House Hunters’ Cheap Extension and Conservatory Garden Room

Could it be said that you are searching for another house? If, similar to large number of others across the UK, you’re finding that you really want more space at home, there could be a simpler arrangement: a traditional conservatories rooftop change.

Imagine a scenario in which we let you know that you can get the additional living space you’re after without moving, and for a portion of the expense and bother.
Peruse on to perceive how you can accomplish a modest expansion and a legitimate conservatory garden room from one straightforward undertaking.

The quest for all the more area is reliably among house trackers’ top purposes behind moving home. Particularly in these times when we’ve all spent such a large amount the year not going elsewhere. Little niggles with your living space can end up being more self-evident and disturbing when you spend such a huge extent of your time there.

Maybe you’re thinking about how you will crush in the entirety of your companions and family members once pandemic limitations (ideally) ease not long from now. Furthermore, if any of them needs to rest for the time being there might be no room. For this situation, a move presumably looks appealing.

However, on the off chance that you love your home and you’d wait assuming you just had more space, there could be another option. Imagine a scenario where, rather than moving, you could have a legitimate yet modest expansion

Blissful family partaking in their new conservatory rooftop in the wake of getting a modest expansion 2 (1)

An option in contrast to moving house

Many individuals have a conservatory that hasn’t satisfied its commitment. It’s either too chilly in winter, too blistering in summer, or moist and upsetting. In the event that you perceive these issues, a basic conservatory rooftop transformation could be the response.

With a conservatory rooftop substitution – eliminating your current rooftop and fitting a strong conservatory rooftop – you recapture useable space in your home. On account of magnificent protection that keeps the room at an even temperature, you can really transform your conservatory into an expansion.

The old, ignored conservatory turns into a throughout the entire year living space with a tiled rooftop, put roof and even bright lights. Be that as it may, generally significant of all, it never overheats or gets freezing cold.

What’s more a strong rooftop implies you lose the brightness from the sun, limit downpour and other outside commotion, and you don’t need to stress over holes or shape development from dampness gathering under glass or polycarbonate conservatory rooftop sheets.

Lady partaking in her new room after a modest expansion 2. This is the way it very well may be finished:

The Watchman Warm Rooftop

A conservatory can be a superb spot for a nursery room, and a current space that is a characteristic decision for a modest expansion. Notwithstanding, with glass or polycarbonate rooftops that are so normal across England, it’s difficult to partake in your conservatory garden room as it was planned.

The fundamental issue with these materials is that they offer no protection. What you end up with is a room that vacillates with the famous English environment. In the mid year it turns out to be terribly hot; in winter freezing cold. It’s then, at that point, no big surprise that the nursery room seldom gets utilized!

Be that as it may, assuming you protect your conservatory, unexpectedly utilizing the nursery room turns into a chance once more – and moving house may presently not be fundamental.

Projects 4 Material have been changing over centers with the Gatekeeper Warm Rooftop for a long time. We’ve seen the effect this material arrangement has on solace, ease of use, spill counteraction and in general happiness regarding the space – giving an all out conservatory change to many families.

Re-introducing Principles to Financial Accounting

Quite a while in the past — in 2004, to be careful — the Training Link FASB and IASB reported that they would mutually foster a typical “reasonable system.” They partitioned the work into eight stages. It took them just about seven years to finish the primary stage.

For the FASB’s part, the consummation of the primary stage brought about the bootstrapping of Articulation of Monetary Bookkeeping Ideas No. 8 with two parts: Section 1, The Goal of Universally useful Monetary Revealing; and Section 3, Subjective Attributes of Valuable Monetary Data. The arrangement is that CON 8 will ultimately be populated with the FASB’s finished reasonable system.

Following the extended and bombed endeavor to join U.S. GAAP and IFRS, the sheets chose to head out in a different direction on calculated structure modifications around 2012. Presently, completely 13 years into their work and seven years after the finishing of Stage 1, the FASB is preparing to distribute another Part to CON 8: Section 7, Show. It gave the openness draft a long time back, and the remark time frame terminated last November. The FASB’s site actually shows that the board proceeds with considerations on the ED — rather than fostering the substantially more meaningful subjects of acknowledgment and estimation, which the board is a little while ago starting to address.

In all honesty, re-consultations of an ED could take for a spell contingent upon the volume of the remark letters and the range of issues raised. In any case, that couldn’t realistically make sense of the postpones here, in light of the fact that the ED drew just 17 remark letters – just two of which were from fiscal summary clients. Twelve were from CPA-based substances and guarantors, and three were from scholastics.

I have expounded on the inborn defects in the FASB’s supposed ‘fair treatment’s a couple of times as of now. Here, I made sense of why the FASB ought not be depending on wide based or potentially very much contemplated responses from clients to an ED. Apparently this undertaking is a strong contextual investigation.

What the FASB ought to do, I composed here, would be all the more fittingly depicted as “an expected level of effort” rather than fair treatment. An expected level of effort has its starting points in the Protections Demonstration of 1933, and has spread to numerous different applications. I think it’s fair to say that it hints breadth, meticulousness and reason.

With respect to why the yawns from clients on this specific ED, I think it likely that the people who should seriously mull over carving out opportunity to record a remark letter comprehend that, notwithstanding any remaining justifications for why they wouldn’t compose, the FASB is (pardon the articulation) checking out at some unacceptable finish of the pony for this venture. An exhaustive premise of bookkeeping ought to present significant ideas, however they should be founded on standards. Here, I composed that the FASB is wont to try not to take on standards, since they will most likely lessen principles composing adaptability. Any kind of obligation to act with a specific goal in mind would make it doubtful to track down possible center grounds among contending “partner” positions.

