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[Funding alert] US and India-based personalised supplements company 1Balance raises $2M led by Accel Partners
The US and India-focused natural supplements company 1Balance, which offers personalised healthy living products on a subscription basis, on Thursday announced it had raised $2 million in seed funding.
The round was led by Accel Partners with participation from Larry Braitman and a group of prominent angel investors.
Subrata Mitra, Founder and Managing Partner at Accel Partners, said,
“1Balance has a unique approach and positioning in the healthy living segment: It is unifying latest technology and traditional herbal sciences (like Ayurveda) to deliver a set of robust health and wellness products. With personalisation at its core, 1Balance is positioned well to emerge as a leader in the healthy lifestyle space."
In a statement, the company said these funds will help it to put production facilities, a product team, and a distribution network in place, enabling the firm to create the highest quality products.
The proprietary technology-driven personalisation platform builds and ships a completely herbal and personalised supplement, based on your metabolic profile, arrived at from a series of questions that you answer online.
The platform also offers other personalised products (like tea) which are made with herbal ingredients, and good specifically for your metabolism, it added.
1Balance was founded in December 2018 by Dikshant Dave (CEO), Shrinivasa Sharma, and Karthikeyan Iyer. Prior to this, Dikshant lead a company named CureJoy, focused on healthy living and wellness, and quit it when 1Balance set up its India office in March 2019.
Larry Braitman, one of the key investors who also plays an active role in 1Balance at a strategic level, said,
“We are seeing a significant trend in the way people are looking at their own health now. The emphasis has gone back to healthy living as opposed to a healthcare or disease-management mindset. And I see that 1Balance has this philosophy at its core. This is a company that breathes this DNA and to me that is going to be the key, as this space heats up further.”
Last week, Accel also led a $1 million seed funding round in US and Bengaluru-based Spacejoy, an e-design startup offering interior design as a service.
(Edited by Teja Lele Desai)


text: Some government publication says federal employees won’t get iPhones anytime soon. Boo friggin hoo. See here. Losers waiting on line in New York have started their own blog to chronicle their loserhood. See here. The soon-to-be-defunct Business 2.0 reports that the iPhone marketing campaign will be studied in business schools for years to come. See here. TechNewsWorld [this can't be real, Ed] prints a rehash of all of Apple’s past flops, like the Newton and the Cube. See here. And the ever-reliable SFGate has a story about idiots who are being paid to wait in line. See here. Some blogger says eBooks are a perfect fit for the iPhone and that we could kill Sony in that market. See here. Wired (our old pals) report that the iPhone has thrown the wireless industry into chaos and confusion and forced them to admit that they don’t have a clue about what customers want. See here.

domain: news


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Coffee prices continue a strong rally this Friday on concerns over frost that could visit some of the areas in Brazil this weekend. Coffee gains nearly 2% today and is up a stunning 30% in a span of just 2 months! Prices are still nearly 10% below local highs from 2018. So far the coffee markets steals the show on Friday but traders still await the pivotal NFP report from the US that will be published at 2:30pm CEST (1:30pm BST) and can have an impact on indices and currencies.
Coffee prices spike on frost concerns
Jul 5, 2019


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Poundland takeover probe ridiculed as ‘mind-boggling’ by leading analyst
Poundland faces a full-blown investigation by the competition watchdog into its planned takeover of rival 99p Stores.
On Wednesday the Competition and Markets Authority warned the £55million deal could damage competition in areas where the two firms overlap, resulting in a poorer deal for customers.
But one leading analyst described the decision, which wiped more than £40million off Poundland’s market value, as ‘mind-boggling’.
Under scrutiny: Poundland faces a full-blown investigation by the competition watchdog into its planned takeover of rival 99p Stores
Poundland and 99p Stores have 800 shops between them in the UK. Part of the rationale behind the deal is to close down some 99p Stores where there is a Poundland nearby.
The CMA said it has identified 80 areas where the firms overlap and 12 where they will become competitors in the near future.
It said the takeover will leave only one single price retailer with national scale – Poundworld – as a rival to Poundland.
It added: ‘The CMA found that the loss of competition between the companies may lead to a worsening of their offer locally, through a reduction in quality, fewer promotions or closure of their stores.’
Shares in Poundland, which soared 15 per cent on the day the deal was announced in February, slumped 4.5 per cent or 16.4p to 344.6p.
Poundland has until Thursday to find a solution to allay the CMA’s concerns – and could reverse the decision to close some 99p Stores where there is overlap.
The deal: Poundland and 99p Stores have 800 shops between them in the UK. Part of the rationale behind the deal is to close down some 99p Stores where there is a Poundland nearby
If it fails to do so, and presses ahead with the deal, the CMA will launch a ‘phase II’ probe, which will take up to 28 weeks to complete, and could even see it decide to block the takeover.
Clive Black, an analyst at Shore Capital, said the CMA’s move sounded ‘like a plot from political satire The Thick Of It’.
He added: ‘This is the stuff of the madhouse. It’s mind-boggling that the CMA can come to the conclusion that this deal distorts competition. Poundland is considerably stronger, faster and better than 99p Stores. Its shops are better.
‘Not allowing the deal to go ahead would penalise customers more than help them.’
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META, ZM, or AMD: Which Tech Stock Could Boost Your Portfolio Returns the Most?
Investors are bracing for tougher times as the Federal Reserve’s interest rate hikes are expected to tip the U.S. economy into a recession. Technology stocks have already been crushed by macro challenges and could remain under pressure in the short term. However, Wall Street remains bullish about the future prospects of certain tech stocks, though near-term uncertainty prevails. Using the TipRanks?utm_source=markets.businessinsider.com&utm_medium=referral Stock Comparison tool, we will compare three prominent tech stocks – Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:META), Zoom Video (NASDAQ:ZM), and Advanced Micro Devices (NASDAQ:AMD). Let us see which stock could offer higher upside as per Wall Street pros.
Meta Platforms (META)
Moreover, legal issues alleging violation of users’ privacy and regulatory challenges are also weighing on Meta. Furthermore, the company is investing billions of dollars in Metaverse, which might fetch long-term results but is a drag on the near-term profitability.
In July, Meta reported a nearly 1% drop in its Q2 revenue, marking its first quarterly decline in top line since going public. Earnings per share fell 32%. The company’s Q3 guidance reflects another quarter of declining revenue. However, those optimistic about Meta believe that the company is poised to bounce back once macro headwinds fade given its huge customer base.
Is Meta a Good Stock to Buy?
As per a recent Wall Street Journal report, citing sources familiar with the matter, Meta is planning to slash its expenses by at least 10% over the coming months. Staff reductions will be a part of the company’s efforts to cut expenses.
Following the WSJ report, Morgan Stanley analyst Brian Nowak estimates that if the news of cost cuts is true, then Meta’s GAAP EPS could come in at almost $10.85 in 2023, up from the analyst’s previous estimate of $9.90.
Nowak believes that “Confirming these cuts, clarity on revenue, engagement [and] time spent, and reels monetization” could be key catalysts for META shares in Q3. Nowak has a Buy rating on META stock with a price target of $225.
Meta scores a Moderate Buy consensus rating based on 27 Buys, five Holds, and two Sells. The average Meta Platforms stock price prediction of $223.70 implies 59.3% upside potential.
Zoom Video Communications (ZM) Stock
The video conferencing platform’s growth rates have slowed down after witnessing robust business during COVID-19 lockdowns and stay-at-home restrictions. Last month, Zoom reported revenue of $1.1 billion for the second quarter of FY23 (ended July 31, 2022), reflecting an 8% year-over-year growth. The Q2 growth rate marked a deceleration compared to the 54% growth seen in Q2 FY22 and 12% in Q1 FY23.
Zoom’s Q2 adjusted EPS exceeded expectations but declined 23% to $1.05. Zoom blamed currency headwinds and weakness in the online business (which comprises customers other than Enterprise customers). Additionally, the company issued weak guidance for fiscal Q3 and lowered its FY23 outlook.
While Zoom acknowledges the impact of macro challenges, it is confident about the long-term growth based on the strength of its Enterprise business. The number of Enterprise customers increased 18% year-over-year to 204,100 in Q2. The company is seeing strong traction for tools like Zoom Phone and Zoom Meetings, and is also optimistic about the newly launched solutions, like Zoom Contact Center and Zoom IQ.
What Is the Target Price for Zoom Stock?
Recently, Credit Suisse analyst Fred Lee initiated coverage on Zoom stock with a price target of $83. Lee pointed out that Zoom is the company that most people think of when it comes to work-related and personal video calls. That said, the analyst believes that Zoom faces “significant risk” due to rivalry from companies like Microsoft (MSFT) and Cisco (CSCO). Lee also noted that there is a potential for a drop in Zoom’s annual revenue run rate.
Consensus among analysts is a Hold based on seven Buys, 16 Holds, and two Sells. The average ZM price target of $106.50 implies 43% upside potential.
Advanced Micro Devices (AMD)
Leading chipmaker Advanced Micro Devices’ strong execution and innovation have helped it grab market share from Intel (INTC) over the past few years. While the weakness in the personal computer market has been a drag on the companys recent performance, AMD continues to enjoy robust demand for its data center and embedded products. The second-quarter sales of AMD’s embedded segment gained from the Xilinx acquisition.
AMD’s Q2 revenue surged 70% year-over-year to $6.6 billion, while adjusted EPS jumped 67% to $1.05. Despite the market-beating results, investors were disappointed with the light Q3 guidance that reflected a continued drop in demand in the PC market.
Meanwhile, the company is optimistic about continued growth in the second half of the year, backed by its new 5-nanometer product shipments.
Is AMD a Good Stock to Invest In?
Last week, Morgan Stanley analyst Joseph Moore slashed his price target for AMD stock to $95 from $102 but maintained a Buy rating.
The analyst commented, “AMD continues to execute on its product roadmap while Intel attempts to regain its footing and deliver a long-awaited server product. We see further share gains for AMD in notebook and server processors in 2022 and 2023, offsetting industry-wide PC weakness and a likely gaming correction in 2023.”
Overall, the Street has a Moderate Buy consensus rating on AMD stock based on 19 Buys, seven Holds, and one Sell. The average AMD stock price target of $118.96 implies 75% upside potential from current levels.
Analysts remain cautious about tech stocks over the near term due to persistent macro headwinds. Currently, they are positive about the long-term prospects of Meta and Advanced Micro, while they are sidelined on Zoom Video. All three of these stocks have declined over 50% year-to-date. That said, analysts see higher upside potential in AMD stock from current levels.
Continued demand in the data center and cloud markets is expected to boost AMD’s business. As per TipRanks’ Smart Score System, AMD earns eight out of 10, implying it could outperform the market averages over the long term.


