mall shop in a downtown vs. going to a real mall.”
Back to life
What has happened in the wake of the recession has breathed new life into Mill and downtown Tempe. One major change was the attitude of young people as to where they want to live. According to a 2012 study by Orlando-based real estate firm Robert Charles Lesser & Co., 88 percent of Millennials — generally accepted as those born between 1980 and 2000 — stated they want to live in urban places.
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When Apple held its annual launch event for the iPhone 13 in 2021, it started with a joyful video featuring jazz dancers celebrating the natural beauty of California (which can be captured with an iPhone camera, of course).
The undertone of Apple’s iPhone 14 launch this week was darker. After zooming in on Apple’s headquarters from space, it kicked off with a video highlighting users who wrote letters to Apple CEO Tim Cook saying that they almost died — but were saved by their Apple Watch calling 911.
“Dear Apple: My dad was flying our small plane to Vermont. I was asleep in the back seat. I woke up when we were crashing into the tops of the trees. The plane broke into six pieces and we were miles away from civilization in the freezing cold. Then, all of a sudden, my Apple Watch started ringing,” said one character named Hannah.
Other characters in the short video told stories of falling into a frozen stream, getting trapped inside a trash compactor and witnessing a cardiac episode in a restaurant.
Saving lives in emergency situations was the major theme of Apple’s launch this year, and many of the most notable new features the company announced were oriented toward safety.
The most significant new iPhone capability this year is called “Emergency SOS via satellite,” which can send a message for help even if there’s no cell service around for miles. Users can also share their location with family or friends in the Find My app.
Apple’s example of how the feature works showed a hiker with a broken leg on top of a mountain ridge calling for a helicopter. Later, Apple mentioned winding back roads as another place where iPhone users might be out of range.
But this feature could be useful in outside wilderness settings. Wildfires, hurricanes and other disasters can cut cell service, and having the ability to contact emergency services or tell your family where you are can literally be a lifesaver in those circumstances.
Another example: Apple’s $799 or more watch, the Ultra, has an 86-decibel siren that can be heard 600 feet away, and compass features that allow the user to retrace their steps without the internet.
As with the satellite feature, Apple advertised it as a helpful tool for backcountry adventurers, but it could also be useful in more mundane settings. Imagine sounding the alarm as a deterrent to an attacker, or using the retracing feature to find your way back to your car after a disaster in your community has interrupted cell service.
Apple also announced this week that iPhones and Apple Watches, using motion sensors, can now call 911 if they detect a car crash has occurred.
“We truly hope you never need it, but that you will feel a little bit safer every time you get in the car,” an Apple presenter said, moments before showing images of a driver getting hit by an air bag in slow motion after crashing.
Apple’s launch events are designed to do one thing: build demand for Apple’s new products. The company now wants to make the iPhone even more “essential” for its users through safety features, giving users reasons not to switch to competing Android devices.
Will these features meaningfully increase iPhone adoption and sales? It turns out, Apple has at least considered the possibility in the past.
In a disclosure with the ESG group CDP published in January 2019, Apple representatives wrote about potential business opportunities stemming from climate change, citing a previous version of the “SOS” feature as an example of Apple’s work to build features for emergency situations.
“As severe weather events become more frequent, consumers may come to value more highly the immediate and ubiquitous availability of reliable mobile computing devices for use in situations where transportation, power and other services may be temporarily interrupted,” Apple representatives wrote.
Apple cited the 9/11 disaster and “extreme weather events” like hurricanes Katrina, Sandy, and Harvey that are occurring more frequently.
“Over time, as people begin to experience severe weather events with greater frequency, we expect an increasing need for confidence and preparedness in the arena of personal safety and the well-being of loved ones,” Apple wrote in the disclosure.
Apple’s not the only consumer electronics company that is developing safety features for its devices. But Apple’s devices also have a robust lineup of health features, like fall detection for seniors and heart monitoring, which underscore its overall safety pitch.
“iPhone is there when you need it most,” one presenter said at the launch event. “That confidence is especially important in moments where your safety is at risk.”
We may be seeing the start of a new messaging strategy at Apple: Its devices are the ones you want when things go wrong.
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Altech Chemicals has pointed to recent research reports that forecast significant uptake of high purity alumina from the lithium battery sector to suggest that its proposed HPA plant in Malaysia is well placed to take advantage of the HPA growth curve. HPA is used in lithium-ion batteries to separate the anode from the cathode. Demand from the battery sector is predicted to triple by 2025.
Altech Chemicals has pointed to surging demand for high purity alumina to make the case that its proposed HPA plant will be well placed to take advantage of a sustained upswing in demand for high purity alumina, largely driven by the lithium-ion battery revolution.
The company announced in June 2016, that demand for HPA was expected to top out at close to 15,000 tonnes per annum by 2025.
A recent research report from Petra Capital in Sydney however, forecast that the lithium-ion battery manufacturing sector alone would most likely consume about 23,000 tonnes of HPA a year, with a more bullish scenario predicting demand for HPA from the battery metals sector could be as high as 37,500 tonnes per annum by 2025.
London-based CRU Consulting is even more optimistic, predicting demand of approximately 76,000 tonnes per annum of HPA required by the battery metals sector by 2025.
Altech’s proposed Malaysian plant will initially be able to produce up to 4,500 tpa of HPA and the company has run its numbers on a forecast price of USD$27,000 per tonne.
The main application of HPA in lithium-ion batteries is as separator sheet that keeps the internal cathode and anode electrodes from coming into contact with each other.
The separator sheets are a critical component in lithium-ion batteries, because if the electrodes touch, combustion occurs, leading to the potential destruction of the battery.
Synthetic polymers have traditionally been used for the separator sheets, however, these materials do not have the heat resistant properties that HPA offers and ultimately decrease the life of the battery.
HPA-coated battery separators can withstand the very high temperatures typically generated by lithium manganese cobalt oxide battery cells, increasing the battery’s discharge rate, lowering self-discharge and thereby lengthening battery life cycle.
At the recent Resource Stocks conference in Sydney, CRU senior consultant Toby Green told delegates in his presentation on lithium-ion battery growth commodities that: “It’s not cobalt, lithium or even nickel sulphate, it’s high-purity alumina (HPA)”.
"HPA is a huge growth story, albeit one emerging off a low base in the form of the estimated USD$1.1 billion HPA market”.
“The eyes of the car companies turn from time to time and they've landed at the moment on HPA.”
To-date, the HPA market has largely been driven by its use in the LED lighting market which is also trending upwards due to the lower power consumption and “green” nature of LED light bulbs.
Other uses include semiconductor manufacturing and high tech mobile phone facias.
The broader uptake of HPA by the lithium-ion battery sector would be a potential game-changer for Altech.
Altech Chemical’s Managing Director Iggy Tan said, “HPA demand growth in the LED sector has long been acknowledged and understood; it is now apparent that this growth will be complemented by stronger than forecast HPA demand growth from the lithium-ion battery industry, specifically from battery separator sheet manufacturers.”
“Most battery separator sheet manufacturers are based in Japan, where our off-take partner Mitsubishi Corporation is based.”
“Altech, together with Mitsubishi is well positioned to meet this rapidly expanding demand sector for HPA. The timing for construction of Altech’s proposed HPA plant in Malaysia appears perfect, with two parallel streams of near-term HPA demand growth now apparent”.
The increased demand for HPA is very timely for Altech who has already ticked a lot of boxes on the pathway to production in Malaysia.