Ideas, then again are not — or possibly are undeniably less — restricting on the FASB. For instance, the FASB could distinguish ‘importance’ as an idea — or first as a standard, and afterward an idea. As a rule, it would commit the FASB to constantly take a stab at more prominent significance of fiscal summaries, subject just to cost/benefit contemplations. Significance as an idea missing a rule, then again, just states what it influence it would have on clients – in the event that it were available. (The differentiation reviews for me the television place where a serious person in a white coat declares to the patient, “I’m not a dental specialist, I’m a dental screen. You have a cavity.”)

We have shown up at a point throughout the entire existence of U.S. Proper accounting rules where “standards” have blurred into close to add up to neglect. Other than concerning GAAP itself, I can’t track down a solitary event of “rule” in the new SFAC No. 8 or the ED for its Section 7. All things being equal, center parts of a system are finessed with malleable ideas like “essential client bunch”, “broadly useful budget reports,” “pertinence” and “authentic steadfastness.” (Once more, in all honesty, the Board made a little improvement when it downgraded “dependability” and advanced “authentic devotion,” In spite of the fact that I can’t imagine any pragmatic contrast between “illustrative reliability” and ‘honesty’ — or how the juxtaposition of terms significantly affects standard setting.)

S-OFA Will Begin toward the Start

As is much of the time the case recently, I give perceptions like these to impart to you my arrangements for how Investor Situated Monetary Bookkeeping will be unique in relation to U.S. GAAP or IFRS. S-OFA will start by presenting the standards to which bookkeeping norms should cut. A significance guideline, similar to the one I suggested above, will be matched with a rule that I am calling (for the present) the “Face Legitimacy Standard.”

“Face legitimacy” is a term acquired from the social sciences, where it is likewise some of the time alluded to as ‘legitimate legitimacy.’ The definition from the Word reference of Conduct Science (Van Nostrand Reinhold, 1973) on my shelf since graduate understudy shock, characterizes it as, “The degree to which a test appears to quantify the variable to be tried due to its similitude to the rule measure.” [italics supplied]

From this, I propose the accompanying assertion of the “Face Legitimacy Rule”:

Sums in budget reports ought to be believed to be founded on estimations made sincerely of properties of perceived resources or values starting around a given date.

There is nothing similar to the Face Legitimacy Standard at the FASB or the IFRS. For on the off chance that there were, among numerous different models, the last three significant undertakings — renting, income acknowledgment, advance hindrance — could never have been allowed to come around. All the more by and large, the guideline commits a premise of bookkeeping to the accompanying:

A number in a fiscal report should be connected with a particular quality of a resource. Conversely, the rundown of budget report numbers in GAAP and IFRS that must be portrayed by an estimation is long, and developing.
Estimations in view of memorable expense would bomb both an importance and a face legitimacy standard. Memorable expense is a characteristic of a previous occasion, not of the actual resource. Maybe this relationship reverberates for you: the birthweight of a 30-year old individual, is a property of an occasion that happened quite a while back; it is as of now not a quality of the 30-year old individual.
Essential principles of rationale are holy. For instance, S-OFA won’t allow option of not at all like credits on a monetary record – i.e., committing the numerical sin of adding apples and oranges. Essentially, and as I clarified as of late here with deference for income acknowledgment and the pay proclamation, S-OFA won’t allow a fiscal report to be founded on a situation that is overdetermined.
* * * * * * * *

Once more, as a matter of fact, the FASB has scarcely started to think the most meaningful structure subjects, acknowledgment and estimation. That might make sense of a portion of the obliviousness of budget report clients to the most recent ED. However, it doesn’t make sense of why the FASB has been tarrying for such a long time on, by a wide margin, the most basic reasonable issues.

More significant, however, is that a face legitimacy guideline doesn’t appear to be requesting a lot. However the FASB will not have the option to make sense of why, for U.S. GAAP, it has become an excessive amount to request.

