According to the rebranding plan of ITAM Games, this project will convert from ITAM token to ITAMCUBE token with a new smart contract address.
In response to the transition, ONUS has closed On-chain sending transactions for ITAM. Now, the conversion is complete. The entire amount of ITAM tokens you store on the ONUS app is automatically converted to ITAMCUBE tokens at a ratio of 1:1.
Starting from 4:00 UTC, November 8, ONUS has reopened On-chain transactions for ITAMCUBE.
- Receive On-chain: Before 5:00 UTC March 29, 2022, you can deposit ITAM or ITAMCUBE into ONUS application and this amount will automatically be converted to ITAMCUBE. After 5:00 UTC March 29, 2022, ONUS stops supporting ITAM, only supports transactions with ITAMCUBE.
- Send On-chain: All ITAMCUBE assets stored on ONUS are tokens under the new smart contract. You need to be careful when sending On-chain.
About ITAM Games and the ITAM token
ITAM Games is a blockchain platform born to support blockchain game developers. The ITAM Games ecosystem provides methods and tools that allow games to be easily integrated with blockchain technology. ITAM is a token operating in the ITAM Games platform and is used to exchange, buy and sell in ITAM Store and ITAM NFTs, pay fees for services provided by ITAM, and as a means of intermediary for other trading activities (leasing, staking, etc.).


"The Senate Appropriations Committee also adopted amendments to the legislation Thursday that would extend a waiver from the whole-grains requirements for school meals and force USDA to delay the end of an import ban on beef from Brazil and Argentina," Brasher writes. "Both the whole-grains waiver and the beef-import measure are also contained in the House version of the fiscal 2016 spending measure. The extension of the ban on horse slaughter and biotech salmon labeling requirement are not in the House bill. The Senate committee approved both provisions without a roll-call vote."
Last year the House included a ban on horse slaughter and Congress passed it. This month a motion in the Appropriations Committee to extend the ban failed on a 24-24 vote.


Officials in the city of Aurora, Colorado say they will be directing some of the tax revenue from recreational marijuana toward programs designed to help the homeless.
In all about $1.5 million in revenues will be used for homeless programs, including some money to local groups to buy vans for homeless outreach as well as $200,000 to a nonprofit organization that assists homeless people living in hotels.
In addition to the $1.5 million to the homeless, another $680,000 is going to various non-profits in the city.
“We wanted to be able to show citizens that we are having a positive impact on the community and point to specific projects or initiatives to where that money is going to,” said Bob Roth, an Aurora city councilman.
While I’m not a fan of marijuana being taxed in the first place, it’s going to be and stories like this are great publicity for cannabis legalization. Now when people see some sort of legalization measure on the ballot they may think back to hearing about pot tax revenue being used to help homeless people. This leads to more legalization and more tax revenue.
The unfortunate fact is that there are not enough regular cannabis users in the U.S. to even come close to passing a ballot measure in any state. We need the people who don’t use cannabis but are swayed by something like tax revenue; the soccer moms and the hockey dads, the people who know weed isn’t going to destroy their children’s lives (unless they get caught with it) and who are looking for reasons to vote in favor of legalization.
Of course taxes need to be kept low to keep prices down and undercut the black market, but their existence can be used to our advantage.


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DEAR NICK: If it were me, I'd take the state job. I know that any kind of situation with six figures attached to it looks and sounds wonderful, but in my mind we're talking about a career choice versus risk. Plus, I'm a firm believer in the idea that people make better decisions when they think in terms of 10 years from now rather than 10 or 12 months down the road.
In addition to the risk factor, the biggest problem with the offer in Afghanistan is that once it's over, it's over. Then you're right back where you are now. You may have money in your bank account, but you're unemployed all over again.
You know, one of the things I've noticed over the years is when wealthy people assess a financial opportunity, they almost always think in five-, 10- and 20-year blocks of time. We're talking long-term here. There's not a whiff of living paycheck to paycheck.
Take the state job and fashion a good, long-lasting career for yourself. Don't go chasing money on the short term!
Email questions for Dave Ramsey to firstname.lastname@example.org.


A new report from Morgan Stanley Dean Witter declares that with the B2B infrastructure up and running, technology can now be viewed as a way of doing business, rather than a cost.
Echoing earlier reports, “The B2B Internet Report — Collaborative Commerce” says that companies will use centralized online markets to create “e-hubs” to synchronize operations with suppliers and customers and to lower procurement costs.
New Processes Solve Long-Standing Problems
“Moving business commerce online can make significant progress toward solving the three problems facing most companies: geography fragmentation, inefficient labor and information interactions, and supply chains bloated with excess inventory,” said Chuck Phillips, Managing Director and Internet Software/B2B analyst.
He added, “Though we expect that market efficiency resulting from B2B e-commerce will provide buyers and sellers with unprecedented levels of market transparency via online exchanges, we also want to address the many potential pitfalls in this highly competitive sector.”
E-Commerce Creates Specialists
One of the biggest benefits of e-commerce, according to the report, is that it is transparent, meaning that everyone can see what everyone else is doing. Buyers can easily compare between companies to find out if they are getting the best price, the best availability, and the best product. It also means that buyers will no longer have to rely on local suppliers, because they can search nationally to find the items they need.
This transparency means that as suppliers search for more buyers and square off against national and global competitors, they will become more specialized to gain a competitive advantage. The report predicts that this specialization will lead to more customization, more choice, and better service.
More Uniform Pricing
The report predicts that the B2B e-commerce will translate into more market transparency, which means customers can expect more uniform — although not necessarily lower — prices. “All things can be measured, once online,” the report says. “Everyone gets marked to market — every day. This digital audit trail means suppliers can’t rely on the unknowledgeable buyer to prop up margins and will have to more carefully target customers who value their products and services.”
Although more uniform pricing will be the order of the day, the report predicts that suppliers may actually end up getting more money for their products and services because the Internet will greatly increase the number of buyers interested in what they have to sell.
Exchanges Must Benefit Both Buyers and Sellers
Things are not all rosy in the dot-com world. The report predicts that some eMarketplaces will be in for a rocky road unless they change their mindset. In particular, Morgan Stanley Dean Witter predicts that industry sponsored exchanges that benefit only one side will “likely hit a brick wall of resistance.”
The report says that these B2B exchanges will not work unless both buyers and sellers see value in joining the exchange. One suggestion is to offer equity. For example, a buyer-driven exchange, might offer equity to key suppliers to persuade them to join.
Weak Middleman Eliminated
Although some analysts have predicted that all middlemen will be eliminated as buyers and sellers connect directly, the report predicts that only weak middlemen who add no value to the exchange will go.
Some of the value added can come from handling procurement from multiple sources, fixing snafus, and aggregating smaller orders to get better prices.
The Morgan Stanley Dean Witter report cautions that despite the changes wrought by technological advances, e-commerce should be viewed as “an important tool that can be used wisely or unwisely.
After all, according to the report, “At the end of the day, e-businesses is just business.”


The freight industry is complex, to say the least. There are layers of liability and many different types of insurance to cover the risk. Carrier liability insurance is a prominent form of insurance that the carrier holds to cover loads based on company policies and the qualities of each specific load. The insurance does not typically cover the total value of the freight, and coverage is only possible if the incident was the carrier’s fault. Thus it does not cover all types of risk to the freight. The best practice for shippers is to secure more extensive insurance coverage, especially for valuable or fragile goods. Then if something goes awry, a shipper can file a freight claim and receive compensation for stolen, lost, or damaged goods. This form of insurance coverage is called freight insurance. In this guide, we answer the commonly asked question, “What is freight insurance?”
Freight Insurance, Defined
Freight insurance, also known as cargo insurance, goods-in-transit insurance, or shipping insurance, is an insurance policy held by a shipper to protect the entire value of the freight from many circumstances. The coverage pertains to natural disasters, theft, loading and unloading errors, infestation, abandonment, fraud, and more.
Why is freight insurance essential?
Freight insurance is essential because accidents and disasters can and do happen. Shippers must protect against the unexpected, whether it may be an act of nature, cargo theft, fraud, or something else entirely. While carriers do have insurance for the load, the coverage is limited. Furthermore, freight insurance plays a vital role in the supply chain by compensating and protecting businesses that suffer from lost, stolen, or damaged freight.
Different Types of Freight Insurance
Freight insurance generally falls into two main categories:
- Land cargo insurance provides coverage for goods moved over the road and typically only applies to domestic shipping.
- Marine cargo insurance protects goods shipped via air or water. It applies to international shipping and is crucial because shipping internationally is more complex than moving freight domestically.
Different Types of Freight Coverage
There are several different types of freight coverage to ensure the investment in your load is protected:
All Risk Policy
An all risk policy, sometimes referred to as Type A insurance, protects against external risks. It compensates for damages to freight caused by natural disasters, negligence, poor packaging, customs rejection, abandonment, loss of use or market, geopolitical events, failure to pay or collect, and more. It is designed for approved or general goods.
Named Perils Policy
A named perils policy, sometimes referred to as free of particular average, is most known for protection at sea against damage caused by the ship. Covered damages include collision, sinking, derailment, non-delivery, weather, fire, and theft. Named perils policy also covers land perils that are also beyond human control, like earthquakes and weather events. It is commonly taken out for used merchandise, waste materials, and bulk cargo.
The warehouse-to-warehouse policy is standard in the business-to-business (B2B) supply chain. It protects goods as they travel from the cargo ship to the warehouse.
A contingent policy is a coverage plan held by freight brokers to compensate for a claim if an issue arises in transit and the carrier refuses to pay.
Duty insurance eliminates duty and tax requirements for goods partially damaged in transit. While lost goods do not incur tax, the duty on damaged goods can be significant. The insurance is usually around one-third of the cargo insurance rate and offers essential coverage for international loads.
General Average Policy
A general average policy is less common than the other policies described here, but it is important to mention due to its unique structure. The policy establishes shared responsibility for damaged cargo between all stakeholders involved in the shipment.
Partner with a Quality Logistics Provider
The best way to avoid freight headaches is to work with a trusted logistics provider. First Star Logistics is a unique asset-based global brokerage company with over 60 years of experience. We take great pride in meeting the needs of our customers, carriers, brokers, and agents. For our customers, we understand that efficiency, safety, and reliability are crucial. We use fast, cutting-edge technology to ensure a satisfactory experience with our specialized shipping services. We support our carriers with the technology, management, resources, and support they need to ensure safe, on-time delivery for shipments. We provide our agents and brokers with a dedicated management team and proprietary software that empowers our employees to succeed.
To work with First Star Logistics, contact us today!


