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With an increase in the use of the internet for shopping, the lines between Black Friday and Cyber Monday are blurring. However, my biggest Black Friday shopping recommendation, compare prices, also applies to Cyber Monday. Cyber Monday continues to be the biggest online shopping day of the year, thanks to the deals and the hype the industry has created.
In recent years, Black Friday sales have changed. They’re starting earlier and many are now online. That means fewer people are crowding to the malls. However, some people still love the rush and the doorbusters. In my weekly newsletter, sign up here, https://tinyurl.com/makeyourmoneywork, I’ve been saying for weeks to compare prices.
Although Black Friday is a few weeks away, you can find lots of deals available so you can start comparing prices now. Like last year, the 2023 holiday sale season started early, with major retailers such as Amazon, Best Buy, and Target offering big sitewide events in early October. A difference is this year prices will remain steady through Black Friday.
Over the years, I’ve seen hundreds, maybe even thousands, of ads on Facebook. To me, it doesn’t seem like a very good place to be placing orders. You have no idea about the reputation of the companies. In the spring, I succumbed. I ordered a “jacket” for my sister for her birthday. I also ordered one for me. The ad said orders would be received promptly.
How is your Father’s Day going? Seventy-five percent of Americans are celebrating Father’s Day today. They’re spending a record $22.9 billion, according to a survey conducted for National Retail Federation. Consumers are spending $196.23 on average, up from $171.79 last year and topping the previous record of $174.10 in 2021.
Although Mother’s Day is highly commercialized, I like remembering my mom on this special day and I enjoy visiting with my daughters over WhatsApp. Maybe next year, I’ll be able to travel to Spain again in May. Since my birthday is May 4 and my daughter’s is May 23, we have so much fun celebrating our birthdays plus Mother’s Day in May in Spain.
Sixty-three percent of Americans identify themselves as Christians, and 43 percent plan to attend church on Easter Sunday, which celebrates the resurrection of Jesus. Easter is a big donation day for U.S. churches, as it usually has the year’s highest attendance rates. It’s also a significant money-maker for candy companies.
American consumers spend more than $25.9 billion on Valentine’s Day each year. It makes the holiday the third-priciest on the calendar for U.S. consumers. Valentine’s Day spending for 2023 is estimated to be $192.80 per person celebrating, according to a Valentine’s Day survey by WalletHub, a personal finance website.
It’s fun to write my weekly newsletter, Helpful Money Tips for You. It’s free and when you sign up, you’ll get lot of tips to help you with saving money, budgeting, and learning about the latest financial news. Below is the latest copy of my newsletter. As you can see, it has ideas for saving money for Valentine’s Day, on streaming services, and by using appliances more wisely.
February is a month of possibilities for sales: Some for Valentine’s Day and some for Presidents’ Day. Here are some ideas on what to look for from Dealnews.com: Valentine’s Day – It’s likely that you’ll find some Valentine’s Day sales. Look for bargains such as 30 percent off on candy.


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TikTok kicked off a new ‘Follow Me’ initiative on July 11 to help small businesses market themselves better on the platform. The program is free and will help these businesses become TikTok advertisers. It will guide them on how to use the platform’s range of business and creative tools. In addition, it will offer help on how to use the advertising and promotional features. Plus, also coaching from other small business owners.
But, the launch of the new program shows that TikTok aims to become the next ‘big social ads giant.’ Besides that, the company wants to offer advertisers more ‘diversity’ for their social ads beyond Meta, Snap, and Twitter.
Furthermore, TikTok’s ad revenue is rapidly growing. And according to estimates from Insider Intelligence, it is expected to triple in 2022, reaching $11.6 billion. Thus, surpassing both Snap and Twitter combined. In addition, by 2024, it might reach $23.58 billion. However, it still won’t be able to compete with Meta, whose ad revenue was $115 billion in 2021. So, to reach that level, TikTok needs to target small businesses. And that’s the reason for the platform announcing the ‘Follow Me’ program.
The initiative involves different roadmaps small businesses can follow depending on their goals. It is a six-week program involving an email series that will guide small businesses to run their first TikTok campaign and integrate their brand’s story into videos. The ‘Follow Me’ program will also teach them how to set up their business accounts. And also how to access TikTok’s Creative Center to get more inspiration for content. Finally, it will guide them using other tools, like Ads Manager and Promotion features.
Moreover, TikTok has also recruited successful small business owners as “Small Business Ambassadors.” They will offer coaching and tips to reach the platform’s community. The ambassadors include Cassie Sorensen (Tassel Amor) and Jacob Zander (Feel Your Soul).

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05 December 2017, Sweetcrude, Houston, Texas — The local and international financial market products and services update.
NIGERIA: Moody’s Investors’ Services, a global credit rating agency, has said that Nigeria’s credit profile at B2 Stable is constrained by the country’s continued exposure to shocks, weak institutions and elevated deficits.
The rating agency said in its annual report titled, “Government of Nigeria – B2 stable, Annual credit analysis”, that the country’s credit strengths include the large size of the economy and robust medium-term growth prospects supported by the domestic demand. According to the report, the continuing recovery in oil production underpins the country’s more robust medium-term prospects.
It stated that with a rebalanced economy, a further consolidation of the economic fundamentals will strengthen the recovery, with real growth of 3.3% in 2018 and 4.5% in 2019. The federal government is projecting real GDP growth of 3.5% year-on-year in the 2018 budget.
FX: Quiet yesterday in the I&E, activity between banks was light. The daily average last week was $188m, up 5% from the previous week, with most of the trades recorded between the range of $/N 360 – 362. As it’s the norm now, CBN kicked off the week offering $100m to the market via a wholesale auction.
FIXED INCOME: Expectation of a repeat OMO auction was dashed Yesterday. Both markets were quiet till about midday yesterday when harsh reality begun to hit. May and June bills compressed 20bps on average with street showing some reluctance to offer the bills.
In the absence of any OMO announcement, we expect further compression as supply dries up.
U.K: U.K. retail sales rebounded last month, fueled by higher food spending as Black Friday sales failed to tempt enough British shoppers to open their wallets for other things.
The British Retail Consortium said sales rose 0.6% on a like-for-like basis after slumping the most in seven months in October. They climbed 1.5% in total terms.
Yet the numbers suggest households are still reluctant to spend on non-essentials given the squeeze on budgets. Wages are lagging behind inflation and Brexit is creating uncertainty for the economy. The BRC said that in the three months through November, nominal food sales increased 2.8% on a like-for-like basis, buoyed by inflation, while non-food sales fell 1.2%
U.S: A divided U.S. Supreme Court let President Donald Trump’s travel ban take full effect while legal challenges go forward, handing him a major victory and suggesting the court ultimately will uphold the restrictions.
Trump will now be able to bar or restrict entry by people from six mostly Muslim countries, even if they have a relationship with a U.S.-based person or institution. It marks the first time the Supreme Court has let his entry restrictions take full effect.
COMMODITIES: Oil held losses below $58 a barrel before U.S. government data forecast to show crude stockpiles decreased for a third week.
Futures were little changed in New York after dropping 1.5% Monday, the most in three weeks. Inventories probably fell by 2.5 million barrels last week, a Bloomberg survey shows before an Energy Information Administration report Wednesday. OPEC’s November output slid to the lowest in six months, led by declines from Angola and Kuwait, according to a separate Bloomberg survey.
Macro Economic Indicators
Inflation rate (Y-o-Y) for October 2017 15.91%
Monetary Policy Rate current 14.00%
FX Reserves (Bn $) as at November 29, 2017, 34.816
Money Market Highlights
30 Day 18.2130
90 Day 19.8121
180 Day 22.1545
USD 1 Month 1.37938
USD 2 Months 1.44150
USD 3 Months 1.49463
USD 6 Months 1.67425
USD 12 Months 1.72400
Tenor Maturity Yield (%)
91d 08-Mar-18 17.30
182d 07-Jun-18 19.22
364d 01-Nov-18 18.30
2y 15-Nov-19 14.99
3y 15-Nov-20 14.78
5y 27-Jan-22 14.52
Indicative Currency Exchange Rates
USDNGN (I&E) 358.00 359.00
EURUSD 1.1753 1.1955
GBPUSD 1.3284 1.3486
USDJPY 112.59 112.62
GBPEUR 1.1190 1.1394
USDZAR 13.4239 13.6283
EURNGN 425.72 427.07
GBPNGN 480.79 482.18


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Back in October, Netflix’s announcement that it would be introducing an ad-funded tier shook (if not surprised) the SVOD world. Previously laser-focused on never straying from the subscription model, economic uncertainty, and a downward trajectory in new subscriber growth pushed the company and other major SVOD services (including Disney+) to reconsider their revenue and growth strategy.
Saturation and price sensitivity
During the Future of TV Advertising Global in December, the research company Ampere Analysis outlined what it means for the industry as SVOD majors move into ad-funded tiers. Taking Netflix as an example, Richard Broughton, Research Director at Ampere Analysis, highlighted that global subscriber base growth year-on-year (YoY) dropped from 30% in 2015 to 4% in 2022 — a trend that is being witnessed by many video streaming services.
While increasing levels of competition continue to shape the market, one of the main factors influencing this shift, Broughton explains, is price. “When we look at sign-up and cancellation patterns among different subscriber bases, the main driver is price […] we found that the people who were leaving weren’t necessarily going to competitors, they were just looking at the price and thinking ‘that’s a bit steep, I can’t afford that’.”
Enter the ‘basic’ account’, a response to both consumer and business needs. But what does this mean for marketers? “The ad-tier is available to markets representing 70% of the global subscriber base,” noted Broughton, pointing out that “these are the larger, wealthier markets that Netflix operates in” – a good sign, from an advertising perspective.
Although the general level of discount is roughly $2-3 in most markets, there are differences between tiers that correspond with local levels of ad sensitivity: “If you’re in markets where consumers are more ad-tolerant, like Brazil, you get a lower discount – conversely in markets like Germany and Australia, where we see high levels of ad resistance, there’s a bigger incentive to take the basic tier.”
Unlocking new audiences
In general, the ad load is to be kept low, at 4-5 minutes per hour. While this may not seem like much compared to some broadcast TV ad loads, there’s no doubt advertisers will still be excited at the prospect of working with Netflix, especially considering the streaming giant has now unlocked a pool of consumers which, according to Broughton’s estimates, equates to “up to 34 million homes and 80 million people, or about 15% of subscribers”.
Since these audiences can be quite hard to reach via traditional media, this presents new opportunities for advertisers across the board, who now have the option to integrate ad-tiered SVOD into their media mix.
A path to sustained growth
Netflix’s turn to an ad-funded model — soon to be followed by Disney+ — marks the beginning of a shift in SVOD consumption. While global lockdowns drove a surge in TV screen time and streaming in the UK and beyond, there is now a fierce battle for attention against a backdrop of tighter household budgets.
Providing more affordable plans for viewers while keeping ad-load down is how streaming platforms such as Netflix reckon they can maintain revenue growth, driving their appeal to advertisers and consumers alike.