Top Benefits of Plastic Storage Bins and Containers for Businesses

In the event that you maintain a business, and particularly a modern or warehousing activity, you have numerous capacity arrangements accessible to you. From different kinds of racking — steel/metal, wire, and bolt — to capacity containers and cartons, the need to store, safeguard, and show stock is basic to authoritative effectiveness and achievement. Plastic storage boxes receptacles and holders can assist with keeping your stock coordinated and effectively accessible.Why Stockpiling Bins?There are a few motivations to utilize plastic capacity containers and compartments, however the requirement for portable capacity choices differs relying upon the stockroom or industrial facility design, industry, and stock, among other factors.Storing stock on the floor builds mess and potential wellbeing dangers, diminishes circulation proficiency and can harm things. Few out of every odd kind of stock requires uncompromising and costly metal racking systems.Wood or Plastic?Wooden stockpiling enjoys its benefits, specifically minimal expense, yet wooden boxes are more harm inclined than current plastics. Other than wood’s helplessness to dampness, it’s likewise in danger of enduring bug harm and is bound to break or fragment from standard use or drops.High-quality plastic compartments are generally economical. Indeed, even the more costly styles are a more practical choice because of their drawn out durability.What’s So Exceptional About Plastic Capacity Containers?
Plastic capacity containers
Plastic capacity receptacles and compartments offer a few benefits to the distribution center director or shop foreman. These include:Easier to cleanWooden cartons and compartments are permeable and can become impacted by dampness, retaining water, and losing primary uprightness. The porosity of wood can likewise welcome the development of bacteria.Metals, especially iron amalgams, like steel, are vulnerable to rust — that is the reason organizations that produce metal capacity choices, for example, racking units, powder-coat, or plate them. Nonetheless, coatings and plating can wear off or chip with age.Modern plastics, in any case, are innately waterproof, keeping up with their appearance and considering simple cleaning. Some are autoclavable when sterility counts. You can frequently clean an unfilled plastic holder with water and detergent.Low costOne of the most quick benefits of plastic stockpiling containers is cost. These are a straightforward, reasonable choice for economical distribution center chiefs who need to further develop effectiveness while remaining inside their budget.DurableMany plastic capacity holders are influence safe and can endure reckless or unpleasant dealing with by forklift administrators and other stockroom laborers. Normally, plastic doesn’t hold up to steel, however it seldom has to.Less mishap proneMetal racking can be weighty and challenging to move, while plastic capacity containers are moderately lightweight and simple to move. Numerous cutting edge plastic capacity receptacles have against slip bottoms, which can forestall unplanned outings and falls. Security is basic to your staff’s wellbeing, and plastic canisters assist with guaranteeing your stock is less inclined to be harmed during capacity and transport.Maintenance-freeBeyond straightforward cleaning, plastic capacity boxes and receptacles require no unique maintenance.EfficientYour distribution center has a restricted measure of extra room, so you need to streamline. Expanding the utilization of accessible space progressively implies orchestrating capacity units and stock upward. Numerous plastic stockpiling units are stackable — one can be stacked on top of another — so you’re ready to actually decrease mess on the shop or distribution center floor.RecyclableYou can reuse many kinds of plastic stockpiling containers when they’re not generally required, which diminishes squander.

Top Amazon exec says it’s a ‘myth’ robots steal jobs

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A robot prepares to pick up a tote containing product at the Amazon Robotics fulfillment center on April 12, 2019 in Orlando, Florida.

Nurphoto | Nurphoto | Getty Images

A top Amazon executive told CNBC Thursday that it’s a “myth” that robots and other technologies take jobs away from people.

Stefano La Rovere, director of global robotics, mechatronics, and sustainable packaging at Amazon, said that, rather than replacing jobs, advanced robotics, artificial intelligence, and other technologies are enhancing people’s roles.

He added that new technology is leading to the creation of entirely new job categories.

“It is a myth that technology and robots take out jobs,” La Rovere told CNBC’s “Street Signs Europe” on Thursday.

Amazon says that the introduction of new technologies has enhanced more than 50,000 jobs across its fulfilment centers in Europe.

The e-commerce giant says it has installed more than 1,000 new technologies across its European fulfillment center network over the last five years, for an overall investment of more than 700 million euros ($751 million).

“Robots and technology help our employees … by reducing walking distance between assignments, by taking away repetitive motions, or [by] helping them to lift heavy weights,” La Rovere  said.

“In turn, our employees can learn new skills, they can learn new competencies, they can acquire new capabilities that allow them to progress towards their career objectives,” he added.

La Rovere added that, “Over the last years, more than 700 new categories of jobs have been created by the use of technology.”

He cited the example of his own team, the Amazon robotics and AI division, which is focused on bringing automation to Amazon’s vast network of fulfillment centers that are responsible for getting orders packed and ready for delivery to customers.

 WATCH: Factories are heading for a ‘dark’ future — and it’s not what you think

Factories are heading for a 'dark' future — and it's not what you think

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AI’s role in innovation expanding rapidly

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SAN FRANCISCO — At times attendees of the Future Food Tech conference held March 21-22 in San Francisco may have been skeptical about the futuristic discussions taking place during the program and on the exhibit floor. At other times, it all came together and made sense. And even better – it made sense for right now.

“Foods have to be delicious and nutritious,” said Isabelle Esser, chief research and innovation, quality and food safety officer for Danone SA, Paris. “Technology needs scale and impact. It’s all about positive nutrition, and this requires collaboration.”

That’s much of what Elo Life Systems, Durham, NC, is striving to accomplish. Elo Life’s molecular farming platform produces ingredients that may be difficult to harvest from natural sources and may not be synthesized through artificial or other techniques. The company produces easy-to-grow crops as bio factories for the ingredients.

“We’re on a mission to unlock nature’s abilities to make consumers’ favorite foods more delicious, healthy and planet friendly,” said Todd Rands, chief executive officer of Elo Life Systems. “It’s about making foods more nutrient dense, not calorically dense, which has been the case with our food system since the second half of the 20th century.

“We use AI (artificial intelligence) and proprietary algorithms to gain deeper insights across native genomes, genes and traits. Innovation with healthy and sustainable food is desperately needed, and our collective future depends on creating new solutions that do not exist today.”

The company’s first product is a monk fruit-derived sweetener that will launch in 2026. Rands said the company is working on the production of varied bioactive ingredients and novel proteins.

Algorithms enable machines to learn and make decisions. Otherwise known as generative artificial intelligence, the technology is “transforming possibilities into reality,” said Lanette Shaffer Werner, chief innovation, technology and quality officer, General Mills, Minneapolis.

