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The Reading Terminal Market, which is visited by 61/2 million shoppers and tourists a year, will be recognized Wednesday as one of the "10 Great Public Spaces in America."
The Washington-based American Planning Association designates 10 noteworthy public spaces each year. The organization contacted the market in the spring to apply, market officials said.
Paul Steinke, the market's general manager, said the designation was an honor for the market and the city.
The market was chosen because of its history and function in Philadelphia, and the diversity of its food stores and customer base, Steinke said. There are 76 independently owned retailers in the market, which opened in 1892.
The American Planning Association will announce the designation at a news conference at 10 a.m. Wednesday at the market.
- Bob Fernandez
The great public spaces for 2014:
Bayliss Park, Council Bluffs, Iowa.
Cliff Walk, Newport, R.I.
Delaware Park, Buffalo, N.Y.
Great Plains Trails Network, Lincoln, Neb.
Lake Mirror Park, Lakeland, Fla.
Lithia Park, Ashland, Ore.
Point State Park, Pittsburgh.
Rainier Vista, Seattle.
Reading Terminal Market, Philadelphia.
The Lawn at the University of Virginia, Charlottesville.


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A bill to ban cellphone voice calls by passengers on planes in flight has been proposed in the US House of Representatives. Ned Levi discusses the proposed ban and the events which have caused it to be proposed.
Despite the recent bad news about norovirus outbreaks on four ships already this year, the cruise industry is still head toward 20 million or more passengers in 2014. While cruising isn’t for everyone, if you’re considering a cruise for the first time, Ned Levi has some tips to help you chose your cabin aboard your ship.
Winter weather is upon the US, especially in the South and Northeast. Frigid temperatures, snow, ice, and sleet have caused canceled flights and shutdown roads. Many accidents and huge vehicle pileups on US highways have increased. Ned Levi has a dozen tips for travelers taking to the road in winter to consider when renting a car.
Three cruise ships were hit with norovirus outbreaks in January, and made major news headlines in much of the world. Ned Levi examines many of the facts and myths about cruising and norovirus.
Last week Ned Levi discussed the improvements to TSA’s Pre✓ program, in which he participates, the new application system to become a Pre✓ member, how to apply, and how the program benefits travelers. This week he continues the discussion of Pre✓, its additional extensive improvement needs, and how it lays bare serious TSA security flaws.
On this Martin Luther King Jr. holiday we recall many who fought for the rights of all American citizens. Recently Ned Levi traveled to the Tuskeege Airmen National Historic Site in Alabama, one of America’s important national historic parks, and learned more about these American heroes of World War II, and the extra difficulties, beyond their rigorous pilot training, they encountered in attempting to serve their country.
It’s “wave season.” There are some great cruise discounts available for those seeking to book a cruise vacation, but using a cruise fare discount isn’t the only way cruisers can save. Ned Levi has ten ways for you to save and still take a great cruise.

domain: news


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Did you ever spend any of your hard-earned dollars on alleged brain-hacking, ingestible products from the start-up formerly known as Nootrobox, but now known, apparently, as HVMN? Well. Those of us who didn’t are laughing at you. Turns out, you were better off walking to the nearest street corner and just buying a cup of coffee.
In a study conducted by HVMN (it’s pronounced “human” because Latin, I guess), the company found that one of its nootropic supplements — a “cognitive enhancement” called SPRINT — was actually doing, uh, not a whole lot. It promised that its ingredients had been “selected for their immediate cognitive effects, specifically for their effects on alertness, focus, memory, and reaction time.”
Instead, you’d have seen better results by just ingesting some caffeine like the rest of us low-tech schmucks. “As we expected, the caffeine had some positive effects, but the SPRINT formulation they gave us was not really effective,” said Arjan Blokland, head of the Department of Neuropsychology and Psychopharmacology at Maastricht University, told CNBC after testing the stimulants. A bottle of SPRINT pills costs $40 for 60 pills. One or two pills is HVMN’s recommended dose — the pills are still for sale on the company’s site — and you’re not supposed to take more than eight in a single day.
“In healthy young students, caffeine improves memory performance and sensorimotor speed, whereas SPRINT does not affect the cognitive performance at the dose tested,” the study concluded. Time to go biohack something else, I guess.


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School-to-table: Holy Trinity teams up with RI eatery, sharing student-grown produce
Originally posted on www.heraldnews.com
by Ashley Schuler
FALL RIVER — When it comes to finding fresh, locally sourced food, you’re likely familiar with the farm-to-table concept. But what about school-to-table?
Green thumbs at Holy Trinity School are getting their hands dirty growing leafy greens for the city school’s blossoming hydroponics program.
They reap the rewards in their daily lunches, and have now partnered with a local restaurant that is benefitting from the fruits of their labor.
Hydroponics was incorporated into Holy Trinity’s curriculum two years ago as part of their STEM program, with the help of grant funding. Since its inception, growing capabilities at the school have expanded to include both micro-greens and leafy produce.
While some folks may not think about what goes into the food they eat, the students on Lamphor Street are well-versed on just what it takes to put together their daily lunch salads.
“Our hydroponics program has been such a blessing for our students to learn first-hand about the importance of knowing how and where our food has been grown,” said Brenda Gagnon, principal of Holy Trinity School, in a press release.
At Holy Trinity, the success of the program has truly been a team effort. All students — pre-K through grade 8 — get in on the action.
Each student has their own class responsibilities to ensure the health of the produce. Middle school students bear most of the responsibility for keeping the plants healthy, such as making sure the equipment is functioning properly and harvesting produce at the right time.
For Gagnon, it’s a win-win on all fronts.
“All students, as young as our Pre-K 3, are able to watch the seedlings grow into produce and know that the salad at lunch came from this very building,” she said. “Moreover, this program has completely engaged our middle school students who have learned everything from pH & EC levels, to lighting spectrums, to molecular recipes and even time proper management.”
As the quantity and quality of Holy Trinity’s produce expanded and improved, they found they still had an abundance of food — even after incorporating it into school lunches.
So the program’s benefits are now being shared with the community.
Kevin Flynn, chief technology officer at Holy Trinity, reached out to local restaurants and offered to help supply them with leafy produce and microgreens.
It seemed a perfect fit for Rhode Island chef Richard Allaire, who is serving up student-grown greens on his plates at Metacom Kitchen in Warren.
“Our hydroponics program has gotten to the point where we are able to experiment with flavor profiles, such as a peppery flavor or a mild flavor,” Kevin Flynn said. “Or, we can grow produce based upon a new dish created by Chef Rick, as we grew lettuce that would pair nicely with a variety of dishes.”
Allaire has described Metacom Kitchen as a modern American bistro — modern in the way food is prepared, the way it’s handled and its contemporary ingredients.
Fun and unpretentious and accessible Metacom Kitchen in Warren is a modern American bistro
According to Allaire, since opening Metacom Kitchen at 322 Metacom Ave. in 2014 he has constantly experimented with new dish ideas, food combinations and flavors. He noted he was pleasantly surprised by initial samples he received from students.
“I was very impressed with the flavors and textures, which are so important when developing new menu creations,” Allaire said.
The other benefit, Allaire said, is that there is consistency in the high quality of the produce, which has translated into rave reviews from his restaurant patrons.
“I never need to worry that what I receive will be less than perfect and many of my regular customers have commented on the improved quality of the produce and micro-greens,” he said. “It has been such a pleasure to work with Holy Trinity knowing that students are learning about the importance of growing high-quality, chemical-free foods.”
So how does it get from the school to diners’ tables?
The time from germination to harvest is about seven to 10 days for most microgreens and two full weeks for heads of lettuce, according to Holy Trinity. This quick growing time allows their middle school students to test varying pH and EC levels, which affect the flavor of the produce, and ensure the proper nutrient schedule for each variation.


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PostNL delivers a record number of packages
This year, between Black Friday and Sinterklaas (December 5), the Dutch mail company PostNL processed a whopping 12 million packages in their distribution centres. During the same period last year, this figure was slightly less than 10 million.
Busy times for Dutch mail company
Buying gifts online for Sinterklaas is becoming increasingly popular, but according to PostNL, the number of packages was higher than expected. Black Friday and Cyber Monday were also busier than ever, so states the Dutch mail service, which is now getting ready for a similarly busy Christmas period.
According to the Dutch Payments Association, in the week running up to Sinterklaas 2,4 billion euros was spent in shops and paid for via bankcard and 991 million euros was spent online with iDEAL as the payment method. Last year, only 768 million euros was spent using iDEAL at online shops.
Complaints piling up
Whilst PostNL did manage to process a record number of packages, operations were not exactly smooth, with the company receiving hundreds of complaints due to delivery delays. Because of the large number of packages, PostNL experienced a backlog.
How big the backlog is and how many packages were delivered late because of this is unknown; however, according to a spokesperson for the mail service, “The majority of orders were delivered on the promised day”.


