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Killer told woman: 'This is a robbery love'
A convicted killer who stole nearly €10,000 worth of sunglasses and cash from a Drogheda store has been jailed for three years after the circuit court heard he told the secretary: 'This is a robbery, love'.
But the defendant was caught the following day after he walked past the same shop and the victim recognised him.
Wayne White, (43), whose address was given as 1 Laurence's Gate, Drogheda, admitted a count of robbery from the Eye Care Plus in Drogheda on April 9 2015.
He arrived into the shop shortly after they opened at 10am and the female secretary recognised him from White having been in the store the day before and on another occasion.
White went around the counter and said to the secretary: 'This is a robbery, love' and he had a screwdriver in his hand which the woman believed was a knife.
He told her to lock the front door and then asked her where the safe was.
The victim got a key and took items out of the safe, including an envelope with around €2,000 in it, which White placed into his bag.
White then asked her about CCTV and when the woman said she didn't know how it worked, he tried to get the CD out of it and ended up hitting it with the screwdriver a number of times.
He then took the woman into the retail part of the store where he stole around 20 pairs of Ray Ban sunglasses, as well as designer glasses' frames.
White later told Gardai he had gone straight to Dublin with the cash and glasses, which had a total value of €9,646, and used them to 'pay off a drug debt'.
A co-worker contacted Gardai moments after the robbery and despite getting there quickly and viewing the CCTV, they were unable to catch him that day.
But just over 24 hours later, the victim was in the same shop and saw White walk past the window. She immediately contacted Gardai who arrived within minutes and located White on North Quay Street.
After his arrest, he made 'frank admissions' about his involvement in the incident and said he was very sorry when Gardai told him that the victim had been very frightened by his actions.
The woman told Gardai that she had worked in the store for a couple of months following the robbery but when she was told she could no longer lock the door between customers, she left and found other employment.
White, who has 29 previous convictions, was sentenced to nine years in 1994 for manslaughter and his other convictions include two counts of robbery, theft and assault.
Barrister Aaron Shearer said his client has battling a heroin, and then cocaine, addiction for the past 20 years. He is a father of two and also has a grandchild.
He has been in custody since June 14 2015 and is attending weekly counselling session in prison.
Judge O'Shea said that while the screwdriver wasn't used, the victim had been subjected to a 'frightening, intimidating and aggressive' ordeal.
The judge said: 'He held up the screwdriver which she thought was a knife and she was afraid'.
Judge O'Shea imposed a three year sentence but backdated it to June 14 when he went into custody.


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BFS Capital is Now Nuula
“The reimagined future of BFS starts now, and today I’m proud to announce that BFS Capital has become Nuula,” wrote BFS Capital CEO Mark Ruddock on LinkedIn. In a lengthy post, he explained that the company has shifted its “philosophy from solely selling loans acquired primarily from brokers, to providing a more holistic, customer-centric mobile app that entrepreneurs would find useful each and every day.”
“Nuula is a mobile application that gives small business owners instant access to critical business metrics anytime, anywhere.
It allows real-time monitoring of cash flow, personal and business credit activity, and social ratings and reviews. Small business owners know immediately if there’s an issue with their cash, credit, or reputation that requires action.
But this is just the beginning.”
“With regards to our legacy business, our team will continue to support our existing customers and partners as we transition all our services to Nuula,” he added. “Our existing customers will be the first to be offered a chance to experience Nuula. And over the next few weeks, our existing working capital customers will be able to unlock additional capital from the first of our Nuula ecosystem partners, with exciting incentives and in a way that is as seamless as possible. We expect to make that announcement soon.”April 29, 2021

domain: news


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Asda also cut fuel prices for the third time in three weeks, reducing the cost of petrol.
The supermarket’s latest 3p drop will mean motorists paying no more than 128.7p per litre at any of its forecourts, while Sainsbury’s also reduced diesel prices by as much as 4p.
Their customers will now pay no more than 136.9p for diesel or 129.9p a litre for unleaded.
“We are now looking for all other retailers to follow suit”RAC spokesman Pete Williams
According to petrolprices.com, the national average of 136.21p is nearly 8p more than Asda’s price. The supermarket is also capping diesel prices at 135.7p, compared to the national average of 141.5p.
The first supermarket cuts came after wholesale fuel prices dropped by 6p on Monday.
RAC spokesman Pete Williams said: “We are now looking for all other retailers to follow suit.”


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Rumors of the next console generation are hitting left and right as we head deeper into 2013, and today Sony may have just given us a date for the reveal of its next console. The company has released a new teaser trailer of sorts on the PlayStation Blog, and it suggests that the next PlayStation will be announced on February 20. That’s less than a month away, so the PlayStation 4 may be closer than some think.
Like all good teasers, Sony’s doesn’t give away anything. All we see are the classic PlayStation button symbols and the February 20, 2013 date at the end. The post on the PlayStation Blog is similarly short on details, but the title does invite us to “See the Future.” There’s also a link users can follow to leave their information to “Be the First to Know.” Naturally, we can’t be sure of Sony’s intentions, but it certainly sounds like the company is gearing up to announce its next console.
This event will be going down at 6PM Eastern on the February 20, and if Sony is planning to use it to reveal the PlayStation 4, it’ll probably be getting quite the jump on Microsoft. The Xbox maker has been just as secretive about its next console, but recently, Major Nelson posted a countdown clock to E3 2013 on his blog. That suggests Microsoft will reveal the next Xbox at the expo in June, meaning that Sony could have a number of months on Microsoft if it chooses to go all-in on February 20.
We’ll just have to wait and see, because you can bet Sony won’t let any new details slip out before it holds this event. We’ll naturally be covering Sony’s event, so you’ll be able to find details on whatever the company announces right here at SlashGear. Do you think Sony is getting ready to announce the PlayStation 4?


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Infosys and NVIDIA join forces to usher in a new era of AI-driven solutions. The aim is to empower businesses across the globe with innovative generative AI applications, propelling them towards greater productivity and efficiency. This significant expansion of their alliance was officially unveiled through an exchange filing, marking a pivotal moment in the world of AI.
The Strategic Collaboration
Under this strategic collaboration, NVIDIA AI Enterprise takes center stage, offering a comprehensive ecosystem comprising models, tools, runtimes, and cutting-edge GPU systems. This arsenal of resources is set to be seamlessly integrated into Infosys Topaz, a platform designed to accelerate business value through the utilization of generative AI technologies. At the heart of this endeavor lies NVIDIA’s “full-stack generative AI platform,” encompassing both hardware and enterprise-grade software.
Infosys is all set to harness this formidable AI prowess to drive innovation across its spectrum of business operations. The ultimate goal is to empower clients with the creation of generative AI applications that can optimize various facets of their business, from core operations to sales and marketing strategies.
Infosys Topaz: A Beacon of AI Advancement
Infosys Topaz, introduced earlier this year, emerges as the vanguard of this endeavor. It represents a collection of AI-centric services, solutions, and platforms, all aimed at fast-tracking business growth through the application of generative AI technologies. This dynamic ecosystem will soon be further enriched by the integration of Infosys Video Analytics platform with NVIDIA Metropolis and Infosys Generative AI Labs, seamlessly paired with the formidable NVIDIA NeMo framework.
Setting Up the NVIDIA Centre of Excellence
Infosys is not stopping there. In a testament to its commitment to this transformative collaboration, Infosys is on track to establish an NVIDIA Centre of Excellence. This visionary initiative will serve as a crucible for knowledge and expertise, with plans to train and certify a staggering 50,000 employees in NVIDIA AI technology. The objective? To equip these experts with the skills needed to provide invaluable generative AI guidance to a diverse array of customers spanning various industries.
A Visionary Perspective
Nandan Nilekani, the co-founder and chairman of Infosys, shared his insight, stating, “Our clients are also looking at complex AI use cases that can drive significant business value across their entire value chain.” His words echo the ambitious mission of Infosys to create comprehensive AI solutions that will pave the way for enterprises to adopt an AI-first approach.
A Unified Vision for the Future
Jensen Huang, the founder and CEO of NVIDIA, added his perspective, emphasizing the collaborative effort, saying, “Together, NVIDIA and Infosys will create an expert workforce to help businesses use this platform to build custom applications and solutions.” This unity of purpose promises a brighter future where AI becomes a transformative force for businesses worldwide.
The scope of this partnership isn’t confined to one industry; it extends to a multitude of sectors. Infosys and NVIDIA are actively co-developing AI-powered solutions for areas such as 5G, cybersecurity, and energy transition. Additionally, their focus on digitization applications aims to bring innovative solutions to enterprise use cases in 3D workflows, design collaboration, digital twin technology, world simulation, and beyond.
Infosys Limited offers a wide range of IT consulting and software services, encompassing e-business, program management, and supply chain solutions. Their service portfolio includes application development, collaborative product development, as well as system implementation and engineering.
For more of the Latest News, Click Here


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When Paramount unexpectedly moved G.I. Joe: Retaliation’s release date to March of next year, it threw a serious monkey wrench into Hasbro’s plans. The company had already been rolling out their line of figures from the film. So when word about the push back spread the initial thought amongst Joe collectors would be what will happen with the toys. This is a valid concern to be sure. (If you put your ear to your wireless router you can probably still hear discontented murmurs coming from the Hiss Tank forum). This question was also on the mind of the folks at Toy News International, who asked Hasbro for a comment on the toy line’s status. The company’s response?
G.I. Joe is an ongoing consumer franchise and
therefore there is merchandise available to consumers. There is a
limited amount of G.I. Joe Retaliation product at retail now, but in
light of the movie moving out to March 29, 2013, the majority of the
movie line will be made available early next year in time for the film’s
I suppose this makes the most sense, to let the product out there go — expect the usual sort of eBay price gouging if you can’t find any of this in stores anymore — and hold off on the rest until the movie is actually released. The bigger problem here is that Hasbro is now without the revenue they were expecting to generate from these figures. They will also now have to scramble to figure out what G.I. Joe items they’ll be able to release for the next ten months. It’s a troubling concern for Joe collectors, and one that could have a ripple effect throughout the entire toy industry.


