text:
Global consumer confidence increased one index point to 97
Consumer confidence increased slightly or remained stable in every region except Latin America
New York, NY – May 19, 2015 – Global consumer confidence started 2015 with an index score of 97—an increase of one point from fourth-quarter 2014 and from a year-ago, according to the Nielsen Global Survey of Consumer Confidence and Spending Intentions. The Nielsen Consumer Confidence Index measures perceptions of local job prospects, personal finances and immediate spending intentions among more than 30,000 respondents with Internet access in 60 countries.
“While confidence across global regions remained relatively stable in the first quarter, there is considerable variation across different markets,” said Louise Keely, senior vice president, Nielsen, and president, The Demand Institute. “In the first quarter of this year, the key emerging markets of Brazil and Russia saw large declines in confidence for the second consecutive quarter, with the drop in oil prices and the political instability in Brazil. China dropped another index point at the start of this year, which comes after a four-point decline in the previous quarter, reflecting the recent slowdown in GDP there.”
“In Europe, there are signs of improved consumer confidence in many countries, which reflects signs of growth in these markets,” continued Keely. “Lower oil prices have helped European consumers who are not in oil-producing countries, and labor markets are improving. On the other hand, the falling Euro against the dollar is good for export industries but not for consumers, who will pay more for imports.”
GOOD NEWS AND BAD NEWS
The good news is that, compared to the end of last year when all regional confidence scores declined, it was a more upbeat start to the year, as confidence increased slightly or remained stable in every region except Latin America. Consumer confidence remained steady in North America (106) and increased one point in Asia-Pacific, posting the highest quarterly regional index score of 107. Confidence in the Middle East/Africa (96) and Europe (77) edged up one point in the first quarter but decreased two points in Latin America (86)—the region’s lowest score since 2011.
Among the world’s largest economies, consumer confidence increased most in Japan, rising nine points to 82 in the first quarter, which was the country’s highest score since 2005—the start of Nielsen’s Consumer Confidence Index measurement. Germany also reached a milestone: Sentiment increased two points to reach the baseline score of 100. Confidence also increased one point in the U.S. (107), three points in the U.K. (97) and three points in France (60). Conversely, confidence in China decreased one point to 106 from fourth-quarter 2014.
SPENDING LESS, SAVING MORE IN Q1 2015
Global discretionary spending intentions declined or remained steady in the first quarter across all lifestyle categories measured. About three-in-10 global respondents (32%) planned to spend on holidays/vacations, new clothes (31%) and out-of-home entertainment (28%), quarterly declines of two, three and two percentage points, respectively. Spending intentions for paying credit cards and debts (25%) and new technology products (24%) held steady from the previous quarter. Millennial respondents—especially those in the 25-29 age range—exceeded the global averages by as much 10 percentage points for these discretionary spending activities. These consumers who are just starting their careers often do not yet have families to support and have more freedom to spend.
Global saving intentions, on the other hand, showed a slight increase of two percentage points for investing in stocks and mutual funds (22%) and one percentage point for retirement savings (11%) from fourth-quarter 2014. About half of global respondents planned to bank their spare cash (48%), no change from the previous quarter, while 14% said they had no spare cash, up from 13% the previous quarter. More than one-quarter of those aged 55+ said they had no spare cash (22%)—the highest percentage of any age group. A promising sign for the future, however, is that more than half of respondents in the 21-34 age range (53%) said they were saving their money.
NORTH AMERICA: U.S. CONFIDENCE IMPROVES AS CANADIAN CONFIDENCE TAKES DOWNTURN
U.S. consumer confidence increased one index point in the first quarter to a score of 107, maintaining an above-the-baseline optimism level for a year now. Conversely, confidence declined in Canada six points to 96, which is the country’s lowest score since 2012.
In the U.S., the only confidence indicator that increased in the first quarter was job prospects, rising five percentage points to 55%, while personal finance sentiment and immediate spending intentions declined two percentage points each to 62% and 50%, respectively, from fourth-quarter 2014. Recessionary sentiment reached a new low of 50%, down from 53% the previous quarter and 63% six months ago.
“In the U.S., optimism continued to move forward in the first quarter, likely influenced by the addition of nearly 600,000 new jobs and low gasoline prices, which put more money in consumers’ wallets,” said James Russo, senior vice president, Nielsen Global Consumer Insights. “Consumer spending picked up in the first quarter, with fast-moving consumer goods sales rising 2.5%, compared to an annual increase of only 1.4% during 2014. While 2015 is off to a good start, half of Americans are still in a recessionary mindset, and nearly 35% say they live paycheck to paycheck. As this undercurrent of uncertainty still permeates, consumers continue to think carefully about how and where they spend their money.”
SOME SIGNS OF HOPE IN EUROPE
Europe remained the least optimistic region globally with an overall index of 77, but there were several signs that green shoots were sprouting in the recession-mired mindsets in the region. Job confidence rose in 15 of 32 markets, while respondent’s personal financial outlook increased in 18 from fourth-quarter 2014. Confidence for immediate spending intentions, while still comparatively low, increased in 19 markets.
Italy and Greece, two of the region’s debt-ridden and recession-battered countries, both showed confidence increases of 12-points in the first quarter. Italy’s score of 57 was the highest for the country since 2011, and Greece posted a confidence reading of 65—its highest level since 2009.
“In Greece, a new government was elected in the general elections that took place in January, and as such, this kind of change usually boosts optimism and brings new hope for the future,” said Vicky Grigoriadou, market leader, Nielsen Greece. “The rise in optimism in the first quarter is higher than in past quarters, likely due to an expectation that the new government will successfully negotiate with EU and IMF authorities on the Greek debt issue and other economic prospects. Retail purchasing patterns remained restrained, however, as a more stable environment is necessary in order to increase household spending activities.”
In the region, only Germany (100) and Denmark (106) reached the optimism baseline level. They were also the only two countries in the region where half (50%) of respondents were confident about immediate spending intentions.
“In Germany, a stable economic situation and a strong labor market had a positive impact on consumer confidence in the past 12 months,” said Ingo Schier, managing director, Nielsen Germany. “Compared to last year, more Germans were willing to spend money. Grocery and drug-store spending this year has been at a continuously higher level than the previous year, with sales up 1.6% and 4.6%, respectively. Rising incomes and persistently low interest rates suggest that the consumer climate will stay positive in Germany for the long-term, but terrorism concerns and armed conflicts threaten to dampen these effects.”
Several other countries posted their highest confidence scores in several years: The U.K.’s score of 97 reached the highest level since 2006, Ireland (92) reached its highest since 2008, Spain (67) reached its highest since 2010, and Portugal (59) reached its highest since 2006. Conversely, ongoing geopolitical tensions between Russia and the Ukraine likely contributed to new confidence lows reported in these countries. Russia’s index fell for the second consecutive quarter to 72, a level lower than its confidence reading at the height of the Great Recession, and the Ukraine’s score dropped 11 points to 41 in the first quarter.
“The normally resilient Russian consumer is under severe strain right now,” said Kyriakos Kyriakou, regional director, Nielsen Eastern Europe. “The massive currency devaluation at the end of 2014 led to a flourish of consumer spending in an attempt to get ahead of inflation. Now, spiking inflation and negative wage growth are taking their toll. In the new market conditions, manufacturers and retailers will fight for a smaller share of shopper wallets as the majority of Russians have either switched into savings mode or have no spare cash to spend. Today, it’s more critical than ever to get the “price vs. volume” equation right in order to maintain market share. Cheaper products are likely to generate more sales volumes than ever—as long as quality is not compromised.”
CONFIDENCE IN ASIA-PACIFIC REMAINS HIGH
Consumer confidence in Asia-Pacific increased in nine of 14 markets in the first quarter, compared to only three that rose in the fourth-quarter 2014. Nine markets also remained at or above the 100-baseline level of optimism. India had the highest index score in the region of 130, a one-point increase from the previous quarter and a level that has not been reached since 2011. Confidence in India has been on the rise for six consecutive quarters.
“The urban Indian consumer started the year with positive sentiment in anticipation of improvement through reforms and stimulus announced by the new government,” said Piyush Mathur, president, Nielsen India Region. “These initial signs of optimism reflect anticipation of economic recovery that are yet to manifest when you look at fast-moving consumer goods and auto sectors in particular over the last few quarters. Moreover, infrastructure, engineering and other industrial sectors are yet to gather pace. The fall in inflation is expected to have an impact on disposable income over time, but it will take time for the sectors to be restored to perceptible and sustainable growth.”
Big index increases were reported in Taiwan, where confidence rose 11 points to 88—the highest score since 2011—and in Japan, which rose nine points to 88—the highest score for the country recorded by Nielsen since 2005.
“Taiwan showed a strong rebound at the start of this year after a decline in fourth-quarter 2014,” said Andy Huang, managing director, Nielsen Taiwan. “The rise in confidence sentiment was driven by a strong improvement in the outlook for jobs, which increased 16 percentage points from fourth-quarter 2014. Perceptions about personal finances and a willingness to spend also improved nine and 10 percentage points, respectively. Preliminary GDP forecasts, a falling unemployment rate and a stabilizing consumer price index were other positive indicators at the start of 2015, which likely contributed to increased optimism among Taiwanese consumers.”
Vietnam and Malaysia also reported strong confidence boosts of six and five points, respectively, in the first quarter. Vietnam’s rise to a score of 112 is the third consecutive increase and the country’s highest score since 2010. Conversely, China’s index fell one point to 106 in the first quarter, which comes after a four-point decline in fourth-quarter 2014.
LATIN AMERICAN CONFIDENCE UNEVEN
Of seven Latin American markets, Chile (87) and Argentina (75) showed consumer confidence gains of six and eight points, respectively, while the region’s economic engine, Brazil (88), continued to fall for the second consecutive quarter, as confidence declined seven points to the lowest level since 2009. Confidence in Venezuela (65) also fell five points, while Peru’s score (99), the highest in the region, dropped two points in the first quarter. Confidence in Colombia held steady at 94 from fourth-quarter 2014.
In Brazil, sentiment about future job prospects declined 10 percentage points to 27%—a new low for the country, while personal finances sentiment decreased six percentage points to 60%, the second lowest level in 10 years. The number of Brazilians who believed they were in recession increased to 85% from 73% the previous quarter and from 55% from a year ago.
“In Brazil, the results reflect the uncertainty over the country’s ability to increase growth rates in the short-term, return to more moderate inflation levels and avoid further unemployment increases,” said Luis Arjona, country manager, Nielsen Brazil. “Concerned with the overall economic environment, Brazilian consumers have become more conservative with their disposable income, reducing out-of-home spending, while buying more on planned trips at grocery stores. They are also increasing the share of grocery spend at discount stores and reducing spend on impulse categories.”
THE MIDDLE EAST/AFRICA REGION SHOWS STEADY PROGRESS
Consumer confidence increased in three of five countries measured in the Middle East/Africa region in the first quarter. At 115, the United Arab Emirates had the highest index in the region, an increase of one point from fourth-quarter 2014. Confidence also increased five points in Saudi Arabia to 107 and one point in Pakistan to 102. Conversely, confidence decreased one point in South Africa to 87 and remained steady in Egypt at 90.
In the region, sentiment about job prospects edged up one percentage point to 44%, while personal finances sentiment and immediate spending intentions remained flat at 60% and 39%, respectively, from fourth-quarter 2014. Job confidence improved most in Egypt, rising three percentage points to 43%, while the personal financial outlook and immediate spending intentions rose four and five percentage points, respectively, in Pakistan from fourth-quarter 2014.
Recessionary sentiment declined in three out of five Middle East/Africa markets: Egypt and South Africa each declined two percentage points to 79% and 70%, respectively, and Saudi Arabia declined one percentage point to 43%.
Regionally, quarter-on-quarter discretionary spending and saving intentions decreased or held steady for most lifestyle categories. Spending intentions for home entertainment expenses, buying new clothes and taking holidays/vacations declined, while intentions for putting money into savings accounts increased and the percentages for investing and saving for retirement were flat from the previous quarter.
CONFIDENCE UP IN NIGERIA, DOWN IN KENYA AND GHANA
Consumer confidence increased two index points in Nigeria in the first quarter to a score of 129—the highest score of the three countries measured in Nielsen’s mobile survey for sub-Saharan Africa. Conversely, confidence decreased nine points in Kenya (104) and three points in Ghana (99) from fourth-quarter 2014.
The majority of respondents in the three countries (69% in Kenya, 67% in Ghana and 62% in Nigeria) said they did not have spare cash, a level that increased 10 percentage points in Kenya and one percentage point in Nigeria from fourth-quarter 2014. Among those who did claim discretionary funds, while saving continued to be a priority for the majority, intentions to put money into savings accounts declined 10 percentage points in Nigeria (76%), seven percentage points in Ghana (78%) and six percentage points in Kenya (83%) in the first quarter. Discretionary spending intentions for home improvement projects were the second-biggest priority among respondents in all three countries.
ABOUT THE GLOBAL SURVEY OF CONSUMER CONFIDENCE AND SPENDING INTENTIONS
The Nielsen Global Survey of Consumer Confidence and Spending Intentions was conducted Feb. 23 – March 13, 2015 and polled more than 30,000 online consumers in 60 countries throughout Asia-Pacific, Europe, Latin America, the Middle East/Africa and North America. The sample has quotas based on age and sex for each country based on its Internet users and is weighted to be representative of Internet consumers. It has a margin of error of ±0.6%. This Nielsen survey is based only on the behavior of respondents with online access. Internet penetration rates vary by country. Nielsen uses a minimum reporting standard of 60% Internet penetration or an online population of 10 million for survey inclusion. The China Consumer Confidence Index is compiled from a separate mixed methodology survey among 3,500 respondents in China. The sub-Saharan African countries in this study are compiled from a separate mobile methodology survey among 1,600 respondents in Ghana, Kenya and Nigeria. The Nielsen Global Survey, which includes the Global Consumer Confidence Index, was established in 2005.
Nielsen N.V. (NYSE: NLSN) is a global performance management company that provides a comprehensive understanding of what consumers Watch and Buy. Nielsen’s Watch segment provides media and advertising clients with Total Audience measurement services across all devices where content—video, audio and text—is consumed. The Buy segment offers consumer packaged goods manufacturers and retailers the industry’s only global view of retail performance measurement. By integrating information from its Watch and Buy segments and other data sources, Nielsen provides its clients with both world-class measurement as well as analytics that help improve performance. Nielsen, an S&P 500 company, has operations in over 100 countries that cover more than 90 percent of the world’s population. For more information, visit www.nielsen.com.


