Month: February 2020

Inventor of the “copy and paste” command died

Palo Alto The man who had one of the most important ideas for operating computers is dead: Larry Tesler is considered the inventor of the “copy and paste” clipboard. Tesler wrote the corresponding software code in the 1970s at the innovation laboratory Xerox Parc in Palo Alto, California. The function first came into the hands of consumers several years later in Apple computers. During a visit to Xerox Parc, Apple’s founder Steve Jobs recognized the importance of many of the ideas developed there, such as operating the computer using a mouse and graphic interface.

From 1980 to 1997, Tesler worked at Apple, among other things, on the “Newton” – an assistant device with handwriting recognition that was visionary, but flopped because of its weaknesses. He then went to Amazon and Yahoo, among others, before becoming a freelance consultant a good ten years ago. Tesler died on Monday at the age of 74, as Xerox confirmed on Thursday night.

Jack Wolfskin wants to return to the shelves as a green brand

Munich shopping with a clear conscience: Jack Wolfskin has long considered himself a green pioneer. So far, however, the German outdoor label has hardly advertised with it. This will now change, CEO Melody Harris-Jensbach told the Handelsblatt: “We are trying to communicate this in a positive and authentic way.

Awareness of sustainability has never been stronger, the manager emphasized: “This plays a major role for consumers. Therefore, it is now time to highlight to buyers the efforts that have been made for years to protect the environment. The brand will approach people with two or three core messages.

Jack Wolfskin is right on trend with this. Although the outdoor industry has always been strong in its advertising to show the colourful rain jackets, hiking trousers and climbing shirts in unspoilt nature, the brand is still very much in demand. However, the textiles were essentially made of plastic treated with chemicals.

In the meantime, however, the suppliers have changed. On the one hand they follow the spirit of the times, but are also under pressure from Greenpeace activists and eco-pioneers in the industry such as Patagonia or Vaude.

Jack Wolfskin, for example, is bringing more and more textiles into stores that are made entirely from recycled materials. Both wool and synthetic fibres are recycled, according to the company. Moreover, the entire collection has been free of per- and polyfluorinated chemicals since last year.

These are frequently used in the industry because they allow water, dirt and grease to roll off the clothing. However, they can get into the air, water and food and thus damage the environment – and health. In addition, Jack Wolfskin now uses a dyeing process that uses 90 percent less water than previous applications, explained Harris-Jensbach.

Retailers confirmed that customers are increasingly interested in sustainable goods. However, it is often difficult for people to find their way around, said Martin Kerner, managing director of the outdoor business base camp in Karlsruhe. Therefore, he had created his own label with which he marked sustainably produced goods in his shop.

Because that is a big hurdle. Consumers have so far found it difficult to see how sustainably clothing and shoes are produced. People in Germany can use the “Green Button” label as a guide. But there is no standard worldwide.

To change this, more than 250 brands, factories and retailers have joined forces in the Sustainable Apparel Coalition. The coalition has developed the so-called Higg-Index. This tool is designed to measure environmental impact and social benefits. The system is not yet ready. In the coming years, however, buyers will be able to compare the goods, similar to what is possible today with the electricity consumption of electrical appliances

Jack Wolfskin has to move because the company is in fierce competition. Many a sports shop no longer carries the label at all. In the case of the specialist retail chain Sport 2000, for example, competitors such as Vaude, Fjällräven, The North Face and Salewa have moved past Hesse. By 2018, the label had already dropped out of the ranking of the 20 suppliers with the highest turnover.

Among the most popular brands in the Intersport dealer network, Jack Wolfskin slipped one place to tenth place last year. For comparison: the purchasing cooperative’s own outdoor brand, McKinley, is in third place in the sales statistics, right after Adidas and Nike. At the beginning of the decade, Jack Wolfskin was still number two directly behind Adidas, even ahead of world market leader Nike.

However, Jack Wolfskin runs more of its own stores than any other outdoor brand in this country. That’s why specialist retailers are far less important to the manufacturer than they are to its competitors.

It is no coincidence that Jack Wolfskin is finding less and less space on the shelves of specialist retailers. The company has had an eventful time. For a long time, Harris-Jensbach had to deal more with bankers, lawyers and investors than with the actual business.

In recent years, the owners have given themselves the reins. That, however, is now over: just over a year ago, the US corporation Callaway took over the company for 418 million euros.

IMF lowers growth forecast for China due to coronavirus

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has lowered its growth forecast for China due to the effects of the lung disease Covid-19.