“For us, AI is a member of the team. It’s like having an intern on the team, who contributes like all other team players.” said Shaffer Werner. “AI provides input to our final decision. We still keep the consumer at the heart of everything we do.”

Lanette Shaffer Werner, chief innovation, technology and quality officer at General Mills. Photo: General Mills

She explained how AI is an active player behind the scenes and how AI allows us “to have one eye on today and one on the horizon. For example, before a new product goes into test market, we can work with digital concepts generated by AI,” said Shaffer Werner.

Another valuable use for AI at General Mills is for a review of scientific literature. The company works with the program scite to get answers to all types of food innovation issues, everything from ingredients to food safety to yield.

“There are billions of scientific articles, many containing insight and solutions to issues we are facing,” Shaffer Werner said. “With AI, we can dedicate our resources to ‘doing’ instead of untangling pandora’s box.”

Brightseed, San Francisco, uses AI to discover bioactive compounds in nature and develop healthy food ingredients. The company served its newly launched bioactive fiber in yogurt parfaits at Future Food Tech.

The fiber ingredient was developed in partnership with Manitoba Harvest, Winnipeg, Man. It is a multi-benefit fiber solution developed from upcycled hump hulls. The product is unique for the fiber market as it has two phenolic bioactive compounds that research has shown may strengthen the gut lining to help maintain healthy gut barrier function.

“Bioactives are the unsung heroes of proactive health and today. The majority of people don’t consume enough to capture the full impact of their benefits,” said Sofia Elizondo, co-founder and chief operating officer of Brightseed. “Now that our AI Forager is powering the discovery and understanding of bioactives at an unprecedented rate, our mission at Brightseed is to transform those insights into accessible and powerful wellness products across the globe.”

Israel-based start-up Celleste-Bio uses a proprietary combination of biotechnology and AI to produce cocoa ingredients. Precision fermentation eliminates the dependence on cultivation of cocoa trees and will help ensure cocoa yield supply is invariable, not dependent on climate conditions, close to production sites and a final product of superior quality.

This is accomplished without genetic modification or manipulation by extracting cocoa cells from cocoa pods and growing them in a controlled setting with water and nutrients. It is a continuous cycle that repeats itself, without needing to crack open another pod.

“We want to offer people the pleasure and health that high-quality cocoa products provide, while eliminating the challenges of sustainable production that we face in cocoa production today,” said Hanne Volpin, co-founder and chief technology officer.

AI has helped Olipop, Oakland, Calif., grow its subscription platform by more than 35%. The company makes soda healthier, without necessarily broadcasting it, according to Olipop. While traditional soda has high levels of sugar, each can of Olipop contains 35 to 45 calories, 2 to 5 grams of natural sugars and 9 grams of prebiotic plant fiber.

“Americans have enjoyed soda for over 125 years. It has deep emotional and cultural resonance for consumers, and the category has become intertwined with our daily lives,” said Ben Goodwin, co-founder and CEO. “Our goal has always been to offer a product that can truly occupy the space that traditional soda has filled while also contributing to consumers’ overall well-being.”

Goodwin defended the concept of “ultra processing,” which has become the latest target in the food policing world. The reality is that the future of food depends on ultra processing.

“Ultra processing is necessary to make the fiber ingredient to get it into our beverage,” Goodwin said. “Rather than trying to tell consumers they can’t have soda, we are making it better for them. Olipop is more than ‘not harmful.’ It has a benefit.”

Providing a benefit in the form of sustainable practices also was a recurring theme at Future Food Tech. However, sustainability cannot be the No. 1 selling point, said Jack Bobo, director of the University of Nottingham’s Food Systems Institute in the United Kingdom. First comes taste, nutrition and price.

“Consumers don’t change their eating habits to save their lives. Why would they do so to save the planet?” Bobo said.

One Good Thing, Hertfordshire, England, believes it hits all the marks — taste, nutrition and price — with the extra plus of sustainability. The start-up has produced a range of wrapper-less oat and protein bars in a bid to reduce plastic waste for on-the-go snackers. Each bar is made from raw, cold-pressed ingredients coated with an edible beeswax film, that dries hard enough to hold and protect the contents but is thin and soft enough to chew easily.

The beeswax coating acts as a replacement to a traditional plastic or paper wrapper. Each bar is durable, and the packaging is waterproof. The only packaging is the cardboard boxes that the bars are delivered in, which is made of 70% recycled material and is 100% recyclable.

“The idea for One Good Thing came to me when I was out cycling and saw the sheer volume of snack wrappers. So, I challenged myself to think about how I could resolve the problem for people snacking on the go,” said Mike Bedford, founder. “We like to think of our bars as just like eating an apple. When you’re ready to eat one, you can just give it a quick rinse and pop it in. It’s that simple. Our innovation doesn’t just limit plastic waste. It removes it entirely.”

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Slideshow: New menu items from Taco Bell, Carl’s Jr., and Burger King

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KANSAS CITY — With temperatures warming up for spring, foodservice locations are heating up their menus with spicy new offerings.

Taco Bell is introducing a new line of menu items featuring the flavors of Tajín. Joining Taco Bell’s menu will be: Tajín crunchy tacos, Tajín twists and a Tajín strawberry freeze.