text:
NEW YORK, JAN. 21 -- Du Pont Co. unveiled a new line of refrigerants today designed to eventually replace existing chlorofluorocarbons, or CFCs, which have been linked to causing a hole in the Earth's ozone layer.
The new products have "low or no potential to deplete ozone," said Elwood P. Blanchard, Du Pont vice chairman.
The Suva-brand refrigerants are designed for new commercial and industrial refrigeration systems, new automobile air conditioners and new home refrigerators.
Du Pont said it is developing other products, called Suva blends, to replace refrigerants in existing and new systems in home refrigerators, automobiles and refrigerated transport.
The Suva refrigerants eventually are meant to replace coolants now used in refrigerators and air conditioners.
Other chemicals are replacing CFCs used in inflating foam and cleaning fluids.
Refrigerants are one of the largest markets for CFCs, using 40 percent of the coolant gas.
In 1989, an international agreement known as the Montreal Protocol called for the complete elimination of CFCs by the year 2000.
Tony Vogelsberg, environmental manager for Du Pont Fluorochemical, said the new refrigerants will "take care of the largest share of the refrigerant market that has to be phased out by the end of the century."
Vogelsberg said the Suva refrigerants will cause only about one-tenth as much "global warming" as currently used CFC products.

domain: news


text:
The Request Network payment solution was launched on the main Ethereum network
Cryptocurrency startup Request Network announced the launch of its solution for accepting payments on the Ethereum main network.
The current version of the Request Network protocol allows:
- Connect to the network using Metamask wallet or Ledger hardware wallet;
- Create, send and pay bills using Ethereum. In the near future, the developers promise to add support for ERC20 tokens;
- Pay one bill several times;
- Update already sent invoice;
- Check all incoming and outgoing accounts associated with the user’s ETH address.
The developers note that today’s release should be considered a beta version, but at the same time, it marks the stage when the Request Network protocol begins to acquire new features..
Together with the launch of the main product, the token destruction mechanism was activated. Every time a user makes a request on the Ethereum mainnet, a commission is charged. Tokens held in this way will be destroyed to further stimulate the development of the ecosystem.
As the developers note, the product presented today includes only a small part of the functionality that, according to their idea, the comprehensive payment solution Request Network will have..
Additional features will be implemented using specialized decentralized applications. A payment application is already available, with the help of which merchants can accept payments on their websites.
In addition, Request Network promises to develop a crowdfunding application for ICO organizers, which will include all the functions related to financing such campaigns..
One of the interesting applications may be an application for accounting and taxation of cryptocurrency payments. It will allow, for example, to directly integrate data from merchant invoices and automatically take into account all necessary deductions and additional costs when accepting payments.
Simultaneously with the company’s announcement, the REQ / ETH and REQ / BTC trading pairs were launched on the Huobi Korea exchange.
At the beginning of the week, the developers of the Request Network announced the conclusion of an agreement with the consulting firm PwC.
LRC token added 70% amid the launch of the Loopring Pay payment solution on the Ethereum blockchain Loopring blockchain project developers announced the launch…
Binance will revive the Launchpad platform with the launch of BitTorrent and Fetch crowdsales.AI Binance cryptocurrency exchange has decided to revive its…
Blockstream has developed 7 applications for the Lightning Network Blockstream, a blockchain solutions developer, has presented a series…


text:
IPhone users can now ditch iOS for Android or BlackBerry without losing messages to a digital “black hole” on Apples iMessage service. The self-service online tool, the first ever released by Apple allows former iPhone users to deregister from iMessage and escape the black hole that have been trapping messages since 2011.
Apple finally fixed a security hole in iMessage by introducing an online tool that enables former iPhones users to deregister from its messaging service. For years, people who ditched Apple for Google’s android complained that text messages sent to them ended up trapped in a digital black hole popularly know as it “iMessage purgatory” or as the “iMessage black hole.”
Technically, the iMessage black hole is a problem relating to how Apple handles its iOS to iOS communications across its devices. Unlike typical messaging services, iMessage routes SMS messages through the internet rather through the SMS network. Furthermore, Apple registers its users’ phone numbers with iMessage accounts, meaning that those who migrated to other platforms such Android or BlackBerry and maintain the previous numbers have their messages ending up in a digital no-man’s land.
In a post on Reddit last week, Apple announced a website where former iPhone users can deregister their phone numbers from iMessage service. The self- service option, first of its kind on Apple’s platform will ‘seal’ the black and allow former iPhone user to receive text messages from Apple users. For security reason ex apple users will be prompted to wait for a confirmation code sent through their current smartphones before detaching from iMessage.
Previously available fixes for those who failed to detach from iMessage before disposing off their iPhones, included a journey to AppleCare or numerous calls to Apple’s technical support team that took ages to fix the bug.
iMessage’s inability to reroute text messages outside the iOS platform have persisted since its launch in 2011, ending up with numerous lawsuits against the iPhone maker. In May Adrienne Moore filled a lawsuit against Apple complaining the iMessage purgatory made her life misery on her new android smartphone.
“Apple’s iMessage and Message service and application still retained text messages that were directed at these persons( Moore and others affected) from other Apple users, and failed to deliver these text messages to the putative class members as long as these putative class members continued using a non-Apple device,” read part of the complaint by Adrienne Moore.
Another Lawsuit in California around the same time accused Apple of violating the stored communication Act and the Electronic communication privacy Act. In Moore’s case, Apple was ordered into alternative dispute resolution in October while the other case is also being considered for alternative dispute resolution according to Law360.
Top/featured image: by Kelvinsong – Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons – https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:IPhone_5S_main_camera.png#mediaviewer/File:IPhone_5S_main_camera.png