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The Vietnamese government is preparing to crack down on unsolicited e-mail with a decree that will pretty well end the practice. Vu Quoc Khanh, director of the Viet Nam Computer Emergency Response Team under the Ministry of Information and Communications, the main consideration in formulating and implementing the decree is to ensure that e-commerce will not suffer as a result. Vnexpress interviewed Mr. Khanh about the decree.
Mr. Vu Quoc Khanh
Vnexpress: Your ministry is working on an anti-spam decree. What forced them to do that?
Vu Quoc Khanh: The response team has done a survey on unsolicited email. Nearly 30 percent of the survey’s participants said that four out of every five emails they received were spam. Half of them said that nearly a third of the spam was in Vietnamese.
The vast majority complained that spam annoyed them and nearly two thirds wanted something done about it.
Therefore, we are in a hurry to finalize the decree. We will submit it to the government this year so that it can come out next year.
How is it progressing?
We have studied the anti-spam models of many countries. But there are many issues that need to be considered carefully before creating an effective and feasible model for our country.
Viet Nam’s anti-spam measures must not deter local businesses from using email as a legitimate advertising tool yet must prevent the nuisance of unsolicited e-mails and text messages.
I must emphasize that the purpose of the decree is to combat spam, not hinder e-commerce.
We have carefully researched the facts to understand what Internet users feel and how they react to advertising by email, what effect it has on them and so on. Besides comparing the foreign anti-spam measures, we have consulted Internet users about this issue. VNCERT and the decree’s designers have drawn up a questionnaire on the issue.
Experts have suggested many solutions to spam and we are now in the discussion stage so it is still too early to talk about it. However, the main criterion for choosing an anti-spam model is that it protects users, service providers and the interests of the online community.
Will the decree be feasible?
Actually, it will be impossible to stop all spam. The decree will only be effective against Vietnamese sources of junk email. We must remember that the Internet is a global, borderless network, so we will have to suffer a certain volume of spam from outside. However, it should reduce the number of spam emails originating in Vietnam.
Selling email addresses and spam-delivery software are common in Vietnam now. How will the decree control these?
The sale of email addresses is a violation of the IT Law. We are considering adding this to the decree on spam emails.
Selling an email address without the owner’s permission is a violation of personal rights and is illegal in some countries. Here in Viet Nam we don’t have any regulation against this yet. Broadly speaking, there are many new issues related to online crime that we need to systematize and incorporate into the Penal Code.


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The battle of Microsoft Surface versus Apple iPad just got more interesting. Microsoft’s Surface for Windows 8 RT launches Friday and Apple tried to take wind out of their sails with an announcement today. Apple shocked the world and many of their loyal customers today when they announced the expected iPad Mini and the unexpected iPad with Retina Display. As stated, the iPad Mini has been expected for months, but what people didn’t see coming was a new full-sized iPad.
The reason people didn’t see the new iPad coming is because Apple released their third generation iPad just seven months ago in March. To this point Apple had been releasing new iPads every year in March like clockwork, so of course the Apple customers who just upgraded to the 3rd generation are probably pretty upset that they no longer have the coolest tablet in the coffee shop.
Why would Apple release a new iPad nearly six months ahead of schedule? Well I think it is clear why, to compete with the Surface and probably Google’s 10-inch Android based Nexus tablet set to be announced next week. If Apple rushing the new iPad isn’t a sign that Microsoft is doing something right with the Surface and Windows 8 RT, then I don’t know what is.
If you’ll remember, Microsoft shocked the tech world in June when they announced the Surface. Until that point no one would have ever dreamt that Microsoft would be getting in to the hardware business, so I think it is safe to say that engineers at Apple have probably been working non-stop for the past several months to try and steal Microsoft’s thunder.
Now some people may say that Apple was just releasing the iPad Mini, so why not update the iPad at the same time? I don’t think that is the case. With the release of the 4th generation iPad, Apple is throwing their early adopters under the bus. Microsoft has no interest in joining the 7” tablet market as it is already a crowded market with Amazon and Google, so why update the iPad if not to compete with the Surface and Nexus 10”?
There is a slight chance that Microsoft’s hardware partners may release 7” devices, but don’t hold your breath, because 7” tablets are deemed as consumption devices. There is a reason Google and Amazon sell their small tablets so cheap, because they believe that they’ll make up the lost hardware revenue from purchases in their app, music and movie marketplaces. Microsoft 3rd party hardware vendors simply have no way to generate that supplemental revenue.
So now that Apple has announced the 4th generation iPad with Retina Display can the Surface for Windows 8 RT stay relevant? Let’s take a look at the technical specifications for comparison. I’ll be using the base model of both devices in the comparison.
|Model||Surface for Windows 8 RT||iPad 4th Generation (Wi-Fi)|
|Size||10.81 x 6.77 x 0.37 in||9.5 x 7.31 x .37 in|
|Weight||1.5lbs (680 g)||1.44 lbs (652 g)|
|OS||Windows 8 RT||Apple iOS 6|
|Processor||nVidia Tegra T30||Apple A6X|
|Screen Size||10.6 in||9.7 in|
|Resolution||1366 x 768 px||2048 x 1536 px|
|Sensors||Ambient Light Sensor||Ambient Light Sensor|
|Ports||Stereo Headphone||Stereo Headphone|
|Magnetic power adapter||Lightning power adapter|
|microSDXC (up to 64GB)|
|HD video port|
|Cover||Touch Cover Keyboard||Smart Cover|
|Type Cover Keyboard|
I believe in the hardware department that the Surface does more than stand toe to toe with the newest iPad, it holds it’s own and even sets itself apart. Double the storage size, the addition of the USB port, the HD video out, kick stand, Touch Cover, Type Cover and especially the microSDXC card slot that with support for up to 64GB of additional memory allows the Surface to more than hold it’s own against even the updated iPad. What are your thoughts?
More to come on this tomorrow.


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Dining restrictions are lifting across the country as restaurants re-open. That’s good news for establishments desperate for business after the pandemic, but now those same businesses face a hiring challenge. (Photo: Bragard / Twitter)
Dishwashers are being asked to cook, Bartenders are making drinks while bussing tables. And on busy nights, left with no other choice, owners are faced with eliminating tables in already reduced-capacity dining rooms because they do not have enough hands on deck.
Thanks to vaccine distribution and loosening restrictions sales and demand are finally starting to sync for restaurants. ….Yet many restaurants continue to close early, or open late, or simply elect to keep lobbies shuttered in favor of drive-thru, takeout and curbside service.
An Unprecedented Staffing Shortage
Even before the pandemic labor was limited due to the Bay Area’s high cost of living and the industry’s comparatively low wages. Now, with dining rooms opening up at higher capacity (and a looming June 15 promise to return to normalcy), restaurant owners are scrambling to attract and retain employees. by cross training, increasing wages and hiring incentives, offering referral programs and considering health benefits packages.
The crisis isn’t limited to fine dining or the bay area. Restaurants around the country including large fast-food operators are struggling to secure employees. In some cases, employers are being roasted by the internet in their desperate attempt to get people to work: To lure in new hires Taco Bell is giving paid family leave to it’s store managers, while McDonald’s got slammed by offering a free iPhone after 6 months of work.
Laurie Thomas, executive director of the Golden Gate Restaurant Association and owner of two San Francisco restaurants, predicts there will be more people looking this fall when the government stimulus package, which provides an extra $300 in federal unemployment on top of the state’s weekly stipend, is set to expire.
“That’s giving people a cushion,” she says. “It’s also giving them to think, ‘I don’t feel safe returning to work yet.”
While economists have calculated that roughly half of unemployed American’s are temporarily earning more from benefits than they did at their former jobs, they also expect that once health care concerns and childcare issues are alleviated, many will return to work.
Are there ways for restaurants to appeal to employees just beyond pay? Especially younger generations. Are there perks owners can focus on that will appeal to hourly workers?
Many restaurants are having to think out of the box to attract new employees in the ever shrinking staffing pool. Fred Velez, the director of operations for King Fish House in San Jose and it’s SoCal locations is looking at hiring younger, inexperienced workers to fill positions.
Last month with hiring platforms yielding so few candidates, Velez incentivized employees with a new referral program: If your friend gets hired and stays for 90 days, you get $300 – and the new recruit gets $100. “We’re on the hook with 5 new crew members already,” he says. “It’s going to be money well spent.”
Investing in Employees
Restaurants are offering tuition assistance, more flexible shifts, bonuses and childcare allowances. Owners are looking beyond applicants’ lack of experience and are investing in skills and development training that will make them successful in the position and beyond.
The value of training can’t be overstated. As an operator, when you’re rebuilding (and even forming) a team – you have to invest in your employees and restaurant operational development – in turn, you’ll boost employee retention and recruitment efforts.


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Apple's must-have accessories for China's fashionable yuppies
By Ben Blanchard
BEIJING (Reuters) - So strong is the appeal of the Apple brand in China, some Chinese are willing to sell a kidney to pay for its gadgets.
Apple Inc's iPads, iPhones and iMacs have been a smash hit in China, especially with the affluent, and upwardly mobile, middle classes and fashion-conscious urban youth who are snapping up the slinky, easy-to-use goods with gusto.
The apparently insatiable appetite for Apple goods in the world's second largest economy is good news for the Cupertino, California-based firm, which reported forecast-smashing results this week, helped by massive growth in Asia, and China in particular.
It's also created a sizable market for knock-offs in the world's prime manufacturer of imitation goods, where pirates set up a fake Apple Store in the southwestern city of Kunming that is so good that even the employees believe it's the real deal.
"Apple is a very well-known brand in China, and that's reason enough for some people to buy," said Xu Ziqing, a 23-year-old Beijing hotel receptionist.
"Chinese people these days care very much about brands. They might not know whether the product is truly good or bad, but if it's a good brand, they will want it."
Desperation to get hold of Apple computers can lead to extreme behavior.
Last month, state media reported that a teen-ager from the poor inland province of Hunan had sold one of his kidneys to be able to afford an iPad 2. Continued...


