Why a strong and open internet became “a top thing” for Tim Cook and co.
Thursday, 31 August 2017
Mountaintop Garnacha: A Vertical Tasting of Spain’s Aquilon (Wine Spectator)
An 11-vintage vertical tasting of Alto Moncayo Aquilon
Wednesday, 30 August 2017
Harvey moves into Louisiana, rainfall continues
After dumping record rainfall on the Houston area, Tropical Storm Harvey continued toward Louisiana and the Tennessee Valley on Wednesday, spreading rain over a growing geographical area.
Millennials are more bullish on auto loans than Gen Xers were
Millennials are opening auto loans at a 21 percent higher rate than Gen X consumers did at the same age. But millennials are finding alternatives to other types of finance products, such as credit cards, according to a study by TransUnion.
Lenders offer assistance after Harvey
Auto lenders are moving to help Gulf Coast customers affected by Hurricane Harvey, offering payment extensions, redirecting billing statements and taking other steps.
German consumer group plans more compensation cases against VW
(Reuters) — German consumer rights group myRight will appeal against an expected defeat Thursday in its first case seeking compensation from Volkswagen A.G. over its emissions scandal and plans to file more cases soon.
Millennials more bullish on auto loans than Gen Xers were
Millennials are opening auto loans at a 21 percent higher rate than Gen X consumers at the same age. But they’re finding alternatives to other types finance products, such as credit cards, according to a study by TransUnion.
UK insurers need to decide on moving EU policies by November
(Reuters) — Insurers in Britain face crunchtime within weeks if the government and the European Union do not allow millions of cross-border policies to continue to run undisturbed beyond Brexit.
Patties stacked in the battle of the burgers
Double take: In-N-Out Burgers is suing rival Smashburger over its “triple double burger,” which it says customers could confuse with In-N-Out’s signature “double double.”
All Ireland Minor Hurling Final
This Sunday, Cork take on Galway in the All Ireland Minor Hurling Final. Check out our match preview before The Rebel’s’ clash with The Tribesmen.
Making a Tropical Storm Harvey Donation? Go With Cash
As Houston donations rush in, consider not just what to give, but when it can get there.
Do We Need a Speedometer for artificial intelligence?
Measuring how quickly machines are getting smarter could help us prepare for the consequences for society and the economy.
Tuesday, 29 August 2017
Ford Credit will revamp credit-risk model
Ford Credit’s credit-risk model will include nontraditional data, machine learning to give the lender a better view of a car buyer’s likelihood to make payments.
Struggling NFIP staggers under Harvey
Tropical Storm Harvey is going to drive the National Flood Insurance Program even deeper into debt — but how much further is yet to be determined, according to experts.
Navigators names president of specialty casualty
The Navigators Group Inc. has promoted Tim Ryan to the new position of president of specialty casualty.
One more punch in Mayweather-McGregor fight
The Floyd Mayweather and Conor McGregor fight is not over yet: The latest blow comes in the form of a potential class action lawsuit against Showtime Networks, which one boxing fan claims failed to deliver high-definition streaming as promised.
Tax ruling provides insights on captive structures
A long-awaited U.S. Tax Court ruling on 831(b) captives, seen as an IRS victory, should not have a direct effect on larger, well-managed captives, but it does provide insights into the judge’s reasoning that other captive owners should review.
Harvey Shows Progress on Emergency Communications Since Katrina
As Hurricane Harvey wreaks havoc on Southeast Texas, crucial cellular networks remain largely stable, reflecting progress since Katrina.
Sculpting lower body circuit
Carve your buns, quads, and hamstrings (plus a little bit of core) with this killer lower-body circuit courtesy of trainer Joni Ortiz.
Power through the exercises quickly using your own bodyweight, or take it at a slower, harder pace by adding a set of dumbbells into the mix.
Model/Trainer: Joni Ortiz // Photography: James Patrick
This lower-body circuit is great for strengthening and toning your lower body and, considering some of the largest muscles of the body can be found in your legs, you get the added bonus of serious calorie burn.
Complete 15 repetitions of each exercise with good form before moving on to the next exercise. Complete each exercise back-to-back with no rest in-between to ensure your heart rate is kept high. At the end of the circuit, rest for 30 seconds (advanced) to 1 minute (beginner), before starting the circuit again. Four rounds.
Forward lunges
Stand holding your dumbbells by your side (if you have them) and step forward, lowering your back knee down to the ground and keeping your front knee in alignment with your ankle. Push through your heel back into standing position. Repeat for 15 reps, alternating legs.
Good morning – squat Rotation
Start in a standing position. Move into a good-morning with a slight bend in your knees, hinging at the hip and with your back straight. From here, sit back into a squat (hold this for a couple of seconds) and then move back into a good morning. Return to a standing position. This is one rep. Repeat for 15 reps, moving at a moderate to quick pace.
Single-leg deadlifts
Start in a standing position, holding dumbbells at your sides. Shift weight onto one leg, lower dumbbells down, keeping a slight bend in the stationary leg, while kicking alternate leg back. Upon rising, push through the heel and squeeze your glute muscle for two seconds before lowering back down. Repeat.