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UPDATE 2-Tim Hortons aims to improve returns, add 800 Canada, U.S. stores
By Susan Taylor
TORONTO Feb 25 (Reuters) - Canadian coffee and doughnut chain Tim Hortons Inc said on Tuesday that it will open at least 800 new restaurants over the next five years under a strategic plan to secure its dominance in Canada and boost returns in the United States.
Facing mounting competition from tough rivals such as Starbucks Corp and McDonald's Corp, the company said it plans to reduce capital intensity while improving returns to shareholders and on assets.
"They certainly are addressing competitive and market dynamics head-on, which is a change, or shift, in strategy," said Raymond James analyst Kenric Tyghe. "The message going forward is they're going to (leverage) that strong brand through more deployment of an analytics-rich, loyalty program."
Tim Hortons, which boasts that it sells nearly eight of every 10 cups of coffee bought in Canada, said its plan reflects the use of technology and data to drive marketing, menu and loyalty programs along with changing consumer preferences for healthier food and a shift in demographics.
The company said it will open 500 more restaurants in Canada by 2018, including new formats in offices, sporting venues and healthcare settings.
Tyghe said that target exceeds market expectations.


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The Atlanta Metro Chapter and Morehouse College Alumni Association once again team up to present the annual Homecoming Golf Tournament.
We are pleased to announce we are partnering with Mercedes-Benz of South Atlanta again to sponsor hole-in-one contests. The main prize will be a brand new Mercedes-Benz! Additional prizes will include vacation destinations and new golf club sets.
Also this year, we are partnering with Bridgestone Golf to sponsor a post event Golf Ball Fitting. Bridgestone will analyze each golfers swing and match him or her with the appropriate golf ball for their style of play.
The cost for the event is $125.00 through October 18th. After October 18th,the cost will be $150.00. Registration is now open and can be completed online at www.tournevents.com/homecoming13 .


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It was only to be expected that given the various advances in the field of artificial intelligence (AI), that some of these would be incorporated into the auto industry. Today, we can actually see the same being incorporated into some of the latest modes that were launched recently. But this is not something new, rather autonomous self-driving cars have been around in one shape or form for the last ten years but it is only recently that these have been refined further and are now that technology is part and parcel of most of the top car brands. Here’s to taking a closer look at some of the AI advances and how they are helping autonomous driving or self-driving cars.
It seems that the cars of the future are here at last and now, a few companies from the likes of Nvidia are planning on introducing electric cars powered by the ZF ProAI system. These trucks would mostly be used for delivering consignments from point A to point B, and as such, they are quite effective in ensuring that the journey goes off all right.
These trucks are soon all set to become a part of our reality and come outfitted with various sensors, radar, LIDAR, which feeds all the raw data into the system and this should help the truck navigate its way through traffic.
Drive PX AI
Now, it seems that we can also look forward to driverless taxis to get us from one place to another. Earlier on we often used to remain focused on the driver and how he is driving. But thanks to Nvidia, and its Drive PX Ai platform it seems that we can look forward to these taxis on our roads within the next few months.
Automated Parallax Parking
This was one of the first AI techs to be used on commercial vehicles and today, most of the top trims feature the same where the AI tech takes over for you and parks your vehicle just the way you would have wanted it to.
Granted that parking is a huge problem especially in big cities and Bpsch decoded to use AI to enable drivers to locate the nearest parking spot and park their vehicles there in the least amount of time possible. Bosch has developed a decent AI parking system that utilizes GPS, remote sensing technology along with a system that analyses all the available parking spaces, time to park there and sends the information to the cloud which is then further refined before being sent back to the car and the driver.
Cars with Common Sense
It seems that the impossible has already happened with the MIT spin-off I see, one that utilizes AI and deep learning to teach driverless cars to behave with common sense. As hard as it is to get your mind wrapped around this, it should be pointed out that this one is still under study but we can certainly expect the same to be incorporated into some of the latest models.
These are some of the AI concepts that have been bought to reality and are being used today with some of the top trims. We can expect much more chances in future models as the auto industry strives for ways to develop superior intelligent cars. It is too soon to call our cars sentient beings but with the various advances being made in the field of AI, it is only a matter of time before we all get a car that talks back to us


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It seems like I am the obituary writer for all things comics lately. With that being said let’s talk about what has transpired from DC Comics’ weekly title Futures End.
Since 2011, Batgirl has been written by Gail Simone. Now three years later, Simone is signing off on the title (this time on her own terms) with issue 34 that came out August 13th.
DC Comics has 2 weekly books going on at the moment, Futures End and Batman Eternal. With both books at their quarterly marks (Eternal being a few books ahead) are you still on board or has the stories completely lost your interest?
The future of the world rests in the Batcave, but can the heroes hold off the horde of cyborgs at the doors long enough to save the world?


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Trade talks extension speculation; Central Economic Work Conference underway?; Michael Kovrig
|Bill Bishop||Dec 10, 2019|| 5||2|
Bloomberg is reporting that the annual Central Economic Work Conference is underway. It certainly looks that way from the propaganda, with several articles yesterday and today pounding out the message that the economy is resilient and growing steadily.
Multiple media outlets are running stories that it is likely the US and China will extend trade talks …


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01 June 2010
ICC CWC 2011 Central Organising Committee meets in Mumbai
More than 100,000 tickets were being released for the first phase of online ticket sales and the prices began at as low as 20c USD
2011 Cricket World Cup trophy.
The ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 Central Organising Committee (COC), chaired by ICC Vice-President Sharad Pawar, met in Mumbai on Tuesday and approved the first phase of ticket sales for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 - less than nine months out from the tournament.
Meeting at the Cricket Centre, Wankhede Stadium, the COC confirmed that in excess of 100,000 tickets were being released for the first phase of online ticket sales and the prices began at as low as 20c USD.
Mr Pawar said afterwards: "The prices confirm the promise we made that the tickets would be affordable and accessible.
"I am sure that cricket lovers in India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka as well as those from around the world will be excited at the prospect of being able to plan their trips to the matches in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 and be a part of the Cup that Counts."
The ticket system has been developed by KyaZoonga.com. Tickets are available by team, venue or schedule. Unique features like “View from stand” and multiple currency options are also available. Furthermore, interesting packages like “Follow your team” , “Love your City” and “Be a Great Host” will be available starting July 1, 2010.
Following the first phase of tickets being released, there will be further tickets available from stadium ticket offices and travel operators as well as further tickets being made available online.
ICC Chief Executive Haroon Lorgat expressed satisfaction at the general progress in preparing for the ICC flagship event. He said: "While there is a lot of important operational detail ahead of us, I am pleased at the progress we have made to date.
"For example, in the next few months, safety and security aspects will be dealt with in detail by the security directorate headed by BCCI President Shashank Manohar."
Dates for future meetings of the COC will be determined and announced in due course.
Abhishek Bachan ready for ICC Cricket World Cup
World Cup challenge for new Sri Lanka selectors


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Talk IS cheap! New mobile phone goes on sale for just £1
- The Alcatel One Touch 232 is available on the O2 network for just £1
- It has a 1.5 inch colour screen and can handle calls and text messages
- It also has a radio, games, alarm clock, torch, calculator and calendar
The world's cheapest mobile phone has gone on sale costing customers just £1.
The Alcatel One Touch 232 comes with a 1.5 inch colour screen and it even allows customers to listen to the radio.
Although the phone does not have the latest social networking applications, it makes and receives calls and can send text messages.
The Alcatel One Touch 232 comes with a 1.5 inch screen and it even allows customers to listen to the radio
The phone can make and receive calls as well as handling text messages
It also has a torch, games, an alarm clock, a calculator, a calendar and can be used hands-free.
It weighs 60 grams and measures 106 by 46 by 14 mm.
Website PrePayMania.co.uk is selling the pay as you go mobile phone on the O2 network.
The basic phone must be bought with £10 credit.
Sophie Evans, from PrePayMania in Stoke, Staffordshire, said: ‘Not everyone wants the latest and most trendy phone.
‘A lot of people just need a plain and simple mobile that allows them to make and receive calls and send text messages.
Earlier this year PrePayMania.co.uk was selling the Alactel One Touch 232, pictured, for just £1, but it had to be bought with £10 worth of credit. The phone features a torch, games, an alarm clock, a calculator, a calendar and can be used hands-free
The phone weighs 60g and measures 106 by 46mm
‘The phone is just £1 and you only have to buy £10 worth of credit - but that's good because people will want to use their phone straight away.’
She added: ‘It's a fairly simple phone and does all of the basics. It's perfect for people that aren't worried about having the best phone out there.’
The news of the 232's release comes just days after Japanese phone firm Willcom unveiled the world's smallest mobile phone.
Measuring just 32 by 70 by 10.7 mm and weighing 32 grams, the WX06A boasts a one inch colour OLED display more usually found in watches, and a fold out antenna.
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The device will be available in black and white, and will come with a 5.1 megapixel camera. If you plan on downloading a lot of games, remember this: the device will have 400MB of on-board phone memory and a 8GB microSD memory card. Finally, Xperia Play will be one of the first devices to support Android 2.3, aka Gingerbread, when it launches this Spring. For more specs, click past the break.
Posted on Jan 27th 2015 8:15AM
Posted on Jan 26th 2015 11:00AM
Posted on Jan 26th 2015 10:00AM