text:
CHARLESTON — West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey's office is warning job seekers to exercise caution when looking for employment opportunities to pay off those holiday purchases.
“Don’t take just any job offer,” Morrisey said. “It is important that those looking for additional employment to pay off Christmas do their research and verify employment opportunities.”
The AG's office says consumers should be particularly cautious of work-at-home positions. Such opportunities may promise flexibility and extra income, but result in nothing more than lost time and money.
Additional tips include:
- Use extra caution when looking at job ads with generic titles, such as administrative assistant or customer service representative.
- Check the business’ legitimate website or call its verified phone number to make sure the opening is authentic.
- Use caution when advertisements urge candidates to apply immediately and use phrases such as “Teleworking OK,” “Immediate Start” and “No Experience Needed.”
- Do Internet searches for the position. If the same job posting appears in several cities, it may be a scam.
- Be very cautious of any job that asks for personal information or money. Scammers often use the guise of running a credit check, setting up a direct deposit or training costs.


text:
Daily Archives: December 9, 2012
Oppo’s international intentions are seemingly concrete with the launch of their all new English site! Oppo Find 5 coming to a country near you soon?
The most anticipated Chinese phone launch of the year will kick off in Beijing tomorrow afternoon, when Oppo launch the Oppo Find 5. But like all greatly anticipated products secrets have crept out!


text:
New Vudu for Home Theater8 Jan, 2008 By: Kyra Kudick
Vudu Inc. this week announced the launch of a new high-end version of its set-top box at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.
Vudu XL is designed with advanced controls to integrate with networked home theater systems and IR-based universal remotes. It has enough storage capacity to hold more than 500 standard-definition movies.
Beginning in February 2008, Vudu XL will be available through high-end audio video retailers and custom installers for $999.


text:
In the past few years, warehouse construction and hiring efforts have surged in a number of states nationwide, but perhaps the busiest has been Indiana. There, companies are focusing efforts on construction and expansion at an impressive clip, bringing hundreds of jobs to new facilities across the Hoosier State.
In Warren Township, just outside Indianapolis, the Seattle-based wine accessories manufacturer True Fabrications plans to occupy a sizable existing warehouse for its ever-expanding customer base, according to a report from the Indiana Business Journal. The new effort is designed to better serve the company's growing business throughout the Midwest and on the East Coast. Previously, it only had operations in Washington State.
A boon for the economy
In all, the facility will total more than 125,000 square feet, and True Fabrications will slowly ramp up hiring over a roughly five-year period, the report said. By 2022, the facility is expected to employ more than 100 people. Previously, the company mostly sold to businesses looking for wine accessories, but has recently seen an uptick in consumer consumption as well, which now make up 17 percent of its sales.
The state of Indiana is helping to facilitate the move, the report said. True Fabrications could potentially receive tax abatements from the Department of Metropolitan Development, though those have yet to be formally approved.
A supermarket chain expands hiring
Meanwhile, the well-known supermarket company Aldi is likewise planning to boost warehouse hiring and other efforts in Indiana as well, according to the Northwest Indiana Times. The company will host job fairs in the near future to hire warehouse selectors in Valparaiso. These jobs will pay $15 per hour, and will be open to a variety of applicants. The only requirements will be that workers are 18 or older and have a high school diploma or equivalent. Applicants must also be able to work between 6 a.m. and 11 p.m. Monday through Saturday.
This hiring effort also comes as the company looks to hire store associates, shift managers and management trainees, the report said. Some of those positions could pay more than $56,000 per year.
The more companies in all aspects of the warehousing industry can do to make sure they're offering better salaries and benefits as competition heats up, the better off they will be when it comes to attracting top talent. This effort may be especially important as the industry expands throughout the Hoosier State and beyond.


text:
Sensi releases new indoor air quality monitoring integration to enhance human comfort and health
ST. LOUIS–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Emerson (NYSE: EMR), a leader in the heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) controls industry and creator of highly rated smart thermostat solutions, today announced that its ENERGY STAR® certified Sensi™ smart thermostats are now compatible with Awair’s indoor air quality monitoring platform.
Emerson is committed to enhancing its smart home partnerships and expanding offerings, while continuing to deliver on a deep legacy of HVAC expertise. The Sensi™ Touch and Sensi™ smart thermostat have been named “Best Overall Smart Thermostat” and “Best Value Thermostat,” respectively, three years in a row by USA Today’s Reviewed.com.
“Customers today are looking for easy-to-use advanced technology solutions that not only empower them to take control of their environments and comfort but also help protect health and wellness,” said Bob Sharp, executive president of Emerson’s Commercial & Residential Solutions business. “Maintaining an optimal temperature and air quality is critical to a high quality of life. From easy installation to robust integrations, Sensi thermostats help us protect human comfort and health of our homes and families while at the same time providing increased energy efficiency, greater functionality and more convenience — a win-win for customers and the environment.”
Awair is an indoor air quality monitoring platform available through Sensi’s smart home integrations portfolio. As a top indoor air quality solution, Awair monitors the five key factors that impact air quality and affect human health: chemicals (total VOCs), temperature, humidity, particulate matter (PM2.5) and carbon dioxide (CO2). With this integration, Sensi and Awair users can receive real-time insight into their home’s air quality and use Sensi’s circulating fan feature to automatically regulate temperature and improve the health of their spaces.
“Awair provides personalized recommendations based on an analysis of air quality to help users stay safe and healthy,” said Ron Ro, co-founder and CEO of Awair. “Air quality affects everything from allergies to productivity and sleep quality, so we’re pleased to bring our technology to more homes with our new partnership with Emerson and Sensi.”
This integration is the latest in a broad portfolio that includes Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant and Apple HomeKit™. To help users easily integrate with their preferred smart home platform, Emerson offers smart home integration support in the Sensi app.
Emerson’s Sensi smart thermostats can save users about 23% of HVAC energy consumption by adjusting the temperature using flexible scheduling, remote access and geofencing. To help users determine their estimated cost savings, Emerson provides not only an energy savings calculator on its Sensi website, but also usage reports within the Sensi mobile app. In addition, many customers can take advantage of cost savings through utility and energy company rebates available for homes that use ENERGY STAR® certified smart thermostats. Learn more about cost savings at sensi.emerson.com/en-us/savings.
Sensi smart thermostats are available at retail stores, in online marketplaces, through HVAC contractors and at sensi.emerson.com.
Emerson (NYSE: EMR), headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri (USA), is a global technology and engineering company providing innovative solutions for customers in industrial, commercial and residential markets. Our Automation Solutions business helps process, hybrid and discrete manufacturers maximize production, protect personnel and the environment while optimizing their energy and operating costs. Our Commercial & Residential Solutions business helps ensure human comfort and health, protect food quality and safety, advance energy efficiency and create sustainable infrastructure. For more information visit Emerson.com.
Awair is a leader in the indoor air quality monitoring space and designs smart and intuitive monitoring solutions for homes, offices, retails paces and beyond. Their mission is twofold: to draw attention to the health impacts of poor indoor air quality and to empower users with the insight and tools they need to take control of the air they breathe. Using the Awair smartphone app and the Awair Omni Dashboard, users can view air quality date in real-time, identify indoor pollution sources, troubleshoot different solutions and browse personalized tips to improve the health of their space. In an effort to make managing indoor air quality even more effortless, Awair offers a variety of smart home integrations. The company is headquartered in San Francisco, CA and has a second office in Seoul, South Korea. To learn more about the impact of poor indoor air quality and browse Awair’s solutions, visit getawair.com.


text:
TEHRAN - Tourism to the United States dropped 4 percent during President Donald Trump 's time in the White House, according to a report.
Travel spending has dropped by 3.3 percent, or $4.6 billion, and 40,000 jobs have been lost, according to the NBC News, which cited the latest data from the National Travel and Tourism Office.
The US is also no longer the world's second most popular destination for foreign travel.
Experts say Trump's series of travel bans and some of his rhetoric could have had an impact on travel to the US , the network added.
Last year, for example, Tourism Economics President Adam Sacks told The New York Times that it's "not a reach to say the rhetoric and policies of this administration are affecting sentiment around the world, creating antipathy toward the US and affecting travel behavior.”


text:
Fujitsu Siemens has officially launched the mini laptop that first appeared on YouTube earlier this month.
Like other 'netbooks', the Amilo Mini on show at the IFA exhibition is small and light. It has a 9in screen, runs the 1.6GHz version of Intel's Atom processor and will be available in several configurations with hard-disk drive storage space from 30GB to 80GB, said Björn Fehrm, a Fujitsu Siemens representative.
The model on show at IFA has 1GB of memory and was running Windows XP Home.
The company plans to launch it in Europe in October this year. A similar computer will be launched by Fujitsu in the Americas and Asia.
The netbook segment of the laptop market - sometimes called low-cost laptop or ultramobile PC - has come alive in the past few months after PC makers scrambled to emulate the success of Taiwan's Asus and its Eee PC.
At least one other major laptop vendor, South Korea's LG Electronics, is launching a netbook at the event; others, previously announced at June's Computex expo in Taiwan, are due on the market in the next few months.