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Lakshmi Vilas Bank offers car loans up to 60% to 85% of the on-road price of the vehicle. The car loan repayment tenure ranges from 36 to 72 months. Quick processing of loans and minimal documentation make car loans from Lakshmi Vilas Bank, the right choice.
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Thinking of buying a new car without using your savings? A car loan is the best idea to fulfil your dream. car loan have been a saviour to common people who want to own a vehicle of their own. With an affordable interest rate and ample repayment period, one can buy a vehicle irrelevant to the make and model.
Lakshmi Vilas Bank offers car loans up to a certain percentage of the price of the car. This makes the customer relieved from taking any other financial liabilities. Lakshmi Vilas Bank Car Loan can be used to buy pre-owned cars as well.
The features of Lakshmi Vilas Bank Car Loan are as below.
Loan Coverage: If the customer opts for Lakshmi Vilas Bank Car Loan, they can avail up to 85% of the vehicle price as per the invoice or 25 times net monthly income as the loan amount. However, the maximum loan amount the bank can offer is Rs 25 lakhs for a new vehicle. For used cars, the bank can offer up to 60 % of the vehicle cost which will not exceed Rs. 10 lakhs.
Repayment Period: Lakshmi Vilas Bank Car Loan offers the repayment period of 72 months for any new vehicle loan and for used vehicles, the bank allows 36 months.
Quick Processing: The car loan from Dhanlaxmi Bank can get processed quickly if the customer submits all the documents required for the sanction of the loan.
Security: For the security of the loan issued, the bank will require the hypothecation of the vehicle purchased.
Guarantee:: The bank requires a guarantee from the owner of the collateral security. If not, the bank would need a personal guarantee from a third party with a suitable income.
Minimum Documentation: Lakshmi Vilas Bank Car Loan procedure need minimum documentation for the sanctioning of the loan.
The interest rate of loans used in the purchase of a new car is One-year MCLR + 0.35%. For a used car, the interest rate is One-year MCLR + 3.10%. The other charges are applicable for both new cars and used cars.
The customer will have to submit the below documentation to apply for a car loan.
If you want to apply for a car loan, then you can apply it online through the official website of Lakshmi Vilas Bank. When you go to the official website of the bank, you will see the loan section and there you can find the tab which says ‘Apply Online’. All you have to do is just to upload the relevant documents required. Once you upload the documents, the bank will verify the same and revert if they need more documents. If the bank is satisfied with the verification, then they will proceed to sanction the car loan.
If you do not want to apply for a car loan online, then you can also apply by visiting one of the nearby branches. If you are an existing customer, then it will be easy for the bank to do the verification as your details are already in the bank’s database. If you are a new customer, then the bank might take a day or two for the loan verification.
1. What do you mean by the hypothecation of assets under Lakshmi Vilas Bank Car Loan?
Hypothecation means that the customer is pledging the asset purchased out of the loan as collateral security. For a car loan, the bank needs collateral security in the form of hypothecation of the vehicle purchased using the loan.
2. Is there any restriction in buying a used car using Lakshmi Vilas Bank Car Loan?
The used car must be in good working condition and should not be more than four years old from its first registration date.
3. What if my income alone is not eligible for getting Lakshmi Vilas Bank Car Loan?
The bank allows you to add your respective spouse’s income as a part of net income. However, this is subject to the verification of sources.
4. What is the maximum loan amount provided by the bank?
For new cars, the maximum loan amount is Rs. 25 lakhs and for used cars, its Rs. 10 lakhs.
5.What is repayment mode allowed for Lakshmi Vilas Bank Car Loan?
The repayment mode allowed for Lakshmi Vilas Bank Car Loan is via EMI.


I am sure you are wondering about what it takes to repair your credit and improve your FICO score. Well, you have indeed come to the right place. Credit card debt repair is by no means a simple process, but certainly a feasible one if you go about it the right way. By following these simple steps, you will be well on your way to improving your financial situation.
The first step of credit card debt repair is to assess the situation. To do this, you must run your credit report and see exactly what is going on. Are your accounts behind or are they current? If they are behind, you are in a perfect situation to negotiate on the balances and settle for less than what you actually owe. But if you are current, the creditors will be unwilling to settle for less. In this case, it might be a good idea to stop making payments to them. If you have a low FICO score already, it doesn’t make much sense to keep making minimum payments on an unsecured debt. The idea here is to become completely debt free as soon as possible. The most affordable way to do so is by using a debt service that provides debt settlement
Debt Settlement can be done on your own, but it would be advisable to hire a professional debt service company to handle the process for you. Most creditors and debt collection agencies are highly skilled in the art of negotiation and you may become frustrated while trying to deal with them. Good debt settlement companies generally are able to reach settlement agreements of 20-40% of what their clients originally owed. The best debt settlement companies do charge a fee, but the money they save you more than covers that.
Once your accounts are paid off through debt settlement, they will report on your actual credit report as 'settled in full'. The last step to credit card debt repair is to have these 'settled in full' accounts removed from your credit report entirely. Some debt settlement companies have attorneys on staff that can offer this service to you. The attorneys will work with the credit bureaus directly to have these particular accounts removed permanently. Once this is completed, your FICO score should increase dramatically.


74, 74-75 (1988); David Belt, Unresolved Issues Under the Unfair Trade Practices Act
73) By 1947, the NAIC had completed its work, resulting in the Unfair Trade Practices Act
The plaintiffs asserted violations of Louisiana antitrust laws and Louisiana's Unfair Trade Practices Act
and alleged that the defendants breached their contracts and made libelous statements against them.
In that case, investigators informed the gas retailer of possible violations of the Unfair Trade Practices Act
, officials said.
Sunbelt was awarded the cash under the unfair trade practices act
and was also invited to petition the court for recovery of its legal fees.
Mitro, frustrated with Allstate's handling of the claim, filed a complaint against Allstate for breach of contract, bad faith and violations of the Unfair Trade Practices Act
, stating that Allstate had unreasonably refused her claim and had issued neither payment nor denial of the claim.
The suit also charges Microsoft with violating the Connecticut Unfair Trade Practices Act
The complaint seeks penalties of $10,000 for each violation of Florida's Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act
and $1,000 for each violation of the state's game promotional law.
Lastly, in Alberta, one can look to the Unfair Trade Practices Act
for some remedy against an infortuitous renovation.
The ultimate outcome of this lawsuit, based on the 1937 Arkansas Unfair Trade Practices Act
, may also affect both consumers and retailers for years.
The state supreme court decision reversed an October 1993 decision where the state Chancery Court found that Wal-Mart had intended to destroy competition by its pricing policies in violation of the state's Unfair Trade Practices Act


French President, Emmanuel Macron has extended an invitation to his Sri Lanka counterpart Ranil Wickremesinghe to address a high-level panel discussion in Paris at the Global Leaders’ Summit for a New Global Financing Pact.
The event is scheduled to take place at the Palais Brongniart in Paris on June 22 and 23.
The Summit for a New Global Financing Pact is expected to shape a new financing ‘toolbox’ that will be rolled out through six high-level round-tables and 40 parallel events.
The Summit will provide the opportunity to examine interactions between multilateral development bank reform, mobilisation of private capital, climate finance, green infrastructure and solutions related to debt.
The Summit for New Global Financing Pact will establish the principles for future reforms and pave the way towards a more balanced financial partnership between the North and South.
It will set the stage for new agreements to relieve debt distress. It is also expected to enable more countries to access the financing they need to invest in sustainable development, to better protect nature and cut emissions, as well as help protect populations from climate change wherever most needed.
New Global Financing Pact will help define the principles and steps needed to reform the financial system and to combat the high levels of debt that tie governments’ hands when it comes to implement ambitious climate action to reduce the climate, economic and technological gaps that threaten to divide up the world.
This inclusive, multi-stakeholder event will bring together Heads of State and Government, leaders of international organizations, and representatives of civil society, foundations, funds and the private sector.
During his stay in France, Wickremesinghe will meet with Paris Club creditors to discuss matters pertaining to Sri Lanka’s debt crisis.