“We are absolutely thrilled to see Taco Bell and Tajín fans come together to enjoy this exceptional limited-time offer, adding to the 1,001+ ways fans can enjoy Tajín, the top-selling chili lime seasoning in the US and Mexico,” said Haydee Fernandez, alliances director at Productos Tajín. “This is an unprecedented collaboration between two iconic brands that have the privilege of having some of the most devoted fans in the world and we eagerly anticipate welcoming many more to savor and experience this one-of-a-kind menu.”

Carl’s Jr. is bringing back its spicy Western bacon burger and is introducing the spicy breakfast burger, both twists on the Western bacon cheeseburger. The spicy breakfast burger features a beef patty, topped with jalapeño coins, crispy bacon, egg, pepperjack cheese, hash rounds and ketchup, on top of a seeded bun.  

“The spicy breakfast burger and the spicy Western bacon cheeseburger mark the first product launches in our Crave campaign, focused on satiating the craveable flavors that our guests desire,” said Anthony Nguyen, vice president of brand marketing at Carl’s Jr. “The campaign brings our big, bold, unique California-inspired flavors and audacious brand personality to life, and we’re excited to see more spins on classics like this going forward.”

Pat O’Toole, chief marketing officer of Burger King North America, added, “Since their initial launch to menus nationwide last year, our Royal Crispy Wraps quickly became the most popular limited time offering to hit Burger King menus in the US within the last four years. Despite being launched as an LTO, wraps are here to stay. And we’re excited to bring a new flavor to guests with fiery Buffalo, which brings a tangy, buttery Buffalo flavor with the perfect amount of spice.”

Click to view new menu items.

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NerdWallet says it did not file for bankruptcy, citing a fraudulent filing

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Rafael Henriques | Lightrocket | Getty Images

NerdWallet said on Saturday that it did not file for bankruptcy, saying a fraudulent filing appeared on an electronic public access service for U.S. federal court documents.

“NerdWallet did not file for bankruptcy. This is a fraudulent filing and we are actively investigating the situation,” the company said in a statement.

The filing that appeared earlier on Saturday was signed by Robert Johnson and listed an address in Buffalo, New York.

The corporate address provided appeared to belong to a residence.

This story is developing. Please check back for updates.

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Audio Mastering, What is Audio Mastering?

Music creation is a multifaceted process encompassing various stages, from initial creation to the final release of the audio in different formats. Whether for commercial music or applications like film, the journey involves meticulous steps such as creation, recording, editing, mixing, and mastering.

While the artist’s creative input remains paramount, the collaborative efforts of producers, recording engineers, and sound professionals contribute significantly to the refined, polished version of the music that reaches audiences through modern technology.

Music Production Steps

Step One – Rehearsing And Recording Audio In The Studio:

Artists commence the process by rehearsing and recording their sound in the studio, guided by the expertise of producers and recording engineers. The recording engineer plays a pivotal role in enhancing existing talent, adding nuances to vocals or instruments. A carefully chosen studio and a knowledgeable recording engineer are crucial in ensuring the optimal utilization of the studio space and selecting the appropriate equipment for each musical element. Experienced engineers with a profound understanding of studio equipment contribute to bringing out the best in the sound.

Step Two – Audio Editing And DAW:

Audio editing, a critical phase in the modern production workflow, is predominantly conducted on computers using Digital Audio Workstations (DAWs). Skilled sound engineers leverage DAWs to “clean up” the audio, addressing imperfections like clicks, crackles, hums, and hisses.

The DAW, often the heart of mixing or mastering studios, serves as a central hub where equipment is connected, and files are stored. Equipped with a graphical user interface (GUI), at least one mixing console, a control surface, audio converter, and data storage, DAWs simulate traditional studio equipment.

Leading DAW software such as Avid Pro Tools, Steinberg Cubase, Steinberg Nuendo, and Logic Pro are commonly employed for audio editing. These platforms offer versatile tools for manipulating and refining audio elements, providing sound engineers with the means to achieve a polished and professional result.

Step Three – Mixing Audio and the Audio Mixing Engineer:

Selecting the right mixing engineer is a critical phase in the music production process, and it holds immense importance. During the mixing process, the mixing engineer introduces a level of creativity that aligns with the client’s taste and desired sound style. This phase allows for subtle adjustments and tweaks to impart a distinct flavor to the music, bringing out its unique character.

Once the audio mixing process is concluded, it signifies the final version of the music, and no further changes should be made. Achieving consensus and satisfaction with the final result is crucial before proceeding to the next and ultimate stage of the creation process – audio mastering.

Step Four – Audio Mastering and the Audio Mastering Engineer:

Upon reaching the audio mastering engineer, the primary responsibility is to attentively listen to the provided audio. This involves multiple rounds of listening – first, to appreciate the audio, followed by analysis, and then determining the necessary steps to meet the client’s preferences and enhance the overall audio quality. Depending on the prior stages of recording, editing, and mixing, the audio may require minimal adjustments or may necessitate more intricate enhancements.

This stage benefits from a fresh perspective, as the mastering engineer hears the audio for the first time with unbiased ears, allowing for critical and insightful evaluation. After repeated listening sessions, a comprehensive understanding of the audio’s characteristics is developed, paving the way for a clear vision of the necessary enhancements.

With this understanding, the mastering engineer formulates a plan and takes organized and precise steps to achieve the desired outcome. Modern technology has expanded the role of mastering engineers beyond transparent replication, now incorporating a demand for creative input during the mastering process. While historical mastering focused on faithful reproduction, contemporary mastering often involves creative interventions to enhance and elevate the overall sonic experience.