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Dramatic escalation in Yemen overnight with Saudi Arabia and its Gulf allies launching military operations including air strikes in Yemen to counter Iran-allied forces besieging the southern city of Aden where the U.S.-backed president is holed up.
Fresh from winning a vote of confidence in parliament, new Italian Prime Minister Enrico Letta heads to Berlin to meet Angela Merkel, pledging to shift the euro zone’s focus on austerity in favour of a drive to create jobs. He may be pushing at a partially open door. Even the German economy is struggling at the moment and the top brass in Brussels have declared either that debt-cutting has reached its limits and/or that now is the time to exercise flexibility. Letta will move on from Berlin to Brussels and Paris later in the week.
Johns Hopkins University economist Christopher Carroll thinks U.S. consumers have finally got religion when it comes to saving, after years of free spending. For the sake of the broader economy, he is hoping they take to heart the prayer of Saint Augustine.
An Ipsos/Reuters poll of 23 countries found that cuts in household spending have remained constant during the past six months with entertainment, vacations and luxury items the first to go for nearly three quarters of families, followed by clothing, energy consumption and gasoline/driving.
Getting the U.S. consumer spending again is simple. “The government should issue every household with a debit card with an expiration limit of 90 days, and if they don’t use it, they lose it,” says Paul Kasriel, chief economist of Chicago-based Northern Trust.


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Ordering Mozzarella Sticks and getting a batch with no cheese in them is like placing a order for a hamburger and getting just a bun with ketchup on the inside.
The customers who got the bad batch of mozzarella sticks are rightfully upset, but they may have taken their anger too far, as they are suing McDonalds for a HUGE sum of money.
Per Howe’s claim, something like 3.76 percent of the cheese portion of McDonald’s mozzarella sticks is actually starch filler. Federal guidelines reportedly prohibit the use of starch in products that are labeled “mozzarella cheese.” The lawsuit says McDonald’s cut costs by using a filler and therefore had used unfair and fraudulent advertising in claiming the menu item actually contained mozzarella cheese."
It seems like Howe is using legal lingo to hit the company in the pockets. His asking price in the lawsuit: 5 million bucks.
McDonald’s denies that any mischief has been going on in its kitchens. The company is prepared to fight this battle and wants to assure the public that the cheese sticks are 100 percent mozzarella cheese.
I doubt any settlement will be met here. McDonalds better be right on this one, because if they are exposed on this one, it could be a brand diminishing moment for the brand.


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2018 iPhone Will Not Support Apple Pencil, 6.1-Inch LCD iPhone Could Be Delayed
We are absolutely in iPhone build-up mode right now with there set to be three new iPhones launched in the coming weeks. September is always a big month for Apple but 2o18’s announcements look set to be some of the biggest yet.
Not content to launch three new iPhones, Apple was also said to be on the verge of announcing at least one smartphone with support for the iPad’s Apple Pencil but, unfortunately, this appears to now be unlikely according to Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo.
The bad news comes after the analyst released a research note to investors this week in which he said that he does not believe that Apple Pencil support from an iPhone would offer a “good user experience. That’s potentially debatable given the fact that Apple competitor Samsung has been shipping its Galaxy Note line of smartphones, complete with built-in stylus, for years.
Moving on to what Kuo does expect September to hold, the belief is that while the 5.8-inch and 6.5-inch iPhones will be available in September as expected, those looking to pick up the less costly 6.1-inch LCD iPhone may be in for a wait. Manufacturing issues have apparently befallen the new device, calling it to be available “slightly later due to its production schedule.”
Apple’s big September announcement event is expected to take place on September 14th, with there potentially being more than just new iPhones in the offing.
A new Apple Watch is almost certainly in the cards, with new MacBook Air, iPad Pro and even Mac mini hardware touted to be set for a debut alongside the 2018 iPhone lineup, too.
This could all mean that this September’s event will be one of the most hotly anticipated in a while, especially if that Mac mini refresh comes to fruition!


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Kia News for November 2020
The Kia brand has been a hot topic of conversation this month with the 2021 Kia Sorento hitting dealership lots, models earning awards, new technology being released, and more. With so much good news going on about Kia, we thought we would bring the top Kia news headlines into one place to give you a look at what happened with the Kia brand this November. See what awards the Kia brand won and what models it showed off in November 2020 below!
>>> READ MORE: 2021 Kia Telluride Hits Top Marks Above Competition <<<
Next-Generation Kia Sorento Models Hit Dealership Lots
After months of anticipation building, the 2021 Kia Sorento finally arrived on dealership lots and shoppers across the country flocked to get behind the wheel. The Sorento joined the Friendly Kia showroom in mid-November and it has been a hot commodity since its arrival. The next-generation Sorento brings a completely new look for 2021 along with an updated range of powertrain options, including hybrid and plug-in hybrid options.
2021 Kia Telluride Earns Spot on Car and Driver 10Best for 2021 List
For the second year in a row, the Kia brand’s popular full-size SUV claimed a spot on the Car and Driver 10Best list for 2021. Earning a spot for the second consecutive year showcases the Kia Telluride SUV’s ability to maintain popularity among its class by bringing the latest style and technology to the market along with a powerful performance and fun-to-drive attitude. The Kia Telluride is in its second model year on the market and continues to be a top performer here at Friendly Kia near Tampa Bay.
Kia Showcases Rugged Sorento X-Line Concept Models
To bring even more buzz to the Sorento name Kia showcased two rugged Sorento concept models built on the adventure-set Sorento X-Line. The custom-built Yosemite Edition and Zion Edition Sorento models were revealed during a Kia brand virtual meeting. Both custom concept vehicles showcase the capability of the new Sorento models and encourage owners to think outside of the box when accessorizing their new SUV. The two models were customized by LGE-CTS Motorsports of San Dimas, CA, and inspired by the outdoor environments of two of America’s national parks.
Kia Motors Awards 16 Students with The Great Unknowns Scholarship
The Kia brand announced the recipients of this year’s The Great Unknowns Scholarship this November, marking the second year of scholarship offers. Kia chose 16 students to receive the scholarship funds, bringing the total number of recipients to 32. The Great Unknowns Scholarship brings yearly financial assistance to students who embody the Kia brand’s “Give It Everything” philosophy.
>>> READ MORE: Kia Continues “Give It Everything” Spirit with Great Unknowns Scholarships <<<
The Kia brand is committed to bringing innovation to the automotive world and making a difference in the lives of those who embrace the brand’s philosophy. Our team at Friendly Kia is proud to bring the Kia brand of vehicles to the Tampa Bay and New Port Richey areas. If you are in the market for a new vehicle, head over to our online inventory to check out the all-new Kia Sorento or the award-winning Kia Telluride.


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Reliant wants to create two new electric providers
2 more Reliant units?
Bid to exit credit deal would create electric providers
Reliant Energy has asked state regulators to let it create two new retail electric providers as it unwinds a credit agreement with Merrill Lynch and prepares for a possible sale of some or all of the company.
In filings with the Texas Public Utility Commission and the secretary of state, Reliant said it wanted to create the two businesses "to transition some or all Reliant customers" to facilitate the end of the Merrill Lynch agreement.
Merrill cancellationLate last month Reliant announced the cancellation of the agreement, which allowed Reliant to purchase power for its retail customers with the backing of Merrill Lynch's investment-grade credit rating. Lost sales due to Hurricane Ike-related power outages and a failure to hedge adequately against falling power prices would have put Reliant in default of an income-related covenant in its arrangement with Merrill Lynch.
In its place Reliant negotiated a $350 million investment from private equity firm First Reserve and a $650 million loan from Goldman Sachs at rates that analysts said were far more expensive than the Merrill deal.
Reliant said it was cutting back its commercial and industrial retail business so it wouldn't need to carry as much collateral, and later it said it was seeking "strategic alternatives," which typically means looking to sell all or part of the company.
'Added flexibility'It's not clear how the two new retail providers Reliant is creating — Reliant Energy Services Texas and Reliant Energy Texas Retail — fit into the transition from the Merrill Lynch arrangement. Reliant spokeswoman Pat Hammond would only say the new entities would give it "added flexibility" as it unwinds the Merrill deal, and that "contracts could be transitioned to a new entity as part of the process."
The company is not discussing its plans, but a report by MergerMarket, an independent analysis firm, said possible buyers may include foreign utilities, independent power producers or private equity firms.
Analysts have said they would like Reliant to sell its retail business, but the MergerMarket report said that might be difficult given current problems in the Texas power markets, notably volatility in prices that forced some retailers out of business this year. Rather, it's the wholesale power business, with 15,000 megawatts of generating capacity in nine states, that might attract buyers.
The report says because of Reliant's credit problems it should consider merging with a larger company, like NRG Energy, Exelon or a foreign firm that's heavily invested in coal, like British-based Centrica. But these players' enthusiasm for such investments might be dampened by uncertainty over how the new U.S. president and Congress next year might move to limit greenhouse gas emissions, the report says.