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Netflix is promising fans one new movie release every week throughout 2021.
The streaming service currently has 71 movies on its roster for the year in all genres. According to Variety, it’s “largely consisting of original productions as well as some splashy acquisitions.”
The selection of movies will feature some of the biggest stars including Leonardo DiCaprio, Sandra Bullock, Dwayne Johnson, Idris Elba, Meryl Streep, Zendaya, Jennifer Lawrence, Ryan Reynolds, and many more.
With competition from other streaming platforms, it is no surprise as to why Netflix is showing they are the consistent leader.


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Honda to boost capacity, build Civic hybrid in Indiana
DETROIT (Reuters) - Honda Motor Co Ltd will build a hybrid version of its popular Civic compact car at its Indiana plant, where the Japanese automaker is spending $40 million to boost production capacity by 25 percent.
With the investment, Honda will be able to build 250,000 vehicles a year, an increase of 50,000, starting early in 2013.
Honda will begin building the Civic Hybrid in Indiana early next year as well. The automaker currently builds this model, its top-selling hybrid in the U.S. market, in Japan.
Later this year, the plant in Greensburg, Indiana, will hire 300 new workers in stamping, assembly and other operations. The plant now employs more than 2,000 people.
Honda builds the traditional gas-powered and natural gas-powered versions of the Civic at the Indiana plant as well as the Acura ILX sedan.
With the additional capacity in Indiana, Honda will be able to make 1.72 million vehicles a year in North America. When Honda begins building its Fit subcompact in 2014, the Japanese automaker will be able to build nearly 2 million vehicles a year.
(Reporting By Deepa Seetharaman; editing by Gunna Dickson)
- Obama and Castro shake hands, Zuma humiliated at Mandela memorial |
- Google bus blocked in San Francisco gentrification protest
- Reporter can keep sources secret in Colorado theater shooting: court
- Regulators seek to curb Wall St. trades with Volcker rule |
- Thai PM urges protesters to take part in election |


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Food crime or yummy combo? Green guacamole gouda cheese is real. And it's coming to America
Guacamole cheese? It's everything you never wanted, at least according to a super-unscientific poll of the Twitterverse.
Chunky guacamole fused into a hard gouda-like, mold-hued green cheese may sound like an internet hoax, but it's real. And it's coming, imported from a Holland dairy to a U.S. grocery store chain called The Fresh Market.
Cooking Light, a recipe website, made some stomachs turn and stirred this social-media controversy when it posted a story about the cheese.
It has sparked conversation over whether Amanti guacamole cheese is a food crime. Many people who like to eat needed to know how two beloved foods — cheese and guacamole — could go so wrong.
"It's a guacamole-infused gouda cheese and it's coming to all 161 locations this Wednesday — just in time for Cinco de Mayo," Cooking Light reported.
For some, this imported cheese arriving for Cinco de Mayo, adds injury to insult. The May holiday is often confused with Mexican Independence Day. It's also a day that can put many Mexican-Americans on edge.
American bars and restaurants market the date as a reason to party, which is why it's sometimes referred to as "Cinco de Drinko."
Cinco De Mayo is a fan favorite! Here are a few fun facts about the holiday. Buzz60's Natasha Abellard (@NatashaAbellard) has the story. Buzz60
Latinos often take to social media before the holiday, reminding people to please remember the do's and don'ts of bad stereotypes.
Don't: selfies dressed in sarapes, sombreros or wearing fake mustaches. Just don't.
Do: Drink safely and celebrate our American melting pot of diverse cultures and a nation filled with people who like making a holiday out of anything and everything. (National Buffet Day. National Mew for Cats Day. National Pirate Day.)
And just in time, there's guacamole cheese.
Some people responded with a hard no.
See, this isn't the first guacamole crime. People thought it would stop when Americans united against the New York Times telling the world it would be a good idea to put green peas in guacamole.
And it doesn't look like they're having pricey guacamole gouda cheese.
Most experienced guacamole-makers are purists sticking to the basics: lime, jalapeño, onion, avocados and salt to taste. Some people throw in tomatoes or sprinkle a bit of cotija cheese on top.
Arizona's award-winning chef Silvana Salcido Esparza is a Chicana whose food is so amazing that her guacamole with pomegranates is coveted. But she's also known as the chingona, or badass, chef and has won countless accolades for her cooking at Phoenix Barrio Cafe and Barrio Cafe Gran Reserva restaurants.
Translation: If you're going to mix guacamole with unexpected stuff at home, be safe and stick to Salcido Esparza's recipe.
Now, to be fair, this is America. We have freedom of choice. And not everyone is against guacamole cheese.
But with choice comes responsibility. We're looking at all you punsters, just looking for a reason to punish.
But the opinion on what one person called "guacamoldy" cheese was mostly: "Why? Just why?"
Regardless, North Carolina-based Fresh Market remains undeterred.
The store's Twitter account shared and replied to social media posts in a tweet using avocado and cheese emojis: "Guacamole Cheese will be available tomorrow for a limited time."


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Apple is reportedly planning to launch a cheaper, Beats-branded HomePod smart speaker, amid speculation that its first-generation model is not selling as well as expected.
Microsoft has acquired Semantic Machines, an AI startup from Berkeley, California, that will now help the Redmond company accelerate its natural-language AI efforts.
TeenSafe, a service which promises parents secure monitoring of their children’s smartphone activity, has leaked thousands of Apple IDs and the plain text passwords of accounts.
After launching for the iOS a few months ago, Epic Games just announced that their smash hit Fortnite will also be heading to the Android soon.
Much like Facebook and Google, Apple has a really simple way to download a file that shows all of the information that Apple knows about you.
It might be advisable to check your Mac for a certain malware that is currently making the rounds.
Amazon, Google, and Apple’s digital assistants are getting in the Royal Wedding spirit by offering all-new, unique Easter Eggs and commands.
A researcher discovered a bug in the LocationSmart website that allowed tracking of millions of phones.
Samsung has released a new advertisement for its new Galaxy S9 series, poking fun at Apple over last year’s “Batterygate” fiasco and the flagship phone’s “notch.”
Chinese customers prefer home-grown smartphone maker Huawei over Apple, according to a recent survey.
Apple and Samsung are facing each other in a California court for a third trial involving the same set of five patents.
Apple today announced that it is teaming up with educators to bring its Everyone Can Code initiative to schools for people who are deaf, blind and have other assistive needs.


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Viacom Inc. said profit slipped in its latest quarter, hurt by a blank summer movie slate and declines in domestic advertising revenue.
Viacom's Class A shares in the company sunk 15% to $44.08 in morning trading, bringing the year-to-date loss to 42%.
Filmed entertainment revenue dropped 44% as theatrical revenue nearly halved. Last year, Viacom's flick "Transformers: Age of Extinction" was released during the comparable quarter, while this year's big summer movies, including the latest Terminator installment, were released a quarter later, the company said.
Meanwhile, Viacom's media networks segment--its largest--reported revenue that was essentially flat from a year earlier. Excluding the impact of currency fluctuations, revenue in the segment edged 2% higher.
The New York-based firm, which counts Nickelodeon and Comedy Central among its networks, has been grappling with weak ratings across all its major networks and facing concerns on Wall Street that pay-TV providers may decide they can do without its bundle of channels. As a result, Viacom earlier this year unveiled plans to slash jobs and write down the value of underperforming shows.
As consumers shift to less costly "skinny packages" or abandon cable altogether, cable companies have been struggling. Earlier this week, Walt Disney Co. cut long-term profit expectations for its cable business--citing lower subscriber levels-- sending shares across the industry tumbling. Time Warner, for its part, relied on videogame revenue to drive earnings in its latest quarter.
Viacom's domestic advertising revenue fell 9% because of a decline in traditional ratings, while international ad sales posted 58% growth driven by Channel 5. Last year, Viacom bought British Channel 5 Broadcasting Ltd. for about $760 million.
Overall, profit in the quarter fell to $591 million from $610 million. On a per-share basis, earnings rose to $1.47 from $1.40, boosted by a lower share count than in the year-ago period.
Viacom, which has said the restructuring would result in annual savings of about $350 million and $175 million this year, took expenses down by 15% in the latest quarter.
Revenue declined 11% to 3.06 billion.
Analysts projected $1.47 in per-share profit on $3.2 billion in revenue, according to FactSet.
Write to Lisa Beilfuss at firstname.lastname@example.org
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A long-rumored Tesla killer and the Amazon-backed electric vehicle upstart, Rivian, which was once valued at $100 billion, just had to recall nearly every vehicle it’s ever made. Nearly 13,000 vehicles will be recalled by the company, as they say, over an “insufficiently torqued fastener,” as in some cases, it could potentially disrupt steering leading to an increased risk for crashes.
WATCH the video:
The issue reportedly, in less serious cases, leads to excessive noise and vibration to emit from the vehicle’s front suspension.
In a letter, Rivian seemingly downplayed the issue where it told its customer it issued the voluntary recall, “out of an abundance of caution.”
The improperly torqued steering fastener could, in some cases, cause a “separation, affecting the driver’s ability to control the vehicle,” and increase the risk of a crash, The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said in its recall report.
12,212 Rivian trucks, SUV’s and a subset of its electric delivery vehicles are specifically impacted by the recall. To put that in context, Rivian shipped a total of 14,317 vehicles this year, CNBC notes. So basically, this recall may impact around 80% of Rivian’s entire fleet, according to reports on Gizmodo.
Rivian will now inspect and properly secure the impacted steering knuckle fasteners following the recall, and the company will replace components completely in some cases.
As of September 28, the company became aware of seven reports potentially related to the issue, a Rivian spokesperson said, while also saying that they are not aware of any injuries related to the defect.
It is expected by the company that the fixes will only take a few minutes to complete and that it will make any necessary repairs free of charge.
“The safety of our customers will always be our top priority, and we are committed to fixing this issue on any affected vehicles as quickly as possible,” said the Rivian spokesperson.
“We will begin immediately contacting affected customers to schedule appointments for inspections and repairs if needed,” the spokesperson added.
Rivian’s once sky-high stock price went down after this massive recall. According to Reuters, Rivian’s stock dropped by around 9%, with some investors expressing concerns over whether or not the company will meet its much hyped 2023 production timeline.
In a note seen by Reuters, RBC Capital Markets said: “We have greater concerns on 2023 production expectations.”
Meanwhile, according to MarketWatch, an analyst at Wedbush, Dan Ives called the recall a “black eye,” for the automaker. From a much wider perspective, Rivian’s shares have reportedly dipped 67.3% this year.
The automotive and tech industry went for a wild ride with Rivian last year when it achieved a staggering market valuation of $100 billion following the biggest initial public offering of 2021.
After that valuation, Rivian was briefly made a newer upstart that produced less than 15,000 vehicles, the second most valuable carmaker on Earth. Second only to Tesla, of course.
Despite the company only just beginning to ship vehicles last year, Rivian has existed since 2009. And now, by 2023, the company ambitiously hopes to produce somewhere around 150,000 vehicles per year.
However, as of recalls and other false starts, that timeline, unfortunately, starts to sound more and more like the constantly missed Tesla deadlines – unrealistic and late.