Adding Life to the Audio: The Art of Audio Mastering

Breathing life into audio and infusing that special something into a finished mix is the domain of the experienced mastering engineer. By carefully listening to the existing elements within the audio, these professionals can discern what might be missing and utilize their expertise, state-of-the-art equipment, keen ears, and years of experience to bridge that gap. The role of a mastering engineer goes beyond technical precision; it involves understanding the emotion, rhythm, and vibe of the song.

In the mastering studio, equipped with a Digital Audio Workstation (DAW) meticulously designed for audio mastering, the engineer embarks on a creative journey. The process often begins with addressing minor issues, such as clicks or dropouts, through noise reduction techniques. If more significant faults are detected, collaboration with the mixing engineer may be necessary to isolate and rectify the problem.

Having top-quality equipment and monitors is paramount at this stage, enabling the mastering engineer to fine-tune and identify nuances that may have been overlooked in earlier stages. Once technical issues are resolved, the creative aspect of audio mastering unfolds. This can involve adjustments to EQ, bass, or other elements aimed at enhancing the overall quality and sound of the audio.

Ensuring balance across all instruments is a key objective, preventing any part of the audio from becoming overpowering and striving for equality throughout the music. The degree of creativity employed in mastering varies based on the client’s preferences—some may seek more transparency, while others desire a more creative touch. Striking this balance is an art, and it often involves meticulous adjustments to achieve the desired result.

Upon completion of the mastering process, the engineer revisits the track from start to finish, ensuring every detail aligns with the intended vision. Taking breaks between listens allows for a fresh perspective and the identification of any last-minute issues. This meticulous approach ensures that the final product not only meets technical standards but also resonates with the artist’s vision, resulting in a satisfied and happy customer.

Krispy Kreme ‘all in’ on making more donuts

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CHARLOTTE, NC. — As Krispy Kreme, Inc. heads into fiscal 2024 one of its points of emphasis will be modernizing “the making and moving of donuts,” said Josh Charlesworth, president and chief executive officer.

Speaking with analysts during a Feb. 13 earnings conference call, Charlesworth said the concept of modernization “goes all the way from the digitization of the process through to the automation of the donut making itself, and then all the way on to upskilling our donut transportation.”

“All in, we’re working to ensure the freshest donuts every time, delivered as efficiently as possible,” he said. “…We have a line running in New York, which is now automatically filling, topping, and even packing the donuts. We’re looking to perfect that and then roll it out as time goes on.”

Charlesworth also said rapid expansion of Krispy Kreme’s delivered fresh daily business has elevated the importance of logistics. To that end, Charlesworth unveiled plans for a Krispy Kreme pilot program covering select routes in Washington, DC, and Los Angeles.

“The purpose of that is to work with a third-party provider to see if we can maintain quality and service whilst being able to access new capabilities that they can bring and over time, improve our operations and indeed bring more efficiency,” he said. “Sob it’s an effort, end to end, to continuously improve donut making and moving.”

The pilot is expected to last four to six months, he said.

Krispy’s Kreme’s plans for 2024 came against a backdrop of mixed financial results. The company sustained a loss of $37.93 million in the year ended Dec. 31, 2023, which compared with a loss of $15.62 million in fiscal 2022. The most recent year included more than $29 million in costs associated with global transformation and US initiatives such as the decision to exit the Branded Sweet Treats business, which compared with $2.8 million in costs associated mainly of equipment disposals, equipment relocation and installation, consulting and advisory fees, and other costs associated with the shift of Branded Sweet Treats manufacturing capability to Winston-Salem, NC, from Burlington, Iowa.

Adjusted net income in fiscal 2023 totaled $46.21 million, equal to 27¢ per share on the common stock, down from $49.61 million, or 30¢ per share, in fiscal 2022. Adjusted EBITDA in fiscal 2023 was $211.62 million, up from $190.73 million.

Net revenues in fiscal 2023 increased 10% to $1.69 billion from $1.53 billion in the same period a year ago.

“We continued to deliver double-digit organic revenue growth, with all markets and channels growing sales,” he said. “We expanded profit margins by leveraging existing production hubs to support our growth, especially in the US, where operating leverage was strongest. Our ongoing strategy is to scale the business efficiently, providing more fresh points of access. There are now more than 14,100 places where you can buy our melt-in-your-mouth fresh donuts in 39 countries. Our focus on operating excellence means that we’re building both a bigger and better Krispy Kreme business.” 

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SoftBank nets $16 billion on Arm earnings, exceeding losses in WeWork

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Billionaire Masayoshi Son, chairman and chief executive officer of SoftBank, which owns Arm, speaks during a news conference in Tokyo, July 28, 2016.

Tomohiro Ohsumi | Bloomberg | Getty Images

Masayoshi Son’s SoftBank made more in Arm’s after-hours trading on Wednesday than the total amount the company lost from its disastrous bet on now-bankrupt WeWork.

Arm shares rocketed as much as 41% late Wednesday after the chip designer reported revenue and earnings that sailed past analysts’ estimates. SoftBank took Arm public in September and still owns about 930 million shares, or roughly 90% of the chip designer’s outstanding stock.

Arm pared its initial gains, but SoftBank’s stake still jumped by almost $16 billion — from close to $71.6 billion to $87.4 billion — after the earnings report. Softbank acquired Arm in 2016 for $32 billion, and its shares were worth just over $47 billion at the time of the IPO last year.