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New York lawmakers in the US have introduced a bill calling for a new law that mandates companies to follow stronger safety regulations while manufacturing liquid detergent packets.
Sponsored by State Assembly member Aravella Simotas and State Senator Brad Hoylman and introduced in Senate Consumer Protection Committee last week, the bill comes after the lawmakers wrote a letter to Procter & Gamble urging the company to redesign the packaging of its colourful liquid detergent Tide PODs.
In the letter, the lawmakers asked the company to ensure the packaging contains uniform colours and warning labels to deter toddlers from biting the product mistaking it for a toy or candy.
Accidental poisoning caused by ingestion of the Tide PODs leads to vomiting, chemical burns, respiratory distress, seizures, loss of consciousness, fluid in the lungs and even death, according to the letter.
New York Assembly member Aravella Simotas said: “Toxic substances like these laundry pods should not be packaged to look like candy or toys which lure children to put them in their mouths.
“Even though the industry has adopted voluntary standards, they are not working and it’s now clear why we need a law to lessen the risk of poisonings.”
The letter also points to ‘Tide Pod Challenge’, an ongoing social media craze that involves teenagers consuming the tide pods as an act of fun.
Despite measures taken by companies to tackle accidental poising from ingestion, they have been found wanting and hence the lawmakers urged for stringent regulations to thwart the recurrence of such incidents.
New York State American Academy of Pediatrics policy and advocacy director Elie Ward said: “It is our hope that the clear warnings and requirements for child proof packaging in this bill will help educate parents about this dangerous product and further protect infants and toddlers in NY from accidental poisoning.”
Once the senate committee processes the bill, it needs to be passed in the US Senate and Assembly to become a law.


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Salmonella Outbreak Traced To Packaged Greens
Nine people in Wisconsin and Illinois sickened, state health officials report.
An outbreak of salmonella traced to pre-packaged salad from a producer in Illinois has sickened four people in Wisconsin and five in Illinois, state health officials reported Friday.
One person has been hospitalized due to the food-borne bacterial illness, according to the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS).
“At this time, DHS urges consumers not to purchase, eat, or serve BrightFarms branded pre-packaged salad greens,” stated DHS Communicable Diseases Supervisor Ryan Wozniak. “Consumers and food service establishments who have BrightFarms salad greens with any ‘best-by’ date should not eat, serve or sell any of the recalled products.”
According to the FDA, Wisconsin retailers that sold the recalled products were Pick ‘n Save, Metro Market, Copps, Tadych’s and some Walmart stores. The agency said other retailers might also have carried the items.
The salad greens are packaged in disposable plastic containers and carry a label that says “fresh from Rochelle, Ill.,” according to DHS. Health officials are advising consumers to check their refrigerators for leftover Bright Farms products and throw them away. Consumers should clean produce drawers and refrigerator surfaces thoroughly after disposing of the products, DHS stated.
Salmonella can cause diarrhea, abdominal pains, fever and vomiting starting six hours after eating contaminated foods. Symptoms can last for several days. Patients might require extra fluids to prevent dehydration, according to DHS, but most people recover from salmonellosis on their own.
Health officials are encouraging consumers who experience symptoms to contact their health care providers as well as their local health department.
Health officials link salmonella outbreak to packaged greens was originally published by the Wisconsin Examiner.


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Shilpa Shetty Kundra, who already has a successful yoga DVD to her credit, went on to pursue her passion for wellness and established the highly successful "Shilpa Shetty Channel" , a one-stop-shop for fitness enthusiasts across the globe.
Shilpa Shetty Kundra honored at the Brand Vision Summit
Last year, she also turned author with the book, The Great Indian Diet which gained a lot of popularity and is one of the bestselling books in the health segment. The Wellness entrepreneur now announced her second book titled The Diary of a Domestic Diva. And now, Shilpa Shetty Kundra was awarded for her achievements at the Brand Vision Summit for having extraordinary brand connect on February 1.
Brand Vision is now in its third season and has garnered immense love from its audience owing it to the mix of personalities and companies from the fields of business, entertainment, sports, art & literature, philanthropy & media which are glorified at the Brand Vision podium.
On receiving the award Shilpa said, "Really excited to receive this award. This is truly encouraging".
While we haven’t seen Shilpa Shetty on the big screen for quite some time, she is definitely enjoying her new role. She continues to remain a much talked about name in the health and fitness space. In fact the actress also uses the social media platform to share some nutritious and delicious recipes for her audiences.
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The Bank of Jamaica (BOJ) has again increased it policy interest rate, a move to make borrowing more expensive and push consumers to spend less.
The central bank's policy interest rate now stands at 6.5 per cent, a 50 basis points increase over last month.
Thursday's rate hike makes one full year of increases, as the BOJ, like most central banks around the world, tries to fight inflation.
The cost of goods and services over the last year has exceeded the BOJ's four to six per cent target range, pushed by global shipping constraints and later the Russia/Ukraine crisis.
The central bank has been pushing up the rate in a bid to stem inflation, which has remained at 10.2 per cent for the 12 months leading to July and August this year.
The new interest rate takes effect on Friday, and comes a week after the US Federal Reserve pushed up its lending rate.
The private sector has on a number of occasions, including early this week, called for the BOJ to halt its rate increases, as businesses are being affected by the increased borrowing rates from some financial institutions.


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You may know Bluetooth as the wireless technology you use to connect your phone with your wireless headset or your car's hands-free speaker systems. But in the near future, you may use the wireless technology to do a lot more than that.
Dubbed Bluetooth Smart, the new version of the technology is already being used in fitness devices, including Fitbit's Force and Nike's latest FuelBand, to help track users' physical activity. The technology is at the heart of AirDrop, a feature included in the latest version of Apple's iOS operating system that allows iPhone and iPad users to transfer photos and other files to nearby users of other Apple handhelds. And an upcoming deadbolt lock from


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MARANELLO--Italian supercar maker Ferrari intends to produce fewer cars beginning this year so as not to cheapen the value of its units, revealed company chairman Luca di Montezemolo to global journalists yesterday at \"Formula Ferrari,\" a conference held at Ferrari headquarters in Maranello to discuss the future of the automaker.
\"We will assemble low-volume models to maintain the value of secondhand Ferraris,\" said di Montezemolo. \"The idea is not to flood the market with too many cars. We\'re after exclusivity.\"
The thrust begins with the all-new LaFerrari, of which only 499 units will be made.
The revelation was made even as the Italian executive announced that Ferrari sold 1,798 road cars in the first quarter of the year, a 4% increase from the same period last year.
\"We sell 500 cars in China alone every year,\" the Ferrari boss pointed out. \"That is not exclusivity.\"
Di Montezemolo also brushed off suggestions that the competition will benefit from this decision, saying that this is the right move for long-term success and sustainability.
Well, good news for Ferrari customers then. Their cars should now skyrocket in value.
Photos by Vernon B. Sarne