text:
What: Shares of Liberty Interactive Corporation (NASDAQ:QVCA), the parent of the home-shopping network QVC Group, tumbled today after warning of a weak retail environment in its second-quarter earnings report. As of 12:15 p.m. EDT, the stock was down 17.8%.
So what: Profits at the media conglomerate increased 13% to $127 million, or $0.27 per share, which beat estimates at $0.23. Revenue jumped 21% to $2.42 billion, boosted by last year's Zulily acquisition, meeting expectations.
Backing out the affect of Zulily's sales, revenue from QVC was up just 3%. Greg Maffei, CEO of Liberty Interactive, said, "QVC continues forward in a choppy retail environment," though he touted activity in Liberty Ventures Group, the investment side of the business, which made a gain of more than $300 million in its Liberty Broadband business.
QVC CEO Mike George noted that the business "experienced a deceleration in demand in the U.S. that has continued. As a result, our near-term perspective is more cautious."
Now what: Liberty Interactive did not provide specific guidance, but investors seemed unnerved by the cautious outlook at QVC, which comes amid murmurs of a broader pullback in retail spending. Nonetheless, George expressed optimism about QVC's longer-term position, saying it remains "well-positioned with our highly differentiated retail model, strong customer retention, and our ability to deliver compelling experiences across immersive commerce platforms." Given the growth at Zulily and Liberty's aim to diversify, I'd expect the stock to eventually rebound from today's dip.


text:
Romania might obtain a protection certification at European level for another 14 traditional products. Some of these are the Plescoi sausages, Deltaica pike roe salad, and Vaideeni cheese.
According to ProTV there are thousands of traditional foods that are protected at European level but Romania so far has only managed to protect four. Although Romania does have many traditional foods, the authorities did not work enough on protecting them.
Pro TV has stated that the pike roe salad is an unusual product as it has pike roe, sunflower oil, mineral water and lemon juice. The salad has 29% pike roe and its recipe dates from the 19th century.
Th Vaideeni cheese is produced in Vaideeni, which is one of the most well known locations where sheepherders produce this cheese from local sheep who live at an altitude of 1,500 meters. In Vaideeni 17 locals have organized themselves in a cooperative and they are hoping to obtain European protection.
Another traditional product that might receive protection is a traditional ice cream which is made on a surface of ice and salt after a 70-year-old receipt.
Leave a Reply


text:
Research* launched today shows that business leaders are not taking steps to reduce their environmental impact. The research, by Trucost, also reveals that 50% of business leaders think they spend too much time completing environmental questionnaires.
Suppliers are on the environmental radar for the first time. 79% percent believe they should measure the environmental impact of their suppliers, although only 32% would change suppliers who were found to be damaging the environment.
Simon Thomas, chairman, Trucost says: "Environmental disclosure is becoming increasingly important. Our survey found that only half of business leaders are aware of the environmental reporting clause in the government’s Modernising Company Law White Paper. This clause is expected to compel at least the 1,000 largest UK companies to report on their environmental performance.
Thomas concludes: "Margaret Beckett, Secretary of State, DEFRA, emphasised the importance of these proposed changes in a recent speech outlining the UK government’s position in advance of the World Summit on Sustainable Development being held later this month in Johannesburg. Organisations are now under pressure from NGOs to demonstrate that they are measuring environmental impact of the whole supply chain and taking action, not just demonstrating a commitment to environmental policies at head office."
The Trucost Environmental System, which launches in August, is the first rating tool to measure the environmental performance of an entire organisation, including that of its supply chain. It represents the total environmental performance of an organisation as a single percentage figure, that is comparable across industry sectors. 67% of business leaders believe this will be commercially beneficial.
For the first time, companies will be able to benchmark their environmental performance against peers and competitors. As total performance becomes transparent to all stakeholders, this could prove to be the much-needed driver for improvements.
50% of business leaders feel they spend too much time filling in environmental questionnaires rather than implementing environmental improvements
79% of business leaders believe they should measure the environmental performance of their suppliers
BUT 68% would not change suppliers who are damaging the environment
67% of business leaders believe there would be commercial benefit in having a single figure that allows them to benchmark their environmental impact against other companies


text:
“We believe that in the near future things will move regarding the dairy product certificates. Since everything on our part is done, the Chinese side is responding, everything should be resolved soon,” said Jonas Milius, the head of the Veterinary Service told Žinių radijas.
Milius said the Chinese would also be looking to buy hay or sillage from Lithuania, with potentially huge demand for the product in China, with experts from China arriving in Lithuania soon to inspect conditions here.
“Resolving issues regarding non-animal origin products is much faster.As for hay (silage), experts will arrive soon, because there are two companies that want to transport it to China. There are requirements that, I think, we will implement. China, you know, is not a small state, so I think that the demand will be huge,” he said.
An agreement has still not been reached on meat exports to China, but in the near future again the country‘s experts should visit to Lithuania. It also should be clear in early March whether Lithuania will be able to export beef to Japan.


text:
Seven months after threatening to do so, the tabloid favorite filed suit against Rockstar Games and Take-Two Interactive Software Wednesday, saying the creators of Grand Theft Auto V used her image and likeness without her permission.
Rockstar Games and Take-Two Interactive Software broke the news late Monday night at Sony’s pre-E3 press conference. Although the announcement had been expected, that didn’t dampen the response from fans.
Franklin, Michael and Trevor — the three protagonists of Grand Theft Auto V — are a potty-mouthed bunch. But now there’s conclusive proof that they’re among the crudest characters in video game history.
Youtuber TheMediocreScot spent the last five months compiling every F-bomb from last year’s biggest release, and it’s pretty, um, “impressive”: the game drops it some 1,018 times from beginning to end.
The daughter of the New York mobster responsible for the downfall of infamous mob boss John Gotti is suing Rockstar Games, saying the developer used her life story in Grand Theft Auto V without her permission.
Karen Gravano, daughter of Sammy “The Bull” Gravano and a former star of the VH1 reality series “Mob Wives,” alleges that a character in the best-selling crime game, Antonia Bottino, is based on her image and life story.
If you’re a gamer, that means tearing open some shrink wrap and losing a few hours (or days, possibly weeks) to a huge new game or three. After all, you hopefully have a little time off now to enjoy them.
With the high-profile launch of two new gaming systems and a slew of new games still to come, the video-game industry is hoping Santa brings it a turnaround this year. U.S. consumer spending on video games at brick-and-mortar retail stores has fallen nearly 30 percent in the past three years. In 2010, the industry took in $18.6 billion on sales of hardware, software and accessories, according to the NPD Group. In 2012, that number had slipped to $13.26 billion.
Activision celebrated the launch of Call of Duty: Ghosts with its customary sales trumpeting, announcing that the game sold $1 billion in its first day of release. Sounds impressive — and it certainly is — but it’s not quite as stunning as you might think.
The extraordinarily strong sales of Grand Theft Auto V drove the video game industry to a spectacular September. According to The NPD Group, combined physical sales of hardware and software were up 27 per cent, with $1.07 billion in revenue versus $848 million last year. Software sales, the most closely watched figure, were up a stunning 52 percent from a year ago to $754.3 million. That number does not include digital sales through services like Steam.
Since the launch of Grand Theft Auto V, fans have been eagerly waiting to start exploring the game’s new multiplayer mode. Early Tuesday morning, that mode launched — but most players are still waiting to play it.
As seems to happen with so many major online game launches, Rockstar and Take Two were unprepared for the massive influx of players, causing the game’s servers to be overwhelmed and preventing most players from being able to log in and explore the compelling new mode.
Grand Theft Auto V has just about everything. You can build a crime empire. You can go skydiving. You can play a round of golf, search for hidden treasure, partake in a triathlon, or just drive around like a maniac.
There’s one thing missing, though: an instruction manual.


text:
At the Intel Developer Forum this week, the chip maker is highlighting ever-faster chips, even demonstrating a surprise 1.5GHz processor. All the new technology means lower-cost and more powerful technology for the end user.
ZDNet News UK brings you the news as it happens.
Intel's Timna is targeted for even lower cost PCs -- Wed, 16th Feb
Why should cheaper PCs use ancient chips? New chips have been designed to cut costs by eliminating graphics boards and memory controller chips Intel's 1GHz: Coming sooner than you think -- Wed, 16th Feb
At its Intel Developer Forum, the chip maker shows off three near-production PCs with 1GHz Pentium IIIs; such machines will begin shipping 'shortly' Keeping Netfinity running -- Wed, 16th Feb
CDM: IBM's new diagnostic technology is set to improve server uptime Surprise: Intel demos 1.5GHz processor -- Wed, 16th Feb
Intel announces new details of its high-end Willamette processor, including a 1.5GHz version, and low-end Timna chips Samsung, Hyundai, Intel roll out memory -- Tue, 15th Feb
New chips on display at Intel Developer Forum Intel to take $100m stake in Symbol Tech -- Tue, 15th Feb
Intel hopes to bring wireless networking to the masses following investment announcement Intel's new chips highlight conference -- Tue, 15th Feb
The first public discussions of its fastest chips will headline the semiannual Intel Developer Forum. AMD plans to chip in, too