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BOOM! Studios staffers Mark Waid, Chip Mosher, Ross Richie and Andrew Cosby appeared on stage a last month's Comic-Con International in San Diego to discuss their successful use of online space and to talk about their recently announced licensing deal with Disney.
In a bold tone of voice, Marketing and Sales Director Mosher announced Editor-in-Chief Mark Waid will be writing stories featuring The Incredibles as part of BOOM!'s new deal with Disney. "The Disney/Pixar thing has been in development for a couple years," explained Waid. Beginning with "The Incredibles," "Toy Story," and "Monsters Inc." initially, the line will expand to cover other Pixar films such as "Cars," and "WALL-E."
"We're the only company outside of Pixar that is allowed to do original material based on Pixar characters," said BOOM! founder Cosby. Darwyn Cooke will be supplying covers. As part of the deal, BOOM! will also release a comic based on "The Muppet Show."
Looking into next year, Mosher displayed a card that read, "IN 2009 ... A BRAND NEW MARK WAID ONGOING SERIES." Details were sketchy, but Waid did suggest some broad ideas. "The idea is to do at least one ongoing series I've been percolating on," Waid said. The writer will be using the BOOM! Studios message boards to gage reader interest.
The panel discussed the successful simultaneous launch of "North Wind" in traditional comic book stores and for free on MySpace.com. "After we did the tie-in with MySpace, the numbers for issues four and five had a thirty percent bump, which is unlike anything I've ever seen," said Richie.
"This is the first time I've seen this in all my years in comics," Waid agreed. "This goes back to my mission of digital delivery. It's the way to go."
Calling it "The North Wind Effect," Mosher said the strategy also worked for "Foundation" and "Zombie Tales" and "Cthulhu Tales." Waid was even more astonished by this. "[This] never happens, especially for anthology books," he said, explaining usual comic shop wisdom.
Again looking to the future, Richie talked about the upcoming Fall of Cthulhu reboot, "Fall of Cthulu: Godwar." The series will be written by Michael Alan Nelson. "It's going to get really exciting," said Richie.
Also discussed, "Warhammer: Condemed by Fire." "This was a great great seller for us," said Mosher. The Warhammer license has been good to BOOM!.
Waid admitted he was apprehensive about the license in the beginning. "We talk about license properties, I get a twitch in my eye," joked Waid.
Mosher explained, however, that Warhammer books are bringing new readers into shops. The BOOM! titles featured scratch-off tickets for a new Warhammer 40K online game. "It brought a lot of gamers into comic books stores; we're every happy about that," Mosher said. Also coming is "Warhammer 40K: Exterminatus" and "Warhammer 40K: Fire and Honor." Mosher also said Kieron Gillen of "Phonogram" will be writing an upcoming Warhammer title.
"Shmobots" written by Adam Rifkin with art by Les Toil is another upcoming title. Ross Richie explained the premise: "The city contracted to have these robots fix the roads and everything, and, of course, they went with the lowest bidder." This title is available as a "page a day" release on the BOOM! Studios website.
"Challenger Deep" is an undersea adventure by Andy Schmidt based on a premise by Andrew Cosby, who explained the premise. "There are pockets of methane ice at the ocean floor, all over the world. It's combustible ice. A nuclear submarine gets trapped in the ice and they can't scuttle it because if they do, it's like lighting a match in a can of gasoline. So they have to send in a crew who's never dived that deep before."
Real life pirate Jean LaFitte will star in Richie's pet project, "Galveston." Set on during the time LeFete ran the island, it will feature an unlikely friendship. "His best friend during this time was Jim Bowie of Bowie Knife fame. It's quite a partnering. Bowie was a deputized Marshal." With interior art by Greg Scott, the title will be written by Tom Peyer.
"Nerconomicon" will feature the return of William Messner-Loebs to comics with art by Andrew Richie. "If you're not familiar with the Necronomicon or Lovecraft, it's incredibly accessible material. If you are an H.P. Lovecraft fan, [Bill] does an excellent job reproducing that pulpy flavor of the '20s and '30s," said Ross Richie.
Stephen Baldwin brought a concept to BOOM! the publisher really liked. "Did Stephen Baldwin just pitch me supernatural '24?'" recalled Cosby. The result is "The Remenant" with Cosby writing and an art team Waid jokingly said is composed of "all Baldwins."
Walt Becker's "Last Reign: King of War" is another upcoming title from the publisher. Becker, the director of "Wild Hogs," is "a big sci-fi geek" according to the BOOM! panel. Michael Alan Nelson will be writing. "It's a post-apocalyptic story where mankind has reverted back to a feudal lifestyle."
Pulling a Steve Jobs-style "One Last Thing," Mosher played a video from "Farscape" creator Rockne S. O'Bannon. In the video, O'Bannon announced he will be writing a "Farscape" comic book from BOOM!. Many "Farscape" fans in the audience cheered at this and missed O'Bannon's announcement. "This is canon," he said. O'Bannon considers the comic book series to be season five of the cult-favorite sci-fi television series. "It goes to a place we couldn't in the series," he said.
After the video, Mosher explained the comic will tie-in to the upcoming webisodes. "It picks up, literally, in the last few seconds of 'Peacekeeper Wars,'" added Waid.
Following on the heels of "Farscape," BOOM! will also publish a title based on Sci Fi's "Eureka," created by BOOM! founder Andrew Cosby. Details were sketchy, but Mosher said, "We're pretty excited about that."
During the question-and-answer session with fans, the panel was asked about BOOM!'s forays into film and television. Richie explained they focused on "great books first." Several titles, including "North Wind," have been optioned for film. Richie mentioned a plan to shoot online films for Sony, with Andrew Cosby directing the first. Also planned is a horror series with Showtime.
Asked if BOOM! will continue to offer books on the Internet once they are completed, Richie said, "We're going to leave the series up on the web." He noted this is traditional for webcomics and no major North American publisher has adopted the strategy. The structure for downloads will make buying comics extremely flexible whether the reader prefers to have a paper or digital copy. "[We] just want to make it [all] available."
Now discuss this story in CBR's Independents forum.


text: Video content is at its peak. With its combination of visual, audible, and text elements, video engages audiences with instant access to consuming information. Cisco projects that 81% of all internet traffic will be via Digital Video for 2021. Additionally, Techjury reports that 93% of businesses gain new customers as a result of branded video content. Therefore, beyond entertainment, video media is a great tool to incorporate within your digital marketing strategy. A 2020 Wyzowl study shared that 89% of marketers say video gives them a good ROI, which certainly shows why you should utilize more moving content.


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The hope is that the move will allow the company to free itself from its French parent company.
The latest spot of unpleasantness to hit the long-troubled Atari may actually have an upside, as company executives hope that a buyer can be found to take the company private, largely or entirely free of debt. Parent company Atari SA actually turned a small profit over the past two fiscal years but the complexities of the Atari situation – the U.S.-based Atari Inc. is owned by French company Atari SA, previously known as Infogrames, which is heavily indebted to BlueBay Asset Management of London – has hamstrung its growth potential. Shares in Atari SA have slid from over €11 ($14.65) in 2008 to €0.86 today, while a $28 million debt to BlueBay lapsed at the end of 2012, leaving it unable to release new games.
The Chapter 11 filing is still very new but there have been no expressions of interest in the company at this point, and it’s possible that it could end up being sold off in pieces. The LA Times speculated that currently Atari CEO Jim Wilson will likely seek backers who will keep the company intact and him at the helm. If the bankruptcy process is successful, the remaining French-based business would likely seek a buyer itself or be dissolved.
Infogrames took control of the Atari brand when it acquired Hasbro in 2000. It bought all outstanding shares in Atari Inc. in 2008, and then changed its own name to Atari SA in 2009.
Source: LA Times