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All Fired Up
By Cari Scribner/Life@Home
With autumn about to make its swift arrival, many of us are reluctant to relinquish our time outdoors and move inside for the next six months or so. Whether it’s a patio, deck or simply a central gathering space such as a picnic table, enjoying your family’s outdoor space an extra few weekends is — literally — a breath of fresh air.
But no one wants to shiver as September brings cooler evenings and gusty winds that pack a bit more punch than light summer breezes. Sure, you can drag your favorite afghan outdoors and bundle up in your Adirondack chair, or huddle next to the logs on the fire pit trying to warm your hands and feet, but experts say there are far better choices to extend the outdoor season.
Lucas Stritsman, sales and marketing manager for Best Fire Hearth and Patio in Albany, not only sells outdoor heating solutions but uses them himself. “We offer electric, plug-in heaters that are very effective distributing heat,” Stritsman says. “I have two on my patio at home, and even though in the Northeast it’s difficult to stay out on cool nights, I’ll be out there at night with the heaters on.”
Stritsman says the electric heaters can be mounted on the sides of a deck or stand alone, and can effectively heat a 10-by-10 foot area. For his own patio, his pair of heaters keeps a 15-by-15 foot area cozy. “The people sitting closer to the heaters will be the warmest,” Stritsman says. “But everyone has their own sensitivity to hot and cold, so they can put their chair as close or far away as they choose to be most comfortable.”
Carl Celella, general manager of Northeastern Fireplace & Design in Selkirk, has seen a rise in requests for outdoor heating options in tandem with the trend of investing in home improvements such as decks, patios and outdoor furniture. “There’s a definite push for outdoor rooms; people really want them, and we have a pretty nice fall season around here,” Celella says. “People want to go sit outside no matter what time of year it is.”
Celella recommends umbrella-style outdoor heaters powered by propane tanks inside the unit. A more sophisticated option is running underground piping to bring fuel to the heaters. With electricity roughly three times the cost of propane, Celella says the heaters are also economical.
Most electric or propane patio heaters are free standing or wall mounted, although smaller tabletop units are available as well.
If you’ve been toasting marshmallows and hot dogs around a good old-fashioned campfire all summer, and you like the rustic appeal of gathering around the circle, plenty of options exist that are both aesthetically pleasing and practical on cooler evenings. Isaiah Madden, vice president of Matchless Stove and Chimney in Glenmont and Clifton Park, recommends gas burning fire pits, available with ceramic blend “logs” mimicking real wood, or those with decorative glass emitting colors, a product called “Fire and Ice.”
“These are circular gas burning fire pits that take away the hassle of splitting wood and produce a lot of heat,” Madden says. “There are different sizes, and the larger ones produce more heat, but on a September or early October night, you won’t even need a jacket; you’ll be very comfortable in long-sleeves and jeans.”
Since they radiate heat in a complete circle, there’s no need to sit close to the fire pit to soak in the warmth. In fact, the gas fire pits produce so much radiant heat, many people most comfortable sitting three-to six-feet away from the pit. “If you sit on a bench right around the fire pit, chances are you’ll be too hot,” Madden says. “They’re just a great choice for families in the Northeast. Fall is my favorite time of year to be outside. I want to enjoy my backyard until snow falls.”
The Hearth, Patio and Barbeque Association notes two other outdoor heating options for extending your outdoor time. Outdoor fireplaces are usually permanently installed and made of 100 percent stainless steel. They usually don’t require a chimney and can be fueled by natural gas, propane or wood.
Chimineas are popular as well, according to the association. These rustic outdoor fire appliances are typically made of clay and built on small, stout legs to create an elevated, portable outdoor hearth with an opening that lets heat out on one side. Most are not recommended for use on wood decks because of the intense heat.
Of course at some point, Mother Nature wins. “The challenge with heating the air outside is there’s so much heat loss,” Stritsman says. “The best time to warm up outdoor areas is when nights are in the 55-to-60 degree range. Unfortunately, no one has found a solution to warming up non-enclosed space in 30-degree weather.”
All featured items can be found at Best Fire Hearth and Patio at 1760 Central Avenue, Albany, NY.
Photos by Emily Jahn/Life@Home


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- Development & Aid
- Economy & Trade
- Human Rights
- Global Governance
- Civil Society
Tuesday, April 16, 2024
GENEVA, Apr 2 2012 (IPS) - Trade ministers of the BRICS countries – Brazil, Russia, China, India and South Africa – say that at the G20 trade ministerial summit later this month in Mexico they will try to ensure that attempts by industrialised countries to frame a new trade agenda do not drown development-led trade liberalisation and the World Trade Organization talks.
The Doha Development Agenda (DDA) was launched by the WTO almost 11 years ago to correct the historical imbalances and asymmetries in the global trading system. It was designed to enable poorer countries to integrate into the system.
“This is a most dangerous move by the industrialised countries which are determined to undermine the independence and multilateral character of the WTO, where a large majority of countries are asking for developmental flexibilities for implementing liberal trade commitments,” said a trade envoy, referring to the agenda for the meeting.
“The G20 is not representative of the WTO because the poorest countries and countries in Africa, except for South Africa, have no say in setting the trade agenda,” the envoy said.
The G20 bloc of major and emerging economies is made up of Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, South Korea, Turkey, United Kingdom, United States, and the European Union.
“The draft agenda for the meeting is basically asking trade ministers to agree on creating a super-body headed by the chiefs of the WTO and OECD (Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development) to oversee all the review and monitoring functions,” the envoy argued.
Therefore, the presence of the BRICS ministers is so essential and important, lest the trade agenda be radically altered for the next 10 years, said sources familiar with the BRICS ministers meeting.
During their meeting in New Delhi last week, the BRICS ministers discussed the draft G20 agenda issued by Mexico, and not yet made publicly available, the South African trade minister said.
Significantly, the draft agenda is silent on the Doha trade talks.
It aims to take decisions on core trade issues without first discussing them at the WTO, which is now grappling with new approaches to accelerate the DDA talks.
“We strongly believe that the process has to be multilateral and the central focus has to be on the Doha single undertaking,” said Davies, emphasising the importance of transparency and inclusiveness.
“Attempts to reshape the architecture without concluding the Doha talks are not correct,” Davies said, suggesting that the BRICS countries are ready to take small steps to reinvigorate the Doha trade negotiations. The minister insisted that agriculture is at the heart of the DDA and that precious little is done to address the continued trade-distorting subsidies of the industrialised countries.
It is important to accord primacy to the Doha multilateral trade negotiations by discussing issues first at the WTO, Davies argued.
The draft agenda for what is going to be the first G20 trade ministerial meeting of its kind – beginning on Apr. 19 – sets the stage for preparing a “New Trade Narrative.”
The five-page agenda obtained by IPS, which remains confidential, squarely addresses the trade interests of the rich countries, under subheadings such as “better understanding global value chains to better regulate trade” and “services, trade finance and trade facilitation are essential to oil global value chains.”
Angel Gurria, secretary-general of the OECD, known as the rich-country think tank, and Pascal Lamy, the WTO director general, will provide the justification for pursuing this new agenda to the G20 trade ministers.
The heads of the OECD and the WTO have been working in tandem for some time now to change the manner in which global trade is measured and assessed in a neoliberal framework away from a development perspective, say analysts.
But developing countries and the least-developed countries have opposed the framework advanced by the OECD and WTO Secretariats on market-led trade reforms.
In addition, the G20 ministers will discuss “trade, growth, and jobs.” The themes for discussion include “trade as a source of growth,” “trade as a source of jobs,” and “the imperative to keep markets open and to keep opening markets.”
Up until now, trade negotiations, including the very setting of the trade agenda for any negotiations, have been based on a give-and-take framework. But for the first time, Mexico is asking ministers to move away “from this setting in which many trade discussions happen” to identify “the links between trade and job creation and (to improve) trade statistics that consider global chains and value addition.”
Mexico also wants ministers to focus on “the major forces and challenges facing their economies, including protectionist pressures, and what alternative policies are there to deal with them, other than trade instruments.”
“Reading the draft agenda, one gets the feeling that there is a hidden language, which shows basically the interest of developed countries and not of developing countries,” said Isabel Mazzei, a former Oxfam International trade policy advisor.
Speaking in her private capacity to IPS, she asked: “What does it really mean ‘to change the trade narrative’- does it mean to ‘move the goal posts’?”
“The Doha Round is about development, agriculture, elimination of subsidies, policy space….and now it looks like this narrative is obsolete as there is no mention of agriculture or subsidy elimination,” she said. “Many developing countries still have a big portion of their labour force coming from the agricultural and manufacturing sectors.
“Clearly the G20 draft agenda is a concerted attempt to bring the issues and concerns of rich countries from the back door,” she concluded.
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By ANDY GOODELL
The Oskaloosa Herald
It’s one of the most loved movie franchises of all time and this Oskaloosa couple are among the biggest fans of the film series.
As many people know, fans of George Lucas’ “Star Wars” franchise have a passion for these films. Trey and Nancy Laymon, of Oskaloosa, share this passion.
The couple own the Star Wars Ford Raptor SVT, which features elaborate portrayals of many of the key characters from the film franchise. Trey also enjoys wearing his Darth Vader costume at various events, including the 2012 Lighted Christmas Parade in Oskaloosa, where he and other local Star Wars fans rode in and walked behind the Star Wars truck. The truck and it’s participants would end up winning the Most Outstanding Individual/Family award.
This was the first time the truck had been on display for those attending the Lighted Christmas Parade in Oskaloosa.
The truck’s body is covered in all-vinyl decal work, said Trey. He noted that he created the Darth Vader graphic on the side of the truck, which is Trey in full costume. He also noted that the design on the back tailgate of the truck is a SimonZ print used with permission.
High-resolution prints of lava designs were also used on Trey and Nancy’s truck.
Perhaps one of the truck’s more interesting features is the portrayal of Han Solo frozen in carbonite under the vehicle’s bed cover, which was Nancy’s idea.
When a previous truck of his began giving him some problems, Trey decided to look into the Ford Raptor SVT, he said. After introducing the idea to make the vehicle have a Star Wars theme, Nancy was sold on the idea of getting the Raptor SVT, said Trey.
“I took the computer and I threw some images on to it and, I said, ‘with a lava orange interior wouldn’t this look really cool to do a lava-splash off the front end of the truck,’” said Trey.
Trey said he and Nancy had been to the Lighted Christmas Parade for several years and, after the Star Wars truck was completed, he thought it would be a good for the parade citing its various lights and designs on its body. This, coupled with Trey in his full Darth Vader costume, as well as those portraying Darth Maul and Storm Troopers rounded out the award-winning parade entry.
The Star Wars truck also appeared in the Knoxville Nationals Parade in 2012. Their entry into this parade earned a Second Place Award in the Custom Classic Vehicles category and the Fan’s Favorite Award.
“I thought that was a pretty big deal at a show with all the race cars and everything — to get second place custom car is really neat,” said Trey. “It was hot, but we marched Darth Vader and Darth Maul.”
This past August, the Laymon’s truck also made it down to Star Wars Celebration 6 in Orlando, Fla., which is a convention that, well, celebrates the Star Wars movie franchise. The truck was on display for thousands of Star Wars fans for four days — including one very important person to the film series.
“That’s where George Lucas actually autographed it,” said Trey.
Trey, of course, had the chance to meet Lucas when he signed the truck. He also got to take photos with the Star Wars creator.
“It was surreal,” Trey said.
So, what really motivates Trey to portray Darth Vader and have a Star Wars-themed truck for people to see?
“It’s not about popularity,” said Trey. “It’s about knowing people enjoy what they see and what they get out of it.”
Trey is also a member of the 501st Central Garrison, a group of Star Wars enthusiasts from the Midwestern states of Iowa, Nebraska, Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota.
“It’s a costuming organization,” explained Trey. “We do charity events all over.”
Being in the 501st Central Garrison is all about fun and Trey noted that he and others have participated in Oskaloosa’s Kidtoberfest in their costumes for the enjoyment of the children there.
Members of the 501st Central Garrison wear “screen-accurate” costumes when they appear at events, said Trey.
“I have about $4,500 in my Darth Vader from the mask to the chest box,” said Trey. “They’re screen-accurate measurements clean down to the details.”
Back in 1993, Trey built his first Darth Vader costume and his efforts at accuracy for the character have increased since then, he noted.
To learn more about Trey and Nancy’s Star Wars truck, search “Star Wars Raptor Fan Page” on Facebook.com. You can also e-mail them at email@example.com.
Herald City Editor Andy Goodell can be reached at firstname.lastname@example.org.