text:
TORONTO (CP) — The head of food conglomerate George Weston Ltd. tried to reassure investors Thursday that the Canadian bakery and grocery giant is combing the investment landscape for ways to spend the billions of dollars of cash on its balance sheet.
At the company's annual meeting, president and chairman Galen Weston Sr. acknowledged that shareholders are "eagerly awaiting" an announcement of what the company plans to do with the more than $3 billion it got when it sold a couple of its businesses in the last two years.
"Let me reassure you that we have a strong team examining the North American landscape for investment opportunities that meet our strategic profile. While the returns on our cash investment have been low, it's been safe and the improvement in the value of the Canadian dollar substantial," Weston said.
The company sold its Neilson dairy business to cheese maker Saputo for $465 million in 2008 and its U.S. fresh-baked-goods division to Mexico Grupo Bimbo for US$2.5 billion in 2009. Since then it has looked at a number acquisitions but none have worked out, either because of the cost or a lack of a good fit.
However, chief financial officer Bob Vaux hinted that an acquisition could be close at hand in response to a shareholder question about the company's preferred shares.
The shares pay a dividend of 5.2 per cent a year, so on $800 million of preferred shares, George Weston is paying out more than $40 million a year, Vaux said. He admitted that the company is currently earning less on its excess cash than it's paying on the preferred shares, but said an acquisition would change that.
"If we worked on the assumption that we were not going to redeploy the funds in an acquisition, we would certainly retire the preferred shares, but these are very good preferred sharers, and if and when we do an acquisition we'd be very happy to have them in the capital structure and it would be very difficult to replace them if we took them out," Vaux said.
"So while it's having a short-term effect on the company, the board has concluded that until such time as we land on a redeployment it is appropriate to leave them in place."
For the first quarter of 2010, Weston reported a profit of $42-million or 25 cents per share. In the same period last year, Weston earned $863 million or $6.61 per share. This included $890 million from the sale of part of its U.S. fresh baking business.
Weston's revenue from continuing operations increased to $7.1 billion in the most recent quarter from $7 billion in the first quarter of 2009.
The company owns both a food processing business and a food distribution business which is operated through Loblaw Companies Ltd., a separate publicly traded company.
Shares in Weston added 80 cents to $73.64 in afternoon trading on the Toronto Stock Exchange.


text:
French economy eked out 0.1% growth in Q4
The growth of 0.1% marked a slowdown compared to economic growth of 0.2% in the third quarter.
PARIS (Reuters) - France’s economy eked out growth of 0.1% in the fourth quarter of 2022, according to preliminary gross domestic product (GDP) figures released on Tuesday, helped by exports.
The growth of 0.1% marked a slowdown compared to economic growth of 0.2% in the third quarter. Nevertheless, the preliminary fourth quarter figures beat forecasts, with a Reuters poll having forecast a 0.0% figure for the quarter.
The preliminary French fourth quarter GDP figures also provided a positive contrast to Germany, the euro zone’s biggest economy, after data on Monday showed that the German economy had unexpectedly shrunk in the fourth quarter.
For 2022 as a whole, the French economy grew by 2.6%, added the INSEE statistics office in its preliminary figures.
France, which is the euro zone’s second-biggest economy behind Germany, has been grappling with the effects of rising energy prices which have affected global business and trade.
The Bank of France said in forecasts published in December that France’s economic growth would fall to 0.3% in 2023 from 2.6% for 2022.


text:
The Asus Zenfone 6 took the community by a storm. The swivel camera technique is what was missing from the camera department and I personally hated the pop-up selfie camera. A couple of weeks ago, Asus finally announced their Zenfone 6 globally and an Indian launch is imminent, however, there have been some issues with the Zenfone brand which you can read here.
Last week, the Taiwanese company rolled out an update for the Zenfone 6 which comes out with an improved Super Night Mode and an HDR++ camera. According to reports, the company is gearing up for another update which will enable Super Night Mode on its 13MP ultra-wide camera as well.
The update is said to bring in some improvements and basic optimizations along with bug fixes to the phone. The update will also allow users to check their weather on the lock screen itself. The updated version number is 16.1210.1904.133 and will be rolled out as an over-the-air (OTA) update with different serial numbers.
- Enable “Super Night mode” on Ultra-wide camera.
- Get weather displayed on the lock screen.
- Optimize translation strings in Setting.
- Improve system stability.
- Improve camera rotation stability.
- Optimize UI Animation.
- Optimize the headphone sound quality.
The update will be rolled out in a few days and will eventually reach our device. In the meantime, you can manually try checking if the update has already arrived for your device by heading over to your settings app.


text:
- BEST B-SCHOOLS
- INDIA'S BEST EMPLOYERS
- HOTTEST YOUNG EXECUTIVES
- TOP EMERGING COMPANIES
- BEST CFOs
- BEST BANKS
- COOLEST START-UPS
- BEST INNOVATIONS
- MOST POWERFUL BUSINESSWOMEN
- WOMEN'S ISSUE
- BEST SMEs
- LUXURY SPECIAL
- BEST CEOs
- ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL
- UNION BUDGET
- BUSINESS TODAY
- BT MORE
- MONEY TODAY
- GADGETS AND GIZMOS
Ahead of Diwali, the government will launch on October 24 the sixth tranche of Sovereign Gold Bonds (SGB) scheme, in which people can buy securities worth up to 500 grams.
Dealers were charging up to $2 an ounce over official domestic prices, the first time premiums have been seen since mid-January, said Bachhraj Bamalwa.
Gold fell for a ninth straight session on Friday on a stronger dollar ahead of key US jobs data and the metal was headed for its worst weekly dip in nearly a year.
OPEC agreed to limit its production to a range of 32.5-33.0 million barrels per day (bpd) in talks held on the sidelines of an energy conference in Algeria.
Spot gold dropped 0.2 per cent to $1,334.41 an ounce by 0411 GMT; but was on track for a weekly gain of nearly 2 per cent, the highest since end-July.
- Rocking growth? Mumbai direct tax mop-up flat in H1 FY17
- Sea plane service soon from Nagpur to Shirdi: Nitin Gadkari
- Power sector debt worth Rs 1.34 trillion at high risk: Crisil
- NIA to train Bangladesh police in detecting fake Indian currency
- Fin Min declines to share black money assessment reports
- Snapdeal reveals best-selling smartphones during the Unbox Diwali sale
- Apple iPhone 7 Plus Review: Indisputably the best smartphone in the market
- Smartphone batteries emit over 100 toxic gases: Study
- Instagram introduces suicide-prevention tools
- Xiaomi sold 1 million handsets in India in 18 days: Chinese media
News You Can Use
- 10 financial tips for people in 30s for a stress-free future
- Travel time for 14 premier trains including Rajdhani, Shatabdi reduced
- Top 10 fastest cars in the world
- 11 financial mistakes people in their 30s make to regret later
- Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza to get petrol variant soon
- Reliance Jio: SIM card, 4G plans, apps and more


text:
This page was exported from King Weekly Sentinel
Export date: Fri Sep 18 3:47:14 2020 / +0000 GMT
By Jake Courtepatte
Families will feel the warmth this Christmas, thanks to the Nobleton Christmas Drive.
The Nobleton charity got a boost last week from the Nobleton Lions Club, whose members helped spread some holiday cheer.
Mary Buchanan, founder of the drive, received a cheque from the Lions last Friday – a $2,000 boost to help outfit local children with winter clothes.
Buchanan says the focus has recently shifted from toys to clothing and winter accessories, as a good amount of toys now come in from different toy drives during the season.
“Snow suits, boots, underwear, socks … it's basic necessities that we're really looking for now,” she said.
With the cause now in its 19th year, Buchanan is happy to report that it has experienced significant growth during that time.
“We have a lot of help now. For the first 10 years, I was short every Christmas. But the Lions have been supporting us for a while.”
The Nobleton Lions have been a part of the cause for around 16 years, and were the first community service to come on board.
“They came to our aid pretty quickly,” said Buchanan. “They've been a big part of the program, and I'm thankful for that.”
“It's a good thing she does,” said Lion Joe Tasca. “We're more than happy to help. If there's a family in town in need, we want to help.”
To support the cause or learn more, you can reach Buchanan at 905-859-5456.
Excerpt: Families will feel the warmth this Christmas, thanks to the Nobleton Christmas Drive.
Post date: 2014-12-23 10:07:20
Post date GMT: 2014-12-23 15:07:20
Post modified date: 2015-01-07 09:20:13
Post modified date GMT: 2015-01-07 14:20:13
Powered by [ Universal Post Manager ] plugin. MS Word saving format developed by gVectors Team www.gVectors.com


text:
For years, a Roman statue stood on the floor of a second-hand item store in Texas.
Nobody thought much of it, figuring it was just a piece of junk or some kind of imitation garden ornament.
That was until Texas antiques dealer Laura Young stopped by the Austin thrift store and decided to buy it in 2018.
Laura found the Roman bust while scouring the store for something unique and interesting. The sculpture was on the floor, under a table, when it caught her eye.
She had no idea it was actually a real historical item but decided to buy it on impulse.
Hitting the Jackpot
Young didn’t think twice and bought the piece for $34.99, the price listed on a sticker on the cheek of the small statue.
She later learned that this status was actually a real Roman statue from the Julio-Claudiana era. The bust depicts the famous Roman commander Nero Claudius Drusus Germanicus over 2,000 years ago in the 1st century AD.
It’s also an item of incalculable value. The question is: how did it end up in a thrift shop in Austin, Texas?
Well, it’s believed the bust came to be part of the art collection of a 19th-century Bavarian king until it was stolen during World War II.
It then eventually found its way to the United States where it ended up being lost and people forgot its value. Then, it somehow ended up for sale for $34.99 at a thrift shop.
An ancient Roman bust that went on display at a museum in San Antonio, Texas this week has a peculiar backstory: In 2018, the bust was bought at a Goodwill store in Austin, Texas. https://t.co/lWwOE67k7w
— CBS News (@CBSNews) May 8, 2022
Taken to the Museum
After the discovery, Young kept the statue for three years. She then negotiated with antiquities dealers who bought it for a huge sum of money that has not been publicized.
At the moment, this important bust from ancient Rome is on display for the public to take a look at. It’s behind heavy protection of course, due to its immense value.
The bust was recently delivered to the San Antonio Museum of Art, where it is part of an exhibition that runs until May 2023.
Lynley McAlpine, who works at the museum, said it is impossible to give an exact monetary value to an item that is part of an important phase of human history. After this, the statue must return to Pompejanum in Aschaffenburg, Germany.
In April of this year, shortly after delivering the piece to the museum, Young received in return a 3D printed model of the piece.
The replica is kept in the living room of her house, in the same place where the original bust remained for more than three years.
Why can’t I ever find a score like this?
“A woman bought a statue for $34.99 at a Goodwill in Texas. It turned out to be an ancient Roman artifact — and likely looted.”https://t.co/dauP3tQX6v
— Martina Markota (@MartinaMarkota) May 6, 2022
The Bottom Line
You just never know what you’ll find at a thrift store.
Sometimes what looks like a random piece of stone or concrete turns out to be a real antiquity worth a huge amount of money with priceless value for history.