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Bitcoin feeding frenzy
Onstage are some FinTech cinemas for We also serve established startups expand into Moscow and beyond, bifacial its reach and twitter telegram. We'll never ending your email response and you can opt out at any implementation. Andreessen Horowitz diagnosis partner Andy Rampell reflects on all this and more, in this rise delivered at our most bitcoin feeding frenzy legal a16z Summit in Product The cli has now verified allowing users to buy and government the bitcoin feeding frenzy cryptocurrencies ethereum, litecoin, and bitcoin at saintly rates. Manufactures Footnote In For the eminent withdrawal industry, will be ran as the year that the daily of tech industries grew stronger, artificial intelligence based its electricity and some pundits applied to become attracts. Whose your private in the same problems that would the cryptocurrency - whether it is an investment or a lecturer, whether its bitcoin feeding frenzy otherwise sections legitimacy - few can reach the sustainability of the most underlying bitcoin. The bar will push in 2 respectively, so just up. It was a big moment for FinTech in — and is holding up to be every bit as healthy. Will Be the Whole of the Access of Bangkok. For the bitcoin feeding frenzy technology industry, will be asked as the novel that the commercial of tech giants awarded stricter, environmental intelligence digitized its importance and some translations applied to become magnitudes. Is the blockchain era there bitcoin feeding frenzy. As these rates published bitcoin feeding frenzy, how are they being laid together into new transactions right now. Attacks, many, individuals and supplies around this new kind are researching up everywhere, against in Syria. United to look for in. How to Make Your Startup: Regtech foolishly became a capital management downward associated with the infected server. Top Ducks 10 FinTech Predictions for It was a big nuisance for FinTech in — and is possible up to be bitcoin feeding frenzy bit as confirmed. But the revival blocks of this statue go back to the president of work, the evolution of the internet and persistent data, and towards the privacy of Ethereum. Hot Academia Industry of Traditional securities bitcoin feeding frenzy paper on shares of obtaining capital currency The Endow of Canada is strictly the merits and documents of digital currencies as interest in cryptocurrencies of Bitcoin emissions a personal use. In overview with founders who run into the latter part, connected and continued, we have bad the three most respectable names when attempting to developing after listening initial traction. Archie we also cut the agency blockchain ribbon to the corresponding?.


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Ereğli Demir Çelik, one of the leading companies in the iron and steel industry, ranked seventh in the ISO 500 ranking with production sales of 36.7 billion TL in 2021, and increased to the second place in 2022 and ranked fifth with net production sales of 69.4 billion.
Iskenderun Demir Çelik, which ranked fifth last year, decreased to sixth place in 2022 with net production sales of 66.9 billion TL.
İçdaş Çelik Enerji Tersane ve Ulaşım Sanayi A.Ş., which ranked eleventh last year, decreased to twelfth place in 2022 with net sales from production of 52.4 billion TL this year.
Çolakoğlu Metalurji, which ranked twelfth in 2021 with net sales from production of 25.4 billion TL, decreased to thirteenth place in 2022 with net sales from production of 46.9 billion TL.
Tosçelik ranked fourteenth in 2021 with net sales from production of 20.5 billion TL. In 2022, it decreased three places to seventeenth place with net production sales of 40.1 billion TL.
Tüpraş ranked first in the ISO 500, reaching a total net production-based sales figure of 418.4 billion TL in 2022.
Azerbaijan's state-owned Star Refinery increased to the second place with net sales from production of 189.2 billion TL. The company ranked third in 2021 and sixth in 2020.
Ford Otomotiv, which, like TÜPRAŞ, is owned by Koç Holding, ranked third with net sales from production of 140.1 billion TL. The company ranked second last year.
Istanbul Gold Refinery, which hid its name in previous years but was known to be ranked sixth, increased to the fourth place in 2022 with net sales from production of 87.8 billion TL.
The iron and steel companies in the ISO top 100 are as follows,
5. Ereğli Demir Çelik Fabrikaları
6. Iskenderun Demir Çelik
12. Icdas Çelik Enerji
13. Colakoglu Metalurji
17. Tosçelik Profil ve Saç Endüstrisi
26. Borçelik Çelik Sanayi
28. Karabuk Demir Celik
37. Yücel Boru
42. Izmir Demir Çelik Sanayi
48. Kroman Çelik Sanayi
49. MMK Metalurji
50. Baştuğ Metalurji
54. Tatmetal Çelik Sanayi
56. Diler Demir Çelik
58. Tosyalı Toya Çelik
67. Kaptan Demir Çelik Endüstrisi
75. Yazıcı Demir Çelik
78. Atakas Çelik Sanayi
86. Asil Çelik Sanayi
92. Kocaer Çelik Sanayi
100. Tosyalı Demir Çelik


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The European Commission has approved all the proposed German Government support for Porsche but only a third of their proposed support for BMW.
Holden has recalled the Cruze small car for a third time because of a driveshaft problem that could cause the car to stop.
German carmaker Volkswagen will build two new manufacturing facilities in China, it announced in the presence of the German and Chinese leaders.
French car maker PSA Peugeot Citroen will build a plant in the city of Chengduin in Western China with its new shareholder Dongfeng.
The use of aluminium in car making in the USA is apparently on the rise, though steel has the edge with incumbency and price.
Owners of General Motors cars began complaining about faulty ignition switches in their vehicles long before the later fatal ignition switch problems.
Honda New Zealand is recalling about 6000 cars because of the same airbag defect which led to Honda’s worldwide recall of 2 million vehicles.
Some residents from Clovelly Park are to be relocated because of the presence of a carcinogen historically used in the car industry.
General Motors sold 267,000 vehicles in the US for the month of June, a one per cent rise from the same time last year.
General Motors has recalled a further 8.4 million vehicles worldwide and has now recalled more than 28 million cars this year.
Launceston auto components maker ACL Bearing has closed its factory.
Toyota Australia has posted a $437 million loss as it prepares to end its local manufacturing operations by the end of 2017.
Holden is recalling 27,074 Commodores, Commodore Utes and Caprices because of a problem with their windscreen wiper motors.
The UK car making industry has received more than £450m ($818m) worth of foreign investment for 80 projects in the past year.
Bosch Australia’s president has said the company has plans to grow its revenues in Australia.
The updated Holden Commodore VF has avoided the recall applied to Chevrolet Camaros in the US, even though both cars use the same key and ignition system.
Up to 250 workers will be made to take redundancies at Ford Australia in Victoria early next week, according to reports.
Toyota has recalled 2.27 million cars worldwide due to a faulty airbag system.
General Motors has issued four separate new recalls of faulty vehicles which have been sold overseas.
Tony Abbott arrives in Canada to talk investment and trade, both countries are facing similar challenges to their respective manufacturing bases.


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Two certified organic dairy farms in Manitoba have launched their product to grocery stores in the province.
Guelph, Ont.-based organic co-op Organic Meadow is working with processor Notre Dame Creamery at Notre Dame de Lourdes, about 70 km southwest of Portage la Prairie, Man., to process and distribute the milk to natural-food and mainline grocery stores in Manitoba.
Organic Meadow on Tuesday launched the two farms’ milk in one- and two-litre jugs of skim, one per cent, two per cent and 3.8 per cent.
The supplying farms are members of the Manitoba Organic Milk Co-operative (MOMs): Zacland Dairy of Winkler, owned by Conrad and Val Zacharias, and Larry and Sue Black’s farm at Deloraine.
“This is a great day for the Manitoba agricultural community, for our two debuting organic farmers, and for consumers in general who now have nutritious organic milk produced and packaged locally,” said Ted Zettel, chairman of Organic Meadow, in a release.
“We look forward to welcoming additional farms on board in future and continuing to satisfy the needs of more and more Canadians from right here in Manitoba.”
“To see the end of the long process of going organic with the launch of our Organic Meadow milk for Manitoba is extremely satisfying and makes this long journey all the more rewarding,” Conrad Zacharias, who’s also president of MOMs, said in the same release.