- The U.S. Department of Education announced Tuesday that it is distributing more than $36 billion in funding to colleges through the latest federal coronavirus rescue package.
- The department issued a final rule, which Education Secretary Miguel Cardona told reporters on Monday will enable all students to receive the aid. The Trump administration moved to exclude certain students, including unauthorized immigrant and international students, from the first round of federal relief.
- So far, more than $76 billion in coronavirus relief funding has been earmarked for colleges across the three major aid packages, according to the department.
President Joe Biden signed the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan into law in March. It provides about $40 billion in direct aid to colleges and universities. Institutions must use half of that money on emergency grants for students disadvantaged by the pandemic.
In its announcement Tuesday, the department shared more details on how colleges could use those funds. For instance, they can consider a "variety of factors" when determining a students' level of need. That includes their eligibility for other federal and state aid, "significant unexpected expenses," employment or income loss, and food or housing insecurity, according to documents shared with the media. Colleges can also consider the needs of students who didn't complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid.
The first coronavirus relief package, passed last March, prohibited students who don't qualify for federal financial aid from emergency grants. The move earned significant pushback from across higher education, particularly because it excluded unauthorized and international students. The Trump administration somewhat walked back its position, suggesting that funding from the second major relief package, passed in December, could be distributed to all students.
The new final rule follows continued requests by higher ed groups for clarity on which students can receive the aid.
"The pandemic didn't discriminate on students," Cardona said. "We want to make sure that all students have an opportunity to have access to funds to help them get back on track."
The department suggested the latest round of money can also be used for academic and mental health supports designed to help retain students. And schools can use the money to discharge students' debts accrued during the pandemic in order to help them re-enroll.
Colleges are also required to use some of the money "to implement evidence-based practices" to monitor and stamp out the coronavirus, the department said. That could include testing for the virus, offering vaccinations, and "to reduce barriers to vaccination," such as offering staff paid time off to get the shots.
And they must also use funds to inform students that they can have their financial aid awards adjusted if they or a family member loses their job.
For-profit colleges can only use the money to provide emergency aid grants to students.
During a call with reporters Monday, Cardona emphasized the department's desire to support institutions that serve students with the greatest need.
The formula used to distribute the funding favors schools with high shares of federal Pell Grant recipients. It considers headcount as well as full-time equivalent enrollment, allowing colleges with high shares of part-time students, such as community colleges, to benefit.


With yields at all time lows, many LBO firms are not losing the opportunity to refinance older debt from deals of yesteryear. In fact in Europe, LBO firms are taking full advantage of lenders' kindness and refinancing debt at record levels.
According to Bloomberg, Europe's borrowers have issued $17 billion of speculative-grade bonds this month. That's 38% more than the previous high of $12.3 billion in January 2011. Investors are snapping up European Junk debt in droves, as the region's debt crisis subsides and central banks globally keep rates at record low levels.
So with rates so low, the question is, will LBO activity come back after many years in hibernation?
Well, like you all know, an LBO group led by Michael Dell himself is preparing to take over DELL (DELL) for at least $15 a share according to a report. Dell is currently trading below that level and that leaves room for speculation on the part of investors for a quick return.
However, if one looks around there are other possible deals in the making.
Again according to Bloomberg, Kohl's (NYSE:KSS) trades at only 0.58 times sales and at a cheaper multiple to profit than any other North American department-store chain. Edward Jones & Co said Kohl's could be an attractive buyout candidate for a private equity firm. Jeff Burchell at Aston Hill Financial seconds that and says:
You're not paying a lot for the stock, so it does fit the bill for someone coming. For a buyer who believes Kohl's hasn't become irrelevant, then with a new management team or an invigorated management team with a new private equity sponsor, you could get some excitement back.
Kohl's runs more than 1,100 stores across the U.S. with $19 billion in sales. Keep your eye on this one for possible LBO action, because if an LBO firm pops up somewhere, there will be a premium to be paid compared to where the stock is trading today.
Shares of Big Lots (NYSE:BIG) have been climbing lately, again on speculation that an LBO deal might be in the works. According to an analysts at MKM, the company could command an LBO price anywhere from $35 - $42 per share. The current price is about $32, which also leaves room for speculation to earn a quick return.
My take: With today's record low rates, I am surprised that we have not already seen a plethora of LBO deals. I am also surprised - not to say shocked - that the market has not closed the gap between the reported possible price tag for Dell and the current price of the stock. I mean Dell is the biggest LBO deal in a while and no one seems to care.
As for the other two stocks that I mentioned above, again the market seems to take these rumors with a yawn. That was not the case years ago, which leads me to believe that something is changing in this market. Either the market does not believe these deals are possible, or something else more groundbreaking is going on.
In either case, keep an eye out for LBO activity, because at today's low rates and with investor appetite for higher yield, there will be no shortage of cash available for deals, especially at today's rock bottom valuations. This also is a positive for the market as a whole, and if we see just 2-3 LBO deals going forward, that will put some spark into this market.
Possible buyout candidates are boring companies with good cash flow and a low valuation. And in today's market, there are plenty to be found.
Disclosure: I have no positions in any stocks mentioned, and no plans to initiate any positions within the next 72 hours. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article.


When you check a company’s price-to-earnings ratio, you’re getting a sense of how richly it’s valued, relative to its earnings. But what if there are no earnings, such as with young companies or firms in temporarily tough times? In such cases, you can focus on sales (often referred to as revenue), via the price-to-sales ratio.
The PSR takes the market capitalization of a company and divides it by the last 12 months’ sales. The market cap is the current value that the market is giving the company, arrived at by multiplying the current share price by the number of shares outstanding.
Imagine Global Telepathic Messaging (ticker: ESPME). Let’s say it has 10 million shares outstanding, at $10 a share, giving it a market capitalization of $100 million. If it had $200 million in sales over the last year, its PSR would be 0.50 ($100 million divided by $200 million equals 0.50).
Assume that Global Telepathic Messaging lost money in the past year, but has a PSR of 0.50 when its peers have PSRs of 1.0 or higher. If it can turn itself around and start making money again, it’s likely to have a substantial upside relative to its competitors. (Of course, its price may be low for good reason.)
There are some years when many companies in an industry are not profitable. This doesn’t mean they’re all worthless and there’s no way to compare them. Just use the PSR instead of the price-to-earnings ratio. Measure how much you’d be paying for a dollar of sales instead of a dollar of earnings. Compare the PSR with sales growth, too. A high PSR isn’t necessarily bad if sales are growing rapidly.
Despite its usefulness, though, the PSR should never be the only number you crunch. It can show you a company’s value relative to its peers, but revenues must be transformed into rising earnings to make shareholders happy. How much a company earns from its sales will eventually shape the value of the business and the stock.


To get a further understanding one has to realize that there has not been a lot of new houses built in the last 5 years. All of the existing homes that come on the market are lacking in all the newer designer fixtures, materials, finishes and locations. Buyers wanting homes with the newer features are having a hard time finding homes and will not accept nothing less.
The result is existing home sellers are needing to "update" their homes pushing the price point higher to where it is easy for the new home builder to compete with existing homes. So these builders can offer buyers with all the components of a new home for less than the totally updated existing home.
You are right about PHM is in position to capitalize on this market situation and will see demand increasing.


In this guide you will learn how to estimate a simple regression model in IBM® SPSS® Statistics software (SPSS) using a practical example to illustrate the process. You will find links to the example dataset and you are encouraged to replicate this example. An additional practice example is suggested at the end of this guide. The example assumes you have already opened the data file in SPSS.
Simple regression expresses a dependent, or response, variable as a linear function of an independent variable. This requires estimating an intercept (often called a constant) and a slope that describes the expected value of the dependent variable at any particular value of the independent variable. Most attention is typically focused on the slope estimate because it captures the relationship between the dependent and independent variables. The dependent variable should be continuous. This example will focus on using an independent variable that is also continuous, though the model can also accommodate a categorical independent variable (see Regression with Dummy Variables).
This example uses two variables from the 2012 U.S. Statistical Abstracts, both of which were actually measured in 2007:
The poverty rate variable has a mean of 12.67, a standard deviation of 3.12, a minimum value of 7.1 and a maximum value of 20.6. The infant mortality variable has a mean of 7.07, a standard deviation of 1.50, a minimum value of 4.8 and a maximum value of 13.1. Both variables are continuous measures, making them appropriate for simple regression.
When conducting a simple regression, it is often wise to examine each variable in isolation first. We start by presenting histograms of infant mortality and poverty rates across the states. This is done in SPSS by selecting from the menu:
Analyze → Descriptive Statistics → Explore
In the Explore dialog box that opens, move the infant mortality and poverty rate variables into the Dependent List: box. On the right-hand side of the Explore dialog box, click the “Plots” button. This opens another dialog box where you can select the plots you want to produce. For this example, just check “Histogram” under the Descriptive heading. Then click Continue and OK to perform the analysis.
Screenshots for the procedure to produce histograms in SPSS are available in the How-to Guides for the Dispersion of a Continuous Variable topic.
To estimate a simple regression model in SPSS, select from the menu:
Analyze → Regression → Linear
In the Linear Regression dialog box that opens, move the infant mortality variable (infantmort) into the Dependent: window and move the poverty rate variable (poverty) into the Independent(s): window.
Figure 1 shows what this looks like in SPSS.
Once you are done, click OK to perform the analysis.
Figure 2 shows that the majority of values for infant mortality clustered near the mean of about 7. However, the distribution does have a slight positive skew, meaning there are a few more extreme values above the mean that below it. Further diagnostics might be warranted to make sure those observations are not unduly influencing the results of the regression.
Figure 3 shows that the values for state poverty rates cluster somewhat near its mean of about 12.7. There is a slight positive skew, but there are also a fair number of observations below the mean as well. Further diagnostics might be warranted to make sure the few observations with larger values are not unduly influencing the results of the regression.
Figure 4 presents four tables of results that are produced by the simple linear regression procedure in SPSS. The fourth table, outlined in red, includes the results of primary interest.
The first three tables in Figure 4 report the independent variable(s) entered into the model, some summary fit statistics for the regression model, and an analysis of variance for the model as a whole. While detailed examination of these tables is beyond the scope of this example, we note in the second table that R-Square measures the proportion of the variance in the dependent variable explained by the model, which in this case consists of a single independent variable. An R-Square of 0.289 means that almost 29 percent of the variance in the infant mortality rate across the states is accounted for by the poverty rate.
The fourth table in Figure 4, outlined in red, presents the estimates of the intercept, or constant, and the slope coefficient. The results report an estimate of the intercept (or constant) as equal to approximately 3.78. The constant of a simple regression model can be interpreted as the average expected value of the dependent variable when the independent variable equals zero. In this case, our independent variable, poverty, can never be zero, so the constant by itself does not tell us much. Researchers do not often base predictions on the intercept, so it often receives little attention.
The fourth table 4 reports that the estimated value for the slope coefficient linking state poverty rate to state infant mortality rate is estimated to be approximately 0.26. This represents the average marginal effect of the poverty rate on the infant mortality rate, and can be interpreted as the expected change on average in the dependent variable for a one-unit increase in the independent variable. For this example, this means that every increase of one percentage point in a state’s population that is living in poverty is associated with an average increase in the number of infant deaths per 1000 births of 0.26. The table also reports that this estimate is statistically significantly different from zero. This leads us to reject the null hypothesis and conclude that there does appear to be a positive relationship between poverty rates and infant mortality across the U.S. states.
There are multiple diagnostic tests researchers might perform following the estimation of a simple regression model to evaluate whether the model appears to violate any of the OLS assumptions or whether there are other kinds of problem such as particularly influential cases. Describing all of these diagnostic tests is well beyond the scope of this example.
Download this sample dataset and see if you can replicate these results. Then repeat the analysis, this time replacing the infant mortality variable with the variable named fsperrecip, which measures how much a state spent on food stamps per recipient in 2007.
IBM® SPSS® Statistics software (SPSS) screenshots Republished Courtesy of International Business Machines Corporation, © International Business Machines Corporation. SPSS Inc. was acquired by IBM in October, 2009. IBM, the IBM logo, ibm.com, and SPSS are trademarks or registered trademarks of International Business Machines Corporation, registered in many jurisdictions worldwide. Other product and service names might be trademarks of IBM or other companies. A current list of IBM trademarks is available on the Web at “IBM Copyright and trademark information” at http://www.ibm.com/legal/copytrade.shtml.