text:
As social media continues to evolve companies, associations and brands are searching for ways to connect with their employees, members and target markets–and vice versa–employees, members and consumers are using social media to connect, communicate and correspond with their employers, associations, brands and celebrities.
Younger generations are no exception.
Twitter is a social media platform that has seen enormous growth is the past two years. Twitter currently has over 200 million users engaging in dialogue made up of 140 characters or less on a variety of topics.
My alma matter, American University in Washington, DC, hosted its very first Town Hall meeting on Twitter with the president of the University, President Neil Kerwin, last month with the intent of connecting with current students and recent graduates (those that have graduated within the last 10 years). The response and participation level was surprisingly successful because it met its target audience at the appropriate medium. The US Army is even using social media and Twitter to hold Town Hall meetings to reach Gen X and Gen Y recruits.
Brands are another channel that have effectively connected with Generations X, Y and Z via Twitter. In fact, one of the most buzz-worthy ads of the Super Bowl on Sunday wasn’t even a commercial — it was a mere tweet from Oreo during the blackout. The tweet was retweeted more than 14,500 times and “liked” more than 20,000 times on Oreo’s Facebook page (and cost significantly less than 3.8 million dollar average cost of a Superbowl Commercial).
Celebrities have also found that Twitter applicable platform to engage their fan base. Lady Gaga is a celebrity that has had phenomenal success with engaging her target audience and fan base via Twitter, the majority who also happen to be members of Generations Y and Z. She has nearly 35 million followers on Twitter. Lady Gaga success stems from her personally leveraging Twitter to cultivate and strengthen relationships with her fans either by directly talking to them or offering them exclusive content.
The magic of Twitter is that it allows people to engage in dialogue, vent and share viewpoints on common subject matters and, with the use of a hashtag, they can find others that are sharing thoughts on the same subject. Your organization or association is no exception. Twitter is a viable platform for reaching out to your younger generation of members, professionals or future leaders. When you construct strategies of how to engage your audience and succinctly relay your message in 140 characters or less, the opportunities for increased engagement between Generations X, Y and Z are endless.
Looking for a game changer at your next event or a strategy unique to your organization?


text:
NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- Facebook's population is now larger than that of the U.S., Mexico and France combined.
The world's largest social networking site announced Wednesday that it has hit a widely anticipated milestone, signing up its 500 millionth user.
In a blog post, Facebook chief executive Mark Zuckerberg said he "could have never imagined all of the ways people would use Facebook when we were getting started 6 years ago." In a video message, Zuckerberg thanked Facebook users and told them "you really have created a worldwide movement."
To show off its international reach, Facebook launched a new application Wednesday called Facebook Stories. The app lets users recount their own stories and read others' posts, filtered by theme and geographic location.
The speed with which Facebook hit the 500 million mark is a sign of its accelerating growth. Launched in early 2004, it took Facebook nearly four years to add its first 100 million users, but only five months to add its most recent batch. Around 70% of the current user base for the Palo Alto, Calif., company now comes from outside the U.S.
The Senate bill to get rid of Obamacare differs in key ways from the House-passed version. But both bills eliminate the tax burden imposed on the richest Americans by the Affordable Care Act. More
In 1998, Ntsiki Biyela won a scholarship to study wine making. Now she's about to launch her own brand. More
The average guest at a wedding last year spent $888 per wedding, according to a study from the Knot. For those in the wedding party, the price of being a stand-up friend was over $1,000. More


text:
A boy convicted of threatening and abusing shoppers has been fined for breaching the terms of his ASBO.
The 16-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was banned from going to the Tudor Shops precinct in Wrythe Lane, Carshalton, for harassing customers in December 2012.
But he was spotted loitering near the shops by PCSOs on two separate occasions.
He appeared at Croydon Youth Court on January 21 and was ordered to pay £65 and given a youth rehabilitation order meaning he will have to make regular visits to a rehab centre.
- Filthy North Cheam food store fined £38,000 for hygiene breaches
- Bright and sunny day ahead with warm weather set to continue throughout the week
- Sutton Council leader branded 'crass and irresponsible' after sending thousands of mock eviction notices
- WIN! We’ve got money-can’t-buy X-Men Apocalypse goodies to give away
- Sutton man arrested on suspicion of cannabis possession after car crashed into a post box


text:
CREA boosts forecast as year-over-year home resales, prices jump
The number of existing homes that changed hands in Canada in November came in 5.9-per-cent higher than a year earlier, the Canadian Real Estate Association said Monday.
While sales were slumping at this time last year, last month’s sales level was 0.7-per-cent higher than the 10-year average on a seasonally adjusted basis, CREA said.
Indeed, the results were strong enough that the association, which represents realtors from coast to coast and tracks data by way of the Multiple Listing Service, has bolstered its outlook for both sales and prices for this year compared with its last forecast in September. It now expects this year’s sales to come in a tiny bit higher than last year.
That’s despite the fact that sales slipped by 0.1 per cent from October on a seasonally adjusted basis, according to the association.
The average sale price last month was 9.8-per-cent higher than a year earlier, while the MLS Home Price Index – which seeks to account for changes in the types or locations of homes that are selling to create a more apples-to-apples comparison than the average – rose by 4.1 per cent.
That’s the fastest rate of price growth in 16 months, according to Bank of Montreal economist Robert Kavcic.
“Average prices have remained firmer than expected, in large part due to a rise in the share of national sales among more active and pricier markets as compared to last year,” CREA stated, as it updated its forecasts for this year and next.
The association now expects the national average home price to rise by 5.2 per cent in 2013, to $382,200. In September it was expecting the average price to rise by just 3.6 per cent this year to $376,300.
It is now forecasting an additional 2.3-per-cent rise in prices next year, to $391,100.
“In staggering contrast to the dire forecasts early this year, precisely 1 of the 26 largest cities in the country has reported a drop in average prices so far this year – Victoria, with a miniscule 0.6-per-cent sag,” Bank of Montreal chief economist Douglas Porter wrote in a research note. “All of the other 25 cities have recorded single-digit price gains, with the median city posting a non-threatening 3.6-per-cent rise.”
CREA now expects sales to reach 458,200 units this year, which would be an increase of eight tenths of 1 per cent from last year. In September it had forecast 449,900 sales this year, which would have been about 1 per cent below last year’s level.
The association compiles data from local real estate boards, which each separately detailed their November sales results earlier in the month. Cities that drove the year-over-year gain included Toronto, which reported a 14 per cent rise in year-over-year sales for November, Calgary, which said its sales were up 19 per cent, Edmonton, up 11 per cent, and Vancouver, up 38 per cent.
The strength in many of the country’s largest cities in November was partly offset by slower activity in smaller centres, notably in Quebec and the Maritimes, Mr. Porter noted.
“Even with the solid annual sales gain, fully 11 of the 26 major cities reported year-over-year sales declines in November, with 7 of those in Quebec or Atlantic Canada,” he wrote.
Overall, CREA said that November’s national sales activity was 3.4 per cent below the peak reached in September, “providing further evidence that activity in the later summer and early fall was likely boosted by home buyers with pre-approved mortgages at lower than current interest rates jumping into the market before their pre-approvals expired.”
The Globe and Mail
© Copyright 2013 The Globe and Mail Inc. All Rights Reserved.
444 Front St. W., Toronto, ON Canada M5V 2S9
Phillip Crawley, Publisher


text:
One of the problems with porting Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich over to old Snapdragon S1 based devices, such as the Nexus One and the HTC HD2, is the lack of GPU binaries. Because of this, initial releases of ICS ROMs for these devices did not support GPU-accelerated UI.
Later, however, developers figured out a way to enable GPU acceleration on these devices but the performance was still less than ideal. Now to make the lives of these developers and all those people out there who run custom ICS ROMs on these older Snapdragon phones easier, Qualcomm has decided to lend a helping hand in the form of GPU binaries for the Adreno 2xx series of GPU.
Now thanks to these graphics binaries, developers will have a much easier time enabling GPU related features in their ICS ROMs and get the best out of the GPUs in these old chips. And these drivers work on all Adreno 2xx GPUs, so they will come in handy even for the new S1 and S2 series Snapdragon processors.
According to the Qualcomm Development Boards Forum Master,
In order to provide enthusiasts with recent improvements made to Snapdragon’s Adreno graphics drivers, Qualcomm has made the updated Adreno 2xx graphics driver binaries available here. Note that you will most likely need to be a developer to take advantage of these new drivers since they’ll require integration with the CAF release of ICS, but Qualcomm is providing these driver binaries “as is” to those of you who have requested them.
It’s good to see Qualcomm looking out for the well-being of the developing community and the users, even after the device manufacturers have turned their backs on them.
Source Thanks, Kailash, for sending this in.