The fund now expects economic growth of 5.6 percent in 2020 instead of the 6.0 percent predicted in January, said IMF head Kristalina Georgieva at the meeting of finance ministers of the leading industrialised and emerging countries (G20) in Riyadh. The growth of the global economy is expected to be 0.1 percent lower due to the coronavirus. The IMF had recently expected growth of 3.3 percent for the current year.

This scenario assumes that the Chinese economy can return to normal in the second quarter, Georgieva said. The Chinese authorities are working to mitigate the negative effects on the economy through crisis measures, liquidity supply, fiscal measures and financial support. The impact on the global economy could thus be relatively small and short-lived.

The IMF chief admitted, however, that there were still major uncertainties – for example about the spread of the virus. This makes a reliable forecast difficult. “Many scenarios can occur, depending on how quickly the virus is contained and how quickly the Chinese and other affected economies return to normal,” Georgieva said.

Global cooperation is essential to contain the virus and its economic impact, especially if the outbreak proves to be longer-lasting and more widespread. Countries with a less developed health system would be at greater risk. The IMF stands ready to help the weaker members.

Harry and Meghan lose their brand name

London – Prince Harry (35) and Duchess Meghan (38) may no longer use their brand name “Sussex Royal” from spring onwards. They will also no longer be allowed to call their new charity the Sussex Royal Foundation, a spokesman for the couple announced in London on Friday evening.

British media accused the Queen’s grandson and his wife over the weekend of communicating on the subject in an inappropriate tone.

The couple had announced in January that they would partially withdraw from their royal duties, live mainly in Canada with their nine-month-old son Archie and become financially independent. Later, the couple agreed to a clear break with the royal family. According to this, they renounce the title “Royal Highness” and no longer perform official duties for the royals.

The brand name could have been beneficial to them in terms of new sources of income. The couple has already spent a lot of money to secure the designation “Sussex Royal” for their products, as Royal expert and author Robert Hardman told the BBC on Saturday.

A statement by Harry and Meghan on the subject was felt by some British media between the lines to be inappropriate in its tone towards Queen Elizabeth II (93). For example, the two had stressed that the rule with the royal family on the word “Royal” only applies in Great Britain, but that they will follow it worldwide.

Harry and Meghan are expected in Great Britain on a number of official dates in the coming months. The couple had indicated that they would like to maintain their patronage and continue to campaign in fields such as the Invictus Games for the war-disabled or for equal rights for women.

 

Antonio Rüdiger after another incident in England: “Racism has won”

Antonio Rüdiger expressed his deep disappointment about renewed racist incidents during the Chelsea FC match against Tottenham. The German international feels left alone.

Munich/London – England’s ex-champion Chelsea international Antonio Rüdiger has expressed his deep disappointment over renewed racist incidents at the Premier League game against Tottenham Hotspur (2-1) on Saturday, when the Blues defender was booed.

“Racism has won! It shows that these people have won because they can go back to the stadium,” said the former Stuttgart resident in a “Sky-Sport” interview after the game.

Rüdiger feels left alone
It doesn’t have to be him, it could be anybody else: “You will not be punished, and at the end of the day I’m the scapegoat.”

He won’t resign, but he feels left alone: “It’s not that I’m giving up or that I’m not raising my voice. I will always raise my voice, but in this respect I am alone.”

Rüdiger had become a father on Thursday, but this fact makes him pensive in view of recent events.

“It’s a catastrophe. I had a baby on Thursday. One thinks. As far as society is today, at the end of the day my child will most likely suffer as well”, said the defence lawyer.

“If no action is taken, if the little children do not get a good education, a good education, a good upbringing from home, then we have lost. That is how honest we must be.”

“No country is in control of anything”
Rüdiger does not accept accusations that not enough is being done against racism in other countries.

“Everyone should look at his own house, because when I was racially insulted in Italy, I always heard “In Italy that’s normal. Everyone should start at home and then talk about others. No country is in control of anything.”

Rüdiger, who scored an unfortunate own goal against Tottenham in the 89th minute, feels support, but that’s not enough. “Support is there, but words and deeds are different,” the 26-year-old stressed.

“At the end of the game, anyone can say: Sorry! But only those who share the same fate as I do can understand it. Whether I do an Instagram or Twitter post, what good does it do? His head is still broken, and mine is too. At the end of the day, you’re alone.”

There will be dead people.
Rüdiger also commented on the racially motivated terrorist attacks in Hanau with a total of eleven deaths: “For me it is the end product! First Torunarigha, then Kwadwo, then there are deaths.”

German professional football had also recently been caught up in racist attacks against dark-skinned players – Herthas Jordan Torunarigha and Leroy Kwadwo of the Würzburg Kickers.