The Arm windfall follows a rough stretch for SoftBank’s investment portfolio.

The company’s most high-profile wager was in WeWork, which spiraled into bankruptcy in November after the office-sharing company spent years burning through billions of dollars in cash from SoftBank at sky-high valuations. The Vision Fund, SoftBank’s venture arm, posted a $6.2 billion loss in the second quarter of 2023, tied to WeWork and other soured bets.

SoftBank told investors in November that its cumulative loss on WeWork exceeded $14 billion. In 2022, after a $32 billion loss in the Vision Fund, Son suggested that SoftBank would shift away from aggressive investments and into “defense” mode, selling down stakes in Alibaba and preparing to take Arm public. A little more than a year later, as hype over artificial intelligence mounted, Son said Softbank would switch back into “offense” mode, pursuing investments in AI.

Son can’t yet cash in on his company’s gains from Arm.

SoftBank is under a lock-up provision which prevents it from selling its Arm shares, with certain exceptions, for 180 days after the stock market debut. Arm went public in September, meaning that the lock-up restriction expires in mid-March.

WATCH: Masa Son flexes Arm

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ADM stock price falls amid SEC investigation

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CHICAGO — ADM’s stock experienced a sharp decline on Jan. 22 after the company announced that its chief financial officer, Vikram Luthar, had been placed under administrative leave amid an investigation into accounting practices in its nutrition segment. 

ADM’s stock opened at $56.88 on Jan. 22, down16.6% from its previous close of $68.19 on Jan. 19. The stock price continued to decline and traded at a 52-week low of $52.46 in mid-morning trading on Jan. 22.

Luthar has been placed on administrative leave following a Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) “voluntary” request for documents. ADM’s outside counsel and board audit committee are looking at accounting practices in its nutrition segment, including intersegment transactions. Luthar was promoted to CFO in April 2022 and has been with ADM since 2004.

Ismael Roig, an executive who was president of both Europe, Middle East and Africa operations and president of animal nutrition at ADM, has been named interim CFO. He has been with ADM since 2004. Prior to ADM he spent 11 years with General Motors Corp. in various treasury, finance and controller positions.

“The board takes these matters very seriously,” said Terry Crews, lead director, ADM. “Pending the outcome of the investigation, the board determined that it was advisable to place Mr. Luthar on administrative leave. The board will continue to work in close coordination with ADM’s advisers to identify the best path forward and ensure ADM’s processes align with financial governance best practices.”

Roig said he would be working in partnership with the team at ADM to move forward, despite the SEC’s probe.

“I look forward to working closely with the management team and board, including the audit committee, as we resolve this matter and continue to drive value for our stockholders and customers,” he said.

ADM’s nutrition segment accounted for $468 million of the company’s $4.67 billion operating profit through the first nine months of the year. ADM’s outside counsel and board audit committee are looking into accounting practices in its nutrition segment, including intersegment transactions. 

The company also missed profit expectations, reporting adjusted earnings per share of above $6.90 for the fiscal year, which is lower than the $7.27 expected by analysts. ADM’s ag services and oilseeds and carbohydrate solutions units will report results in line with expectations it gave in the third quarter, according to the company.

ADM’s stock has fallen 19% over the last year, while the S&P 500 has gained 22%. The stock’s 52-week high is $87.30, while its 52-week low is $52.46.

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The Israel-Hamas war is affecting traveler confidence and bookings

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The Israel-Hamas war is affecting travel across the Middle East and beyond.

International arrivals to the region grew in the fourth quarter of 2023 — mainly owing to an increase in visitors to Saudi Arabia — to a level that matched 2019 numbers, according to the travel data company ForwardKeys.

But it’s a far cry from the 30% rise in inbound travelers the region was expecting compared to 2019 levels, based on the number of airline tickets purchased before the Oct. 7 attack on Israel, the company said.  

The outlook for 2024 doesn’t look much different.

“The forward-looking situation for arrivals to the Middle East in the first quarter of 2024 as of 6 Oct. — the day before the recent conflict started — was very positive, with tickets issued up by 49% vs pre-pandemic levels,” said Olivier Ponti, the company’s vice president of insights. “Fast-forward to 5 Jan. … with tickets issued now up by just 9% vs. 2019.”

Data showed air tickets to the Middle East purchased after the war fell 6% from 2019, with purchases to the United Arab Emirates down 8%, Morocco 15%, Turkey 17% and Egypt 21%. Tickets to Jordan were affected the most, falling 50% from 2019 levels, according to ForwardKeys.

Canceling plans a continent away

Yet, the war’s effect on travelers extends far beyond the Middle East, according to a survey from Morning Consult.

The data research company surveyed some 2,200 Americans in November, with one in five people saying they have delayed, rescheduled or canceled a travel booking as a direct result of the Israel-Hamas war. 

Respondents said these plans included visits to the Middle East (12%) and North Africa (7%), as well as Western Europe (14%), according to the survey. However, the bulk of the cancelations — 41% — were for trips within the United States, the survey showed.

Cancelations were high for domestic trips because most Americans travel within the 50 states, thus “there are simply more trips on the table to disrupt,” the report stated.

But as to why the war is making Americans feel uneasy about traveling in their own country, the report stated: “This is also emblematic of the larger tensions — for example, concerns related to antisemitism and Islamophobia — stoked by the conflict, and peoples’ resultant apprehension to venture far from home.”