Bench step-ups with kickback
Stand facing a bench. Step up with your right foot and kick your left leg back at the highest point of the movement, squeezing your glute. Step back down to the ground and repeat with your opposite leg. Alternate legs until you have completed 15 reps.
Spiderman plank
Begin in plank position, holding dumbbells. Bring your right knee towards your right elbow with a slight squeeze in your oblique, before returning back to plank position. Repeat on your left side and alternate sides until you have completed 15 reps.
Bench jumps
Stand facing the bench. Squat down and jump up onto the bench into a squatted position. Think ‘light knees’ – you should not be banging into the bench with force, as this puts undue pressure on your joints. Step back down to the ground and repeat until you have completed 15 reps.
Alien squats
Get into a squat position with knees wide. Kick feet out without raising your upper body, before moving back down into the squat position. Repeat for 15 reps. This exercise should be completed quickly for best results.
Single-leg variation (lunge – kickback)
In standing position, shift weight to one leg, move into single leg lunge and, upon rising, kick alternate leg back. Move back into standing position before completing the same movement on the opposite leg. Alternate legs until 15 reps are complete. Remember to move quickly through the movement.
{nomultithumb}
Monday, 28 August 2017
New Uber CEO Khosrowshahi Knows Many Tricks—He’ll Need Them All
Expedia CEO Dara Khosrowshahi will take over the scandal-plagued ride-hailing company, the world’s most valuable startup
Half-baked Subway ‘footlong’ class action tossed
Using harsh language, a federal appeals court has dismissed a class action settlement over the length of Subway’s “footlong” sandwiches as “utterly worthless” and benefiting only plaintiff attorneys.
Reader Review: “Our Souls at Night”
by Judith Bates: This is a short book, only 179 pages, and it is Kent Haruf’s last book before he passed away and, of course, it takes place in Holt, Colorado. I think this is the best of his books,, although they are all good! It is a story about two senior people who have been "sort of friend" for many years. She knew his wife, but they were not close friends. Both his wife and her husband have passed away. This is a story that will make you happy and sad! It is undoubtedly one of the best stories I have ever read! It is a story about two people who "find" each other; there is happiness and sadness! Read it you will like it! It is the perfect story!
Woman fakes death several times to collect life insurance
Claiming she was “addicted to money,” a New Zealand woman faked her death three times in an attempt to collect nearly $3 million in insurance money, New Zealand’s news web site Stuff reported on Monday.
Win Tickets To The All Ireland Hurling Final
We have a pair of tickets to this year’s All Ireland hurling final up for grabs. Continue reading to find out how to enter this fantastic competition. T&Cs apply.
Houston crippled by catastrophic flooding with more rain on the way
(Reuters) — Houston is facing worsening historic flooding in the coming days as Tropical Storm Harvey dumps more rain on the city, swelling rivers to record levels and forcing federal engineers to release water from area reservoirs.
Sunday, 27 August 2017
Friday, 25 August 2017
Court switches excess insurer in wrongful murder conviction case
A federal appeals court has overturned a lower court ruling in an insurer dispute and held that a Selective Insurance Group Inc. unit is obligated to pay $3.25 million of excess coverage in a settlement in connection with the wrongful arrest and conviction of an Ohio man for rape and murder.
VW engineer sentenced to 40-month prison term in diesel case
(Reuters) — A federal judge in Detroit sentenced former engineer James Liang to 40 months in prison for his role in Volkswagen’s multiyear scheme to sell diesel cars that generated more pollution than U.S. clean air rules allowed.
Wine Magic in the Mountains (Wine Spectator)
Little Nell in Aspen celebrates 20 years of Grand Awards
Ford Credit will revamp its credit-risk model
Ford Credit’s credit-risk model will include nontraditional data, machine learning to give the lender a better view of a car buyer’s likelihood to make payments.
Energy insurer asks S&P to withdraw ratings
Oil Casualty Insurance Ltd. on Friday said it has asked S&P Global Ratings Inc. to withdraw its financial ratings after the agency gave the insurer a negative outlook.
Insurance dispute in college football case might settle: Filing
Insurance coverage litigation stemming from a putative class action lawsuit filed by a former college football player who is suffering from memory loss could be headed for settlement, according to papers filed in a federal court.
Thursday, 24 August 2017
Dismissal of AutoZoners claims adjuster’s bias charges upheld
A federal appeals court has upheld dismissal of age, race and gender discrimination and retaliation charges filed by a former claims adjuster in AutoZoners L.L.C.’s risk management department.
Zone boarding exposes first-class passengers to extra germs
It’s one of those rare instances where first-class passengers, with their pre-flight cocktails and cloth napkins, have it the worst.
Wells Fargo cedes U.S. auto-lending crown to Ally amid car glut
Wells Fargo’s decision months ago to pull back from making new auto loans cleared the way for Ally Financial to become the auto industry’s biggest source of funding.
The Day I Found Out My Life Was Hanging by a Thread
Startup CEO Matt Bencke, 45, thought he’d thrown out his back. Then he went to the ER and received the most sobering news of his life.