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Apple has hired an automotive industry veteran, increasing speculation that the company is working on an electric car.
Earlier this month, former Fiat Chrysler Automobiles executive Doug Betts took an operations role at Apple, according to his LinkedIn profile, which didn't offer additional information on his new job. The Wall Street Journal first reported the story Monday.
Betts has spent nearly 20 years in the car industry and held management roles at three major vehicle makers. As a senior vice president at Chrysler, he focused on product service and quality. Prior to joining Chrysler, he was the head of total customer satisfaction for the Americas at Nissan where his responsibilities included engineering quality and proving-ground operations.
Betts has also worked at Toyota, where he handled product quality and supply chain management for three vehicle. He began his career at tire maker Michelin as a production manager.
While Betts' background is in car production, an industry Apple is rumored to be looking to enter, his role at the company could entail working on an existing product. Apple didn't immediately reply to a request for comment on Betts' position.
In recent months, Apple has been hiring workers with backgrounds in car production, fueling rumors that they will help the company build an electric vehicle. Staff on the project, which is believed to be code-named "Titan", include the former head of Mercedes-Benz's Silicon Valley R&D lab, people who previously worked at Tesla and engineers from electric battery maker A123 Systems. Apple and A123 recently settled a lawsuit over charges that the iPhone maker poached key A123 engineers to develop a car battery.
So far, Apple has only offered vague statements on if it plans to enter the car business. At an event in May, Apple senior vice president Jeff Williams called cars "the ultimate mobile device" and said the company was exploring many different markets.
If Apple is entering the automotive industry, it won't be the only tech company that's building a car. Rival Google has been working on self-driving cars for a while and recently began testing a prototype on public roads.


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The Nurburgring is a special place on Earth where cars of all size, shapes and power can come together to unleash their inner beasts. Two such cars that were recently taking on “Green Hell” included a Porsche 911 GT2 RS and a heavily-modified Nissan GT-R that can throw down 760 horsepower. I should mention that the 911 GT2 RS is the second fastest car around Nurburgring, being bested recently by the new Lamborghini Aventador SVJ’s lap time.
A video (found below) shows the aforementioned 911 GT2 RS chasing the modified GT-R around the lengthy track. The two weave by cars and fly around corners in almost unison, but the Porsche never makes it in front of the Nissan. It’s a really great video to watch, especially if you need to relax for a few minutes.
However, it wasn’t too relaxing for the driver of the GT-R after a couple of laps. According to the YouTube channel that uploaded the video, the GT-R was banned from Nurburgring on account of being too loud (134 dB).
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A number of improvements to the fulfillment process are now catching fire industrywide, while early adopters are exploring other innovations, MHI members say.
By Katie Kuehner-Hebert—
Amazon is driving e-commerce, but brick-and-mortar stores are just now trying to adjust, and so omnichannel is becoming an even bigger issue, says Antonio Rodrigues, sales executive at MHI member DMW&H.
“A lot of retailers still don’t have a clear visibility of what inventory is between distribution centers and the stores,” Rodrigues says. “They still use old systems or rely on phone calls, and they often have to wait over 24 hours to get an accurate report on what the stores actually have on hand.”
Another challenge is when consumers buy products online but then return them in stores, he says. A lot of retailers don’t know the costs involved with that, or what’s even coming back and then what to do with the products.
“They are just now adjusting their digital systems to gain more visibility, control and plan across all locations, so they can, in effect, use their stores as a small distribution depot to compete with the large e-commerce retailers,” Rodrigues says.


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Retiring Guy's Digest
Maintained in the spirit of reading and marking.
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Ebooks Continue to Gain Market Share
Ebook sales continue to grow says the AAP – up 115% January on January
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Save A Lot Sells Stores, Completes Wholesaler Transition; Leon Bergmann and Gabe Disbrow Detail
LOUIS, MI - More updates have come to light regarding Save A Lot’s strategy to fully transition to a wholesale model. The grocer most recently announced the re-licensing of its remaining 18 company-operated stores, which are being acquired by Leevers Supermarkets.
“As we’ve made a strategic shift to become a licensed wholesaler, it’s clear that our long-term growth momentum must be rooted in the success of our strong network of Retail Partners,” said Leon Bergmann, Chief Executive Officer, Save A Lot. “Since its inception, Save A Lot has filled an important need as a discount, high-quality hometown grocer in each community it serves. Our Retail Partners are closest to and best positioned to meet the needs of those customers. Their commitment to our brand and the consumer we serve is unmatched in the industry. The time was right for us to step fully into our role as a licensed wholesaler and put all operations in the hands of our dedicated retailers.”
Leevers is a current Save A Lot partner with 29 stores in markets including Denver, Colorado, and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Leevers will continue to operate the St. Louis stores under the Save A Lot banner, a press release noted.
“We are proud to be a part of the Save A Lot network and are thrilled to grow our footprint with the brand,” said Leevers Supermarkets President and Chief Executive Officer Gabe Disbrow. “We remain fully committed to delivering an exceptional shopping experience with unmatched value to every shopper who walks through our doors. We’re looking forward to being a part of the St. Louis community.”
This announcement is the final chapter in Save A Lot’s wholesale transformation, in which the retailer unveils plans to shift ownership and operations of all Save A Lot locations to independent, licensed ownership and to foster continued brand growth as a licensed wholesaler.
Click here to read more about the deal.
For the latest retail updates, keep coming back to AndNowUKnow.


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NetEnt Posts Strong Q1 2018 Results
The Swedish online games developer NetEnt has published its Q1 Interim Report, revealing strong results during the three-month period ending on March 31, 2018.
The year’s first quarter marked the beginning of a new expansion strategy focused on growth, whose implementation began in March.
Numbers Going Up
According to available information, Q1 revenue recorded a year-on-year increase of 9.4% to $44.5 million, with operating profit going up by 5.5% to $15.2 million. The operating margin stood at 31.2%.
The quarter operating profit includes around $680,000 in severance pay for the company’s previous Chief Executive Officer, which means the adjusted operating profit is $15.9 million, with the corresponding margin at 32.5%.
Other important factors include profit after tax of $16.6 million (increased by 26.9%) and earnings per share of $0.07 before and after dilution.
The company has also mentioned several important milestones during the quarter, which include the signing of 6 new agreements and launch of 8 brand-new casinos.
Expanding to New Markets
After signing a new deal with Caliente in Mexico, NetEnt made five new games available for players in this Latin American country. The list of new releases includes such popular video slots as Phantom’s Curse, Asgardian Stones, and Hotline. In addition to this, Q1 marked the launch of Live Beyond Live with Mr Green.
Per Eriksson left the company, while Therese Hillman has been appointed as acting Chief Executive Officer.
Commenting on the future plans, Hillman revealed the company had made a decision to apply for Pennsylvania license, thus effectively entering North American market. Apart from the United States, NetEnt plans to increase its presence in Canada by launching its games with the British Columbia Lottery Corporation (BCLC).
No doubt there will be more good news when NetEnt is in question. With a new director and a daring strategy, we can expect even better results in the remaining three quarters of 2018.


text: Strike settled at Allied: Allied Products Corp. said it settled a strike by 450 of 665 workers at its Verson machine press unit who've been on the picket line since June 23 seeking higher pay. The company said the three-year agreement has been ratified by the union workers. Specific terms of the package weren't disclosed. The Chicago-based maker of auto, agricultural and industrial machinery's contract with Local 2006 of the United Auto Workers' union expired June 15. Workers had rejected a contract that was proposed by the company and recommended by union bargainers.


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Udates for December
December 3rd ELEMENTARY CHRISTMAS CONCERT!!!
7PM in the 1040’s gym at JH
Students arrive at 6:45PM
December 4th K-3 travel to NIACC for the play “Stone Soup”
Pizza Ranch Winners are:
1. Chase Moorehead
2. Abby Panhoff
3. Ryan Hackenmiller
4. Hunter Boggs
5. Zach Feld
6. Caleb Cavett
7. Mikayla Nielsen
Congratulations to these students for their caring ways!!!
December 13th Elementary Holiday Movie
We will be traveling to the Avery Theatre this year to watch the “Polar Express”.
Early outs in December are:
4th, 11th, 18th, 20th
School will resume on Jan. 6th.
shopping begin. Support our schools
by purchasing online through Schoolmall.com.
Let the shopping begin. Support our schools by purchasing online through Schoolmall.com.
K-6 Christmas Concert
K-3 Students 4-6 Students
2nd Grade 1st Grade
4th Grade 3rd Grade Kindergarten
Fifth Grade Band 6th Grade Band
From the Ventura Elementary Staff


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New Apple store opens in downtown San José
Authorized Apple distributor iCon inaugurated last Friday its sixth store in Costa Rica, at downtown San José’s historic Hotel Costa Rica, west of the Plaza de la Cultura.
The new location is part of iCon’s expansion program, and will offer customers the opportunity to try new Apple products. Apple products available at this location include new iPads, MacBooks, desktop computers, iPods and iPhones, as well as accompanying accessories.
The company also offers installation and post-installation support for homes and business that purchase Apple devices and equipment from the store.
iCon’s hours of operation are Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Saturdays 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. To contact the store, call 2221-2522 or 2221-2551.
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Highlights from the shows, including a celebrity-packed front row at Calvin Klein and a trek to Bedford Hills, N.Y., to see Ralph Lauren’s vintage cars.
NYS Entity Status
NYS Filing Date
DECEMBER 16, 2013
NYS DOS ID#
REGISTERED AGENT RESIGNED
NYS Entity Type
DOMESTIC LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY
2013 - MICHAEL O'BRIEN ENTERTAINMENT, LLC
AROUND THE WEB
- The Top 10 Moments of New York Fashion Week
By THE NEW YORK TIMES - Friday Sep 15, 2017
- Women of Sex Tech, Unite
By ANNA NORTH - Friday Aug 18, 2017
New York is becoming a cultural center for young women trying to disrupt the male-dominated industries of design engineering and sex toys.
- Woody Allen’s ‘Wonder Wheel’ set to close NY Film Festival
By Deadline - Tuesday Jul 25, 2017
The film will go into limited release December 1.
- Fit City: Taking Night-Life Cue, Gyms Lower the Lights
By TATIANA BONCOMPAGNI - Tuesday Jun 13, 2017
Cycling, boxing and running studios, as well as some full-service gyms, are using sophisticated lighting systems to heighten the exercise experience.
- Michael Keaton, Colin Farrell join live-action ‘Dumbo’
By Fox News - Monday Jul 17, 2017
Tim Burton will direct the reboot of Disney’s 1941 classic.
- Owner of vegan café thinks charging a ‘man tax’ will help close the gender gap
By Tamar Lapin - Tuesday Aug 8, 2017
A Y chromosome will cost you at this Aussie eatery. Vegan café owner Alexandra O’Brien is slapping an 18 percent tax on food and drinks ordered by men for one week, every month, NPR reported. O’Brien said the “man tax” at the Handsome Her café, which opened Friday in Melbourne, is meant to get customers...