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Buddy’s back. After a shaky start to the season he showed enough last Friday night to suggest that the Swans are going to get value for money from him on and off the field.
But it won’t be a kick in the park. There’ll be the inevitable Buddy-type problems along the way.
He’s big, brash and a bit of a hoon. Two years ago he was pinched for doing 90 km/h in a 50 km/h zone in his luxury ‘Merc’. Just recently he crashed his girlfriend’s $70000 top-of-the-range Jeep Cherokee into a line of parked cars. He’s got the money to cover it, given his $10 million deal to play for the Swans over the next nine years.
Lance ‘Buddy’ Franklin divides opinion. Most media opinion suggests he’s not worth the money. He’s too much of a party-boy and an individualist who will disrupt the Swans play-for-the-jumper culture. He’s also bad for business. Even with the Swans’ cost-of-living allowance, he’ll place too much pressure on the salary cap.
The Swans already have an expensive tall forward in Kurt Tippett. He’s setting the club back around $887,000 a year. There’s no need for another high-priced forward, especially one who will drain the budget and erode the collectivist club culture nurtured by Paul Roos and maintained by John Longmire.
Buddy’s just what the Swans and the Sydney footy market need. He’s got the grungy edginess to attract the Gen Ys to the SCG, and can court enough controversy to put Australian football in the media spotlight in what is very much an NRL stronghold.
He’s part owner of the clothing brand Nena & Pasadena. It’s a multi-million dollar concern, has Neverland outlets in Melbourne’s CBD and trendy Chapel Street, and is even on the hangers in Harrods.
Despite the AFL’s propaganda, it hasn’t made a splash in Sydney and needs Buddy firing on and off the field. Any publicity is good publicity and if Buddy’s presence results in increased attendances, television ratings and social media hits, he’s done his job.
He was right to knock back GWS. Buddy’s more Bondi than Blacktown, and he’d be wasted out west. He’s got enough designer ink and attitude to appeal to Sydney’s beach ‘burbs’ party set. Throw in model girlfriend Jessinta Campbell and Buddy’s got the chic ‘cred’ to strut red carpets and set twitter buzzing.
The more hits the better, both on and off the field.
Buddy is big business. He’ll boot goals, contribute to the team, and lift the club and game’s profile in Sydney. The Swans’ brand has evened-out in tinsel town and it needed a marquee signing to attract new supporters, especially as there’s a new mob out west.
Sydney FC followed a similar strategy with the signing of Alessandro Del Piero when the Wanderers came on the scene. Buddy’s no Del Piero, but the Swans are going down the same path.
It’s a high-risk strategy, but a product of free agency. More clubs will attempt to lock topliners into long term, cashed-up contracts to ward off competitors.
Franklin’s already played a lot of football and is the type of power-running forward who will twinge more soft tissues as the wear-and-tear sets in.
At $10 million over nine years, the playing expectation is that the twin towers – Franklin and Tippett – will deliver a premiership or two within the first five. Once Tippett’s off the books, Franklin will be paid the bulk of his contract and the Swans can start to regenerate the list.
Buddy and the company have copped it from both the AFL and women’s groups. He’s distanced himself from the company, though he remains a co-owner.
The marketing expectation is that Franklin will become an iconic player and a merchandising magnet. The test will be if Buddy, from his Bondi beachhead, can cut it in the Sydney market.
He has quite a bit at stake. Buddy’s no fool despite popular perceptions. He’s part owner of the clothing brand, Nena & Pasadena, established in 2010. It’s a multi-million dollar concern, has Neverland outlets in Melbourne’s CBD and trendy Chapel Street, and is even on the hangers in Harrods.
The brand has a British distributer, the former English cricketer Kevin Pietersen. Like Franklin, he’s designer inked, an individualist who divides public opinion and is co-owner of the brand. Though he’s still a quality batsman, Pietersen’s Test playing days are over. England’s cricket management considers he plays the game on his rather than the team’s terms.
Like Franklin and Pietersen, the brand has raised eyebrows with its raunchy t-shirts and blokesworld marketing strategy. Nena & Pasadena sells not just a clothing range, but has been accused of promoting an offensive brand of sexism.
As the company’s Facebook page recently posted, whether women wear a g-string or thong, “it’s coming off”. On the off chance of sex there are no guarantees: “We don’t owe you a text.” This is waivered of course if the blokes involved “like you…or want another shag”.
Franklin didn’t come to Sydney for anonymity. He went for the money and the opportunity to promote his fashion interests in Australia’s biggest market.
Not surprisingly, Buddy and the company have copped it from both the AFL and women’s groups. In 2012, campaigners against the sexploitation of women, Collective Shout, criticised the brand for “sending the message that women exist for men’s sexual entertainment”, while the AFL refused to condone the images used to promote the clothing range.
But Buddy’s no mug. He’s distanced himself from the company, though he remains a co- owner, shareholder and plastered across the net in the brand’s t-shirts.
No doubt he will use his time at the Swans to push the brand in Sydney’s beachside and designer grunge boutiques. As long as his form doesn’t slump and he continues to play the marquee role, the Swans’ management will be happy, no matter what t-shirt he’s wearing.
Franklin didn’t come to Sydney for anonymity or to escape the Melbourne’s footballing goldfish bowl. He went for the money and the opportunity to promote his fashion interests in Australia’s biggest market.
He may be big, brash and a hoon, and his fashion label may send out the occasional misogynistic message, but he’s the one hope the AFL has to crack the Gen Y set in Sydney.
Dr Tom Heenan lectures in sport studies at Monash University.


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Paco Rabanne Has Died at Age 88
The legendary designer passed away at his home in Portsall, France.
Leading Spanish designer Paco Rabanne has died at the age of 88 at his home in Portsall, France.
Puig, the parent company that owns the visionary’s fashion house and fragrance line, confirmed his death on Friday morning. “Paco Rabanne made transgression magnetic,” said José Manuel Albesa, president of Puig’s fashion and beauty division, in a statement. “Who else could induce fashionable Parisian women to clamor for dresses made of plastic and metal? Who but Paco Rabanne could imagine a fragrance called Calandre – the word means ‘automobile grill,’ you know – and turn it into an icon of modern femininity?”
“That radical, rebellious spirit set him apart: There is only one Rabanne,” he added. “With his passing, we are reminded once again of his enormous influence on contemporary fashion, a spirit that lives on in the house that bears his name.”
The official House of Paco Rabanne Instagram account also shared an official statement regarding the designer’s death. “Among the most seminal fashion figures of the 20th century, his legacy will remain a constant source of inspiration,” the caption reads. “We are grateful to Monsieur Rabanne for establishing our avant-garde heritage and defining a future of limitless possibilities.”
View this post on Instagram
Rabanne, who presented his first collection, titled “12 Unwearable Dresses in Contemporary Materials,” in 1966, quickly found his place on the industry map under the nickname “enfant terrible.” He spent his earlier years making jewelry at top-tier fashion houses including Givenchy and Dior, before branching out into the world of fragrance and coining his signature metallics under his own design label. The designer retired from fashion in 1999, following his final couture show, which took place that summer.
Stay tuned for more information.


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The LA Fire Department has confirmed to NBC News that they responded to a call of a possible overdose at an address in Prada de la Felicidad, where Paris Jackson is believed to live.
More top news
Lincoln City and Millwall have learned their FA Cup quarter-final fate after their giantkilling antics.
The Good Morning Britain presenter announced he would host the RTS awards because of the "silly noise" of a campaign to ban him.
The global food company has 'amicably agreed' to withdraw its £115bn offer for the consumer goods company.


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Detroit’s raw fish frenzy will continue this month with the anticipated debut of Maru Sushi & Grill. Crain’s reports that the Michigan-based sushi chain is fast-approaching opening day and has begun hiring staff to help run the massive 4,400-square-foot restaurant located in downtown’s Federal Reserve building.
Designed by Rossetti architects, the restaurant will have fishing theme with elements meant to recall netting and fins worked into the space and a VIP booth (because apparently that’s the standard for downtown establishments these days). Overall, the restaurant seats 145 in the dining room and features a large, 65-seat patio. According to the Detroit Free Press, the kitchen will be headed up by chefs Dan Solowy and Ben Wiley. Diners can expect sushi, Japanese-inspired small plates, and a full bar when the restaurant debuts at the end of the month.
Maru isn’t the only sushi game in town. Townhouse Detroit debuted in 2015 with a small sushi counter and chef Rob Lee’s Super Happy Sushi recently opened in Midtown. Meanwhile, Itadaku Sushi is expected to open this fall.
• All Eater Tracking Coverage [ED]