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A new Nintendo Direct-like Pokémon announcement broadcast will take place tomorrow, 17th June.
Here in the UK, you'll want to tune in at 2pm. That's 3pm European time, or 6am Pacific.
What do we expect? Well, Pokémon Sword and Shield's first expansion drops tomorrow so probably more promotion and information on that.
It has now been a full year since we last heard anything about snooze-tracking app Pokémon Sleep, and the sequel to Detective Pikachu for Nintendo Switch - both announced in a press conference just over 12 months ago.
As for Pokémon Go, it dropped all of its big summer event information yesterday - with plans for a remote Go Fest open to everyone worldwide.


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While Nissan tries their hardest to make all of their cars without any kinks sometimes there are malfunctions. To make sure Nissans are performing at top performance, Nissan is recalling over 800,000 vehicles worldwide. The Micra compact car, produced in Europe and Japan until 2006 and the Nissan Cube will be recalled. The recall is due to a steering wheel glitch. This is a global recall, with vehicles in Asia, Europe, Africa, Latin America, and the Middle East all affected.
The steering wheels have bolts that may not have been properly tightened and may inhibit steering wheel function. In a worst-case scenario, drivers could lose steering control. Steering wheels can either be repaired at a dealership or replaced. The repair takes around 40 minutes, according to Nissan spokeswoman Noriko Yoneyama.
The Micra is a subcompact hatchback car sold worldwide, while the Cube was also a small subcompact car sold globally. Neither was ever sold in the United States. “There is a very, very small risk that there are any 2002-2006 Micra models that require attention, but safety is our upmost priority which is why we are recalling all vehicles potentially affected,” a UK spokesman for Nissan said


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Square, the privately held payments startup co-founded by Twitter (NYSE: TWTR) Chairman Jack Dorsey, has authorized a stock sale by investors at a valuation of nearly $5 billion, according to media reports.
Both Bloomberg and TechCrunch say Rizvi Traverse Management LLC, a mid-western firm run by Twitter's largest pre-IPO outside shareholder, is trying to buy from existing shareholders, and TechCrunch also says SV Angel is buying as well. Both Rizvi and SV Angel are prior backers of Square.
Square was founded in 2009 and it was reportedly valued at $3.25 billion in a $200 million funding round that became public in September. It also was reported in November to have been considering an initial public stock offering this year.
The company has raised about $341 million. It got its start with smartphone-based payments services but it also now sells a point-of-sale terminal for use in stores and it has tools to help merchants sell online.


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LG Harnessing Steam Power To Enhance Appliances Efficiency
Determined to keep abreast of current demand for time and energy saving home appliances, global home appliances maker, LG Electronics, said its latest TrueSteam technology is all about efficiency and innovation in helping to get more clothes and dishes cleaner in less time.
In a chat recently on the feats recorded with the steam technology, Mr. Taeick Son, the Managing Director, LG Electronics West Africa operation, said the success of LG washers can be attributed to a number of innovative advances in washing technology which the company would keep improving upon.
Son, said the success recorded in home appliances can be largely credited to the company’s ability to harness the power of steam in a number of its popular products such as dryers, dishwashers and LG Styler.
“All the popular LG appliances employ steam to clean by killing harmful bacteria or odors that permeate our clothes and our homes. The solution to remove such threats as allergens and bacteria is high-temperature steam from pure water. Though, a temperature above 100°C (212°F) will kill bacteria.”
He said the TrueSteam™ technology is one of the most effective ways to kill germs.
“A steam generator in LG’s washing machine heats water to 100°C, making it hot enough to eliminate bacteria and even allergens from pet hairs, dead skin cells and mold.
“LG’s TrueSteam technology not only removes 99.9 per cent of allergens, but also the residue left by dead allergens. Steam Softener technology found in LG washing machines softens clothes by reviving each fiber without the use of any chemicals, making the ply of fabrics even and smoother. Soap residue and fabric softeners that can irritate sensitive skin are less of a problem when pure steam is used instead of extra detergent”.
Son explained further that TrueSteam™ is also employed in LG Styler to reduce the presence of allergens and germs in clothes, bedding, sportswear, including children’s plush toys.
“In fact, LG Styler has earned the asthma and allergy friendly certification from the respected Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) for its superior performance in ridding fabrics of allergens. LG Styler’s TrueSteam technology reduces or eliminates the smell of smoke, perspiration and foods that cling to fabrics and knitwear.
Son noted that the TrueSteam™ technology in LG’s dishwasher generates and emits pure steam to ensure hygienic cleaning and anti-bacterial disinfection of plates, utensils and glassware eliminating any dangers of food borne illnesses. Steam Refresh feature in LG washers’ removes wrinkles and smells in just 20 minutes without damaging even the most delicate of fabrics.
“LG Electronics is obviously raising the bar to a new level of home appliance innovation generating a whole new set of washing options. It is unique and redefines the concept of laundry”.


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Fantasy author Neil Gaiman is not taking Elon Musk’s criticism of Amazon’s The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power sitting down. In a tweet Tuesday that has gone viral, Gaiman wrote, “Elon Musk doesn’t come to me for advice on how to fail to buy Twitter, and I don’t go to him for film, TV or literature criticism.”
Gaiman’s comment came after Musk slammed Amazon’s LOTR: The Rings Of Power, saying “Tolkien is turning over his grave,” as Musk is attempting to exit his proposed $44BN takeover of Twitter and amid an ongoing feud with Amazon founder and executive chairman Jeff Bezos.
Gaiman developed and is executive producing Netflix’s popular series adaptation of his DC comic book series The Sandman, which drew 69.5 million hours viewed in its first three days of release.
Elon Musk doesn’t come to me for advice on how to fail to buy Twitter, and I don’t go to him for film, TV or literature criticism.
— Neil Gaiman (@neilhimself) September 6, 2022
PREVIOUS, 2:17 AM: Elon Musk’s verdict on Amazon’s massive budget drama series The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power? “Tolkien is turning in his grave”.
The Tesla CEO took to Twitter to slam the series with a pair of short tweets. The second read: “Almost every male character so far is a coward, a jerk or both. Only Galadriel is brave, smart and nice.”
Regardless of Musk’s views, The Rings of Power has been a hit for Prime Video, with data earlier this week revealing the J.D. Payne & Patrick McKay co-created show took more than 25 million viewers in its first day. This marked the best performance for an Amazon original ever. The eight-episode first season will run until October 14.
Almost every male character so far is a coward, a jerk or both. Only Galadriel is brave, smart and nice.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) September 5, 2022
Musk, who’s currently tangled in a web trying to exit his proposed $44BN takeover of social site Twitter, has been in competition with Amazon founder and Executive Chairman Jeff Bezos for years and regularly trolls his businesses on social media. Bezos has responded in kind several times over the years.
The billionaires have both spent huge sums on their spaceflight businesses – Musk owns SpaceX and Bezos founded Blue Origin – and have often criticized each others’ operations. The pair has variously swapped places as the planet’s wealthiest person, but Musk currently owns that title with a net worth of about $254BN.
The Rings of Power series lead Galadriel, played by Morfydd Clark, has herself been the target of criticism from online trolls, with complaints generally claiming the regal nature of the character in the original J.R.R. Tolkin novels and Peter Jackson films has been replaced by an all-action warrior elf queen. The series is set thousands of years before the Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit stories and features a much younger Galadriel, which in theory provides context on the differences.


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SMH: Experts Predict Supply Chain Disruptions to Last Till 2023
Ongoing supply chain disruptions are here to stay through 2023, Paul Zahra warned. The Australian Retailers Association boss has also urged customers to expect the effects of inflation despite efforts from stores to keep the prices down. This comes after the forecast of a jump in October’s retail sales following the easing of lockdown restrictions in Australia.
Staff shortages and lingering supply chain problems appear to be the two main challenges faced by retailers. “What we do know is that every ship in the world is currently in transit or being loaded up. It’ll take till 2023 before that backlog will clear,” Mr. Zahra told the press.
According to the Australian Retailers Association, a record of $5.4 billion will be spent over the Black Friday, Cyber Monday weekend. Individuals have been encouraged to take advantage of the four-day shopping bonanza to get ahead on their holiday shopping. “If you see something you like, you’re best to buy it because it’s unlikely to be there when you visit the store the next time,” said Mr. Zahra.
While the supply chain woes were also a concern for Dr. Shane Oliver, he thinks that “we may be starting to pass through the worst of it.” This comes as the Chief Economist at AMP Capital spotted a decline in the price of semiconductors, shipping costs, coal and oil.
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June 1, 2021—Red Butte Garden deputy director Derrek Hanson announced that JASON ISBELL AND THE 400 UNIT with very special guest Lucinda Williams, will kick off the 2021 Outdoor Concert Series on Friday, July 30.
Tickets for the July 30 concert will go on sale early to Garden members this Thursday, June 3. And to the general public on Friday, June 4. Details for purchasing tickets to the July 30 concert date are available on the Red Butte Garden website www.redbuttegarden.org/concerts.
Red Butte Garden Outdoor Concert Series On-Sale Dates
The full Outdoor Concert Series lineup and details for purchasing tickets will be revealed on the Red Butte Garden website soon. Tickets for the full concert series will go on sale on June 21 for Garden members (membership-level restrictions apply) and for the general public on June 28. The Outdoor Concert Series is generously funded in part by Presenting Sponsor, SecurityNational Mortgage.
About Red Butte Garden
Red Butte Garden is the largest botanical garden in the Intermountain West and together with the University of Utah, is a state arboretum. The Garden has welcomed guests since 1985 and is the largest botanical garden in the Intermountain West, with over 21 acres of developed gardens and five miles of hiking trails winding through an extensive natural area. The Garden is renowned for its numerous plant collections, display gardens, world-class Outdoor Concert Series, and award-winning horticulture-based educational programs. For more information, visit www.redbuttegarden.org.