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Batteries are the heart of today’s advanced electric drive vehicles and many manufacturers have their own preference for specific battery geometry and chemistry including their choice of materials for cathodes and anodes. However, all of the manufacturers are concerned about the performance, life, safety and cost of lithium ion batteries even though their designs are varied. The U.S Department of Energy (DOE) is looking to help the U.S. battery industry with a simple goal — to mass produce better batteries domestically while addressing safety, affordability, life, and performance.
As a result of DOE’s support, more work and funding for battery research is coming to NREL via both indirect and direct avenues thanks to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). In March, President Obama announced $2.4 billion to help drive the development of the next generation of electric drive vehicles in the United States. As part of that announcement, DOE released a competitive solicitation for up to $1.5 billion in federal funding for manufacturing advanced batteries and related drive components.
The funding will spur faster development of batteries for cars with electric powertrains, including hybrid electric, plug-in hybrid electric, all-electric and fuel-cell vehicles. Battery thermal management is crucial in optimizing the performance and reducing the life-cycle costs for these types of batteries. Once manufacturers start cranking out new and more efficient prototypes, they’ll turn to NREL for thermal testing and validation.
“Right now, we already have a back-log of batteries for thermal testing,” NREL Principle Engineer and Energy Storage Task Leader Ahmad Pesaran said. “We know that in one or two years, when the battery companies start producing new batteries to evaluate, we wouldn’t have been able to keep up without the new investment in equipment.”
NREL Garners Big Bucks for Battery Lab Improvements
Senior Engineer and Battery Lab Manager Matt Keyser, Principal Engineer Ahmad Pesaran and Engineer Dirk Long discuss projects in NREL’s Thermal and Life Test facility, which recently received $2 million in ARRA funding to enhance battery testing equipment and facilities. Credit: Pat Corkery Enlarge image
This fall, DOE recognized that NREL would be a key laboratory in the development of these advanced vehicle batteries. So, the lab was awarded $2 million from ARRA for the Battery Thermal and Life Test Facility.
“ARRA has already funded the battery industry to design and build new batteries. DOE also recognized that they needed to equip the national labs to test the new batteries that will be manufactured as a result of the ARRA investments,” Pesaran said.
The $2 million dollars coming to NREL will be used to upgrade and enhance the capabilities of the lab with new testing and analysis equipment. Some of the money will also be used to upgrade the utilities and facilities where the researchers perform the testing.
NREL will be purchasing up to 20 new battery testers, which will nearly triple the lab’s ability to test batteries. NREL will also purchase two new calorimeters to measure the heat and the efficiency of small and medium sized cells; augmenting NREL’s two existing larger calorimeters.
“The team is very excited,” Pesaran said. “There have been times where we haven’t been able to accomplish all the technical studies that we wanted to do because of lack of equipment. This is going to help resolve that issue.”
Pesaran noted that U.S. testing equipment manufacturers also will benefit from NREL’s ARRA award because the new testing equipment will be ordered from U.S. suppliers.
Why Better Batteries are Needed
“The longer a battery lasts the better the cost efficiency and consumer satisfaction,” Pesaran said. “For cars, it is expected that batteries will last 15 years compared with current lifetimes of only 5-10 years, mainly due to thermal issues.”
Batteries are the centerpiece for advanced electric-drive vehicles. Making cars more energy efficient means using less fuel, which helps reduce oil consumption and the nation’s dependence on foreign oil. Furthermore, they allow vehicles to drive on electricity, adding diversity to the fuel supply and increasing national energy security.
NREL researchers seek to improve the thermal performance of batteries by studying how heat affects the performance and life of batteries. NREL experts analyze fluid flow (liquid or air) through different types of battery packs to determine how the flow affects the pack’s performance and life-cycle costs. Researchers measure and analyze the heat generation, efficiency, and specific heat of battery modules under specified charge/discharge cycles using the state-of-the-art calorimeters in NREL’s energy storage laboratory. Incorporating thermal imaging (still and time-lapse video) helps researchers determine temperature distributions and identify potential hot spots in battery modules and packs.
“Measuring heat generated from a battery tells you how efficiently the battery is operating,” Pesaran said. “The data on the heat generation is used by battery companies to determine how much cooling is needed to keep the battery at optimal temperatures because higher temperatures cause the battery to degrade faster.
“It’s then up to the battery company to make some decisions. Can they reduce the amount of heat by changing the cell or material design? Or, will they design a cooling system to keep the battery at an optimal temperature. Cooling is easier; but because of the battery size, you need to make the cooling system as small and as efficient as possible without adding weight to the car.”
In the end, the goal at NREL is to help industry develop better batteries. And, NREL has lots of companies lined up for future testing, many of which, according to Pesaran, wrote strong letters of support for NREL’s ARRA funding application.
NREL Has its Own Testing Planned
Dirk Long holds a liquid-cooled battery module consisting of 12 cylindrical lithium ion cells. The unit was tested for Saft America as part of a DOE/FreedomCAR project. Credit: Pat Corkery Enlarge image
The battery research team will also spend time generating data to be used for validating battery thermal and electrochemical models. Modeling and simulating advanced energy storage systems in vehicles will help designers and researchers accelerate finding solutions for innovative battery designs and best ways to enhance overall vehicle performance.
Pesaran noted that NREL “has leading edge computer models of thermal and electro-chemical battery performance.” NREL’s team evaluates energy storage devices, such as batteries and ultracapacitors by constructing computerized representations of energy storage devices and vehicles which simulate real world driving conditions and environments including temperature changes and driving styles. Researchers then look at the data to determine how much heat was generated under various driving conditions.
“The data that we generate is going to help us validate the battery models that we have developed,” Pesaran said. “This is really important because NREL has developed a number of models that are being used for industry, but in some cases we haven’t had sufficient data to validate them. So, new equipment is essential to generate the data to validate the models so that industry can use them with greater confidence.”
Heather Lammers represents the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) in its Public Affairs Office. She splits her time between communicating with the media and writing stories that feature the work of the lab, which is vital in providing energy solutions to the nation. NREL is the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) primary national laboratory for renewable energy and energy efficiency research and development.
This article originally appeared as a National Renewable Energy Laboratory feature article and was reprinted with permission.


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Nigeria: BUA Cement has increased the ex-factory price of its cement by 7%. It previously claimed that it did not intend to increase its prices, according to the Sun newspaper. In statements issued between April and June 2021 it said, “the company had no plans to increase prices of its cement now or in the near future.”
In April 2021 Dangote Cement was forced to publicly defend the price of its cement due to allegations that its prices were allegedly lower in Ghana or Zambia. Around the same time the Senate of Nigeria called for the federal government to introduce policies, such as tax breaks, to encourage local investments in cement production and to reduce prices.
At its annual general meeting in July 2021, BUA Cement issued dividends worth US$170m to its shareholders. The company reported sales of US$509m in 2020, a rise of 20% year-on-year. However, its costs increased by 22% to US$277m at the same time.


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"USF Research Reveals Language Barriers Limit Effectiveness of Cybersecurity Resources"
Fawn Ngo, an associate professor at the University of South Florida College of Behavioral and Community Sciences, explored the connections among demographic characteristics, cyber hygiene practices, and cyber victimization using a sample of Limited English Proficiency (LEP) Internet users. The study's paper, "Cyber Hygiene and Cyber Victimization Among Limited English Proficiency (LEP) Internet Users: A Mixed-Method Study," is co-authored by Katherine Holman, a USF graduate student and former Georgia state prosecutor, and Anurag Agarwal, a professor of information systems, analytics, and supply chain at Florida Gulf Coast University. Their research focused on Spanish and Vietnamese speakers. LEP Internet users, like most people, are concerned about cyber threats and want to be safe online. However, they are limited by a lack of culturally and linguistically appropriate resources, which hinders the accurate collection of cyber victimization data from vulnerable populations. The study found that many well-intentioned LEP users continue to engage in risky online behaviors such as using unsecured networks and sharing passwords. This article continues to discuss key findings from the study regarding language barriers limiting the effectiveness of cybersecurity resources.
Submitted by grigby1


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Amazon in secret move to launch own European air freight serviceComments Off on Amazon in secret move to launch own European air freight service
Amazon has been operating secret flights carrying thousands of packages in and out of the UK for the past six weeks as it trials setting up its own air freight business.
The Evening Standard can reveal that since mid-November the online retail giant has chartered a Boeing 737 to fly between Poland, the UK and Germany.
The plane has made five trips a week, flying from Katowice in Poland to Luton, East Midlands or Doncaster airports and then back to Poland via Kassel in Germany.
The round trips link several of Amazon’s biggest fulfilment centres in Europe.
Katowice airport is near its two giant warehouses in Wroclaw, which together cover 190,000 square metres or 26 football pitches.
Kassel is the closest airport to Amazon’s two fulfilment centres in Bad Hersfeld, Germany, which together are the size of 24 football pitches.
Amazon’s biggest fulfilment centres in the UK are in Dunfermline (14 football pitches) and Swansea and the closest to London are Milton Keynes and Hemel Hempstead.
Amazon has chartered the plane from German logistics firm DB Schenker and is understood to be looking at extending the trials with further plane charters and taking in centres in Spain and Italy.
First trials in this country were to Luton airport and then East Midlands and Doncaster.
The move to flying its own parcels around Europe echoes the firm’s strategy in the US, where it is reportedly negotiating to lease as many as 20 Boeing 767s after successful air trials in Wilmington, Ohio.
News that Amazon is building an air cargo business will be a blow to traditional air freight carriers such as UPS, DHL and FedEx, which have traditionally carried the bulk of its intra-continental business.
“Amazon is pretty fed up with the third-party carriers being a bottleneck to their growth,” said Colin Sebastian, an analyst at Robert W Baird.
Moving into air freight would be a logical step following on from Amazon’s build-up this year of its own fleet of delivery vans and couriers in the UK
It has moved to secure more of its own distribution network after one of its carriers, CityLink, went bust last Christmas.
Asked about the aircraft charter in Europe, an Amazon spokesman said: “Within our European fulfilment network, we use various carriers with a range of transport methods for distributing and delivering items. This includes air.”