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Fuze has unveiled a record-breaking seed round of $14 million.
Beond announced the successful completion of over $17m seed round.
nealthy, a Web3 startup for investing in NFTs and cryptocurrency, announced it raised $1.3 million in pre-seed funding round backed by experienced Web3 investors, including renowned crypto celebrity ‘DonGeraldo.’
In 1998, Mountasser Hachem founded Monty Holding, which has since become a giant in the telco sector, achieving unprecedented global penetration.
The Milken Institute and the Motsepe Foundation, launched the Milken-Motsepe Prize in Green Energy, a $2 million prize competition to reward entrepreneurs and innovators.
Dubai-based tech startup Educatly has appointed Ali Matar, Head of LinkedIn MENA and EMEA growth markets, to its Board of Advisors.
Pemo, the UAE-based fintech startup empowering businesses across the Middle East, North Africa and Pakistan (MENAP),has announced that it has launched its all-in-one spend management platform.
IFC, ADGM launch She Wins Arabia initiative to boost opportunities for women-led startups and businesses across MENA
IFC and Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) launched She Wins Arabia, an initiative to help women-led startups across the MENA region, get the advice, finance, and mentorship they need to grow.
Sparkup, a French startup specializing in real-time engagement solutions, has chosen to expand in the Middle East and will introduce its latest innovations at GITEX and CABSAT in Dubai.
Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), the global financial centre in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia (MEASA) region, announced it has invested in UK-based legaltech startup, Clara.
UAE based startup, Workfam, the employee engagement SaaS platform that supports organizations with their mission to create a happy, healthy, and highly engaged workforce, has joined the portfolio of GELLIFY.
Sarwa, online investment advisory platform for young professionals has unveiled its next-generation Sarwa X, a new product powered by a strategic partnership with Saxo Bank, a Fintech and Regtech specialist focused on multi-asset trading and investment.
As small businesses struggle with visibility and constrained marketing budgets, Ahlan Emirate, a startup based in United Arab Emirates has introduced a unique marketing offering that includes free SEO, increased web presence and connecting these businesses to prospective customers through its digital directory.
Nomad Homes secures $4 million financing to build digital real estate platform for Europe and the Middle East
Nomad Homes , based in Dubai, has closed a $4 million funding round that was led by Comcast Ventures and participated in by Abstract Ventures, Partech, Precursur Ventures, WndrCo and Class 5 Global.


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CPhA has warned pharmacies that their stores must have aisles that are wide enough for wheelchair bound patients to go through or they risk being sued.
The California Pharmacists Association has notified its members about a recent uptick in lawsuits against independent pharmacies in Southern California over violations to the Americans with Disabilities Act. Handicapped patients have been visiting pharmacies to see if their wheelchairs can get around the aisles in the stores. CPhA warned that pharmacies must comply with ADA regulations to avoid being sued.
To see more Daily News articles, click here.
To go to the Drug Topics homepage, click here.


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Nope, it’s not the NEX 2 or 2nd Generation Vivo NEX. The company launched its latest NEX-series phone named Vivo NEX Dual Display Edition. Well, we can understand why the company went for this name. The name shows one of the highlights of the phone, i.e., two displays, one on the front and one on the rear. Also, this is not the first time we have a phone with two screens. Companies like Meizu, Yotaphone, etc. have also tried the same with their phones, but the one from Vivo seems better than all those.
One of the issues that smartphone companies face while trying to eliminate the bezels is the placement of the front camera. Companies tried various things like adding motors, sliders, placing the front camera on bottom bezel and placing the front camera in the display itself via a small cutout. On the Vivo NEX Dual Display Edition, there is no front camera at all so, there is no need to think of anything extraordinary for its placement (10 Points for this, Vivo!).
But, people do take selfies, right? Well, for that, the phone has a secondary display on the rear. We guess now you’re getting where it is going. So basically, you use the rear cameras to take selfies. Every time you have to take one, you need to flip the phone to use the second display on the rear. The phone does have a 3.5mm headphone jack which is always nice to know.
Unlike other companies that add dual screens, both the displays on the Vivo NEX Dual Display Edition are Super AMOLED panels. So, there is a 6.39-inch primary screen on the front with a Full-HD+ resolution (2340 x 1080) and 19.5:9 aspect ratio. There is still a chin on the bottom. Vivo says that the phone has a 91.63% screen-to-body ratio.
On the rear, there is a secondary 5.49-inch Super AMOLED Full-HD+ panel with an aspect ratio of 16:9 and a resolution of 1080 x 1920 pixels. Under the hood, there is the Snapdragon 845 processor, and the phone has a huge 10GB RAM with 128GB internal storage.
Coming to the cameras, the Vivo NEX Dual Display Edition has triple cameras on the rear. There is a primary 12MP camera with Optical Image Stabilization and f/1.79 aperture. The secondary camera is a 2MP f/1.8 unit that is probably a depth sensor.
Finally, there is a third f/1.3 3D ToF (Time Of Flight) camera that is for Advanced face unlock. As mentioned in the beginning, there is no front camera at all. So, to take a selfie, the user needs to flip the phone to use the rear cameras and the rear screen.
There is an in-screen fingerprint scanner that, according to Vivo, is 17% better than the previous generation. Android 9.0 Pie runs out of the box with Funtouch OS 4.5 on top. Android 9.0 Pie runs out of the box with Funtouch OS 4.5 on top. The battery underneath is a 3,500mAh unit that supports 10V/2.25A fast charging.
Finally, coming to the pricing and availability, the Vivo NEX Dual Display Edition with 10GB RAM and 128GB ROM is priced at CNY 4,998 in China ($724). The pre-orders have already begun in China.
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Capcom's Lost Planet 2 has been removed from sale temporarily on Steam because of Games for Windows Live, Microsoft's long dead DRM service.
Ugh this nightmare again... I don't like Games for Windows in my opinion
N4G is a community of gamers posting and discussing the latest game news. It’s part of NewsBoiler, a network of social news sites covering today’s pop culture.


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2013 February 15
Ladies, But Mostly Gents
Billy Farrell Agency View Gallery
What better week than NYFW for the official launch party of Josh Reed's new brand Gents? Actually, the fete was on the calendar for November, but was postponed after falling on the same week as Hurricane Sandy. Ladies and gents at the Gramercy Park Hotel on Wednesday night didn't seem to notice. Campaign models Melissa Bolona and Chad White welcomed a very "inside baseball" crowd including Prabal Gurung, Ted Stafford, Kristian Laliberte, Malcolm Carfrae, Dan Ragone, Matthew Marden, Jason Lord, Cory Bond, Flint Beamon, and J. Errico.
So, what's all this Gents business about, exactly? The brand officially launched with an upscale and custom baseball hat, and is now offfering v and crew neck t-shirts, long sleeve v-neck t-shirts, and beanies. "For three months in business, we've surpassed every expectation that we ever had," Reed told us. "The site is doing so well that we've decided to go into retail stores, which was never the plan. Plus, 40 percent of my customers are women!" Case in point: Zoe Saldana is a fan, and her recent appearance online wearing one of his hats exploded sales. So, was the former Calvin Klein flak enjoying his moment in the limelight? "It's extremely strange. I'm used to being on the other side of this. To have the entire Calvin team come out on the eve of their show to support me is huge. Malcolm [Carfrae] has been my mentor. I owe this to him!" Now, that's a gent.
Luxury fragrance brand Kilian just opened its first U.S. brick and mortar retail store in the Meatpacking neighborhood this month. Before the store's big bash to fête its fashionable...
Karl Lagerfeld took the Chanel Pre-Fall show back to its retail roots by staging its runway show in Dallas this season. The iconic Parisian brand has a storied history with the city...
Jeffrey Kalinsky is shifting his role at Nordstrom in order to focus on his side projects. He'll no longer hold the title of executive vice president of designer merchandising for ...