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Ononline shopping is more than a pastime for those who like to browse the largest shopping mall in the world: the Internet. It is also a sport.
Otherwise, how to explain Monica Corcoran Harel’s reaction to the announcement of a flash sale at one of her favorite online stores? “I’m very, very excited and incredibly competitive,” she says, pressing refresh again and again to land the best deal. If a family member happens to walk into the room while she’s hovering over her computer, “I’m like, ‘flash sale!’ I have a flash sale!’ In other words: do not disturb.
Corcoran Harel, 53, who lives in the Los Angeles area and runs Pretty Ripe, a lifestyle newsletter for women over 40, has been shopping online for years. She appreciates the ability to visit dozens of stores at once, compare prices before clicking “buy now” and the promise of fast delivery, all without leaving her home. Online shopping is “beyond intoxicating,” she says. “I’m probably partly responsible for the downfall of physical stores.”
But what makes these commands so enjoyable? Experts explain the psychology behind shopping online, plus tips on how to exercise restraint if your shopping cart overflows.
Online shopping has increased during the pandemic
Online shopping went from novelty to normality years ago: Amazon launched nearly three decades ago, in 1995, as an online bookseller, and now reports that customers shop around 7,400 products per minute from its US salespeople. But the pandemic has changed consumer habits in a way that has favored the online purchase of basic necessities like toilet paper. According to the Annual Retail Trade Survey, e-commerce sales grew by $244 billion, or 43%, in 2020, from $571 billion in 2019 to $815 billion in 2020.
This push was at least partly driven by a desire to avoid indoor halls. But experts say it could also be linked to self-soothing behaviors. Research has long suggested that retail therapy may in fact be therapeutic. A study published in the consumer psychology journal in 2014, for example, says shopping helps people feel instantly happier and also combats lingering sadness. One reason, the study’s authors speculate, is that making purchase decisions confers a sense of personal control and autonomy.
Another study, published in Psychology & Marketing in 2011, found that shopping has “lasting positive impacts on mood” and is not associated with feelings of regret or guilt about impulse purchases.
Shopping is, in many ways, driven by emotion, says Jorge Barraza, program director and assistant professor in the online master of science program in applied psychology at the University of Southern California. “When we’re sad, when we’re stressed, we’re more likely to engage in that kind of behavior,” he says. In some cases, he notes, the spark of joy sparked by a fancy new dress or gadget may not last, especially if the buyer knows they are mismanaging their money. “This mood boost may be transient, if you’re spending more than you can afford, but at least temporarily it seems to restore a sense of control and reduce any residual sadness people may be feeling.”
Why online shopping makes people so happy
In many ways, online shopping catapults the pleasure of in-person shopping into a different, almost overwhelming stratosphere. “It’s psychologically so powerful,” says Joshua Klapow, a psychologist and adjunct associate professor of public health at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. (He’s also the new owner of three inflatable pool floats, a collapsible whip, two jars of almond butter and 50 pounds of birdseed, all of which he ordered online.)
Compared to in-person shopping, “it’s a much more rewarding experience overall, because there’s less friction, less hurdles, less behavioral costs, more specificity, and more choice,” says- he. In addition, “shopping is totally adapted to us. We can shop fast or slow.
Part of the reason online shopping is so appealing is convenience. When we shop in person, Klapow points out, we have to walk or drive or find another way to get there, and then we have to browse aisle after aisle to find what we’re looking for. Even in stores that offer contactless payment, effort is required to complete a transaction: swiping a credit card or Apple Pay on your phone, for example. Then a buyer has to go home. “For many people, these incredibly minor inconveniences simply begin to reduce the overall perceived value of the purchase,” he says.
Besides being easier, shopping online offers the satisfaction of accuracy. If Klapow goes to a big box store, he might not find the shirt he’s looking for in the right size or color. If he buys online, he’s more likely to get exactly what he wants with a lot less hassle.
It’s a form of immediate gratification that we’re all hardwired to crave, says Joseph Kable, a cognitive neuroscientist at the University of Pennsylvania. “It’s a universal trend among people and shared by much of the animal world,” he says. “People and other animals tend to ignore future outcomes over immediate outcomes. This means that we prefer to have good things as soon as possible and postpone bad things as far into the future as possible.
Interestingly, online shopping is also associated with another, more delayed type of gratification: anticipation of the order’s arrival. Waiting for something exciting is “like Christmas every day,” Klapow says, likening the ability to track a package to monitoring Santa’s whereabouts on Christmas Eve.
This resonates with Corcoran Harel, who works from home and likes to look out the window to see if a package has arrived. “I am vigilant about receiving my packages,” she says. “I’m so excited to open it up and try something – and knowing you can flip something easily makes it better.”
What to do if you think you have a problem
Researchers define compulsive buying as “preoccupation with buying and shopping, frequent buying episodes, or urges to buy that are felt to be irresistible and insane”. There’s no one answer for whether your online shopping habit is problematic, Barraza says, but it’s generally a good idea to ask yourself if your shopping is interfering with your quality of life.
Compulsive shopping disorder (or any other type of shopping addiction) is not included in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM). However, it has been recognized for over a century: German psychiatrist Emil Kraepelin is credited with first describing the disorder in 1915, calling it “oniomania” – the Greek word “onios” means “for sale”. and “mania” has been interpreted as “madness”. As authors of a 2012 article in Advances in psychiatric treatmentsTo emphasize, experts continue to debate whether shopping addiction is “a valid mental illness or a leisure activity that individuals use to manage their emotions or express their identity.”
In a study published in 2014 in the Behavioral Addictions Diaryresearchers presented several factors that may predispose someone to develop an addiction to online shopping, including low self-esteem, low self-control, a negative emotional state, a penchant for anonymity, and an internet diet that includes exposure to numerous graphics and pop-up messages.
Another research article, published in 2017 in Frontiers in Psychology, focused on developing a scale that could measure online shopping addiction. According to the authors, six elements are necessary to meet the definition of addictive behaviors, including salience (which means that online shopping would be the most important activity in the person’s life); mood change, such as feeling a buzz after placing an order; conflict, perhaps with family members; and relapse, or resume the behavior after trying to quit. In these cases, someone addicted to online shopping might benefit from working with a professional and undergoing cognitive-behavioral therapy, Klapow says.
Concerns about shopping addiction and overspending are particularly relevant now, as inflation hits its highest level in the United States in four decades. Klapow recommends focusing on making intentional decisions about what to buy. “There’s nothing wrong with saying, ‘I want this, so I’ll have it’, but we have to be careful not to call all our wants ‘needs’,” he says.
Here are some tips if you’re worried about spending too much online:
Before checking out, review each item in your online shopping cart and ask yourself, “Do I want this or do I need this?” Klapow asks his clients to do this cognitive exercise, and it can be helpful, he says. “It forces you to look at yourself in the mirror, and you’d be amazed at how many items you end up putting off or saving for later.”
Stick a helpful post-it on your computer screen. It’s one of Klapow’s favorite ways to alter the environment to resist the siren call of e-commerce. Write your monthly budget in large letters on the post-it note, or a message asking you to check the total cost before clicking “buy now”. Visual reminder can help ground you when caught up in the excitement of a new find.
Do not store your credit card information online. Many people store information for several credit cards online, which speeds up the possibility of making a purchase. Ideally, you wouldn’t store even a single card, Klapow says — “not from a security standpoint, but from an impulse standpoint.” Having to manually enter your payment information takes an extra minute to breathe and maybe reevaluate the purchase.
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International Locations And Territories Represented
in commitments from member states, the personal sector, philanthropies, and civil society to drive transformative change for ladies and women around the world. /PRNewswire/ — The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation right now introduced Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, former United Nations beneath-secretary-common and govt director of UN Women, as the winner of the 2021 Global Goalkeeper Award. As part of its annual Goalkeepers marketing campaign, the inspiration additionally introduced the winners of three additional Goalkeepers Global Goals Awards.
Worldwide Status Of Women’s Representation In Government
The company’s numerous portfolio contains digital freight brokerage, flexible freight administration and logistics consulting all wrapped into a revolutionary logistics and technology supply model— LPaaS . LPaaS makes use of an open platform for digital logistics that empowers shippers to seamlessly combine-and-match partners, technologies and solutions into their own unique digital provide chain fingerprint. Redwood connects a variety of customers to the facility of supply chain management, know-how and the business’s brightest minds. A former secretary for the SS commander of the Stutthof focus camp skipped the planned begin Thursday of her trial in Germany on more than eleven,000 counts of accessory to murder, officials said. The ninety six-yr-old girl left her residence near Hamburg in a taxi on Thursday morning, a couple of hours earlier than proceedings had been as a result of start at the state court in Itzehoe, court spokesperson Frederike Milhoffer said. HOUSTON -Exxon Mobil Corp on Wednesday provided its first concession in a new contract proposal to locked-out employees at its Beaumont, Texas, refinery and lube oil plant to incorporate some seniority protection.
The price range proposes expenses of packages ($30,000); communication ($703,300); administration ($275,000); salaries and benefits ($622,950); and governance ($5,000). ABOUT 260 WOMEN OF THE ELCA voting members permitted constitutional changes that reduced the dimensions of its churchwide board from 21 to fifteen members while making it more inclusive. They also elected new churchwide officers and an government board, adopted a 2022 price range, and accredited several memorials throughout an internet assembly, Aug. three-5. CEW’s Mentoring is the one online program that connects members with executives across the entire industry. We bridge the justice gap for people to understand their authorized rights with our free Information and Referral line, advocacy providers, and community training. We present a platform for ladies’s voices and promote development alternatives for ladies and women to succeed in their potential in all aspects of their lives. Redwood Logistics, a number one logistics platform company headquartered in Chicago, has supplied options for transferring and managing freight for over 20 years.
Wharton’s Women’s Executive Leadership program was a gift to myself; a life-altering expertise and totally worth it. The circulate of the content material was actually good; the audio system have been for probably the most half superb.