ParkX Launches First Private Branded Label in Texas
Park CC app lets motorists ditch their coins and their tickets
Mobile payment platform ParkX has teamed up with parking technology integrators Duncan Solutions and Brazos Technology to provide a mobile payment application that gives motorists an easy way to pay for parking in Corpus Christi. The Park CC mobile app was launched Wednesday on the city’s 1163 parking meters.
The new app allows motorists to pay for any parking meter within the city directly through their smartphone. Furthermore, the Park CC app will automatically send a message reminder five minutes before their parking session expires. The alert will allow the motorist to remotely add time, thereby reducing the likelihood of receiving a citation.
“We wanted to give our customers the ability to receive a message before their meter expired and a fair opportunity to avoid citations,” said Parking Control Supervisor Marc Denson. “Having the pay-by-cell option will accomplish that while also making parking available to more people.”
Local shops and restaurants will be one of the primary beneficiaries of the Park CC application. Not only are patrons likely to stay longer; but local businesses will have the opportunity to advertise to subscribers via location-based offers through the app. Merchants will also be able to offer their customers validation for parking by depositing coupon codes into their Park CC account.
The new effort reflects a commitment made by Denson in July 2012 to expand payment opportunities and reduce citations. The ability to park using a credit card is something that has been desired in Corpus Christi for years, but not something that was ever financially feasible.
Switching out the remaining 863 coin-only meters to credit card machines would have cost well over $600,000. The new Park CC app will now give all of those meters credit card capability at virtually no cost. The efficiency is something Denson believes will have a ripple effect on the greater community.
“Pay-by-cell will open up man power by reducing citations – allowing police officers to get back into the community to improve quality of life issues,” Denson adds. “We’re improving our community by bringing in new technology that’s cost-efficient, convenient, and optional.”
For those who prefer traditional methods, the coin option still exists. Using the Park CC app will cost motorists a 35 cent convenience fee but as Denson puts it, “The real value comes with the reminder to avoid citations. 35 cents can save you 35 dollars (the cost of an average citation). It’s a no-brainer.”
Park CC is free to download in both the Apple Store and Google Play Store. More information about ParkX and the ParkCC private label can be found by visiting www.getparkx.com/corpuschristi/ or by emailing firstname.lastname@example.org.


🇶🇦 Doha (الدوحة) is the capital and most populous city of Qatar. The city is located on the coast of the Persian Gulf in the east of the country. It is Qatar's fastest growing city, with over 80% of the nation's population living in Doha or its surrounding suburbs, and it is the political and economic centre of the country.
Doha was founded in the 1820s as an offshoot of Al Bidda. It was officially declared as the country's capital in 1971, when Qatar gained independence from being a British protectorate. Doha is the commercial capital of Qatar and one of the emergent financial centres in the Middle East. Doha accommodates Education City, an area devoted to research and education, and Hamad Medical City, an administrative area of medical care. It also includes Doha Sports City, or Aspire Zone, an international sports destination that includes Khalifa International Stadium, a stadium for the 2022 FIFA World Cup; Hamad Aquatic Centre; and the Aspire Dome.
The city was host to the first ministerial-level meeting of the Doha Development Round of World Trade Organization negotiations. It was also selected as host city of a number of sporting events, including the 2006 Asian Games, the 2011 Pan Arab Games and most of the games at the 2011 AFC Asian Cup. In December 2011, the World Petroleum Council held the 20th World Petroleum Conference in Doha. Additionally, the city hosted the 2012 UNFCCC Climate Negotiations and is set to host the 2022 FIFA World Cup. The city also hosted the 140th Inter-Parliamentary Union Assembly in April 2019.
Economy Doha is the economic centre of Qatar. The city is the headquarters of numerous domestic and international organisations, including the country's largest oil and gas companies, Qatar Petroleum, Qatargas and RasGas. Doha's economy is built primarily on the revenue the country has made from its oil and natural gas industries. Doha was included in Fortune's 15 best new cities for business in 2011. West Bay serves as the commercial district of Doha and houses offices of many local and global companies.
Beginning in the late 20th century, the government launched numerous initiatives to diversify the country's economy in order to decrease its dependence on oil and gas resources. Doha International Airport was constructed in a bid to solidify the city's diversification into the tourism industry. This was replaced by Hamad International Airport in 2014. The new airport is almost twice the size of the former and features two of the longest runways in the world. Thirty-nine new hotels were under construction in the city in 2011.
As a result of Doha's rapid population boom and increased housing demands, real estate prices rose significantly through 2014. Real estate prices experienced a further spike after Qatar won the rights to host the 2022 FIFA World Cup. Al Asmakh, a Qatari real estate firm, released a report in 2014 which revealed substantial increases in real estate prices following a peak in 2008. Prices increased 5 to 10% in the first quarter of 2014 from the end of 2013. A 2015 study conducted by Numbeo, a crowd-sourced database, named Doha as the 10th most expensive city to live in globally. This rate of growth led to the development of planned communities in and around the city. Although the fall in oil prices since 2014 and a diplomatic crisis with Qatar's neighbors slowed growth in the city's population, government spending was increased to maintain the growth in real estate in metropolitan Doha.
Expatriate workers remitted $60bn between 2006 and 2012, with 54 percent of the workers' remittances of $60bn routed to Asian countries, followed by Arab nations that accounted for nearly half that volume (28 percent). India was the top destination of the remittances, followed by the Philippines, while the US, Egypt and the neighbouring UAE followed. Remittances in 2014 totaled $11.2 billion, amounting to 5.3% of Qatar's GDP.: 45
Doha is rated Beta + by the Globalization and World Cities Research Network (GaWC) which evaluates and ranks the relationships between world cities in the context of globalisation. Beta level cities are cities that link moderate economic regions to the world economy.
Doha is the #68 city in the world according to the Global Financial Centres Index (GFCI) which evaluates and ranks the competitiveness of the major financial centres of the world according to a wide range of criteria – Human Capital, Business, Finance, Infrastructure and Reputation.
Doha is ranked #74 and rated C by the Global Urban Competitiveness Report (GUCR) which evaluates and ranks world cities in the context of economic competitiveness. C cities are international gateway cities. Doha was ranked #727 by the Nomad List which evaluates and ranks remote work hubs by cost, internet, fun and safety. Doha has a population of over 956,460 people. Doha also forms the centre of the wider Doha metropolitan area which has a population of over 2,382,000 people. Doha is ranked #468 for startups with a score of 0.417.
Twin Towns, Sister Cities include: 🇩🇿 Algiers, Algeria; 🇧🇦 Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina; 🇧🇷 Brasília, Brazil; 🇧🇬 Sofia, Bulgaria; 🇨🇳 Beijing, China; 🇺🇸 Alameda, California; 🇸🇻 San Salvador, El Salvador; 🇬🇲 Banjul, Gambia; 🇬🇪 Tbilisi, Georgia; 🇰🇿 Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan; 🇰🇬 Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan; 🇲🇺 Port Louis, Mauritius; 🇸🇴 Mogadishu, Somalia; 🇹🇳 Tunis, Tunisia; 🇹🇷 Ankara, Turkey; 🇺🇸 Los Angeles, California, United States; 🇺🇸 Miami, Florida, United States; 🇻🇪 Libertador, Venezuela; 🇵🇸 Beit Sahour, Palestine.