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A new survey of marketers who have been using pay-per-click (PPP) search engine marketing (SEM) for at least two years was conducted by the e-tailing group.
The survey found that 44 percent of marketing executives allocate 20 percent of their advertising budgets to PPC search ads.
Of the respondents who invest in PPC campaigns:
* 100 percent use Google
* 90 percent use Yahoo!
* 76 percent use MSN
* 27 percent use Ask.com
Forty percent of the respondents reported managing more than 5,000 keywords, with 59 percent managing internally, 18 percent outsourcing the task, and 24 percent using a combination of internal and external solutions.
Tags: pay-per-click, search marketing, e-tailing group


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Fidelity National Financial today announced that its Fidelity MLS Solutions division has transitioned the balance of its MLS print operations from Canada to Fidelity's Olathe, Kan., facility to centralize its MLS technology operations. "Fidelity MLS Solutions prints MLS books for approximately 230 of its more than 360 MLS customers on a monthly basis", said Beverly Faull, SVP and general manager of Fidelity National MLS Systems and Solutions. "Since less than 20 of these monthly books were printed in Canada, we believe it is beneficial to combine these operations and manage all printing and online operations from Kansas." Faull says that book production for the vast majority of Fidelity's customers will not be affected by this transition. However, a few of the books printed in Canada ...
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Quality-focused retail has been seeing a huge boom in entrepreneurship recently, with tons of new shops opening all over the country, and many more established brands looking to expand or having already expanded their operations. Most interesting for me though is the increasing entrepreneurial viability of quality-focused ventures outside the retail sector.
In my design round-up article I discussed the impressive success relative new-comer Bonavita has had in responding to customer demand and rapidly bringing new products to market. The Modbar system, subject of such explosive excitement at the show, was developed under an agile start-up model, backed by big name investors like La Marzocco and Marco. Though not shrouded in the same secrecy, this hardware start-up approach is also being pursued by two different brewers, the Alpha Dominche Steampunk and the Blossom One. It’s now been about a year since the big reveal for both these brewers, and so I decided to check in with them and see how the process of getting to market is going for them.
I had a chance to check out the Alpha Dominche Steampunk at last year’s SCAA, and was left with a positive impression of the technology but worries about cup quality and usability. It made me happy, then, when my talk with Alpha Dominche started off with them talking about how they had addressed each of those concerns. They’ve clearly been taking people’s criticism to heart. In the last year AD has produced three interchangeable metal filters with various hole sizes, as well as paper filters, allowing the ability to target an increased range of cup body and clarity. They’ve also introduced a new piston that is much lighter and easier to maneuver and provides gentler agitation. Khristian Bombeck, the lead designer, said that they initially created a machine that was as manual as possible, but based on roaster feedback they’ve made the system more automated. Internally, they’ve made the system easier to service with a very cool, easily-removable boiler and electronics system. They also introduced a new version that mounts the boiler under the counter, leaving just the brew chambers attractively mounted above.
Alpha Dominche has obviously been reacting to customer feedback in a flexible and responsive way, and I think it will pay off well for them. They’ve spent the last year growing the company to three times its original number of employees, setting up distribution relationships and getting ready to go into full production right after SCAA. The machines just launched nationally at Verve Coffee Roasters, La Colombe Torrefaction, Portola Coffee Lab’s Seventh Tea Bar, and Nobrow Coffee Werks.
Blossom also had a busy year, going from two to five employees, working to initiate distribution relationships and taking their brewer from early prototype to a more final product. Though they were still making coffee on their Dev2 prototype devices at the show, they had a very pretty final physical design on display that was just waiting on some internal finishing touches.
Jeremy Kuempel of Blossom says that in the last year he’s been really focusing on coffee brew science, learning everything he can from the community and working on ways to bring that knowledge to a wider audience. In this pursuit, he sees the Blossom as a “Porsche 911” that really lets you hone in on the effect of temperature as a variable. Compared to Alpha Dominche’s full launch, the Blossom is clearly a bit further away from market, but it sounds like they are making good progress finalizing their design and setting up manufacturing.
Talking to attendees about Alpha Dominche and Blossom, a lot of people questioned the idea of a $10k+ brewer. To be honest, I too am a little skeptical of our industry’s current ability to support two competing brewers at that price point. But regardless, it says big things about the growth of the quality-focused coffee sector that people are even trying for that market, and I’ll be interested to see where brewing equipment like the Steampunk and Blossom wind up out in the wild – top end cafes, sure, but maybe QC labs as well, or curious home users with money to spend.
Modbar, Baratza, Bonavita, Breville, and Alpha Dominche all launched new high-end quality-focused products on the SCAA show-floor this year. With the new Linea and Swift, La Marzocco showed serious interest in making their quality innovations accessible to a wider swath of the market. Unic and Stella diCaffee had a strong showing at their Barista Nation Satellite Cafe with their Stella DCL. Nuova Simonelli demonstrated an increased interest in positioning their products for the high-end customer with their Mythos modifications and the upcoming Aurelia physical refresh, rumored to include a sleeker, lower profile.
A focus on absolute premium quality and presentation used to be seen as the purview of a relative lunatic fringe in the industry, but the explosion of new entrepreneurial activity targeting this market at SCAA 2013 shows that this segment is increasingly becoming big business. We here at Sprudge are obviously big believers in the importance of an increasing focus on quality and the potential it has to create a more sustainable, vibrant community of coffee producers, consumers and professionals. SCAA 2013 was packed full of information, attended by pretty much everyone I wanted to see. The energy and excitement going on in quality coffee right now is literally amazing, in that I am amazed by it. Here’s hoping that the raft of new products on display are a good indication of this industry’s continued potential for growth.
Photography by James Hanna for Sprudge.com.


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For consumers and businesses, this fall brings a strong sense of deja vu
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Maybe it’s because there was a fall chill in the air this morning in Los Angeles. Maybe it’s because it’s Monday, the start of another workweek … 18 months, now, into this pandemic. But the economic stories of the day are starting to feel like an endless loop of the ups and downs of the virus and its impact.
Has anyone else been feeling like life is a broken record? I’m just one consumer. But consumers’ decisions impact businesses like Takito, a trio of Latin American restaurants in Chicago owned by Mario Ponce.
“I can’t remember a more difficult time in forecasting the next quarter or two,” Ponce said.
In the last few weeks, business has fallen about 30%. He’s gone from desperately searching for workers to putting hiring on pause. Still, he’s optimistic about the future after a good summer. “People want to go out. People demonstrated that restaurants matter,” Ponce said.
Ponce just feels he’s in a holding pattern. According to Bill Dunkelberg, an economist at the National Federation of Independent Business, the economy itself is in one.
“Uncertainty is there and it’s a guessing game right now,” Dunkelberg said.
While last week’s jobless claims hit a new pandemic low, Dunkleberg said, the labor force is still missing five million people from pre-COVID times. People are spending money, but how they’re spending it matters. Airlines, for example, say ticket sales are way down.
Another indicator? Impatience. Ayelet Fishbach, a professor of behavior science and marketing at the University of Chicago, said preliminary research showed impatience was back to the level it was at before the vaccine rollout.
“People’s expectations were so much more optimistic than what actually happened,” said Fishbach.
Lots of people thought we’d be done with this by now. And that affects how consumers feel and how they interact with the world.
“I think I share the frustration of ‘Oh no, not again,'” Fishbach said.
There’s a lot happening in the world. Through it all, Marketplace is here for you.
You rely on Marketplace to break down the world’s events and tell you how it affects you in a fact-based, approachable way. We rely on your financial support to keep making that possible.
Your donation today powers the independent journalism that you rely on. For just $5/month, you can help sustain Marketplace so we can keep reporting on the things that matter to you.


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What’s worse than being surrounded by a bunch of people on their phones while you’re trying to enjoy a live show you paid a large chunk of cash for?
The fact that this is only the beginning and things will probably get worse in the near future.
Recently, Ticketfly performed a study on more than 2,000 concert-going adults aged 18 and older to see how audience members use their phones during a concert. Like you would probably guess, the results were a little depressing, showing that the social media generation is here to stay.
According to the results almost one-third (31 percent) of those surveyed admitted to being on their phones for at least half of the show or longer. In other words, for every three people in the crowd, one will be staring at a screen rather than the artist giving their soul on stage.
But if that wasn’t bad enough, in the Northeast region, five percent of those surveyed admitted to being on their phones for the entire show.
Yes, you read right; the ENTIRE show.
And they didn’t even survey tweens and teens.
Now, that’s really depressing.
The good thing, or at least our attempt at a silver-lining, is that not everyone on their phones are busy trying to keep up with the Joneses on Facebook (or any other social media account; we don’t discriminate).
The results show that 40 percent of females and 24 percent of males polled were using their phones to capture video and pictures of the show.
On the other hand, 60 percent of concert-goers were using their phones to look for deals on food and drinks and even artist merchandise. Twenty-three percent of audience members admitted to using their phones during a show to look up information about the artists performing right in front of them.
As Digital Music News pointed out, maybe it’s time for concert promoters to take advantage of this obsession with always being on phones.
The publication suggested that promoters could send out mass text messages to audience members informing them about merchandise deals and drink specials for the evening.
There was even a suggestion about allowing customers to purchase drinks and merchandise from their phones and have it delivered to them. Even though it sounds good in theory, I don’t think any bar employee or merch person would be willing to get punched and kicked in a pit to deliver a t-shirt to someone.
To see the complete results from the study, head on over to Ticketfly.
And remember, if you’re going to a concert and want to use your phone, exercise some concert etiquette.