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New Delhi: The railways have prepared a vision document and are likely to tie up with all banks to give an option of hassle-free payment gateway to passengers, freight operators and all other stakeholders.
“Already we have been offering cashless ticketing options through the IRCTC website. More than 58 per cent of the train accommodation is presently reserved through e-ticketing. Since the remaining load is not too much, railways going cashless is viable,” said a railway officer.
The official added that the facility for purchasing unreserved tickets through mobile phones would be made available at many railway stations, which is presently available only in Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata and Secunderabad.
Photos: Alia Bhatt, Sunny Deol at an event in Mumbai
Photos: Akshay Kumar, Taapsee Pannu promote 'Naam Shabana'
Flashback: When sexy models sizzled in bikinis at Tokyo fashion show
Photos: These Indian cities top the list in online purchase of sex products
In pictures: Indian-origin artistes in Hollywood


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Qatar has offered €7bn ($9.8bn) for a stake in Porsche, which would allow the German luxury sports car maker to clear a large part of its debts, a report said yesterday.
According to the weekly Der Spiegel, the Qatar Investment Authority would take 25 percent of Porsche Automobil Holding and options on Volkswagen shares currently held by Porsche.
In addition Volkswagen, which has proposed buying 49 percent of Porsche’s core sports car operations, has upped its bid to more than €4bn, Der Spiegel said, without quoting sources.
Porsche has scheduled an extraordinary meeting of its supervisory board on July 23 to discuss offers by Qatar and Volkswagen, sources said on Friday.
Porsche has run up some €9bn in debt it accumulated in a failed attempt to increase its holding in VW, the biggest European
It owns about 51 percent of VW, which has made its counter offer in a boardroom drama between the carmakers’ dominant influences, the Porsche and Piech families.
A deal with Qatar would boost Wolfgang Porsche.
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MAC revealed its newest collections at the MAC Fashion Week Hub held at its Carnaby Street boutique. Throughout the day makeovers, make-up touch-ups and discovering A/W 18 trends were on hand, as well as an amazing Illustrator who beautifully personalised the lid of my fabulous custom eye palette.
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Join Look Good Feel Better for its biggest fundraiser of the year – Feel Better Week – from 4th – 10th June and help them support people living with cancer. When you do good, you feel […]


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WASHINGTON (MarketWatch) -- An alternative method for computing core inflation that does not automatically exclude food and energy prices rose 0.1% in August, the smallest increase since February, the Cleveland Federal Reserve Bank said Tuesday. The 16% trimmed-mean consumer price index has risen 3.5% in the past year, down from 3.6% last month and up from 2.4% a year ago. Earlier Tuesday, the Labor Department said the CPI fell 0.1% in August, while its core rate, which excludes food and energy prices, rose 0.2%. The Labor Department's core CPI is up 2.5% in the past year.
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By Sam Gruet Newsbeat reporter
Refreshing your phone, waiting for the notification that says: “In stock.”
If you’ve been trying to get your hands on a new console in the run up to Christmas, we feel your pain.
Some of the UK’s biggest electronics retailers including Currys, Microsoft and AO World have told Newsbeat they’re still struggling with a global microchip shortage, and it could be coming between you and a new PS5.
So what’s causing it – and is there light at the end of the tunnel?
The short-term answer to that is no, sadly, according to Alan Priestly. He’s an expert in the semi-conductor industry.
Simply put, that’s the people who make the microchips that go in everything from electric cars to phones and of course, next generation games consoles like the Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5.
These have been in short supply since the start of the pandemic, but chip designers have warned the current “extreme” shortage could delay Christmas gifts.
In July, Sony Interactive Entertainment CEO Jim Ryan told Reuters, “we’re some time from being able to meet all the demand that’s out there, which makes me feel bad.”
In September, Microsoft gaming boss Phil Spencer said the shortage would continue beyond this Christmas.
So where did the problems start? You guessed it – during the pandemic.
Production slowed down because of lockdowns, but people wanted laptops, consoles and electronic items more than ever – for work, entertainment and to keep them connected – meaning suppliers couldn’t keep up with the demand.
So why not just make more chips? Well, it’s not that easy.
“The industry was at close to capacity already and manufacturers couldn’t increase supply overnight,” says Alan Priestly,
“It would require building a new factory, and just one new factory would take three to four years to build.”
You don’t make one chip, you make batches of chips.
This is done by putting thousands of tiny bits of material called wafers through a bit of machinery that manufactures the chips.
But, games consoles have some very specific chips inside, designed just for them.
Which means you can’t just put any old chip inside when there’s a shortage.
So can’t Sony and Microsoft just make their own chips? Again, that’s a no.
“It costs around $20bn to build a new chip factory,” says Alan Priestly.
There’s also a massive cost in developing the technology involved in the process, as the industry keeps moving forward.
If you’ve tried to order anything from abroad in the last year, you might also be experiencing a problem in the global supply chain.
That’s the journey your console makes from nuts and bolts in a factory on the other side of the world, to your front room.
In the UK we’ve seen shortages of HGV drivers to deliver items, but these problems aren’t unique to this country.
In China, the government have limited power consumption, forcing industries to shut down – having a knock-on affect.
There have also been shortages in the products that assemble chips – everything from “bits of bent metal” used to make a console to the cables needed to give it power.
Nearly all of the retailers Newsbeat approached acknowledged “the global chip shortage” had affected business.
Microsoft’s Xbox team told us they are “working as fast as possible to expedite production and shipping to keep up with unprecedented demand”.
Currys told Newsbeat “our suppliers are affected by the microchip shortage” and John Lewis said they were “continuing to work with suppliers in reposes to global challenges on consoles”.
Others have gone further, saying they’re struggling to supply enough consoles.
The advice from all: Keep checking back regularly for stock.
The question we’re all asking is: When will I actually be able to buy a console?
According to Alan Priestly, during the second half of next year “we should start to see normality returning”.
“Things are getting better all of the time. The issue is the time it takes for the product to go through the manufacturing process.”
Follow Newsbeat on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.
Listen to Newsbeat live at 12:45 and 17:45 weekdays – or listen back here.
Nintendo warns chip shortage will hit Switch sales
Why is there a chip shortage?
Online giant warns of Christmas product shortages


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In the wake of the cantaloupe Listeria tragedy, Fair Oaks Dairy Products, a northwest Indiana cheesemaker, this week issued a voluntary recall of blue cheese produced on or after September 25, 2011. The reason: the cheese has the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, the culprit in the cantaloupe Listeria outbreak that has sickened 123 and killed 25 nationally..
Fair Oaks said that a small quantity of the cheese was sold at its Fair Oaks Dairy store in Northwest Indiana, central Indiana and to several other stores through distributers, on and after September 25. The product is in 1/3 to 1/2 lbs packages in a royal blue foil with the label “Fair Oaks Royal Blue Cheese.”
Fair Oaks discovered the issue during its own testing of its products by an independent laboratory. Laboratory testing has confirmed that the blue cheese contained Listeria monocytogenes. Fair Oaks has contacted the FDA and issued the recall to consumers in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan and Ohio. No illnesses have been reported to date.
The quantity of blue cheese involved in the recall is less than 20 pounds and the company estimates less than twenty pounds are held by consumers. Consumers who have purchased this brand on the dates in question should return the product to the stores where they were purchased to receive a refund. Recall notices have already been sent to retail outlets that received this product.


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Iberdrola acquires Supernova quick chargers
Iberdrola is buying the primary Supernova quick chargers from electrical automobile charging producer, Wallbox, that it’ll set up globally within the markets wherein it operates.
The settlement was introduced by Iberdrola chairman, Ignacio Galán and Wallbox co-founder and CEO, Enric Asunción, on the commissioning of the primary prototype of the cost level on the vitality firm’s headquarters in Madrid.
Iberdrola has been the primary shareholder in Wallbox since June, 2019.
On the launch of the primary Supernova, Galán confused: “The necessity to work with willpower to attain an emission-free economic system, creating improvement alternatives for our trade and producing new high quality jobs.
“The settlement strengthens the ties between a know-how firm, resembling Wallbox, with a world vitality chief resembling Iberdrola and reaffirms our dedication to place all our sources and data on the service of a extra sustainable society”.
For his half, Asunción added: “This settlement inaugurates an necessary stage for the expansion of Wallbox within the public quick recharging phase and we couldn’t be prouder it’s hand-in-hand with Iberdrola.
“After years collaborating within the residential recharging sector and hundreds of Wallbox chargers put in, they’re now additionally betting on our know-how in public recharging.”
Supernova has an influence output of 60 kW, which supplies electrical autos a variety of 100 km in a recharge time of quarter-hour. The Supernova shall be produced for the European market throughout the second half of the 12 months in Wallbox’s new manufacturing unit, which is able to make use of 350 individuals in Barcelona’s Zona Franca.
In April, Iberdrola and Wallbox reached a long-term on-site Energy Buy Settlement to provide, eat and reuse vitality from the manufacturing of the plant and its workplaces in Barcelona’s Zona Franca.
Iberdrola’s funding will equip the Wallbox manufacturing unit with photovoltaic photo voltaic panels that may produce 1,500 MWh/12 months for self-consumption, equal to the consumption of 500 houses.
The settlement enhances the purchases of as much as 10,000 chargers made by Iberdrola from Wallbox lately for residential use.
The Pulsar and Pulsar Plus models from Wallbox are a part of the deployment of EV charging infrastructure being developed by Iberdrola, which entails putting in 150,000 cost factors by 2025, each on public roads and in corporations and for people.
Iberdrola has awarded contracts price EUR50m (US$61m) to twenty small and medium-sized corporations in 11 autonomous areas in current months to put in cost factors and quick, super-fast and ultra-fast charging options in Spain. The contracts will create jobs for 200 individuals..
Iberdrola continues to push its stance on transport electrification as a part of its technique for a decarbonised economic system, as a key think about lowering emissions and metropolis air pollution, in addition to for a inexperienced restoration within the post-Covid world.
The corporate says it’s delivering a sustainable mobility plan, with an funding of EUR150m, with which it’ll intensify the deployment of cost factors for electrical autos within the coming years.
The initiative entails putting in round 150,000 charging factors in houses, corporations and on the general public street community in cities, in addition to on the primary motorways throughout the coming years.
The dedication to deploying charging factors will embrace the corporate putting in ultra-rapid (350 kW), super-rapid (150 kW) and speedy (50 kW) factors.
It was the primary Spanish firm to enroll to The Local weather Group’s EV100 initiative, with the intention of accelerating the transition to electrical autos, committing to electrify its whole fleet of autos and facilitate charging for workers in its companies in Spain and the UK by 2030.


