LONDON (Reuters) – Nike, the world’s largest sporting goods maker, will extend its lead in sales of soccer-related products over rival Adidas helped by new launches and a marketing blitz at this summer’s FIFA World Cup, its chief executive told Reuters on Wednesday.

Mark Parker also said that consumer confidence remained fragile and forecast a “long gradual” recovery.

However, he added that Nike was taking market share from competitors and seeing a “slight improvement” in orders, including a “significant” pick-up in demand for soccer-related footwear, clothing and equipment....

Boise, Idaho -- Idaho is better than our Northwest neighbors Oregon and Washington.

That's the word from Governor C.L. "Butch" Otter who said the Gem State is open for business. The Governor's office is going after some big companies to create jobs and they're finding they don't have to look that hard.

Recently our neighbors in the Beaver State approved new taxes on the wealthy and many businesses.

"As the Governor mentioned, as soon as the Oregon folks went ahead and passed over $700 million in taxes, our phones started ringing over here. Not only at the Governor's Office, but over across the street at the Department of Commerce," said Otter's Press Secretary Jon Hanian....

If the Lakers and Magic face each other in the NBA Finals yesterday's game no doubt will be what's referenced as the agenda-setter. Orlando survived for a two-point victory as Matt Barnes played intense defense on Kobe Bryant, and Barnes says he's ready for Round 2. "They aren't going to come in here and punk us," Barnes told Fanhouse's Tim Povtak after practice today. Barnes also put some advance pressure on the referees, saying, "I have no problem playing physical, but throughout the game, he (Bryant) elbowed me three times...

Owning a yacht is passe. For those in the information-technology industry lucky enough to have made a fortune during the boom years, there is now a far sexier alternative: owning a rocket.

Jeff Bezos, the founder of Amazon, is financing an attempt to build a low-cost reusable spacecraft that can carry people into space. John Carmack, the programming genius behind such computer games as "Doom" and "Quake", is paying for a similar venture. But most ambitious of all is Elon Musk, who founded two dotcoms and sold them for $307 million and $1.5 billion respectively. His goal is Mars. ...

In the 21st century technology is developing very fast. Advanced technological wonders still keep on surprising us and making us wait for more and more comfort that they create. One of them is television,which has been popular throughout the world, and there is no country, region or village where people don't know what a TV is. It is also commonly considered that Television has both advantages and disadvantages and for one it is very difficult to decide what to watch and if to watch at all. Certainly, television is the main source of information. Daily people listen and watch a short news sequence that provides us with the necessary information and keeps informed during the day. Also, no doubt, television is the way to entertain oneself, for it offers a variety of possibilities to have fun sitting on your couch and relaxing. Another way to capture people's minds on a live TV screen is advertisement. Commercials have become inseparable part of broadcasting and live coverage. Even favorite movies are interrupted by short ad. Though commercials are what holds television together and there's nobody who can prove this wrong. Besides there have to be some ways to show what lies on the shelves at supermarkets. When it comes to disadvantages one may prepare for a long story, but after all, despite these trifles we continue to do it, no matter what we are said.
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