Wednesday, 23 August 2017
Damore Case Could Spawn More Legal Headaches for Google
Fired Google engineer and his lawyer say others claim discrimination for political views
Google and Walmart’s Partnership Will Be a Real Test For Amazon
If anyone can take a bite out of Amazon, it’s the combined forces of Walmart and Google.
Travelers must defend policyholder in defamation suit: Court
A Travelers Cos. Inc. unit is obligated to defend an investment fund being sued by Dov Charney, the controversial former chief executive of American Apparel Inc., in a defamation case.
Car supermarkets are a step backward
The future of vehicle retail and FandI could take a variety of forms, but another type of brick-and-mortar store would be an unexpected route. Advancements toward an online transaction would serve the industry better.
Chinese court awards New Balance $1.5 million in trademark case
(Reuters) — A Chinese court has ordered three domestic shoemakers to pay more than 10 million yuan ($1.5 million) to New Balance Athletics Inc. in damages for infringing the U.S. sportswear company’s signature slanting logo.
Class action against Volvo over hybrid car mileage reinstated
Citing an earlier U.S. Supreme Court ruling — and stating it was relying on information known to “any first-year law student” — an appeals court reinstated a putative class action suit against Volvo Cars of North America that claims ads for its hybrid car are misleading.
FICO arms lenders with assorted deal offers in seconds
Lenders on FICO’s new platform provide dealers with multiple offers from the get-go, potentially eliminating the back and forth with dealers to achieve a customer’s perfect deal structure, the company says.
One-Time Allies Sour on Joining Trump Tech Team
Obama welcomed a new generation of techies to the White House. Now, some fear such gains may be erased under Trump.
Employers advised to delay injury data filings in wake of security breach
A potential security breach of the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s web-based form to allow employers to electronically submit required injury and illness data has validated employer concerns about the agency’s ability to secure and protect the information and has lawyers advising their clients not to file the reports until right before the deadline.
Tuesday, 22 August 2017
Embracing the committed online shopper
Raymond Auto Group in northern Illinois has embraced the “shop, click and buy” approach. It took some work.
Marketing firm prevails in contract fight with Yahoo
A federal appeals court has reversed a lower court ruling and awarded $4.4 million to a marketing firm in a contract dispute with Yahoo over a basketball promotion that indirectly involved Warren Buffett and Berkshire Hathaway.
Aon D&O insurance clients see continued rate reductions
The price per million in directors and officers liability insurance limits for Aon Risk Solutions clients that renewed in both the first quarter of 2017 and 2016’s first quarter decreased an average of 4.4%.
Ironshore launches emergency response team for cyber claims
Ironshore Inc. on Tuesday said it is launching a computer emergency response team, or CERT, to manage cyber claims across all product lines.
Busier Atlantic hurricane season forecast
The Weather Co. increased its 2017 hurricane forecast to 17 named storms and nine hurricanes due to warmer water temperatures in the Atlantic.
No clear resolution in Fair Credit Reporting Act case
The issue of when plaintiffs have the right to sue under the Fair Credit Reporting Act for injury may still not be settled despite a U.S. Supreme Court ruling and a subsequent rehearing by a federal appeals court on remand.
Why It’s So Hard to Define What Online Hate Speech Is
Why did YouTube remove a World War II video? Because algorithms, and humans, are flawed
Employers within rights to fire Charlottesville marchers
Private-sector employers are generally within their rights to fire or discipline employees for expressing views that could create a hostile work environment or damage the employer’s reputation even if the employees are exercising their First Amendment free speech rights on their own time, as thousands did in Charlottesville, Virginia, earlier this month.
Monday, 21 August 2017
Sorry, Banning ‘Killer Robots’ Just Isn’t Practical
Elon Musk and others seek restrictions on use of autonomous weapons
4 Superfoods You Should Eat
Are you looking to improve your diet? Our blog provides a list of 4 superfoods that will not only help with your diet but should also improve your lifestyle.
For the Love of Corsica (Wine Spectator)
Antoine Arena helped revive this Mediterranean island’s wine. Now he’s turning the legacy over to his sons
American Airlines lawsuit: Don’t mess with the dress
A bride and recent law school grad is accusing an American Airlines flight attendant of trying to sabotage her wedding by spilling red wine on her dress on a flight to Jamaica and is suing the airline for $3.4 million, according to the New Jersey Local News.
Machines Learn a Biased View of Women
Image recognition software showed a tendency to associate women with shopping and men with shooting.
Washington state high court won’t reconsider pollution ruling
The Washington State Supreme Court has refused to reconsider a ruling in which it held that the “efficient proximate cause” doctrine could be applied to a liability insurance dispute in a pollution case involving carbon monoxide poisoning in a home.
Sunday, 20 August 2017
Roadster lands Longo Toyota as client for online storefront
Longo Toyota has signed on to use Roadster’s digital storefront. Consumers can complete transactions online and have vehicles delivered to them.
Friday, 18 August 2017
Liberty Mutual prevails in claims adjuster’s age discrimination suit
A federal appeals court has upheld dismissal of age and disability discrimination and retaliation claims filed by a former Liberty Mutual Insurance Co. claims adjuster.