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A tourism campaign promoting the Cardinia Shire towns of Emerald, Gembrook and Cockatoo will be needed to attract people back to the region post pandemic, Gembrook MP Brad Battin said.
The quiet towns at the top of the shire weren’t spared from the State Government’s six week shutdown targeting metropolitan Melbourne.
The move has left local businesses and tourist attractions facing yet another period of hardship and uncertainty.
Liberal MP Brad Battin said it was time authorities begun planning a way out of the crisis – to ensure businesses reliant on tourism could survive the economic rut.
“This government has a responsibility – they locked us down – so they need to make sure they have the money to reinvigorate our area and support as many local businesses as possible,” Mr Battin said.
“Why on earth are places like Emerald, Cockatoo and Gembrook locked down when they’ve had no active cases at the time this has run?
“We’re hearing from local people and businesses who are going to feel the pinch from this. They’ve already spent four to five weeks in lockdown, so another six weeks is going to have an absolutely detrimental impact.”
Eastern Dandenong Ranges Association (EDRA) chair Garry McGough said as difficult as it was locking down the region, it was a necessary move.
“They’ve fought their way through the first tough lockdown and here we are again. Economically, this has put us right on the back foot again,” Mr McGough said.
“This is a very serious virus and it’s just unfortunate we have to go into lockdown. I sympathise with the business owners but we have to look at both sides of the equation. If we weren’t locked down, it’d be open slather.”
EDRA vice-chair Lynne Trensky estimated over 30 percent of business in the region is tourism driven.
“We are experiencing strong growth in the hospitality and retail sector in Emerald, Cockatoo and Gembrook, and it is hard to determine the long-term effect this will have on business even without the pandemic we are currently facing,” Ms Trensky said.
“We are fortunate to have a strong, loyal and connected community that has been supporting our cafes and restaurants with takeaway.”
Boutique wedding venue Forest Edge, based in Gembrook, has lost hundreds of thousands of dollars this year.
“We’ve lost a lot of weddings – some have been postponed and some have been cancelled,” Forest Edge owner Rob Butterworth said.
“It’s certainly getting tougher … we’ve lost hundreds of thousands of dollars and have lost at least 50 weddings.”
The popular venue has brought over 250,000 people to region since its inception.
EDRA said Yarra Ranges Tourism, the regional tourism authority, was advocating on behalf of businesses across the region.
Emerald Lake Park remains open to visitors, however the cafe will be closed until further notice. Nobelius Heritage Park is also open.
Tourism operator Puffing Billy Railway said they will continue to follow the advice of the State Government.
“Puffing Billy will do all it can to support our employees and volunteers to ensure we are ready to reopen once it is safe to do so,” CEO Steve O’Brien said.


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Fidelity National Financial has been contacting an “undisclosed number of individuals”, notifying them that a selection of personal data may have been exposed after some of the Fortune 500 company’s employees had their email accounts targeted by a phishing campaign, SC Magazine reports.
The personal information includes Social Security numbers, bank account numbers, driver’s license numbers and payment card numbers, but at this stage Fidelity National Financial (FNF) has not revealed how many individuals may have been exposed in the breach, which was caused by a phishing campaign that targeted a ‘small number of employee’s’ email accounts.
Federal law enforcers have been informed, and a third-party security expert has been brought in to scope out the nature and extent of the attack. Steps have also been put in place to stop similar events occurring in the future, including enhanced security on email accounts and information and training available to employees.
Full Story and Source Here; http://www.welivesecurity.com/2014/10/28/fidelity-national-financial-warns-data-leak-phishing-attack/?


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Gigi Hadid has been known to give her boyfriend Zayn Malik the occasional sartorial shoutout, but her latest fashionable declaration of love is her greatest yet. The model was spotted in New York City wearing a pair of cropped jeans that had Zayn's name stitched across the back pocket.
Little did we know a pair of pants could inspire so much 😍.
Again, this isn't the first time Gigi has expressed her feelings with fashion. She was seen wearing a "lol UR not Zayn Malik" shirt after her ex-boyfriend Joe Jonas performed at Wango Tango.


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Today sees the launch of a wealth of new 3D gaming content hit the PS3, just in time for the launch of Sony’s Bravia 3D TV range. However, not to be outdone, it seems that Microsoft’s Xbox 360 may soon be jumping onto the 3D bandwagon too.
Blitz Games’ Andrew Oliver has suggested that Microsoft are to deliver a big 3D announcement at the E3 games conference, due to start in a few days. “Microsoft are going to be making an announcement about it at some point soon,” Blitz’s Oliver told the Westminster eForum.
With the world’s biggest games conference just around the corner, E3 indeed seems the perfect platform on which to detail any 3D plans.
The majority of gamers are still treating 3D with a degree of scepticism, unsure what else it can bring to the game they love. Microsoft too at least seemed initially uninterested, with less vested interest in the format than Sony with their extensive home entertainment and cinema connections.
Via: Tech Radar


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Walton, the leading multinational electronics company in Bangladesh, has awarded 26 individuals and organisations across the country for their outstanding branding performances under its ongoing Digital Campaign Season 8.
The company is continuing the campaign to boost its digital registration initiative to provide customers with online-based swift and best after sales services, said a media statement on Saturday.
In the digital registration, the details of customers their purchased products including the name of customers, their contact numbers and the models of the purchased products are being stored on a server so that they can avail the after sales services from any Walton service center any time, even if the warranty card is lost.
Under the Digital Campaign Season-8, customers of Walton fridge, washing machine and microwave oven are getting up to 500 percent sure cash vouchers or lots of free products like fridge, television, air conditioner and blender.
Marking this campaign, a programme titled 'Best Branding Award and Best Area Manager Award-2020' was held at the Walton corporate office in the capital on Thursday. Walton's new smart fridge of '6A9' model was also introduced in the function.
Walton Hi-Tech Industries Limited Vice-Chairman SM Shamshul Alam, Managing Director SM Ashraful Alam, Directors SM Mahbubul Alam, Tahmina Afroz Tanna, Raisa Sigma Hima, Zakia Sultana, Mahbub Alam Mridul, Rifah Tasnia Swarna and Sabiha Jarin Orona joined the event through video-conferencing.
The company's Additional Managing Director Golam Murshed, Deputy Managing Directors Nazrul Islam Sarker, Eva Rezwana Nilu and Amdadul Hoque Sarker, Executive Directors SM Zahid Hasan, Humayun Kabir, Md Rayhan, Dr Md Sakhawat Hossen, Amin Khan, Firoj Alam, Deputy Executive Director Shahjada Selim and Senior Additional Director Milton Ahmed were also present, among others, in the programme.
The guests handed over crests and certificates to the awardees. In addition to the various benefits provided in the season-8 for the branding of the digital campaign, special emphasis was also given on public awareness on coronavirus pandemic.


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Digital Extremes Reinvigorates Player Base During Busiest Time of Year, Hits Steam Top Three With Most Concurrent Players in its History
Independent developer and publisher, Digital Extremes, announced today that its biggest Warframe® update for PC of 2016 – The War Within – which released Friday, November 11, surged into the top three games on Steam during the weekend, reaching a new all-time high in Steam concurrent users with 68,530 players and more than 1.2 million hours played in one day.
The free-to-play action hit, which has attracted more than 26 million registered users worldwide since its launch date in March 2013, already has surpassed its record number of monthly active users this November with more than 1 million unique players across PC, Xbox One, and PS4™.
The War Within update contains the highly-anticipated cinematic quest continuing the saga started in last December’s The Second Dream – the game’s most played update to date – and drives players to embark on a chilling journey featuring multiple new missions, planets and stunning story-driven cinematics.
The free download of The War Within is available now on PC and will be released on PlayStation®4 and Xbox One in the coming weeks. Please visit the official Warframe website at www.warframe.com to join the community and download the game. To keep up with the latest updates from the development team, be sure to follow Warframe on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Instagram.


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Nintendo’s forthcoming Switch (OLED edition) is probably not going to fix the one issue fans have been clamoring over for years: Joy-Con drift. if Nintendo has its way, those pesky analogue sticks are going to keep up their willful misdirection for many years to come. So fans have taken matters into their own hands.
Many of those attempts have failed spectacularly over the years, leading Switch owners to believe we’re stuck with this drift forever. But now, a YouTuber by the name of VK may have actually done it. VK (who also goes by “Victorstk” on Patreon) posted a video yesterday that outlines his theory of Joy-Con drift along with what he calls a “permanent” fix (h/t NintendoLife).
To make this discovery even more impressive, it’s a very simple fix, using — get this — just a tiny piece of cardboard to stop the analog stick from drifting. You can see his methodology around 5:55 in the video above. VK claims he’s had incredible luck with this trick thus far; one Joy-Con he secured in this manner has been fully operational for two months now.
Anyone can do this at home, with the right tools on hand. So why isn’t Nintendo doing anything about it?
Literally a piece of cardboard — Here’s how you can fix your Joy-Con drift: open up the controller and stick at 1mm piece of cardboard near the analog stick. That is the entire fix.
VK explains that the problem, as he sees it, lies in the metal housing that secures the Joy-Con arrangement in the controller. As you play games and press the analog stick over and over again, that metal piece loosens, in turn making it more difficult for the metal prongs to make contact with the pads.
A word of warning here: Opening up the Joy-Cons to try this fix at home will absolutely void the warranty on them. Nintendo doesn’t want to fix the drift... but it also doesn’t want you to.
Even more infuriating — VK explains that, as far as he can tell, it would be pretty easy for Nintendo to fix this issue by adding just one screw (one screw!) to secure the metal housing to the upper plastic components. We really thought we couldn’t get angrier than we already were about this issue, but come on, Nintendo. One screw!
Of course, VK’s theory is just that: a theory. His individual testing just confirms that the cardboard trick works; it’s impossible to say whether or not securing the metal housing would fix every instance of Joy-Con drift. There could be a myriad of issues at hand, with this fixing just one of them. There’s just not enough evidence here to be conclusive.
That being said, we’re still pretty fired up about VK’s fix, which really just serves as a reminder that Nintendo could definitely do something about Joy-Con drift it if wanted to. Instead it’s releasing a brand new Switch with the same exact controllers, which will continue to have the same exact issues. Ugh.