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Taiwo Owatemi MP understands far better than a lot of the situation endangering England’s unbiased area drug stores.
Some 670 of those typically family-run companies have actually needed to shut given that 2015, via forecasts that numerous a lot more might closed by way of 2024. Final few days the Mail introduced a marketing campaign to saving all of them from mass economic crash.
Ms Owatemi is actually herself is actually a competent pharmacist, and also has actually functioned in drug stores nicely as at a cancer cells device in Dartford and also Gravesham NHS Trust fund in the past ending up being the Work MP for Coventry North West in 2019 (she nonetheless volunteers at her neighborhood health center as a cancer cells pharmacist).
And also as chair of the All-Get together Drug store Class (APPG), she leads a board of cross-party political leaders whom express the Mail’s alarm system on the vicious plight of England’s 6600 family-run unbiased outlets — together with neighborhood consumers whom rely upon all of them — and he or she welcomes all of our marketing campaign.
Making a big distinction: Becky Elmes, supervisor of Ferndown Drug store, Dorset, is actually at all times there for her consumers
‘From functioning in little unbiased outlets, We understand that these pharmacists’ important issues stalk from undeniable fact that there may be excessive rising cost of living, meaning the expenses of medicine, employees and also power have actually all boosted considerably,’ she claims.
‘But the pharmacists’ spend arrangement has actually perhaps not already been up to date in previous 7 years. That indicates they just aren’t making adequate cash to endure.’
Ms Owatemi advised Great Health and wellness: ‘We’m really thankful for Mail for selecting up that problem. Presently, there may be a vicious absence of awareness of the situation encountering area pharmacists.’
We’re talking to Mail visitors to greatly help by way of creating to their particular neighborhood MP (see design template letter beneath) pertaining to a drawback that has actually currently blew a chord via numerous.
As you might have advised united states, these unbiased area pharmacists offer perhaps not simply prescriptions, recommendations and also useful wellness assist but in addition a essential level of human speak to for lots of people. They usually understand their particular consumers properly — some have actually offered generations of the very same family members.
That non-public speak to indicates men and women trust fund and also count on all of them. Given that we introduced all of our marketing campaign that you’ve called united states together with your tales displaying simply exactly how essential a area solution unbiased pharmacists offer.
Margaret White’s tale had been regular. Creating pertaining to her ‘dazzling’ neighborhood drug store in Tamworth, Staffordshire, she mentioned: ‘Having already been incapable to also talk to a health care provider 4 occasions in previous 12 months, We went to my personal neighborhood drug store every time, and also via merely a five-minute hold off had actually a non-public examination via my personal pharmacist whom had been in 3 instances in a position to greatly help via over-the-counter remedy and also placed my personal brain at relaxation (the 4th times urging myself to continue in observing my personal GP).
‘We’d actually miss out on all of our drug store as long as they shut. Say thanks to that you the Mail for highlighting that.’
Tom Rogers mentioned that his 94-year-old mom’s drug store in a little community in Kent has actually ‘fixed mistakes made by way of the GP follow’, and also ‘the employees will always be valuable and also respectful and so they supply her remedy to her level.
‘With out their particular support, existence for her and also her household could well be which means that rather more hectic as they fight to handle her wellness from a range. Having seasoned solution from considered one of the massive establishments the place confidential employees have actually little bit rate of interest in their particular consumers, We assist the Every day Mail’s effort.’
An additional, a long-retired pharmacist himself, mentioned: ‘We highly assist the marketing campaign. Whether absolutely nothing is actually accomplished, it can be the bad, unwell and also deprived whom count on their particular neighborhood chemist whom will certainly endure. Our very own Prime Priest, while the boy of a area pharmacist, ought to be all as well informed of the situation. Times to behave.’
At the center of the situation is actually the financing bargain from Federal government, final negotiated using area pharmacists’ consultant physique, the Pharmaceutical Companies Negotiating Board (PSNC) in 2015.
That froze their particular remuneration for meting out to £1.27 per thing up until the arranged day for re-negotiation in 2024. However rising cost of living and also increasing expenses indicate it in actual fact expenses pharmacists considerably a lot more than that to dispense — Isle of Wight pharmacist Tim Gibbs advised united states final few days that it’s a lot more love £2. Given that 2015, drug store financing has actually already been lower by way of 1 / 4 in actual phrases, an evaluation by way of Ernst &lifier; Younger reveals. ‘Financially, which means that a lot has actually altered given that 2015,’ claims Ms Owatemi. ‘The bargain is actually aside of day and also renegotiation demands to get introduced ahead to currently.’
Via GPs hard-pressed observe people, she in addition would like to see drug stores in England getting paid to offer a lot more providers, comparable to vaccinations (just some NHS commissioners fund that, other people depart it to GP providers as a substitute to get in that process).
‘To fulfill the wellness demands of the country, we requirement to harness the abilities of all of our area drug store staff completely. Impartial pharmacists throughout the years have actually created shut connections via neighborhood men and women and also recognize their particular particular person demands,’ claims Ms Owatemi.
And also acquiring pharmacists to accomplish a lot more would certainly conserve the NHS cash. Proof mentioned by way of the APPG claims that they may lower by way of 53 per penny the ordinary expense of a client observing their particular GP for small illnesses.
However none of it is going to get attainable whether these pharmacists tend to be going aside of company. ‘The Federal government doesn’t appear to comprehend the market’s issues,’ claims Ms Owatemi. ‘That doesn’t appear to have altered though Rishi Sunak’s have mom had been an unbiased pharmacist in Southampton together with Chancellor Jeremy Quest had been wellness assistant.’
Final few days the PSNC, which stands for unbiased area drug store homeowners in England, introduced a four-point intend to conserve all of them from extinction. Nicely as an instantaneous rise in financing — ‘to avoid their particular crash and also getting by way of that wintertime’ — it would like to see area pharmacists free of pointless form-filling that robs pharmacists of priceless times at once whenever numerous tend to be having to lower their particular opening up hrs for the reason that shortages of considerably costly competent employees.
The Federal government must also urgently fund unbiased area drug stores to present medical providers to men and women via long-lasting circumstances comparable to high blood pressure, diabetes mellitus and also breathing illness.
It factors aside that area drug stores currently offer consumers via about 65 million ‘casual consultations’ every year, although there’s no NHS repayment alloted for that.
Nicely as assisting men and women via such severe diseases, the PSNC claims the Federal government must spend drug stores to motivate healthy and balanced practices comparable to weight reduction and also cigarette smoking cessation to avoid men and women creating lifestyle-related diseases in starting point. To assist such advancements completely, the company is actually contacting for Federal government to fund an entire ‘drug store initial’ solution throughout England, as is actually currently running in Scotland and also Grains, the place area drug store outlets tend to be paid to present walk-in consultations for people via small circumstances and also to prescribe drugs to surprise small wellness issues comparable to pores and skin diseases, cystitis and also allergic reactions.
Zoe Lengthy, the PSNC’s supervisor of interactions, advised Great Health and wellness: ‘Area drug stores deal with tremendous, unsustainable working and also economic pressures. It is perhaps not reasonable.’
Various other companies have actually in addition welcomed the Mail’s marketing campaign.
Dr Leyla Hannbeck, principal govt of the Organization of Impartial Several Drug stores, which stands for drug store establishments, advised Great Health and wellness: ‘Investigation demonstrates that areas really love their particular drug stores.
‘Progressively, we’re a initial port of telephone call for wellness recommendations — perhaps not simply for meting out of medications.
‘We’re reliable and also trustworthy. It is why the Every day Mail marketing campaign is really welcome and also essential — we should avoid all of them from closing.’
Malcolm Harrison, principal govt of the Organization Chemists’ Organization, the profession organization for giant drug store drivers, mentioned: ‘The Mail’s marketing campaign to conserve neighborhood drug stores is actually doing an fabulous work of highlighting the fretting affect of drug store closures brought about by way of underfunding by way of the NHS and also a scarcity of pharmacists.
‘With out activity, the nation is actually sleepwalking in direction of an ever-worsening situation in main treatment. Drug stores performed their particular little bit during pandemic [by staying open during lockdown]. It’s currently times for Federal government to supply for drug stores together with people they offer, by way of completely financing the provision of NHS medications and also generating a detailed drug store staff intend.’
A Division of Health and wellness and also Personal Treatment spokesperson advised Great Health and wellness: ‘Area drug stores play a essential position in assisting people throughout the nation, assisting to alleviate pressures in GPs and also no-cost up times for visits.
‘We dedicate virtually £2.6 billion each year to assist their particular essential function and also boost combination in NHS.’
Receive the MP entailed
Utilize that letter as a design template to jot down your MP to greatly help conserve all of our neighborhood pharmacists
Expensive [YOUR MP’s NAME]* ……………………………………
My personal title is actually [YOUR NAME]…………………………………….
and also We have always been a constituent in [YOUR CONSTITUENCY] …………………………………………
We have always been calling that you for the reason that my personal issues pertaining to the long run of a vital medical care company in all of our area.
Our very own unbiased area drug stores tend to be a essential lifeline, giving vital wellness and also personal treatment providers to neighborhood locals, nicely as assisting decrease the stress in GPs and also A&lifier;E divisions.
And also however unbiased area pharmacists tend to be in situation — currently about 1 in 10 has actually gone aside of company given that 2015 and also a 3rd of family-owned drug stores in England are not any much longer financially viable, and lots of might quickly end up being required to close their particular doorways.
It is due to the fact repayment charges established beneath the NHS agreement for area drug stores have actually perhaps not already been boosted given that 2015, even with rising rising cost of living and also spiralling medicine costs.
We should assist all of our neighborhood unbiased drug stores. As a issue of urgency, kindly will certainly that you ask the Assistant of State for Health and wellness and also Personal Treatment to get activity to conserve that vital area solution in the past it disappears.
Your own sincerely, [YOUR NAME]
Beating coronary heart of area wellness — that also opens up in Sundays
‘The concept of that location closing leaves behind myself loaded with worry,’ claims Ian Smith, 75, pertaining to the Ferndown Drug store that’s simply a kilometer from his house.
Nicely as joint inflammation of the back and also hypertension, the guy’s had actually a ‘horrible’ seizure that dislocated each branches, which means that acquiring his normal provide of remedy is actually essential.
However the drug store indicates a lot more to him than that, claims the resigned IT employee whom lives via other half Mo, 69, in Ferndown, Dorset — the employees tend to be a area lifeline.
Though it’s a little, independently-run chemist, it’s start 7am up until 11pm 6 days per week — and also a fifty percent day in Sundays.
‘A number of men and women could’t receive there throughout functioning hrs, and also it’s outstanding they use that, it offers that you such comfort,’ claims Ian.
‘They go aside of their particular approach to understand their particular consumers, and also whether there’s a drawback using provide of your own tablet computers, Becky [Elmes, the pharmacist manager] relocations paradise and also planet to greatly help,’ the guy claims.
Through the nationwide HRT scarcity that 12 months, Ian went to pick up his other half’s prescribed merely to find it wasn’t in inventory.
‘Becky mentioned she’d ring spherical to attempt to resource it — together with subsequent day referred to as to claim she’d had actually success. It had been outstanding on condition that we’d listened to of which means that numerous other people in other places going weeks otherwise a lot more with out their particular HRT.’ Ian includes: ‘It is not simply drug store — it’s a part of the area. 1 Xmases Becky clothed up in a Santa meet and also supplied everybody whom got here in a hug — there had been such a beautiful ambience.’
Becky, 42, whom has actually run the drug store for previous 14 years via hubby Tim, 54, considered one of the pharmacists, claims they ‘have actually placed every little thing’ right into holding the solution ‘individual’, making an work getting to learn consumers and also holding the drug store going ‘even with financing settlements perhaps not holding up via overheads and also actually dangerous medicine shortages’ — whether or not that indicates functioning around the time clock, providing a no-cost van shipment solution otherwise simply taking times to discuss with consumers.
However she lives in worry the company they constructed from the ground up will certainly need closed for the reason that the present temperature.
‘There’s a danger we are going to need shut — the records wear’t appearance excellent — however we’ll try to plow through for so long as could,’ she claims.
When they performed need shut, it could well be a giant loss in your area, perhaps not the very least as they currently get up plenty of slack from GPs’ workload.
Ian claims that Ferndown’s fairly massive older inhabitants particularly advantages from the private strategy and also would certainly endure severely.
‘You’ll find some individuals for whom the drug store is actually their particular merely personal speak to some days.
‘Each time I’m going in there’s some one chatting out via employees — they create times for your needs and also it’s positively splendid. That you wear’t obtain the very same ambience in these huge establishments.
‘It’s simple to neglect exactly how individual a solution we’re acquiring at Ferndown: On uncommon affairs whenever I actually have needed to most likely to considered one of the establishments, it’s a entirely completely different expertise — and also my personal comfort vanishes.’
Meeting by way of Lucy Elkins
Resource: | That write-up initially belongs to Dailymail.co.uk