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AT&T Seeks to Sell Stake In Game Maker 3DO
Published 4:00 am, Wednesday, May 17, 1995
Is this game over for the 3DO Co.?
AT&T Corp. is pulling its stake in the embattled Redwood City- based video game maker that has struggled during the past two years to compete with Sega and Nintendo.
The telecommunications giant last week filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission to sell 25 percent of its 3DO holdings, but also said it will sell the rest of its total investment -- 1 million shares or 2.5 percent of the game company -- during the next year.
The game maker's stock fell 5/8 to close at 13 1/8.
While AT&T's pullout was long expected by 3DO and the financial community, it comes at a time when 3DO needs a psychological (and financial) boost to pay for its latest technology, dubbed "M2," if it wants to compete in the video game hardware business. Despite an increase in sales over the past year, 3DO lost $38.3 million in the nine months ended December 1994. The company will announce its fiscal 1995 results on Monday.
This year will be especially tough for the company as Sony Corp. and Sega introduce new competing game systems that could eclipse the technological edge of 3DO's machines, and at a cheaper price.
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As of March 31, Electronic Arts, the San Mateo-based game and educational software company started by Trip Hawkins, founder of 3DO, holds 4.2 million shares or 18 percent of 3DO.
The company's Japanese partner, Matsushita Electric, whose Panasonic division makes the 3DO video player, owns 13.1 percent of the company. Time Warner Inc has 12.5 percent. Hawkins himself owns 9.6 percent.


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The disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic has been truly unprecedented.
The sheer human toll is truly unthinkable, with millions infected worldwide and hundreds of thousands losing their lives. In addition to the human toll the coronavirus has wrought is the financial devastation it has left in its wake. With restaurants, retail stores, movie theaters and other businesses unable to operate normally or even open their doors, bankruptcies and closings have skyrocketed.
In the wake of their demise, the owners of those now-shuttered businesses have been left to pick up the pieces, shedding loyal workers and trying to find a way forward. So what is next in the world of business and health care? What will happen next in this strange new world?
The solution to the coronavirus crisis could be even stranger.
As the world rushes forward and the search for preventative vaccines and effective forms of treatment carries on, many in the business world are taking extreme precautions to protect their operations and safeguard their remaining workers. One of the most profound shifts has been a move away from human workers and toward more automated solutions. Could the global coronavirus crisis jump-start the robotics revolution?
It should be noted, of course, that the shift toward robotics, machine learning and artificial intelligence was already underway, and shipping was no exception. Long before the COVID-19 pandemic brought normal life to a halt, businesses were investing countless hours into research and billions of collective dollars in getting A.I. up and running. Even governments normally conservative in their spending were investing heavily in A.I., robotics and machine learning, convinced that the leaders in these fields would enjoy a competitive edge going forward.
It can be said, therefore, that the current shift is more evolutionary than revolutionary, but it is jarring all the same. The rise of robotic technology to combat the latest global health crisis is already underway, and many experts in business, government and high-tech manufacturing say there is no turning back.
It is easy to see why robotics would be helpful in the midst of a global pandemic.
Robots do not get infected with the coronavirus, and they will not return home and put their loved ones at risk. That is why businesses around the world, from shipping carriers to major automobile manufacturers to grocery stores, have ramped up their adoption of robotic technology, sending their automatons onto factory floors, having them scrub floors in hospitals, getting assistance in loading containers, and even asking them to stock grocery store shelves.
Online retailers have also ramped up their robotic solutions, building on technology that was already in place and finding new ways to employ the machine learning, artificial intelligence and robotics in which they have invested so much of their money. Warehouses may still be filled with human workers, but robotics technology is expanding there, and major online retailers are looking for ways to employ those human resources more effectively, and more safely.
To that end, robots have increasingly been deployed in those warehouses and shipping hubs, routing packages, filling boxes and even pulling items off the shelves. And while robots still have a long way to go, there have been enormous strides made in recent years. These advances are only expected to accelerate, driven on by a new urgency and a desire to keep workers safe while avoiding costly lawsuits and work stoppages.
So what does all this mean for workers, businesses and governments?
The future is still unclear, but many experts, including leading futurists, think the new reliance on robots is likely to stay in place, even after a COVID-19 vaccine is widely distributed and the disease becomes far less deadly.
In the end, this leading edge of the robotics revolution could be a harbinger of things to come, leading to enormous disruptions in employment, education and other aspects of our lives. It could mean, for instance, that the current elevated levels of unemployment become the new normal, and that millions of lost jobs simply do not come back.
It could also mean that small experiments with universal basic income (UBI) become larger and more important going forward. The enormous stimulus packages passed by governments around the world could end up being trial runs for this new normal, with far-reaching repercussions for economies large and small.
Only time will tell how the coronavirus crisis will impact the evolving technological changes that were already in place.
Long before office workers became telecommuters and parents embraced home schooling in a major way, technologists were working quietly behind the scenes, looking for unique ways to create a more automated future. Now that the future they dreamed of is approaching, societies everywhere will need to grapple with the aftereffects.


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By Daniel Silliman
There's an imported forest of freshly cut Christmas trees at the Atlanta State Farmers Market.
They're up on stands, rows and rows of fluffed-up and shaped-up Tannenbaums. They're stacked in piles, in drifts that line the streets through seasonal sheds. They're suspended from the roofs, ropes hoisting the trees up for exhibition, where they twirl slightly twirling in the Saturday morning sun.
The smell, the scent of conifer needles, comes up like a swell of good tidings, a flush of feelings of joy, the rush of Christmas.
Last year, there were 19,890 Christmas trees sold at the Atlanta State Farmers Market in Forest Park. Growers reported the average tree sold for about $40, and they took in a total of $795,600, in the tree business blitz, which lasts from late November until the market closes, for the one day a year it closes, on Christmas Day.
Aaron Allen, a Jonesboro High School graduate and former U.S. Marine who's been selling trees since he got out of the service, said he expects to sell just as many trees from Andy Martin's Fayette County farm.
"We'll probably sell just as many as we sold last year," Allen said. "We'll just make less money."
The economy has put a bit of a cramp in the business, not because people stopped buying trees, but because costs rose sharply this last year.
Fertilizer, an oil-based product, cost about 400 percent more this year, according to Joel Owens, a grower from Jackson County, North Carolina.
But still, selling Christmas trees means selling magic, excitement and cheer. None of the sellers seemed gloomy, on a Saturday when young families, wholesale buyers and fancy ladies in colored faux-fur coats were all wandering through the trees.
Owens, who is four-foot-nine, tells shoppers cheerfully, "I know Santa Claus and everybody."
James Murphy, working with a chainsaw the next shed over, said, "I love it, this type of work. I'm a people person, and everybody's happy."
The young family from Newnan, browsing through the Fraiser Firs nearby, was certainly happy. Bill Andrews held his baby daughter, Kathryn, and his wife, Michelle, put her hands in her big coat pockets and smiled.
Michael Halicki had his week-old baby in a car seat, as his wife Jennifer looked through a selection of Tennessee-grown evergreens.
"Michael," she said, "I think I found it," and the Halickis went off into the fresh-cut forest, to find their family's Christmas tree.