Nestle defends ‘Kit Kat’ campaign against Atari ‘Breakout’ lawsuit
(Reuters) — Nestle S.A. on Friday paddled back claims in a new lawsuit in which Atari S.A. accused the Swiss food company of pilfering its classic 1970s video game “Breakout” to help sell Kit Kat chocolate-covered wafer bars.
Premium pricing continues decline in second quarter 2017
Commercial property/casualty rates continued to decline for the 10th straight quarter, though the market appeared to be stabilizing, the Council of Insurance Agents & Brokers said.
Hellman & Friedman explores insurance broker Hub stake sale: Sources
(Reuters) — Hellman & Friedman is exploring the sale of a stake in Hub International Ltd. in a deal that could value one of the largest North American insurance brokerages at between $6 billion and $7 billion, people familiar with the matter said.
FCC Pledges Openness — Just Don’t Ask To See Complaints
Agency shielding complaints about internet providers, analysis of website outage
Thursday, 17 August 2017
Proposed California Law Targets Sexual Harassment in Venture Capital
Bill is a direct response to the deluge of sexual-harassment allegations from female startup founders.
BMW and Daimler may consider merging car-sharing units
German carmakers Daimler and BMW may be in talks to combine their car-sharing services Car2Go and DriveNow, the CEO of car rental company and DriveNow partner Sixt hinted.
Swiss Re forms global contingency and sports personal accident unit
Swiss Re Corporate Solutions Ltd., a division of Swiss Re Ltd., on Thursday said it is forming a global unit for its contingency and sports personal accident business.
Nutella goes missing in Germany
Perhaps a bank-caliber armored truck would have been a good risk-management strategy, as 20 tons of creamy, chocolatey hazelnut gold has gone missing in Germany, according to news outlets.
Wells Fargo’s GAP refund problem offers a lesson
Wells Fargo found itself in hot water again last week for possibly neglecting to refund consumers’ guaranteed asset protection payments after they paid off their auto loans.
Appeals court rules for Uber in arbitration dispute
(Reuters) — A U.S. appeals court on Thursday ruled in favor of Uber Technologies Inc. in a closely watched lawsuit over whether passengers gave up their right to sue the ride-sharing company when they registered for its service.
Insured catastrophe losses down in first half: Swiss Re
Insured losses from global catastrophes were significant lower in the first half of 2017, driven by severe thunderstorm activity in the United States, according to the Swiss Re Institute.
Wednesday, 16 August 2017
EEOC granted right to subpoena after right-to-sue letter
In a ruling that widens an appellate court split, the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has held that the EEOC has the authority to subpoena information from Union Pacific Corp. even after it has issued a right-to-sue letter.
N.Y. Nissan dealership to pay $298,000 for consumer deception
N.Y. dealership Nissan of New Rochelle has agreed to pay more than $298,000 in restitution and state penalties for deceptively charging hundreds of customers for an unwanted and phony anti-theft product.
Rodent baked into Chick-fil-A sandwich spurs lawsuit
A cornerstone of Chick-fil-A’s marketing is a cow encouraging patrons to eat more chicken. But rats?
GM’s FandI product unit partners with MaximTrak
General Motors’ FandI product group will use MaximTrak Technologies as an FandI platform provider for its U.S. dealers. As MaximTrak’s capabilities expand, the relationship could extend to other dealership departments.
M-B Financial, Mini Financial, TD Auto Finance score highest in dealer satisfaction
Mercedes-Benz Financial Services, Mini Financial Services and TD Auto Finance topped their segments in lender services satisfaction among auto dealers participating in J.D. Power 2017 U.S. Dealer Financing Satisfaction Study.
Maersk upbeat on shipping outlook, faces hefty cyber attack bill
Denmark’s A.P. Moller Maersk gave an upbeat outlook for container shipping on Wednesday, lifting its shares by as much as 4.5% as investors looked beyond one-off second-quarter charges and a costly cyber attack on its operations.
Reader Review: “The Ministry of Utmost Happiness”
by Cloggie Downunder (Thirroul): “Their wounds were too old and too new, too different, and perhaps too deep, for healing. But for a fleeting moment, they were able to pool them like accumulated gambling debts and share the pain equally, without naming injuries or asking which was whose. For a fleeting moment they were able to repudiate the world they lived in and call forth another one, just as real.”
The Ministry of Utmost Happiness is the second novel by Booker Prize winning author, Arundhati Roy. The story begins with Aftab, whose confusion about what he was found relief at the Khwabgah, among other hijra. He became Anjum, and eventually she ran the Jannat Guest House (in its highly unusual location), a refuge for the quirky, the oppressed, the different.
Integral to the tale is S. Tilottama, real and adopted daughter of Maryam Ipe. Tilo's story, and that of the three men who love her, is told not only by her, but by Dr Azad Bhartiya (fasting Free Indian), Biplab Desgupta (her ex-Intelligence Bureau landlord), and Musa Yeswi (elusive militant). Filling out the quirky cast are a paraven calling himself Saddam Hussain, Zainab the Bandicoot, Naga the journalist, a singing teacher, and an abandoned baby, to name just a few.