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It looks like Lemonis Fischer Acquisition Company, LLC has saved the bake shop from bankruptcy, according to the Wall Street Journal. The company is set to acquire the chain and all of its assets within the next 60 days.
"We are very pleased to have reached this agreement with Lemonis and Fischer after carefully evaluating opportunities to strengthen Crumbs' financial position in order to ensure a strong future for the Crumbs brand and business," said Edward M. Slezak, Crumbs Chief Executive Officer and General Counsel.
"The steps we are taking today will allow us to continue to execute our business strategy, expand our licensing business and position ourselves to move toward a franchise store model," he continued. "We remain saddened that we were forced to cease operations before this agreement was reached, but we strongly believe that pursuing this sale through the chapter 11 process is ultimately in the best interest of the Company and its stakeholders."
The sweet shops started closing their doors last week, according to Refinery 29. While it's not clear when Crumbs will open up again once the acquisition is final, fans of the cupcake mongers can rest easy knowing that Crumbs will be back in business sometime soon.
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Mobile agency Fetch wins eBay's media and creative business
By Nick Batten, mediaweek.co.uk, Wednesday, 21 November 2012 11:31AM
Fetch, the mobile marketing agency, has been appointed by the global online marketplace eBay to manage all of its mobile media and creative campaigns across Europe.
The agency won the brief following a competitive pitch against eight undisclosed agencies and its work with eBay will launch later this year, with a campaign geared towards the Christmas trading season.
Fetch claims that mobile already accounts for a considerable amount of eBay's business, and will play a significant role in its Christmas media strategy.
James Connelly, managing director for Fetch, said: "We have long considered eBay to be one of the most innovative brands in the mobile space, so, as an agency that’s passionate about innovation, we're extremely excited about working with them.
"We've been using eBay as a best-in-class case study for years, and we're looking forward to helping eBay strengthen its mobile offering, and engage with consumers across multiple platforms."
The eBay win follows a run of new business wins by the agency, including Square Enix and Bloom FM.
Earlier this year, Fetch hired Bigmouthmedia founder Steve Leach in the newly created role of chairman.
In September, eBay redesigned its logo for the first time in 17 years.
This article was first published on mediaweek.co.uk
- Senior Digital Designer Twist Recruitment £35000 - £42000 per annum + benefits, City of London
- Strategist / Planner Direct Recruitment £40,000 - £50,000, London
- Senior Planner Direct Recruitment £45,000 - £60,000, London
- Planning Director Direct Recruitment £80,000 - £100,000, London
- Planner Direct Recruitment £40,000 - £45,000, London
- Wilkinson rebrands to Wilko in TV campaign
- Group M wins Vodafone's £600m media account
- Dare creates European Ryanair ads
- Campaign Viral Chart: Evian's Spider-Man tops chart in week of movie premiere
- Google becomes major UK advertiser after boosting spend by 50% in 2013
- French agency creates chocolate dildo Easter campaign


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The Belfast Drone & Tech Show will be the first major Drone, UAV and Tech show ever held in Northern Ireland and will be a collaboration between The Eikon Exhibition Arena and IRIS (Island Remote Imaging Solutions).The Belfast Drone Show 2017 will feature: Drone Indoor Racing including the Schools Cup - come and see the best pilots in the Northen Ireland compete on our amazing indoor track;
- IRIS RC Racing Car Zone - watch racing, driving demonstrations and more
- Latest wearable tech
- latest imaging Tech
- all the latest innovative tech for all ages.
- Robot Wars with drone battling to the death
- Christmas Retail Zone for smaller business
- Exhibitor’s flying zone, demonstrate your products


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After releasing IGTV, Instagram reportedly again worked on a standalone application. Reportedly this application is made for users who like to buy and sell online. Quoted from The Verge, Thursday (6/9/2018), the application is estimated to be called IG Shopping and is still in the development stage.
Therefore, it cannot be ascertained yet when this application will be released and there is still a possibility that this development will be stopped. But according to the closest source who declined to be identified, Instagram itself believes that this application will be a big expansion to start struggling in e-commerce competition globally. Indeed, Instagram deserves confidence.
Because according to Facebook Chief Operating Officer, Sheryl Sandberg, there are currently more than 25 million businesses that have an Instagram account. As many as 2 million of them are advertisers. According to the source, through this application, users can explore items belonging to merchant accounts that they follow and pay directly through the application.
Even so, Instagram has not given its official information regarding this news. Currently for Instagram, making a stand-alone buying and selling application is a great opportunity. As we know the use of Instagram, which was originally just social media to share photos, turned into an online catalog for sellers.
This application means that Instagram will have a special place for e-commerce players and of course it can increase Instagram’s own income. Instagram itself has actually started testing the shopping feature in November 2016.
At that time the price tag feature was tested on this platform. This development has actually been done first by Facebook. This social media platform which is also the parent of Instagram provides a place to buy and sell for users who want to sell online.


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After raising £20 million with us in their third crowdfunding round in 2018, challenger bank Monzo has just closed a new £113 million funding round led by YCombinator (YC) Continuity. This brings Monzo’s post-money valuation to a massive £2 billion. Both new and existing investors have pledged alongside YC Continuity, including Latitude, General Catalyst, Stripe, Passion Capital, Thrive, Goodwater, Accel and Orange Digital Ventures.
The Monzo team plan on using this capital, alongside the finance generated from their raise last year, to power the business’ growth and sustainability, as well as further their plans for a US launch.
With over 2 million customers and more than 200,000 new sign-ups per month, Monzo has asserted itself as the UK’s fastest growing bank. Community has always been key to the company’s growth, with many customers backing their crowdfunding campaigns over the last few years.
Monzo’s crowdfunding history
- 2016: £1 million raised in 1 minute 36 seconds
- 2017: £2.3 million raised with the help of over 6,400 investors
- 2018: £20 million raised in 2 days with the help of 36,000 investors
CEO Tom Blomfield commented on the announcement, saying: “It’s so exciting when amazing investors back our mission to transform banking and make money work for everyone. With more than 2 million customers we’ve come a long way since we started but there’s still a lot more to be done - by listening to our community we’ll keep working hard to deliver the products our customers need to give them better control of their finances.”
So what does this mean for existing investors?
While there are now a larger number of shares, the potential return is greater due to the rise in valuation. Essentially, the investment will have increased in value. In fact, if you invested in the first crowdfunding round in 2016, your shares would have increased in value 25x.
We caught-up with Henrik Wetter-Sanchez, an early investor in Monzo, to get his thoughts on their announcement:
“I actually invested in Monzo back in 2016! I had invested in a dozen startups through Crowdcube before I came across Monzo and it immediately fell into that category of ‘why has nobody done this before’. Camden Town Brewery did the same with craft beer and Tom Blomfield was promising to do the same with banking.”
“I invested because at a macro level, people’s trust and satisfaction with their banks was at an all-time low, creating the perfect foundation for the ideal execution that could arguably only come from a team such as Tom’s, with their GoCardless and Starling experience. People were ready to rethink the way they banked and Monzo re-defined the banking experience for our new generation."
"Today’s news of their latest funding round and new £2bn valuation is incredibly exciting. The reason I was drawn to Crowdcube and have used the platform so much is because I believe in their mission to democratise investing. In this tech gold rush, enabling everyone to share in the success of our best new companies is essential. Not only financial success, which potentially comes ever closer for Monzo’s crowd of investors, but also feeling part of their journey. Seeing the transformation from the vision I invested in 2016, to 2 million people using the app is inspiring.”