Following Hamas’ attack on Israel on Oct. 7, tensions spilled over to college campuses, workplaces and suburban neighborhoods, with many countries reporting a rise in hate crimes against Muslims and Jewish people.

A worldwide travel advisory, issued by the U.S. State Department less than two weeks following Hamas’ attack on Israel, may have affected traveler confidence as well, the report stated. Some 62% of respondents said they knew about it.

Worldwide Caution

“Due to increased tensions in various locations around the world, the potential for terrorist attacks, demonstrations or violent actions against U.S. citizens and interests, the Department of State advises U.S. citizens overseas to exercise increased caution.” — U.S. Travel Advisory issued on Oct. 19, 2023

In addition to weather and natural disaster alerts, the U.S. State Department Bureau of Consular Affairs’ account on X, formerly Twitter, has pushed out numerous security alerts in the months following the Hamas attack — for Cyprus, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Kuwait and Turkey, among others — as well as demonstration alerts for cities in Turkey, Malaysia, Colombia, Oman, Egypt, South Africa, the United Kingdom, Poland and Denmark, some connected to rising anti-U.S. sentiment over the war.

U.S. domestic travel in the fourth quarter of 2023 fell below 2019 levels, according to ForwardKeys. The downturn happened after the outbreak of the war, the company said.

The day before the attack, the travel outlook for U.S. domestic travel in the fourth quarter of 2023 was positive (+4%), but it ended down (-5%), “highlighting the impact of the ongoing conflict in Israel,” said Ponti.

More feel unsafe

Numerous reports indicate Muslims and Jewish people worldwide no longer feel safe.

Morning Consult’s survey indicated those who know about the war may be feeling less safe as well.

Some 52% of respondents with knowledge of the war said they viewed traveling to the Middle East as “very unsafe,” compared to 29% of those who had not heard about it.  

Those who had heard about the war also indicated that they felt less safe traveling to North Africa and Eastern Europe too, the survey showed.

Zicasso’s 2024 Luxury Travel Report named geopolitical conflict as one of the three most significant obstacles to booking travel this year.

In a survey of 200 global travel specialists, 18% said uncertainty and safety issues in certain regions may discourage travelers from booking.

“After the October events in the Middle East, we did see a significant fall-off in trip requests to Israel and the surrounding region,” said Zicasso’s CEO Brian Tan. “Typically, when travelers have second thoughts about overseas travel to a certain region due to obstacles such as geopolitical conflict, we find that travelers will redirect to other international destinations.”

He said the war in Ukraine hasn’t materially affected business since Zicasso doesn’t receive many requests for bookings there, but that his company is carefully watching the situation in Ecuador, where gang violence erupted last week.  

Tan noted that his company has seen a recent rise in trip requests for Morocco, which he noted is thousands of miles from Jerusalem.

Yet, according to Morning Consult, the Israel-Hamas war could reduce travel interest to the region “for months and even years to come.”

   

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Slideshow: New products from AMC Theatres, Williams Sonoma, and Dunkin’

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KANSAS CITY — Companies are adding products to their portfolios before ringing in the new year.

AMC Theatres is expanding its retail presence with the introduction of its AMC-branded line of chocolate candies under the brand AMC Cinema Sweets. The new line of candies features four varieties: milk chocolate covered pretzels with a dark chocolate drizzle, milk chocolate covered almonds, milk chocolate covered raisins, and milk chocolate covered peanuts.

Over the past year, AMC has expanded its portfolio with several introductions, including AMC popcorn at Walmart locations and Hidden Valley ranch-flavored popcorn at movie theaters across the United States.

“We spent the last year in research and development ensuring that AMC Cinema Sweets, carrying the AMC name, are candies we are proud of, and just as important — really delicious snacks that our guests will enjoy and seek out when they come to the movies,” said Hank Green, vice president, food and beverage, AMC. “The launch of AMC Cinema Sweets — these four premium gourmet candies, with more on the way — are another way that AMC consistently makes movies better — and makes the movie-going experience even sweeter.”

On the foodservice side, Dunkin’ is adding its newest seasonal menu, which features the return of the pink velvet macchiato and the pancake wake-up wrap. The layered pink velvet macchiato features espresso and the flavors of red velvet cake and notes of cream cheese frosting. The new menu also includes a frosty red velvet donut and the pancake wake-up wrap, which is a pancake wrapped around bacon or sausage, egg and melted cheese. Making its debut as part of Dunkin’s seasonal menu is the new white hazelnut bark coffee, a drink that features the flavors of toasted hazelnut paired with white chocolate.

Williams Sonoma, a portfolio brand of Williams-Sonoma, Inc., is partnering with Netflix and Shondaland to launch a line of products inspired by the popular “Bridgerton” series. The Bridgerton collection includes over 20 products, including baking mixes; cakes, cookies, pastries, and petite fours; artisanal chocolates, candies, gelato, honey, and curds; and beverage mixes, available in several flavors.

“We are proud to partner with Netflix and Shondaland to develop products inspired by the sets, fashion and storylines that have made ‘Bridgerton’ a global phenomenon, and one of the most watched shows on Netflix,” said Felix Carbullido, president at Williams Sonoma. “Fans of ‘Bridgerton’ will appreciate the design details that are apparent throughout the collection.”

Williams Sonoma is not the only company looking to expand to “Bridgerton” fans. Danone North America’s International Delight brand released three limited-time offerings, including coffee and coffee creamer.

Click to view new products on shelves and menus.

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