How all their lives intersect and how these lives are impacted upon by Government and policy, and in particular, the Kashmiri freedom struggles, is told using vignettes, anecdotes, loosely connected short stories, moral tales, memos, disjointed scraps, accounts that take detours and meander off on tangents. As with Rushdie, Seth and Mistry, this novel has that unmistakeable, essential Indian quality, in characters, in dialogue, in plot.
But here, moreso than in The God of Small Things, the fact that this is a novel by Arundhati Roy the social activist, is very much in evidence (as readers of her non-fiction works will attest) and thus includes illustrations of the many issues against which she rails. Some reviewers describe this novel as “preachy”; the causes are worthy, but readers may feel that is it is only a shade off being exactly that, and perhaps be forgiven for wishing that it was more novel, less moral tale.
Some of Roy's descriptive prose, as with in The God of Small Things, is staggeringly beautiful, poetic and profound: “They understood of course that it was a dirge for a fallen empire whose international borders had shrunk to a grimy ghetto circumscribed by the ruined walls of an old city. And yes, they realised that it was also a rueful comment on Mulaqat Ali's own straitened circumstances. What escaped them was that the couplet was a sly snack, a perfidious samosa, a warning wrapped in mourning, being offered with faux humility by an erudite man who had absolute faith in his listeners' ignorance of Udru, a language which, like most of those who spoke it, was gradually being ghettoized.”
However, the vague and veiled references to certain personages, events and ideas which are, perhaps, obvious to those familiar with Indian current affairs, will go straight over the heads of other readers, the message will be lost or less than clear. There is humour, heartache, despair and hope, there is much cruelty but also abundant kindness, making it a moving and powerful read.
Trump pulls the plug on flood risk management standard
President Donald Trump has signed an executive order revoking the establishment of a federal flood risk management standard.
Everybody Chill: Robots Won’t Take All Our Jobs
Everyone thinks automation will take all our jobs. The evidence disagrees.
Tuesday, 15 August 2017
Uber considering sale of U.S. car-leasing business, report says
Ride-hailing company Uber is evaluating options for its capital-intensive car-leasing business, including a sale of the unit, a source familiar with the matter told Reuters.
New Media and the Messy Nature of Reporting on the Alt-Right
The press is grappling with a conundrum: how much coverage of the so-called alt-right is too much coverage?
Uber Settles with FTC Again, This Time over 2014 Privacy Breach
Agreement is ride-hailing company’s second FTC settlement this year.
BMO Harris dives deeper into auto lending
BMO Harris is boosting its auto lending by expanding downward to near-prime customers, introducing three-tier flat fees and leveraging floorplanning relationships.
Global insurance rates continue downward trend: Marsh
Global insurance rates decreased for the 17th consecutive quarter in the second quarter of 2017, largely due to substantial capacity and a competitive underwriting market, according to Marsh L.L.C.
Markel unit’s exposure to pregnant mother’s death capped at $1 million
Evanston Insurance Co.’s liability in a case in which a pregnant woman and her baby died after a tree fell on her is limited to $1 million, says a federal appeals court, in affirming a lower court ruling and holding there was only one occurrence.
Alliant opens Baton Rouge office
Alliant Insurance Services Inc. on Tuesday said it is opening an office in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, for its middle market Alliant Americas division, and adding two regional executives to head it.
Crocs lose their footing in the rubber shoe market
The future of comfortable and colorful Crocs footwear could be growing painful and dim after the company mired itself in the war against copycat rivals.
Pollution exclusion shields Travelers in carbon monoxide poisoning
A Travelers Cos. Inc. unit is not obligated to provide coverage in an incident in which carbon monoxide that flowed from a recreational fishing boat’s engine killed two men and injured a third.
Fear of data breach consequences splits appeals courts
A recent federal appeals court ruling in a putative class action lawsuit that says plaintiffs can sue even if there is only fear of, but no actual, damage from a data breach further deepens an appeals court split on the issue and enhances its chances of being considered by the U.S. Supreme Court, experts say.
Monday, 14 August 2017
Costco owes Tiffany $19.4M for fake Tiffany rings: US judge
A federal judge on Monday said Tiffany & Co. may recover at least $19.4 million in damages from Costco Wholesale Corp. over the warehouse club chain’s illegal sale of counterfeit diamond engagement rings bearing the “Tiffany” name.
Limo company fails to prove harm by insurance non-renewal: Court
A limousine company failed to provide evidence it was financially hurt when its insurance broker gave it short notice its insurance policy would not be renewed and it was left without coverage for a period, says a federal court, in dismissing the policyholder’s lawsuit.
Sunday, 13 August 2017
To sell FandI to Generation Y, be casual and creative
A casual, targeted approach is an important tool for all finance managers when selling to millennials, experts say. That’s especially true given their growing impact on the auto market.
Friday, 11 August 2017
Insurer’s med mal coverage dispute must go to trial: Ruling
The issue of whether an insurer can rescind the medical malpractice policies of medical clinics, several of whose employees were charged with writing illegal prescriptions, will have to be decided at trial, says a federal court in Indianapolis.