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Its been a long time since HTC released a budget smartphone. But now, with MWC around the corner, HTC has given confirmation about the upcoming HTC Desire 12. The smartphone aka ‘HTC Breeze’ boasts a full-screen display with 18:9 aspect ratio as its key highlight.
HTC Desire 12 specifications
Evan Blass has revealed a lot about this smartphone, including the specifications. Going by his tweet, it is expected that this device will have 5.5 inch display with 18:9 aspect ratio. This will be the first budget smartphone from HTC that offers 18:9 display.
Other leaked specs include, it will be embedded with unspecified MediaTek processor coupled with 2GB of RAM and 16GB internal storage. The smartphone is likely to get regular camera setup with a single 13-megapixel sensor at the back and a 5-megapixel sensor up front. The device is expected to be powered by a decent 2,730mAh battery.
*This will come to market as the HTC Desire 12.
— Evan Blass (@evleaks) 14 February 2018
HTC hasn’t created much hype about this device but if everything goes well, then this device will be released at MWC 2018. Recalling the Full screen display, the U11+ was HTC’s first phone to ship with an edge-to-edge, near bezel-less screen and an unusual aspect ratio of 18:9.
The HTC U12 may not get unveiled at MWC 2018 and is likely to get launched at some other event in March or April of this year. This is could be because, HTC wants to avoid its products to get overshadowed by Samsung, as it will be launching Galaxy S9 and S9 Plus.
— HTC (@htc) 16 February 2018
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The relocation of the Rotunda Mall Giant gives a big boost to Green Spring Tower Square, a small, family-owned shopping center in the Hampden area.
Mark Manzo isn't stopping there. In email interviews conducted in the past two weeks, Manzo, a partner in LVM, a limited partnership that owns the center, said he hopes to bring "national tenants" and a wine store into the center.
He said he also wants to revive the Skyview project, a long-stalled town house development on a three-acre hill overlooking the center.
"There is no doubt the new life Giant has breathed into the shopping center will give Skyview a lift as well," Manzo said. "Coupled with the recent uptick in the residential market, we anticipate moving forward with Skyview sooner than later."
LVM also would like to be involved in the development of the 25th Street Station shopping center in Remington, and in the redevelopment of the Rotunda, he said. In addition, LVM is reaching out to the new owners of the Village of Cross Keys shopping center.
"Should any of those developers be looking for a strategic partner or an exit opportunity, we hope they would reach out to us first …" Manzo said. "We were very interested in acquiring (the Rotunda and Cross Keys) when they were for sale."
LVM is named for Manzo's father, Louis V. Manzo, who opened the 70,000-square-foot shopping center in 1991 at 1040 West 41st St., on the site of the former Green Spring Dairy plant.
Mark Manzo, 38, of Highlandtown, said he serves as the company's financial analyst, leasing consultant, property manager and construction manager.
Longtime anchor SuperFresh left the Hampden shopping center last year, one of 22 Maryland stores closed by its parent company.
Canadian-based Fresh and Green's followed, but was one of two Fresh and Green's stores in the Baltimore area that were sold to Landover-based Giant Food.
Now, with the Rotunda Giant closing after 41 years, and a new Giant opening a quarter mile away, LVM has landed a much sturdier anchor. The Giant store opened to great fanfare in March, drawing thousands of customers with special deals.
Other tenants are much smaller, including T-Mobile, a cleaners, Dunkin Donuts, a salon and an Italian eatery, Mamma's Cucina.
Manzo calls it a "diverse tenant mix," and said LVM is reaching a market that includes Loyola and Johns Hopkins universities, and communities ranging from Roland Park to Mount Washington.
Manzo also said the company is in talks with several possible national tenants "to deliver a complimentary set of retail services without significantly altering the current storefronts."
Also high on his priority list is getting a wine store, which he could not do in 2010, when the Medfield Community Association opposed a proposal by the nearby Wine Underground to move to the center.
"One request we have heard over and over again is the demand for a high-end wine shop," either next door to the Giant or on the premises, he said.
Medfield and Hampden community leaders said last year they didn't want more wine or liquor stores in the area — even one as upscale as Wine Underground. But Manzo said he thinks all residents' opinions weren't heard, only their leaders' opinions.
But he hasn't given up, and said, "We are working on ways to introduce a high-end wine shop."
Trying for partnerships
As for LVM's interest in joint ventures or other strategic partnerships, Rotunda owner Hekemian & Co. likely isn't interested, said Chris Bell, senior vice president for development and acquisitions.
Bell said he doesn't remember the New Jersey-based company ever doing one.
"We typically don't do joint ventures," he said. "I'm not sure we've ever done a joint venture. Not to say we wouldn't. But the Rotunda is right up our alley," as a real estate and development company.
"I get calls all the time," Bell said. "People want to know if the Rotunda is for sale. The simple answer is, we are not looking for, nor are we interested in, a joint venture at this time."
Baltimore attorney Jon Laria, representing 25th Street Station developer Rick Walker, declined to comment, pending resolution of several lawsuits challenging that project.
A spokesman for Ashkenazy Acquisitions Corp., which bought the Village of Cross Keys shopping center in March, could not be reached for comment.
For now, Manzo is focused on his family's shopping center and on getting Skyview off the ground — two key projects that he said are closely related.
"The market turnaround expected at the end of 2010 and early 2011 ended up taking longer than expected," he said. "Consequently, we decided to shelve our plans to break ground and focus on repositioning Green Spring Tower Square."


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Lycos lcos loss not as bad as thought But shares of search engine slide on offering plan
By Brenon Daly, CBS MarketWatch 5/14/98 8:00:01 PM
Lycos shares are likely to come under pressure Friday. The company (LCOS) lcos reported a narrower-than-expected fiscal third quarter loss after the market closed Thursday, but shares fell in after-market trading because of plans for a secondary offering. The third-largest search engine said, excluding one-time charges, it lost 15 cents per share, 3 cents less than analysts' expectations. Including the non-operational items, the company lost $5.90 per share. See full release. Revenue increased 158 percent to $15.1 million. But investors got spooked by the company's announcement that it will sell 3.45 million shares, which will dilute future earnings-per-share figure. Shares, which have added 60 percent over the past 6 weeks, closed up 9/16 at 69, but dropped in after-hours.
EduSoft (EDUSF) edusf stock edged up 4.4 percent after the company said it earned 16 cents per share, compared to 10 cents per share in the previous year. No U.S. analysts currently cover the Israeli company. Revenue in the fiscal first quarter increased 29 percent to $3.9 million, led by strong sales in Latin America. Sales in that region accounted for about half of total revenue. Shares added 5/16 to 7 7/16.
Microsoft will delay initial shipments of Windows 98 until Monday in an 11th-hour bid to avoid an all-out legal battle with federal and state antitrust regulators. In return, the Department of Justice postponed a planned lawsuit. Microsoft (MSFT) MSFT, +0.59% approached the Justice Department just hours before federal lawyers planned to sue the company over its alleged attempt to extend its domination of the software industry into cyberspace, a source close to the negotiations told CBS.MarketWatch.com. The attorneys general from at least 20 states and the District of Columbia had planned to join in the federal effort.
Intuit, the maker of Quicken software, is the subject of a Year 2000 lawsuit filed in Santa Clara County Superior Court in California. CBS.MarketWatch.com first reported the suit on Friday. The lawsuit, filed last month, alleges the personal finance software maker (INTU) INTU, +0.32% improperly required customers to pay for an upgrade to fix the Year 2000 problem, which could affect the way computers read and work with data after Jan. 1, 2000. The complaint alleges that versions of Quicken before Quicken 98 are not compliant with the software's online banking features. Shares dropped 3/4 to 49 1/8.
The chief executive at Alydaar (ALYD) alyd said he doesn't know why shares in his company, which makes Year 2000 software, continues to slide. The stock edged down 3/8 to 13 3/4, extending a 25-percent decline over the past month. In a statement, CEO Bob Gruder said see "double digit" earnings and revenue growth at the company.


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TICKETS are still on sale for Saints next Super League home match.
Nathan Brown’s side will take on Catalan Dragons on Friday April 12 (8pm) looking to avenge last season’s last gasp defeat.
You can secure your spot in any of Langtree Park’s four stands and prices start at £6. Details are here.
There’s also tickets remaining for Paul Wellens and his teammates’ trip to Hull KR on Sunday (3pm) too.
You can find out more by clicking here.
And, finally, tickets for our away trip to Leeds are now on sale too.
Tickets are available by popping into the Ticket Office at Langtree Park, calling 01744 455 052 or by logging on here.


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Feb 23 2011
China Forestry Industry Group, Inc., ("China Forestry", Pink Sheets: CNFI) formerly known as Phoenix Energy Resource Corp, today announced that on November 1, 2010, it completed a reverse acquisition transaction with China Bingwu Forestry Group Limited ("Bingwu" or the "Company"), a Hong Kong company, to acquire 100% of Bingwu's issued and outstanding stock.
As a result of the transaction, China Forestry has terminated its prior business and is now engaged through Bingwu's subsidiaries in China solely in the business of producing and selling floor materials and related products to residential and commercial customers in China. Bingwu's product lines include laminate flooring and industrial fiber boards. Through these subsidiaries, Bingwu sells flooring products under the "Silvan Touch" brand throughout China.
"We operate an environmentally sound and low carbon footprint business. Instead of reducing natural forests for wood, our flooring products use primarily by-products such as branches and other wood scraps for raw material," said Mr. Yulu Bai, CEO of the combined company. "We are pleased with this transaction as it provides us with an enhanced platform to execute on our growth strategy."
Bingwu also obtains material from approximately 2,250 hectares of its own rapid growth eucalyptus forest in China's Guizhou Province. The manufacturing facility in Qianxinan, Guizhou Province has annual production capacity of six million square meters of laminate flooring and 75,000 cubic meters of industrial fiber boards. The Company is currently constructing a new manufacturing facility that it expects will increase its overall capacity to 12 million square meters of laminate floor and 200,000 cubic meters of fiber boards. It expects to complete this new facility by mid-2012.
Bingwu markets its products at five branch offices and eight flagship stores, and through over 500 contracted flooring specialty retail stores that carry and sell its products. It also expects to enter into agreements with large home supply stores to market its products.
For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2009, the Company's revenues were $13.3 million. For the nine months ended September 30, 2010 revenues were $25.7 million, representing a 168.3% increase over the same period of 2009.
Summary of Bingwu's Financial Results for the First Nine Months of 2010
Revenues increased to $25.7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 from $9.6 million in the same period in 2009, representing a 168% increase period-over-period.
Gross profit increased $6.5 million, or 309%, to $8.6 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2010 from $2.1 million in the same period in 2009.
For the nine months ended September 30, 2010, the Company generated net income of $7.2 million, an increase of $5.7 million, or 393%, from $1.5 million in the same period in 2009.
As of September 30, 2010, the Company had cash and cash equivalents of $3.4 million, primarily consisting of cash on hand and demand deposits. To date, the Company has financed its operations primarily through cash flows from operations, augmented by short-term bank borrowings and equity contributions by its stockholders.
Net cash provided by operating activities was $4.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2010, as compared to $1.6 million used in operating activities for the same period in 2009. The increase in net cash provided in operating activities was primarily due to an increase in net income and a decrease in inventories due to our efforts to minimize our inventory balance. Net cash provided by operating activities was $2.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2009, as compared to $1.3 million for 2008.