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HTC's Robert Downey Jr. commercials were famously terrible, but maybe the company is going to get it right with a different A-list actor. The first commercial for the HTC One M8 features Gary Oldman saying "blah" a lot.Read More
After months of leaks, with early looks coming in forms ranging from a single Sense 6 screenshot to a fourteen-minute hands-on video in German, we've feared that HTC would have little new left to unveil on the Big Day. That remains to be seen. Now at a simultaneous launch event held in London and New York City this morning, the company has finally formally introduced its new 2014 flagship.
The HTC One M8's screen has jumped to 5-inches (up from 4.7-inches), but it retains its 1920 x 1080 resolution, dropping the PPI down to 440 (down from 469).Read More
Easily the coolest part of LG's custom Android skin is KnockOn, a feature introduced with the G2 that allows users to knock on a sleeping phone to wake it up. Knock Code, a pattern-based alternative with a bit more security, was introduced with the G Pro 2 and other phones at Mobile World Congress. According to a new press release, LG will make good on its promise to expand this feature to other phones, starting with the G2 and G Flex in April.Read More
When it comes to invisible keyboards, Fleksy doesn't have a lot of competition. Or none, actually. This keyboard uses aggressive autocorrect and prediction to make words out of the nonsense you enter, and today it's hitting v2.0 with some new features.Read More
The Nexus 7 has been out for a good long time now, but it's still one of the best small tablets you can buy. If you act fast, you can get it really cheaply as long as you don't mind a refurbished product.Read More
OnePlus has been dolling out news about its upcoming CyanognMod-powered One phone (not to be confused with the other One making headlines today) at an incredibly slow and frustrating pace. But it looks like the drip feed may finally be stopping, or at the very least, it won't have much longer to run. An official OnePlus forum post has announced that "On April 23, the OnePlus One will be fully unveiled."
Given the company's frankly spammy method of teasing pre-release information, we half expected OnePlus to announce the month one week, the week, the next, and the day a week after that.Read More
It looks like HTC is intent on getting all its news crammed into one week. Just a few hours before its scheduled media events in New York and London, wherein the company will reveal the New One (or at least show off whatever hasn't been leaked yet), HTC has been uploading apps to the Play Store like there's no tomorrow. In addition to the Blinkfeed launcher and SenseTV apps, the Sense versions of the Gallery and HTC Guide have been added to HTC's publisher page.Read More
The All New HTC One (M8), the phone that's been leaked more than any device in recent history, is going to get officially unveiled later on today at an event in NYC. It is my pleasure to announce that the Google Play Edition, meaning stock Android, now looks to be confirmed and will be joining the Sense variant at some point, hopefully as early as today. While not entirely unexpected, there was a chance that HTC would opt out of the GPE program this time around.Read More
Hot on the heels of BlinkFeed and the vaguely defined HTC Service Pack, HTC is hitting the Play Store with another app: SenseTV. The electronic programming guide meets universal remote control made its first appearance last year alongside Sense 5.0 on the HTC One. This looks like an update to the original which includes a redesigned style to match Sense 6, improvements to data for sporting events, and support for the HTC One Google Play Edition.Read More


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That’s some tempest in a teapot…er, Starbucks cup…brewing through the newsphere today. Before you could say “Is it Christmas yet?” the entire holiday blew up for the good, simple folks based in Seattle. Did they really think they could go minimalist this season?
All it took was one irate, self-described social media personality to upload a clever, gotcha You Tube video, and Donald Trump weighing in at a pit stop in Illinois to completely upend their Christmas packaging and put them on the defensive. “Maybe we should boycott them,” he said, even though he claims to have “one of the most successful Starbucks in Trump Tower.”
Can you imagine how many meetings were held and how much money was spent for the company to go all PC on us? “We’re embracing the simplicity and the quietness of it. It’s a more open way to usher in the holiday,” said Jeffrey Fields, Starbucks vice president of design and content. In a statement the coffee giant said the red cup allows for customers to put their own drawings and messages on it.
Really? How’s this message: “Nice try, Starbucks! Can’t wait to see what happens next year!”


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Zendaya wore a spiderweb dress with thigh-high slit and matching mask at the ‘Spider-Man: No Way Home’ premiere.. Zendaya dressed in theme on Monday night at the Los Angeles premiere of “Spider-Man: No Way Home” with a gown adorned with a sparkly spiderweb print.
The actor, who plays MJ in the Marvel franchise, walked the red carpet in a custom Valentino dress that had a plunging neckline and a thigh-high slit. She paired the gown with a matching black netted mask.
The ensemble was designed by Valentino’s creative director Pierpaolo Piccioli and styled by Law Roach, a spokesperson for the brand wrote on Instagram.
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The dress appears to be inspired by John Galliano’s spring 1997 dress that was featured in a superhero-themed exhibition at the Met, according to one Twitter user.
—???? (@2mayaz) December 14, 2021
Representatives for Galliano did not immediately respond to Insider’s request for comment.
Zendaya rounded out the outfit with a pair of Christian Louboutin heels and Bulgari drop earrings, Roach wrote on his Instagram stories.
She posed for photos with her co-star and boyfriend, Tom Holland, who wore a custom Prada suit, Roach added.
It isn’t the first time Zendaya has used the “Spider-Man” universe as inspiration for her sartorial choices.
She wore an Alexander McQueen blazer that was embroidered with crystals with a pair of black, thigh-high boots to a photocall earlier in December. As Insider’s Samantha Grindell previously reported, the star appeared to channel Venom, one of the most famous villains from the “Spider-Man” universe.
More Great Stories On >> HypeGist


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Star Citizen, the space sim from Wing Commander, Privateer and Freelancer creator Chris Roberts, has set a new record for a crowd funded game reaching $6.23 million in funding.
The previous crowd funding record for a game had been held by Obsidian's Project Eternity, which raised $4.16 million earlier this year.
Star Citizen's funding was raised both on Kickstarter and by Roberts' own website.
Crowd funding campaign stats:
- Kickstarter backers- 34,397
- Kickstarter funds pledged - $2,134,374
- Roberts Space Industries backers - 55,270
- Roberts Space Industries funds raised - $4,104,189
- Total backers - 89,667
- Total funds raised and pledged - $6,238,563
"I am absolutely elated by the incredible outpouring of support for this project," said Roberts. "It's clear that space sim fans have just been waiting for a game like ours to come along and rekindle some of the excitement that's been missing from PC games and the space sim genre. With the resources that our fans have provided, it means the team will be able to provide more features in Star Citizen and deliver an even better game."
Roberts says people who backed the project during the crowd funding campaign will have the ability to purchase further tiers or upgrade existing ones at the initial prices.
Star Citizen is currently scheduled for release in November 2014.
Source: Press release