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Information and advice for shoppers - 23 March 2020
Supermarkets are urging shoppers not to buy more than they need and not to stockpile unnecessarily.
UK retailers are asking for customers to be considerate in their shopping and have reassured customers that there are enough essential items for everyone as long as people shop responsibly.
In response, many supermarkets have announced a number of different measures to either assist older or vulnerable people who would otherwise be self-isolating to get their shopping, either in store or by delivery. Others have taken measures to reduce opening hours or limit the number of certain items shoppers can buy in order to help replenish stock more quickly.
Many stores are also now taking measures to prioritise access to their stores to NHS staff.
Below is a list of supermarket chains and some of the measures each of them have put in place. This is not an exhaustive list and we would advise residents to call ahead to their local store locations to find out more.
Please note that this information was correct as of 23 March 2020.
Sainsbury’s have decided to allow NHS and social care workers to shop in their supermarkets for half an hour before they open each day. Anyone with an NHS ID will be able to shop from 7.30am-8am every day from Monday to Saturday.
In addition, every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, all our supermarkets will dedicate 8am-9am to serving elderly customers, disabled customers and carers.
Sainsbury’s have also identified a number of customers as elderly and vulnerable based on information given previously, including details on date of birth and if customers have ever used their vulnerable customer helpline.
All these customers should have received an email yesterday with information on when home delivery slots will become available, in order to ensure that these customers get priority for online delivery.
To find out more visit www.about.sainsburys.co.uk/news/latest-news/2020/21-03-20-feed-the-nation
Morrison’s are introducing an NHS hour to all their stores, every day, Monday to Saturday from 7am-8am to allow NHS staff the chance to shop before the store opens. A Morrison’s colleague will be on hand to let in people with an NHS badge.
Morrison’s have introduced temporary purchase limits on products where there is high demand, so they remain available for longer for more customers to buy
The supermarket has not made any widespread changes to their opening times yet, but shoppers can check their local stores opening hours online.
From today, Iceland will be offering shopping times exclusively for NHS staff (NHS staff will need to bring along NHS ID). They will also only be accepting card payments during this hour.
Iceland will be offering two separate hours for both NHS staff and older or vulnerable people. The times are as follows:
- First hour of trading – Priority hours for elderly and vulnerable people
- Final hour of trading – NHS staff only (ID must be shown)
The Food Warehouse (Monday-Saturday)
- 7am-8am – NHS staff only (ID must be shown)
- 8am-9am – Priority hours for elderly and vulnerable
Iceland is also temporarily limiting online orders to customers who are over state pension age, self-isolating and other vulnerable people, such as disabled.
This means that we're temporarily limiting online orders to customers who are over state pension age, self-isolating and other vulnerable people, such as the disabled.
Asda will be offering NHS staff priority access to their stores on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays between 8am-9am.
From 18 March, Asda customers will only be able to buy up to three of any product across all food items, toiletries and cleaning products.
They will be temporarily closing non-essential services this week (e.g. cafes and pizza counters) to free up space in warehouses and capacity for restocking.
They will be temporarily closing 24 hour stores between 12am and 6am for restocking.
Home delivery drivers are equipped with sanitizer spray so service remains clean and hygienic.
If self-isolating, customers can advise when placing online order and explain where they would like their order to be left. Drivers will then wear disposable gloves when delivering orders and use bags to deliver shopping, rather than plastic totes.
As of 19 March 2020, Tesco will be implementing some changes in store to simplify what they do, help customers and support their store colleagues. These changes include:
- Storewide restriction of only 3 items per customer on every product line
- Removing multi-buy promotions
- Closing all meat, fish, deli counters and salad bars
- All stores will close at 10.00pm
- Introducing some distancing measures at the checkout
- Asking customers to pay by card if possible
- Encouraging customers who shop online or Click+Collect to come into stores where possible to free up delivery slots for those having to self-isolate
- Prioritising one hour every Monday, Wednesday and Friday morning between 9.00 and 10.00am for elderly and vulnerable customers
Store opening hours will change slightly with stores closing at 8pm from Friday 20 March onwards. Sunday opening hours will remain the same
They have increased orders from suppliers and warehouses have sufficient stock to replenish all stores. This includes all of the essentials such as sanitary and baby products.
They are discouraging people from buying more than they need. Customers are currently limited to buying four items of any one product during each visit.
They will also be encouraging social distancing at checkouts and asking customers to pay with card where possible.
Co-op haven’t made changes to their opening times, but are restricting purchases to two per customer on some products, including hand sanitiser, soap, tinned goods, pasta, rice, long-life milk, sugar, baby food and nappies.
There are no current changes to opening hours in Lidl’s UK stores. Lidl have now limited the sale of products including household essentials, cleaning products, pasta rice and tinned goods to four items per customer.


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International payment service provider ECOMMPAY has today announced the launch of its new open banking payment system, designed to enable consumers to initiate online payments to merchants.
The system, Open Banking by ECOMMPAY, leverages open banking’s requirement for banks to allow third party financial service providers to initiate payments on behalf of customers via APIs. It also plugs into over 48 UK partner banks, with customers including Barclays, HSBC, Lloyds and Monzo.
In addition, the system was created for UK businesses, as well as those expanding into the UK. The aim is to make the payment process for businesses easier and more efficient in order to ensure increased conversions and reduce costs.
Paul Marcantonio, Executive Director of ECOMMPAY, said: “Open Banking for the UK by ECOMMPAY will allow us to support both large and medium businesses with an online presence by facilitating the acceptance of payments directly from their customer’s bank accounts.
“Fast, safe and secure payment methods are vital now more than ever as businesses move online to respond to shifting consumer behaviours, and as the pandemic results in a surge in fraud and cyber-crime.”
ECOMMPAY has plans to expand its new system across Europe in the coming months.
ECOMMPAY open banking payments
Open banking payments are authenticated directly between banks and consumers. This means, that unlike direct debits, the risk of chargebacks generated due to fraud or an inability to capture funds is eliminated.
A debit or credit card does not need to be used and therefore there is no need for card details to be shared with third parties.
ECOMMPAY launched in 2012 and since then has expanded its presence with six international offices and operations in markets including Asia, Europe, Africa, Russia and the UK.
The company is also a principal member of Visa and Mastercard, and a member of Visa Direct and MoneySend, as well a payment provider on the PayPal Commerce Platform.
Marcantonio added: “This new service joins our growing portfolio of payment products. It will enable us to continue to support businesses to scale at the rate they need. Our new product for the UK is just the beginning- ECOMMPAY will soon announce a global Open Banking solution.”


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Just three deals are on this week’s IPO Calendar – and one is a household name that hungry investors have anticipated for awhile. Albertsons Companies (ACI proposed) is a major U.S. supermarket chain, set to go public late in the week in a deal that could raise $1.25 billion.
But Wall Street believes that more names could jump onto this week’s IPO Calendar when the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s filing window opens again for business on Monday morning, June 22nd. That expectation is based on what happened last Monday, June 15th, when four IPOs appeared at the SEC’s filing window that morning. All four were priced Thursday evening, June 18th, to trade on Friday, June 19th. That’s how today’s IPO market has been coming together.
Now let’s take a look at this week’s IPO Calendar, when bankers expect to raise a total of $1.6 billion. The IPOs are organized by pricing and trading dates.
Monday evening pricing for Tuesday trading
Brilliant Acquisition, based in Shanghai, is a blank check company formed recently to focus on businesses that have their primary operations located in the Asia-Pacific region.
The company plans to offer 4 million units at $10 each to trade on the NASDAQ.
Thursday evening pricing for Friday trading
Agora, based in Shanghai, was founded to develop APIs for facilitating voice and video communications between people online and in real time. Agora pioneered the Real-Time Engagement Platform-as-a-Service, or RTE-PaaS. It is considered the global leader in the industry. The company plans to offer 17.5 million American Depositary Shares at $16 to $18 each to trade on the NASDAQ.
Note: Selected investors have issued indications of interest to buy up to $160 million of the ADS, or 54.1 percent of this $297.5 million IPO.
Albertsons Companies, based in Boise, Idaho, is one of the largest food retailers in the United States, with 2,252 stores across 34 states and the District of Columbia. The company operates 20 iconic banners, including Albertsons, Safeway, Vons, Pavilions, Randalls, Tom Thumb, Carrs, Jewel-Osco, Acme, Shaw’s, Star Market, United Supermarkets, Market Street and Haggen.
Insiders are offering all of the 65.8 million shares at $18 to $20 each to trade on the New York Stock Exchange. The company will not receive any of the IPO proceeds, the prospectus notes.
(For more information on these companies, please check the IPO profiles on IPOScoop’s website.)
The IPO traffic was brisk last week. Six IPOs got priced, while nine companies filed plans to go public, and 13 companies amended their registrations with the SEC.
For details, please click on IPO Traffic: Week Ending June 19, 2020.
June Wrap & July Start
This brings us to the week of June 29th. Yes, we do have a single IPO on the calendar, scheduled for pricing June 30th to trade on July 1st. This will be just a four-day work week for Wall Street. The U.S. stock market will be closed on Friday, July 3rd, for observance of the U.S. Independence Day holiday since July 4th falls on a Saturday this year.
Nevertheless, there is always Monday morning and a chance for bankers to add more names to the IPO Calendar for the week of June 29th when the SEC’s filing window opens again for business on Monday morning, June 22nd.
Disclosure: Neither the author nor anyone else on the IPOScoop.com staff has a position in any stocks mentioned, nor do we trade or invest in IPOs. The author and IPOScoop.com staff do not issue advice, recommendations or opinions.


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Opinion Dramatic market shifts in 2021 might open up new opportunities for proactive partners
News Bloomberg claims the forthcoming tablet from the Canadian smartphone maker will use an all-new OS platform based on technology from real-time OS QNX.
News Having already worked on their own solutions, the Worldwide Web Consortium has chosen Google and Microsoft to lead a new body aimed at creating a universal method of accurately measuring app performance.
News Nearly half of all employees would consider taking some company property with them when leaving a position – with data now the biggest prize of all
News Ofcom's annual Communications Market Report reveals that we now spend 45 per cent of our day using digital media and technology, and are getting better at multitasking between them too.
News The latest comScore's latest search engine figures for the US sees Yahoo rise and Google fall as third-placed Bing prepares to take over Yahoo's North American search duties.
News MobileASL tool compresses video messages without affecting video clarity around the face and hands to make low-bandwidth video calls for the deaf a reality.
News The group looking to bring 100Mbps broadband to Bournemouth residents has criticised the Wessex Water for blocking plans to lay fibre cables in the city's sewers.
News A seemingly innocent free game for Google's mobile OS has been found to be a front for a tracking app that allows hackers to follow your every move.
News Mobile Wi-Fi competition hots up as Vodafone joins Three with its own all-in-one package starting at £15 per month.
News The software giant has been forced to step out of its normal Patch Tuesday cycle to address a vulnerability leaving all Windows PCs open to attack.
News Her Majesty's Government won't be upgrading its web browsers anytime soon, despite a 6,000-strong petition from concerned internet users.
News The ICO has quickly moved to declare itself satisfied the data captured by Google's Street View cars was 'insignificant.'
News It may not be a rival for Google just yet, but Facebook Questions sees the social network making its first steps into the world of search.
News The Taiwanese mobile manufacturer is predicting its best ever quarter, after reporting strong Q2 results on the back of Android's popularity
News IT spending in central and western Europe is feeling the effect of the debt crisis and a weaker euro, but Forrester research still believes the overall picture is good.
News Microsoft's malware defence system for Internet Explorer is not only protecting its users from online threats, but is getting better at doing it too, the company has revealed.
News Not only will HP be pushing webOS across a 'robust roadmap' of smartphones, it will be doing so exclusively and has no plans to release any Windows Phone 7 devices at all.
News ISP Plusnet has reported that the first of its customers taking part in BT's FTTP super-fast broadband trial in Milton Keynes has achieved download speeds as high as 77Mbps.
News With the appearance of Microsoft's much-talked about new mobile OS now less than six months away, the company has lifted the lid on just who it is working with on launch devices.
News HP's decade-long dominance as the leading spender on semiconductors is under threat with Apple overtaking Samsung in iSuppli's annual spending forecast.
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Xiaomi is telecasting the live happenings of its Mi 4i (name not confirmed) Android phone launch. Xiaomi has kept the secret of its ‘i’ phone until the last day of its launch. Much details of the device from an official source is known to date. Tomorrow , however, the device will eventually launch at Siri Fort Auditorium, Delhi. This time around the launch is happening in India for the Globe.
The event will go live on the Xiaomi Official website at 2:30 PM Indian Standard time.
Though no details official about the device have come from the company we were able to get hold of some of the features of the device. Most of the device specifications are derived considering that a device with code name ‘Ferrari’ which appeared on benchmark sites is the newly launched Mi 4i. There were some further leaks that affirmed the name Mi 4i for the upcoming device.
Here are some of the probable specifications of Xiaomi Mi 4i
- 4.9 inch full HD display
- 1.6 GHz Snapdragon 615 octa-core 64-bit chipset
- Adreno 405
- 2GB of RAM
- 16GB of internal storage
- Dual SIM
- 13 MP rear camera
- 5 MP front camera
- 4G, 3G, 2G
Price of Mi 4i is expected to be 13,999.