HBO offers $250,000 as ‘bounty payment’ to hackers: Variety
The hackers behind HBO’s recent data breach have leaked an email in which the U.S. cable channel offered them $250,000 as a “bounty payment,” Hollywood trade paper Variety reported.
Captives seen as viable option for covering cyber risk
Covering cyber risk in a captive insurer is not for every company, but it’s an option that every captive owner should explore, according to experts.
Defense Secretary James Mattis Envies Silicon Valley’s AI Ascent
The academic and commercial spheres are seeing rapid advances in AI technology. And the Pentagon wants in.
The BI Top 10
This week’s most popular stories include Berkshire Hathaway’s second-quarter results and risks the hospitality industry faces from sex trafficking.
Irish Cultural Drives
Our eBook provides a list of Irish cultural experiences from history tours to fine dining. Download our eBook for free today and start planning your next road trip.
Thursday, 10 August 2017
Benchmark Capital Just Sued Former Uber CEO Travis Kalanick For Fraud
Venture-capital firm claims former CEO duped board into approving expansion plant to retain control of company.
Facebook Watch Muscles Into Online Video
Data on what videos users watch and for how long makes new offering a formidable player.
Google Abruptly Cancels Town Hall About Jame’s Damore’s Memo
“TL;DR Sorry for the late notice but we are going to cancel today’s Town Hall”
Schinnerer to acquire property managing general agent ICAT
Underwriting manager Schinnerer Group has agreed to acquire International Catastrophe Insurance Managers from Bermuda-based insurer and reinsurer Paraline Group.
Google’s CEO Must Answer These Questions About That Memo
More than 5,400 Google employees have weighed in on queries Sundar Pichai should tackle related to controversial diversity memo.
Nationwide settles data breach suit for $5.5 million
Nationwide Mutual Insurance and a subsidiary have reached a $5.5 million settlement with 33 state attorneys general over an October 2012 data breach that resulted in the loss of personal information belonging to 1.27 million consumers.
Parking driverless car risks in captives
In the face of traditional insurers’ sluggish response or too-high premiums, captive insurers may be a solution to the emerging risks presented by driverless cars.
Can’t buy love, but can sue
A former QVC e-commerce executive took her matchmaker to court after a string of bad courtships — and won an undisclosed settlement.
Zurich profit up 21% in second quarter
(Reuters) — Zurich Insurance Group Ltd. posted a 21% rise in second-quarter profit and bulked up its capital strength, giving it firepower to raise its dividend or use extra cash for acquisitions.
Cork Vs Waterford 2017
Sunday sees Cork take on Waterford in the All-Ireland hurling semi final. Take a look at our match preview between The Rebels and The Déise.
Wednesday, 9 August 2017
U.S. senators seek answers in Wells Fargo auto scandal
A group of U.S. senators turned up the heat on Wells Fargo over its latest scandal, in which car-loan borrowers were charged each month without their knowledge for collision insurance.
Five funny travel insurance claims that got the OK
A young British traveler marveling at the sights in Athens, Greece, was distracted by a group of women in bikinis and walked into a bus shelter, breaking his nose.
Credit unions claim top lending spot
Credit unions in CU Direct’s lending network climbed to the top ranking in auto loan originations in the first half of the year, passing some of the largest lenders.
Huntington Bank’s Stanutz to retire; role to be split
Nick Stanutz, auto finance leader at Huntington Bank, who helped establish its auto lending business, will retire at the end of this year after 31 years with the bank.
Google DeepMind AI Declares Galactic War on StarCraft
An artificial intelligence bot that beat StarCraft would be much more impressive than mastering the board game Go.
Toyota, Lexus captives add key insurance
Toyota’s captive launched a key replacement product last week, the company’s latest step in providing a fuller customer experience.
Court hits pause on DMS access case
A preliminary injunction favoring Authenticom in its antitrust case against CDK and Reynolds and Reynolds has been put on hold after appeals from the DMS giants.
Google Memo Author James Damore Offended Fellow Students in Grad School Skit
The Google memo author performed in an off-color skit during a class retreat and used suggestive phrases that one attendee said “crossed the line.”
Munich Re profit drops in second quarter
Munich Reinsurance Co. reported a lower profit for the second quarter of 2017 but said it was on pace to meet it’s full-year target.
Japanese Telecom Giant SoftBank Bets $1 Billion on the Clever Pharma Startup Roivant
SoftBank’s aquisition-and-investment spree extends to a drug development business with a slick new strategy
It’s time for dealerships to rethink hiring
As the retail experience evolves and incorporates more technology, how dealerships hire, train and retain talent in all departments will have to change, too. Here’s how.
Tuesday, 8 August 2017
Internal Messages Show Some Google Employees Supported James Damore’s Manifesto
Leaked internal messages show that several coworkers rallied around James Damore’s now-infamous Google memo.
James Damore, Fired for Writing the ‘Google Memo,’ Just Might Sue
Google dismissed Damore for “perpetuating gender stereotypes” in a memo he posted to internal forums last week.