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Tankless water heaters account for eight of the 20 green products readers wanted to know most about this year, according to EcoHome magazine's annual list.
Solar products dominated last year, but on-demand or tankless water heaters --- which use less water than standard tank heaters -- were the hot item of 2009. The brands readers requested more information about: Eemax, Rheem, Chronomite, Rinnai, Stiebel Etron, Bosch, Takagi, Noritz.
In a similar reader-generated list, by Environmental Design & Construction magazine, water-saving products also ranked high as drought continues in some parts of the USA and water costs remain high. One of its popular products, Sloan's Aqus greywater system -- which uses water from the sink to flush a toilet -- also makes EcoHome's list.
EcoHome includes other products that conserve water: Kohler's Saile dual-flush toilet and General Electric's Hybrid Electric water heater. Its most requested product is Kichler Lighting's Design Pro Disc, an LED unit that earned an Editors' Choice award for its flexible installation and compact design.
Wendy Koch has been a reporter and editor at USA TODAY since 1998, covering politics and social issues. She's begun a quest to build the most eco-friendly home her budget allows. She'll share her experience and give you tips for greening your home. More about Wendy


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Nintendo could announce a new Super Mario Bros. game for Switch this year
I was so late to the Nintendo Switch that I only just now realized, it’s been a really long freaking time since there’s been a new Mario game.
Super Mario Odyssey came out the first year of the console, and there’s been nothing since – not even a hint about what’s to come. Heck, we aren’t even sure if a sequel will be released on the Switch, or if it’ll be something to come later, on another console.
With The Super Mario Bros Movie dropping in theaters this past weekend, and Nintendo’s next huge Switch release (The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom) coming in mid-May, I fully expect Nintendo to announce the follow-up to Odyssey in the summer. If they don’t say anything this summer, they’ll start giving hints in the fall or winter, at the latest.
Like Breath of the Wild did with the Wii U, I could see the next Mario game being one of the Switch’s last big releases alongside a simultaneous launch on the next Nintendo console. I could also see the next Super Mario game trying (and accomplishing) to do a complete “one-up” over Sonic Frontiers, pun fully intended. Sorry, Sonic.
Hypothetically, if it’s just “Odyssey 2,” Nintendo could just find a way to contain the next title inside of one gigantic, Mario-themed world. There could be uniquely-designed areas spread all over the place, with hidden collectibles to grab under every stone and goodies around each and every corner. At such a late stage in the lifespan of the Switch hardware, maybe Nintendo could figure out how to make it all one big seamless experience – without the need for loading times or anything to take you out of the action.
Whatever happens, I really hope we see another Super Mario game released within the lifespan of the Nintendo Switch. I think this console played its best hand early with Breath of the Wild and Super Mario Odyssey. If Nintendo can deliver one last one-two punch with its two biggest IPs, I think it will walk away from the Switch with a flourish.


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The summer months are upon us. The weather is warm, the kids are out of school, and summer vacations are in full swing. For most Canadians, summer is a time to relax, but, for many in the foodservice industry, it’s the beginning of strategic planning for the upcoming foodservice year. To get a head start, check out three of the NPD Group’s five strategic trends predicted to shape the restaurant industry in 2014.
The educated consumer
Once they have become connected, the Internet is one of the last things consumers are willing to give up. Connectivity is king, and the dramatic rise of smartphone use ensures we are connected at all times. This constant connectivity has provided today’s consumers with a wealth of knowledge and an incredible desire to learn. The desire to learn has created an educated consumer who is changing the way today’s companies — including restaurants — do business. Such a consumer is responsible for numerous trends over the past few years and may be behind such dramatic consumer behaviours as the latest gluten-free phenomenon (see story on p. 11). According to NPD’s MenuTrack, the mentions of gluten-free items increased by 36 per cent on menus across Canada in 2013, which is an example of how consumers are responding to a greater understanding of the effects food has on their bodies. This is forcing today’s restaurateurs to provide greater transparency on menu ingredients, create healthy menu items as well as offer insight on the origins of foods on their menus. Armed with increasing awareness and food knowledge, today’s educated consumer will have the greatest impact on the restaurant industry in 2014 and beyond.
Menu innovation driven by limited-time offers
In a foodservice marketplace that is struggling to increase guest counts, every opportunity should be considered. Menu innovation is one such area of opportunity. Today’s educated restaurant customer is exposed to and understands more about the foods they are consuming. As such, they are seeking more innovative, bold and exciting menu items and demanding greater choice. According to NPD’s “Full-Service Dining Report: What Customers Want,” 70 per cent of full-service dining customers are seeking greater menu variety. This demand has created an opportunity for today’s savvy restaurateurs to promote menu innovation as a strategic approach to increase guest counts. Focusing on limited-time offers as a tactical approach helps establish a competitive point of difference, resulting in more customers while catering to the desire for menu innovation. During 2014, menu innovation will be a core focus for restaurateurs and, as a result, limited-time offers will become a key strategy used more aggressively throughout 2014.
Is it time to review your pricing strategy? It is a well-known fact that once they’ve decided on a restaurant, Canadian consumers are less motivated by price than they are by food quality and/or menu innovation. According to NPD’s Guest Count Driver analysis, which uncovers the top attributes that increase guest counts at restaurants, menu pricing rarely emerges as a primary factor. Therefore, restaurateurs who discount and deal to drive guest counts may be leaving money on the table. Although, price can attract customers, it needs to be considered more strategically. Instead of focusing on price, consider the greater impact of value. Today’s restaurant consumer has a clear idea of what value means to them, and it’s not just price. According to findings from NPD’s Guest Count Driver analysis, the top three attributes of value are: quality, good taste and convenience. Focusing on the entire value equation provides an opportunity for savvy restaurateurs to increase average eater checks and increase revenue in a market struggling with increasing guest counts.