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Two City stalwarts added to Sainsbury's shopping list to replace outgoing chairman
Britain's third largest grocer Sainsbury has added two City's stalwarts to the list of candidates being considered to replace outgoing chairman Sir Philip Hampton.
Burberry chairman John Peace and Thomson Reuters deputy chairman Niall FitzGerald have been added to the list for the £396,000 a year post.
Hampton decided to step down after becoming chairman of Royal Bank of Scotland.
Burberry chairman John Peace (above) and Thomson Reuters deputy chairman Niall FitzGerald have been added to the list for the £396,000 a year post
It is not thought a decision on Hampton's successor is close.
The game of musical chairs continued elsewhere as members of ITV's nominations committee considered a list of candidates to succeed Michael Grade.
There were mixed reports on whether former BSkyB boss Tony Ball had made it onto the list.
A strong contender, he initially resisted having to join a process, but later relented.
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CHAMPION OF THE DAY
iflix video on demand
offers local programs
To serve the middle class,
the unbanked, rural communities
Malaysia-based iflix, a subscription video-on-demand service focused on emerging markets, has launched local operations from Jal-el Dib, Metn. It will offer local and Arab series, films, soaps, and English-spoken products with Arabic subtitles. Subscriptions start at $4 a month.
Nader Sobhan, Head of MENA region, said: “Lebanon punches way above its weight when it comes to media production. It is important to have a presence here.”
The company has strong partnership with telecommunication companies in the regions in which it operates. In the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), it has a formed a joint venture with the Kuwaiti Zain Group, which operates the local Touch mobile network.
“We have leveraged our strengths with Touch to give stronger bundles and incentivize users," Sobhan said .
He said that the iflix local operation can be considered a Lebanese one. Content needs to be relevant to the local market and take into consideration “shoddy internet connection, the unbanked, rural populations, and areas away from the main big cities.”
Easy payment facilities have been installed for those who do not have access to plastic cards.
“Payment vouchers can be bought from points of sales at Liban Post, Cash United, Virgin Megastores, and Bank of Beirut Finance,” Samer Fares, Business Development Manager of iflix, said.
In the MENA region, iflix is already available in Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Iraq, Kuwait, Bahrain, Egypt, and Sudan.
Reported by Derek Issacs
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The Yahoo Finance Live team discusses the surge in Madison Square Garden Entertainment stock after the company's Q3 earnings report, its first earnings report as a standalone company, and the company's revenue.
- There's another stock soaring, and that would be shares of Madison Square Garden Entertainment, up nearly 20% at the moment in today's trading session. This after posting its latest quarterly results. It marks the first quarter that MSG Entertainment is reporting as a standalone company after its spinoff from Sphere Entertainment. The company said revenue rose to $201.2 million. Operating income jumped 13% to $24.7 million. Earnings improved again to $0.42 a share. That was off swinging back from a loss of $0.08 a share last year. So you're seeing that stock solidly on the plus side.


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Apple Releases iOS 13.5 GM Seed Download and More for Developers
Apple has released golden master (GM) seeds of its latest software for developers to download and test, signalling public releases are imminent.
Here’s what’s available:
- Xcode 11.5 GM seed (11E608c)
- iOS 13.5 GM seed (17F75)
- iPadOS 13.5 GM seed (17F75)
- watchOS 6.2.5 (17T608)
- tvOS 13.4.5 GM seed (17L562)
iOS 13.5 includes support for Apple’s COVID-19 contact tracing API, known as Exposure Notifications, an opt-in feature allowing users to be contacted if they’ve come into contact with someone who had reported a confirmed coronavirus case.
The software update also will also allow Face ID to unlock faster for those wearing masks, while Group FaceTime calls will have an option to disable the annoying automatic face zooming feature.
Stay tuned as iOS 13.5 should be released to all Apple users sometime this week, most likely.


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PTi announces major plant expansion
Canadian PlasticsConstruction Plastics Processes
$10 million investment will nearly double manufacturing space for sheet extrusion systems maker.
Sheet extrusion equipment supplier Processing Technologies International LLC (PTi) is making a US$10 million expansion to its headquarters in Aurora, Ill.
The company will add 40,000 square feet of space, nearly doubling its net manufacturing capacity while increasing office space to 20,000 square feet.
Groundbreaking is slated for March 2016 and the new space is expected to be fully operational by October 2016.
“Our strong sales are driving this expansion need,” said Dana Hanson, PTi president. “Over the past couple of years we’ve enjoyed a steady rise in business volume and this appears to be the trend for the foreseeable future.”
An integral part of the expansion, Hanson said, is a 15,000-square-foot technology development centre that will be dedicated to product development and process trials for customers on production-scale systems. “This space will accommodate up to three different systems, including the high-vacuum twin-screw extruder dryer-less technology, a conventional multi-layer (barrier) system, and a third system with newly patented sheet extrusion technology that will be released soon,” he said. “All demonstration systems will feature winders for producing roll stock.”
The company also expects to announce new hiring in connection with the expansion.


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Think witness the incredible importance that technology products are of recent years in our lives, with the ubiquity of smartphones and handheld devices to track your real-time health?
You do not see anything. A figure illustrates the speed at which things change. This is the number of users of mobile Internet services, which now increases eight times faster than that of people who have made the computer to the mid 90 And now these mutations occur at breakneck speed!
In the future, everything will be connected: buildings, roads, satellites and even your refrigerator. The all-Internet arrives. Advances in 3-D printing will manufacture a whole lot of cheaper and more efficient objects, enabling even print organs or whole limbs for medical purposes
I would not be surprised that it becomes a normal day that people live to the age of 120 years since the level of customization that medicine will reach and impact of neuroscience in our lives. Of course, a life expectancy of 120 years would come with its share of demographic problems.
In addition, with the explosion of new technologies and the Internet of Things, the switchover will continue to upset established industry players at an alarming rate. According to a recent study by the Centre IMD / Cisco for digital development of companies, nearly 40% of existing businesses are likely to be disrupted by the Digital shock wave. And you, how do you prepare the megatrends of the future?
(Created: 10/27/2015, 8:55 p.m.)


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Robotic helpers may seem like something out of science fiction, but one Australian test case has proven they’re more real than you might think, and there are plenty of commercial applications being investigated.
Providing customers with the best possible experience is one of the ultimate goals for any business, and evolving technology has always been described as a way to make our lives easier through convenience.
What the future of that convenience could look like in a retail environment was showcased at Stockland Merrylands Shopping Centre in Sydney, in a week-long test case that took place in early December. Stockland unveiled the southern hemisphere’s only humanoid robot, the REEM model robot ‘Chip’ from PAL Robotics.
Standing at 1.7 metres tall, weighing 100 kilograms and operating on an eight-hour battery, robots like Chip are programmed to assist customers through a variety of tasks.
Currently they are able to provide product samples and surveys, complete a navigation challenge around objects and people, provide directions to storefronts and, of course, pose for selfies.
“We’re using Chip to pilot practical applications of technology that is available today, with much longer-term thinking about what the future might hold for our customers,” says Michael Rosmarin, group executive and chief operating officer at Stockland.
“[This] test case is just a glimpse into the possible opportunities for the future of retail in Australia.”
The reasoning behind using Stockland Merrylands as the test location was that, according to Mr Rosmarin, there is a wide range of demographics of consumers surrounding the shopping centre, with more than 75 nationalities represented.
He says this is a “real environment [outside] the typical CBD shopping areas”, which provided Chip with a diverse range of customers to interact with.
While this test case was strictly within a retail environment, robots have applications in a wide range of industries. These include completing tasks such as facial recognition to identify familiar and unfamiliar individuals, using sensors to navigate autonomously around both stationary and moving objects, and carrying goods up to a combined 30 kilograms.
“Properly leveraged, the capabilities of robots can enhance the overall customer experience,” Mr Rosmarin says.
Commenting on the ways in which technology is transforming the retail experience, Angus Nardi, executive director of the Shopping Centre Council of Australia, says: “In the ever-changing retail landscape, technology is increasingly critical to drive innovation, efficiency and customer engagement.”
Chip’s test case was a part of a joint initiative with the Commonwealth Bank, and will form the basis of research into the commercial applications of robotics by UTS and the Australian Technology Network.
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Is the ‘retail apocalypse’ coming for furniture stores?
July 8, 2017,
In the past few months we started seeing some multi-store home furnishings retailers call it quits. Erdos at Home, for example, the 12-store, Dallas-based retailer that used to be I.O. Metro, “A different kind of furniture store.”
Retail apocalypse. Retail Armageddon. Those are a couple of the doom-themed names for retail consolidation bandied about by news websites such as Business Insider and Fortune. They point to reports such as the latest from Credit Suisse, which projects some 8,640 stores will close in the U.S. this year (compared with 2,056 stores last year) and that 20% to 25% of retail malls will be shuttered by 2022.
They point to the store closings already by retailers such as Macy’s, JCPenney, Sears, Kmart, Radio Shack and Payless, and the bankruptcy and closing of Hhgregg. And they cite Amazon and e-commerce in general as the culprit, as consumers’ shopping habits shift to online. Why waste time hopping in a car and driving to a store when a much bigger store is right here at my fingertips, with competitive pricing and delivery in two days or less?
But you rarely if ever see a true furniture store in those accounts, at least not yet. Is it because the industry is so splintered that furniture retailers tend to be regional and super-regional players rather than national chains? Do the mom-and-pop closings simply get lost in the shuffle?
I’ll concede that’s part of it. But more significantly, the pure-play e-commerce companies haven’t been nearly as successful figuring out how to sell heavy, bulky furniture online and make a profit. Meanwhile, great furniture chains have been getting better at offering consumers the option of starting and finishing purchases online, offering consumers the choice — come sit on it or just click to buy.
Even at Dearden’s it doesn’t seem like the furniture side of the business had much to do with the decision to close. Bensimon said furniture sales were holding up well, despite growing competition. The planned closing had more to do with shifting consumer trends, he said, noting the electronics segment, for example.
The focus of the Credit Suisse report that hit recently was really soft goods — retail apparel and brands. But in it, the financial firm offers some “Keys for Survival” any retailer should consider: You need to bring your real estate and other fixed expenses down; invest in the fast-growing e-commerce segment; and transform your supply chain to better compete.
In one sense, the retail apocalypse has been going on in furniture for a very long time as continual consolidation takes out the weakest players — chains such as The RoomStore in Phoenix but mostly smaller independents that haven’t adjusted quickly enough or have no one to take over when Mom and Pop retire.
In another sense, it hasn’t come at all if you look at the examples we’ve see in the media lately. Now that doesn’t mean the Four Horsemen aren’t knocking on the furniture store door.
But in the meantime, brick-and-mortar retailers have been given ample opportunity to read the tea leaves and make adjustments before it’s too late.
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MacBook laptops with M1 processor support CrossOver 20 to run Windows applications
MacBook laptops with Apple’s M1 processor support CrossOver 20 to run some Windows applications. CrossOver is based on the open-source Wine project that enables users to run Windows applications on macOS and Linux. MacBook users will not have to install Windows to run these applications. This is great news for those who used Boot Camp to run Windows applications on Macs, as newer ARM-based MacBook models with M1 technology do not support Boot Camp. CodeWeavers, the team behind CrossOver shared that they were able to run CrossOver on Big Sur 11.1.
CodeWeavers developers were able to run CrossOver 20 on new MacBook laptops with M1 technology, allowing them to run a wide range of Windows applications, the firm announced in a blog post. They were also able to use the graphics performance of the M1-powered MacBook models to play games like Among Us and Team Fortress 2. The developers claim that these Apple Silicon-based MacBook laptops run CrossOver 20 brilliantly. They tested this on the cheapest Macbook Air with Big Sur 11.1 and installed CrossOver 20.0.2 on it.
Explaining how this emulation works, the developers said: “Imagine: an Intel 32-bit Windows binary, running on a 32-64 bridge in Wine / CrossOver on macOS, on an ARM CPU emulating x86.” Basically, CrossOver 20 uses Rosetta 2 technology that emulates Windows Intel binaries on macOS to emulate x86 binaries on the new ARM-based Mac laptop.
The gameplay of Team Fortress 2 shared by CodeWeavers shows some lag in gameplay and not the highest frame rate possible, but keep in mind that it runs on the entry-level MacBook Air that has no active cooling and is missing a GPU core.
It looks like CrossOver 20 will work with macOS Big Sur 11.1 beta, as it has some critical fixes for Rosetta 2.