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BRAMPTON, ON: Brampton Fire and Emergency Services wants you to know about a smoke and CO alarm recall.
This recall is for the Kidde NightHawk talking combo smoke/CO Alarm KN-COSM-IBCA and KN-COSM-ICA models with manufacture dates between June 1, 2004 and March 2011. The alarms are hard-wired into a home’s electric power.
The alarm can fail to continue to chirp when it reaches its seven year end of life if the batteries are replaced or, for the model without a battery backup, if power is removed and then restored to the alarm. This could lead consumers to believe it is still working, which poses a risk to consumers not being alerted to a fire or carbon monoxide incident in their home.
Approximately 1.5 million units were sold in Canada at various wholesalers and retailers.
Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled alarms and contact Kidde directly for a free replacement alarm based on date of manufacture or a discount on a new alarm. For additional information, consumers should contact Kidde Canada.
Kidde Canada Contact Information: Toll-free Phone Number: 1-.855.239.0490 between 8 am – 5 pm ET, Monday through Friday.
There is also information on the Government of Canada website at https://healthycanadians.gc.ca/index-eng.php, click on Recalls and alert.


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Vivo Y03 launched in Indonesia; spotted on Google Play Console database with model number similar to Vivo Y18
Since last month, Vivo Y03 has been spotted on multiple certification websites- IMDA, Bluetooth SIG, SDPPI and NBTC with model number V2332. After being spotted on these websites, Vivo Y03 smartphone has been launched in Indonesia.
Vivo Y03: Specifications
The device features 6.56 inch IPS LCD display that offers HD+ resolution and 90 Hz refresh rate. It is powered by MediaTek Helio G85 SoC that is paired with 4GB LPDDR4x RAM and up to 128GB internal storage. It is backed by 5000 mAh battery that supports 15W fast charging. It runs on FunTouch OS 14 based on Android 14.
The smartphone packs up 13MP main camera and a QVGA lens on the rear side while on the front it features 5MP selfie camera. Other features include- dual SIM, 4G connectivity, dual band Wifi, Bluetooth 5.0, GPS and IP54 rating.
Vivo Y03: Pricing
The device comes in two storage options- 4GB/64GB is priced at IDR 1,299.000 and 4GB/128GB is priced at IDR 1,499.000. It is available in Green and Black color options.
Apart from this, the brand is expected to launch this device in other regions also, today The Tech Outlook has spotted Vivo Y03 on the Google Play Console but with a different model number- V2333. Interesting part is, that earlier this same model number was spotted on Bluetooth SIG certification website but with moniker Vivo Y18 and now on Google Play Console the device has been spotted with moniker Vivo Y03. It seems like that Vivo will be launching Vivo Y03 and Y18 smartphones with similar specs.
Now if we talk about the specifications, the above image reveals that the smartphone will be powered by MediaTek Helio G85 processor and equipped with Mali G52 GPU. It will feature display that offers 720×1612 screen resolution and 300 dpi screen density. It will arrive with 6GB RAM variant.
The database also reveals the front and rear side design of the smartphone. As per which the device will feature waterdrop notch on the front for selfie camera while on the rear side the device houses two camera sensors along with a LED flash. The volume rockers and power button are also present on the side of the smartphone.


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About a quarter of homes sold in Tucson in June had a sales price between $200,000 and $299,000, according to the Tucson Association or Realtors.
This segment is often known as 'move-up' buyers, and they make up an important part of the real estate market.
“These buyers have the ability to pull the equity out of their homes that they’re selling and it allows them to move up into a bigger home," said TAR President Eric Gibbs. "At the same time, it’s allowing the first time homebuyers to move into their homes.”
He said many homebuyers had previously been excluded from the local market because their current homes were either underwater or did not have enough value for the owner to sell and buy a home of more value.
This could be a part of the reason for a lack of inventory in Tucson's home market. The current number of homes for sale in the market would have to double to reach a healthy level.
Gibbs said move-up buyers have another positive effect on the market. When they buy a home, it means their old home is either on the market or will soon be for sale.


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Bitcoin is a Digital Commodity, Not Just a. the notion that gold is a good safe haven investment. BTCManager.com is not a financial project and does.All you have to do to join our Energy and Capital investment community is sign up for the daily.Continue reading Why Bitcoin Is A Long-Term Investment. is a good thing. but it remains to be seen whether or not that will be the case.Widespread implementation of bitcoin and blockchain technology is not without challenges.
More The Securities and Exchange Commission denied approval of the Winklevoss Bitcoin Trust ETF, an exchange-traded fund that would track the value of digital currency bitcoin.
Why Bitcoin is Not a Bubble | Good StockInvest
One of those things is an investment.Bitcoin has gained considerable popularity among all kinds of inve.Technology Samsung Galaxy S9 Rumors Suggest Competition For Sony Xperia XZ1 Camera Camera upgrades are expected to be a continuing trend in future Samsung devices if new reports are to be believed.This is the second article in a three-part series on whether or not Bitcoin makes a good investment.The mental instability of our President is at least representative of nearly a third of our population.The Newsletter Exclusive articles delivered to your inbox daily.
For individual investors, tracking the complex world of digital currencies might be too much to ask.
What is Siacoin and is it a Good Investment? - btcmanager.com
Why Bitcoin Matters - The New York Times
The risk factors listed in the prospectus include attacks by malicious actors and botnets that could corrupt the bitcoin code, among other things.Unlike traditional currencies such as dollars, bitcoins are issued and.This article will provide you with 7 sufficient reasons why Bitcoin is a good investment in 2017.
Bitcoin: Is online currency a good investment? - The Signal
While PayPal can process thousands of transactions per second, the bitcoin network maxes out at 7 transactions per second.Because the technology is relatively new and rapidly changing, predicting its future value is particularly challenging.
What is BitShares and is it a Good Investment? - The
The answer lies in the fact that market price of Bitcoin is not backed by any assets or controlled by any centralized.
Currency of the future: Why Bitcoin is a serious
Subscribe Related Stories Why Bitcoin May Be Way Undervalued Bitcoin Creator Finally Set To Identify Himself.This analysis is for informational purposes and should not be considered investment advice.Even more significantly, the digital currency is becoming more widely.
I certainly think that Ethereum offers more upside than Bitcoin.
What is Elastic (XEL) and is it a Good Investment? - The
But for those who are paying attention, bitcoin is beginning to look increasingly attractive as a financial tool and as an investment.It serves as an alternative to traditional currencies, such as the U.S. dollar or the euro.Those who do use it tend to be young, between 18 and 24 years old.
Ethereum Crashing: Is Ethereum a Good Investment?
I really do not feel that it is a great investment vehicle because it is extremely volatile and is not very stable.Many people are more interested in trying to snag a piece of this.In an industry that has been extremely resistant to change, the implications for financial institutions that do not adapt to the emerging technology could be devastating.Bitcoins are the best investment in my retirement account. called the Bitcoin Investment. actually good things happening regarding bitcoin and I.
Just as the internet transformed the way we share information, blockchain promises to do the same for financial services.Due to the open-source nature of Bitcoin and blockchain technologies, new cryptocurrencies enter the market on a regular basis offering different features than its.
There are good reasons to buy bitcoin. Too bad they might
Bitcoin halved in value over 2014. Bitcoin is the worst investment of 2014. and so on, continue to grow at a good rate.
Bitcoin in 2014: Bad Investment for Speculators, Good
Perhaps no other investment opportunity has attracted as heavy an interest as the nascent cryptocurrency of Bitcoin News Currency of the future: Why Bitcoin is a...The rise of bitcoin has been volatile, marked by steep dips that were triggered, in some cases, by high-profile hacks of online bitcoin exchanges.Questions about the value of bitcoins as an investment will likely differ depending on who you ask.