Walgreens purchase turns sour over sweetened beverage tax
Walgreen is sinning against the latest sin tax over sugary beverages in Chicagoland, according to a class action lawsuit filed Monday that accuses the retailer of charging the sweetened beverage tax on unsweetened drinks.
Conserving Water In Your Home
Are you looking to make your home more environmentally friendly? Take a look at our blog which provides tips to help conserve water in your home.
XL launches general liability only wrap policy for construction
XL Group Ltd.’s North America construction business is introducing GL Only Plus, a new general liability only wrap policy.
Reader Review: “Birdsong”
by mike speake: Quite simply the best book that I have ever read. A feast of intense story-line, history, love, horror, emotion, description, frailty. I read it ten years ago and am now re-reading it. I just cannot put it down.
Andrew Ng’s Next Project Takes Aim at the Deep Learning Skills Gap
Artificial intelligence expert Andrew Ng has a new online course to teach deep learning skills to coders
Insurers, reinsurers look to consolidation to achieve scale, growth
Mergers and acquisitions are likely to continue in the global insurance and reinsurance sector as companies continue to strive for growth and challenging markets persist.
Finally: New Augmented Reality App Mirage Injects the Internet Into Real Life
Mirage doesn’t just uncover secret messages—it lets the internet ooze out of your phone and into your surroundings.
Monday, 7 August 2017
That Google Manifesto Really Puts Executives In a Bind
Memo challenges company’s training on unconscious bias
The Apple ARKit Proves the Future of Augmented Reality Will Be on Your Phone
Apple’s ARKit draws interest in the mundane — fitting furniture in a room, a digital tape measure.
Insurer groups urge NAIC to coordinate with US on terrorism data calls
Insurance trade associations are urging the National Association of Insurance Commissioners to merge their efforts to collect terrorism data with federal officials.
Microsoft Chatbot Trolls Shoppers for Online Sex
Program creates fake ads, send warning to those who respond: “You may be contacted by law enforcement.”
Calabrian High Style: Ceraudo’s Model for Organic Wine (Wine Spectator)
Inside Ceraudo’s southern Italian idyll
Sunday, 6 August 2017
Data make clear that auto lending is sound
Cox Automotive’s Jonathan Smoke takes stock of automotive lending’s resilience and health.
Why People Can’t Stop Talking About Zuckerberg 2020
The CEO of Facebook has denied that his tour of America is about presidential aspirations. So why can’t we let it go?
Saturday, 5 August 2017
Meet Alex, the Russian Casino Hacker Who Wins at Slot Machines and Makes Millions
A mathematician-turned-criminal unleashes his agents on casinos around the world. But there’s money in the extortion racket, too.
Friday, 4 August 2017
What Did Martin Shkreli Do to Make the Internet So Angry?
A short rundown of the what the “pharma bro” did to become an internet villain.
Google Drops the YouTube Video Review Firm ZeroChaos
Google ended its contract with ZeroChaos, which supplied human ad raters, leaving many unemployed.
Insurance-linked securities hit new high
Record second-quarter property/casualty issuance of insurance-linked securities combined with a strong first quarter to propel the market to a new yearly high in 2017, Aon Benfield Securities reported.
Wells Fargo may face penalties over improper auto insurance charges
Wells Fargo may face regulatory sanctions for having improperly charged customers for auto insurance they did not seek, The Wall Street Journal reported.
Brokerage organic growth rebounds: Study
Insurance agencies and brokerages saw organic growth rebound to a median of 4.6% in the second quarter of 2017, advisory firm Reagan Consulting Inc. said in a new report.
Reader Review: “Beartown”
by Cloggie Downunder (Thirroul): The Scandal (also titled Beartown) is the fourth full-length novel by Swedish blogger, columnist and author, Fredrik Backman. It is translated from Swedish by Neil Smith. As remote as this place in the forest is, and barely surviving economic downturns, closures and redundancies, Beartown has one thing going for it: the Beartown Ice Hockey Club Juniors. While the A Team is pretty well hopeless, the Juniors have a star who might just get them to the Final in the big city. And that would bring the attention of sponsors and investors and governing bodies. A kick start for the town would be most welcome, as even those Beartown residents who don't like ice hockey will acknowledge.
But in the hubris of an interim win, someone steps beyond the bounds of the decency that could be expected, and that whole promising future is thrown into jeopardy.
Backman's opening sentence tantalises the reader: “Late one evening towards the end of March, a teenager picked up a double-barrelled shotgun, walked into the forest, put the gun to someone else's head and pulled the trigger.” The mystery of who and how and why is gradually revealed, and involves some twists and a red herring or two, as well as a good dose of philosophising, quite a lot of social commentary and much ice hockey.
Backman is very skilled at the short vignette that describes his minor characters, and also certain important incidents in the lives of major characters. None of his characters is one-dimensional: all have flaws and most have a conscience; some disappoint and some surprise; many keep secrets and some act out of guilt or the hope to protect their loved ones from hurt.