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Perhaps, Gaynor says, there are other reasons employees notice what he drives. "For years I parked at whatever spot was open," he says. "A couple of years ago we redid the parking lot, and some of my employees told me that I should have a reserved space." Now, everyone now knows if he is at work, or away.
Three years ago Profit magazine named Debbie McGrath one of Canada's most successful female entrepreneurs. Yet the CEO of HR.com, which provides human resources information, drives a '93 Oldsmobile Silhouette, a minivan that got poor reviews, did not sell well, and was discontinued. McGrath says it doesn't embarrass her but might embarrass her kids.
There were only five women among the 90 who responded to USA TODAY's survey, too few to draw conclusions. But indications are that the whole CEO car thing is largely about boys and their toys. None of the women responded like Phil Libin, CEO of Sunnyvale, Calif., technology company EverNote, who remembers riding with his father in a '77 Malibu Classic with a dashboard that seemed to "stretch for miles" with blank holes where the cool gadgets should have been.
He describes his father as a car minimalist who is still a bit upset that cars no longer come with manual windows. Libin, on the other hand, says he grew up to be incapable of passing up accessories, and he shops for cars primarily based on the number of "buttons, knobs and blinking lights on the dashboard."
Lovers of bells and whistles
Libin is among the 13% of the 90 CEOs whose responded to USA TODAY who drive a hybrid. He says his Lexus GS450 is like "driving a giant Bluetooth headset." Sticker price: $55,000, plus 15 grand for the bells and whistles. Sure, it's the politically correct car for the Silicon Valley, but, "Hybrid-ness means several extra screens of status indicators," Libin says.
Tulsa isn't the Silicon Valley, and it might seem contradictory to run a large trucking company and drive a hybrid. Bob Peterson, president of Melton Truck Lines, says his Camry is not as "manly" as the 15-mpg GMC Yukon Denali SUV he traded in, but he has wearied of sending money to oil producers Venezuela and Iran.
Bert Hancock, owner of Robert Hancock property management, says if he drove a black Hummer his employees would see him as a "pompous jerk." So he drives a Toyota Prius. It's a small act of rebellion in the Omaha heartland, and he says he's heard the jokes from those who pretend the Prius is a solar car, not a hybrid, and question how does it run on cloudy days. "But this is Warren Buffett country, where people are suspicious of those with flashy jewelry and big cars."
Among CEOs who spent more than $100,000: Raul Fernandez, CEO of ObjectVideo and co-owner of NBA and NFL teams in Washington, D.C. He drives a $111,000 '07 Maserati Quattroporte. He may trade it in because he has three young kids in safety seats.
Real estate developer Donahue Peebles primarily drives an '06 Mercedes-Benz CL550 probably worth slightly less than $100,000 new, but he also owns an '06 McLaren SLR, an '04 Ferrari 360 Spider, a second Mercedes, an '06 Chrysler 300 SRT8 and an '06 Jeep Commander. Supercharged, of course.
What does it all reveal? "As you can see, I'm a car collector," he says, and also "that I prefer understated elegance." Rolls-Royce loaned him a Phantom ($300,000-plus) to drive for two weeks. "It was far too flashy for me, even living in Miami," Peebles says.
However, his McLaren sells for $455,000 and is "definitely a show stopper" with gull-wing doors. He says the black interior tones it down and makes it more elegant. "However, many people say it looks like the Batmobile, so I guess it is not understated."


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Scott says that the Olympics is being broadcast in 4K and HDR. There are three different options to view it:
1) On Demand from Comcast with the XFinity X1 Box
3) Dish Network.
The last two are live and coming directly from the Olympic Broadcast Service (OBS). Comcast or Dish are HDR10, while DirecTV is HLG. It's also on a 24-hour delay. No 4K streaming sources though in the US. Maybe in the rest of the world, but not in the US. What's cool is that in DirecTV, the audio is in Dolby Atmos.
Hulu isn't doing 4K streaming, but they are streaming at 60fps. That's really interesting, for sports. But Hulu's service went down during the last 2 minutes of the Super Bowl, so keep that in mind.
You can also view about 50 hours of VR programming. Check out Scott's article on AVS forum here: How to Watch the 2018 Winter Olympics.


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December saw UK consumer morale hit its lowest in almost three years, according to a recent survey from researchers GfK NOP.
The researchers found that British households had become more pessimistic about their prospects in the coming year, showing a drop in the consumer confidence index from November’s -33 to -31.
“Optimism has not been lifted by pre-Christmas spending,” said Nick Moon, managing director of GfK NOP Social Research.
Moon went further to say that the squeezed state of household budgets makes it hard to imagine a “recovery in confidence” in the near future.
The report on consumer morale said that the dip in the confidence index was mainly spurred on by an increasingly downbeat view of the coming year.
The optimism component of the survey fell 8 points from November, down to -41 in its lowing showing since January 2009.
Everywhere headlines are reading of eurozone fears, weak economic growth, and cut growth forecasts. A recent good showing in the retail sector pushed showed a rare glimmer of hope for the economy, but economists are still predicting contraction for the end of 2011 and the beginning of 2012.
Wherever they turn, consumers are faced with the bad news: economic hard times are coming, and there’s no predicted respite for those who are already hard-hit.
The survey was conducted between 2 and 11 December, in the immediate wake of Chancellor George Osborne’s autumn budget statement on 29 November.
This could have had a dramatic impression on the outlook and morale of consumers, as the autumn statement revealed a heavy downgrade to growth forecasts from 2012.
UK citizens were also informed that the government would continue stalwartly pressing on with further economic austerity measures, though millions of families have already been worse off after reforms to the Child Benefit and other social programmes.
The government’s spending cuts, which are attempts to tackle the deficit, have left families with falling wages and rising unemployment. This, in turn, has weakened consumer activity in the past 2 years, a major factor behind Britain’s disappointing economy in 2011.
There looks to be no respite from austerity or a floundering economy in the coming months, as consumers and economists alike predict the same gloomy forecast for the future.


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Christmas Town 2020
The meals tax probably took a harder hit with the Phase 3 restrictions and also again when the Hampton Roads restrictions were extended here recently. It also tells us that the lack of tourists is . There were four items, three of which needed votes, as well as an update about the town’s Christmas Festival. Item 6 concerned rezoning 10-plus acres from downtown commercial to multi-family . For the first time in more than 50 years, there will not be a parade going through old town Tomball this Christmas due to concerns over the spread of COVID-19. Brandy Beyer, vice president of the .
November 13, 2020 Christmas Town Opens at Busch Gardens Willamsburg VA
- 28 Best Christmas Villages and Towns In the World 2020.
- See the Lights at Christmas Town | Virginia Parks Blog.
- Unofficial Guide to Busch Gardens Williamsburg Christmas Town Edition.
Candace Cameron Bure and Tim Rozon star in “Christmas Town
UPtv . It’s never too early to start celebrating Christmas. Beginning on Nov. 1, UPtv will air films and over 500 total hours of holiday cheer, spanning 60 total days, as part of . Netflix has really been up on its Christmas movie game the past couple of years (there’s been three Christmas Prince movies, people!), and 2020 is no different. Several new Christmas movies are being .
Busch Gardens Williamsburg’s Christmas Town returns for 2019
Ontario’s The Nightmare Before Christmas Experience whisks thousands of visitors away to Halloween Town every year. The family-run event takes place at a home in Guelph, and you can see all your This holiday season comes with an extra serving of small screen Dolly Parton. The world-class songwriter and longtime Tennessee entertainer debuts a seasonal special, “Dolly Parton’s Christmas On The .
A Visit to Christmas Town in Busch Gardens Tampa Bay
- CHRISTMAS TOWN SWEATSHIRTS.
- Christmas Town Dash 8K – Run through Busch Gardens ChristmasTown!.
- Prague Christmas Markets 2020 Local Information Prague Experience.