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ITC expands the horizon of Islamic tourism with research and innovation
As the year progresses, many exciting events await in Malaysia’s Islamic tourism sector. The Islamic Tourism Centre (ITC) has meticulously planned two key signature events that will shape the future of this burgeoning industry – the Islamic Tourism Month (ITM) and the Islamic Tourism Symposium.
“We aim to create a marketplace for Muslim-friendly tourism products and services through ITM. So, we’re inviting our partners with these related products to be part of this programme,” explained Anis Rozalina Ramli, Senior Corporate Communications Manager of ITC.
“This initiative creates branding and positioning for Malaysia as a destination that offers numerous options for Muslim tourists, ranging from travel products to food products, health products, and everything related to their travel needs.”
Meanwhile, the Islamic Tourism Symposium presents a valuable opportunity for the collaboration between ITC and academia to explore the untapped potential within the Islamic tourism space. As the field is relatively new, the symposium seeks to bridge existing gaps and address areas where the industry can further flourish. By engaging with researchers and experts, ITC aims to identify and fulfil the evolving needs of the Muslim tourist market, ensuring a robust and comprehensive Muslim-friendly tourism landscape.
“The topics that we want to focus on during the symposium are the trends in the Muslim travel market, travel preferences of Muslim tourists, and the potential of other specific tourism products such as mosque tourism, pondokstay and even the usage of digital technology to support the Islamic tourism ecosystem.
“We also want to look into how youths and Muslim women travellers can be further supported because there may not be enough tourism products or services to support Muslim youths and women who want to travel,” Anis elaborated.
UTILISING RESEARCH AND DATA IN ISLAMIC TOURISM
ITC recognises several gaps in the demand and supply of Muslim-friendly products. In response, the agency offers grants – the Islamic Tourism Research Grant – to academia and research centres interested in studying specific topics related to Islamic tourism. Some topics of interest include developing tourism products for the Muslim tourist market and learning about their future needs.
Anis explained that while Muslim tourists had basic needs, it was essential to project their future preferences and identify new travel trends that industry players should consider in the long term. This proactive approach ensures industry players are prepared and stay caught up when the time comes.
“We also want to explore sustainability topics because sustainability is a significant focus, particularly within the tourism industry. We want to inform our industry players that engaging in Islamic or Muslim-friendly tourism and hospitality aligns well with the UN SDGs.
“Islamic tourism inherently encompasses sustainability values. However, we aim to present it in a different
light so that industry players can perceive its significance from a new perspective,” said Anis.
She shared that ITC had been collaborating with various local and private institutions as these institutions possess the necessary resources and manpower for conducting research. ITC’s role is to provide support through financial funding, where each year or every two years, a specific amount is allocated and disbursed to selected universities that have submitted research proposals aligning with ITC’s objectives. The research articles would then be published in the Islamic Tourism Journal.
“At the end of it, we are coming up with the Islamic Tourism Symposium, where the research that has been done will be presented to an audience of potential investors, business owners, and industry players who may be interested in developing the research further or commercialise it for their use.”
EXPANDING MFAR PROGRAMME
“ITC originally developed the Muslim-friendly Accommodation Recognition (MFAR) in 2018. We had an excellent response from the industry players in the accommodation sector. They all wanted to be part of the Muslim-friendly ecosystem by getting this recognition from ITC.
“Then, there was demand from other tourism sectors, such as the spa industry. They wanted recognition that would allow them to market themselves as Muslim-friendly. So, through engagement and discussions with the industry, we developed guidelines for them to be recognised under ITC.
“From there, it expanded to other sectors – theme parks, shopping malls, and more. Currently, we have around 10 different guidelines catering to these sectors’ unique needs and requirements. These guidelines outline the necessary steps for establishments to be known as Muslim-friendly tourism product suppliers or providers,” Anis shared.
She mentioned that ITC had collaborated with industry players and engaged with them to gain a deeper understanding of their challenges in becoming Muslim-friendly. This information was considered while working alongside researchers and academia to develop the MFAR guidelines, now known as the Muslim-friendly Tourism and Hospitality Assurance and Recognition (MFAR). She said the aim was to facilitate more industry players to adopt them.
PROVIDING SUPPORT TO DESTINATIONS
Anis highlighted that ITC was committed to supporting any destinations aspiring to become Muslim-friendly. The organisation has observed growing interest and discussions surrounding Islamic tourism, with many destinations expressing their intentions to provide more options for Muslim tourists.
Despite the competition, ITC is pleased to witness this positive shift and the increased focus on catering to the needs of Muslim travellers. To assist destinations in pursuing Muslim-friendly tourism, ITC provides various valuable services, including comprehensive training programmes, consultancy services, and informative workshops.
She explained that ITC’s training programmes mainly focus on four areas: communication skills, understanding the faith, understanding the market, and digitalisation.
“It is essential for our industry players to have a strong grasp of these areas,” Anis emphasised.
She shared that ITC prepared industry players for the upcoming Visit Malaysia campaign. Through recognition programmes, training, and the provision of relevant research information and data, ITC was equipping these tourism players to make informed decisions and effectively cater to the needs of Muslim tourists during the campaign.


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Weekly news recap – March 18, 2016
The latest news of the week. A round-up of the news over the past week so you can be sure of staying up to date with what’s happening in the world.
Apple has officially announced the date of the presentation of iPhone SE and iPad Pro 9,7”
Rumors about that this month Apple intends to introduce a few new devices are known for the long time now, however now they are proved to be true – the company sent out invitations to journalists and posted information for those who are wishing to watch the presentation online. So, the event will take place on March 21 10 a.m. PDT, stated on specially created page on Apple website. The announcement is traditionally accompanied by an abstract signature “Let us loop you in” and the stylized upper part of the logo. On the picture you can see a hint of the presentation of new mobile devices – the colors of the picture corresponding colorings of iPhone and iPad cases. Online broadcast of the event will be available for users of iPhone , iPad, iPod Touch, Mac, Apple TV and Windows PC. According to the existing leaks, the highlight of the event will be the presentation of the new iPhone SE and iPad Pro 9,7”.
The pictures of the box of iPhone SE have appeared on the Internet
Finally, the information about iPhone SE has leaked on the Internet. For the first time there were a real proof of the existence, at least of the box. On the photo you can see part of the box of the new IPhone SE 16 Gb. What we can say for sure about the smartphone is that it will have an integrated NFC chip. Also, appeared the rumors about the 64 Gb version, but apparently it will be the same as the iPhone 6s, which diverges with previous predictions. Recalling that the expected presentation of the new Apple smartphone is scheduled for March 21, 2016.
Apple is justified – the company is not to blame for the leak of personal photos of celebrities from the iCloud
The investigation of the sensational scandal around Apple and Google, associated with the leak of personal photos of celebrities, has come to the end. Previously, the companies were accused in bad protection of cloud services Gmail and iCloud, which led to leakage of personal photos of the stars. However, as noted by TechCrunch, brute force (mechanical password selection) was not used. In addition, Tim Cook stated that the leakage of Apple ID and password have not been found, which gives the full right to calm Apple users. Most likely a 36-year-old Ryan Collins used social engineering. The old proven method to use phishing emails to get passwords and IDs has worked this time. Victims received phishing emails from Apple and Google with the requirement to confirm the username and password, after which they were redirected to bogus websites.
The public version of iOS 9.3 beta 7 has been released
A week before presentation, Apple released the 7th beta version of iOS 9.3. Most likely, this is pre-release version, since the debut of a new firmware version is expected on March 21. Among the novelties of iOS 9.3 are night mode, which changes the screen colors temperature, the ability to protect Notes with password and Touch ID, the new features in health applications. In addition, there are new possibilities of 3D Touch and CarPlay. Among the new features can also be found updated News application, the ability to add music to playlists bypassing library, connect multiple Apple Watch to one smartphone, PDF sync between iOS devices and much more.
Obama did not support Apple in the battle for data encryption
In the struggle with the FBI every vote is casting. Yet the public support is crucial if you are opposed to the state, and especially the United States. On the situation with the iPhone hacking also spoke the current president of United States Barack Obama. The head of the United States stated that he was against the “absolutist views” on encryption and believes that technology companies must agree on this issue, instead of taking the law at the federal level.
“Technologies are developing very fast and there are always new problems to be solved. We believe that there are very real and important reasons that the government was not able to get into any iPhone or smartphone if they want so, which contain personal user information. The question we have to ask – if there is absolutely inaccessible smartphone, how we can fight child pornography, terrorism or even to take such simple actions as control over the taxes? If the government cannot get inside, in fact everyone will have his personal Swiss bank cell in their pocket.”
New leak shows a possible design of the iPhone 7 rear case
The first information from suppliers, namely Catcher Technology, has appeared on the Internet. Information was once again provided by the insider Steve Hammerstoffer, also known on twitter as a OnLeaks. The image shows a possible design of the iPhone 7 rear case. On the photo we can see the heavily modified rear case without plastic inserts for the antenna, which cross the top and bottom panel of the iPhone 6 and 6s. The rear camera is now surrounded by a large black border and will not stick outside from the rear. The source also tells about much thinner body, which proves the absence of a 3.5 mm audio jack.


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A four-day international expo promoting indigenous Austronesian culture and commerce opened yesterday at the Taipei World Trade Center's Exhibition Hall 2.
The 2003 Rainbow Expo features over 200 stalls divided into seven sections, including Aboriginal industries, handicrafts, agricultural produce and food, service industries, sports, tourism and a stage for live performances.
Eleven tribes from Taiwan and indigenous peoples from ten other countries are represented, including Austronesian peoples from the Philippines and Malaysia.
Many of those participating in the expo attended the 2003 Austronesian International Convention held earlier this week in Taipei.
Performers from Taiwan and overseas will hit the stage during the expo.
Overseas performers have traveled from Fiji, Hawaii, New Zealand and the Solomon Islands to attend the expo.
The stalls also display and sell a range of hand-made clothing, bags, handicrafts, Aboriginal-style barbecued food and information on tourism. A massage service is also available.
The sports section outlines a history of Aboriginal achievement in baseball.
The Council of Indigenous Peoples, which organized the event, said it hoped to cultivate exchanges and share experiences with the overseas Aboriginal communities represented at the expo.
"We want to demonstrate that there are good prospects for traditional Aboriginal industries, including package tours and handicrafts, among others," said council chairman Chen Chien-nien (
Chen said the council also hoped to promote newly developed service industries such as vehicle maintenance, and to highlight the achievements of Aboriginal baseball players.
Vice President Annette Lu (呂秀蓮) also attended the opening ceremony yesterday.
She said the government has been striving to achieve equality among the nation's different ethnic groups.
She encouraged local Aboriginal communities to see that culture could be transformed into viable industries.
Existing industries could be enhanced to capitalize on world trends, she said.