People tend to get excited when first starting out in real estate investing about buying a “fixer upper” and quickly turning a profit. However, fixing-and-flipping is generally not the best way to make money investing in real estate. It can get costly, and the risk is very high. Not only can there be unexpected repairs but you can run into other trouble like unreliable contractors. Needless to say, it is very easy for your budget to get out of control, resulting in the loss of profit.
Do you know the difference between a distressed property and a fixer-upper? You may think so, but there are many misconceptions about these terms.
Problems with Fix-and-Flip
It may seem logical to buy a rundown property for a low price, fix it up, make it look shiny and new to potential buyers, and walk away with a hefty profit. However, it is not as easy as it sounds.
What’s the problem with fix & flip? The repairs cost money. Sometimes a lot of money. And that defeats the purpose of investing in real estate to make a profit.
Remember, the key word here is investing. This is not a property that you are trying to turn into your dream home. You are buying it to make money – and despite common perceptions, you CAN sell a distressed property without making extensive repairs.
Distressed Does Not Necessarily Mean More Work
When you hear the word distressed, you may imagine a run-down, bleak home that would take thousand’s (or more!) to fix and flip. However, that is not always the case. The term distressed is not describing the condition of the property, it just means that the owner urgently needs to sell the home.
The definition of a distressed property is a foreclosure, pre-foreclosure, short sale, or other transaction where the owner is in “distress” and not able, or willing, to pay for the property.
Are distressed properties sometimes run down and in need of significant repairs? Yes.
That is why it is essential to do your research on a property and its background. Doing some minor, inexpensive repairs may be necessary, but a property that will require many extensive fixes may not be worth it.
How To Find A Distressed Property
There are many ways to find distressed properties.
- Scan foreclosures, pre-foreclosures, short sales, and
- Find motivated sellers who need to sell quickly (divorce, relocation, pre-foreclosure).
- Develop a marketing strategy targeting motivated sellers.
Ultimately, the thing to always keep in mind is your potential profit. Determine your overall costs and determine a maximum offer price to ensure a substantial return on your investment.


the administration of wages and salaries within the Tennessee Board of Regents
Northeast State is committed to pay equitable and competitive salaries as determined by internal
job analyses, and external market statistics within the limits of resources as appropriated.
It is intended that this compensation system, attract and maintain
competent and well-qualified employees and provide a fair and objective reward


Back to an old option for shelter
The old Daytona Beach Police Department building on Nova Road at Orange Avenue would never have been abandoned if it had a private owner. It had to be worth fixing, especially before it was left vacant and closed tight for a way-too-long time.
[READ: Jaw-dropping news on First Step shelter]
That building is our homeless shelter. Good location, and the public already owns it. It should be built out in a safe and spartan manner. If government was as resourceful as private industry, this would happen.
Arthur Kowitz, Ormond Beach
Clarification: The old police headquarters at Nova Road and Orange Avenue was torn down in May. Mr. Kowitz sent an email correcting his letter, but it was not seen until after the letter was in print.
Livable wage needed
Now there’s a proposal that makes absolute sense. I refer to making corporations pay their employees enough to sustain themselves and take their support off the backs of the taxpayers (who are already subsidizing those corporations through generous tax breaks), as proposed by Senator Bernie Sanders. Who can help but gain through such a plan? Okay, so the corporate honcho has to put the gardener on part-time.
[READ: Pay in Volusia, Flagler lags behind state, nation]
[READ: Connect workers to better jobs]
The free market system was supposed to level the playing field, allowing each to exchange his services for a decent living, with a little left over for rainy days or a comfortable retirement. Now the accumulating property of money has thrown everything out of whack, allowing individuals to amass more than they and their families could possibly use or need, except as leverage against others for getting what they want.
Of course, who among our lawmakers is going to go along with this? Surely not those career politicians already on the corporate dole — ironically, the very same job security-minded public servants whom Trump promised to send packing, and who now toady to him and his supporters for fear of those jobs. I am fed up with these public employees owing their souls to the corporate store (which, thanks to our Supreme Court, the extent of which may now be kept from the public). This is the same Supreme Court that in its infinite wisdom ruled that corporations have the same rights as private citizens. What a travesty that is! Consider the power that corporations have over thousands, even millions of lives through their actions, versus the power wielded by single individuals.
As an aside, Sen. Bernie Sanders’ net worth is listed as a paltry $500,000, which pretty much excludes him from the largess bestowed on other lawmakers by their nameless angels. Go, Bernie!
Stephen L. Doll, Ormond Beach
Don’t hurt workers
It is impossible to balance the federal budget on the back of approximately 2 million federal employees. It is wrong for this small number of employees, in a total population of over 323 million (six-tenths of one percent of the nation) to sacrifice while everyone else, especially the rich, shares in a $1.5 trillion tax cut. Tax cuts break the budget far more than a federal pay raise will.
[READ: Trump cancels pay raise federal workers were due]
Federal employees have already contributed $120 billion in cost savings over the last eight years including pay freezes in 2011, 2012 and 2013, increased retirement contributions, and lost wages due to furloughs. Eighty-five percent live outside of the D.C. Metropolitan area, including over 72,000 in Florida. This middle class work force includes highly skilled engineers, scientists, medical professionals, and information technology professionals who could command much higher salaries in the private sector. Border Patrol, ICE and FBI agents are also hurt.
As a former federal human resources specialist, I agree that the federal government pay system is outdated and needs reform, but this doesn’t justify alienating the entire federal work force. President Trump’s pay freeze punishes the very employees he wants to reward.
Although the 1.9 percent increase currently before Congress is inadequate, I urge Florida lawmakers to vote for it. Next year, I urge the president and Congress to develop a 21st Century HR program. To do so, they will need to obtain input from federal employee organizations including the National Association of Retired Federal Employees and federal unions, current federal HR experts, and private sector best practices.
B. Virginia Comella, DeLand
Comella is president of NARFE Chapter 817.


Business loans are an important source of financing for business owners. They provide businesses with the capital they need to grow and cover expenses such as employee salaries, rental costs, and advertising. Business loans can come from traditional banks or other lenders. It is important to research different loan options to find one that fits the needs of your business.
Table Of Content:
- Small Business Loans in the U.S. | Accion
- Small Business Loans: Fast and Flexible - Accion Opportunity Fund
- Accion Business Loans Review 2023 – Forbes Advisor
- Accion Opportunity Fund: Home
- Accion Business Loans: 2023 Review - NerdWallet
- BUSINESS LEARNING CENTER
- Accion Review 2023 | Best Business Loans and Financing Options ...
- Accion Business Loans Review | U.S. News
- Small Business Progress Loan from Accion Opportunity Fund
- Business Loans - Get the Right Financing for Your Small Business ...
1. Small Business Loans in the U.S. | Accion
In the U.S., Accion Opportunity Fund creates economic opportunity by connecting small business owners to affordable capital and the business support they need ...
2. Small Business Loans: Fast and Flexible - Accion Opportunity Fund
Small business loans that work for you · Loan amounts: $5,000 - $100,000. Affordable capital¹, with transparent terms and no prepayment penalty · Interest rates ...
3. Accion Business Loans Review 2023 – Forbes Advisor
Dec 26, 2022 ... Accion Opportunity Fund offers small business loans between $5,000 and $100,000. To qualify for an Accion loan, your business must be at least ...
4. Accion Opportunity Fund: Home
Accion Opportunity Fund is a financial support system for small businesses that advances racial, gender, and economic justice for all. Learn more.
5. Accion Business Loans: 2023 Review - NerdWallet
Jan 27, 2023 ... Note: Accion Opportunity Fund doesn't require a minimum credit score for business financing and uses other factors to determine loan eligibility ...
6. BUSINESS LEARNING CENTER
Welcome to the Business Learning Center, your learning center for everything about starting and running your business. Business Startup Checklist. Learn the ...
7. Accion Review 2023 | Best Business Loans and Financing Options ...
Accion offers loans as small as $5,000 and as large as $100,000. These microloans are essentially small business term loans, which means they have simple ...
8. Accion Business Loans Review | U.S. News
Accion, a nonprofit, offers fixed-rate term loans of up to $100,000 to small businesses in the United States, excluding Vermont, Montana, North Dakota, ...
9. Small Business Progress Loan from Accion Opportunity Fund
Take your business to new heights. With an investment from American Express, Accion Opportunity Fund 1 can offer more small businesses access to loans 2.
10. Business Loans - Get the Right Financing for Your Small Business ...
Our partnership with Accion Opportunity Fund 2 gives you access to a network of lenders and great options for your business. Borrow between $5K - $500K; Fixed ...
What type of loans are available?
Different types of business loans may be available depending on the lender. Common types include term loans, lines of credit, invoice financing, and asset-based lending.
How do I qualify for a business loan?
Qualifying for a business loan depends on the lender you choose. Generally, lenders will look at factors such as your credit score, cash flow statements, and other financial metrics in order to determine your eligibility.
What is an interest rate on a business loan?
Interest rates on business loans vary depending on the lender and type of loan you are applying for. Generally speaking, interest rates are typically higher than what you would see with personal loans due to the increased risk associated with business lending.
How long does it take to get approved for a business loan?
The amount of time it takes to get approved for a business loan varies based on the lender you choose. Generally speaking though, most lenders are able to approve applications quickly—often within days or even hours—of submitting all required documents and information.
Business loans can be an invaluable source of funding for businesses looking for capital to grow their operations or cover expenses such as employee salaries or rent payments. There are different types of business loans available from various lenders so it is important to research options before committing to any particular loan option.