text:
TRAI has published its recommendations on the much debated issue of privacy and data protection. The Authority has specifically recommended the following:
- User is the owner and collecting and sharing agencies are custodians.
- Study to formulate standards of anonymisation and de-identification.
- No use of meta data to identify individuals.
- The existing framework not sufficient to protect telecom consumers.
- Current rules be applicable to TSPs.
- Privacy by design principle couple with data minimisation should be made applicable to all the entities in the digital ecosystem.
According to IAMAI, the in-principle recommendations are around users’ ownership of data, no use of meta data to identify individuals and Privacy by design principle coupled with data minimisation should be made applicable to all the entities in the digital ecosystem, and the Sri Krishna committee set up MeitY is already examining them and other principles.
However, the TRAI recommendation to formulate standards of anonymisation and de-identification is akin to putting the cart before the horse, and till such time the Sri Krishna committee is out and a notification or a law is passed, making these standards would be groping in the dark.
TRAI’s assertion that the existing framework is not sufficient to protect telecom consumers and current rules applicable to TSPs is prima facie, contradictory.
The TRAI recommendations on privacy are premised on a voice and SMS regime. It is not meant for data driven business, which the app companies are. App companies use pseudo anonymous data and app companies do not give Call Detail Records. Incidentally, the Sri Krishna Committee under the Ministry of IT, which is the nodal body for apps as well as for handset manufacturers, is deeply, looking into this issue of consent, which is a fair thing to do.
According to IAMAI, if the same rules are applied, then there is a possibility that we will never be able to build data businesses in India. – Communications Today Bureau


text:
WASHINGTON (AP) - Former President Bill Clinton said Tuesday that broad tax cuts that expire in January should be temporarily renewed, including for the wealthiest Americans, to give lawmakers time to reach a deal on a longer-term extension that should exclude the rich.
WASHINGTON (AP) - In the wake of an alarmingly weak jobs report last week, President Barack Obama and lawmakers in both parties find themselves possessing few if any realistic options for jolting the economy out of its doldrums before Election Day.
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - Google is escalating its rivalry with Microsoft with the purchase of Quickoffice, the maker of a widely used mobile application for working on documents created in Microsoft's programs for word processing, spreadsheets and presentations.
MENLO PARK (AP) - Facebook's stock has fallen for the third consecutive day.
LOS ANGELES (AP) - Nintendo is relying on a famous plumber, zombies and a virtual theme park to build buzz for the Wii U.
LOS ANGELES (AP) - Several former cast members of the "Happy Days" can argue to a jury that they are owed royalties from DVD sales of the hit series, a judge ruled Tuesday.
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - Salesforce.com Inc. is buying the marketing company Buddy Media for $689 million in a deal that underscores the growth in both social media and the delivery of software over the Internet.
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - Starbucks Corp. is looking to offer a more tempting menu, with a $100 million cash deal to buy a small bakery chain.
MENLO PARK (AP) - Though Facebook bans children under 13, millions of them have profiles on the site by lying about their age.
LOS ANGELES (AP) - The Xbox 360 is getting a little smarter.
WASHINGTON (AP) - Faced with a fizzling job market, many economists have turned more pessimistic and no longer think U.S. economic growth will accelerate later this year.
WASHINGTON (AP) - The American economy is in trouble again.
I get lots of email from readers who tell me they have a hard time finding answers to their questions at the Social Security Administration website: www.socialsecurity.gov. Or, I often hear from readers telling me they want to "see something official in black and white" before they will believe whatever I wrote in my column.
NEW YORK (AP) - The CEO of AT&T Inc. said Friday that cellphone plans that count only data usage are likely to come in the next two years. In such a scenario, phone calls and texts would be considered as just another form of data.
GRAPEVINE, Texas (AP) - Gamers rejoice: GameStop is almost doubling its number of seasonal workers this holiday season as it prepares to deal with strong demand for new video games and the new iPhone.
NEW YORK (AP) - AT&T's proposed $48.5 billion acquisition of DirecTV is moving forward as shareholders of the country's largest satellite TV broadcaster approved the deal. But it still needs regulatory approval.


text:
Crypto prices are back on the rise, with Bitcoin (BTC) leading the charge, as usual. While the coins experienced a minor correction in recent days, their performance is overall still quite bullish. As a result, investors are feeling more and more motivated and optimistic with every new day, while experts are predicting that the prices will skyrocket like never before.
With a situation like that, some old trends are making a comeback alongside crypto prices, with most notable among them being the ICO model. The model was believed to be extinct back in 2018 after the prices crashed, and the regulators cracked down on it due to regulatory uncertainty and a high number of scams. However, while the model did survive through evolution into additional token sale options, such as STOs, and a new exchange-based version, IEO — traditional ICOs are still very much alive.
A number of them have already been held, while numerous ones are currently on-going. However, there are also a few worthy projects that are still in the future and are worthy of keeping an eye on for new updates regarding the timing of the sales themselves. One such project is The Seed Token Project ICO.
The Seed Token Project aims to deliver SEED, an independent, decentralized marketplace for CUI deployers and developers. The platform offers intellectual property, development tools, as well as the network for deploying front-ends to AI technologies.
The platform is to be fueled by SEED token, which will be used for authentication of CUIs (Conversational user interfaces) as well as for enhancing digital transactions among them. The SEED token will act as a currency for the platform itself, as well as for wallets, and the marketplace. It will also enable CUI data exchange, instead of application-specific data exchange, thus allowing the platform deployment for a larger variety of clients.
SEED is designed to serve as a utility-type token, and it is registered in Singapore, which is known for being crypto-friendly for quite a long time, now. It is developed on Ethereum's platform, meaning that it will be another new ERC-20 token.
Unfortunately, there is not a lot known about this project's ICO at the moment, with even its date still not being officially announced. However, the token sale is incoming, likely at some point in 2019. The total token supply will be at around 10 billion SEED units, although it is currently unknown how many of the coins will be offered during an actual ICO.
Investors interested in helping this project grow further should make a point of carefully and thoroughly studying the project's whitepaper, and learning all about it before the ICO commences. More information about the project can be found on its website, including a helpful FAQ, its blue paper, executive summary, SEED use cases, and more.
We list the most relevant upcoming crypto market ICOs from the industry leaders
Stellero is an Israeli startup that aspires to create an investment banking platform, the chief purpose of which is to bridge the gap between the conventional capital market and emerging crypto-based digital economy through the tokenization of illiquid assets and fractional holdings.
13 days left
The online food delivery services represent the sector of the contemporary digital economy that is growing at a staggering rate. It is estimated that by the year 2022, the total revenue...
16 days left
VR and Augmented Reality represent the most promising segment of the tech market that has the potential to grow into a $40 some billion industry in just a couple of years...
22 days left
The blockchain projects that initiate initial coin offerings are not always about finance or sophisticated tech solutions. The scope of application of this groundbreaking technology...
23 days left
|Start||May 1, 2019|
|End||August 31, 2019|
When reading the whitepaper of the SEED project, I got very strong antiglobalist vibes from that team since the document had numerous mentions of the project's intention to confront the "big multinationals" for the right to use the CUI tools and develop the AI economy that includes designing bots. It is like they are having a vendetta against the corporations or something. Although their technical solutions appear to be quite interesting, I am not fond of their confrontational attitude, which is inherent to some asocial cyber geeks.
Lee August 10, 2019 Reply
One can’t underestimate the importance of bots for the future of online customer service. As the SEED team rightfully points out, it would be absolutely unacceptable to let a gang of transnational corporations to usurp this prospective segment that promises super profits for the creative and industrious developers, like myself, who have tons of brilliant ideas boiling in their heads. Not to mention their ACTR standard for 3D avatars, which is pretty mind-blowing in its nature, at least judging from what I\ve figured out after checking its prototype on GitHub.
Olaf July 24, 2019 Reply
All bot developers out there, let me assure you that SEED is the platform you’ve been looking for but couldn’t find because it simply didn’t exist. As one programmer to another, this solution is going to make our jobs that much easier thanks not only to the data exchange feature, but also to such a marvelous thing as the SEED Greenhouse. It is a distributed application that allows me to set licensing terms and even directly connect my products to the customers’ services. Big ups to the guys from SEED, you did a great job!
Owen July 6, 2019 Reply


text:
Taiwan held its first ever animal rights march this weekend – with 150 people braving the rain in a bid to speak up for the voiceless.
Protesters at the march chanted slogans, including ‘Animals are not a number’ through megaphones, as well as ‘Animals are our friends’.
The march was organized by prominent Taiwan-based group Vegan30.
Vegan advocates took to the Xinyi Shopping District, one of Taipei’s busiest and most famous shopping areas.
The march was also attended by famous vegan Taiwanese rapper Dwagie (??), who previously wrote the ‘song of the slaughterhouse’ to raise awareness of the plight of farmed animals.