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Earlier this week, Mexican federal authorities carried out a raid at a home belonging to Grover and Scarlet Sanschagrin, the founders of tequila transparency advocacy site Tequila Matchmaker. Officials claim the home, Casa Lotecito, was being used as “an adulterated tequila factory,” Mexican news outlet Mural reported early on Wednesday afternoon.
The Attorney General’s Office (FGR) in Jalisco was tipped off by a legal representative of the Consejo Regulador del Tequila (CRT), which allegedly informed the office that the house was being used to adulterate spirits. Acting under a search warrant, officers can be seen breaking down the door to enter the building in a video submitted to Alerta Jalisco.
While no arrests were made, hundreds of items were confiscated from the property. In total, authorities seized one drum, five containers containing an unknown liquid, 540 glass bottles, 56 jars, nine plastic packages, and a collection of labels. An assortment of distillation equipment was also seized, including two stills, three pots, a scale, and smaller items including a base for pipettes, alcoholometers, tubes, thermometers, graduated cylinders, beakers, test tubes, and more.
The news has been shared across various social media platforms, and publications including Tequila Raiders have reported that the home in question on Miguel Hidalgo Street belongs to the Tequila Matchmaker founders. The raid is the latest development in an apparent transparency feud between Tequila Matchmaker and the CRT.
While additives are not illegal in tequila production, Tequila Matchmaker claims an estimated 70 percent of bottles contain them. The CRT does not require brands to disclose whether or not their bottles contain any, provided they make up less than one percent of the total liquid. With the issue gaining prominence among a relatively small but engaged set of agave spirits consumers, the Sanschagrins launched Tequila Matchmaker to advocate for more transparency in 2015 as an offshoot of Taste Tequila, a tequila information site the couple created in 2009.
Tequila Matchmaker currently serves as a one-stop shop for drinkers to learn more about the production of their favorite brands. In 2020, the founders launched the Additive-Free Program, which welcomes brands and distilleries to opt in to be certified by Tequila Matchmaker as being free of additives.
In 2023, the program rebranded as the Additive-Free Alliance and introduced a physical stamp on approved bottles. Almost immediately, the CRT fired back, declaring that only their organization “has the necessary infrastructure to evaluate the conformity of the quality of Tequila,” according to a statement included in Tequila Raider’s reporting. The council then demanded that all stickers be removed and that Tequila Matchmaker cease any operations for independent additive-free testing.
Following this week’s raid, Mexico’s Federal Prosecutor’s Office closed Casa Lotecito and opened a case for crimes against health and industrial property for whomever is found responsible. VinePair reached out to the Sanschagrins but has not received a response at the time of publishing. A source familiar with the pair who was in contact with them earlier today was told that they “really can’t answer any questions right now.”
VP Pro Take
VinePair contacted Lou Bank, founder of SACRED, a nonprofit supporting the rural Mexican communities that produce agave spirits, for analysis. Here’s what he had to say:
“Honestly, I don’t have that much information as to what is happening or why. But it certainly feels like the actions against Grover and Scarlet may have been motivated by their work to build a market for tequila that is free from additives.
I’m not a big fan of the movement itself. I think the conversation around additive-free distracts from issues impacted by tequila that are actually important: biodiversity, monocultures, water insecurity, food insecurity, and wages.
Having said that, if these police actions are, as I suspect, motivated by Grover and Scarlet’s grass-roots efforts to direct consumers to additive-free tequila, I think that’s an extraordinary misstep and a gross mistake, and a horrible violation of human rights. It reveals Jalisco to be a fascist-leaning state, and it will actually only serve to embolden the movement.
The vast majority of consumers consume a vast amount of additives every day in every product. Most don’t care. This action will suggest to tequila consumers on the fringes that they should care. It’s at a tremendous cost of liberty and peace of mind to Grover and Scarlet but, if I’m correct about the motivations, it’s certainly going to heat up the conversation around additive-free tequila.”


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The New 'Borat' Movie Is Coming Out on Amazon Prime Video This Fall
Published Sep 29, 2020Sacha Baron Cohen has not-so-secretly shot a Borat sequel, and one that reportedly has a ridiculous name to boot. Now, we've learned that the movie will come out on Amazon Prime Video next month.
According to Deadline, the new movie was picked up by Amazon and is set to premiere on October 23.
The title has not been publicly confirmed, but The Film Stage reported on a previous Writers Guild of America filing that has since been deleted. The filing listed the film as Borat: Gift of Pornographic Monkey to Vice Premiere Mikhael Pence to Make Benefit Recently Diminished Nation of Kazakhstan.
The film was made during the COVID-19 shutdown, and while we have no official information, plot-wise it's safe to say that it will be absolutely insane.
Stay tuned for more details as we approach the release date.


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By: Jeffrey Wu
Taipei, Aug. 13 (CNA) Taiwanese smartphone maker HTC Corp. (宏達電) said Thursday it
will reduce its global workforce by 15 percent as part of a business realignment plan to seek “significant profitable growth with a leaner and more agile operating model.”
The program includes the establishment of new business units to create profitable growth in the company’s key areas of premium smartphones, virtual reality and connected lifestyle products, HTC said in an emailed statement.
“HTC is an inspirational company driven by innovative people, with a unique blend of expertise in hardware and software integration, advanced technology and world-class design,” said Cher Wang (王雪紅), chairwoman and chief executive officer of HTC. [FULL STORY]


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Mortal Kombat 11 is almost here but there are still a few more roster spots yet to be revealed. Luckily, NetherRealm isn’t leaving us hanging and we’ve got our first look at yet another playable fighter: Cetrion.
The Elder God has a unique moveset all her own rooted with a more natural touch. She’s a fighter that is definitely in-touch with the powers granted by the Earth, and her Elemental skills are teased beautifully in the reveal trailer below courtesy of our friends over at Game Informer:
— Game Informer (@gameinformer) April 2, 2019
We weren’t the only ones excited with the big reveal either, especially so since it was unexpected:
— jalen (@jmanthagod) April 2, 2019
So, a combination of Starfire, Enchantress, Ivy and Tremor. Alright, I can get with it.
— Never_Lacking (@quiteconfusing) April 2, 2019
Yeah, but still dope do
— Ecyfrosty☆ (@dreamer_hob) April 2, 2019
— 🅱ruhMan🎭 (@BruhManBLVK) April 2, 2019
Many of the responding comments reflected what’s seen above, likening the latest character to someone more akin to NetherRealm’s other major series: Injustice. We haven’t seen her Fatalities yet, but we are curious to see what else she’ll have up her sleeve, as well as alternate looks for the fighter as well.
While new reveals are incredible, we’re still holding out for some of our favorite returning characters. Though seeing ‘ol Johnny Cage was amazing, and Jade’s new look is killer, the word has been pretty quiet about Rain’s appearance … and still no Mileena either. Still, we have Noob Saibot, and that’s always a win, so we’ll just have to be patient ahead of the game’s release later this month.
Mortal Kombat 11 will arrive on April 23rd for Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, and PC. According to the Steam’s official listing, we’ve got a lot to look forward to:
“Mortal Kombat is back and better than ever in the next evolution of the iconic franchise. The all new Custom Character Variations give you unprecedented control to customize the fighters and make them your own. The new graphics engine showcasing every skull-shattering, eye-popping moment, brings you so close to the fight you can feel it. And featuring a roster of new and returning Klassic Fighters, Mortal Kombat’s best in class cinematic story mode continues the epic saga over 25 years in the making.”


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The global economy hasn't been kind to Cummins (NYSE: CMI), and the engine maker has had to take dramatic actions to try to shore up its business and make the most of its opportunities despite facing tough conditions. Coming into Tuesday's third-quarter financial report, Cummins investors were bracing for declines in revenue and net income. Cummins' numbers on the earnings front were a bit better than most had expected, but tough sales conditions were evident and aren't likely to get better in the near future. Let's take a closer look at the latest from Cummins and whether investors should have much hope for better times ahead.
Image source: Cummins.
Is Cummins stalling out?
Cummins' third-quarter results revealed signs of just how tough the macroeconomic environment is for the engine manufacturer right now. Revenue dropped more than 9% to $4.19 billion, which was an even steeper drop than most of those following the stock had looked to see. Net income fell by nearly a quarter to $289 million, but even though the reported $1.72 per share in earnings was below the consensus forecast among investors for $1.96 per share, Cummins said that it suffered a $0.30 per share hit due to loss contingencies. On an adjusted basis, therefore, many saw Cummins as having beaten expectations.
Taking a closer look at how Cummins fared, the reversal of fortune in where the company brought in revenue continued. The once-strong North American market suffered a 13% decline in sales, while international markets were down just 3%. In China, Cummins managed to increase revenue, helping to offset declines in the Middle East and Africa. The company blamed lower truck production in North America and weakness in demand for power generation equipment internationally for the overall drop in revenue.
Cummins' key divisions were fairly weak across the board. The distribution business held up the best on the sales front, with segment revenue falling just 3%, but pre-tax operating income was down by more than a fifth. The components division suffered an 8% drop in sales but limited its profit decline to just 5%. Meanwhile, the engine segment and the power systems segment both saw their top lines fall double-digit percentages, and segment profit took hits as well. In particular, on-highway revenue for the engine segment fell 13% because of the pressure on heavy-duty and medium-duty truck production.
CEO Tom Linebarger discussed the difficulties that Cummins faces. "Due to the slow pace of growth in the global economy," Linebarger said, "we continue to face weak demand in a number of our most important markets." The CEO noted that restructuring and cost-containment initiatives are helping to offset the negative effects of lower revenue, and he was proud of the operational performance that Cummins has had recently.
When will Cummins start growing again?
Unfortunately, Cummins doesn't see any immediate relief from the industry's tough conditions. It now expects full-year 2016 sales to fall 9%, which is at the midpoint of its previous guidance range for an 8% to 10% decline. However, Cummins did cut its expectations from pre-tax operating margin, now predicting a figure of 11.3%, down from its previous range of 11.6% to 12.2%. The company blamed the cut on higher loss contingencies from a field campaign that Cummins decided to expand, addressing emissions issues connected with third-party after-treatment systems about which some customers have reported problems.
More importantly, the main downward impacts on Cummins' business don't appear likely to disappear anytime soon. The trucking industry is having its own problems, and that bodes ill for truck production, which is hitting both the core engine segment and the related components segment. Negative currency impacts have largely gone away as the dollar's strength wanes, but declines in organic sales on the distribution side of Cummins' business reflect the overall weak demand for its products overall. Meanwhile, power systems rely on healthy industrial sectors of the economy, and that strength hasn't been present, either.
Cummins investors weren't happy with the report, sending the stock down more than 3% in pre-market trading following the announcement. Until conditions in the industrial economy start to improve, it will be tough for Cummins to see a return to fundamental strength in its core businesses.
A secret billion-dollar stock opportunity The world's biggest tech company forgot to show you something, but a few Wall Street analysts and the Fool didn't miss a beat: There's a small company that's powering their brand-new gadgets and the coming revolution in technology. And we think its stock price has nearly unlimited room to run for early in-the-know investors! To be one of them, just click here.
Dan Caplinger has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool owns shares of and recommends Cummins. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.