Technology and innovation will transform the food value chain in response to a number of global customer shift, according to Prasit Boondoungprasert, chief executive officer of Charoen Pokphand Foods (CP Foods), a major producer and market of value-added meat and seafood products. The mega trends are demand for healthy foods, convenience, product and channel innovation, premium and value for money, and sustainability.
Prasit, who spoke at the recent Dynamic Growth in the Global Food Tech Industry Seminar during Thailand Focus 2022, hosted by Thailand Stock Exchange, underscored that Thai food producers should be aware that consumer behaviors across the world have changed drastically due to outbreak of Covid-19. The Bangkok-headquartered company’s chief executive pointed out that CP Foods has constantly placed importance on research and development of nutrition innovations and created added value to food products, continuously focused on healthy foods and good nutrition.
For example, it has launched premium value-added products such as Benja Chicken, the first brown rice fed chicken certified by NSF as raised without added hormones and antibiotics-free.
High in Omega-3, CP’s Cheeva Pork originates from pigs fed with flaxseed, fish oil and seaweed.
Meanwhile, the company recently developed and launched Meat Zero plant-based meat alternatives using its proprietary Planttec innovation. The product line is cholesterol-free and loaded with nutrients such as protein and fiber.
Moreover, CP Foods is seeking opportunities with potential partners to develop cell-based meat, as it believes this technology could disrupt the food production business and consumption trends in the future.
During the seminar, Prasit emphasized that digital technology will play an increasingly important crucial role in boosting the Thai food industry’s competitiveness. CP has already implemented a variety of automation and digitization advances to enhance its production efficiency, and to ensure food safety and quality. The company operates “Smart Farm,” a nearly autonomous ecosystem integrating IoT, automation and AI into its operation.
Prasit added that CP Foods implements smart silo solutions to help streamline feed inventory and order management processes. When combined with its state-of-the-art breeding program and positive animal welfare practices, efficiency is significantly improved.
Looking ahead, the chief executive officer said that CP Foods will continue to use Thailand as a country base for research and development of new products that will be exported the markets around the world. However, he added, the country will need to to build up capacities for raw materials in order to gain competitive advantage in the competitive global market.


Bitcoin, often known as cryptocurrency, is a type of money that is completely virtual. Like an online version of cash, it can be used to buy product and services. However, many shops have yet to accept Bitcoins and some countries have banned it altogether.
Who created Bitcoin?
Bitcoin was developed by Satoshi Nakamoto, although many presumed the name to be a pseudonym. Nakamoto also authored the Bitcoin white paper, and created and deployed Bitcoin’s original reference implementation. As part of the implementation, he also devised the first blockchain database. Nakamoto was active in the development of Bitcoin up until December 2010. Till now, no one really know the true identity of Nakamoto and various people have claimed, or have been claimed to be Nakamoto.
How does it work?
Each Bitcoin is technically a computer file that is stored in a digital wallet app on smartphones or computers. Hence, people can send Bitcoins to your digital wallet or vice versa. Every transaction is recorded in a public list called the blockchain. With the blockchain, it is possible to trace the history of Bitcoins to stop people from spending coins they do not own, making copies or to undo transactions.
How to people obtain Bitcoin?
- Buying it with real money
- Sell things and let people pay with Bitcoins
- Created using a computer
How are Bitcoins created?
Bitcoins are created using powerful computers. The process is called mining. Nonetheless, it could be years before you can get a single Bitcoin even if you start mining now. That is because the computers are made to work out difficult sums. However, the sums are becoming more and more difficult to stop too many Bitcoins from being generated. In the end, you could end up spending more money on electricity for your computer than the Bitcoin would be worth.
How do you store Bitcoins?
Bitcoin has gained international acceptance and it continues to grow in popularity. Unlike stocks, cryptocurrencies from crypto exchange can be withdraw and stored in an outside wallet. If you’re looking to store Bitcoin or other cryptocurrencies, it is best to find the best option available. After scouring the web and looking at reviews, these are some of the best Bitcoin wallets available.
If you are a beginner trying your hands on cryptocurrencies, Exodus might be the best option to start because it is free and has good customer support and optional support for cold storage. It is available as a desktop wallet and mobile wallet, with a very simple user interface and an exchange built-in. One of its most popular features is the ability to swap between a growing number of cryptocurrencies. Exodus allows for swaps between over 150 different cryptocurrencies. While it is great for beginners, more advance users might find some features lacking.
Electrum has been around since 2011 and it is one of the original Bitcoin wallets. Little has changed since then. Electrum excels at its primary functions, but it is more suited for advance users due to its complex options. It is open source, allows its users to set custom transaction fees, and has the option to choose between legacy Bitcoin and Segwit. Electrum allows its users to choose the level of security they wish to use.
Mycelium is only available in mobile app, so users who prefer to store their cryptocurrencies in the wallet might prefer this. It is an open-sourced Bitcoin wallet. Mycelium currently only supports Bitcoin, ETH, and ERC-20 tokens. In a way, it is similar to the Electrum wallet. The differences between them are Mycelium is mobile-only, has a more refreshed user interface than Electrum, and has built-in exchange. Similar to Electrum, Mycelium is one of the earlier wallets and users can set custom transaction fees so you can choose how long you’re willing to wait for a transaction to be completed. Some interesting features are also available on Mycelium, such as hardware wallet support, allowing users to hold their Bitcoin in an offline storage device while still using Mycelium’s user interface to see their holdings.
Trezor Model T
Trezor is chosen here because of its security strength. It comes with the strongest security features and track record of any reviewed hardware wallet. Trezor is synonymous with crypto cold wallet storage. Its Model T is the second generation of hardware wallets they have created. It gives user the ability to access third-party exchanges directly in its website interface. But the downside of this hardware is that it is priced at US $195, which hardly justifies the price. The Model T comes with a touch screen, which can be easier for a beginner than the buttons available in their previous model. It also comes with a MicroSD card slot, allowing users to use MicroSD cards to encrypt the PIN to further protect the device from attacks. Besides the MicroSD card slot, the Model T comes with a USB Type-C cable so that you can connect it to your smartphones or desktop computers. Currently, the Trezor Model T supports more than 1,800 different cryptocurrencies.
Ledger Nano S
Lastly, we have the Ledger Nano S, an affordable entry point into cold storage hardware wallets. The device is the first-generation hardware wallet introduced by Ledger, one of the first hardware wallets ever made. It is compatible with over 1800 cryptocurrencies. Unlike the Trezor Model T, it does not come with a USB Type-C cable, so users with a more advance smartphones may find trouble connecting to their device. However, the Nano S only has enough storage to make wallets for a limited number of cryptocurrencies at a time. If you were to delete an app to add another type of cryptocurrency, their online guide says it will not affect your assets. Although you have deleted the wallet and the crypto within it, it can still be seen in Ledger Live, but the wallet will not be seen on the device itself. If you like to send or receive to the particular wallet you have deleted, you might need to delete another wallet to make room. Priced at US $59, the Ledger Nano S is a fantastic wallet for those looking to store their cryptocurrency safely at a reasonable price. It is easy to use, making it ideal for beginners looking for safe and simple storage for a handful of cryptocurrencies.
Why do people want Bitcoins?
The main reason why Bitcoins are a hot commodity right now is because of the fact that it is not controlled by the government or the banks. On top of that, you are able to spend the currency anonymously. Nobody would know your account number unless you told them, albeit all transactions are recorded. In January 2021, the value of Bitcoin surged significantly after Elon Musk said he was a big supporter of Bitcoin. His support for online currencies in recent years caused a shift in their value due to his wealth and influence.
Is it safe?
As every transaction is recorded publicly, it makes it difficult to copy Bitcoins, make fake ones or spend other people’s Bitcoins. Nevertheless, it is possible to lose your Bitcoin wallet or ‘accidentally’ delete your Bitcoins and lose them forever. Such incident happened to an IT engineer, James Howells who accidentally threw away the hard drive of an old computer containing 7,500 Bitcoins back in 2013. Until today, he has not given up on his quest to retrieve his lost coins. There have also been thefts from websites that let you store your Bitcoins remotely.
Others have expressed concerns regarding the fluctuating value of Bitcoins over the years since it was created in 2009. Some people do not agree with investing real money into Bitcoins. This concern was voiced by the head of The Bank of England, Andrew Bailey, in October 2020. He said that he was “very nervous” about people using Bitcoin for payments pointing out that investors should realise its price is extremely volatile.
Some of the most expensive things ever bought with Bitcoins
• In May 2010, Laszlo Hanyecz paid 10,000 Bitcoins for two delivered Papa John’s pizza. 10,000 Bitcoins was around $41 at that time. Nine months after the purchase, Bitcoin was on par with the US dollar, making the pizzas worth $10,000. Five years later the two pizzas were valued at $2.4 million. Today, the pizza order is the equivalent of over $93 million.
• VinWiki CTO Peter Saddington purchased a $200,000 2015 Lamborghini Huracan for 45 Bitcoins back in 2017. Back then, 45 Bitcoin is worth around $420,000.
• Bitcoin investor Michael Komaransky sold his Miami mansion for 445 Bitcoin, equivalent to $6 million at the time of sale back in 2018.
• A painting depicting a personification of Bitcoin in the place of Jesus, surrounded by various allegorical figures from the crypto subculture, named Bitcoin Supper was sold for 4.65 Bitcoin ($2,900 at the time) after a bidding war, making it the most expensive Bitcoin painting ever sold.
Bitcoin and Elon Musk
If you are avid reader of Elon Musk and cryptocurrencies, you will likely notice the pattern where the prices of cryptocurrencies move according to what the billionaire said or tweets. Being the loudest voice in the cryptocurrency world, the Tesla founder often use Twitter to post about various digital assets, causing wild swings in their prices. Prices of several large cryptocurrencies went on a wild ride in recent months in response to his statements and actions at Tesla. Dogecoin plummeted in May after Musk appeared on Saturday Night Live and called it a “hustle.” That same month, Musk said Tesla would stop accepting Bitcoin as payment because of the huge amount of energy used to mine it, causing the price to fall.
However, earlier this year, the digital coin saw an exponential spike in value after Musk changed his twitter profile to “#Bitcoin.” Subsequently, in February, Tesla bought $1.5 billion worth of Bitcoin. Following the purchase, Bitcoins’ prices surged to a new high.