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Apple’s proposals to scan iCloud Photos for child sexual abuse material (CSAM) have proved controversial among privacy advocates. But did you know that the company has been scanning iCloud Mail for several years? Not many people do.
On August 23, 9to5Mac ran a story titled “Apple already scans iCloud Mail for CSAM, but not iCloud Photos.”
The article revealed a statement from Apple which confirmed that the company has been scanning iCloud Mail uploads for child sexual abuse material (CSAM). Apple did not reveal any details about its scanning operations but said it did not currently scan iCloud Photos.
Apple prides itself on user privacy, so the story caused quite a stir. It’s particularly significant in light of Apple’s controversial plans to scan iCloud Photo uploads before they leave users’ devices.
But this story isn’t quite as revelatory as many people think. We’ve actually known about Apple’s scanning of iCloud Mail messages for several years.
This raises a number of questions:
- Did Apple properly inform its users about its existing scanning technology?
- What technology is Apple using to perform these scans?
- If Apple is scanning email for CSAM, why does the company make so few reports to NCMEC?
- If Apple has been scanning iCloud Mail for so long, why are the company’s proposals for scanning iCloud Photos uploads such a big deal?
I’ll address each question in turn.
Is this in Apple’s privacy notice?
For the sake of this article, I’ll assume Apple’s iCloud Mail scanning takes place exclusively in for U.S. users, as this is where Apple plans to roll out its iCloud Photos scanning policy.
Security and Fraud Prevention. To protect individuals, employees, and Apple and for loss prevention and to prevent fraud, including to protect individuals, employees, and Apple for the benefit of all our users, and prescreening or scanning uploaded content for potentially illegal content, including child sexual exploitation material.
9to5Mac also presents the following passage from an January 2020 archived Apple child safety page:
We have developed robust protections at all levels of our software platform and throughout our supply chain. As part of this commitment, Apple uses image matching technology to help find and report child exploitation. Much like spam filters in email, our systems use electronic signatures to find suspected child exploitation. We validate each match with individual review. Accounts with child exploitation content violate our terms and conditions of service, and any accounts we find with this material will be disabled.
Apple’s iCloud terms also state the following:
Apple reserves the right at all times to determine whether Content is appropriate and in compliance with this Agreement, and may screen, move, refuse, modify and/or remove Content at any time.
Weirdly, earlier versions of these terms (until mid-2020) used the word “pre-screen” rather than “screen.”
It’s fair to say, then, that Apple did provide its users with some sort of notice of its practices—although frankly, the above explanations are somewhat vague.
But privacy notices aside, Apple’s iCloud Mail scanning has been picked up by the media before.
In a February 2020 article, Forbes reported on a search warrant, filed in Seattle, which revealed that Apple had passed seven emails containing CSAM to law enforcement.
Then in January 2020, Apple’s chief privacy officer Jane Hovarth said that the company had started “utilizing some technologies to help screen for child sexual abuse material.”
So, Lovejoy’s story is interesting in that it further confirms Apple’s existing policy—but the fact that Apple scans iCloud Mail for CSAM is not actually a “revelation.”
What technology is Apple using to perform these scans?
Apple does not appear to have provided a detailed explanation of how it scans iCloud Mail messages for CSAM. I’ve asked Apple to comment on this.
The company’s technical description of its proposals for iCloud Photo-scanning doesn’t refer to any scanning already in place for iCloud Mail uploads.
The above-quoted passages from Apple’s policy documents tell us that the company:
- Prescreens or scans uploaded content
- Uses image-matching technology and electronic signatures
- Validates matches with “individual review”
- Disables accounts found to be uploading CSAM
Some have speculated that Apple uses Microsoft’s PhotoDNA for scanning purposes (like Google, Facebook, Twitter, and others), but this has never been confirmed.
But isn’t iCloud Mail encrypted? Yes and no. Apple’s iCloud security overview explains:
All traffic between your devices and iCloud Mail is encrypted with TLS 1.2. Consistent with standard industry practice, iCloud does not encrypt data stored on IMAP mail servers. All Apple email clients support optional S/MIME encryption.
In other words, Mail messages are encrypted in transit to iCloud, but not on Apple’s servers. This level of encryption wouldn’t prevent Apple from scanning Mail messages on its servers.
Apple could, in theory, be scanning messages before they leave users’ devices. But given the significance of Apple’s iCloud Photo on-device scanning announcement, it seems unlikely that the company has been scanning iCloud Mail messages on its users’ devices.
Why does Apple make so few CSAM reports?
The 9to5Mac report that prompted this article followed up on a previous story, in which Apple’s top anti-fraud engineer, Eric Friedman, said that the company provided the “greatest platform for distributing child porn.”
I won’t speculate about what Friedman meant by this. But it’s fair to say that Apple doesn’t share much data with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) compared to its big tech rivals.
Reporting to the NCMEC is a routine activity for service providers like Facebook, Google, and Microsoft, who report tens of thousands of CSAM images each year via the group’s CyberTipline.
Here’s a selection of stats from NCMEC’s datasheet 2020 Reports by Electronic Service Providers (ESP). The center reveals that the following companies made the following number of reports of CSAM in 2020:
- Facebook: 20,307,216
- Google: 546,704
- Microsoft: 97,776
- Apple: 265
Apple’s paltry number of reports shouldn’t be surprising—if we assume that Apple respects its users’ privacy so much that it refuses to scan their communications.
But given that we know Apple does scan iCloud Mail messages for CSAM, the low number of NCMEC reports suggests that either:
- Apple doesn’t scan many messages
- Apple’s scanning technology isn’t very good
- Not many users share CSAM via iCloud Mail
Why are Apple’s proposed changes so controversial?
So given that Apple has been scanning iCloud Mail for years, why is the plan to scan iCloud Photos such a big deal?
The main controversy with Apple’s plans to scan uploaded iCloud Photos for CSAM is not the scanning per se. As noted, and Apple aside, many companies have been doing “server-side” scanning for many years.
Server-side scanning of people’s communications is not entirely uncontroversial. But privacy groups are particularly concerned about Apple moving scanning operations onto users’ devices, so-called “client-side scanning.”
For example, the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) says that client-side scanning is particularly vulnerable to abuse by authoritarian governments:
“…even a well-intentioned effort to build such a system will break key promises of the messenger’s encryption itself and open the door to broader abuses. All it would take to widen the narrow backdoor that Apple is building is an expansion of the machine learning parameters to look for additional types of content, or a tweak of the configuration flags to scan, not just children’s, but anyone’s accounts.”
And, writing for the New York Times, Matthew D. Green and Alex Stamos claim that:
“Because Apple’s new tools do have the power to process files stored on your phone, they pose a novel threat to privacy… It is reasonable to wonder if law enforcement in the United States could compel Apple (or any other company that develops such capacities) to use this technology to detect other kinds of images or documents stored on people’s computers or phones.”
So, while many people appear not to have realised that Apple has been scanning iCloud Mail for several years, that doesn’t make the company’s new proposals any less controversial.
Apple’s CSAM Scanning Proposals at PrivSec Global
Apple’s proposals are highly significant and pose difficult questions for privacy advocates and child safety activists alike,
At PrivSec Global, September 22-23, 2021, we’ll be hosting a panel about Apple’s plans. Register now to reserve a free place and join the discussion.


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“As always, there’s a risk that some of the politicians will see the hearing simply as a chance to grandstand: to puff up to their full pomposity and give powerful tech CEOs a public telling off,” we wrote yesterday, about the US Congress’s antitrust hearing with Amazon, Apple, Facebook and Google.
Yes indeed: if you’re a glutton for punishment you can watch the full five and a half hours archived on YouTube, with grandstanding a-plenty. Occasionally, some serious questioning (and awkward moments for the four companies’ CEOs) emerged.
Tech newsletter The Interface has a good overview of what each company was pressed on, while Spotify’s legal/policy teams will be poring over the details revealed about Amazon’s reduced rev-share deal with Apple for its Prime Video app, as well as documents showing some of Apple’s internal discussions about its in-app subscriptions model.
There were even a couple of music-focused questions. For example, one about last year’s row over Genius’s lyrics appearing in Google’s lyric search results, without a licensing deal. Google CEO Sundar Pichai was asked about this (it’s at 1:10:55 in the YouTube video). “We license content there. In fact, we license content from other companies, and so this is a dispute between Genius and the other companies,” he parried.
Meanwhile, Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos was asked (3:44:40) about the recent flurry of takedowns for music used in archived Twitch (a subsidiary of Amazon, remember) livestreams. “I’m going to have to ask that I could get back to your office with an answer to that question. I don’t know,” he said.


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Auto blogFri, 18 Jan 2013
Although a little bit later than expected, Mazda and Fiat have signed a final agreement that will bring a next-generation MX-5 Miata to the Japanese automaker and a new roadster to Alfa Romeo. When the proposed arrangement was announced back in May, the two automakers had hoped to seal the deal last year, but it doesn't appear that the production timeline for these cars has slipped any, with both expected to start rolling off assembly lines in 2015.
Other than a shared chassis with a rear-wheel-drive layout, it sounds like the two cars are still planned to be distinct in their own ways from their styling right down to their engines. Mazda will produce both cars at a plant in Hiroshima, Japan, but it isn't clear what role each automaker will play in the cars' developmental process. The big question, of course, is what clever portmanteau name we can come up with, like Toyobaru. Mazda Romeo is the easy choice, but Alfazda might roll off the tongue a little better.
Scroll down for a brief press release from both automakers.
Twenty-six years after it was introduced at the 1989 Chicago Auto Show, the much anticipated fourth generation Mazda MX-5 Miata will meet the press at the 2015 Chicago show. A piece in Autocar refines some of the details on the larger, lighter Miata that a Mazda insider has said will be "our best-looking car ever."
The company has relented on the quest for the metric tonne, the 1000-kilogram (2,200-pound) target too difficult to achieve in light of cost constraints. You can still expect it to lose a generous dollop of weight - Autocar says a curb weight of 1,100 kg (2,420 pounds) will still make it the lightest in its class. And Mazda will be stressing a fun driving experience through light weight and a modest amount of naturally-aspirated horsepower. Engine capacities of 1.5 and 2.0 liters are expected. Sounds familiar (and good), right?
The Miata's interpretation of Kodo design will be veer from that found on the Mazda3 and Mazda6, with "very clean and simple" lines marking out "more muscular proportions" and elongated bodywork on a longer wheelbase. A stretched engine bay will make room for the current Skyactiv engine and perhaps the future Skyactiv 2 powerplants, initial reports suggesting there could be a 30-percent increase in fuel economy from the moment it arrives.
According to Edmunds, Mazda engineers are pressuring the company to create more rear-wheel-drive models, in an effort to better differentiate itself from its rivals. This push is reportedly coming from middle and senior engineers within the company, and these folks at Mazda believe this rear-drive strategy would allow the automaker to produce more distinctive, fun to drive cars. Mazda discontinued the rear-drive (and rotary-engined) RX-8 a few years ago, leaving the MX-5 Miata as the company's only RWD offering.
As enthusiasts, we're fully on board with Mazda offering more rear-drive cars, but unsurprisingly, the company's top management isn't exactly keen on the idea - and with good reason. First and foremost, the cost associated with redesigning fresh architecture for new models would be very high, and considering the fact that Mazda hasn't exactly been raking in the dough lately, an expensive new venture like this doesn't make a whole lot of sense. What's more, Mazda's latest front-drive models - the Mazda3, Mazda6 and CX-5 - have been very well-received, and are helping the company gain sales momentum.
But that doesn't mean there aren't other options. Edmunds reminds us that Mazda is already partnering with Alfa Romeo on the next-generation Miata, and if this collaboration is successful, perhaps the relationship could bear additional fruit. After all, Alfa Romeo is said to be working on returning to its rear-wheel-drive roots, so Mazda's engineers might be able to make a case for more RWD goodness after all.