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The heiress to the famous German supermodel Heidi Klum, 19-year-old Leni has been making confident steps in the fashion industry since she was young. She has already worked with major global brands such as Dior and Intimissimi, becoming a household name and winning the affections of influential names in fashion. Most of the time, Lanie shares pictures from shoots and parties with her fans, in which she appears with a thick layer of makeup.
However, the other day, the model decided to make an exception and published a photo without makeup. The fact is that for years, the model is struggling with acne, relapses which previously made her feel uncomfortable.
“There were days when I just wanted to stay at home and not leave the house until my acne disappeared. Then I realised that I couldn’t live like that. I can’t have acne getting in the way of my lifestyle,” said Leni.
At the same time Leni Klum confessed that for several years she had been suffering from a popular stereotype in the modern world, according to which a person with rashes is not considered beautiful. According to Leni, it had a negative impact on her well-being and emotional state.
“I realised it’s not normal. After all, everyone goes through this. There is nothing wrong with having acne. Nobody is safe from them, it is hormonal,” explained the model during a conversation with journalists.
Now Leni publishes selfies that previously she would never have put on public display without fear. She had the support of her fans, who appreciated the model’s openness and supported her in her fight against the problem.
Recall that in August 2022, Leni moved from Los Angeles to New York to begin college there. In the metropolis, she lives with her boyfriend, hockey player Aris Raczewski. In October last year, Heidi Klum and her daughter starred in a new Intimissimi lingerie campaign – the two appeared in explicit images.


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December 16, 2011
Alexandria, Va. — The National Association of Chain Drug Stores (NACDS)
announced its support for legislation that would protect consumers from unscrupulous Internet
drug sellers that prey on unsuspecting Americans by posing as legitimate pharmacies while
deceptively selling counterfeit, adulterated or misbranded medicines.
letter to U.S. Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) and Jeff Sessions (R-AL), NACDS endorsed The
Online Pharmacy Safety Act of 2011, which would help prevent rogue online drug sellers from
compromising the existing safeguards that protect Americans.
The bill requires the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to create a public
registry of law-abiding pharmacy websites so that consumers who choose to purchase medicine
online will have confidence in the source of their medication. Additionally, the legislation
would update federal law regarding what constitutes a "valid prescription," clarifying that both
controlled and non-controlled substances require a valid prescription for purchase.
“Consumer health and safety is at risk from these illegitimate online drug sellers.
With flagrant disregard of U.S. laws, these illegal entities sell controlled substances and
other medicines without a prescription, they violate existing requirements for a valid
patient-prescriber relationship and circumvent basic regulations mandating that drugs be
dispensed through a licensed pharmacy,” NACDS stated in its letter.
Research shows that one in six Americans -- more than 36 million consumers -- has purchased
prescription medication online without a valid prescription.
“The problem is exacerbated because these rogue sites purposely masquerade as legitimate
pharmacies, duping innocent Americans into purchasing unsafe or fake medicine. As a result,
Americans’ health is put at risk and the costs to the nation’s healthcare system rise
dramatically,” the letter stated.
“Your legislation will protect Americans against this growing threat by ensuring they
have the resources they need to access safe and legitimate online pharmacies,” NACDS
stated in the letter.


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Best Aquaculture Practices certifications up 15 percent in 2019
The Global Aquaculture Alliance’s Best Aquaculture Practices (BAP) certification program continued to grow in 2019, with 2,681 BAP-certified processing plants, farms, hatcheries and feed mills worldwide by the end of the year. That’s up almost 15 percent from the program’s 2018 count, according to the GAA’s annual report.
Created by the GAA in 2008, BAP has the mission of providing quantitative guidelines for evaluations of best practices in aquaculture.
“As we look forward to 2020, our eyes are fixed on the horizon and humanity’s enormous challenge of increasing protein production by 30 to 50 percent by 2050, while simultaneously reducing environmental impact,” GAA President George Chamberlain said in a letter included in the report. “Aquaculture will have a major role, but we must work hard to sustainably intensify our production methods. GAA does this not only through BAP certification activities, but also through initiatives focused on the improver space and on leading-edge technologies.”
The BAP certification has now been awarded to 388 processing plants, 1,833 farms, 132 feed mills, 279 hatcheries, and 49 reprocessors.
In 2019, the program integrity team traveled to 13 countries to visit BAP-certified facilities, and food-safety laboratories, and the GAA conducted auditor training courses in Santiago, Chile; Portsmouth, New Hampshire, U.S.A.; and Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. BAP has certified auditors in more than 20 countries worldwide.
GAA introduced a redesigned dashboard with the launch of the new BAP website in October 2019, with the goal of displaying supply chain data in a more user-friendly way. For 2020, BAP plans to launch a new Supply Chain Transparency (SCT) program plant view, which will allow all BAP-certified plants sourcing BAP-certified products to access their production chain data.
This year, GAA initiated a traceability study in order to better understand where the seafood industry currently stands regarding traceability initiatives and operations. Data-verification pilot programs are expected to launch at a select few BAP certified facilities within several weeks, according to the report.


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ZF announced on the eve of Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2023 of Las Vegas to have produced over 50 million cameras for the sector, of which 10 million in 2022.
ZF, a true world leader in camera manufacturing
The company makes automotive cameras in plants in the United States, China, the United Kingdom and Poland. It recently started production at its new site in Monterrey, Mexico.
“We use the latest manufacturing and testing techniques at all ZF sites so that we can ensure the quality and reliability of our cameras, and we thank our dedicated teams around the world for their dedication to excellence,” he said Jana Rosenmann, Head of the Electronics and ADAS Division for the ZF Group.
“We have been manufacturing cameras since 2008 and have become a technology leader thanks to constant innovation and attention to detail in the design and manufacturing processes“.
And 2023 has started particularly well for ZF, which announced at CES 2023 that it has produced over 50 million cameras in recent years, of which 10 million in 2022. An incredible result, which enhances the professionalism of a leading company, committed in automotive safety.
Collaboration with Mobileye
The two partners design, develop and supply processor-based cameras EyeQ™ by Mobileye for advanced object recognition technology. ZF incorporates this technology into its innovative family of telecamere Smart.
Smart cameras also include the Tri-camera 4 with three lenses, a premium innovation for the sector and useful for semi-automated driving. Tri-camera 4 mounts a telephoto to improve long-range sensing capabilities and a lente fish-eye to improve short-range capability with an expanded field of view.
“This milestone reflects our joint efforts to improve driver safety with ADAS technology,” he commented Nimrod Nehushtan, Senior Vice President of Business Development and Strategy at Mobileye.
“As our systems evolve to take more responsibility for driving and become even more intelligent through cloud-based services and additional sensors, we know this partnership will continue to deliver technology vehicle owners will appreciate for years to come.”
Single lens cameras
ZF has come to fourth generation of single lens cameras thanks to Smart Camera 4.8, which offers the possibility to enjoy a horizontal field of view of 100 degrees. It is certainly a further step to meet the 5 stars EuroNCAP for safety and requirements IIHS Top Safety Pick+ not General Safety Regulationswhich require increasingly stringent protocols for safety-critical systems.
ZF also supplies such advanced sensor technologies ADASincluding front facing cameras, ultra imaging systems and satellite radars to over a dozen vehicle manufacturers globally, contributing to the improvement of vehicle safety and making functions such asHighway Driving Assist and the Traffic Jam Assist available for light vehicles.
Lastly, we recall that ZF is the leader in automated driving technologies, from Level 2/2+ up to fully automated vehicles.


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Loud and about! Pure Filipino talent in menswear fashion design and style headed our way last Day 2 of Pilipinas Men’s Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2016.
Runway photography by Joy Arguil, Jonas Yu, Edmund Chua and Ryan Sedan.
NICO AGUSTIN’s Spice Boys collection celebrated the Brit-pop phenomenon of their fashion taste and unmistakable personas. From wild Scary to clean-cut Baby, the overall cohesion was a cool remniscent of fun-spirit and expression.
SHANON PAMAONG celebrated his birthday with a serious-on-the-front-party-on-the-back six look collection featuring black and white jackets.
See more of highlights and gallery at https://www.facebook.com/pilipinasmensfashionweek/
Pilipinas Mens Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2016 Day 2 was held last January 27, 2016 at House Manila, Remington Hotel, Resorts World Manila.
Presented by Nico Agustin Menswear in partnership with House Manila.


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Hello dear readers! Today I want to talk about an exciting study sponsored by Little Green Pharma (LGP) that shows how medical cannabis can improve the lives of many people.
The QUEST Initiative: A groundbreaking project
The LGP-sponsored study, known as the QUEST initiative, found that medical cannabis significantly improves pain, quality of life and fatigue. This initiative is a world-leading longitudinal clinical trial.
A look at the participants
The study included 2,327 Australian patients aged 18 to 97 years. After only three months, these patients showed significant improvements in their quality of life. Interestingly, the University of Sydney led the study and LGP exclusively provided medical cannabis products to the patients.
Results that give hope
Participants reported significant improvements in chronic pain, sleep problems, and moderate to severe anxiety and depression. Even more impressive, patients tested for sleep disturbances showed no change after the three-month period, but showed strong signs of statistical improvement in their feelings of fatigue.
Words from inside LGP
Dr. Leon Warne, LGP’s director of research and innovation, was very positive about the results. He emphasized that these initial results are very encouraging and show significant improvements in health-related quality of life and fatigue scores.
The company is currently analyzing the 12-month results of the study to see how these effects play out over the long term. Based on these recent findings, a global QUEST initiative was launched to determine the health and economic impact of medical cannabis on quality of life.
At the time of the article, LGP shares were last trading at 18.5 cents.
I hope this article has given you some insight into the exciting world of medical cannabis and its potential benefits. Stay healthy and informed!