Tianjin Jin Hai Condiment & Seasoning Products Co., LTD.
Tianjin Jin Hai Condiment & Seasoning Products Co., LTD. was founded in the early years of Qianlong, the Qing Dynasty, and the history of export dates back to the republic of
The company has many production lines, including filling line, fermentation line, packaging line and brewing line, and it has 50 employees and more than 10 professional technicians. The company has a series of Great Wall Brand Condiment & Seasoning products, such as Great Wall Brand vinegar, Great Wall vinegar, palace vinegar, health vinegar, rice vinegar, years brewing vinegar, La Ba vinegar, etc. The company adopts the traditional brewing method which is made from high quality millet and husked sorghum and made by the most advanced filling production line, storage equipment and advanced supporting plant, to make the quality jump to a new height of the history.
With the development of China's economy, the improves of people's living standard, the company decided to devote some of its export share to the domestic market which increase the quality of people's life and provide the updated seasoning for the life. We insist on "Credibility First, Customer First" purpose, dedication to customers at home and abroad with high quality and low price products and excellent pre-market after-sales service, and establish friendly trade relations and sincere cooperation. We hope we can work together to create a better business.


Prepayment Penalties: Efficieny and Predation
AbstractThis paper presents evidence that reductions in mortgage interest rates associated with prepayment penalties are greater for riskier borrowers, as measured by mortgage type, credit scores, and local incomes and education levels. This is consistent with an efficiency view that, by reducing the reclassification risk faced by lenders, prepayment penalties can be welfare-improving. Additional findings indicate that prepayment penalties are also used as a predatory lending tool, but that the efficiency view dominates the predatory view in most circumstances. State anti-predatory lending laws restricting the duration and amount of prepayment penalties appear to curb the predatory use of prepayment penalties.
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Bibliographic InfoPaper provided by UMBC Department of Economics in its series UMBC Economics Department Working Papers with number 11-133.
Length: 39 pages
Date of creation: 01 Oct 2011
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Find related papers by JEL classification:
- G21 - Financial Economics - - Financial Institutions and Services - - - Banks; Other Depository Institutions; Micro Finance Institutions; Mortgages
- G28 - Financial Economics - - Financial Institutions and Services - - - Government Policy and Regulation
- G01 - Financial Economics - - General - - - Financial Crises
- D18 - Microeconomics - - Household Behavior - - - Consumer Protection
- L85 - Industrial Organization - - Industry Studies: Services - - - Real Estate Services
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- Anthony Pennington-Cross & Giang Ho, 2006.
"The termination of subprime hybrid and fixed rate mortgages,"
2006-042, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis.
- Anthony Pennington-Cross & Giang Ho, 2010. "The Termination of Subprime Hybrid and Fixed-Rate Mortgages," Real Estate Economics, American Real Estate and Urban Economics Association, vol. 38(3), pages 399-426.
- Igal Hendel & Alessandro Lizzeri, 2003.
"The Role Of Commitment In Dynamic Contracts: Evidence From Life Insurance,"
The Quarterly Journal of Economics,
MIT Press, vol. 118(1), pages 299-327, February.
- Igal Hendel & Alessandro Lizzeri, 2000. "The Role of Commitment in Dynamic Contracts: Evidence from Life Insurance," NBER Working Papers 7470, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
- Susan E. Woodward & Robert E. Hall, 2010. "Consumer Confusion in the Mortgage Market: Evidence of Less Than a Perfectly Transparent and Competitive Market," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 100(2), pages 511-15, May.
- Rose, Morgan J., 2008. "Predatory lending practices and subprime foreclosures: Distinguishing impacts by loan category," Journal of Economics and Business, Elsevier, vol. 60(1-2), pages 13-32.
- Antje Berndt & Burton Hollifield & Patrik Sandås, 2010. "The Role of Mortgage Brokers in the Subprime Crisis," NBER Working Papers 16175, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
- Robert B. Avery & Glenn B. Canner & Robert E. Cook, 2005. "New information reported under HMDA and its application in fair lending enforcement," Federal Reserve Bulletin, Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (U.S.), issue Sum, pages 344-394.
- Elliehausen, Gregory & Staten, Michael E. & Steinbuks, Jevgenijs, 2008. "The effect of prepayment penalties on the pricing of subprime mortgages," Journal of Economics and Business, Elsevier, vol. 60(1-2), pages 33-46.
- Danis, Michelle A. & Pennington-Cross, Anthony, 2008.
"The delinquency of subprime mortgages,"
Journal of Economics and Business,
Elsevier, vol. 60(1-2), pages 67-90.
- Yuliya Demyanyk & Otto Van Hemert, 2011. "Understanding the Subprime Mortgage Crisis," Review of Financial Studies, Society for Financial Studies, vol. 24(6), pages 1848-1880.
- Christopher J. Mayer & Tomasz Piskorski & Alexei Tchistyi, 2010. "The Inefficiency of Refinancing: Why Prepayment Penalties Are Good for Risky Borrowers," NBER Working Papers 16586, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
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Polskie Elektrownie Jadrowy (PEJ) has applied to Poland's Ministry of Climate for a decision-in-principle on the construction of the country's first large NPP, while metals company KGHM Polska Miedz has applied to the Ministry for a decision-in-principle on construction of a small modular reactor (SMR) power plant. The applications came after the adoption of an updated nuclear energy law allowing such applications to be submitted at the beginning of the process. This ensures state support for any project before any significant investment is made. A decision-in-principle formally confirms that investment in a plant is in line with public interest and the state policies, including energy policy.
The decision will enable PEJ, a special purpose vehicle wholly owned by the State Treasury, to apply for subsequent administrative decisions, including a siting and a construction permit. PEJ’s application includes a description of project characteristics, such as the maximum total installed capacity, the planned operating period and details of the technology to be used in the construction of the plant.
PEJ said the description provided was "in line with government documents, including the resolution of the Council of Ministers of 2 November 2022, recognising the need to build a nuclear power plant with a capacity of up to 3750 MWe in the area of the communes of Choczewo or Gniewino and Krokowa and based on US AP1000 reactor technology".
It added: "An important element of the application for the decision-in-principle is the justification of the importance of the implementation of this project for securing the electricity demand in Poland. The rationale also emphasises the compatibility of PEJ's project with strategic government documents, including Poland's Energy Policy until 2040 and the European Union's climate policy."
PEJ acting President Lukasz Mlynarkiewicz said the application represents another important step “towards obtaining all the necessary administrative approvals to begin construction of Poland's first nuclear power plant”. The application was submitted on the earliest date possible, “as we are keen to significantly accelerate the pace of implementation of this key project” and are also “aware of the significance of this project and the importance of the further stages before us, which we will implement according to the approved schedule”.
In September 2021, Poland announced that six large pressurised water reactors with a combined installed capacity of 6-9 GWe could be built by 2040 to reduce its reliance on coal. Construction of the first NPP is to start in 2026, with the first 1.0-1.6 GWe reactor being commissioned in 2033. Subsequent units will be implemented every 2-3 years. The coastal towns of Lubiatowo and Kopalino in Choczewo municipality in Pomerania province were named as the preferred location for the first plant.
"The implementation of the Polish Nuclear Power Programme is one of the greatest challenges Poland has faced in recent decades, both in terms of complexity and the competencies it demands," said Mateusz Berger, Government Plenipotentiary for Strategic Energy Infrastructure. "The submission of an application for the decision-in-principle for the construction of the first nuclear power plant marks an important stage showing the maturity of the project implemented in Pomerania.”
In November 2022, the government selected Westinghouse to supply the plant. PEJ and Westinghouse signed a Bridge Contract in February, covering ten main areas, including: development of a detailed delivery model; preparation of a security assessment and a quality programme; and, also, identification of potential suppliers with a focus on Polish companies. Westinghouse will prepare a list of requirements necessary for the execution of the investment, including adjusting the AP1000 technology to meet local regulations. The contract assumes the preparation of the principles of external financing for the project.
Meanwhile, Poland's ZE PAK, Polska Grupa Energetyczna and Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power signed a letter of intent to cooperate on a NPP project in Patnow based on South Korean APR1400 reactors.
The application by copper and silver producer KGHM Polska Miedz is for a SMR. KGHM said that, until completion of the administrative procedure, it will not provide information on the course of the proceedings or details of the application. KGHM said it is one of the largest Polish companies and at the same time one of the largest energy consumers in the country. “That is why our involvement in energy projects, among which the nuclear project is of primary importance, is obvious, said Tomasz Zdzikot, President of the KGHM Management Board. “This is a project which will guarantee the stability of our operations in the future.”
In 2022, KGHM signed an agreement with US NuScale Power for preliminary work representing the first step in the process of implementing SMR technology within the business activities of the KGHM Group. The target is to deploying a first NuScale Voygr SMR power plant in Poland as early as 2029. KGHM is investigating possible sites.
KGHM wants to explore the deployment of SMR technology to repurpose or replace existing coal-fired power plants and provide electricity and heat for its industrial processes. KGHM is also looking more generally to diversify its energy sources. By 2030, 50% of the electricity used by KGHM will come from its own sources, including renewables. The Sierra Gorda mine in Chile is already powered by 100% with renewable energy.
In July 2022, KGHM submitted an application to Poland's National Atomic Energy Agency (NAEA) to evaluate NuScale's SMR technology and prepare a site study. Under a task order signed in September, NuScale will continue to support KGHM's application to the NAEA through activities including drafting additional preliminary safety analysis reports and coordinating with the NAEA. The task order also sets the stage for the subsequent tasks in the Early Works Agreement as proposed by NuScale. The VOYGR will have six modules, each with an installed capacity of 77 MWe. NuScale's SMR technology gained approval from the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission in August 2020.