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All of us direct mail junkies received an early holiday gift when USPS Postmaster General John Potter announced a postage rate freeze for 2010. According to a statement released in October, the Postal Service wants to build long-term direct mail revenue. I personally salute this decision as an economic development tool.
This rate freeze is part of a larger situation that should create a boom in our industry. Our nation’s economy is the main factor cited in the USPS rate freeze. This downturn has also greatly affected printing cost. Printing Industries of America released data late in 2009 that annual printing profits are approximately $2.5 billion compared to $5.4 billion in 2008. This drop brings a bittersweet boon of lower printing cost in the ultra-competitive industry.
Static postage rates and rock-bottom printing costs open the door to increase quantities and test new strategies. As direct mail practitioners, it is usually a distant dream to add a comprehensive test set to campaigns.
In order to meet client (or boss) expectations, those of us responsible for direct mailing often work with our nose to the grindstone and let new technology pass us by. With lower costs across the board, now is the time to test new techniques and strategies. Variable data printing, personalized Web sites, image personalization, intelligent mail bar codes and other technologies are all worthwhile strategies to pursue. Each of these, when implemented properly, can improve response and ROI.
Recently, my company created a student recruiting campaign for a local college utilizing personalization and Web integration. Response to the campaign was over 15% and as a result, the college added 411 students over the previous year. The testing that went into the campaign was a major factor in the campaign’s success.
Do not think of this USPS decision as a temporary savings. Use this as an investment. The postage freeze has tremendous implications for an industry that has been relegated to the “old school” box of marketing tools. I encourage everyone to take advantage of this opportunity to create a direct mail boom.
This article originally ran as part of the January 4, 2010 Technique, “Make the most of stable postal rates.” To read the entire feature, click here.


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How do you celebrate Beaujolais Nouveau Day?
In the evening, a torch lit parade honours the farmers that made the wine. Fireworks at midnight mark the release of the new wine, which is then drank until dawn. Beaujolais Nouveau is meant to be drunk young. Most vintages should be consumed by the following May after its release.
Why do people celebrate Beaujolais Day?
On the third Thursday in November the occasion is celebrated across France with fireworks, music and other festivities. It marks the arrival of the first bottles of Beaujolais Nouveau wine which are released at 00:01 under French law.
Who celebrates Beaujolais?
In the region where it is produced there are more than 100 official celebrations in its honour and Beaujolais Nouveau parties take place all over France though some consider it to be a mere marketing ploy.
Is Beaujolais Day a Welsh thing?
Beaujolais Day takes place on Thursday, November 21 in 2019 and while it might pass by largely unnoticed in many places, it’s one of the biggest celebrations of the year in one Welsh city.
Is Beaujolais Day a Swansea thing?
If there’s one thing Swansea does better than anywhere else – it’s Beaujolais Day.
What is Beaujolais Nouveau?
Thursday November 21 is Beaujolais Nouveau Day in France, a time to celebrate new French wine, fresh from the harvest. After a downturn, Beaujolais wine is undergoing a resurgence (in a new guise).
When is Beaujolais Day?
In the United States, it is promoted as a drink for Thanksgiving, which always falls exactly one week after the wine is released (on the fourth Thursday of November). In the United Kingdom, Beaujolais Day is particularly popular in Swansea, Wales, where people book tables in restaurants and bars for the day up to a year in advance.
When does Beaujolais Nouveau 2021 come out?
For the 2021 vintage, November 17 marks the international release of this year’s Beaujolais Nouveau. On this same date around the world distributors will begin selling Beaujolais Nouveau. It also marks the first release of wine from that vintage, and has become synonymous with celebration of the seasons harvest.
When is Beaujolais wine served in Lyonnais?
During this time, Lyonnais barkeepers and restaurateurs had been in the habit of buying barrels of this new Beaujolais wine, that had been pressed in September and ready to serve in November.


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Macy’s Launched a Hijab-Friendly Fashion Line and It Just Went on Sale
Macy’s is taking an inclusive step in the right direction with the launch of its latest line, Verona Collection.
Available from Feb. 15, the modest brand is unique because it includes easy-to-wear items like tops, pants, cardigans, and dresses that are aimed at both Muslim and non-Muslim women. The collection comes from Lisa Vogl, a designer and 2017 graduate of The Workshop at Macy’s, which serves as an incubator for minority- and women-owned businesses.
The Verona Collection lookbook highlights multiple ways of wearing the pieces with accessories like sunglasses and various hand-dyed hijabs. Prices range from $13 to $85. In a statement, Vogl explained why finding space at Macy’s is so important to her. “Verona Collection is more than a clothing brand. It’s a platform for a community of women to express their personal identity and embrace fashion that makes them feel confident on the inside and outside,” she said.
While Macy’s and Vogl didn’t specifically tout the collection as targeted toward Muslim women, the line's wraps can be worn as hijabs or similar headscarves. The term "hijab" itself loosely refers to the veil often worn by Muslim women, which comes in various in sizes, colors, and shapes. (There are many other forms of the veil, such as the burqa, which covers the entire face with a mesh layer over the eyes.)
“Through The Workshop at Macy’s, we want to nurture and support minority- and women-owned businesses to build their capabilities and become the next generation of retail partners,” Shawn Outler, Macy’s executive vice president of Licensed Businesses, Food Services, and Multicultural Initiatives, said in a statement.
The move is a major one for the major department store, especially considering modest options for Muslim women aren’t plentiful. Vogl’s online store currently ships to the U.S. and U.K., and includes beauty products like nail polish and hair mist, not to mention quick tutorials that show women how to style and accentuate their hijabs.
Other hijab-specific collections have recently launched like Haute Hijab, a line of higher-end pieces made from silk and aimed for a luxury consumer.
Macy’s Verona Collection is available now on macys.com. Scroll down to shop pieces from the new line.


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Frontdoor Inc. (NAS:FTDR) said Friday that Chief Executive Rex Tibbens will step down, effective June 1, after four years in the role. The home-service plan provider, which brands include American Home Shield, Landmark and OneGuard, said Chairman William Cobb will succeed Tibbens, who will remain at the company through June 30 in an advisory role. Cobb has been chairman since October 2018. The stock, which was still inactive in premarket trading, has tumbled 28.6% year to date, while the S&P 500 (S&P:SPX) has dropped 18.2%.
May 20, 2022, 8:39 a.m. EDT


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CHICAGO, Ill. –– Nationally acclaimed civil rights and personal injury attorney Ben Crump and mass tort powerhouse Diandra “Fu” Debrosse Zimmermann of DiCello Levitt today filed a mass tort lawsuit on behalf of Jenny Mitchell, who contracted uterine cancer after her use of chemical hair straightening products sold by L’Oréal USA, suing that company as well as entities that assisted in the development, marketing, and sale of the defective products including Motions, Dark & Lovely, Olive Oil Relaxer, and Organic Root Stimulator.
Jenny Mitchell first started using these dangerous products around 2000 and continued until 2022. In August 2018, Ms. Mitchell – who has no family history of uterine or other cancer – was diagnosed with uterine cancer and underwent a full hysterectomy. Ms. Mitchell attended mandatory medical appointments every three months for two years and now has appointments every six months.
According to a new study published this week in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, frequent users of chemical hair straightening products, defined in the study as more than four uses a year, were more than twice as likely to develop uterine cancer than those who didn’t use those products. The National Institute of Health’s National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences conducted the study.
That shocking finding is particularly alarming for Black women, who report using hair straightening products more than other populations. Uterine cancer rates and deaths are on the rise in the U.S., and death rates are highest among non-Hispanic Black women, who are more likely than other populations to be afflicted with aggressive subtypes of uterine cancer, according to the National Institutes of Health, which tracked data from 34,000 women in the Sister Study for more than a decade.
“Black women have long been the victims of dangerous products specifically marketed to them,” said Crump. “Black hair has been and always will be beautiful, but Black women have been told they have to use these products to meet society’s standards. We will likely discover that Ms. Mitchell’s tragic case is one of the countless cases in which companies aggressively misled black women to increase their profits.”
“The fact that these companies targeted Black and Latin women for their own profit motive and without regard to the serious health risks that these hair-straightening products cause is a serious wrong that needs to be corrected,” said Debrosse Zimmermann. “We have commenced this important litigation to seek and obtain justice for those women and their families.”
Chemical hair straighteners typically contain products associated with higher cancer risk, including formaldehyde, metals, phthalates, and parabens, which may be more easily absorbed by the body through scalp burns and abrasions often caused by chemical straighteners.


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A bill that would etch controversial rule changes to Colorado’s sales tax collection framework into law received unanimous support from the House Finance Committee on Thursday, April 11. It will now head to the Appropriations Committee as its sponsors race to get it approved before the 2019 legislative session ends on May 3 and the twice-delayed rules go into effect June 1.
House Bill 1240, dubbed the “Sales and Use Tax Administration” bill, is being co-sponsored in the House by Rep. Tracy Kraft-Tharp, D-Arvada, and Rep. Kevin Van Winkle, R-Highlands Ranch. If passed, it would make a number of changes to the state’s sales tax system.
Most impactful, it would codify a rule change announced by the Colorado Department of Revenue last year that establishes a destination-based sales tax system in the state. Instead of online retailers assessing, collecting and paying the state sales taxes based on taxing jurisdictions they share in common with their customers, the bill would mandate that they collect taxes based on the buyer’s address.
It’s that requirement that has proved controversial: Many small-business owners worry the additional red tape will put them out of business.
For The Full Story: Fort Morgan TimesFort morgan times
by joe rubino | the denver post
april 17, 2019