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AT&T Mobility says that customer migration to AT&T Next and Mobile Share Value plans is driving a shift in the company’s wireless revenue components that will result in higher equipment revenues but lower service revenues and ARPU.
That shift will result in a lack of service revenue growth in the second quarter, according to a statement from the company.
Mobile Share plans have seen strong adoption and AT&T said that will continue. The company said that 50 percent of the company’s postpaid smartphone customer base is on no-device-subsidy Mobile Share Value pricing plan, and expects that to grow to approximately two-thirds by the end of the year.
AT&T’s LTE network now covers nearly 290 million people and the carrier Project VIP broadband build is expected to take fiber to more than 400,000 new business customer locations by the end of the second quarter.
AT&T said it expects postpaid subscriber net adds exceeding 800,000, with postpaid churn of .95 percent or lower in the second quarter. Additionally, AT&T said it expects approximately 3.2 million AT&T Next smartphone sales, which have risen throughout the quarter and now are expected to be approximately 50 percent of total sales.
The company expects second-quarter wireless service EBITDA margins to be pressured year over year due to the increased sales activity and strong customer movement to the no-device-subsidy Mobile Share Value plans. Wireless service EBITDA margins are expected to be over 40 percent in each of the three remaining quarters of 2014.
AT&T is scheduled to release its full second-quarter 2014 financial results after market close on July 23, 2014.
Shares of AT&T remained flat in early trading Tuesday at $35.42 per share.


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Volvo Cars is testing a new smartphone app that would let owners order concierge services such as remote fuel delivery, valet car cleaning and Volvo maintenance while they're working, traveling or even sleeping.
The idea is to make life more convenient for busy Volvo owners, said LexKerssemakers, President and CEO of Volvo Car USA. "We're making use of the modern technology we have in the car and in phones," he said in an interview. You can use the app to schedule fill-ups or take your car to the car wash, for instance. You can even arrange for someone to move your car, say, from the airport and deliver it back to your family while you're on a business trip.
A digital car key, which is location and time-specific, is sent to the authorized service provider to access the vehicle. When the services are complete, the car is locked and the digital key expires.
Volvo is working with strategic partners including Filld, a remote fuel delivery service. “Our vision is to merge connected car technology with an automated fuel delivery service—saving consumers time and money,” said Filld President and CEO Michael Buhr.
It's not hard to see how digital car keys would work in peer-to-peer car-sharing scenarios. You could rent your car to someone and use your smartphone to send them a digital car key to gain access.
For now, Volvo is just testing the Concierge Services with about 300 owners of Volvo XC90 SUVs and S90 sedans in San Francisco. More services will likely be added later.


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Since imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, all these turnover props that have popped up on sidelines after Miami's original turnover chain took over the college football world are just that, imitations.
With that said, Miami's commitment to the turnover chain goes well beyond having it ready on the sideline for every turnover, they've poured some serious money into the 2018 version according to Canes Insider.
According to their report, the new Miami turnover chain has a value just shy of $100,000.
The main difference between the 2018 version and 2017 versions of the chain is the logo attached. Last year, the iconic "U" was used, while this year a gem encrusted Ibis adorns the chain. The new chain is also about two pounds heavier, three inches longer, and the new Ibis logo is made up of over 3,100 precious stones.
To come to the figure of just over $98k, the took the value of the 24k gold chain weighing over seven pounds ($78,456), and then added the estimated value of the custom Ibis and the 3,100 sapphire gems.
...and that's just the gold and gem value. Something tells me Miami (and some in their loyal fan base) would find the prop much more valuable than that sticker price, especially if they're able to recover from the LSU loss week one to go on to have a very successful season.
Highly doubt another turnover / sideline celebration prop in college football is going to come close to touching that figure any time soon.


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Political briefs that say it all
Who knew? Every day, the Bush-Kerry poll numbers change in the window of the Jest Jewels accessories shop, but it's not about voters -- it's about shopping. The staff keeps track of how many political thongs, T- shirts and mechanical donkeys and elephants are sold each day. Turns out that the long-sleeved tops and underwear spelling out "Democrat" or "Republican" in Swarovski crystals are in a closer race than anybody thought they'd be.
"I was floored that the Republican items were selling as much as they were," says buyer Leslie Drapkin. "I originally ordered them 10 to 1, Democratic versus Republican. But the Republican thong was outselling the Democratic thong until mid-October."
But in these last crucial days, the numbers have shifted, with Kerry and the donkeys pulling ahead. As of last Thursday: Kerry, 85, Bush, 68, on the thongs; 81-72 on the T's, and 56-46 on the toys. The figures are updated daily in the window of the shop's three locations in Berkeley, the Embarcadero and Pacific Heights. The T's, $40, and thongs, $28, as well as donkey and elephant mechanical toys, $25, are exclusive to the shop, and are also available on the Web site, www.jestjewels.com.
Clothes don't make the man: "Heinous, isn't it?" joked designer Zac Posen about the skinny silver lamé Dior Homme suit he wore to his sold-out lecture at San Francisco's Museum of Modern Art last week. "I got it in a panic for an event. You can only wear a silver lamé suit twice, so this is its second chance."
Three years ago, Posen presented his first collection of fluttery cocktail dresses to the general consensus of "that's nice, but what else can he do?"
Now, with his current spring collection (which included sportswear for the first time), Posen, 24, has solidified his standing beyond his complexly pleated and draped gowns. This time, his original, modern daywear, especially his architecturally curvy, intricate jackets, also won praise from the catwalk critics. "I'm obsessed with construction," he told the audience.
"He drives his patternmakers up. The. Wall,"says Susan Posen, the designer's mother and head of his company -- which is now partnered with Sean "P. Diddy" Combs. "We've been eyeing each other for a long time," the designer said of his new partner.
Last week, Posen spoke of his early days at Parsons School of Design in Manhattan ("too commercial") and his time at the prestigious and highly competitive Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design in London, where you had to watch your back. "You had to be careful that your samples didn't get burned up or thrown out."
He tried to buck the system at first, using friends and other real women on the runway, but he quickly abandoned that idea. "You have to make some sacrifices when you're launching a career; the press focused on the models, not the clothing." Now, only the top models -- such as Naomi Campbell and Carmen Kass -- walk his shows.
Posen told tales of starting out, how he got stiffed from the first store he sold, to how the money disappeared into the void at first, and how, after Sept. 11, he wondered, "What am I doing making clothing?"
But those feelings faded with time, and now Posen says confidently that "my ambition is to build a modern-day luxury company." (You'd better believe it: An intricately pleated, smoky blue strapless cocktail dress is $3,200).
P.S.: Like Tom Ford (who, post-Gucci, now lives in Los Angeles), Posen wants to direct movies one day.
The water and the wine: It took a few seasons before Posen gained a fan in Kim Hastreiter, the editor of Paper magazine, the downtown hipster style magazine that marks its 20th anniversary this year with a retrospective coffee- table book. (Its Web site, papermag.com, won a Webby award in 1999 for best Internet fashion site.)
"I can be pretty biased against anyone who is hyped because I look at fashion more as art than commercial, but I really liked Zac's spring collection," she says. Hastreiter was in town last week for a couple of book- signing gigs and to stop in at Creative Growth Art Center, the Oakland school for physically, mentally and emotionally disabled adults, where she is a board member.
Hastreiter and her partner, David Hershkovits, started Paper with $4,000, in a Manhattan loft near Canal Street, where drag queens, rappers, skateboarders, art students, fashion designers and club kids lived on the cheap, and made art and music that paved the way for all the important cultural movements that were to come. Long before they became household names, the magazine featured rebels: RuPaul, Pedro Almodovar, Bjork, Todd Oldham, Courtney Love and Manolo Blahnik, to name just a few.
And what's hip now? "Tribeca's still OK," Hastreiter says, "but the new frontiers in New York are definitely Harlem, and the very easternmost section of Chinatown." And her take on San Francisco? "Who needs fashion here? You have the Napa Valley."
Hastreiter did make it across the bridge for lunch at Chez Panisse in Berkeley. "I couldn't believe it when I saw trees with fruit right on the street," she says, adding that the restaurant reminded her "of a Ted Muehling world; the ladies looked really pretty, a little older, the servers looked smart and simple, it all looked like a Malibu beach house to me. Everyone's so nice, so enthusiastic here. It must be the water or something."
The look of these last few fashion seasons of frothy dresses and everything ladylike is on its last breath, Hastreiter says. "My theory is: The next big trend is going to be ugly. Everyone knows Gucci, Vuitton, everyone has Eames chairs, everyone drinks espresso. The next revolt is to get back to ugliness and bad taste. It has to be the next thing to shock the establishment. "
Look at them now: Next week, for the first time, the Academy of Art University in San Francisco will hold a runway show in New York.
Among some of the fall 2004 alumni featured in the show are a few who impressed the national press, when they showed their work at the school's annual spring student show.
Bright stars: Nan Kyoung Seo, whose whimsical knitwear outfit was featured on the cover of Women's Wear Daily this year, created the knitwear for Jeremy Scott's spring-summer 2005 collection; Ernesto Fernadez Alvarez, a textile designer, won an internship at Ralph Lauren; Alexa Beins' sharp cutting techniques won her an internship with Alexander McQueen in London; and Rowena Sanders' complex, architectural clothes got her an internship with Ralph Rucci, one of America's most lauded designers, this year. Watch this space for updates on these burgeoning talents.
The New York show will be held Thursday, at Splashlight Studios in midtown Manhattan. For information, call (800) 544-2787.
Unexpected: The big chitchat in fashion circles this month was the sudden departure of Trude See from her general manager post at Neiman Marcus in San Francisco. The abruptness of the move took even her friends by surprise, I'm told. Calls to See at home were not immediately returned.