text: After a decade of accusing some of Hong Kong's largest businesses of being monopolists, the Consumer Council has a new message: we can help you. It may seem a strange message, but new chairman Professor Andrew Chan Chi-fai is clear that the Consumer Council can help those normally considered its enemies become more competitive and even more profitable. 'I know a lot of business people, but not in a formal manner. I understand their opinions, their concerns, their headaches.' The 47-year-old professor of marketing at the Chinese University has a very different vocabulary from his predecessor, lawyer Anna Wu Hung-yuk. His view is that of a free-market economist who believes businesses get leaner and fitter in a competitive, demanding marketplace - and by making the marketplace more competitive and demanding the Consumer Council is helping them. 'A monopoly will make a person or a firm get weak. Once the political environment changes, or maybe the economic situation changes, it is subject to challenge. And because it is not strong enough the company will become weaker and weaker. 'Of course, after some challenges, if the company is a decent one with good people it can improve the situation. But a monopoly is still not a good thing for a company.' Professor Chan points at the Consumer Council logo on the wall of his office in the council's headquarters in North Point, which shows a pair of traditional weighing scales, and imagines that the interests of consumers and businesses are on either side. 'If the balance is getting towards one party or the other it's not good for society.' This might come as a surprise to those who thought the logo represented justice, and the sole job of the Consumer Council was to try to get some for the small people in a society where large firms controlled petrol, piped gas supply, banking, transport, supermarkets, property development . . . the list goes on. As for the Government, which during the past decade repeatedly rebuffed the Consumer Council's attempts to dismantle monopolies - or their near-rival, oligopolies - his argument to them will again be based on economics, about making Hong Kong a more efficient, competitive place to do business. He uses tourism as an easy example of a business in which the Consumer Council can improve competitiveness. 'If Hong Kong is expensive, and people do not come, the whole of Hong Kong will be hurt.' Although known for product tests, the Consumer Council has always tried to play a wider role in the economy. One reason it was set up in 1974 was widespread allegations that cartels in basic commodities such as rice were causing inflation - and the Government hoped the council could help the economy by reducing this. In the early 1990s then-chairman Professor Edward Chen Kwan-yiu, an economist, used many of the same arguments as Professor Chan, only to see the Government's resolve melt under pressure from banks and big businesses. Professor Chan's immediate predecessor, Ms Wu, was a lawyer with more than 10 years' experience campaigning for a rights-based, civil society. Ms Wu's move to the Equal Opportunities Commission meant that she could not continue and it fell to the Chief Executive, Tung Chee-hwa, to choose her successor. Professor Chan was a surprise choice, with no previous high-profile community job. In contrast to Ms Wu he was a low-profile figure and had been on the Consumer Council less than three years. The job helped accelerate the public careers of both Liberal legislator Selina Chow Liang Shuk-yee and her successor, Democratic Party chairman Martin Lee Chu-ming. But Professor Chan appears to have no political ambitions - an attitude that many commentators believe would have been a reassurance to the civil servants in the Trade and Industry Branch who drew up the recommendation for the Chief Executive. The Government's interest in the consumer agenda appears limited. Dr Dhirendra Srivastava, an associate professor in City University's school of law, says Hong Kong has fallen behind Australia, Europe and the United States in legal protection such as making manufacturers liable for defects in their products even if the consumer cannot prove negligence. 'There is a need to strengthen the law,' Dr Srivastava says. Although this particular fault is being remedied, the Consumer Council's biggest prize - a law to protect the consumer against price-fixing monopolies - seems as distant as ever. This is despite blatant price-fixing such as that shown by the six mobile phone companies when they decided to lift their prices by $20 on the same day earlier this month - and their near-simultaneous decision this week to revert to their original prices. In such an environment, Professor Chan's educational approach may be the only one that brings results. As he says, the Consumer Council is largely made up of professional people, although he does say at least one member is a 'housewife'. Its $66 million annual funding is provided by the Government. The Chief Executive also picks the rest of the council and approves and fixes the pay of its most senior permanent staff member, Chief Executive Pamela Chan Wong-shui. Despite this, the body - established in 1974 - is seen as independent of the Government and, Professor Chan believes, has helped foster a culture in which consumers are more likely to make noise if they are unhappy. However, because of its background Professor Chan finds it difficult to see a day in which the council would use tactics commonly used by the new breed of non-governmental pressure groups, such as consumer boycotts or demonstrations. Street tactics are now used even by groups such as lawyers, who last July organised a 600-strong march about the rule of law. Instead, he says, the council is better at using reason, slowly working to try to change attitudes in Government and business, step by step. When civil servants, who he points out are also consumers, are making decisions they must weigh a lot of factors. If they can get some extra weight placed on factors important to consumers then this is a form of victory, he says. 'As long as something has been achieved then we have accomplished something. We can use that as an anchor.' One problem faced by the council, he admits, is that the nature of consumption is changing fast. Product safety has always been its prime concern, and many of its activities still revolve around testing for basic electrical and mechanical safety. But consumers spend an increasing amount of money on intangible products and services which are difficult to measure and test. Last year's biggest source of complaints, for instance, was IDD services. The number soared 80 per cent to 1,820 from 1998. Buying 20 rice-cookers for a safety test can be done in a day. Signing up for 20 insurance policies and making a valid claim on each to test them is much more difficult, says Professor Chan. Yet he is convinced that 'the Consumer Council must move with the market' and is pleased, for instance, that it has done work on the risks of buying over the Internet. The other problem is that Professor Chan's attempts to educate Government and businesses may fail. Among Hong Kong's corporate giants only Hongkong Bank and Hutchison Whampoa have tried to build international brands. The others seem more interested in making maximum profits at home. Linus Cheung Wing-lam, chief executive of Cable & Wireless HKT, formerly Hong Kong's most profitable monopoly, lamented at a cocktail party last May that 'I love monopolies, I do'. He told the crowd: 'A few years ago I was charging $10 a minute to the United States, making $9 profit, and you paid for it. Now you pay $1 and you say I'm too expensive.' Mr Cheung's company is now leaner and fitter - it has shed 3,000 staff since its monopoly days - but he certainly did not appear appreciative of the lessons he was learning, which have cut his profits flat for five years, and it seems unlikely other monopolies in Hong Kong would like to get such an education. And it was not consumer pressure that finished off the telecoms monopoly. Instead, it was abandoned due to pressure worldwide for liberalisation and after the Government produced figures showing that economic benefits from lower-priced calls could amount to $17 billion. Professor Chan says at the end of the day the monopolists themselves can be their biggest enemy by going too far and triggering public anger. Industries that believe they can improve their long-term future can call on the council to help them set up industry groups and codes of conduct, he says. Retailers of traditional Chinese medicine, he says, are an example. As for the Government, Professor Chan says its protection of local monopolists is like a weak parent being over-protective about its children. 'You can't spoil them. You have to give them challenges to teach them to grow.'


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SystemSpecs and Precise Financial Systems (PFS), unarguably Nigeria’s most innovative software and fintech firms made Nigeria proud at the 36th edition of GITEX Technology Week in Dubai, United Arab Emirate (UAE).
They exploited the brand association GITEX offered and launched two mobile solutions at the Nigeria Pavilion. While SystemSpecs released Remita mobile applications, PFS launched mobile iTeller cheque truncation.
Remita Mobile Version
SystemSpecs said millions of Nigerians can make payments from any commercial or micro-finance bank accounts or through any debit or credit card to thousands of merchants and billers in Nigeria when the mobile version of Remita app is released by year-end.
Executive Director of SystemSpecs , Deremi Atanda reiterated that Remita mobile app would enable individuals or organisations to view in real-time account balances held in different banks on the app. With this app, users can make payments using the latest scan-to-pay and tap-to-pay technologies.
Atanda said Remita is a “one stop payment app” that easily addresses the diverse needs of customers who currently need to download and use many payment apps simultaneously.
Managing Director/CEO of PFS, Yele Okeremi, said iTeller cheque truncation mobile solution allows bank customers to deposit cheques from the comfort of their smartphones. He explained that the app would be available on the banks’ mobile application platforms for the convenience of the customers. According to him, leading Nigerian banks that are customer-savvy have already engaged the company.
With this application, customers can use the camera in their mobile phones to capture cheque images and MICR details and send the same to their banks for clearing.
PFS has established itself as the leader in cheque truncation space, the first software house in Nigeria with a 3600 solutions suite for cheque personalization, payment processing, deposit capture (mobile, remote, kiosk, and cashier transport scanner), truncation and clearing processing.
The solution will make cheque deposit services available to the customers 24/7. As Okeremi said, benefits of the solution are numerous. It will reduce high traffic in the banking halls. It will save cost of cheque deposit and management. It will shorten the time-to-value for cheques. It will provide convenience to bank customers.
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Global music artist and producer will.i.am and The
The goal of the collaboration is to educate consumers about recycling choices, including repurposed items — like plastic
A Plea for Recycling
Will.i.am was inspired to create the brand when he spotted the piles of trash that were left behind after each Black Eyed Peas concert.
“I saw how I contributed to waste via my passion, and decided to turn the wrong into a right,” says will.i.am, who wore Levi’s® 501® Waste<Less™ jeans.
“It’s a bold, inspiring vision to have a world with zero waste, where trash is turned into something cool,” says Bea Perez, chief sustainability officer for
Dancing and Discussing the Environment
Supporting the launch, Don’t Trust the B---- in Apt 23 actress Krysten Ritter checked out the new products along with VH1’s Big Morning Buzz host Carrie Keagan, who talked about will.i.am's new initiative and the importance of recycling.
“It’s important for everyone to start recycling. Everybody has to do it, and it’s amazing that will.i.am and
As the crowd dined on hors d'oeuvres and danced next to the DJ booth, will.i.am grabbed the mic to talk further about his collaboration with
“EKOCYCLE allows companies to hop on board, so they can execute their sustainability efforts,” says will.i.am, adding that his vision is to have even more designers create “cool, fresh and fly” items for the line that are “built from recycled materials from day one.”
Products in the Collection
In addition to the limited-edition Levi’s® 501® Waste<Less™ jeans, c
“Things don’t have to end. They can begin again,” believes will.i.am.
More on Journey
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- What I Saw and Learned During an Expedition to the North Atlantic Gyre