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Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday our daily guided tour of the biggest tech stories from the past 24 hours will appear here on TechCrunch.com. To get The Daily Crunch in your inbox every day of the week, sign up here.
Atlassian says ‘hello’ to Trello, Uber gets moving, and Facebook does more monetizing with video. All that and more in The Daily Crunch for January 9, 2017.
Enterprise tech consolidation always seems to come with high price tags, and Atlassian’s acquisition of Trello is no exception. The owner of Hipchat picked up the project management SaaS tool for $425 million, of which $360 million is cash, today.
Trello should help round out Atlassian’s productivity offerings, and give it a line on new customers for the rest of its suite. Trello can also probably ramp growth and product development under its new owner, so this should be good for everyone – as long as the cost of using Trello on its own doesn’t go up for customers.
Uber announced Movement, a new website that’ll open up access to its ride data in cities. The information will be anonymized, but it will reveal demand flow according to traffic zones already in use by regulators in municipalities. Of course, even though Uber’s giving out this data, it’s not giving away its algorithms for processing the info – and if it really leads to improved infrastructure, Uber’s bottom line should benefit. Still, it’s a semi-unselfish act from Uber, which is a bit of a novelty.
Video on Facebook has been good for publishers, but also hard to monetize. Now, Facebook is set to debut a mid-roll ad test with a 55 percent revenue split for publishers. It also sounds like it might encourage more quality over virality, which could be great for helping to clean up the more unsavory elements of media on FB right now.
It’s the 10-year anniversary of the introduction of the iPhone, and John engages in some revisionist history to sketch out what life had been like if that seminal moment in technology history had never happened. Basically we sacrificed some choice in exchange for easy access to a huge range of services. Was it worth the trade? Probably.
Was CES underwhelming, or more relevant than ever at 50 years young? Depends on who you ask. Basically, the gadgeteers seem a bit underwhelmed, while people like me focused on mobility services and underlying technologies that span verticals felt like it was one of the most impactful shows in recent memory.
Jeff Bezos was in attendance as two of his shows won Golden Globes last night. The ecommerce player is officially Hollywood now – and a publisher and the biggest retailer on the planet and the leading voice assistant etc, etc.
Former self-driving Google car project Waymo has a big advantage over its competitors – it’s now making all its own hardware sensor. This is similar to how Apple wins by building its own processors and software for the iPhone. Huge for its drive to supply automakers with turn-key autonomous driving systems.


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Showing results for tags 'pep boys'.
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Icahn Automotive Group LLC today announced the launch of Pep Boys Fleet, a program that puts a renewed focus on automotive service designed to better meet the needs of today’s growing fleets. With a new tagline, “Driving your business forward,” Pep Boys Fleet will continue to serve as a preferred partner to large, national fleet management companies and with this move is now better-positioned to meet the needs of the many small fleets emerging from the explosive growth of transportation network companies and last mile delivery services. Pep Boys Fleet has the experience to handle any size fleet, providing inspections and warranty-backed repairs, both routine and complex, according to Icahn Automotive. Pep Boys Fleet service, including preventative maintenance such as tires, brakes, batteries and suspension, is done through the Pep Boys national network, which consists of more than 9,000 service bays in more than 1,000 company-owned locations. Pep Boys Mobile Crew, which launched in 2018 with state-of-art trailers, will now expand to include smaller-format fleet vans that are fully equipped with all the necessary supplies and staffed by trained technicians to complete common fleet maintenance and repair needs on-location. “No matter the size of the fleet, our goal is always to decrease the vehicle’s downtime, ultimately providing a more convenient, flexible and personalized way of addressing repairs and vehicle maintenance,” said Brian Kaner, president of service, Icahn Automotive. “Pep Boys Fleet is the only service provider to be backed by a national network and offer mobile maintenance and repairs, as well as provide dedicated fleet team support and solutions designed to both streamline the fleet manager’s role and help an owner focus on the running the business and not the fleet.” Today 20% percent* of vehicles are sold to fleets, a number that’s expected to shift as high as 40% over the next 20 years as ride-sharing, ride-hailing and online retail continues to grow. As one of the largest, most trusted and widely known aftermarket automotive service providers, Pep Boys Fleet and the company’s trained and certified technicians can work on all makes and models. Changes have been made to the service format in Pep Boys locations to establish dedicated Pep Boys Fleet bays reserved exclusively to expedite fleet jobs, and locations are also being updated to include meeting rooms with amenities where fleet customers can conduct business while their vehicle is undergoing maintenance. Pep Boys Fleet provides customers with national, regional, local and store-level support where customers receive a single point-of-contact that gets to know them and their business. The Pep Boys Fleet Team representative develops a customized service program and pricing plan and remains engaged to help manage a customer’s fleet business. Pep Boys Fleet also provides customers with a universal fleet services credit card that allows fleet managers to track and pay for vehicle repairs and preventive service and earn rewards. All fleet customers can also take advantage of a specialized online invoicing and payment system and a 24/7 towing program to any Pep Boys location. Pep Boys Fleet is an official tire, brake and preventative maintenance supplier of Amazon’s Delivery Service Partners (DSP), which provides negotiated pricing for Amazon DSP maintenance, along with a pro rewards program, and fleet credit which owners can use to cover unforeseen expenses. Later this year, Pep Boys plans to launch a management technology solution to help small and mid-size businesses better manage their fleet maintenance. The launch of Pep Boys Fleet is a continuation of Icahn Automotive’s investments in its service business and follows the announcement of a comprehensive program to recruit and train automotive service technicians to meet the demands of the industry, which are being driven largely by the fleet customer. In addition to launching new service formats such as Mobile Crew, the company continues expanding its footprint in key markets by acquiring both franchised and owned service centers and remodeling existing Pep Boys locations. Source: https://www.aftermarketnews.com/pep-boys-expands-capabilities-to-serve-fast-growing-fleets/
Pep Boys has been struggling the past few years and it looks like they may be bought out. How this will play out is unclear. Here's a thought; would Advance Auto or NAPA be interested in Pep Boys? Is more consolidation coming? And is this good for the independents? Here's an article in the Wall Street Journal about the potential sale of Pep Boys: http://www.wsj.com/articles/pep-boys-approached-by-potential-buyers-1432077302
Pep Boys, after struggling this year financially, is considering closing 63 stores. Pep Boys has been changing the marketing strategy the past few years, emulating what we the independent shop owners do so well: Building strong relationships with our consumer base in our communities. It will be interesting to follow Pep Boys the next few years to see how this all plays out. Below is an article in Tire Business.com. http://www.tirebusiness.com/article/20140915/ISSUE/309159977/reality-check-pep-boys-in-red-considers-up-to-63-store-closings
Last week I posted a link to an article about Pep Boys and their plans to close 63 stores. Today it was announced that Mike Odell, Pep Boys President, is resigning. I know many are wondering what is happening behind closed doors. Here's the link: http://www.ratchetandwrench.com/RatchetWrench/September-2014/Pep-Boys-President-and-CEO-Resigns/?utm_source=KnowledgeMarketing&utm_medium=RW%20-%20Newsletter%20Emails&utm_term=RW%20-%20RW%20Insider&utm_content=RW_TheRWInsider_20140926&utm_campaign=Pep%20Boys%20President%20and%20CEO%20Resigns&eid=211700044&bid=935374


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Project xCloud Will Support Cross-Device Gaming
This week, Microsoft announced a new streaming service called Project xCloud. The idea behind the new service is to allow users to play popular video games when and where they feel most comfortable, be that on a console, a computer or a mobile device.
Project xCloud will use Microsoft’s Azure cloud, the company’s massive cloud computing platform, loading up servers with the component parts of several Xbox One consoles, and using these to run games streamed directly to a device of choice. Gamers will be able to play titles like Halo, Forza Horizon and other classic console and PC big hitters on their PCs, smartphones and tablets.
As with any streaming service, latency is a major concern as Internet infrastructure varies greatly around the globe. The end result will not just depend on Microsoft’s technology, but also on each user’s Internet connection. Project xCloud will use 4G networks for now and will scale to 5G as the newest networks roll out globally. The test experience currently runs at 10 Mbps.
To exploit Azure for Project xCloud, Microsoft built custom server hardware for the streaming service to enable compatibility with existing and future Xbox games. Company executives say that its experience as a gaming company as well as a cloud platform provides it with the skills and experience to “combat latency”. Specifically, it plans to optimise network topology, and video encoding and decoding.
Project xCloud is an intriguing glimpse into the future of “unshackled” gaming, allowing users to experience top console and PC games on a mobile device. The technology to support robust game streaming is advancing and the user experience is getting a boost. Already it’s possible for gamers to stream titles from platforms including Sony’s PlayStation Now, Nvidia’s GeForce Now, Blade’s Shadow and Google’s Project Stream, which made its debut last week.
Based on our experience with game streaming services, we believe that a reliable cloud-based gaming platform will remain a dream for at least the next three years. The reality is that many popular fighting, racing and action games need millisecond-precise input to deliver a competitive gaming experience. This problem becomes most apparent when trying to play games online through this type of service.
Given Microsoft’s efforts to solve many important technical challenges, Project xCloud will be eagerly watched by the gaming community. The first public trials are expected to start in 2019.