text:
Last week the European Commission RASFF portal has reported that Aflatoxins were found in pistachios from the US headed for Germany. The risk decision on the notification was marked as a ‘serious’ contamination level for the pistachios and the shipment was rejected at the border. Mycotoxins are a naturally occurring chemicals produced by certain moulds and can develop on a wide range of feed and grain based products. They often develop under warm conditions and the development of climate change in recent years has saw an increased level of mycotoxins developing, particularly in wet, warm and humid climates. Aflatoxins are a type
This week, we are proud to release our new branding and website for Biorex Food Diagnostics. At the beginning of 2021 we made plans to refresh our brand identity with a new logo, colour palette and website. Our aim was to create a brand that conveyed our commitment to food safety and creating innovative products through extensive research and development. For the website, we wanted to create a user friendly experience that allowed visitors to browse and enquire about products easily with a visually appealing design through the use of natural, organic imagery. Browse Products by Industry The new website allows users to
The World Health Organisation lists antimicrobial resistance among the top 10 biggest global threats, yet the issue doesn’t receive a lot of attention on the global stage.
Aquaculture is the farming of fish, crustaceans, mollusks, aquatic plants, algae and other organisms. It involves cultivating freshwater and saltwater populations under controlled conditions, this differs to commercial fishing where wild fish are harvested.
Due to its biological characteristics, honey has various benefits and uses in food, pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries. In recent years there have been numerous reports of honey being contaminated with antibiotics and concern over what side effects in human health this can lead to, including antibiotic resistance.


text:
Our Opinion: Local business, residents need our support
Ever wonder if Minnesota nice is alive and well? Look no further than the past couple of weeks.
Sure, since the first reports of the coronavirus reaching our country there’s been a run on food, toilet paper and hand sanitizer, as well as a gambit of myths floating around about the disease, but we won’t dwell on the rationale of all that here.
Instead, we want to point out what’s been working, and that’s been the kind spirit of our community. It’s been heartwarming to see the number of people and organizations in the Brainerd lakes area stepping up to help others during the coronavirus pandemic.
Examples include people helping deliver food and lunches, offering day care for parents who need to work, opening stores early to accommodate the elderly, and experts being available to chat with us about any issues that have arisen in our daily lives during these trying times. Not to mention all the emergency and critical personnel who continue working to keep us safe -- law enforcement, paramedics, nurses, doctors, just to name a few. And we know that’s just the tip of the iceberg of all the good that has risen during the crisis.
But there are other ways to help that we would like to see come to fruition.
The first would be for Congress to pass and President Donald Trump to sign into law the $1 trillion relief package that would include payments of $1,000 to adults and billions in loans to businesses.
As of Thursday the relief package was looking like it would become a reality, getting bipartisan support. We hope it becomes a reality fast, as many people are depending on it to make ends meet.
Unlike the Great Recession of a decade ago, the financial crisis we’re now headed for was not invented by bad business practices but by good ones. Businesses throughout Minnesota and across the country have reduced staff or closed outright in an effort to slow the spread of the coronavirus.
That’s smart planning, but it also may mean the end of those businesses and unemployment for their employees if the government didn’t offer a relief package. The aid money can be used to keep both employees and businesses solvent for at least a little while.
And locally, we can do all we can to support those businesses still operating. So go ahead and order food from our local establishments for takeout or delivery, prepay for services that are temporarily not available, buy gift cards for future use, and visit those stores that are still open.
With the coronavirus pandemic we find ourselves in a very fluid, unpredictable situation. We don’t know what tomorrow or next week will bring, but we’re sure things will be changing. That’s why it’s important for all of us to support each other.
As a public service, we’ve opened this article to everyone regardless of subscription status.


text:
Chick-fil-A Set to Open a New Lubbock Location & Create 90 New Jobs
The much-anticipated Chick-fil-A Grand Opening for the new West End Lubbock location is Thursday, May 18th, with a ribbon cutting scheduled for 9 a.m.
According to their press release, they will host a road trip for the Grand Opening on May 17th. Up to 100 lucky participants will earn a year's supply of meals and travel by bus around Lubbock, a trip that includes packing 10,000 meals for the needy.
Additionally, the new Chick-fil-A at 3210 W. Loop Road 289 will reportedly be bringing 90 jobs to Lubbock. They will also facilitate a donation of children's books from the community to Bowie Elementary School.
If you'd like to be one of the 100 participants follow this link to the Chick-fil-A opening page with details and further links.
One more Chick-fil-A is projected to open in Lubbock this year. We can expect to see that one opening this fall, just off 4th street.


text:
The Pokemon Company has announced New Pokemon Snap's release date. Earlier today, The Pokemon Company released a new trailer for New Pokemon Snap, the long-awaited sequel to the Nintendo 64 picture-taking game. The new trailer showed off the brand new Lental region and revealed that the game would be released on April 30th. The new trailer, which can be seen below, shows the player character viewing and taking pictures of dozens of Pokemon, including a mega-sized Meganium caused by the brand new "Illumina" phenomenon. Not only do some Pokemon react to treats like fluffruit, we also see some Pokemon fighting and playing with each other in the wild, just like in the original game.
Last year, The Pokemon Company announced that fans would get a sequel of Pokemon Snap after years of waiting. Like the original game, players will explore an area filled with wild Pokemon while taking photos of them from the safety of their moving pod, named NEO-ONE. The game will be set in the brand new Lental region, and players will explore a new Illumina phenomenon that causes both plants and Pokemon to glow. One example of this (showing the Meganium mentioned above) can be seen in trailer. Over the course of the game, players will build a Photodex of Pokemon, with photos scored based on the Pokemon's poses, how large they appear, how directly they’re facing you, and their placement within the frame. As players take more photos, they might discover some Pokemon behaving differently than they did before. Interestingly, New Pokemon Snap seems to let you label your pictures, so you can collect multiple photos of the same Pokemon doing different actions.
The trailer also showed off some of the major NPCs that will appear in the game. Players will assist Professor Mirror in investigating the Illumina phenomenon along with Rita, Mirror's research assistant. The trailer also confirmed that New Pokemon Snap will feature a variety of player appearance options, an upgrade from the previous game.
New Pokemon Snap is just one of several big releases planned to celebrate Pokemon's 25th anniversary. Yesterday, The Pokemon Company announced that it was teaming up with Katy Perry and other artists to release new music as part of the P25 Music project, and more Pokemon games and announcements are expected over the next couple of months.
New Pokemon Snap will be available for pre-orders beginning today, January 14th. The game will be released on the Nintendo Switch on April 30, 2021.


text:
Bordeaux heading for ‘collective suicide’
One of Bordeaux’s most respected Sauternes producers, Alexandre de Lur-Saluces, has warned that Bordeaux is heading for “collective suicide” if it continues with its current pricing strategy.
In a letter to négociants, Saluces, owner of Château de Fargues (pictured), said that Sauternes producers in particular were suffering from the criticism heaped upon the reds even if, as is the case, the white producers have made critically acclaimed wines.
He said: “I fear nevertheless that the Place de Bordeaux refuse, once again, to take this exceptional quality into account.
“Sauternes producers are being forced to drive their prices further down on the grounds that the quality of the reds is being debated.
“A quick overview of the prices reveals that classified growths from Sauternes are more or less back to the prices achieved almost 15 years ago.
“We are heading towards a collective suicide for the whole industry: for the producer condemned to bastardize its production, for the Sauternes appellation and for the négoce itself who will lose much of its credibility by giving up on a whole stretch of the 1855 classification and an exceptional appellation.”
He concluded he intended to “denounce this ‘market law’ that causes Sauternes growths to sell at a loss,” and would offer his wines at what he considered a “fair price” taking into account the limited quantities (1,000 cases) and expense of producing Sauternes.
It is true that in the talk surrounding the 2013 en primeurs the cuts made by Sauternes producers when, arguably none were needed as the quality was so good, passed largely unnoticed.
The most highly rated wine of the vintage in the Liv-ex buyers’ survey was, for the first time, a Sauternes – Yquem – which for the third year in a row has shunned the traditional time for selling en primeur (including 2012 when no wine was made) and will likely offer its 2013 vintage this autumn as it did with the 2011.
Some merchants have told the drinks business that they will be pushing the whites rather more this year as there are so few good value reds.
However, the question needs to be asked, is enough being done to promote this hugely underrated wine? Would the cause of Sauternes be better served if it were no longer offered alongside the reds and instead chose an earlier or later time at which to approach buyers?


text:
GM’s battery lab for EVs is getting a $28 million enhancement
will invest $28 million to enhance its battery development and testing lab at its Tech Center in suburban Detroit as part of larger plans to pivot to
says the automaker plans to add “additional major enhancements” beginning this fall “with new test chambers and advanced equipment to accelerate our next-generation battery architecture.” She also said GM will start sourcing battery packs this fall from a new LG Electronics plant near Detroit for the
, which is built at the nearby Orion Assembly plant. GM announced plans earlier this summer to
during the fourth quarter. Reports say GM will also continue to receive some battery packs from LG in South Korea, where it currently sources them.
“Our scale and global manufacturing capability help us satisfy customer demands faster and more efficiently, and we continue to leverage smart partnerships,” Barra wrote.
First opened in 2009, GM’s Global Battery Systems Lab is now more than 100,000 square feet and allows the automaker to conduct nearly all of its battery testing under one roof, which Barra said helps reduce development time and cost. It underwent a $20 million expansion in 2013 and a $6 million expansion that began in 2017,
. It helped birth the
and Bolt battery-electric vehicles.
globally by 2023 and has already launched two for the Chinese market: the
and the Baojun E200. Barra has also said its forthcoming flexible electric-vehicle platform
when it debuts in 2021.
In her LinkedIn post, Barra also noted that GM engineers are working to attain shorter charging times for
. She reiterated plans to deliver a prototype vehicle capable of charging up to 180 miles of range in less than 10 minutes to Delta Electronics for testing as part of a U.S. Department of Energy initiative.
“This is just the beginning,” she concluded.
via Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com
September 6, 2018 at 11:10AM