Fikirtepe Urban Transformation project, which has been on the agenda for a long time, has become a hope for a solution for the contractors and subcontractors as well as the beneficiaries in the region with the Ministry of Environment and Urbanization becoming involved in.
There is no reason to be hopeless. In about 7 years since 2014-2015, when the first building licenses were issued and the projects were put on sale, sqm unit sales prices in the region made no progress as 11,000 TL /sqm. However, in the negotiations of the beneficiaries with the contractors in the beginning stage of the project in the Fikirtepe Urban Transformation Project, they expressed their request for the unit price of about 10.000 TL/sqm that is the unit price in the said project by giving the example of the Akasya Project that was being constructed in those years. Since there wasn’t any development in the Fikirtepe Urban
Project during that time due to known reasons, while the unit prices made no progress in the beginning level, the prices in theAkasya Project have nearly doubled to 20.000 TL/sqm since then. Undoubtedly, the below factors have been effective for
the increasing prices in the Akasya project;
• In addition to the location,
• The fact that the concept was correctly selected and applied,
• The fact that a Management Plan was developed in accordance with its purpose and being a well-managed complex
This situation is perceived as an important opportunity for the Fikirtepe Urban Transformation Project. Yet it is located in a highly preferable region due to its location. However, the fact that the Ministry is involved in this project, an adequate social reinforcement
area was created, a concept will be created considering functional definitions of the plan as well as regional needs is of vital importance.
Thus, while the reinforcement area share of 34% was planned compared to the previous plans by placing importance on the reinforcement and recreational areas in the region according to the implementary development plans that are prepared and are
put up for review by the Ministry, the reinforcement area share was planned to be 51% in the region according to the new plan. Based on the three years covering 2018-2020, when the statistics on the basis of the housing unit sales in the district of Kadikoy are examined, it is understood that there are approximately 11,000 houses sold per year. Considering that about 15.000 housing units will be constructed and these will be delivered to the right owners and the needy in 2023-2024, it is considered that there will be an important amount of housing supply and this situation will repress the price increases. Such that, as a result of the calculations we have made as Denge Degerleme, it is foreseen that the gross unit sqm prices of housing units in the region will be around 17.000,-TL/sqm at the end of 2023 and beginning of 2024.
The last issue that is brought into the agenda regarding the subject is that whether Value Increase Share Tax, also known as the rent tax, will be valid for the region. Value increase share is not collected since Fikirtepe Urban Transformation Area has been designated as a risky area within the scope of Law No. 6306 on Transformation of Areas Under Disaster Risk


Apple Rises to #5 in This Year's Fortune 500 Rankings
Fortune has just released its annual "Fortune 500" list, which is a high-profile ranking of the largest companies in the United States ranked by revenue. This year, Apple has taken the #5 spot, up from #6 in last year's rankings and from #17 in 2012.
Apple’s net sales keep climbing, as the tech giant continues to sell more iPhones and digital content. But the company faces pressure in the smartphone business, as Android phones grow increasingly dominant. Meanwhile, Apple reported an annual drop in net income in fiscal year 2013, a first in more than a decade. Activist investor Carl Icahn last year disclosed a stake in Apple and subsequently pushed for the company to spend billions on share buybacks. In April, the company increased the amount of shares it is authorized to repurchase and raised its quarterly dividend by 8%, and in late May it announced it was acquiring Beats Music and Beats Electronics for $3 billion.
Wal-Mart once again beat out ExxonMobil for this year's #1 ranking, with Chevron and Berkshire Hathaway ranking ahead of Apple's $170.9 billion in revenue. Apple's profit of $37 billion dollars also ranked first among Fortune 500 companies despite falling 11.3% from last year.
Apple announced last week that it would be buying Beats Electronics and the Beats Music streaming service for a total of $3 billion, making it the largest acquisition in company history. Apple is also expected to launch a number of new products this year, including a larger iPhone, new Macs, new versions of OS X and iOS, and an "iWatch" smartwatch.


Precision Drilling Posts Private Offering of Senior Notes
Precision Drilling announced plans to commence a private offering of US $550 million aggregate principal amount of senior unsecured notes due 2020 (the "notes"). Precision intends to use the net proceeds from the proposed notes offering, together with cash on hand, to repay in full its outstanding indebtedness under its existing term loan A and term loan B credit facilities. The current outstanding balance of the term A is approximately US $263 million and the outstanding balance under the term B credit facility is approximately US $318 million. In conjunction with the closing of the notes offering, Precision expects to enter into a new US $650 million senior secured revolving credit facility expiring in 2013.
The notes will be offered to qualified institutional buyers under Rule 144A and may be offered outside the United States pursuant to Regulation S. The notes have not been registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), and unless so registered, may not be offered or sold in the United States except pursuant to an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws. This news release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there be any offer or sale of the notes in any state, or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation, or sale would be unlawful.
- Precision Drilling Reports Smaller-Than-Expected Loss (Oct 27)
- Precision Drilling Posts Bigger Loss, Hurt by Weak Activity (Jul 21)
- Canadian Energy Earnings Hint at Brighter Outlook for Oil (Jul 21)


Philips Lighting Promised to End Light Poverty Around the World29-01-2015
On Monday January 19th,2015, The International Year of Light 2015 was officially launched at the UNESCO Headquarter in Paris,France.
During the Opening Ceremony, Philips Lighting CEO, Eric Rondolat, who was one of the speakers announced that Philips Lighting guarantees to help end light poverty. He said "We need to end light poverty for 1.3 billion people by 2030… Cutting Light Poverty is the most socio-economic thing to do". Eric Rondolat also talked about how solar powered LED light is a replacement to kerosene.
Eric Rondolat, CEO of Philips Lighting making his speech at UNESCO Headquarter in Paris. (All Photos Courtesy of Philips Lighting)
More than 1.3 billion people are put in light poverty as they cannot adopt electricity. Most of those affected have to use kerosene lamps and candles to light their homes and businesses. But these old light sources take away the lives of 1.5 million people every year through breathing illnesses and fires – the same number killed annually by HIV-related diseases.
Light poverty affects wide scope of Africa, Asia and South America with as few as 1.5% of people in South Sudan used electric light. In many developing countries, electrical grids are not available due to the geographic and financial burdens of linking hundreds of remote communities. However, solar LED technology can provide light at a little of the cost of running kerosene lamps, without any of the health, safety or environmental dangers – or the need for major investment in infrastructure.
"Human suffering on this scale is unacceptable in the 21st century," said Eric Rondolat. "Solar-powered LED lights can transform rural areas and save millions of lives. Besides, it does not have to be invented – it already exists and is proven. I hope that politicians can stand together and act to ending light poverty by 2030.”
A single solar-powered LED lantern uses zero energy and can fill a room with clean, electric light for a one-off cost of $10-20 (￡7-14), compared to the $50 (￡33) annual fuel bill of running a kerosene lamp. On a larger scale, energy efficient LED lights and solar panels can be combined to produce sustainable lighting in public places and bring areas to life in the night time. These Community Light Centers (CLCs) allow healthcare services and businesses to operate after sunset as well as encouraging sports and other social activities. Philips is in the process of installing 100 CLCs across 12 countries in Africa, where some 500 million people do not use light.
Philips Gift of Light program will help end light poverty
The Philips Gift of Light program – an employee engagement program in which Philips employees selected and voted for worthy projects deserving of a Philips gift of light made up of lighting products and services. During the coming months, further projects will be implemented by Philips employees in 17 countries around the world.
Solar LED Lights for the Democratic Republic of Congo
Philips Lighting has provided a gift of solar powered LED lights to an off-grid village Bikuku near Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of Congo where 1600 people did not use electric lights. The donation provides light after dark to homes, businesses and a Community Light Centre (CLC). CLCs allow healthcare services and businesses to operate after sunset as well as encourage sports and other social activities. Philips is in the process of installing 100 CLCs across 12 countries in Africa, where some 500 million people do not have used light. This famous project is part of the Philips Gift of Light program.