In this tale, Backman touches on several topical themes: the behaviour of sporting team members off the field; peer pressure and bullying; “blame the victim” mentality; loyalty and responsibility; the tacit acceptance of the violence inherent in contact sport; and the sense of entitlement that often affects the privileged. Yes, there is a lot of Ice Hockey in this story, but it could actually be centred around any team sport in a remote town to the same effect. There is a very slow build-up to the climax, which may be frustrating for some readers, but patience is rewarded. Backman presents moral and ethical dilemmas in a realistic fashion, but is his formula wearing just a little thin? This is a very good read, but not a brilliant one.
Liberty Mutual net income surges on improved investment returns
Liberty Mutual Holding Co. Inc.’s net income for the second quarter of 2017 rose more than eightfold on improved investment returns and higher premiums from its Ironshore Inc. acquisition.
Global insurance sector M&A drops: Report
Worldwide merger and acquisition activity in the insurance industry is off, according to a new study from law firm Clyde & Co.
The BI Top 10
This week’s most popular stories include the alleged poaching of Wells Fargo staff by a one-time bidder for the brokerage, cyber attack fallout and quarterly financial reports.
Swiss Re first-half profit drops by a third, prices keep falling in July
(Reuters) — Swiss Re Ltd. on Friday said it wrote 10% less business during the July property/casualty contract renewal season as rates continued to decline, albeit at a slowing pace.
Thursday, 3 August 2017
Do Not Mistake Orrin Hatch for #HipsterAntitrust
The senator is not radical enough to be part of the #hipsterantitrust.
Willis Towers Watson reports stable revenue in second quarter
Willis Towers Watson P.L.C. on Thursday reported revenue for the second quarter of 2017 of $1.95 billion, essentially unchanged from the prior-year quarter.
EEOC charges CSX strength test biased against women
A physical abilities test administered by CSX Transportation had a disparate impact on female workers and violated federal law, says the EEOC in a sex discrimination lawsuit.
Australian bank accused of massive money-laundering breaches
(Reuters) — The Australian government has accused the country’s biggest mortgage lender, Commonwealth Bank of Australia, of widespread breaches of money-laundering and counter-terrorism financing rules.
UK insurers warn on autonomous vs. assisted driving
A group of British insurers warned there may be an increased number of accidents as driving systems advance from “assisted” to “automated.”
Symantec hires former Aspen exec to head cyber underwriting
Oliver Brew has joined Symantec Corp. as chief underwriter at its cyber insurance unit.
Axa’s first-half profit rises 2%
(Reuters) — Axa S.A. reported a 2% rise in net income for the first half of the year, helped by higher asset management and property/casualty earnings and lower restructuring costs.
Reinsurer Beechwood sold following hedge fund woes: Source
(Reuters) — Beechwood, a group of reinsurance and asset management companies, has been sold after it lost clients and suffered a bruised reputation when hedge fund firm Platinum Partners collapsed.
Wednesday, 2 August 2017
Trump’s Radical Immigration Crackdown Won’t Help Tech
And it’s ripped from the playbooks of anti-immigrant groups the SPLC considers hate groups.
AIG profit falls in second quarter
American International Group Inc., after market close on Wednesday, reported net income of $1.13 billion for the second quarter of 2017, down 40.5% from the second quarter of 2016 as both premiums and investment income dropped.
Travelers CEO Schnitzer elected chairman
Travelers Cos. Inc. on Wednesday said its board of directors unanimously elected CEO Alan D. Schnitzer as its chairman, effective immediately.
Dueling pierogi events in legal food fight
Every culture has its own breaded meat-filled delicacy, but when it comes to the festivals celebrating them imitation is not the sincerest form of flattery.
Commercial insurance rates on the rise
Renewal rates for all major commercial insurance lines except workers compensation stayed in positive territory in July, according to a report released Wednesday by insurance exchange IVANS.
Publics lift FandI profit per unit on strong ancillary sales
Second-quarter FandI gross profit per unit rose at all six publicly traded U.S. new-car dealership groups, largely driven by strong product penetration.
New-car interest rate hits 6-month low
The average new-vehicle interest rate sunk to a six-month low in July but is still up near 2009 recession levels, Edmunds says.
Volkswagen asks US judge to toss Wyoming environmental lawsuit
(Reuters) — Trying to put a massive emissions-cheating scandal behind it, Volkwagen has asked a U.S. judge to reject a lawsuit by Wyoming potentially seeking more than $1 billion in penalties for environment damages.
Top 10 Off Beats from July
July’s most popular Off Beat stories ranged from veggie-free Veggie Straws to a sink-or-swim robot.
What Is Ray Kurzweil Up to at Google? Writing Your Emails
Ray Kurzweil popularized the singularity and is now at Google trying to make machines better with language
Tuesday, 1 August 2017
Obama Alums Pour $1.5 Million Into Progressive Tech Startups
Investments aim at tools to bolster Democrats in coming elections.
Softer sales, margins hit public retailers
Publicly traded auto retailers had to balance gains in used-car sales, finance and insurance revenues and service and parts income against softer new-vehicle sales and margins in the second quarter. Results were mixed.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)